Chapter 521 - 520: Heading South
This is a widespread snowfall.
Flurries of snow extend from the Dark Mountain Range all the way to the northern part of the rocky ridges Fortress, turning nearly one-third of the southern borders into a blanket of white. To the north of rocky ridges Fortress, in the extensive Anzu Lands, the eastern regions and the entire northern parts also experience vast snowfallâone night seems to have transformed the entire world, with human society rapidly retreating into hibernation in the winter. The Plains of the Holy Spirits fall silent, the eastern battle lines army assume a standoff position, western border trades come to a halt, and the northern Grand Duke arrives at the aristocratic territory closest to rocky ridges Fortress.
Inside the Pompeii Family Castle, flames roar in the fireplace, where valuable golden oak is used as kindling, releasing a soothing fragrance. Bright firelight from the fireplace illuminates the gold-red carpeted reception room, casting flickering and wavering shadows on those gold and silver utensils and lampstands, and amidst these shadows, Count Pompeiiâs round, plump face is set with an ingratiating yet slightly tense smile.
The plainsâ border aristocrat leaned forward: "Your presence truly reassures meâthe moment the fortress in the south changed hands, I havenât had a restful sleep, those Cecil Clan members constructed a bunch of magical devices on the fortress, I fear my poor castle might collapse any night..."
Duchess Victoria Wilder wore a gown of snow-white adorned with pale blue patterns, her silver-white hair elegantly tied behind her head, with two strands hanging at her ears, woven with golden threads gleaming in the fireplaceâs glow. She glanced at Count Pompeii: "As far as I know, since the rocky ridges Fortress changed hands, Duke Cecil Clan has not expanded outward nor attacked your territory."
"...That is indeed the case," Count Pompeii wiped his foreheadâthough he wasnât sweating, facing the Duchess known as the "Northern Queen", nobody could avoid feeling anxious. This duchess is the kingdomâs mightiest aristocrat, with a reputation for being stern and cold, and more importantly, she now controls Silver Castle. Meanwhile, Count Pompeii has not only lost control of rocky ridges Fortress, but also lost many family knights and soldiers in supporting it. He must carefully maintain relations with the southern borders while seeking royal capitalâs aid, so he speaks cautiously, "The Cecil Clan army hasnât stepped out of rocky ridges Fortress but theyâve been fortifying structures on the fortressâs northern city wall, which is unsettling."
"Seems like the founder hero doesnât want us to âdisturbâ him..." Veronica Moen, standing beside Victoria with a serene and calm demeanor in white Holy Light Clericâs robes, broke the silence softly.
Victoria nodded slightly and looked at Count Pompeii: "Aside from fortifying structures, what else are Cecil Clan people doing?"
The chubby count thought for a moment: "They dismantled rocky ridges Fortressâs southern city wallâor rather, blew it up, then didnât repair itâthey established a ârocky ridges Townâ south of the fortress, restricting passage across rocky ridges Town, though the town itself is open to merchants and envoys."
"Transforming rocky ridges Fortress into a fort city with trade functions..." Victoria pondered, "So, have you visited rocky ridges Town?"
"I... my territory affairs are busy, I wasnât able to go personally," Count Pompeii wiped his smooth forehead again, shy to admit the words "didnât dare go", "but Iâve been monitoring it and sent envoys. All over rocky ridges Town are Cecil Clanâs magical devices, along with a large market. They opened the Gorgon Riverâs gates, allowing merchant ships from Plains of the Holy Spirits to dock at the market pier, attracting numerous merchantsâyou know, merchants will risk anything for money..."
Victoria did not respond, merely glancing lightly at Count Pompeii.
He is also a descendant of a once valiant knight; however, having been pampered for generations in the peaceful Plains of the Holy Spirits, the spirit of courage and valor has vanished from their bloodlineâyet as the landâs owner, this count at least managed to gather some information on rocky ridges Fortress.
The sound of wind and snow outside the castle had gradually quieted down.
Duchess Victoria stood up, her black-haired maid Maji promptly stepped forward to adjust the dressâs slight wrinkles. This northern ruler looked at Count Pompeii who also stood up and said, "Do your best to compile statistics on the past yearâs trade between the southern borders and Plains of the Holy Spirits. Count how many merchants and their contacts, list the merchants they dispatched, and itemize the goods they mainly purchased after rocky ridges Fortress changed hands."
This time, a genuine bead of sweat appeared on Count Pompeiiâs round face: "This... Alright, I will do my utmost..."
Extracting a few reliable numbers from the chaotic mound of papers is no easy task. Many merchants who use smaller routes or bribe soldiers wonât appear on tax records, and as the landâs ruler, Count Pompeii isnât even sure how many merchants roughly come and go from his territory each monthâyet the duchess has given an order, and he must try his best to fulfill it.
It seems that tonight wonât be a night of sleep.
Seeing Count Pompeiiâs troubled expression, Victoria sighed inwardly once again.
Statistics, personnel registration, legal standardization... During a Silver Castle meeting seven years ago, the Duke of the East proposed these concepts, learning them from Typhon Empire and attempted to teach Anzu people, yet after seven years, the Duke of the East transitioned to rebellion, while Grand Duke Silas Lolandâs requirements at Silver Castle havenât reached the southern parts of Plains of the Holy Spirits...
Silas Loland... Can you no longer see hope?
Victoria Wilder left the castleâs inner court, traversing through mottled ancient outer wall corridors, arriving at Pompeii Castleâs rooftop terrace.
The snowstorm had ceased, though the night sky still occasionally saw snowflakes fall, those gathered on towers and rooftops spilling into the night wind. These snowflakes fluttered around the terrace, naturally avoiding Duchess Victoriaâs vicinity within ten meters, as if in awe.
Compared to Bitter Winter Castle built atop the mountains, overlooking miles of icy landscapes, Count Pompeiiâs proudly emphasized San Pompeii castle appeared smaller and shabbier, yet it occupied the finest terrain and boasts a great terrace. Standing on the terrace, Victoriaâs vision faces the southern bordersâ mountain barriers and rocky ridges Fortress nestled amid those mountains.
In between lies an almost unobstructed plain area.
Itâs no wonder Count Pompeii finds it hard to sleep at ease.
Under the deepening night, the rocky ridges Fortress is the brightest light source in the Dark Mountain Range. With the keen eyesight of a Transcendent, Victoria can see that the glow is formed by numerous lamps set on the walls and towersâthose lights shine in every direction, capable of illuminating various checkpoints and blinding attackers trying to target the sentries or mages on the battlements and watchtowers.
Apart from those light sources, the entire rocky ridges Fortress is also enveloped in a layer of faintly glowing barrier. This barrier shrouds the other areas of the fortress in a veil of dim haze, making details hard to discern.
"Is that the Great Shield of the rocky ridges Fortress..." Veronicaâs voice comes from nearby. The "Saint Princess" has, unknowingly, come to stand beside Duchess Wilder. She gazes toward the rocky ridges Fortress, surrounded by her usual faint Holy Light, "I heard that on Day 58 of the Fire Moon, the Cecil Clan used some powerful magic to destroy that barrier... I didnât expect they would have repaired it so quickly."
"The Great Shield is an essential barrier for the rocky ridges Fortress. Of course, the Cecil Clan would have prioritized its repair, and as for magic barriers, as long as the energy and projection structures arenât substantially damaged, itâs easy to fix even if the barrier is breached."
"Is that so..." Veronica said softly, raising her head, somewhat lost in thought as she gazes to the south, "I donât know much about the field of magic..."
Hearing this obviously inattentive response, Duchess Wilder merely smiled faintly, and then, together with the "Saint Princess," stood on the castleâs balcony, quietly enjoying this calm winter night after the first snow had just stopped.
The next day, the weather was clear.
In the main hall of the castle, Count Pompeii handed a scroll of parchment, still faintly scented with ink, to Victoria Wilder.
This scroll roughly summarizes the trade situation of the southern borders over the past year, as well as the merchantsâ activities after the rocky ridges Fortress changed hands. Its content is vague and imprecise, with only about thirty percent being reliable, while the other seventy percent is probably gleaned from Count Pompeii and a group of advisorsâ educated guesses.
With such information, even with Victoriaâs intelligence, itâs challenging to deduce many valuable insights.
However, seeing Count Pompeiiâs bloodshot eyes and the listless state of the advisors present, the duchess knew this was the best result she could expect.
At least Count Pompeii could present this much, unlike those truly rural aristocrats who would cluelessly ask, "What is statistics?"
"Go and rest, Count," Victoriaâs words allowed Count Pompeii to relax, "We will bring good news."
"Your wisdom is Anzuâs greatest fortune," the plump count bent down, speaking sincerely, "May your journey be smooth."
Victoria nodded and turned to leave, while Veronica deliberately lagged a few steps behind. This princess said to Count Pompeii beside her, "Donât use a farewell tone typical of the battlefield. As a kingdomâs aristocrat, show some courageâthatâs our ancestor, not a man-eating beast."
Count Pompeii revealed an awkward and slightly embarrassed smile, lowering his head: "Just as you say."
Both the Northern Duchess and the Holy Light-favored Princess had left, yet Count Pompeii, left standing in place, couldnât help but think of an ungraceful thought:
From childhood, the one who beat him the hardest was his grandfather...
If his grandfather was like that, now an ancestor from another family, separated by dozens of generations and without blood relation, picks up a weapon... wouldnât they be holding it in to beat someone to death?
The envoy convoy from the royal capital left Count Pompeiiâs castle, and in this decidedly unsuited winter day after a snowstorm, the carriages and horses ventured onto the snow-covered Kingâs Road.
Sitting in the splendid carriage, Victoria Wilder raised her hand, and an orderly wind sprang up out of thin air, wrapping around the convoy. The snow on the road was scattered, and the cold of winter was kept at bay.
The knights escorting the convoy tapped their long swords against shields hanging by their saddles, loudly praising their mistress. Soldiers in red and blue uniforms blew the horns at the front of the procession, and the military band began to play a tune. With the inspiring rhythm and melody, the envoys from St. Soniel set out toward the direction of the rocky ridges Fortress.
In the feudal lordâs mansion in Cecil Castle, the Magic Web Communicator in front of Gawain projected a half-body projection of Wald Peric, Commander of the rocky ridges and second legion. The respectable old knight stood straight: "Your Grace, the royal capital envoy is nearing the rocky ridges Fortress."
"Make preparations and receive them properly," Gawain nodded slightly, "The convoy sent for welcoming them has already set off."
He paused for a moment and smiled: "Do not neglect themâthey are a lucrative deal."
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