Chapter 1532 - 1069: Your Mom Plays Pretty Wild

"Is it because of previous oversights that Your Excellency feels we are incapable of earning his trust and reliance?"

Naisa couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild, and worry started to creep in.

However, instead of worrying, Naisa chose to prioritize her duty, offering counsel on Reiger’s sudden proposed itinerary.

"If Your Excellency needs anything from the dwarves, perhaps we could try commissioning them through official channels."

The so-called official channels essentially refer to making requests to the dwarven race as a national power unit.

From the Holy Sword to the Nanierga Giant Wall, throughout history, all exquisite crafts requiring the hands of dwarven smiths have emerged in this manner.

This can be attributed to the dwarves’ stubborn and rigid character.

They are like a group of obstinate old fogies, nearly impenetrable by persuasion. No matter how much people sweet-talk them or how noble their status, if they’re not in the mood, not even a sword to the neck can coax a compromise.

Thus, apart from a select few who can get along with the dwarves, eight or nine out of ten races and forces in the Source World don’t maintain good relations with them.

If the dwarves didn’t need other races and forces to gather precious forging materials from around the world for them, and if they didn’t understand the principle of mutual dependency, willing to offer all assistance in the Abyss War, it wouldn’t be so easy for other races and forces to obtain their exquisite crafts.

Considering this, Naisa suggested that Reiger make a formal request to the dwarves on behalf of the Karedohart Empire, submitting an order.

Only in this way would those stubborn and difficult dwarves be willing to work, a consensus that has existed for a long, long time.

However, Naisa didn’t know that Reiger wasn’t seeking the dwarves for any forging, nor did he require such troubles.

Staring at Melo, Lilicia spoke up.

"No need for all that trouble; my grandpa is different from other dwarves and doesn’t have a significant aversion to humans, otherwise he wouldn’t have met my grandma."

Everywhere, there are exceptions.

Lilicia’s grandfather was evidently a type among the dwarves with a better temper, without much aversion to humans, hence his marriage to Lilicia’s human grandmother, giving birth to her half-dwarf mother.

And Lilicia’s mother also married the king of a human nation, proving that at least this family isn’t the type to hold an unfounded grudge against humans.

"I’ve already contacted my grandpa personally, and he told me I could visit him anytime."

Lilicia then shot another provocative glance at Melo.

Still indifferent, Melo’s demeanor let Lilicia feel somewhat deflated, as she turned to Reiger.

"Does Your Highness need to put away the Holy Sword first?"

Clearly, even after Lilicia’s assurance, Melo wasn’t entirely convinced.

She knew the dwarves’ obsession with the Holy Sword; since Lilicia’s grandfather could become the highest-ranking person in the dwarven outpost, he must be a skilled forging master.

After all, unlike other outposts, the dwarves’ primary reason for stationing at Nanierga was to monitor it in real-time, preventing any issues.

They patrol and inspect the entire Nanierga Front meticulously, repairing any discovered issues on the spot.

As such, the dwarves sent to guard Nanierga are typically highly skilled blacksmiths.

The dwarves’ society differs from human society, with no concept of nobility.

Their way of life diverges significantly from a nation, resembling a large tribe, where even though a Dwarf King rules, his role is more akin to a tribal chieftain—directing but not ruling like a human king.

Reiger had read many times in history books about the Dwarf King finding rare magic metals in a mine on a specific date in the Source World calendar...

Can you believe a king would go mining?

But that’s how the dwarves live; successive Dwarf Kings often delve into mines, go to war, hunt, mix potent brews, and of course forge legendary artifacts.

In this context, although Lilicia’s grandfather came from an ordinary family, it was normal for a skilled craftsman to be entrusted with significant responsibilities.

Being the highest commander among master craftsmen signifies that Lilicia’s grandfather, even if not the strongest, must have unparalleled forging skills to command respect among the temperamental dwarves.

The more skilled the Forging Master, the more obsessed they are with the mythical dwarven masterpiece—the Holy Sword.

To avoid conflict, temporarily storing away the Holy Sword and concealing his identity would not be disadvantageous for Reiger.

In fact, Reiger had considered this.

The problem is...

"If we head over ostentatiously like this, even if they have a bad temper, unless they’re fools, they’ll realize there’s someone like me—the Master of the Holy Sword—on this super large magic-guided battleship." Reiger shrugged and remarked, "My visit to Nanierga this time wasn’t a secret, nor was my boarding of the Sphinx. Once they see this battleship, they’ll likely know it’s me."

If Reiger knew the exact coordinates of the dwarven outpost or if it weren’t so far from the Karedohart Empire’s outpost, he wouldn’t have come back to find Melo and Naisa to board this magic-guided battleship.

"Moreover, with you accompanying me, even a fool should guess my identity, right?" Reiger added, "After all, there aren’t many men in this world that can have the Empire’s Grand Princess and the Holy Sword Church’s Pope accompanying them."

In fact, there might only be Reiger.

Unless they’re completely blind and don’t recognize Melo and Naisa, Reiger’s identity cannot be concealed.

Thus, Reiger abandoned the idea of hiding the Holy Sword.

"This..."

Melo and Naisa exchanged glances but couldn’t refute.

"Please be assured, Your Excellency."

Beluti then spoke up.

"I’ve heard Princess Lilicia’s grandfather dotes on her, so as long as Your Highness is present, it won’t get too bad."

Upon hearing this, Lilicia nodded repeatedly, even patting her not-so-prominent chest with a thumping sound.

"Leave it to me. If Grandpa misbehaves, I’ll have Mom pluck his beard."

... Your mother has quite the bold ways, huh.

Many silently quipped in their minds, feeling strangely amused.

A nearly 40-year-old woman going to pluck her father’s beard...?

No, the image is too vivid to envisage.

But Reiger fully believed Lilicia’s words.

A legal loli is still a loli; seeing her innocent demeanor and recalling she’s Lilicia’s mother, who can say it won’t happen?

"How long until we arrive?"

Reiger asked Melo.

"We should arrive before dark."

Melo replied to Reiger.

"Before dark?"

Reiger glanced at the sky and saw the sun at its peak—it was midday.

That means, in four to five hours, they should reach the destination.

"I hope it goes smoothly."

Otherwise, without resorting to violence, Reiger would have to expend some experience points to achieve his goal with the super-level magic [Wish Upon a Star].