184: The Angry Bear Leads the Charge

The Grand Duke of Stag was the pillar of Stag Territory, having defended it for over two hundred years, defeating countless powerful enemies and making Stag Territory increasingly prosperous.

Although in recent years, rumors had spread that the Grand Duke of Stag was seriously ill and bedridden, having lost his combat power due to his impending lifespan—even during the recent dragon invasion, he did not take action, and the Stag Family allowed the dragons to rampage through Stag Territory.

These actions indicated that the Grand Duke of Stag's condition was indeed poor, but as long as he lived for one more day, stag's enemies would not dare to act recklessly.

Now that the Grand Duke of Stag had died in battle, killed by Chaos Demons in full view of everyone, it was impossible to cover up the news. The news would soon spread, and stag's enemies would naturally begin to stir.

Trolkavin knew this well. Before the new Grand Duke of Stag was in place, Stag Territory had only one Legendary Expert—Lord Saint Spirit.

But everyone knew that the Saint Spirit worshipped by the Stag Family would not leave Holy Spirit Mountain unless a major event occurred. Unless the Stag Family faced an existential crisis, the Saint Spirit would not intervene.

Just like now, whether Trolkavin and Rage Bear Territory clashed in victory or defeat, the Saint Spirit would not care.

"Damn it, how could something like this happen?"

Trolkavin slammed the table in front of him, shattering it to pieces.

"The Grand Duke's several children are all extremely outstanding. They probably won't settle their differences in a short time, so the position of Grand Duke will be vacant for a while."

"Those guys in Stag Fortress are now busy taking sides and fighting for the Grand Duke's position among those princes, and they won't pay attention to what's happening here."

Trolkavin could already foresee the subsequent development of the situation: the Grand Duke of Stag died in battle, Stag Fortress fell into a power struggle, and Rage Bear Territory's army took advantage of this opportunity to launch an attack.

Facing the allied forces of Rage Bear Territory, Trolkavin was not confident that his own family could hold them off.

"Sir, the Raging Bear Family is just a dog raised by the Stag Family. Do they really dare to bare their fangs at their master?"

"I think you're overthinking it. Not everyone is as reckless as that madman Porcupine. I believe that old bear Karl wouldn't dare to attack us. We can handle Porcupine's family alone."

One of Trolkavin's trusted aides confidently expressed his opinion. Facing Rage Bear Territory, they in Stag Territory had a natural psychological advantage.

"Shut up!"

"How dare you casually insult the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear? He is one of the three Grand Dukes of the Northern Frontier, a hero who emerged from countless bloody battles and schemes, a strong man who established a Grand Duchy."

"He is not anyone's dog. Even the Grand Duke treated Karl Angry Bear as an equal. Who do you think you are to spout such nonsense?"

"In the past few hundred years, who else in the kingdom has been able to establish a Grand Duchy?"

"Only he, Karl Angry Bear, succeeded. How dare you doubt the resolve of such a strong man?"

Trolkavin was extremely angry. He had such an idiot under his command. If not for the fact that he still had some strength and could fight on the battlefield, Trolkavin would have wanted to drive him out of the territory.

"Porcupine's unusual movements are probably waiting for news from Rage Bear Fortress. Now we can only hope that the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear, out of respect for the late Grand Duke, won't attack us."

Trolkavin looked at the dark night sky with mixed feelings. What was once a sure thing had now become unpredictable.

To gain more chances of victory, he reported the matter of the Magic Stone Vein to Stag Fortress, earnestly hoping for their support.

Before this, Trolkavin had never thought of spreading the news about the Magic Stone Vein. From the beginning, he had wanted to monopolize this Sub-plane.

Besides seeking help from Stag Fortress, Trolkavin also sent letters to all the major nobles of Stag Territory, promising to share the Magic Stone Vein equally as long as they brought troops here.

After sending out a large number of letters, Trolkavin anxiously waited for the subsequent developments.

In the blink of an eye, seven days later.

Trolkavin stared somewhat dazedly at the Thunder Raging Bear Flag raised high in the distance.

"Has Karl Angry Bear come in person?"

Several thousand meters away, Karl, amidst the great army, wore specially made Raging Bear Heavy Armor, his majestic aura unconsciously radiating, making the surrounding nobles and knights instinctively avoid looking directly at his face.

"It's already dark. The army will rest for the night and launch the attack tomorrow morning, crushing the stag allied forces in one fell swoop."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

As the nobles dispersed, only Belmont remained by Karl's side.

"Belmont, why do you think I personally led this campaign?"

Karl's sudden question caught Belmont off guard.

"Father, isn't it because of the rare resources in that Sub-plane?"

"Those magic stones are just one aspect. More importantly, it's for you to smoothly take over the position of Grand Duke in the future."

Belmont was startled, looking at his father in surprise. There seemed to be something in his father's calm eyes that he couldn't quite understand.

"His Highness Federico dominated the Northern Frontier for two hundred years. When I first met him, he had just broken through to the Legendary Realm a few years earlier."

"At that time, he was so full of vigor and ambition. In the entire Northern Frontier, even the whole kingdom, he was a figure standing at the pinnacle, commanding the winds and rains."

"You know, my son, I admired him greatly back then, determined to become a man like him in the future."

"His Highness Federico also valued me highly, giving me considerable help. Later, he even married his daughter to me, and with his assistance, I established Rage Bear Territory."

"He was the most important benefactor in my life. Although I knew he supported me for the sake of the Stag Family, it didn't hinder the deep friendship between us."

As Karl spoke, he couldn't help but recall events from one or two hundred years ago, while also lamenting Federico's tragic end.

"Such a powerful and intelligent figure, yet after his death, his sons plunged Stag Territory into the vortex of internal strife, dragging the family he had spent his life maintaining into chaos."

"Son, do you think if I died now, you could smoothly take over the family and territory? Would those in the family submit to you?"

Belmont was still pondering this question, but Karl didn't wait for his answer and continued on his own.

"You can't suppress them, and they won't submit to you. Although I'm not like Federico, who had no clear heir—I've had you start managing the territory and taking over the family for a long time—those people still won't submit to you."

"Unless you can break through to Legendary. As long as you break through to Legendary, all problems will cease to be problems. Unfortunately, breaking through to Legendary is too difficult."

"I'm old, so old that even Horn dares to test me."

Mentioning Horn, a cold glint flashed in Karl's eyes.

"Many in the family are close to the Stag Family, and many nobles in the territory are either close to or fear the Stag Family. Horn also has the shadow of the Stag Family behind him."

Belmont looked at his father in shock.

"Father, is Count Horn going to betray you?"

"It's not betrayal, just mutual exploitation to seek more benefits!"

"But if I die and you become Grand Duke, these people won't be as obedient. By then, the family's interests and your interests will be affected."

"His Highness Volrigard is very cold toward you and the other descendants of the family. Apart from me, he looks down on anyone in the family."

"Perhaps after I die, His Highness Volrigard will become an existence like the Saint Spirit of the Stag Family. For you, this is very bad news."

"Horn might have also sensed these changes, so he began testing."

"The reason I chose to personally lead this campaign is to break the family's closeness and fear toward stag, to let the entire Northern Frontier know that stag is stag, and raging bear is raging bear."

"Originally, in the Northern Frontier, Cold Wind Duchy was the strongest, and raging bear was the weakest. Now Cold Wind Duchy has suffered heavy losses, and stag is in internal strife. This is the perfect opportunity for our raging bear to grow and strengthen."

"Horn is right. This Magic Stone Vein is the ladder for our Raging Bear Family to advance further."

"I will use this war to prove the will of raging bear, to prove the authority of the successor, to discipline those disobedient fellows, and finally, to take that Magic Stone Vein into our hands!"

Belmont said excitedly, "I understand, Father. I will make good use of this opportunity to prove myself!"

Karl nodded with satisfaction, but hidden within his pleased expression was a worry that Belmont did not notice.