When Stanford received the report, a person claiming to be from Gabella Imperial Capital... The senior scholar at Scholars Tower was filled with disbelief after hoping to meet him.
Not to mention that Gabella Imperial Capital is separated from the North Three Territories by half a continent, why would a respected scholar come to such a wild and uncivilized place?
Out of curiosity, he decided to meet the person. If the person was just messing with him, he would make the other person regret it to death. The development of the North Three Territories was in dire need of manpower!
In the meeting room, Stanford met two guests.
A man around fifty years old, slightly hunched over, appeared even thinner, perhaps due to the long journey. His loose robe swayed gently, emphasizing his well-defined wrists and ankles. The deep wrinkles on his face conveyed an indomitable wisdom, and his gray beard hung haphazardly on his chest, clearly indicating that the fatigue of the journey had not yet completely dissipated.
The man identified himself as Alvis.
The other person had a angular face with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes, but his eyes still gleamed with a sharp light, like a sharp knife, always alert to the movement around him.
The man claimed to be Marek, Alvis's bodyguard.
" Alvis? You are Scholar Alvis?" Stanford stood up in surprise when the man who identified himself as a bachelor announced his name.
Alvis responded with the same surprised expression. Although he was famous in Gabella, he was currently in a place separated from Gabella by the Great Prairie.
Alvis was unaware that the senior executives within the Alda system were among the most well-informed people in the world.
The Political Affairs Council regularly compiles intelligence gathered from all over the world and distributes it to various departments in the form of an internal newspaper for officials at all levels to read. The sources of intelligence are diverse, including intelligence personnel, business people, envoys stationed abroad, and so on. In particular, information about other continents, about strange countries with inhabitants of different appearances, has begun to be known to Alda thanks to the increasing number of transoceanic fleets going to and returning. Alda is gaining a deeper understanding of their social structures and customs, things that even a learned man like Alvis did not know.
Not to mention Gabella, who is located on the same continent and already has extensive exchanges with Aldor. The name of this high-ranking figure in the empire is not unfamiliar to high-ranking officials like Stanford, and Alvis is naturally one of them.
"You know me?" Old Scholar asked, puzzled.
"Of course, Mr. Alvis, you are a senior bachelor in the Scholars Tower, second only to Master Aldrich." Stanford gave him a Gabella bow.
Alvis gave a wry smile. "Second only to Aldrich, a senior bachelor? That's all in the past. I'm just a fugitive in the Empire now."
Stanford was taken aback. "What happened, Master Alvis?"
The Gabella Empire did not publicize Alvis's departure, and Alda did not actively inquire about non-critical matters, relying more on collecting publicly available information. Therefore, even though a considerable amount of time had passed, Stanford was unaware of the changes within the Empire's upper echelons.
Alvis frowned slightly and said seriously, "I would like to ask, Mr. Stanford, whether you, or rather the Marquis Glaeman behind you, would be willing to provide me and my servants with safe haven? I do not want to deceive you, but assassins appointed by Emperor Antonio Griffin himself may still be hunting me down, and providing me with shelter would risk offending the Emperor."
On the way to Black Worm Nest, Alvis had already learned about the general situation of the North Three Territories and Northwest Bay from the Aldor people, and knew that Paul Greiman was the ruler here.
His words did not surprise Stanford too much; it is a common occurrence, both in the past and present, for a former high-ranking official of a country to flee to a foreign country seeking political asylum.
Stanford calmly asked, "Could you tell me about your experience first?"
Alvis nodded. "Oh! Of course, this is something you should know before making your decision. Please forgive my rudeness, but the constant escape has left me like a bird that was almost shot by an arrow, living in constant fear. My mind is no longer sound."
"First of all, I must state that Emperor Antonio Griffin of Gabella once plotted a terrible scheme against your country Aldor, and he succeeded. This scheme plunged Aldor into war, caused its territory to fall, and its people to become slaves of foreign tribes."
Stanford could easily deduce that he was referring to the orc invasion.
"As for me, because I vehemently opposed this conspiracy, I eventually broke with the emperor, was not tolerated by Gabella, and was forced to leave Scholars Tower and embark on a journey of escape."
"My purpose was to go to Aldor to remind you that the Emperor's conspiracy is still ongoing. I originally intended to go directly through Nerodan Corridor and take a look at the land that has fallen under the iron heel of the orcs, but unfortunately I was pursued by assassins and was forced to abandon my original route and detour through Great Prairie."
"Misfortune struck again. I was sold into slavery to an orc tribe by an untrustworthy and unscrupulous merchant. Fortunately, the ruler there saw that I was somewhat educated and did not treat me as a laborer..."
Not a single mistake, not a single song, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single 6-9 book, not a single bar, take a look!
Alvis recounted his experiences over the past year in detail.
Stanford listened quietly, then thought for a moment before replying, "I can only say that our Public Security Department will provide personal safety protection for all those who abide by Alda laws within our territory, whether they are from our own country or from abroad. However, this protection is primarily achieved through deterrence. In the event of serious incidents such as murder or kidnapping, the Public Security Department will investigate them as criminal cases and, to the best of its ability, apprehend, try, and punish the perpetrators. As for further protection, especially involving high-ranking foreign officials like yourself, I have no authority to decide. However, I can write to Lakeheart Town or arrange for you to go there directly to inquire about the Marquis Glaeman's opinion."
If it were a chieftain or tribal leader from the North Three Territories seeking asylum, it would fall within Stanford's jurisdiction, and he would handle it himself. However, Gabella is a different story. It is a powerful nation that dominates the central part of the continent. In Stanford's view, Alvis is a hot potato even for his own lord, who might just pass this hot potato to Crystal Radiance, leaving King Rodney XVIII with a headache, just like he did.
"I appreciate your frankness, Mr. Stanford," Alvis thanked him. "I would like to see the Marquis Glaeman in person; there are some things I need to clarify with him face to face."