The shadow of the Giant Dragon disappeared into the horizon. Except for a few people, almost no one knew that a legendary race was watching this land. The world went on as usual. The giant sun rose and set day by day, the weather was getting warmer day by day, and summer was approaching. It seemed that in the blink of an eye, spring had ended. It was so rushed that it made people feel helpless.
The war that had been reignited in the east of the Whitsunday Plain had unwittingly stopped after burning for a while.
At the entrance of the Great Wooden Avenue, on the fortresses and plains where the two armies were facing each other, fortifications of various sizes were crisscrossing, cutting the entire area into pieces. Blockades were everywhere, and flags of the royal army or the Eastern Border were everywhere. Fully armed soldiers, knights and officers were pacing back and forth between the crisscrossing blockades, cautiously patrolling the land that temporarily belonged to them, and vigilant against the flags that were just inches away from them — but it was undeniable that a temporary and fragile truce had been established.
Rumors were everywhere. In this era where it was almost impossible to control information effectively, as long as a piece of news reached the ears of the people, and there were bold people walking around the area, it would spread among the people, and in the process of spreading, it would be divided into numerous bizarre versions.
Some said that the Royal Army had suffered a great defeat, and the Silver Fort could not withstand the pressure, and the Captical nobles were negotiating with the Eastern Region. Some said that the Typhon Empire was restless at the border, and the pressure of the foreign enemy caused the truce between the two armies. Some even linked the current strange situation with the plague that had recently occurred around the Jumbo Road …
And in all the versions of the rumors, the most reliable news came from the horse breeder who worked for the Eastern Army. The horse breeder swore that he saw the Giant Elven Eagle flying in from the northwest, and that an Elven messenger entered Prince Edmund's fortress, and the temporary truce order was passed down not long after that.
On the east side of the Jumbo Road, in the newly built fortress, a tall sentry tower stood on the wall. Edmund Moen, who was dressed in black armor and had grown a beard, was standing on the wall. Moen stood on the top of the sentry tower, looking at the scattered flags and the large and small wooden camps in the plains. The wind from the southwest whistled through the tower, rolling up the flag above Prince Moen, and flapping it.
The sound of iron boots stomping on the ground came from behind, and Silas, who was fully equipped, Duke Lorren came to the tower. The Duke of the Eastern Region said in a deep voice, "The elves have left, Your Highness."
"If they had come seven days later, the Jumu Road would have been ours," said Edmund. Moen said softly, "The undisciplined soldiers of the Allied Army are no match for us. Even if they wear the new equipment, they will only rush to their deaths."
The Duke of the Eastern Region took a deep look at the prince. "But we have to stop fighting. This is a matter of righteousness."
"Yes, this is a matter of righteousness. We are fighting for the future of the Ansu, not simply for the position in the Silver Fortress," Edmund said flatly. "Grand Duke Roland, how is the order in the rear?"
"Everything is stable, Your Highness. There is no need to worry." Lorren nodded and said, "Only Belk sent a worried letter. Cecil's people are mining the minerals in the White Sand Hills with amazing methods and speed. His description in the letter is so exaggerated that I don't even know whether to believe it or not."
Edmund was a little curious. "What did he say?"
"… Cecil's people may blow up 'Raven's Beak Mountain' this year, and they plan to blow up a second one next year."
"… Belk doesn't seem to be a person who likes to exaggerate."
"He really doesn't like to exaggerate, Your Highness."
"Then I'm willing to believe him," said Edmund. "If Cecil's people have the ability to blow up the walls of Stone Fortress with some kind of magic weapon, then they have no reason not to use similar explosions in the mines."
At this point, he could not help but sigh. "Although we have successfully built a new factory in the Eastern Region, the real technological foundation of Cecil's people is obviously not in those factories. We have fallen behind in this regard."
"We have been negotiating with the immigration officials in the Southern Region, hoping to send some literate apprentices to their 'schools' to study. It seems that the Southern Region is not completely prohibited in this regard."
Edmund nodded gently. "Please pay more attention to this matter. Talent is really important."
A moment later, Duke Roland left the tower, leaving only Edmund Moen. He stood alone on the platform at the top of the sentry tower, standing quietly in the wind.
However, the next second, a voice came into his ears. "You are really a good ruler, Your Highness."
Edmund Moen? Moen seemed to have been waiting for this voice for a long time. He calmly turned his head and looked at the brazier not far behind him. He watched as a figure gradually condensed in the brazier. He watched as the figure walked to the ground and transformed into a strange and terrifying woman wearing a priest's robe. Her lower body was like the roots of a plant. He nodded coldly. "You're here, Bertilla."
"You don't deny the title of a good ruler anymore?" Bertilla moved her rustling roots with a hint of mockery in her voice. "How mature … Last year, you were still in a hurry to deny this title."
"I don't need to debate with you on this issue. My relationship with you is not that deep yet." Edmund Moen's voice became colder. "If you are here to find trouble with those elves, I can only say that you are one step too late. They have already left and returned to Saint Sunil."
"I am not interested in those elves." Bertilla chuckled. "You, on the other hand, were going to announce the coronation after conquering the Great Wood Road, but now the news brought by those elves has ruined it … Don't you feel regretful?"
Edmund silently raised the sheathed one-handed sword in his hand and pointed the tip of the sword at Bertilla's throat. In the air between the sword and throat, black cracks spread out as if they were alive. "If you die here, will anyone feel sorry for you?"
"Put away this toy. Playing with it on the battlefield is better than using it to threaten women here." Bertilla casually pushed the one-handed sword in front of her with her hand. "I'm just here to remind you, Your Highness, that time is running out. If you want to leave a place for the people of Ansu in the new era, you better make a decision as soon as possible."
Edmund Moen? Moen stared into Bertilla's eyes. "I am not interested in your so-called 'great evolution', and I don't care about your doomsday theory. Even if the so-called new era really exists, the Ansu will have their own way of living. You don't need to worry about it."
Bertilla looked at Edmund quietly for a while, then shook her head and slowly walked back to the burning brazier. "What an impressive speech, but it's okay. We still have a little time. You still have time … to make a choice."
…
Most of the time, the so-called "choice" was just a facade. It was a carefully disguised fact placed in front of the person who made the choice, so that the person who made the choice would have the illusion that the situation was under their control, or so that the person who was already powerless could slightly cover up their embarrassment.
In the Golden Oak Hall, the most powerful nobles of Ansu were still having a heated discussion. These nobles expressed their views on the situation of the kingdom, using various theories, allusions, and arguments to prove that their judgment of the situation was accurate and that every word they said was for the bright future of the kingdom. But Victoria, sitting at the head of the long table, knew very well that these discussions and words were just paving the way for a conclusion that could be drawn without discussion.
"… The Eastern Region has accepted the terms of a temporary truce. This is just the most basic reason. They are not qualified to represent Ansu …"
"The royal family is in the Silver Fort, and the people who can represent Ansu are also in the Silver Fort!"
"But we have to consider the tense situation in the Plains of the Holy Spirit. We have to face a group of thieves who are about to lose their minds …"
"Let's take the long view, let's take the long view …"
Counts, marquises, prime ministers of the kingdom, important military officials, they all spoke one after another, stating facts that could be seen at a glance. Victoria looked at this scene indifferently. She looked to her left and saw that Prince Wales was as indifferent as her, while Duke Bodwin was yawning loudly. She looked to her right and saw several elven envoys sitting in special seats not far away looking at her with confusion and boredom.
Due to the special situation, the Golden Oak Hall allowed foreigners to attend the meeting of the nobles for the first time in history. But now, it seemed that the friends from the Silver Empire did not understand some of the "rules" of human society.
That one was called Sonia? The Frostleaf Elf blinked at Victoria and moved her lips a few times. Victoria heard Sonia's voice ring in her ears. "It's just a small question. Why do they have to emphasize it for so long?"
Victoria helplessly summoned her magic power and sent her voice over. "Because some words are said with great responsibility."
"We understand that, but they have been discussing it for too long," Sonia's voice was still filled with confusion. Frost Leaf's voice was still very confused. "We elves can live for thousands of years, but in my opinion, this kind of meeting is still too much of a waste of time … Do these people who speak have different lifespans from ordinary humans?"
Victoria was speechless.
This question was a little beyond her knowledge.
She shook her head and decided to end the time-wasting discussion, so she gently knocked on the table. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to come to a conclusion."
The buzzing discussion immediately stopped, and pairs of eyes fell on Victoria, Wales, and Bodwin almost at the same time.
The Duchess of the North sighed secretly. In the end, no one dared to say the only choice.
Anyway, the Wilde family had been privately called "usurpers" in the past century. She, as the Duchess of the North, was the image of a dictator in everyone's mind?
"There's no need to argue about the legitimacy of the royal family, but the fact is that we have to put this question aside for now. The rebels in the Eastern Region can't represent the Ansu, and we … can't at the moment. The only person who can show up now is not in the Silver Castle, but in the Southern Region. "
A slightly fat middle-aged noble with meticulously groomed hair spoke at the right time with a solemn expression on his face. "Duchess, what you said makes sense, but the Southern Region has not expressed any attitude towards the ownership of the Ansu's royal power. Now that the important task of representing the Ansu is handed over to Duke Cecil, then …"
Victoria glanced at the other party. "Count Ballin, you can recommend the person you think is suitable."
"… I mean, this important task is handed over to Duke Cecil, it's really the most suitable!"
"Very well, this matter is settled."
In the special seats next to the long table, the elven envoys looked at the whole long and boring meeting with confusion until Victoria Wilde spoke. Wylde suddenly took out the results of the meeting, and the envoys heaved a sigh of relief.
Sonia? Frost Leaf couldn't help but shake her head and whisper to her companion next to her. "In contrast, the Kingdom of Kaolin is much more efficient than them."
"Human meetings are always like this."
"They can only live for a hundred years, and they dare to be so reckless. They are really powerful …"
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