When Ronin and Lurans spoke with Bruno yesterday, they received an invitation from him to attend a eting of high-ranking nobles.
So, the next morning, they took Sophia with them and set out for Oduin Hall.
Although the founding celebration was over, the lively atmosphere in the streets lingered, showing no signs of fading away just yet.
"Ronin, His Majesty the King has specifically called a eting for us. What do you think he wants to discuss?" Lurans asked.
Ever since Bruno had announced this eting without specifying the agenda, Ronin had been pondering this very question.
"I recently heard there’s trouble in the Tricia Kingdom. The people His Majesty has summoned this ti are either great nobles who rule their own lands or Knights too powerful to be ignored. I suspect it might be related to what’s happening in the Tricia Kingdom."
Lurans nodded in satisfaction. "I was thinking the sa thing. Perhaps thirty years of peace are about to end, and the flas of war will ignite between Oduin and Tricia once more!"
He never expected that the war would stop after he was injured, and now that he had just recovered, it showed signs of reigniting.
Sophia, who had been resting her chin on her hand while watching the scenery along Golden Feather Avenue, snapped back to attention. "Is the Oduin Kingdom going to take advantage of the chaos in the Tricia Kingdom and attack?"
Ronin nodded. "It’s very likely."
Lurans added, "Even if we declare war, there will be a rather long preparation period. The fighting won’t start imdiately."
Sophia let out a long sigh.
"Where I’m from, although there are conflicts among the Human Race, internal wars that cause mass casualties are not permitted."
She looked out the window. "Here, without the interference of the Demon God and his minions, you should be focused on developing and restoring the glory of a thousand years ago. Instead, I see that internal strife has brought the Orland Continent to a standstill."
Sophia looked at Lurans and Ronin seriously. "Is there anything you two can do to stop this war?"
Lurans shook his head. "The conflict and hatred between the two great families of Oduin and Tricia have lasted for over two hundred years. Although there have been brief periods of peace, they will never give up an opportunity to devour each other."
Ronin also said, "The turmoil in the Tricia Kingdom originates from the Holy Storm Organization, which was likely established by the Demon God’s minions. Attacking the Tricia Kingdom could also be an opportunity to eradicate those minions."
Harmon had also gathered this intelligence in the past few days, so Sophia suspected that Holy Storm originated from several Dark Lords on the Crescent Continent.
She also understood that if Oduin attacked Tricia, they would eventually have to confront the Holy Storm Organization.
But before that, she worried that while the two kingdoms were at war with each other, Holy Storm would seize the opportunity to rise.
The best-case scenario would be for Oduin and Tricia to join forces to root out and eliminate the Demon God’s minions. Then, the two kingdoms could sign a peace treaty, allowing their Knights and Mages to focus on their Cultivation in peace. That would produce more powerful experts to send as reinforcents to the Crescent Continent.
However, Sophia knew her idea was incredibly naive.
As long as the Demon God himself had not arrived on the Orland Continent, the people here would never see him as the greatest threat. They would only focus on eliminating the enemy right in front of them.
Before long, the carriage arrived in front of the Golden Feather Palace. Guided by a Knight, Ronin’s group of three entered Oduin Hall.
At this mont, several nobles were already in the hall: Earl Jesus of Moonlight Valley, Duke Ference Gregor of the Ferrensburg Duchy, and Viscount MacLaren, who was representing Earl Alfonso Fleming of Screaming Island.
’It’s him?’
As Sophia stepped one foot into the hall, her gaze imdiately fixed on Jesus.
She had studied the Witch Soul Race and was very familiar with their aura. She knew there was sothing wrong with Jesus without even needing to release her Spiritual Power to sense it.
Ronin nodded discreetly. "Yes, that’s him."
Sophia took a deep breath. ’If I weren’t in a foreign land, I would have made my move long ago.’ For now, she could only forcibly suppress the urge to act.
The three of them walked to their designated seats and sat down.
Over the next little while, other nobles arrived one after another.
These included Broel, whom Ronin was familiar with, Randall of Athyst County, Duke Valgis of the Gistana Duchy, and others. Duke Andrea of the Villa Duchy was the last to arrive.
Andrea’s seat was right next to Lurans’. The two exchanged a cold glance.
"To think you actually recovered. How wonderful, Lurans!"
"Heh. What, does my recovery and breakthrough displease you?"
Andrea sneered and stopped his taunts. Instead, he glanced at Ronin with a look that seed to carry both scrutiny and a warning—in any case, it held no goodwill.
Ronin remained impassive, not greeting him or even observing basic noble etiquette.
He could foresee that if the Oduin Kingdom truly attacked the Tricia Kingdom, a war might very well break out between Wushan Territory and the Villa Duchy in the anti.
"Haha, sorry to keep you all waiting!"
Bruno’s hearty laughter echoed into the hall first, followed by his entrance as he strode in. Crown Prince Garrett followed behind him.
Ronin ntally tallied the High Tier combat power currently in the hall.
’Aside from our Wushan Territory contingent, the known Silver Moon Knights are Garrett, Andrea, and Valgis. As for the unknown ones...’
Ronin swept his gaze over the nobles’ Guard Knights, wondering if there were any such powerful Knights among them.
Bruno sat upon the throne. "I had originally hoped Ibn, Willis, and the others could attend, but unfortunately, the borders are not peaceful, and they could not get away."
Ibn was his eldest son-in-law, a Silver Moon Knight.
Willis was the head of the Black Jade Clan, a teor Peak Knight.
"I won’t waste any more ti with pleasantries. Let’s get straight to the point."
As he spoke, he looked to his son, Garrett, who understood and stepped forward. "By the ti I left the border to return, a large area of the Tricia Kingdom had already been occupied by the Holy Storm Organization. This territory is still expanding, and our rivals are sinking deeper into the mire."
Garrett’s voice suddenly dropped, becoming low and rather excited. "Everyone, this is our chance!"
"Our Oduin Kingdom is the true, legitimate successor to the Orland Empire! Today, we can use this once-in-a-lifeti opportunity to crush the usurper, Tricia, in one fell swoop!"
Bruno continued, "I am preparing to attack the Tricia Kingdom!"
Oduin Hall fell silent.
Although everyone had more or less guessed this would be the topic, no one imdiately stated their position.
After a long mont, Duke Ference was the first to speak. "Brother, you have always planned for the kingdom with singular focus. We will, of course, sincerely follow and support you."
Then his tone shifted. "However, before that, we must get a firm grasp on the Tricia Kingdom’s recent situation. We need to acquire detailed intelligence on them and this Holy Storm Organization Garrett ntioned, and then strike when they are locked in fierce battle."
Ference seed to be in agreent, but in reality, he was just stalling for ti. Yet no one could find fault with his words, as what he said was indeed reasonable.
Andrea nodded. "Your Majesty, I am inclined to agree with Duke Ference’s proposal. Gathering more specific intelligence is the most crucial step right now. As for..."
"But actively preparing for war, even positioning troops on the front lines so we can launch a surprise attack the mont the ti is right—that is also sothing we need to do!"
Lurans cut him off and looked at Bruno. "I agree with His Majesty’s proposal. We should declare war on the Tricia Kingdom, and the great noble houses should begin to act imdiately!"
It was not that Lurans particularly wanted to say this; it was simply one of the clauses in the "strengthened military assistance" agreent they had made the previous night.
He could not very well agree to it yesterday only to remain silent today.
"Lurans, have all these years away from the battlefield muddled your mind?"
Andrea sneered, "I have no concrete intelligence on this so-called Holy Storm Organization. Attacking blindly will only lead us into soone else’s trap!"
A grand debate unfolded.
Ronin could see that Duke Valgis belonged to the neutral faction, while the three great nobles—Ference, Andrea, and MacLaren—seed to be of one mind.
In reality, gathering intelligence and moving troops to the front lines to prepare for war were not mutually exclusive, yet they insisted on treating them as separate tasks. This was all part of their power play against Bruno.
Forcing Bruno to agree to their plan was one way to weaken the authority of the Royal Family.
Besides, as far as they were concerned, there were things they could do to take advantage of the civil unrest in the Tricia Kingdom—and those things did not necessarily have to involve launching an opportune attack.
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