When most Constellatiates thought of Eckstedtians, their first reaction would always be, "Tough and hardy."
Their second reaction would be different.
Most of the civilians would touch their heads in confusion and say that they were "barbaric" or "boorish", while the merchants would probably laugh and say, "Honesty makes business easier", while the mercenaries and adventurers would smile mysteriously and tell you that they were the first choice regardless of whether they were the vanguard or the rearguard.
The veterans who had fought against them would frown and sigh deeply in their memories amidst the ale and tobacco, leaving behind a sentence: "They are not to be trifled with."
However, from what Thales had read about the history of the continent, at least the nobles and suzerains of Constellation had a completely different and complicated impression of their powerful northern neighbor.
As the strongest country in the Western Peninsula, Eckstedt had an intimidating and powerful army and shocking battle records. It was a trustworthy and solid ally during the Peninsular War, but also a ferocious and terrifying dragon when the three strongest forces in the Western Peninsula fought.
Compared to the orderly and refined Constellation, this was a valiant country full of romantic spirit and rebellious heart. It was a martial and heroic country. Its long tradition even predated the Ancient Empire.
From the distant, uncivilized era, the King of the North, Takmu, and the orcs formed the 'Alliance of Ten Thousand Beasts', to the Iron Blood King's heroic sacrifice to fight against the orcs as the 'human's last line of defense'. In this northern territory of the humans, the bitterest cold wind had once blown the humans awake from the weak and uncivilized era.
Then, during the Age of Kings, during the decisive battle of Quiquer, two thousand human iron cavaliers charged forward with indomitable will and launched a 'Holiness Exorcism Campaign' against the twenty thousand orc heavy infantry formation. Then, the valiant knights in the north gathered under the emperor's banner and conquered the world with swords and fire to build the Ancient Empire. The land in the north witnessed how the humans' single saber and thin sword became the sharpest blade in the world.
During the Age of the Empire, Northland Province's' King of Rebellion ', Quiso, rebelled against the tyrant. Although he was not famous in Constellation, which considered themselves to be the rightful descendants of the Empire, Thales had read that the King of Rebellion attacked the three main armies of the Empire with his remaining three hundred men at the side of Lonely Old Peak. In the end, he died heroically in the battlefield. This awakened the seemingly powerful Empire's accumulated diseases and internal injuries, and started the first civil strife in the Empire.
The closest thing to the current Eckstedt Kingdom was the Battle of Eradication, where the hero Raikaru descended from the sky with his knights during the darkest and most desperate moment. They charged straight into the heart of the enemy's army, igniting the Northland Province and even the entire world's hope of resisting the Battle of Reversal Cold Wind. He saved the Northern and Western Fronts, which were in imminent danger, not to mention the post-war division of the Peninsular. He and his ten loyal knights created the legend of Eckstedt's founding.
More recently, the legendary adventure of Eckstedt's hero Chara, the prophet Kai Peng, and Constellation's Oath Keeper Midier, as well as how they fought side by side against the Eastern Peninsula's Allied Forces during the Second Peninsular War and turned the tide were stories that people in Errol loved to talk about. At least, this was the case in the Western Peninsula.
Compared to Constellation, which was like an old gentleman who shouldered the heavy orthodoxy of the Empire, and whose founding story was full of sorrow and bitterness, Eckstedt was full of heroism and resistance. It was more like a warrior in his prime who was full of hope and passion. Wherever the tip of the sword pointed, it would move forward with indomitable will, and it would have no regrets even if it meant death.
Just like the Eckstedtian in front of Thales.
Eckstedt's emergency envoy, Baron Lasalle Weider, stood upright in the meeting hall in Renaissance Palace, which was second only to the Hall of Stars. He did not care about the hostile gazes of the Constellatiate officials and nobles in the hall.
He stood casually with his arms crossed. He lowered his head and looked at the ground. Occasionally, he would raise his eyes to sweep his surroundings, but he did not seem inelegant or rude at all. It was as if this was how he should be. However, the faint smile at the corners of his lips made the onlookers frown.
Lasalle appeared to be in his early forties. He held a scroll sealed with a red dragon seal in his hand. Not only was there no fear on his face, there was even a hint of arrogance on his face. When the people in the hall were swept by his eyes, which were filled with fighting spirit, they had the illusion that they were not the ones sizing up the envoy, but the Eckstedtian who stood in the meeting hall was sizing them up arrogantly.
Under such circumstances, Thales pursed his lips tightly and stood together with Gilbert. They stood inconspicuously next to the Constellation Throne, which was located several steps above the stairs.
In the hall, from the dukes of the six Great Clans, the heads of the counts of the thirteen Distinguished Families, to the members of the Imperial Conference: Chief of Intelligence Morat Hansen, Minister of Finance Kirkirk Mann, Military Advisor Solder Ryder, and so on, all of them stood quietly at the side of the throne.
The center of power in the entire Constellation was waiting for Kessel the Fifth to speak on the throne.
Kessel the Fifth's sky-blue eyes were also carefully sizing up the person in front of him. He was the emergency envoy sent by Eckstedt after Prince Moriah was assassinated.
The envoy was able to cross the border from Dragon Clouds City without stopping and rush to Eternal Star City six days after the incident. It was enough to show the urgency of the matter and the envoy's attitude.
"What have you brought, envoy of the Great Dragon of the North?" Kessel's voice spread.
"Me? Humph, I personally didn't bring anything. " The Eckstedtians' emergency envoy, Lasalle chuckled. His gaze instantly turned cold. "But very soon, all of Eckstedt will bring their sorrow, their despair, and …"
"Their anger!"
The entire hall fell silent.
Baron Lasalle stared straight at King Kessel without flinching.
In the suffocating silence, just as Thales was wondering which party should be the first to bring up the main topic, a voice suddenly rang out.
Kessel the Fifth broke the silence.
"I recognize you."
The king spoke slowly. His deep voice echoed throughout the entire hall. "Twelve years ago, the current Archduke of Black Sand Region, Chapman Lampard, who was still the Count of a city at that time, visited Constellation on behalf of Eckstedt as the Archduke's son. You led his horse during that diplomatic mission."
"Hmm?"
Lasalle frowned at first, a little surprised at Kessel's memory.
But then he chuckled.
"What a shocking memory, Your Majesty." Lasalle flashed a smile that made people uncomfortable. "I also remember very clearly that you were still the Fifth Prince at that time, and you were standing alone in a corner. “
He placed his hands behind his back, took a step forward, and continued.
"… I watched Chapman Lampard 'strongly' suggested to the white-haired, old King Aydi, who had suffered greatly from the rebellion, that as long as the territories of the five counties that originally belonged to us Northlanders and Eckstedt are returned to their owners …"
"Eckstedt would then generously send troops south to help our long-time ally quell the growing rebellion."
Many people furrowed their brows.
'Troubled by the rebellion … The Bloody Year?' Thales remembered this.
But Thales also noticed that the envoy placed the words "us Northlanders" before "Eckstedt".
'What does this mean?'
"I remember that King Aydi politely rejected Archduke Lampard's so-called 'proposal'." Duke Fakenhaz chuckled. "But even so, all of you still 'generously' dispatched your troops to the south … What a touching ally!"
Lasalle smiled mysteriously and did not reply.
"Archduke Lampard is probably illiterate." Count Zemunto's eyes were burning. "The five counties you mentioned are ruled by the Arunde Family, Zemunto Family, and the Friess Family respectively. Our ancestors have owned them since the establishment of Constellation. It is indisputable that they are Constellation's territories."
Out of Thales' expectations, Lasalle chuckled.
Under the angry gazes of the people in the hall, his chuckle gradually turned into a loud laugh.
"Over the past few years, the cold wind in Eckstedt has become stronger and bitterly cold. Our shepherd boys and hunters have to grit their teeth and go out in the cold that can freeze their tears. When they return, they have to rub their almost frozen hands with snowmobiles to prevent their hands and feet from freezing."
Under everyone's puzzled gazes, Lasalle sneered. "Only after several years, even decades, can we turn our trembling hands, which are used to wield bows and whips, into a pair of strong and sturdy hands suitable for wielding swords."
Lasalle paused for a moment and looked around. He laughed without any scruples. "In comparison, the climate in Constellation is getting warmer and more comfortable. It is especially suitable for weaklings who only know how to pant on women's bellies. These are the descendants of 'Oath Keeper' Midier!"
The hall immediately burst into an uproar!
Thales widened his eyes. 'A person who refuses to cut to the chase and insults the envoy of the visiting country the second he opens his mouth?'
But he immediately realized that Constellation was at a complete disadvantage in the matter of the prince's assassination. And when it came to military strength, the number of troops that Constellation could gather at the moment … Just look at yesterday's National Conference.
Whether to hold the prince accountable, when to hold him accountable, and how to hold him accountable, the entire matter was in Eckstedt's hands.
Thales sighed softly.
Count Friess pressed down on the sword at his waist with a loud thud and said angrily, "What do you mean by this?!"
But Kessel the Fifth calmly raised his hand and waved away many nobles who stood out in anger.
"I mean, since when can a lame reason like 'my grandfather once owned that piece of land' become the standard for dividing territories?"
Lasalle took large strides and turned around. His eyes shone as he stared back at the nobles and suzerains of Constellation, showing no weakness.
"Whether it is Eckstedt or Constellation, every inch of land is conquered. The strong leave after obtaining the spoils of war, and the weak hand over their chips to protect themselves. This is the international law," Lasalle said coldly. His expression was cold and unfriendly. "As the King of Peaks of the Eastern Peninsula, Chenjian said, only those who are capable can rule."
Only Gilbert and a few others narrowed their eyes slightly and pondered over his intentions. King Kessel, on the other hand, looked at the nobles in the hall full of nobles. There was a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"Please pay attention, Your Highness," Gilbert said to Thales in a low voice. "In diplomacy, there is no meaningless quarrel or words. This is a test and a change of pace before a duel. The other party is testing our footsteps and the truth of our situation, in preparation for the final moment when he draws his sword.
"He is not in a hurry to get to the main topic, which means that he may not be confident in directly raising conditions, or he may have found a better point of negotiation.
"But up until now, this has been his scheme. By infuriating us, he will lead the topic towards military affairs, military strength, and the law of the strong and the weak. He will plant a seed in us, and at the same time, he will observe our reactions to determine the direction of his next attack," Gilbert whispered. "Also, when he brings out the real topic of discussion, we will unconsciously start to think about war and the price of war, and will relatively neglect other options."
Thales frowned. 'Do we have other options?'
Lasalle took a step forward and looked at King Kessel with a burning gaze. "And does Constellation have the ability to defend that so-called territory of yours?"
The anger of the nobles in the hall had reached its peak!
Count Zemunto of the North patted his Northern Territory military uniform in anger and roared, "Have your troops let their horses pass —"
But he was immediately interrupted by an even more vigorous and steady voice!
"Alright —"
Val Arunde flashed a steady smile. His deep voice drowned out Zemunto's and echoed in the hall. "Just as well. As the Duke of the Northern Territory, I am also worried that our territory is not big enough! Archduke Lampard wants our five counties in the Northern Territory, but I also miss his Black Sand Region. How about we each send out our troops and exchange territories based on our own abilities? "
Listening to the Duke of the Northern Territory's rebuttal, Eckstedt's emergency envoy frowned slightly, but he immediately smiled.
"The Duke of the Northern Territory has responded well," Gilbert said to the prince solemnly. "But Count Zemunto's words earlier may have exposed some information to the other party."
Thales nodded. He understood. In the face of provocation, Zemunto angrily asked the other party to let their horses pass, but Val smiled and said that he also wanted the other party's territory. The hidden meaning and truth behind his words, as well as his attitude and determination in the face of an invasion, immediately revealed the difference between them.
At this moment, a young girl's voice interrupted the conversation.
"Those who are capable will have the right to rule. If that is the case, your Archduke of Black Sand Region should have mobilized his troops earlier, gotten rid of your King Nuven, and sat on the throne himself."
That one sentence caused Lasalle's expression to change abruptly!
"Because I think that he is already stronger than King Nuven, isn't he?! If he goes south, he will have to face an entire country, but if he goes north, he will only have to face a king … Why not give it a try … Maybe he will succeed. "
Under everyone's astonished gazes, the fifteen-year-old Duchess of Blade Edge Hill, Lyanna Tabark stood prettily among the group of male suzerains like a lonely flower on a cliff.
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