The first Holy War generally referred to the War of the Holy Saints that took place a thousand years ago. The Four Holy Saints led the people of Black Iron to resist the cruel rule of the Dark Dragon. It was a glorious and sacred war praised by countless songs.
The second Holy War began at the end of the Year of Chaos. It was a sacred war launched by the Fanzin, the Cruz, and the Wind Elves to open up the vast wilderness and Dark Forest between the three kingdoms. That was the era of the pioneer Knight. The magnificent and heroic songs in the wilderness lasted until the establishment of Erouine. After that, the territories of the three empires were basically formed. The only thing left between the kingdoms was the narrow Dark Forest as a buffer zone. This war was also magnificent and lasted for nearly two centuries. Thus, the name of the Holy War was established.
The third Holy War began in the Year of Glory and lasted for nearly half a century. However, it turned out that this war was neither glorious nor honorable, especially the November War in the last seven years. Bloodshed became the only memory people had of this war. The reason for the start of the war was the magical technology brought by the Hazel people. The introduction of the new technology made the kingdoms enter the most prosperous era. However, the hidden dangers brought by the expansion of the population also appeared one by one. When the population began to flow into the borders, the empires had to turn their attention to the remaining undeveloped areas.
Since the Year of Glory, the three empires, in accordance with the sacred covenant, jointly marched to the border of the Wilderness of Four Territories. The war began in the south of the Alkash Mountains, but it turned out to be a terrible mistake. Throughout the war, because of the contradictions of land division, the distrust of the royal family, and the growing conflict between the teachings of the Holy Cathedral, and the All For One believers who stirred up trouble and bewitched people's hearts, in the 320th year of the First Era — the Year of Change, the local army of the Cruz people suddenly attacked the Wind Elves, who were their allies. On the surface, this battle was revenge for an earlier conflict, but there was no lack of All For One's shadows. Then the human army on the Wind Elves' side also retaliated, completely intensifying the conflict. Humans and Wind Elves fought each other on the long and narrow battlefield. All For One's high-ranking nobles who had infiltrated the society of Order played an indispensable role in the battle, but when most of the nobles came to their senses, the result was already too late.
But in fact, in a way, it reflected the human heart. The scholar of Rune Castle, Ron Samilian, wrote in his book, "People too often shift the blame to some evil force, instead of reflecting on their own mistakes. In fact, history has long proven that this force only played a role in the whole process of the war, but it only exposed the ugly side of human nature." This statement described the scene of the war at that time. After six months, the Fanzin people joined the war, and then the Lion people of Toquinin, duchies and kingdoms of all sizes were drawn into the vortex. The war dragged all the participants into an endless battle, because of hatred, greed, or other reasons, until they exhausted each other.
After the war, the Cruz people occupied the entire Wilderness of the Four Realms and a small part of the Four Leaf Clover Plains, including a large piece of land that originally belonged to the Wind Elves. The Fanzin people were the biggest winners, reaping benefits from both sides. The Lion people solved their need for hatred, and many duchies were enslaved in the war, either because of the greed of the Imperial nobles, or because of the war's progress. On the surface, it seemed that the Second Holy War had ended around the Year of the Cave Beasts, but in fact, the seeds of deeper hatred had been planted long ago. The last trust between the Empires was lost, and the friction on the border was increasing day by day. Almost everyone knew that the three beasts just needed a short rest because they had lost their strength, and each of them could not wait to jump up and bite each other to death.
The Cruz people needed to pay for the blood shed by the nobles in the last seven years of the November War. Although they gained benefits from the war, it was more painful. This pain made the nobles become impetuous and angry, and made them want to free themselves from the dishonorable war, and punish the Fanzin people and the Wind Elves. This atmosphere made the Cruz people to increase their exploitation of the small countries, and also allowed the All For One to infiltrate a wider market. However, for the Wind Elves, it was also a deep-rooted hatred, whether it was for the Fanzin people or the Cruz people. They lost their territory in the war, and naturally, they wanted to take it back. The Fanzin people, the only ones who wanted to maintain the results of the last war, gradually became impatient because of the constant provocation from the Cruz people and the Wind Elves on the border.
The Fourth Holy War, or rather, the Third Holy War. Due to the disreputable influence of the Third Holy War, more and more people were unwilling to associate the subsequent Holy Wars with the War of the Holy Saints, especially scholars. Many of them did not regard the War of the Holy Saints as the same kind of war for territorial expansion, but took it out from history and put it aside. Therefore, the pain caused by the Second Holy War was destined to break out in the Third Holy War. This was something that all countries had expected, but when it really started, it was earlier than everyone expected.
At the end of July, the Deadly Frost Forest exploded.
On the same day, Toquinin, Volez, and Perkins were bombarded by the fourteen-circle spell God's Judgement. The casualties were countless, and the three cities were almost reduced to ashes.
Within the next two months, the Golden Lionmane Beastmen began to gather an army. Their attack started from the Grey Mountain Range in the south, Yanilasu, and crossed the White Plains and began to march towards Kirrlutz. At the beginning of the Month of Frost, the Lionmane Beastmen left the warm plains and arrived at the Lion Fortress. News of the coming war spread throughout the Kirrlutz Empire within half a month. In the same month, the Wind Elves' revenge army set out from the ruins of Perkins and ambushed the Cruz people's Crimson Army on the Four Leaf Grass Plain. The Wind Elves quickly recovered several towns and fortresses on the Four Leaf Grass Plain, and entered a stalemate with the Cruz people on the border of the Wilderness of Four Realms.
As for the Fanzin people, although they did not act on the surface, their army had already begun to gather from White City and Greyhughes.
When Constance and Valla's order to summon the envoys and nobles of the Holy Cathedral of Fire to Rushta arrived, Brando knew that the second chapter of the game – The Age of War and Chaos – had come early.
Her Royal Highness decided on the candidates for the envoys in the shortest time possible.
First of all, the leader of the envoys was naturally Brando. Although there were many voices of dissent in the Royal Faction, Gryphine suppressed all of them. She knew the real purpose of Brando's trip, and she supported the Earl's decision. Most of the opponents of the Royal Faction thought that this was a childish and impulsive action, but she did not think so. Brando's words of 'this is the pride and backbone of a nation' finally moved her. She knew that the kingdom needed some pride of its own. Gryphine knew that such a flag would allow her to gain some people who truly supported her, and not those cowardly nobles.
They had already parted ways with her in Ampere Seale, and she did not have the slightest bit of hope in her heart.
If the nobles of a kingdom did not stand with her, then she should at least stand with its citizens. Brando's words were like a beacon in the darkness for her.
Next, the Royal Highness still stubbornly chose Haruze. This made Brando feel a little flattered. He was very clear about the rules between the nobles of Wohnde, so he was also very clear about the reason why the Royal Highness made this choice. It was because Haruze was the future Crown Prince of Erouine, and Cruz could not detain him in the Empire. Otherwise, the Silver Queen would not only offend all of her vassal states, but also leave a very bad reputation among the nobles of the Empire.
But there were still some risks in doing so. The Crown Prince's travels were full of unstable factors, and Prince Lenarette, who was still living in seclusion in Tónigel, was a ready-made example. But Gryphine was determined to let her beloved brother take the risk to protect Brando, the head of the diplomatic mission, because she knew very well what Brando meant to Erouine at this moment. If he died in Cruz, then her and Haruze's future would also be bleak. She was very clear about what she was going to do, and in her opinion, as the future King of Erouine, it was also time for Haruze to take responsibility for the future of the kingdom.
This was what she said to her only brother, "Haruze, this diplomatic experience of you and your teacher is likely to be the most precious wealth of your life; Haruze, this may be the last time I tell you that you have to be strong alone because you are the King of Erouine."
The little prince had no objection, but he was frightened by his sister's sternness and almost cried, but when Princess Gryphine glared at him fiercely, he swallowed his tears back into his stomach and nodded honestly.
Brando, on the other hand, returned to Tónigel with some gratitude to the princess and began to choose the 'attendants and deputies' who would accompany him. He knew very well that this so-called diplomatic mission was just a pretense. What he really wanted to do was clear to everyone around him. Therefore, this so-called diplomatic mission did not need etiquette officers full of aristocratic etiquette, but an army that could turn Cruz upside down.
This' army 'did not have many people, and he already had a suitable candidate in mind.
"Since almost all the funds in the territory have been invested in the preparation for war, mainly the recruitment and training of the White Lion Guards, the forging of weapons and armor, and the expenditure of magic crystals, daily maintenance, the acquisition of rare materials, etc. In short, the construction in the Black Forest has basically come to a halt. This situation will last for about three to four months, and at the latest, in half a year, our previous achievements will be shaken."
The carriage was shaking, and the shadows of the forest passed through the window, leaving mottled patterns on the black robes as the carriage moved forward. Brando's face was bright and dark under the crisscrossing light. He supported his chin with one hand as he listened to the merchant lady read a report to him, which was rare for the little Roman. Her small eyebrows were knitted together. As part of her interest as a merchant, she did not mind reading a mountain of books or similar documents, but reading them out loud and turning them into audiobooks, she began to feel a little thirsty.
But this was what Brando wanted her to do. She used this reason to convince herself for about five minutes or ten seconds, but she immediately found a new excuse. Brando always liked to see her in a difficult position, and this made her very unhappy. The Roman began to realize that the Roman was unhappy. She raised her feathery eyebrows and quickly moved her mouth as she read, "The White Lion Guards suffered about a hundred casualties in the previous war …"
Brando glared at her. "Wait, what did you say in the second half? I didn't hear you clearly."
"That's what I said in the second half, isn't it? It's just that I read it too fast, so you didn't hear it clearly. But I've finished reading it." Romaine began to act shamelessly as usual.
"You're cheating. Didn't you say that you would read the report to me this afternoon? I have to know what happened in the territory during this time." Brando replied in a bad mood.
"But I've already finished reading it. I used the method my aunt taught me, the 'witch's reading method'. If Brando didn't hear it clearly, then Brando isn't a witch. That has nothing to do with the Roman." She rolled her black eyes and stuffed a stack of reports into Felaern's hands. "But you can let Felaern read it for you. She doesn't know the 'witch's reading method', so Brando doesn't have to worry about not hearing it clearly."
Brendel was sure that the 'Witch's Ability to Read Things So Quickly' must have popped up from some random corner of her brain, but this merchant girl's imagination was too rich, to the point that she could use the same name differently. He rolled his eyes and was too lazy to expose her, because she would definitely be able to justify herself in the end. This was Lord Romain's special skill, rolling all over the floor, and normal people would not be able to learn it.
He looked at Felaern, who was sitting opposite the two of them, ignoring the two clowns in front of her. She silently tidied up the report and continued to read: "The White Lion Guards' casualties have been replenished by new recruits from the Tónigel and Macsen region. In addition, the new recruits have been expanded by 500 people, making a total of 1500 people. However, these new recruits are still training in Tónigel and Randner, so they won't be able to be used for the time being."
"Good job, Carglise," Brando praised.
The scenery outside the carriage had already changed to a tranquil mountain forest. It was already the second day since he returned to Tónigel. He stretched himself in the carriage and found that he felt more relaxed after returning to his territory. Although it was very warm in Braggs's house, it was still very awkward in front of his father. After all, this was his territory that he built with his own hands. He originally wanted his parents to move to Tónigel, but Old Scott stubbornly refused to accept. His mother, Windsor, seemed to be tempted, but in the end, she did not agree. Fortunately, Bunide promised to send people to take care of his family. With the protection of the Highland Knight, he did not have to worry about Madara's possible revenge.
In the end, Princess Gryphine did not succeed in her resignation. Since Princess Gryphine arranged for him to be the leader of the diplomatic group to Cruz, she naturally had to personally come to Tónigel to inspect the group that he selected to go to the Empire. She wanted to prevent the Count from bringing an army to Cruz. Of course, this was only an excuse on the surface. In fact, it was somewhat against the rules for the princess to go to a vassal's territory in private. It would also negatively affect her reputation. However, everyone knew that Tónigel and Radner's territories were close to Frada. It was not unreasonable for her to insist on taking a detour from Tónigel.
However, Brando knew that Her Royal Highness would not leave easily after coming to Abies this time. His departure from Erouine to Cruz was an unstable factor in the kingdom's situation. At least on the surface, in the eyes of the world, Tónigel was still standing behind the princess. If he, Count Tónigel, was not in the kingdom for a short period of time, then she was likely to face the danger of being taken over by the Royal Faction again.
She came to his territory this time with the mentality of inspecting the rear, and also to show the world that she had a close relationship with the Count of Tónigel. Brando did not think too much about these considerations of the princess at first. He only thought that the princess was here to bid him farewell, but after Amandina's reminder, he understood. In fact, Tónigel and the royal family were interdependent. When he was not in the kingdom, his territory especially needed to be recognized by the royal family. This was related to the legitimacy of the territory, and to prevent the Royal Faction from taking advantage of the situation.
Thus, after understanding the princess' considerations, he tacitly began to cooperate with her.
For this reason, Princess Gryphine conferred him the title of Count Randner on the first day she arrived in Tónigel. This was actually a compensation title, because Tónigel was never a count's territory. Originally, Brando did not have any ambitions for Randner. In his original plan, it was best for Randner and Arreck to be merged into the royal family's territory to further strengthen the central authority, and also to set an example for other places. Furthermore, Arreck had the second best source of soldiers in the kingdom, the Highlanders (Erouine's main source of soldiers came from the Grey Mountains), and Randner was the most prosperous territory in the south other than Ampere Seale. With these two territories, the royal family could be said to have a significant say in Erouine.
As for himself, the title of Count Tónigel was just a pretense. The land of Order in the Loop of Trade Winds was almost half the size of the southern border, and when it was fully developed, it would not be difficult to create another Erouine. The key was that it contained a lot of valuable minerals and resources, so he had no interest in managing other territories.
However, Princess Gryphine dispelled his thoughts. She sternly told him that the title of Count was not only a reward, but also a recognition. With his current status and relationship with her, if he did not receive the title of Count Randner today, it would easily arouse suspicion from the outside world, and cause unrest in the kingdom. Not only would it not strengthen the royal family's authority, but it would also cause the reputation of the House of Covardo to fall to the ground, and at the same time, it would also shake the legitimacy of Tónigel. After listening to her explanation, Brando realized that his thoughts were a little too naive, and he had no choice but to follow her advice.
After receiving Count Randner's title, he also received a portion of the command rights of the Southern Legion. The expansion of the Southern Legion was carried out under this name.
Princess Gryphine pretended not to see it, and did not mention a word about the ownership of the Southern Army that was currently recuperating in Ampere Seale. Brando also pretended to forget this point, and the two maintained a tacit understanding to put on this show. The outsiders thought that these two young people did not understand the workings of the kingdom's local forces, and almost no one, including the Royal Faction, reminded them of this point. It was as if they were waiting to see them make a fool of themselves. However, many people in Trentheim understood that their liege had obviously received some sort of instruction, and was preparing to clean up the mess caused by the nobles in the southern border — the mutual restraint and hindrance between the forces of the armies.
However, this plan had just begun, and Brando had no choice but to put it aside and hand it over to Carglise or Princess Gryphine. After all, Cruz's people had caused a lot of trouble for him. He interrupted the Wild Elf sister in front of him and asked directly: "In terms of preparations for war, we can slow down a little bit. If we really want to go to war with Cruz's people, it will not be just Tónigel's problem, and Princess Gryphine will find a way to help. The focus of resources and funds should be placed on Valhalla. Felaern, if I need to use all the Valkyries, how long can the territory last? "
"If we slow down the pace of other aspects, with the supply of magic crystals in the Black Forest, it should not be a problem to last for a year, my lord." Felaern replied without a change in her expression.
"What if we want to maintain the construction in the Black Forest?"
"Three months to half a year."
Brando nodded: "What about the materials that you want to purchase?"
"Currently, there are only Phoenix wings and Singing Silver, and they are very scarce. As for the other materials that my lord wants, there is no news yet." Felaern looked at him and said.
… …
Author's Note: These few chapters have been a little difficult to write, and because of the long duration of the plot, I uploaded them a little late. Please forgive me. Also, seeing that I have been working hard for the past few days, I ask for monthly votes.
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