What did you do with the dice?

Here, Rusalka thought that the negotiations would fail anyway, so he might as well take the opportunity to play a bad joke. He stood up and slammed the table, then pointed at the other party and shouted, "Do you know who shed the tears of pearls?" But as soon as he told Sanitta this idea that he thought was genius, Sanitta even stopped chewing the biscuits.

Sanita thought for a long time, and finally said only five words to Rukasa in the channel: (I advise you to be kind)

"Nice to meet you, Lord Ropa." Rusalka smiled and raised her glass in response. "I've also just taken office. I can only say I'm immature and impulsive, far from you. How can I be called a hero?"

The two sides greeted each other, exchanged insincere compliments, and then sat down. It must be said that the nobles were good at putting on a good front. Even though the relationship was so irreconcilable, Lord Ropa could still put on a friendly appearance, which made Rusalka admire him.

You ask Rusalka why he can be so amiable? After all, he's a time traveler. Family, honor, and the like mean nothing to him. He doesn't feel angry or ashamed at the perpetual oppression of the Pearl Tear Territory by the Ropa Territory. While it's true that the Ropa Territory and the Pearl Tear Territory are sworn enemies, that doesn't matter to Rusalka at all. To him, it's just a matter of who gets to kill the next monster.

Players are such chaotic creatures, smiling one second and drawing their swords the next.

Viscount Consenat was a veteran who had been in the aristocratic circle for decades. He was accustomed to the behavior of the two. However, he expected that a bad-tempered country bumpkin like Rusalka would give Lord Ropa a warning when they met. But he didn't, which made his prepared words useless. In his heart, he had a slightly higher opinion of Rusalka, a tough guy.

"I'm very grateful to both of you for doing me, an old fellow, a favor today. We can sit down together peacefully at this table to have a friendly exchange and sign a peace agreement."

After swallowing the food in his mouth, Lord Luopa slowly said, "Peace? Not long ago, the Kate Chamber of Commerce sent me a complaint, saying that the Pearl Tear Territory had arbitrarily occupied our Luopa Territory's land, causing them great losses. This incident happened after Lord Zhulei visited you. I wonder how you, Lord Zhulei, would explain it?"

Rusalka: (Oh, it’s finally here. Look carefully. You know our tears...)

Sanita: (Hold it! Keep arguing.)

Rusalka: (I don’t know how to do that. Now that I’ve said that, do you really want me to kowtow to him a few times?)

Sanita: (Five, pronounce it as I say.)

Rusalka read in a calm, emotionless voice, "Oh, really? I clearly saw on the territorial map at home that the Tester Mine is owned half by Pearl Tear Territory and half by Ropa Territory. It was the Kate Chamber of Commerce that developed our Pearl Tear Territory's land without permission. But I'm quite generous. Since I'm new, I'll let bygones be bygones. Now I approve their cooperation with our Pearl Tear Territory in developing the mine. Is there any problem with this?"

Lord Roper didn't betray any hostility or anger. His expression remained the same as before. He simply looked at Viscount Concenutt and said slowly, "When your father signed the mining transfer agreement, it was done in the presence of the Viscount. I may be mistaken, but I believe the wise Viscount will make a fairer and more objective judgment. What do you think?"

Rushaka paused, then read, "Your Excellency, I certainly won't question your judgment, but I want to point out that mortals aren't always right, and the gods in heaven haven't judged me."

The implication is very clear. I really have to act according to your mood. Even if you say it is not mine, I have to accept it.

But do you dare to question the decision of God?

Viscount Consentet's eyes flashed with hesitation and displeasure, but he concealed it well. He wiped his mouth with a napkin in the moment his mind wavered, then closed his eyes. When he opened them again, all his emotions were hidden deep in his heart. "I invited you two here today mainly to negotiate peace. I don't want these petty disputes over material gains to affect the purpose of this meeting. A handshake and peace are the basic conditions for exchanging interests."

He cleverly used rhetoric to avoid the issue of the mine. Both Sanitieta and Lord Ropa knew that this matter would have to be put to rest today. Both sides tacitly agreed not to continue the topic, but instead, Sanitieta took the lead and changed the subject:

"Your Excellency, since I am sitting here, I must have come for peace. I also hope that the feud between our two families can end in our generation." Rusalka nodded, trying to make her tone more sincere as Sanitieta said.

Rusalka: (By the way, what is Chen Ken's performance? I didn't study acting at a drama school.)

Sanita: (Look directly at the other person, speak in a calmer tone, and then use the attitude you usually use when asking the teacher for extra marks.)

Facts have proved that there are indeed some different examples. Rusalka felt that her tone was not only sincere, but also had a touch of pleading.

Baron Ropa and Viscount Consenat said nothing, because they knew very well that Rusalka's words would be followed by a "but".

Nobles only maintain a certain context when they are talking trash to each other. Whenever they are talking about serious matters, the first half of the sentence is always ironic. For example, if he praises you, then the second half of the sentence is definitely to insult you; if he cries miserably and acts weak, then the second half of the sentence is definitely to bite you; on the contrary, if he speaks aggressively at the beginning, then he is really preparing to give the other party a way out in the second half.

Rusalka: "But I believe the foundation of peace is mutual trust. I actually only have one question: why is Lord Ropa so determined to take over our Pearl Tear Territory?"

Chapter 23 Act

Faced with Rusalka's straightforward question, Lord Ropa wasn't as bewildered as expected. Instead, just as Sanitieta had expected, he chuckled and said, "Today, with Viscount Consnat as witness, walls have no ears, so I'll be frank. Our Ropa family and your Pearl Tears family are sworn enemies. Is it strange that I want to destroy the Pearl Tears family? I think if the former Lord Pearl Tears were given a chance, he would definitely choose to destroy our Ropa family."

Rusalka copied the original words and sent them to Sanita.

Sanitieta took a sip of milk tea and frowned slightly: (This is troublesome. This old Deng would rather admit the crime of destroying the Pearl Tears Sect than reveal the real reason. There must be something complicated behind this. Could it be that the power of Kusha's wrath really exists in the Pearl Tears Sect?)

Rusalka: (Huh? Dude, have you been playing Yu-Gi-Oh too much?)

Sanita: (How dare you, a guy named Rusalka, say that to me?)

Rusalka: (Stop talking about this. What should I say now? He's already like this. I can't just answer with an "oh"?)

Sunita: (Then just express your dissatisfaction.)

Rusalka: (You know the tears of pearls...)

Sanita: (Excuse me, do you have any better jokes?)

Rusalka: (Hello, yes. You know, I've been stacking graveyards since I was eight. My mom always told me, 'It's okay, Merlo Mermaid, you can stack as much as you want, because you're my Narcissus Mermaid's daughter.' Come on, I'll make a bet with you. Win, I'll let you play your turn. Lose, I'll cast a Midrash and disable all of you. The meta is so against me right now, I guess the opponent's deck must have a lot of graveyard control cards. I'll flip it over, see City of Silver, and say, "I don't take hand bombs," and then I'll kill them.)

Sunny Tower: (I allow you to be down-to-earth with your memes, but you can’t be down-to-earth, okay?)

So Rusalka could only curl her lips and said to Lord Ropa, "Then I'm very curious. Since you have such strong opinions about our Pearl Tears family, how could you have the heart to sign a peace agreement with us?"

Lord Ropa replied, "First, you and the Pearl Tears family are actually only related by blood, and I don't harbor such a deep hatred for you. Secondly, I am old and no longer have the ruthlessness of my youth. I just want the family to continue on in a stable way. Finally, don't forget that our two families are in the territory of Viscount Conesnat. The Viscount doesn't want us to be in a long-term hostility, right?"

Viscount Conesnat nodded and said, "If both your families are willing to show sincerity, I will naturally be happy to be a witness to this peace."

Rusalka nodded and said, following Sanita's instructions, "No problem. As for sincerity, I have it in spades. However, before we sign the agreement, I have only one condition: let's see how sincere he is."

Lord Ropa offered a warning: "What conditions? If it's about the mines, since the Viscount has already spoken, I can show my sincerity and not pursue the matter any further. But if you want to go further and obtain something that the Pearl Tears Family has never had, I'm afraid that's not in accordance with the rules."

Rusalka smiled and said, "Of course not. You're worrying too much. I don't want anything material. I just want your attitude."

Lord Ropa: "Oh? You say."

Rusalka: "I want you to come to our Pearl Tear Territory town in person, repent for your oppression of them over the past few years, and make a public apology to my people."

After saying this, not only Lord Ropa, but even Viscount Concenat couldn't help but frown: "Baron Rusalka, isn't your request a bit too much?"

Rusalka shook her head. "I don't want a penny. As you said just now, all I want is an attitude."

Lord Luopa suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice, "Lord Pearl Tear, if I asked you to kneel down and apologize in front of my son's tombstone, would you do it?"

Rusalka put down his knife, fork, and chopsticks and spread his hands. He didn't need Sanitieta to teach him. He smiled brightly and said, "That's absolutely no problem. If you're worried, we can do both things simultaneously. You can set a date. You don't have to pick me up. I'll come to your house in person. If you're worried, you can sign a contract to bind me. If I don't do anything wrong, I'll give you my life, and you can do the same. How about it?"

Sanitieta said in surprise: (Brother, you won’t break your oath by talking like this?)

Rusalka: (I've figured it out. The Paladin's oath here is different from the game's. It's primarily a spiritualist oath. As long as I refuse to admit my mistakes, I won't break it no matter what. Even though I smoke, drink, gamble, and commit domestic violence, I'm a good man.)

Sanita: (God-defying.)

Lord Ropa stared at Rusalka for a long time, then took a deep breath, slowly stood up, bowed slightly to Viscount Concenat, and said, "Your Excellency, I'm sorry, but I may need some time to mentally prepare for this matter. Can we put the peace agreement on hold for a while?"

Rusalka pressed the issue, "That's strange. You keep saying you want sincerity and attitude. I gave you enough face and agreed to your request, but now you're going back on your word?"

Viscount Consenat shook his head slightly, sighed, and said, "Well, it seems that today is not the right time to discuss this matter. Please go back after dinner. If ever you reach an agreement and are willing to truly let go of your hatred and achieve peace, I welcome you to ask me to be a witness at any time."

This is the modern negotiation style of Sunny Tower, which can turn a tug-of-war into a blitzkrieg in an instant. The main point is not to give the other party psychological preparation, but to directly and politely express the attitude of turning over the table and not talking, so that the other party will suffer a loss and go back angrily.

Rusalka and Sanitta didn't want to spend more time in the city of Consenat. The Viscount had already expressed his refusal to receive them. Perhaps Lord Ropa had other plans, such as to see what his daughter, who had married into the Viscount's territory, was like. In any case, he didn't leave immediately.

But Rusalka and Sanita had no such thoughts and no intention of asking for trouble. They simply took back their equipment, found the driver, took some dry food and started their return journey.

----

"My dear daughter, ever since you married into the Viscount's territory, I have been thinking about you all the time."

"Father, I know why you came to see me, but this matter..."

"I know this is difficult for you, but think about your poor brother, he's gone just like that..." Lord Ropa choked up, clutching his daughter's shoulders and saying, "As a father, I'm in so much pain. Every time I close my eyes, I think of his face. As his sister, don't you feel anything at all?"

"Father...I..."

"Never mind. I also know that a daughter who is married off is like spilled water. You are now the wife of the Viscount's second son, and I am only a small baron. I still have to pay my respects to you. I am very grateful that you were able to secure those armaments for my father. I think the blood relationship between us is worth that much."

"Father, I absolutely did not mean that, but my husband is the Viscount's son after all. The Viscount has clearly stipulated that they are not allowed to appear in person on this matter."

"My dear daughter, I'm not asking him to do anything personally. I just want that greedy and cruel Lord Pearl Tear to relent and give me a chance to breathe. You know, he's like a crocodile, biting our throats. The more you beg for mercy, the tighter he bites. I'm at my wit's end.

For the sake of our Ropa family, your two remaining brothers, and you, I even compromised with him, returned the large mine to him, and begged him to reconcile with us, but what was the result?

Lord Ropa sighed deeply. "That Lord Pearl Tear wouldn't even take you, my old father with one foot halfway into his coffin, seriously. The Viscount can't even come in person due to his status. Do you really have the heart to watch me apologize to those untouchables before I die, ruining my integrity?"

"I...I'll try my best."

"My dear daughter, you have always been the one I care about most. Ever since your brother died, I don't know why I immediately thought of you. Perhaps I was just too excited today." Lord Ropa held his daughter's hand. "I'm not forcing anything. Well, if you calm down and think about it, the dead cannot be resurrected, so the living need to be cherished even more.

Forget it, just treat these things today as a few complaints from an old man like me. Don't go looking for your husband. In fact, as long as you can live in peace, I have no regrets. I'm leaving now. You don't have to worry about the family affairs. Before I leave, I will make sure to make good arrangements for you.

"Father, you are the one who needs to take care of yourself."

"It's okay, it's okay. I'm leaving now, daughter. I'll come see you again when I feel better."

Lord Ropa turned around and left while coughing, leaving his daughter standing there in a daze, feeling lost.

She gritted her teeth, turned around, and walked towards the knight training ground, a place she had never been to before.

There was her husband, the second son of the Viscount who was also a knight.

----

Returning to Pearl Tear Territory from Consenat City would take two days and one night, even if the carriage was used urgently. On the first night, while camping at the border between the Viscount Territory and Pearl Tear Territory, Sanitieta chatted privately with Rusalka: (If I were Lord Ropa, tonight would be a good day to act. I could kill the entire family of the former Pearl Tear Territory, so why can't I kill you?)

Rusalka sneered, sandwiched the dried meat and butter between the white bread, and took a bite: (What a coincidence, I thought so too.)

"My lord, the tea is ready." The old man who served as the "royal coachman" handed over a few cups, then took the small bucket for making tea from the campfire and filled them one by one. He had a smile on his face, and the wrinkles on his face were squeezed together.

"You don't have to keep watch tonight. Sleep in the carriage and I will do it." said Sanita.

The old man waved his hands repeatedly: "How can that be? How can I trouble you to stay up all night? Don't worry, Master, I'm very good at this kind of night watch. Sometimes when I'm in a hurry, I can go without sleep for a few days without any problem."

Rusalka: "He said, you do it."

The old man didn't insist this time. He nodded and thanked her repeatedly, then ate his dry food without saying anything more.

After extinguishing the fire at night, Rusalka and Sanitta threw their pillows on the ground and slept directly on the grass outside. Due to their physical constitution, they were not afraid of catching a cold. At most, they just slept a little uncomfortably.

They were not disappointed. When a dark cloud gently covered the moonlight and the stars in the sky were the dimmest, several crossbow arrows broke through the air and shot towards the two people on the ground.

The body of Sani Tieta was pierced by the crossbow arrow, but no blood seeped out. Instead, a faint shadow appeared on the ground and then dissipated.

As for Rushaka, needless to say, he had already activated his rage in an instant and raised his large shield to block many crossbow arrows. The rest of the arrows, due to the characteristics of the most physical resistance of the rage noble, only deducted a total of 6 points of his health. When he stood up and took a breath, he restored it with holy healing.

In the swaying shadows of the woods, many black-robed figures were moving around, appearing and disappearing. Faced with this situation, Sani Tieta raised his hand, and a sun half-hung above his head, instantly replacing the dim moonlight and illuminating the area as if it were daytime.

Faced with the terrifying magic, the men in black robes not only did not flee, but instead rushed up at the same time, showing their daggers and swords to Rusalka who was guarding the carriage door.

Sani Tieta, who had already hidden in the carriage, said: (Be careful, their crossbows are all poisoned, they are most likely assassins.)

Rusalka: (Oh, I was wondering why it said immune just now. Turns out the arrows are poisonous. I was shocked. I thought there was another mage.)

Sanita: (Uh, you're resistant to poison? Well, be careful anyway, risking your life is much scarier than you think.)

Rusalka drew out his giant sword and swept it across, cutting a black-robed man who rushed up into two pieces on the spot. However, before he died, the black-robed man crushed a piece of crystal, which instantly exploded, knocking Rusalka to the ground. The moment he stood up in a panic, he was hit by three long swords that had been waiting on the side.

This attack took away 25 HP from him. Although he was already experienced in combat, he did not choose to recover immediately. Instead, he took advantage of the time difference while being hit, turned around and stabbed a black-robed man in the abdomen with his sword.

Before the greatsword was drawn, the man in black also crushed the crystal tied to his wrist.

This time Rusalka learned her lesson.

"Shield."

The blast blew away the two black-robed men beside him, and Rusalka, who was wrapped in a transparent circular barrier, took advantage of the moment when the barrier broke to chop off their bodies and arms, leaving them no chance to crush the crystal. Then, with a mysterious step, she instantly moved behind a black-robed man who was aiming at her from a distance, and beheaded him with a slash of her sword.

With the strength and talent of 20, he wielded the giant sword in his hand as lightly as a dagger. After killing five people in a blink of an eye, the remaining men in black robes seemed to be frightened and stepped back a little. They did not dare to approach Rusalka anymore, but raised their crossbows to shoot from a distance.

After doing all this, Rusalka began to easily recover more than half of her health bar.

However, Sani Iron Tower was not just there to watch the show. Facing the possibility that the other party was going to use long-range harassment tactics, three red rays instantly shot out from the carriage. The rays simultaneously hit one of the black-robed men who had taken out a bottle of potion but had not yet had time to drink it, instantly turning the latter into a burning fireman. The screams gradually weakened with the increasingly strong smell of barbecue.

Then, a whirlwind of daggers appeared without warning and enveloped the other two men in black robes. The pain of the sword blades tearing their flesh forced them to escape from the range of the dagger cloud in a bloody mess.

However, the cooperation between Rusalka and Sanita was seamless. When they finally escaped from the rain of daggers, Rusalka had already walked to the edge with a greatsword, looking as if he had been waiting for a long time.

In desperation, the black-robed man could only crush the crystal on his wrist, but he didn't expect Rusalka, who was rushing towards him, to turn back and run away...

"Hey, are you here? Tathagata."

Rusalka shouted triumphantly, but he obviously couldn't run as fast as the explosion. After being knocked over by the air wave, he cursed the unreasonable decision of deducting 8 health points from him.

The last two remaining people were no match for them. After a magic explosion injured one of them's legs, Rusalka stood there and finished him off with a few more magic explosions from a distance, watching the fireworks explode quietly.

After the last tough guy was knocked down by Sani Iron Tower's ice arrows and fire arrows, he tore off a scroll and fired a fireball the size of a washbasin directly at the carriage.

The carriage itself will not run away.

There was no other way. Seeing this, Rukasha could only stride over and raise her shield to withstand the fireball. With a roar that resounded through the woods, Rukasha was gloriously blown away by the fireball and hit the carriage directly, almost knocking the carriage away.

It’s a pity that the two big horses tied to the tree were probably frightened by the fireball. They knelt on the ground and neighed miserably, but dared not move.

Rusalka dusted herself off and stood up. She raised her hand and unleashed a magical blast, smashing the head of the unconscious man lying on the ground after tearing up the scroll. While using the Holy Healing Pool to heal herself, she raised her middle finger in that direction. "Damn! This thing actually took away 30 HP from me, even with my shield completely shattered."

Sanita: (Indeed, it's just that I'd die instantly if I were hit by one, right?)

Rusalka, who had recovered to full health in about half a minute, kicked the half-dead body away: (That's it? That's all the dead soldiers are?)

Sanita: (Is there a possibility that if our positions were reversed, I would have been on the verge of death during the first wave of surprise attacks. If I were a native, that wave of explosions would have inflicted only injuries to my hands and feet, and without the means to quickly recover, it would have been a death sentence. Isn't this a terrifying suicide attack?)

Rusalka: (I feel like it's not as oppressive as the double-bladed devil man.)