224: Each has its own actions

Red Heart Fortress was built during the dark and turbulent period following the collapse of the Tamriel Human Empire.

Three thousand years ago, the empire collapsed, the unified Human Empire fell apart, and the scattered human forces acted independently, even fighting each other for survival.

At that time, tribal forces living in the forests and mountains north of the Golden Plains often invaded the city-states on the plains to the south.

Red Heart Fortress is situated at the junction where the Crimson Gold River flows into the Golden Plains; the rolling hills turn into an endless plain behind the fortress.

Red Heart Fortress was built to defend against northern invaders, and it only gradually lost its purpose after the Golden King Asriel emerged, unified the Golden Plains, and secured the kingdom's four borders.

Over a thousand years later, the once war-torn Red Heart Fortress has become a city with bustling trade, where merchants from the North and the Golden Plains gather to exchange goods.

The former military fortress has long since disappeared, leaving only its name unchanged.

Inside Red Heart Fortress, in an ordinary residence, several men and women who looked no different from average citizens were gathering.

However, in this seemingly ordinary gathering of friends, the content of their conversation would surely make outsiders think they were madmen if it were known.

"Number Seven's side is all ready. As long as we succeed this time, we can become famous throughout the kingdom and restore the glory of our predecessors."

"Great, I can't wait to see a Grand Duke kneeling at my feet, begging and wailing. I'll slowly slice off his lower body and let my Shadow Hound chew it up and swallow it bit by bit."

"When do we act, Number Six? I can't wait!"

"Number Nine, you're still the same. After all this time, you still love torturing those nobles!"

"Shut up, Number Ten. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll cut out your tongue. Do you want to have your flesh sliced off piece by piece like those nobles?"

"This crazy woman... those nobles must have broken her brain back then. Why didn't they just play her to death!"

Number Ten cursed in his heart but didn't respond to Number Nine's wild words. He wasn't as strong as her, and he knew that if he truly provoked this crazy woman, she really would attack.

"We'll act once Number Eight is ready. For now, let's get familiar with our respective identities. Later, Number Eight will arrange for someone to take us north."

"Remember, our target this time is a long-established Grand Duke. He's no ordinary person. Every detail must be under absolute control without any mistakes. Success or failure this time is vital to us, so we must succeed and cannot allow failure!"

"You should be clear about the Mentor's temper. If we fail this time, your souls will be cast into the Shadow Abyss. Don't say I didn't warn you then!"

At the mention of the Mentor, both Number Nine and Number Ten's expressions changed, and they nodded silently.

"Uncle Cohen, Uncle Cohen, open the door quickly!"

Several urgent knocks interrupted their conversation. Upon hearing the knocks, Number Seven's expression changed instantly, and his aura shifted from oppressive to friendly and approachable. He walked to the door with a smile and opened it.

"Doc, what's wrong? Why are you here in such a hurry?"

Doc walked in and started telling his story excitedly.

"Uncle Cohen, do you know what I saw? You might not believe it, but I saw the legendary Holy Sword Legion. They were all so tall and mighty."

"Is that so?"

Cohen, as well as Number Nine and Number Ten nearby, all had a strange glint in their eyes upon hearing about the Holy Sword Legion. However, the excited Doc didn't notice a thing and continued to enthusiastically tell Cohen what he had just seen.

Thousands of miles away in the Stag Territory, the new Grand Duke of Stag, Heisenberg, was hosting a banquet for his capable subordinates in Stag Fortress.

The companions who had once followed him on adventures across the continent had now all become the new nobility of the Stag Territory.

After his battle with the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear, Heisenberg had seized many resources and occupied the Magic Stone Vein, greatly increasing his prestige in the Stag Territory.

Subsequently, he seized upon Count Torrens's disobedience and combat failures to heavily punish his family and the nobles under him, taking the opportunity to install many of his own men.

Then, a month ago, Heisenberg found a minor mistake made by his half-brother and used it as an excuse to strike hard, achieving a total victory.

By now, Heisenberg had firmly secured his position on the throne of the Grand Duke of Stag. No one in the Stag Territory dared to openly question his authority anymore.

"Your Highness, although those old fogies have shut up now, I've heard that many have gathered around Lelia, plotting things against you!"

Lelia was a daughter of the former Grand Duke and the most outstanding of all Federico's daughters. She held the title of Daughter Blessed by the Holy Spirit in the Stag Territory.

"Have all those useless people run to Lelia's side?"

Heisenberg savored the fine wine in his hand, not taking Lelia seriously at all.

“Lelia is nearly a hundred years old and has barely reached the strength of the Gold Peak. Her territory is all on the northern border with few people and resources; she's no threat.”

“That old woman is indecisive. Aside from being a bit clever, what else can she do? Just because the Holy Spirit glanced at her once when she was a child, she dares to use the title of Blessed by the Holy Spirit—I'll give her credit for having the nerve to come up with that.”

“They're just insignificant pests. No need to pay them any mind!”

“If they dare to do anything out of line, it won't be too late to act. Our recent moves have been a bit too bold, and those few in the family are quite dissatisfied.”

Heisenberg also understood the importance of the Stag Family to him; deep down, he also wanted the family's recognition.

Thorn stood up and said, "Your Highness, one of the deputy commanders of the Stag Knights is Lelia's son-in-law. I believe it's necessary to remove him!"

"His position is indeed important and must be taken. Let him go back to the north to reunite with his family; he shouldn't stay in the Knights anymore."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Come, let's not talk of other things. Let's drink! Tonight, we shall finish all this fine wine!"

"Your Highness's tolerance for alcohol is truly unmatched!"

"Back in the Golden City, Your Highness once outdrank those hot-tempered dwarves, drinking five of them under the table on his own."

"Hahahaha!"

The hall was brightly lit, and laughter rang out, forming a sharp contrast with the howling cold wind outside.

This winter, the cold winds of the North grew even more violent. The Cold Wind Spire, which once blocked the cold currents from the Permafrost Plateau from heading south, still stood in its place, but its great power had vanished.

Marshall, the Grand Duke of Cold Wind, gazed at the Cold Wind Spire, the symbol of his family's prosperity, with a solemn look in his eyes.

It had been over a year since the Chaos Demon Calamity. After more than a year of recuperation, the Cold Wind Territory had gradually begun to recover, and the deep-rooted Cold Wind Family was recovering very quickly.

The Council of Elders that once constrained him had been abolished after the calamity, so Marshall's initial goal was considered achieved.

But the price was too heavy. The Great Elder of the Legendary Realm had died in battle, more than half of the family's pillar Gold Rank combatants were dead or injured, Cold Wind City was destroyed, and various parts of the territory were plundered.

Marshall could still accept these losses; they could be made up for with a few years of time.

However, the damage to the Cold Wind Spire was the most fatal and the most unacceptable to Marshall.

He hadn't felt too much grief when his favorite eldest son, under a spell, plunged a demon blade into his chest, but when Marshall learned that the Cold Wind Spire was damaged beyond repair, he momentarily lost his composure.

"Cassasgaro, is it still not working?"

Marshall immediately went up to ask the new Chief Archmage who had just come out of the Cold Wind Spire.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, there is still no response!"

"I'm missing key materials. I need at least two Polar Ice Cores to have any hope of restoration."

To repair the Cold Wind Spire, Marshall had already taken out all the usable treasures from the family vault, but there was still a shortage.

"Two Polar Ice Cores? I see. Leave it to me to solve."

Marshall looked toward the north, where the things he needed were located.