100: invite

"Yes, the Eternal Peak, the legendary common court of all Dwarf clans, and the capital of the Dwarven Empire in ancient times."

Dwarven Race, known as the sons of the mountains, prefer living within mountain ranges to mine ore and smelt metal. They are a race on the Noah Continent with a long heritage and formidable strength, exceptionally skilled in forging. Weapons and equipment crafted by Dwarven Race are the most sought-after across the entire Noah Continent.

Rumor has it that the ancestors of the Dwarven race could forge divine artifacts, and those ancient Dwarf clans with long heritages might still possess powerful weapons from the primordial era.

Renn knew that the Eight Peaks Mountain Range was occupied by the eight great Dwarf clans.

The Eight Peaks Mountain Range is located in the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Asriel. The entire range is vast with countless peaks, the eight tallest and most majestic of which gave the range its name.

Because it borders the human kingdom, many Dwarven weapons flow into the kingdom's territory every year, and Renn had seen sharp weapons produced by Dwarven Race before.

Unlike Enchanted Equipment, Dwarven Race are not skilled in magic and do not use enchanting processes, but they possess another miraculous forging technique to make weapons extraordinary.

This forging technique is known as Rune Crafting. By engraving mysterious runes—exclusively mastered by the Dwarven Race—onto weapons and equipment, they can bestow them with miraculous effects.

Master Kapdo continued recounting the history of the Dwarven Race.

"According to records, after the collapse of the Dwarven Empire, the Dwarven race lost control of the Eternal Mountain Range, and the Dwarven Race were scattered across the Noah Continent."

Renn was somewhat curious; since the Eternal Mountain Range were so close to the Permafrost Plateau, weren't the Dwarven Race afraid of the cold?

"Aren't those Dwarven Race afraid of the cold winds on the Permafrost Plateau?"

"That is another legend. It is said that in the ancient times when the gods could still perform miracles, the Permafrost Plateau was controlled by a powerful sovereign. Under that sovereign's control, the cold winds of the plateau would not flow recklessly beyond its borders."

"These are all records I've read in ancient books. Who knows how many hands those various passed-down books have gone through; the events recorded in them aren't necessarily true. You don't need to take it too seriously, just listen to it as a story."

Master Kapdo treated it as if he were just telling a story, telling Renn not to overthink it.

Renn smiled and said nothing. Whether these ancient secrets were true or false didn't matter; he just found them interesting.

Just as Renn was enthusiastically continuing his discussion with Master Kapdo, Fornal hurried over to report a piece of news to Renn.

"You say that Highness from the north has sent someone?"

"Yes, Lord!"

Fornal wiped the sweat from his forehead; running all the way here was a bit too much exercise for him.

"Master Kapdo, Cecilia, my apologies, I won't be able to keep you company for now. I'm going to receive a guest."

"Big Brother Renn, go attend to your business. Grandpa and I will stay here for a while!"

Leaving the castle terrace, Renn headed to the drawing room.

On the way, Fornal told Renn a surprising piece of news.

The person Alistair sent turned out to be an old acquaintance of Renn's—the former Lord of the Rock Crystal Territory, Charlie Rock Crystal.

"Are you sure it's Charlie Rock Crystal?"

Renn was somewhat skeptical. This former Baron Rock Crystal had been stripped of his title and fief for abandoning his territory and fleeing.

Why had he run back to the Red River Territory now, and as Alistair's messenger no less?

"Lord, there's no mistake. I've seen Baron Rock Crystal several times before. It's him, absolutely no doubt."

Fornal vowed to Renn that he hadn't seen wrongly. He had also been very surprised when he saw Charlie and had specifically confirmed it several times.

It wasn't until Charlie took the initiative to greet Fornal and state his identity that Fornal was certain the newcomer was indeed the former Baron Rock Crystal.

"If it's really him, then this is quite interesting!"

When Renn arrived at the drawing room, he saw Charlie sitting upright and formal.

Waiting in the drawing room, Charlie's heart had long been in a state of upheaval, unable to calm down.

He felt as if he might have been hit by some evil spell and was hallucinating.

Not long ago, he had accepted the command of his new master, Alistair, to come south to the Red River Territory to deliver Alistair's invitation.

Charlie had traveled south, passing through the former Rye Territory, Black Iron Territory, and Redwood Territory. Those three familiar territories were still much the same as before, with the three new barons working hard to develop their lands.

However, the progress of those three barons was worlds apart compared to the Bright Moon Territory. The current Bright Moon Territory had basically completed its primary construction.

The largest project, Bright Moon Castle, was in its final stages. All sorts of exquisite and luxurious furniture and decorations were continuously entering the newly built Bright Moon Castle to adorn the recently finished structure.

From a pile of ruins to a magnificent castle rising from the ground, the Bright Moon Territory had been built like this in less than three months.

Charlie had witnessed the entire construction process. Such a speed of construction was a massive shock to him; his family's century of building achievements couldn't even compare to the results of the Bright Moon Territory in these two or three months.

Having witnessed such a construction miracle, Charlie's mindset had changed. Looking at the other three baronies to the south, he had completely lost interest and even looked down on them somewhat.

Until he entered the Red River Territory!

Spacious stone-paved roads, rows of neat and beautiful red buildings, and bustling crowds in the town. Most importantly, the town actually had no walls, left naked and exposed to the wilderness.

For a time, Charlie suspected he had definitely taken a wrong turn and gotten lost, ending up somewhere else.

But the Red River Fortress standing not far away—a building Charlie was familiar with—told him he hadn't gone the wrong way. This was the Red River Territory.

It was said the Red River Territory had suffered a heavy blow; it was said the Derrick Family had sustained massive losses; it was said Red River Town had lost its population and become a ghost town.

And the result?

How could it be like this?

Even as he sat in the drawing room of Red River Fortress, Charlie's head was still spinning.

"Lord Charlie, long time no see!"

Renn's greeting snapped Charlie out of his daze.

"Baron Renn, greetings!"

Charlie forced himself to calm down, took a breath, and began to fulfill his mission.

"I bring an invitation from my master, the Son of the Raging Bear and the One Favored by Thunder, Baron Alistair. He invites you to attend a banquet he has prepared for you at Bright Moon Castle in three days!"

Charlie performed a standard noble salute and then stated his purpose, accurately conveying Alistair's invitation to Renn.

"Give my regards to Lord Alistair. I will attend his banquet on time. Thank him again for the invitation."

Renn answered Charlie very formally, and then the atmosphere turned cold.

Sensing Renn's attitude, Charlie tactfully requested to leave, and Renn signaled Fornal to see the guest out.

Renn found it interesting that Charlie had returned to the Red River Valley following Alistair, but beyond that, he had no other thoughts.

He had no interest in befriending a coward like Charlie who had once abandoned his territory; the man was no longer on the same level as him.

Furthermore, the Derrick Family and the Rock Crystal Family never had much of a relationship, so there was naturally no need for reminiscing.

Outside Red River Town, Charlie took another look at the bustling town, shook his head, and left this place that felt so eerie to him.

Inside the castle hall, Renn thought of that Son of the Raging Bear to the north and then remembered the words brought by Field, the chamber of commerce president, not long ago. He could only shake his head and walk toward the Wolfs Nest.

"That Highness doesn't lack for anything, so why is he constantly fixated on my single demonic wolf?"

"Forget it, if I have to pay a price, so be it. Who told him to have such a big background!"