152: Duke Angry Bear's Inquiry

"That is all. You may all withdraw!"

"Rhein, you stay!"

Carl announced the end of the meeting, and all the nobles left the hall. They had certainly enjoyed the show and gained much from it.

However, upon exiting the hall, they quickly set these matters aside and began focusing on another important issue.

The addition of a new noble in the Rage Bear Territory would normally be big news, but the Dragon Race invasion had severely wounded many established nobles, and several families had been wiped out entirely. Power vacuums had appeared in many areas, and now that the war was over, a new round of power struggles was about to begin.

Compared to Rhein's rise, they were currently more concerned with their own family's interests.

The Red River Valley was too remote and had been repeatedly devastated, leading many to believe it was an inauspicious place, which made other nobles uninterested in it.

Once the nobles learned that the Potion Master working for Rhein could no longer provide advanced magic potions, coupled with the evil gods curse, and realizing that the Red River Territory was both powerful and difficult to provoke, they stopped paying attention to Rhein.

The dispersing nobles began gathering in small, secret groups to discuss the upcoming distribution of benefits.

Everyone understood that once the main army returned to Rage Bear Fortress, a new drama of 'cutting the cake' would unfold in the Thunder Hall. They all needed to prepare thoroughly for the upcoming event.

Rhein's matter today was merely an unexpected interlude.

While the other nobles were busy preparing to divide the post-war spoils, only Viscount Black Stone Clarkson walked out of the hall looking lost, wandering aimlessly with vacant eyes and a numb expression.

The Dragon Race invasion had caused catastrophic losses in the Blackstone Territory, essentially wiping out the Blackstone Family's century-long accumulation of wealth.

With the Red River Territory, led by Rhein, now rising like the sun, Clarkson found himself temporarily unable to accept this sudden turn of events.

On the other side, Rhein followed Carl into the study.

Facing the Grand Duke, Rhein remained quite cautious and careful.

As soon as Carl sat down, he suddenly blurted out a sentence that startled Rhein.

"He is with you, isn't he?"

Rhein's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm.

"Your Highness, what are you saying? Who is with me?"

Carl glanced at Rhein, then shifted into a more comfortable position, leaning back in his chair.

"Just now, I helped you resolve so many problems. I cooperated with everything you said, promoted you to Viscount, and even granted you the entire Red River Valley."

"Is this how you repay me?"

"Not even telling me the truth?"

"Isn't Alistair with you?"

Rhein gave an awkward laugh.

"Your Highness, this is your family matter, and I originally didn't intend to get involved. However, since you've asked, I will certainly tell you the truth."

Saying this, Rhein took out the letter Alistair had given him and handed it to Carl.

"Your Highness, this is the letter Alistair wrote to you before I came."

Carl took the letter and read it carefully.

After a long time, Carl finally put the letter down and sighed deeply.

"Alas!"

"I didn't expect High Witch Silan's Witchcraft to be broken. But this is also a good thing for Alistair. She was born a woman yet always presented herself with a man's appearance; that must have been a torment for her."

"Now that she has recovered her true self, her life will be freer."

Carl carefully folded the letter and placed it close to his chest.

"Rhein, since Alistair doesn't want to return to Rage Bear Fortress and prefers to live with you, let her stay with you for the time being."

"If I find out you bullied her, or if Alistair isn't doing well under your care, you'll be in trouble, young man!"

"Do you understand?"

Facing a father who cared for his daughter—and a father who possessed immense power and authority—Rhein immediately promised that he would take care of Alistair and ensure she lived comfortably in the Red River Territory.

Only after Rhein's repeated assurances did Carl nod in satisfaction.

"I know you well, young man. I am relatively relieved knowing Alistair is with you."

"With Anatolis and Melissa present, the safety of the Red River Territory is secured, and your own strength is considerable."

As Carl spoke, he found Rhein increasingly pleasing to the eye.

Alistair had spoken highly of Rhein in her letter, and Rhein himself possessed extraordinary talent and excellent looks.

Based on Rhein's current achievements, he might have a chance to step into the Legendary Realm in the future.

"Rhein, you are indeed outstanding!"

"The Derrick Family has not only recovered its former glory under your command but has become even more powerful."

"Your Highness, you think too highly of me. Although I have restored vitality to the Red River Territory and made it stronger than before, we are also facing numerous problems. I came here this time hoping you could offer some assistance to the Red River Territory."

"Assistance?"

"What kind of assistance do you need?"

"Your Highness, as you know, I took in many refugees from the Red River Valley this time, and later took in another group after defeating the Dragon Legion."

"The number of these refugees is simply too high. The Red River Territory's resources cannot support so many people; food, clothing, and medicine are all extremely scarce."

"Furthermore, although the Dragon Legion was defeated, it's uncertain whether powerful enemies will invade again in the future. The Red River Territory needs to establish an army, and the handful of Magic Wolf Knights I currently have is far from enough."

"Therefore, if Your Highness could provide me with some aid—such as food, weapons, and equipment—to help the Red River Territory overcome this crisis, the hundreds of thousands of refugees in the Red River Territory will surely never forget the kindness of Your Grace."

"And I will never forget the kindness Your Grace has shown to the Derrick Family."

Carl looked at the young man before him, recalled the words of his beloved daughter in the letter, and remembered how much he had once owed her and her mother.

"The Cold Wind Territory has encountered some issues. This year, the cold current has moved south, dropping the temperature too much. Both the Crimson Gold River and the Red Sand River show signs of freezing, so I cannot transport supplies to you immediately."

"The supplies you need, I will have the Salak Merchant Guild deliver a batch to you once spring arrives, the temperature warms up, and the ice and snow melt."

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Grace!"

Rhein bowed solemnly, then asked, "Your Highness, you mentioned issues in the Cold Wind Territory causing the sudden drop in temperature. Are the problems in the Cold Wind Territory severe?"

Carl glanced at the snowstorm outside the window.

"His Majesty personally visited Cold Wind City. Do you think the problem could be small?"

"Two days ago, His Majesty sent word that the Chaos Believers and the Dragon Legion jointly invaded the Cold Wind Territory. The Dragon Legion here and in the Stag Territory were merely Auxiliary Forces meant to draw attention."

"I heard the Cold Wind Territory suffered heavy losses this time, and even the Cold Wind Spire had problems. That is why the cold winds from the Permafrost Plateau were able to bypass the Cold Wind Territory and sweep south across the entire Northern Region."

"This drop in temperature will last a long time. This winter is destined to be much longer, but the impact you feel in the Red River Valley is still not too severe."

"The impact on other areas is much greater."

Carl sighed, then continued: "You don't need to worry about those dragons. His Majesty personally went to Dragon Peak and taught the Red Dragon Queen a lesson. The Dragon Race won't make any moves for the time being."

"As for those lunatics from the Demon God Cult, they were also severely injured by His Majesty and won't reappear in the short term."

"You should return to the Red River Valley, properly settle the refugees, and endure this winter. Once the waterways open up, the supplies you need will be delivered to your territory."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"I understand!"