148: Carl's Interest

Blood soaked the earth, countless corpses were piled together, and broken weapons and armor were scattered everywhere.

A great battle had just ended here, and the victors were cleaning up the battlefield.

Fully armed human soldiers were searching everywhere for enemies who hadn't completely stopped breathing and then killing them.

More auxiliary Militia gathered the corpses of the fallen, preparing to burn them in a moment.

Karl Angry Bear was resting on his war bear. The several new scars on his armor showed that the previous battle had not been easy.

"Old partner, it seems I'm really getting old. I can't fight like I used to. It took so long just to deal with a guy like this. Back when I was young, killing someone like him wouldn't have taken more than a few moves, and it would've been impossible for him to wound me."

"Time is truly the sharpest blade; everyone seems so fragile before it."

The war bear beneath him shifted and mumbled a few words, making Karl laugh loudly.

"You silly beast! All you know is eating and sleeping."

The nearby Raging Bear Guards saw their lord laughing and thought he was happy because of the victory. Smiles appeared on their faces too.

In the recent battle led by Karl, the army of the Rage Bear Territory won a great victory. The Dragon Legion was completely routed, and many captured people of the Rage Bear Territory were rescued.

In the eyes of these warriors, Karl was an invincible existence. Not just in this battle, but over the past two hundred years, Karl had led the Rage Bear Territory to countless victories, earning him supreme prestige among its people.

"Your Highness, Earl Horn sent word that His Majesty's magitech battleship has completely routed the invading Dragon Legion. Earl Horn is leading the army to reclaim lost territory."

"Understood!"

"Have the Rangers sent to the Red River Valley returned yet?"

"Not yet, Your Highness."

Karl frowned slightly and said, "Have them come see me as soon as they return."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Regather the troops and rest here. Send a message to Sena, telling him to head south to reclaim the territories broken by the Dragon Legion, then wipe out the fleeing Dragonkin remnants to the north. Try to rescue as many captured subjects as possible."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

After arranging the next tasks, Karl stared into the north, lost in thought.

The battle against the Dragon Race was much smoother than he had expected. Aside from this one difficult battle, the other battlefields had been extremely successful.

The appearance of the magitech battleships caused a one-sided situation. As long as no Legendary experts appeared, the Dragon Legion simply couldn't resist the magitech battleships and the royal elite legions.

Karl was also surprised upon receiving news of the magitech battleships. The appearance of such a kingdom-level weapon of mass destruction meant that the royal elites had been mobilized, and at least one Legendary expert had come to the Northern Border.

He hadn't asked the royal family for help, yet the royal army had arrived at the Northern Border. That meant either the Stag Territory or the Cold Wind Territory had requested aid.

The three Archdukes of the Northern Border—the Stag Territory and Cold Wind Territory were significantly stronger than the Rage Bear Territory. After all, the Rage Bear Territory had only been established for two hundred years, while the other two archducal territories had existed for over a millennium.

"Has a Legendary expert from Dragon Peak made a move?"

While Karl was still wondering what major problem had caused the royal family to send an army for support, a violent blizzard swept across the battlefield.

The blood-soaked earth was covered in white snow in an instant. The corpses froze solid, and the temperature dropped by more than ten degrees. Even with a physique as strong as Karl's, he felt a chill.

"What a powerful cold current!"

Looking at the cold current blowing from the north, Karl grew thoughtful. Perhaps the source of the changes in the Northern Border was related to this heavy snow.

Heavy snow continued to fall for the next few days, with temperatures repeatedly dropping to record lows for the Northern Border.

Seeing the snowy weather continue to get colder with no sign of improvement, Karl was certain that something had gone wrong in the Cold Wind Territory.

"It seems this winter is going to be prolonged!"

A voice interrupted Karl's thoughts.

"Your Highness, the Rangers are back!"

"Let them in."

"Your Highness!"

Several knights, travel-worn and covered in snow, arrived at Karl's side.

"How is it?"

"We went deep into the Red River Valley and reached Master Alistair's territory. It has been completely destroyed by the Dragon Legion; the town and castle are now in ruins."

"We didn't find a single survivor, and we don't know Master Alistair's current situation."

The Ranger Commander quickly reported the results of their reconnaissance to Karl.

"However, at the entrance of the Red River Valley, at the original site of Red River Fortress in the Red River Territory, we discovered a large city. The walls are very high, no shorter than those of Rage Bear City."

"Although the city's scale isn't as large as Rage Bear City, it's already comparable to a typical Earl's city. We also sensed many people living there."

"That suddenly appearing large city wasn't breached by the Dragon Legion; it stands perfectly fine at the entrance of the Red River Valley."

"Because we had the mission you assigned, we didn't rashly investigate the new city. However, looking at the banners flying over the walls, that new city belongs to the Derrick Family of the Red River Territory."

"Additionally, before entering the Red River Valley, we encountered several Blackstone Territory subjects on the wilderness who had been captured by the Dragon Legion."

"They said an army ambushed the Dragon Legion a few days ago, wiping out the dragon Magic Beasts and monster legions, and rescuing all the captured subjects."

"The rescued population was eventually moved into the Red River Valley. Only a few subjects originally from the Blackstone Territory secretly slipped away from the group and returned to their homes in the Blackstone Territory."

The news brought by the Ranger Commander surprised Karl. Although Alistair was missing, Karl knew Alistair would surely be fine.

But the new city appearing in the Red River Valley was very unexpected to Karl.

Derrick had once been his most loyal warrior. Karl had raised him like his own son. Derrick had also fought for him for over a decade, eventually leaving behind a body full of injuries and dying young.

He had taken good care of the Derrick Family. Although for certain reasons he hadn't granted the Derrick Family the title of Viscount, the territory chosen was the best piece of land.

During the previous Fel Orcs war, the Derrick Family suffered a disaster, leaving only one descendant. Karl felt some pity and had Sena help the Derrick Family.

He still had some impression of that sole remaining descendant of the Derrick Family.

"Reyn Derrick—that kid was excellent back at the Knight Academy. It seems he also has a knack for governing a territory."

"However, building a massive new city in just one year is no simple feat."

"It seems that kid took some advantage of this dragon invasion, but how did he withstand the Dragonkin legion's incursion?"

Karl couldn't quite figure it out. Normally, Reyn shouldn't have the strength to hold off a Dragon Legion.

"Go to the Red River Territory and invite Reyn here. Tell him I want to see him!"

"Have him go to Iron Wall Fortress; I'll wait for him there."

Karl then led his army further north, with Iron Wall Fortress as their destination.

The temperature suddenly turned freezing. The wilderness was no longer suitable for camping.