Belegar fled for more than five days. He led three thousand soldiers along the Badlands until they reached Balak Haimen Pass. Only then did they stop and set up camp to rest.
At this time, the dwarven expeditionary army was in an extremely difficult situation. Moreover, they had been starved for two days. Only the dwarves, who were very tenacious creatures, could hold on. Even so, when Belega escaped to the Sea Gate, the dwarves had already reached their limit. Their beards were messy, and many of them were wounded. Some of their wounds had begun to scab and even fester.
In the distance, Haimen Pass appeared in front of the expeditionary army.
Haimen Pass was a unique dwarven fortress in the old world. Unlike most dwarven fortresses, this dwarven fortress was close to the sea. It was a huge deep-water port and the base of the dwarven navy. This fortress was built on a cliff north of the Black Bay. Merchants from all over the world unloaded their goods here and transported them through Skull River to Eternity Peak to trade with the Supreme Dwarven King.
Although Haimen Pass was not as big as Eternity Peak or Eight Peaks Mountain, it was the second largest trading center in the old world after Marlin. In addition to the 100,000 native dwarves, there were at least 50,000 Empire citizens living here. The floating population was as high as 100,000. Arabi spices, Brittany red wine, Kislöw bearskins, Nord ores, high elves' jewelry, and even precious herbs from Luscia could be found here.
The defense of the Sea Gate Pass was incredibly sturdy. No army could get close to the roadless cliff under the continuous bombardment of hundreds of cannons. Only by attacking the deep water port of the Sea Gate Pass through the sea could they get close to the tower of the Sea Gate Pass. But obviously, under the combined protection of countless coastal defense cannons, the imperial navy, and the dwarven ironclad fleet, no attack could successfully get close to the Sea Gate Pass.
Angran's expeditionary army set off from here, and now they had returned in defeat. Belegar looked at his beard and could not say a word.
After a long time, Angran's chief engineer, Harhav, spoke. "My king, this expedition has failed. What we need to do is to gather the defeated army and find another plan."
"… That's all we can do. But where else can we go now?" Belega once again tasted the bitterness of failure. However, he had learned to be strong in his 300 years of life. The self-proclaimed King of Eight Peak Mountain didn't have a single piece of land in Eight Peak Mountain. He didn't even have a place to stay.
Now, he had to face all the Dwarf Kingdoms in the Roof of the World. He had already borrowed troops and money from them, including the Sea Gate Pass in front of him. The king of the Sea Gate Pass was called Byrnov. He was a resolute and tenacious man. Belegar had already borrowed 2,000 troops from him, but only 500 of them had returned.
The king of Angerond felt too ashamed to face his dwarven brothers who had helped him. He did not want to go in. The Tidal Gate closed. "I don't want to go in. Let's continue to the west. Halhaver, you go in and ask Kmanic to bring the children out. We'll leave immediately."
"Aye …" Halhaver knew that Bellegar was in pain, and he murmured.
Kmanic was the queen of Angerond and Belegar's wife. She was waiting for her husband's news at the Sea Gate Pass with Belegar's only son.
Dwarven marriage was very unique. In the total population of dwarves, female dwarves only accounted for about one-tenth of the total population. Therefore, dwarven marriage was different from that of humans and elves.
Among the dwarves, generally, several brothers would marry a wife together. Even in poor families, the entire royal family would marry a wife together.
This custom had long been traditional. The three main gods of the dwarves, Glanny, the God of Mines and Blacksmiths, and Grimnir, the God of Warriors, were brothers. Valaya, the God of Healing and Protection, was their joint wife.
Only a noble king like Bellegar could marry one wife alone. He did not have to share his wife with other dwarves.
Bellegar could not stay near the Sea Gate Pass for long. He knew that once Skarnik defeated the Ratmen, he would definitely send an army to chase after him. While Halhaver entered the Sea Gate Pass to find Kmanic, Bellegar dismissed all the dwarven mercenaries, leaving only three hundred Iron Warriors and Hammer Warriors behind. They were Bellegar's most loyal subordinates. They swore to follow Bellegar wherever he went.
After waiting for a few hours, the queen of Angerond appeared with dozens of Oathkeepers.
This female dwarf was about 1.4 meters tall and had two brown braids. She was holding the hand of a dwarf. This dwarf was only in his forties and was still a minor among the dwarves. He was Bellegar's son, the last descendant of King Loen of the Angerond royal family.
"Kmanic …" Bellegar looked at his wife's plain clothes and almost cried again. His wife was of noble birth and married him with a rich dowry. However, Bellegar had always been responsible for recovering the Eight Peaks Mountain. After a few decades, Kmanic's rich dowry had long been used up. Now the queen of Angerond clan looked like an ordinary female dwarf. She did not have much gold or silver jewelry on her.
This was simply a disgrace to the Dwarf Royal Family, but Kmanik didn't say anything and continued to silently support her husband.
Seeing Bellegar's defeated and embarrassed appearance, Kmanic sighed. "We can't stay in Sea Gate Pass anymore. Bellegar, we're almost out of money. The rent in Sea Gate Pass is too expensive. We can't stay here for long."
"We can't stay here for too long either. The Evil Moon clan is temporarily tied up by the Ratmen, but I know Skarnik. As long as he defeats the Ratmen, he will definitely send out pursuers." Bellegar knew that his queen was saving him face and did not mention his defeat.
As for the situation of cutting his beard, it was difficult for people to see at a glance that his beard was cut short because Bellegar wore a helmet all year round.
"We can't go to Fort Bugle anymore. Last time, King Arik Ruffson helped us once for the sake of our ancestors. We can't ask for help again, so let's ask him to take us in. Let's go further west."
Further west was the Grey Mountains. There were two dwarven fortresses, Karak Barren Castle and Karak Breezy Castle.
Bellegar thought for a moment. Whether it was the Roof of the World or the Black Mountains in the south of the Empire, he had already asked for help from all the dwarven forces. He was defeated, and he did not have the face to see these dwarven kings again. How could the king of Eight Peaks Mountain, who did not even rule an inch of land in Eight Peaks Mountain, still be considered a king?
"Let's go to Breezy Castle. I'm familiar with King Lorek Granite Hand there. He should be willing to provide me with some help." Bellegar thought for a long time and finally decided to go to Breezy Castle. "Let's not go to Sea Gate Pass. Let's go directly to Breezy Castle!"
"Okay." Kmanic knew that her husband's bad habit of wanting to save face was acting up again. Bellegar really did not want to enter Sea Gate Pass and be ridiculed by the dwarves. He would rather escape in the night than rest first.
"Let's go."
…
It was the middle of May. Brittany, Earl of Glamorgan, Fairy Tower in the Lake, afternoon.
Thick fog was covering the whole tower. Under the gorgeous decoration, the four-legged bed in the room was gently shaking, and strange sounds were constantly coming from it.
After a long time, the shaking stopped.
Morgiana, the witch of the Lake Goddess, was blushing. She leaned on Laing's chest and drew circles on the count's chest with her index finger. "According to our agreement, you still owe me two days."
"…" Laing nodded a little speechlessly. "My Highness is really strict."
Laing first went out to defeat Egil, and after returning from the battle, he spent a lot of time dealing with the internal affairs. The most important thing for him now was to prepare for his marriage with Suria, so he did not come to the Fairy Tower in the Lake for a long time.
Morgiana waited for a few weeks. Seeing that he did not come, she directly said that she had something to discuss and asked Laing to come to her.
Laing spent a few more days dealing with the internal affairs, and Suria also returned to Helenhilde. Before the official marriage, the two would not see each other again. This was the rule.
After Suria left, Laing found time to go to the Fairy Tower in the Lake to look for Morgiana. However, the witch of the Lake Goddess looked bitter. She counted how many days Laing had been away and how much time he had not come. Then she announced that Laing owed her a few days.
She needed treatment.
Laing could only shamefully comply. The two of them had been doing it from the morning until now. Morgiana could not exert any strength and did not even want to move her fingers. Only then did she let Laing go.
Why does it feel like paying the public grain???? Laing thought. He carried Morgiana up and said, "My princess, let me carry you."
"Okay." Morgiana was extremely lazy. She let Laing carry her and the two went downstairs to the bathroom to take a shower. Laing helped the witch change into a white bleached low-cut dress and put a golden flower crown on her head. He then carried her on his lap.
After a few hours, they finally began to talk about serious matters.
"More than 100,000 people died in the Chaos Invasion. Dahlhaide has stepped down from the position of Duke of Lyonasser. His son, Aldred, inherited the position of Duke of Lyonasser. Aldred is an impulsive young man. I don't know what his youth festival will bring to the Lyonasser Duchy, which has suffered heavy losses." Morgiana interlocked her fingers and placed them on her abdomen. She was thinking about the recent political changes in the Kingdom. Laing knew that even though she was heavily injured, the Lake Goddess was still paying close attention to the political situation of the Kingdom.
The silver wings on Morgiana's abdomen were fully extended. The spiritual tattoos on her body were fully matured.
"Anyway, it won't get worse," Laing said casually. He was also thinking, "Lyonasser needs this vitality now."
"What about Hubbard?" Morgiana asked, "I know that he participated in the Battle of Lyonasser."
"Lord Hubbard is continuing his quest for the Holy Grail. I heard that he's planning to go to Estalia. There are many Orcs there … He told me that when I get married, he'll bring the head of the Orc King." Laing said, "I've already sent out invitations to all the Dukes and nobles in the Kingdom."
Laing and Suria's wedding was scheduled for a few months later, on the birthday of the Lake Goddess, Lilith Day. The location was set to be at the Lake Goddess Cathedral in the Duchy of Kharkarson. Morgiana would also lead all the Holy Grail Knights and the Lake Goddess Prophet in the Lake Goddess Sanctuary to personally attend the wedding as the messenger of the Lake Goddess.
The news of his wedding had spread throughout Brittany and the surrounding areas.
Emperor Karl-franz of the Empire said that he would send the Great Alchemist of the Empire's Royal Wizard Academy, Bayershazer Gelt, to congratulate him.
The White Wolf Elector and Grand Duke of Midland, Boris Todbringer, said that he would come personally.
Axel Gris, the leader of the White Wolf Knights, said that he would come personally with a gift from the White Wolf God.
The Wood Elf King of the Forest, Ao Laing, and Queen Alaier promised to send envoys to attend his wedding.
Lorek, the Dwarf King of the Callah-Breezy Castle, promised to send someone.
Laing's adoptive parents, the Norman couple, said that they would come personally.
The Gryphon Duke and Gryphon Knight Legion's Great Commander, Ivan Ferdinand, would bring Anton Ferdinand over personally.
Duke Lauen-Leo Cornwall of Connet, Duke Aldred of Lyonnesse, Duke Hagen of Gisoleiox, Duke Berchemund of Bastogne, Duke Bodrick of Bordero, Duke Hubert of Kharkarson, Duke Fulcade of Montfort, and Duke Casfern of Pallavon, who had just paid the ransom and was released from the Empire's prison, all said that they would come personally.
Grand Duke Vandergub Schultz of Marlinburg also said that he would come personally.
Laing's reputation was evident. His wedding almost shook the entire Old World. It was said that the High Elves also knew that he had killed the Chosen of Khorne and were planning to send someone to congratulate him.
"I can already imagine the grandeur of the wedding." Morgiana smiled after hearing that. "It will be the biggest event in the Old World, comparable to Emperor Karl-franz's wedding a few years ago."
"I didn't want to make such a big fuss, but … I hope that Suria will be satisfied." Laing shook his head with a bitter smile. "Suria's feelings are the most important. François also thinks the same. Since she's his daughter, he wants the best. That's why I agreed."
Morgiana kicked Laing with her stockinged foot in annoyance after hearing that.
Every woman wanted to have a grand wedding. How could Suria be an exception?
Speaking of which, there was something that made Laing feel rather awkward. A few days ago, François came to take his daughter back and asked Laing to give at least five thousand crowns as a betrothal gift.
François wasn't greedy. He said that he didn't want the money and that it was all for Suria. He needed the money to ensure that if anything happened to Laing after the wedding, Suria would still be able to live the life of a marquess and wouldn't be implicated. Duke Winford would also fork out even more dowry for his daughter.
This was the love of a father for his daughter.
Before Laing could say anything, Angran patted his chest and agreed. He said that five thousand crowns wasn't enough, so he would pay ten thousand.
This was the love of an elder brother for his younger brother.
And so, the matter was settled.
"Speaking of which, only your elder brother is participating?" Morgiana asked curiously, "Is there no one else? Then the wedding will be rather awkward. "
"It won't. There will be a lot of people coming," Laing said with a smile. "Allow me to keep you in suspense, Your Highness."
Morgiana wanted to ask more, but Laing only shook his head.
The imperial family had already prepared their son's wedding gift and the candidates for the wedding.
Laing's list of nobles was even more extravagant.
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