Sword of Dawnbreaker

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 snowfall—one 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 Pompeii’s round, plump face is set with an ingratiating yet slightly tense smile.

The plains’ border aristocrat leaned forward: "Your presence truly reassures me—the moment the fortress in the south changed hands, I haven’t 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 fireplace’s 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 forehead—though he wasn’t sweating, facing the Duchess known as the "Northern Queen", nobody could avoid feeling anxious. This duchess is the kingdom’s 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 capital’s aid, so he speaks cautiously, "The Cecil Clan army hasn’t stepped out of rocky ridges Fortress but they’ve been fortifying structures on the fortress’s northern city wall, which is unsettling."

"Seems like the founder hero doesn’t want us to ’disturb’ him..." Veronica Moen, standing beside Victoria with a serene and calm demeanor in white Holy Light Cleric’s 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 Fortress’s southern city wall—or rather, blew it up, then didn’t repair it—they established a ’rocky ridges Town’ 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 wasn’t able to go personally," Count Pompeii wiped his smooth forehead again, shy to admit the words "didn’t dare go", "but I’ve been monitoring it and sent envoys. All over rocky ridges Town are Cecil Clan’s magical devices, along with a large market. They opened the Gorgon River’s gates, allowing merchant ships from Plains of the Holy Spirits to dock at the market pier, attracting numerous merchants—you 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 bloodline—yet as the land’s 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 dress’s slight wrinkles. This northern ruler looked at Count Pompeii who also stood up and said, "Do your best to compile statistics on the past year’s 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 Pompeii’s 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 won’t appear on tax records, and as the land’s ruler, Count Pompeii isn’t even sure how many merchants roughly come and go from his territory each month—yet the duchess has given an order, and he must try his best to fulfill it.

It seems that tonight won’t be a night of sleep.

Seeing Count Pompeii’s 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 Loland’s requirements at Silver Castle haven’t reached the southern parts of Plains of the Holy Spirits...

Silas Loland... Can you no longer see hope?

Victoria Wilder left the castle’s inner court, traversing through mottled ancient outer wall corridors, arriving at Pompeii Castle’s 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 Victoria’s vicinity within ten meters, as if in awe.

Compared to Bitter Winter Castle built atop the mountains, overlooking miles of icy landscapes, Count Pompeii’s proudly emphasized San Pompeii castle appeared smaller and shabbier, yet it occupied the finest terrain and boasts a great terrace. Standing on the terrace, Victoria’s vision faces the southern borders’ mountain barriers and rocky ridges Fortress nestled amid those mountains.

In between lies an almost unobstructed plain area.

It’s 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 towers—those 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..." Veronica’s 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 didn’t 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 aren’t substantially damaged, it’s 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 don’t 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 castle’s 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 merchants’ 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 advisors’ educated guesses.

With such information, even with Victoria’s intelligence, it’s challenging to deduce many valuable insights.

However, seeing Count Pompeii’s 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," Victoria’s words allowed Count Pompeii to relax, "We will bring good news."

"Your wisdom is Anzu’s 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, "Don’t use a farewell tone typical of the battlefield. As a kingdom’s aristocrat, show some courage—that’s 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, couldn’t 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... wouldn’t they be holding it in to beat someone to death?

The envoy convoy from the royal capital left Count Pompeii’s castle, and in this decidedly unsuited winter day after a snowstorm, the carriages and horses ventured onto the snow-covered King’s 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 lord’s 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 them—they are a lucrative deal."