After all, we’ve only been on Great Britain for less than a month and haven’t even gained a firm foothold yet, so there’s no rush to eliminate the Duke of Dingtiger, and it would easily arouse suspicion.
Duncan’s expression was serious. He exchanged a look with Crow Queen Triss and whispered, "Merlin?"
Crow Queen Triss was silent and softly said, "It’s possible."
"I’ve heard the Duchess has been imprisoned."
This is instability from the rear. Merlin has always hoped King Uther annexes the Duke of Dingtiger so that the Britons could unify under the Dragon Head Banner. His secret intervention is highly suspicious since the Duke of Dingtiger, who knows the truth, would never allow King Arthur to be born smoothly.
Are you kidding me? King Uther, under the illusion technique of the wizard, turned into his appearance, slept with his wife, and even got her pregnant. How could this offspring survive?
The Duke of Dingtiger imprisoned the Duchess, then suddenly, his condition worsened. It’s definitely related to Merlin.
Crow Queen - Triss looked at Duncan, her expression firm: "What do you plan to do?"
She was making her stance clear.
What she meant was that if they faced Merlin, she could go all out.
Seemingly worried that Duncan might doubt her strength, Crow Queen - Triss also softly said: "Other members of the witch gathering will arrive soon, we need not fear his spells."
Merlin is probably the most powerful spellcaster of the current era.
Duncan pondered for a moment and shook his head: "Not urgent."
"First, deal with the Kent Kingdom’s peace proposal."
When he said this, it actually showed he had the thought of negotiation. Duncan feared King Uther might suddenly attack him from behind.
Severus nodded and said: "The envoy from the Kent Kingdom wishes for negotiations, but not with the Duke of Dingtiger."
"They specifically want to sign a peace treaty with you."
Speaking of this, Severus paused and continued: "According to Roman tradition."
As though worried Duncan might not understand, Anya explained: "Negotiations, paying tribute, signing peace treaties, usually have a deadline."
"They likely want to focus on repelling the Picts first, buying time to unite other Saxon chieftains."
"We should be able to make them bleed heavily this time!"
Understood.
It’s similar to the peace treaties in the Total War series, Roman tradition implies giving money and land, since the empire always respects money rather than people.
Anya is an expert in this area.
She walked to a simple map, speaking solemnly: "They are so eager to negotiate, probably not stable internally either."
"Do you want money or land?"
Duncan asked humbly: "What about wanting money? What about wanting land?"
Anya, at this moment, seemed quite commanding, after all, it’s her specialty, this beautiful Roman noblewoman smiled charmingly: "Wanting money, I can make them bleed heavily once."
"After all, Saxon pirates have plundered Great Britain for so many years, their wealth must be very rich."
"If wanting land."
"Requires you to lead your troops to cooperate, immediately take people to attack Wiltshire."
"Their forces likely are not sufficient to hold this land, by that time we can directly seize Wiltshire too on the negotiation table!"
"Of course."
"Doing so would mean only asking for a symbolic tribute of ten to twenty thousand gold coins."
By seizing Wiltshire, Duncan would nearly conquer the entire lower left region of Great Britain, further upward would be advancing into Wales, almost linking with King Uther’s kingdom.
Severus then said solemnly: "Wiltshire’s strategic position is favorable."
"After taking it, this small peninsula will be our territory."
Looking at the map, Duncan decisively said: "Want land. Money can be obtained from them later!"
No sooner said than done.
Duncan immediately ordered his army to strike, while Anya handled the Kent Kingdom’s envoys, she’s adept at Enchantment Control Magic, able to probe the enemy’s limits unknowingly.
Crow Queen - Triss returned to Cornwall.
Duncan said solemnly: "Try not to confront Merlin head-on for now; wait until I’m back after resolving matters here."
"If possible, try to protect Duke of Dingtiger’s life."
"Have him hold out till I return."
If the Duke of Dingtiger truly dies, Duncan would formally inherit everything here.
Those noble knights of the guards swore allegiance to the Duke of Dingtiger.
Crow Queen - Triss nodded: "I understand."
"Don’t worry."
"The other founders of the witch gathering will arrive soon. Merlin wouldn’t dare act recklessly."
Without utilizing divine spirit power, Triss estimates she would be slightly disadvantaged.
The opponent is, after all, the only Legendary Wizard on Great Britain.
Severus set off with his troops, Kvito commanded the British Legion afterward, Duncan stayed in Southampton, this time no need for a frontal assault, just encircle them and find a way to seize it from the negotiation table.
Duncan assigned elite Gaul Warriors to Anya, letting her exert pressure on the opponent.
As for himself, he focused on reorganizing the Barbarian Race foreign legion, directly having these Barbarian mercenaries swear allegiance to him, retaining those with combat ability, those without becoming labor.
Time passed quickly.
Severus reported good news from his side, the enemy actually abandoned the city and fled directly.
Soon, Anya also brought back good news, Kent Kingdom was willing to relinquish ownership of this land, simultaneously pledging loyalty, paying a tribute of twenty thousand gold coins, signing a short-term peace treaty between both parties.
It’s said reports arrived from the north, the legendary Black Sword Warrior of the Picts appeared, those northern barbarians threw hundreds of salted heads before battle, heads fell like rain, frightening the Saxon soldiers greatly.
However, the news brought back by Crow Queen - Triss was not so good, the Duke of Dingtiger was poisoned, his wounds rotted completely, investigation revealed the families of innocent murdered guards sought revenge, directly where poison on the medicine during changing.
King Uther disguised as Duke of Dingtiger and sneaked in, the guards had no idea, believing the Duke had returned, then killed for venting anger.
One of the killed guards’ lovers was the maid serving the Duke of Dingtiger.
This whole thing was too coincidental, too self-explanatory, which made people feel it was Merlin causing trouble!
.........