Chapter 188 187 Hello, Short People
Chapter 188 187.Hello, Short People
According to Murphy’s previous prediction, it should be unlikely that the matter of that batch of arithmetic beads would be mentioned when Marshal Loren brought the Kingdom of Goldfinch to have a diplomatic level meeting with him, the Lord of Transylvania, after all, Marshal Loren’s means of getting that batch of beads at that time was not so honorable.
After all, Marshal Loren’s methods of obtaining that batch of treasure beads were not so honorable. The core treasure beads in Murphy’s hand still had a blatant “stolen goods” label.
Since we are all thieves, some things will be forgotten in the river and lake is also quite good, but did not think that the opposite side of the half-dwarf actually do not care about this matter mentioned, this guy is really too uncritical, and really small horse eyes!
“It seems that all the legends on the continent about dwarves having small eyes of the heart are true! I also wonder if this guy across the street has a Book of Hate in his hands?”
Murphy pondered in his heart for a split second, then he also returned the favor nonchalantly as he maintained a slightly stiff smile in response:
“You too, Short Man!”
“?”
The entire Marshal Loren on the opposite side of the psychic projection froze.
His eyes were wide as if he had been struck by lightning, while Tris, who was maintaining the psychic projection, was laughing like crazy, her entire being holding back so hard that her demonic expression was suffocated to the point of distortion.
“Hey, maintain it! Why does this image keep flashing around?”
Murphy shouted in an onomatopoeic voice, and Tris rolled her eyes, stifling her laughter:
“I’m steady, it’s the opposite side of the room, so it looks like you’re killing it with that joke! Geez, I finally learned today how to use a word to make a dwarf hold a grudge against me for the rest of my life.”
“What the hell kind of name calling is that! Take it back!”
Marshal Loren shouted with a somewhat exasperated blowing beard and eyes:
“You are provoking one Dwarf! No, you’re provoking all dwarves! You must apologize for that damned word for the dignity of all the dwarves you have offended! You are provoking a war you cannot win!”
“You said that word yourself, it has nothing to do with me oh.”
Murphy maintained his elbows propped up on the table and pressed his interlaced fingers against his nose in some commander’s signature gesture.
He stabilized his mind and said to the opposite side:
“It was your subordinate who warned me ahead of time that I couldn’t say that word in front of you, you know, and it took me a while of meditation to come up with a replacement. So, are we going to continue to fight over something trivial? Or shall we start talking business? Lord Marshal.”
“You robbed me of 3,000 arithmetic pearls, that’s enough to arm a legion!”
This talk started off so hot that Marshal Loren simply stopped pretending, took out his pipe and held it to his mouth, sitting in a big brotherly posture and said to Murphy:
“There is also that core jewel trial piece that my country paid a great price to get, the one that is being hung on your chest. Murphy, you must make reparations for this! Until this condition is met, I refuse to deal with you on any diplomatic level.
Don’t think that your name of ‘Acting Governor’ scares anyone, the price for the Pathfinder Legion to cross the Transylvanian border and overthrow your little power right now is just a handwritten letter of sincere apology from my subordinate to the Winter Palace.
All I had to do in it was merely sign it.
You!
Young but cunning and evil vampire, you need to recognize your own strength at this time, and that you and your tiny territory are nothing more than a minor problem that can be solved by a ‘military conflict’.”
“You can certainly say that, and with your position and the power you wield you also have the wherewithal to utter similar threats to me, so why don’t we make it so, and you have your army leave now!”
Murphy waved his hand and said:
“I am waiting at the Scarlet Fortress to become a ‘military conflict’ as you call it, but I hope that you will be prepared to directly trigger the ‘Third Black Night War’ before you make your decision. Because in addition to being the governor of the Transylvania region, my humble self is also the first successor of the Blood Vulture Clan, and has already entered into a strategic partnership with the Thorn Clan.
Meanwhile, a vanguard of the Blood Alliance Knights was crossing over the Tainted Swamp.
If
you have heard but a little bit of stories related to the Blood Clan from Old Edward, you should know what this three-way union means.
Any irrationality on your part is not just bullying the weaker Blood Wyvern Clan, it is likewise a slap in the face of Venerable Lord Paying.
Of course, I also admit that I am now using the name of His Eminence to feign power, and His Eminence will not necessarily be furious over the destruction of the Scarlet Fortress, and perhaps the Grand Duke of Thorns will only bemoan the fact that I accidentally angered the great Marshal of the Steelheart to the point of my own demise.
All of this could have happened.
But until they actually happen, the hidden danger in your heart will not be eliminated.
So the question is, would you start another war for your king now that the Black Plague is about to break out?
Are you a madman who so indulges your emotions as to destroy important matters?”
Murphy spread his hands and said matter-of-factly:
“If you are, then we are not obliged to continue our sniping! I’ll see you on the battlefield. The land of Transylvania abounds with vampires and barbarians, and do you know what these two things have in common?”
This speech did not hide Transylvania’s weakness, and even more or less carried a bit of helplessness and the bleakness of fighting for one’s life.
But as it came out of the mouth of Murphy, the acting governor, even the unimpressed Marshal Loren had to think hard about those meanings in those words as he exhaled a smoke ring and stared at the handsome vampire in the picture who was young to the point of excess.
The psychic projection maintained by the three psychic masters together had a frighteningly high resolution, allowing the marshal to clearly see Murphy’s eyes, that black with a scarlet spot of light.
It was like a throbbing fire.
This vampire pussy didn’t seem to be joking, and the determination with which he issued his threats was more like a grounded dwarf.
“Heh, the fox is playing a perfect game, but a fox will always be a fox, so don’t take out your little cleverness that can’t be used on the stage!”
The half-dwarf marshal’s aura was not in the least bit impressive, but he changed the subject very silky smooth and said:
“It grieves me greatly that my friend old Finok died in your place.”
“And who killed him?”
Murphy asked rhetorically:
“I don’t suppose it was us? I also took in his daughter and followers, granted them, the homeless, citizenship and sheltered them from all the powers of this great land. I thought I had done all that to make up for the guilt I felt for accidentally taking what belonged to you in a ‘blackout’ that wasn’t decided by me, but I didn’t expect you to remain unforgiving.
You haven’t even shelled out a penny for the future of your friends’ daughters and followers, and I’m responsible for supporting them in the face of a straight black plague.
You see, I didn’t even ask you for custody fees, and I thought we had some understanding.”
“So, are all vampires this mouthy?”
Marshal Loren said as he exhaled another smoke ring:
“One you, one old Edward, both have a tongue that can turn right and wrong, well, do me a favor, Lord Murphy, so that I can convince myself to forget this point that has upset everyone.”
“You may speak.”
Murphy listened sideways.
Marshal Loren looked out the train window as he spoke casually:
“Old Edward has sent his family’s elite to the Eastern Front battlefield in the name of defense against the Black Plague, but I know what he wants to do. The Wolfsbane Clan’s proliferation in Greenisland has become a social problem, and I don’t want the poison they spread in the Black Plague to spread back to the mainland.
Unfortunately, old Edward has already used allegiance as a means to gain possession of the entire Cato region in the Darklands from my sire.
Alas, it’s a shame that the ‘Plague of Wolves’ 70 years ago didn’t destroy them.
I’ve heard that there’s a grudge between you Blood Vultures and Wolfsbane that exceeds hundreds of years, and that the Wolfsbane Clan was indeed very deeply involved in the disaster in Cadman City, so it should make sense for you to step in and ‘purify’ the Darkness, right?”
“But it’s not like we can cross the border into your defense zone to hunt wolfsbane pups.”
Murphy frowned:
“And we’re short on manpower.”
“Thinking what?”
The half-dwarf snorted:
“I’ll take care of the wolfsbane pups in my defense zone on my own, it’s just those wolf vanguards that are about to enter Transylvania in the name of aiding the ‘Black Plague War’ that you’re going to have to take care of it! They go around doing evil under the guise of war.
They’re trivializing the serious matter of war, so they need to be punished.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of having vampires in my chain of command, it makes me uncomfortable all over.”
“So do I, Marshal.”
Murphy chuckled as he said:
“I’m not joking, although I am a vampire as well, I don’t really like my overly vicious compatriots, well, I’ll take your request. I will give you an account that will satisfy you. Now, can we get down to business?”
“You wish!”
Marshal Loren slapped the table and said solemnly:
“Apologize to the dignity of all Dwarves for that undignified statement you just made! And swear to your Mother of the Night that you will never utter that profanity again!”
“Uh.”
Murphy didn’t expect this Marshal Loren to be so stubborn in this regard, he apologized very seriously and said:
“I’m sorry that I offended your taboo, I apologize most sincerely for my rudeness, and I won’t utter that blasphemy again in the future.”
“But what my little players want to say about it is out of my hands ow.”
He said so in his mind.
Seeing Murphy’s sincere face, Marshal Loren then nodded, he put his pipe back on the table, leaned on his Marshal’s Command Sword and said with a serious face:
“Just a few days ago, the first lord of the Blood League Knights, His Excellency Palano, visited my majesty, he brought the prophecy related to the Black Plague and urged us to release the 10,000 armed Blood Servants that were previously captured in the war, I guess this is your request, you want to use this group of Blood Servants to fill the manpower?”
“Well, I won’t hide it from you, I desperately need a large amount of manpower right now, whether it’s for restoring the city or building a base along the line of the Filthy Swamp, I need a large amount of people.”
Murphy also said seriously:
“That’s why those 10,000 captives you must send back to Transylvania as fast as possible, just as the agreement I made with the Kingdom of Nordtorf. I don’t care what kind of reasons they have caused losses at your place, ten thousand is ten thousand!
I want no more, but no less.
You have just wiped out a hundred and fifty thousand men in Transylvania in one fell swoop, and that has put a pretty terrible strain on the defenses of this land.
In addition, the Winterwolf Legion of the Kingdom of Nordtorf has occupied Fortress Crimsonwood, and they will be there to assist in our defense, what about you guys?
Marshal, how is the Golden Sparrow Kingdom’s army going to assist us?”
“You still want the command of the war within Transylvania?”
The half-dwarf was once again shocked by Murphy’s lion’s share.
He blew out his beard and said:
“Do you think I would feel comfortable handing over my soldiers to a vampire? Don’t even think about it! My Pathfinder Legion will fortify the fortress complex in East Prussia. If your defenses fail, that will be the second line of steel against the scourge of the Jackals.
Completing the refurbishment of your defenses in six months won’t be easy, so don’t expect me to send any more soldiers into your area.”
“But what about the border guards?”
Murphy asked rhetorically:
“There should be an equal number of border guards in the East Prussia and Anjou regions in addition to the fifty thousand men of the Pathfinder Corps, right? A large portion of them are the ‘fake army’ you collected during the Ten Years’ War.
They were all originally local legions of the Bohemian Confederacy.
They were originally part of the force that this country used to defend itself against the Black Plague, and there should be no legal problem for me to take back their command in the Black Plague War in my capacity as the Governor of Transylvania right now, right?
I can even sign an agreement with you if you are not willing to let go.
After the end of the Black Calamity, I can return those pseudo-armies to you if you want them!”
“Those newly formed border guard regiments are indeed a problem, their loyalty, will and level of combat readiness is simply no different from that of a straggler, especially the military discipline issue is simply as disgusting as a pack of jackals.
If you really want them, it’s not impossible to give them to you.”
The half-dwarf marshal took a moment to calculate, he said:
“I have one request, those men can be under your control, but I will send a group of specialized officers to train and command them, you may not interfere with their wartime command for any reason and will be responsible for their supplies, Murphy.
You are not a soldier.
It is better for you, an amateur, to keep out of such professional matters, and this is advice from a marshal.”
“Yes!”
Murphy agreed to this harsh condition without hesitation, but he bargained the next second and said:
“My territory lacks all kinds of supplies, I need the support of arms, but I know you won’t give me too good, so when those border guards are dispatched over by the way, they will be issued their weapons along with them.
At least don’t let me give them all a wooden stick to charge into battle, that would be a bit too ugly.
Even cannon fodder shouldn’t be used like this.
Also, if I can, I’ll need some machine tools to at least cater to repairing and machining firearms behind the battlefield, as well as the most basic military supplies like self-made bullets and explosive shells.”
“Ha, are you Transylvania already so poor that you don’t even have these things?”
Marshal Loren teased:
“Why don’t you swear allegiance to my sire, Murphy, and then you’ll get everything you want.”
“We would have! The city of Sycor is the manufacturing center of Transylvania and the pride of the entire Bohemian Confederacy, producing firearms that are synonymous with excellence even among the halflings of the Genoese peninsula.
And then you destroyed it with a plague!
Just as you destroyed the city of Cadman.”
Murphy responded in a cold, ghostly tone:
“Do you need me to repeat to you the reasons why Transylvania fell to this point, line by line? Marshal, I know that war is only about winning and losing, and for soldiers like you victory is justice, and soldiers can give up all morality for victory, that is your professionalism.
But the act of a group of marauders stepping on a poor man who has just been looted and laughing at his poverty and backwardness is not something to be advocated, even in Dwarven social customs, I suppose?
The war is over, but a new one is about to begin!
Regardless of what you personally think of Transylvania and me as a vampire lord, we are comrades in arms you can’t get rid of in the Black Plague War.
Unless you’re willing to destroy us one step ahead of the Jackals and then take the lads of the Kingdom of Goldfinch and shoulder the responsibility that should be ours!
If you do not want your citizens to bleed to death, then fulfill my request, for the Transylvanians are about to shed their own blood for your safety.
We may have a match later, Marshal.
I swear it!
At that time I will return all the arrogance you have inflicted on me and Transylvania today, but we can fight only if we have ‘later’ to speak of.
Return those production lines you took from the city of Sycor!
That is ours, and it can be far more useful in our hands than sitting idle in yours.”
“Very well!”
Marshal Loren nodded as he said:
“Your comportment at this point is much better than the chondria-stricken Prime Minister that the Bosian Confederacy surrendered to me earlier; keep it up, young but not lacking in courageous vampire.
What you want has fallen into the hands of the Capes, they are preparing to build several new factories in East Prussia, you know who to talk to.”
With that said, the Marshal was about to hang up the communication, but Murphy stopped him.
“There’s one last thing.”
The vampire lord said:
“Regarding my status, I would like King Louis to issue a royal instrument appointing me as the Governor of Transylvania, as a way to ensure that Transylvania better fulfills its role as a strategic buffer zone between the two countries.”
“The classic left-right horizontal jump diplomacy of the Bosnian Confederacy . Sure, that’s already your tradition, so let’s talk in the tradition left over from the previous Black Plagues.”
Marshal Loren picked up an appointment letter for the Governor of Transylvania on the table that had been stamped with the King’s seal.
He pointed to the blank name field and said to Murphy:
“When you survive the Black Calamity, if there is still a place name ‘Transylvania’ on the continent, this will be yours. So, a deal?”
“Well, it’s a deal!”
(End of chapter)