128: Deprivation of merit

January 1st, 31610 of the dawn calendar.

The beginning of the eighth year of the star sea calendar.

The bloody battle in the Great Wilderness Forest, which lasted a year and a half, finally concluded on this day. Representatives from the four parties—the Aolai Kingdom, the Fama Kingdom, the Dwarf Kingdom, and the Orcs Alliance—officially signed the Armistice Agreement at the former site of Wolf Tooth Fortress in the center of the Great Wilderness Forest.

The agreement stipulated that the Human Allied Forces, as the victors, would occupy a total of 500,000 square kilometers of new territory in the eastern part of the Great Wilderness Forest. All parties pledged not to launch large-scale military operations in this area for thirty years.

After the dust settled, the division of interests within the victorious nations immediately began. Following half a month of negotiation and maneuvering, the Aolai and Fama Kingdoms reached the Post-War Territorial Division Agreement: the Fama Kingdom, leveraging the deployment of more Main Legions and the deterrent power of five Legendary experts in the war, received 300,000 square kilometers of land; the Aolai Kingdom obtained the remaining 200,000 square kilometers.

On January 15th, King Olai of the Aolai Kingdom, Alaric Olei, issued an Imperial Decree:

"Effective immediately, the 200,000 square kilometers of newly acquired territory shall be established as Brussels Province, encompassing five Prefectures. To commend the meritorious officials who fought bravely and expanded the territory in this war, a Commendation Conference shall be held at the newly constructed 'Glory Fortress' in central Brussels Province. All nobles of Viscount rank and above who participated in the war must arrive before February 1st. Those with outstanding achievements shall receive fiefdoms, promotions in noble rank, and royal rewards."

The Imperial Decree was quickly spread throughout the Kingdom's Northern Territory via Royal Messengers, Magical Communication, and other means.

Inside Glory Fortress, Alaric, whose white hair was meticulously combed, sat upright on the Throne wearing his Royal Robe. The aura of the Legendary Realm emanated from him.

Standing beside him were two old men whose auras were in no way inferior to his own.

The area below was already full of people: officials and Military Generals accompanying the Northern Expedition, as well as nobles of the Kingdom who participated in the Northern Campaign. Among them were eight Earls, including Earl Ailisi, three Marquises, and two Dukes. Most of the Aolai Kingdom's Top Nobility were present here. It should be noted that the Aolai Kingdom only had a total of thirteen Earls, five Marquises, and two Dukes.

At this moment, the Kingdom's Political Official held up a report:

"Your Majesty, while organizing the resources, I discovered that Viscount Lynn from Shattered Star Island in the Storm Sea Region has occupied 30,000 square kilometers of land along the eastern coast of the Great Wilderness Forest."

"Hiss!" A cold snort echoed through the hall!

"A Viscount?" Political Official Avic, "You must be farsighted! How could a mere Viscount occupy so much land?" Duke Bauhinia mocked.

The person who reacted the strongest upon hearing the name was none other than Earl Ailisi. The imposing Earl Ailisi questioned, "Lord Aivik, are you referring to that Linn from Shattered Star Island?"

One of the two Dukes at the very front, Eivor Nocturne, frowned slightly. The name Linn was very familiar to him.

King Olai also showed surprise. How could a Viscount possess such great ability?

"Your Majesty! Esteemed nobles, I have already sent people to investigate this matter. It is indeed as the report states: Viscount Lynn has not only occupied the land but has also begun establishing cities and cultivating farmland. His stationed army numbers ten thousand!"

"I didn't expect such a figure to emerge from the Storm Sea Region! I wonder which of your Families he belongs to?" Alaric surveyed the dozen or so nobles below.

To become a noble, his identity must certainly be that of a Noble Descendant.

Earl Ailisi, with a sinister expression, stood up and bowed, "Your Majesty! This child was born to me and an Elf Slave."

Everyone turned to look at him.

"So he is a member of the Iris Family, excellent! If that is the case, formally granting him that land is perfectly acceptable." Alaric's aged voice resonated in Earl Ailisi's heart.

He hurriedly and urgently advised against it, "Your Majesty, this must not happen. His Bloodline is impure, and he committed Fratricide. He absolutely cannot be rewarded with such a large territory." After speaking, he did not forget to give Marquis Golden Peacock a look.

Marquis Golden Peacock saw his signal and stood up. The matter of his Grandson seizing power was planned by him personally, and he had long understood the relationship between Linn and Payson. "Your Majesty, Earl Ailisi is correct. Impure Bloodline is inherently a disgrace to the nobility, and he is capable of Fratricide. He is not worth nurturing by the Kingdom. Dozens of nobles participated in this war, and the allocation of benefits is already insufficient. It would be best to take those 30,000 square kilometers of land and divide them up, making everyone happy."

Several nobles who were on good terms with Earl Ailisi echoed their agreement. 30,000 square kilometers of land was an exciting figure.

Alaric pondered. With these 30,000 square kilometers of land available for reward and enfeoffment, Brussels Province could be maximally brought under direct royal jurisdiction. The aged voice sounded again, "Then let it be as you all say. Those 30,000 square kilometers of land shall be divided among the nobles who participated in this war."

A distribution of interests was quietly decided under the secret plotting of these dozen or so Important Figures... Star Sea Territory... Payson and Yilman had already gone to East Sea City to begin construction. Shirei handed over command to Yilman and led the Star-Moon Legion back to Shattered Star Island. The current troop count in East Sea City is 10,000 from the Po Jun Legion, 5,000 from the Divine Arrow Army, and 5,000 Orcs Slave Auxiliary Troops.

In the conference room, Linn looked at the Kingdom's Letter in his hand. This day had finally arrived.

Morton stood up, showing concern, "Young Master, you must be careful on this trip. The Kingdom's three known Legendary experts are all at Glory Fortress."

Linn smiled at the worried Morton and said, "Don't worry, I have already prepared a Backup Plan."

Linn wasn't worried at all. If negotiations went poorly, Destiny's Spatial Shuttle ability would absolutely allow him to escape back to the Star Sea Territory immediately. He could establish a Spatial Channel and move all the Star Sea Territory's resources and population into the Breath of Life Demi-plane. As long as the population and army remained, Rising Again would only be a matter of time.

Morton saw his confident appearance and stopped trying to dissuade him.

Linn ordered, "This time, Clay will lead my nine Gold Initial Rank Knight Attendants to go together. Ocean, you go too."

"Yes, Sir!"

"Young Master, I want to go too," Elise said hastily. A hint of worry flashed in her eyes. "I must go. I am now Initial Earth Rank strength, so I won't hold you back."

Linn couldn't bear to refuse her frantic appearance. "Alright! I permit you to come along."

Only after Elise heard Linn agree did she start to smile.

"As for everyone else, gather all troops and station them at the Star Sea City Military Camp. Old Mo, convey the order that for the next half month, everyone in the Star Sea Territory is forbidden from leaving, and all trade transactions are suspended. Also, notify Payson to concentrate the East Sea City troops at the East Sea City Port."

"Yes, Sir!" Everyone accepted the order.

After everyone left, Linn walked to the window. This time, he would bring Clay, who had newly advanced to Initial Earth Rank, Elise, and Ocean, the High Earth Rank Knight. In addition, there were nine Tier 4 Griffins, nine Gold Initial Rank Knight Attendants, and Wind Wing, who was close to Breaking Through to Sky. This was a lineup that would move even a Marquis. If he added himself and Destiny, even a Duke would Retreat Three Steps.