blueteamnovel Chapter 96 Are You Going to Declare War?
Chapter 96 Are You Going to Declare War?
Chapter 96 Are You Going to Declare War?
Richard entered the study, bowed, and performed the etiquette befitting an audience with a high-ranking nobleman, his voice steady and calm.
"Lord Richard, Lord of Chiffon, pays his respects to Your Excellency the Earl."
Earl of the Wolf didn't even look up, still engrossed in reviewing documents. His large hand, holding the quill pen, casually tapped the tea table beside him.
"Please sit down."
Richard didn't stand on ceremony; he turned around and walked straight to the tea table to sit down without the slightest bit of awkwardness.
Im and Celia, who had followed, silently put down the gift boxes they were carrying and then left.
Not long after.
The old butler entered carrying an intricately carved wine pot and crystal glasses, bowing as he poured wine for Richard.
Richard picked up his glass, took a sip, and a crisp, forest-like aroma slid down his throat, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
He was deeply moved, realizing that this kind of fine wine, which money couldn't buy, was truly exceptional.
He swirled his wine glass, his gaze casually sweeping across the study.
He had only been here twice in his life. Once was on his coming-of-age day, when Earl of the Wolf asked him about his future and then issued him the decree of barony.
the second time.
It's now.
It wasn't that he had a bad relationship with the Earl or didn't treat him like a father; rather, the Earl was indifferent to all his children except his eldest brother, to the point of being almost cold.
Almost all families do this: they leave the best of everything to the first heir.
The other children were merely appendages of the family, and they weren't even given a single piece of food to sustain them, for fear that the first heir would be deprived of a single bite.
Richard thought it was a good idea; everyone should handle business strictly and not bring up personal feelings.
Just like the improved farming techniques he developed, he preferred to give them to his elder brother for free rather than offer them to the Earl in exchange for a reward.
He knew his elder brother would appreciate the favor, but Earl Benlang didn't.
Although this technology will ultimately benefit the Wolf Territory, the recipients will be different, and the results will also be different.
My older brother is my blood relative.
An earl is a feudal lord.
The two should not be confused.
Just as these melancholy thoughts were passing through his mind, Earl Wolf finally put down his quill pen.
"With the supplies we provided and the farming techniques you developed yourself, I thought you could persevere."
"But I really didn't expect that you would give up so quickly and come back in such a sorry state."
Upon hearing this...
Richard was slightly taken aback, then a relieved smile appeared on his face.
On the day the Earl of the Wolf bestowed upon him the title of Baron, he had said that if he could not endure the harsh cold and desolation of the North, he would be in danger.
He sold all his possessions and serfs, and found a peaceful place to spend the rest of his life.
The fact that the other party can say such things means that he is unaware of Qi Feng's current situation, nor of Richard's taming of the Rock Armored Earth Dragon.
I thought Richard had failed in his land reclamation and returned to admit his incompetence, even going so far as to return his fiefdom and title.
indeed.
This time, unlike the trip to Frostbite, Richard went straight to Wolf's Lair as soon as he entered the city. Even if his men wanted to report that there was an extra Starshine Warhorse in the stables, they couldn't do it as quickly as he did.
Moreover.
Wolf March is a major city and town, and there are many high-level war cavalry coming and going in the territory.
If it weren't for the large number of knightly orders visiting, a single Rock Armored Earth Dragon wouldn't be enough to report to the lord.
Unlike Frost City, which was the most remote town in the far north before Richard started his expedition, where the appearance of even a stranger could immediately alarm the lord.
Richard, not wanting to keep them in suspense any longer, gestured to the old butler serving wine to open all the gift boxes he had brought.
A box contained two golden perch, each weighing six kilograms and preserved in fine salt, clearly a top-quality catch.
The other box contained five fist-sized amethyst crystals, wrapped in high-quality fabric, their surfaces smooth and flawless.
Richard raised his glass, gesturing towards Count Wolf with a perfectly timed smile.
"Your Excellency."
"Thanks to you, I fished a river in my territory and reaped a good catch of silver and gold star fish."
"We also discovered a small crystal mine in our territory, so we brought some over for you. We hope you will like this gift."
The rustling sound of the quill pen stopped abruptly. Earl Wolf finally looked up, his gaze first sweeping over the two gift boxes before returning to Richard.
His eyes were deep and profound.
His serious face showed no emotion, neither surprise nor approval, as if the Venusian fish and amethyst before him were nothing more than ordinary mortal objects.
He slowly stood up, lowered his rolled-up sleeves, straightened his brocade robe, and walked to the tea table to sit opposite Richard.
The butler quickly stepped forward to pour the wine.
Earl of the Wolf picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, gestured for the butler to leave the study, and then fixed his gaze on Richard.
Although she did not unleash Lan Yue's extraordinary and powerful aura, her innate superior demeanor alone made the atmosphere in the study suddenly become more solemn.
"Then why aren't you properly developing the wasteland? What are you doing back here? Are you here to show off that your chiffon collar has finally produced some produce?"
Richard was somewhat helpless.
He really wanted to remind the other party that he could stop speaking in a fatherly tone. They were not familiar with each other and could they simply talk about official business as a lord and his vassal?
He decided to cut to the chase, setting down his wine glass and asking directly, "I've come to ask you, Earl, why you publicly refused Grand Duke Frostfolk's summons?"
"The Wolf is powerful and naturally unafraid of Frost's retaliation, but I want to remind you that Chiffon was blocked outside the Black Pine Forest by Frost."
Most of the Wolves' vassals are in the western part of the North, still closely surrounding Wolves.
But chiffon cake is different.
Like a forgotten pawn abandoned in a corner, it stands alone in the far north, its only trade route to the outside world blocked by Frost City.
When Earl of the Wolf made this decision, he probably forgot about Chiffon's position long ago.
Earl of the Wolf suddenly laughed.
He looked at Richard with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"so..."
Are you scared?
"Afraid that the frost will take its toll on your chiffon cakes, afraid that the frost will block your trade routes, afraid that your chiffon cakes will be ruined just as they are starting to do well?"
Richard smiled too.
He rolled his eyes inwardly. What a pointless question! Didn't they even bother to count how long chiffon cake had been around?
However, he didn't show any expression, and just replied calmly.
What do you think?
Earl Benlang suppressed his smile, stood up, walked to the window, pushed open half of the window, and looked towards the training ground in the distance.
There.
Some of the reservists who are not on duty are undergoing rigorous training.
"If you are worried that Chiffon Territory will be invaded by vassals under Frostmooth, then you can rest assured."
"9
"Shuangmo will soon have his own troubles. He simply doesn't have the time or energy to deal with a remote little lord like you."
Summer planting is just around the corner. You just need to follow your farming techniques and develop your chiffon cakes properly. You don't need to worry about anything else.
"1
Upon hearing this...
Richard was suddenly taken aback.
What does that mean?
As the ruler of the Northern Territory, Shuangmo lost face when she was publicly rejected by her vassals. Logically, she would immediately take some kind of retaliatory measures.
But the count's words implied that Shuangmo was about to be entangled in trouble.
this...?
Richard's mind raced, and his doubts deepened.
A bold guess quietly surfaced in his mind, making his heart beat a little faster.
He stood up abruptly, his gaze fixed on Earl of the Wolf's profile, and asked in a deep voice, "Your Excellency."
"Does what you're saying mean that Strider is really preparing to declare war on Frostfolk!?"
In his previous speculation, due to the military intervention of the Starry Sky Royal Family, even if the Benlang and Shuangmo families broke off relations, at most they would restrain each other and trip each other up.
For example, cutting off trade routes, blocking access to certain raw materials, or creating friction in the surrounding area to intimidate the free citizens in the city.
But he never expected...
He also overlooked the most extreme and dangerous possibility...
With the Wolf Riders' ghostly speed, they could launch a decapitation strike against Duke Frostmoak with lightning speed while he was away!
Frostfox's strength lies in the fact that the Grand Duke activated his bloodline talent, which allows him to apply an ice and snow aura to the army.
Once he's dead...
The Frostfoil Knights are no match for the current Wolf Knights!
By the time all the lords of the North and the Starry Sky Royal Family realized what was happening, the situation in the North had already changed!
Not to mention that the Starry Sky Royal Family is far away in the capital, and it takes time for the news to be transmitted, even the vassals under the Frostfoil Territory have no time to react.
If the Wolf of Swiftness truly succeeds, then the former vassals of Frost and Frost will only have two paths to take.
Firstly, for the sake of so-called honor, they directly sent troops westward to Benlang Territory. However, without Shuangmo's command, they were simply a disorganized mess and not worth worrying about.
Secondly, they should change their allegiance on the spot, accept the fact that the Wolf Warriors are in control of the northern border, and submit to their rule!