On the third day after Luke arrived at the Crescent Oasis, the second prince Alec finally couldn't bear the pressure and took the initiative to board the first auxiliary train.

Luke arranged a banquet in the dining car, and then asked everyone to leave the car. He wanted to talk to Alec alone.

The chef prepared baked lobster, caviar, pan-fried venison with black pepper, Plunic ham...

"Your Highness Alec..." Luke took the wine bottle and poured red wine for Alec, and introduced the dishes on the table: "Butter-baked lobster. The lobster comes from Qinsheng Bay, which has the clearest sea water in the world.

The meat of lobster is as good as egg white. However, Qinsheng Bay is too far away from the empire. In the past, even the royal family would eat stale Qinsheng lobster.

Now Nutao City has refrigeration technology that can be widely used. Fishing boats catch fish in Qinsheng Bay. All harvests are frozen and stored immediately, and then transported to Nutao City as quickly as possible. Nutao City has established a complete set of cold chain transportation.

The queen can eat the original lobster in St. Lun City.

Caviar is the eggs of polar ice catfish. This fish with extraordinary abilities is rare and dangerous. Therefore, the number of ice catfish eggs that can be collected is very small, not even enough to be sold as a commodity. However, not long ago, Raging Waves

The city established an research station in the polar region and also tried to artificially domesticate the iceberg catfish. These caviar are the eggs of the first batch of artificially domesticated iceberg catfish. It is very nutritious and contains magical power that makes it extremely rich.

Taste.

The black pepper in the black pepper fried venison comes from the Eggelman Miasma area. The lizard man tribe there has always been extremely hostile to humans and will make food for those who break into the fog area. But someone seems to have solved those problems.

The lizard people established the Eggelman spice trade route. The city of Raging Waves signed the agency rights for Eggelman spices, which are more expensive than gold.

..." Mao

Luke introduced one dish after another, presenting Prince Alec with a business empire covering the whole world.

Prince Alec maintained his royal demeanor and tasted one dish after another. Although he also lived a luxurious life in the Crescent Oasis, the environmental restrictions were that his living environment was far inferior to that of St. Lun City, and many ingredients were not transported here.

It's fresh.

"It's very delicious!" Alec took a sip of red wine and exclaimed: "As the chief assistant and the governor of Nutau City, you can really taste delicious food from all over the world."

Luke said: "If His Highness wants to eat these every day, it is actually very easy."

Alec picked up the napkin and wiped his mouth. Without touching the knife and fork again, he asked Luke: "You asked everyone else to go out. You probably have something to say to me that cannot be heard by others. Just say it...

No matter what the disobedient words are, I am not surprised and can accept them."

Luke ate casually and said to Alec while eating: "Your Highness, the trouble in the Western Territory is a thing of the past for the empire. Now that the city guards guarding the Western Territory are being reorganized and established, there is no need to fight in the Western Territory and

The empire maintains a first-class army.

This is a meaningless consumption of national power." Mao

Alec replied with the countermeasures he thought of: "The Western Army should not continue to stay in the Crescent Oasis. Moreover, the Western Army was originally formed as backup to prepare for the northern battlefield. Now the Art County Alliance is still occupying the Empire's territory.

Land, I am willing to lead the Western Army to fight in the northern border, and I will definitely be able to drive all the Yate County Alliance troops out of the empire's land in one battle."

Alec wants to join the war in the north to keep his military power.

Luke smiled and said: "Your Majesty does not need to worry about the Northern War. If I wanted to regain the lost territory, I would have ordered the Snow Legion to launch a full-scale counterattack. Now the Northern War is a wasteland that the empire has used to fight against.

It consumed the national strength of the Art County Alliance and brought down the powerful neighbor in the north of the empire through a war of attrition.

The current situation in the north is like fishing. Don't use too much force. If you scare away the Yate County League, it will be a huge trouble."

This was the first time Alec heard about the Empire's northern strategy.

At the same time, I was surprised that Meteorite dared to use war to bring down the Art County Alliance when all parties in the empire were in crisis.

Just arrogance or confidence? Mao

But the fact is that under the control of Meteor Star, the empire did not collapse in various crises. Instead, it gradually shrank its power towards the Imperial Palace. Various factions were eradicated one by one by Meteor Star. The power possessed by the Imperial Palace reached the level of Augustine the Great.

There is no peak.

The empire's finances have not been unstable due to wars and power struggles. The heart of Raging Wave City is constantly delivering the world's wealth to the empire.

What if I were the emperor of the empire, and Meteorite was the chief minister of the empire who was loyal to me... how wonderful it would be!

Alec said to Luke: "Marquis is the highest title the queen can give you, and I can make you a duke and allocate a large piece of land for you and your family to pass on from generation to generation.

Meteor! What the empire needs most now is an emperor, a young and energetic emperor. If you support me, I can give you more power and more honors after I ascend the throne."

Luke seemed to be persuaded and nodded: "Yes, the empire does need an emperor now. In the future implementation of national policies and handling of foreign relations, the weight of the Queen's words is still a little less."

Alec suddenly asked happily: "Have you agreed to support my ascension to the throne and become the emperor of the empire?" Mao

Luke shook his head and said with a smile: "Prince Alec, if you had the ability to lead the current empire, you would have been the crown prince long ago."

Alec asked doubtfully: "If it weren't for me, who would be qualified to become the emperor of the empire? Fania is dead, and Sinclair has just announced that he has given up his right to inherit the throne. Father... he should not be able to continue to lead the empire.

Could it be Agatha?

You are indeed my sister’s loyal dog!”

Luke was not angry because of Alec's curse. He said: "Agatha once made it clear to Emperor Augustine that she had no ambition for the throne. It was before and it is now..."

"Who is that? Other royals?"

Luke said: "You got the answer right! I was about to elect your mother, the current Empress Christina Augustine, as the new emperor of the empire." Mao

"This is absolutely not allowed!" Alec roared angrily: "Cristina is Ruth's benefactor, she is not qualified to be the emperor of the empire! The nobles of the empire will never agree, and the subjects of the empire will never agree!"

Luke said calmly: "If Your Highness Alec recognizes that Queen Christina has royal blood and supports the queen as the emperor of the empire, I think the nobles and subjects of the empire will not object to the first empress in the history of the empire.

"

"How can Christina have royal blood..." Alec just wanted to deny it, but he immediately thought of the frequent intermarriage between the Augustine family and the Ruthen family, and a prince who became the king of the Ruthen Kingdom. Alec immediately thought of it

He changed his mind and said: "Even if Christina has royal blood, she is not qualified to be the emperor! When my father has not established a crown prince, I am the first heir to the throne."

No one can take the throne away from me!"

Alec has been fighting with Fania for the throne for decades. Now that Fania is dead, he has long regarded the throne as his rightful one.

Luke knew that Alec was much more obsessed with the throne than Sinclair, and it would be very difficult to get him to give up.

"Prince Alec, we want to take away the throne, but you really can't do anything?" Mao

"You!" Alec pointed at Luke and shouted: "Do you know what you are doing! This is usurping the throne. If you dare to do this, countless people will definitely stand up against you. I will also lead the Western Army to take over what belongs to me.

Take back the throne."

Luke laughed and said, "How many people do you think will follow you?"

"Many, all those loyal to the Empire will support me."

"Don't deceive yourself, Your Highness Alec. This era is not the previous era. You must know how many people are truly loyal to the empire.

You have also seen the destruction of many monarchical countries. When those monarchs were sent to the guillotine, where were those people who shouted all day long to be loyal to them?

If I, as the chief auxiliary of the empire, announce that you are relieved of command of the Western Army, how many people do you think will truly follow you...choose to defy me?"

Luke looked at Alec with an imposing manner, which made him lose all his royal bearing.

In the past two days, Alec has deeply felt the pressure that the meteorite has put on the entire Crescent City. He did not take a step out of the special train, but it was like a big mountain pressing down on the city. Everyone with interests was frightened and made calculations.

Think about your own future.

Loyalty is conditional.

When a ship is destined to sink, there are very few people who are willing to sink with it.

The Western Army is not the Northern Army, and I do not have such a deep relationship with the officers of the Western Army. They supported me in the past because they had investment value.

Now... the entire Western Territory has been wiped out by the meteor, and the Crescent Oasis is just an isolated island.

Food, drink, and military pay are all in the hands of others. Will the Western Army listen to themselves, or do they listen to Meteor?

As for his staff and the knight-errant heroes he has raised, it is only in times of adversity that true friendship can be revealed.

At the last meeting, the top think tank actually proposed that he should voluntarily give up his right to inherit the throne. It was obvious what the people around him were thinking.

And the words the nightingale came to me specifically to say.

Perhaps they have seen themselves clearly a long time ago. After taking off all honors and identities, they are no different from ordinary people.

How can one fight against a falling star if he has no special qualities?

Now that his hands and feet are tied and the guillotine is in someone else's hand, how many people are willing to accompany him to take his head out?

Helplessness and powerlessness made Alec feel depressed. He asked: "Why Christina? With your current power and means, the emperor of the empire is a puppet. What is the difference between me and her?"

Luke said: "I didn't say that the Emperor is my puppet. On the contrary, I hope that the Emperor has the ability to hold up a space for me to perform. Queen Christina and I are cooperating, not who controls the other. Mao

For example, in controlling the Western Region this time, Her Royal Highness the Queen did a very good job. She is my help, not my burden. A puppet cannot do that."

"What is your purpose in doing all this?"

Luke looked at Alec: "You have a lot of questions and they are boring. Give me the answer... Do you support Queen Christina's ascension to the throne and become the Empress of the Empire? Or do you not support it?

You only have one chance to get it right."

After Luke explained everything he needed to say, he directly threatened Alec.

Correct answer!

Wrong answer and die! Mao

Alec's face turned pale. He had never thought that he would face such a life and death decision. The prince of the empire was actually threatened by a subordinate.

"I..." Faces emerged from Alec's mind, including Emperor Augustine, Fania, Agatha, Del... and Nightingale... Finally, Alec helplessly answered: "I
To be continued...