Chapter 294: Make the Hoover Family Glorious Again
Hode and Cooper left Adrian City and returned to York City.
Marl had given them a letter, instructing them to find a tavern in York City called Half Horseshoe and deliver the letter to the tavern’s keeper. Afterward, soone with the authority to decide would discuss the matter with them.
However, just five miles outside Adrian City, Cooper grabbed Hode’s arm and said, “No, you can’t do this. He wants to use your Hoover Family bloodline. He is planning to invade the Northern Lands.”
Cooper’s eyes trembled.
The Northern Lands were unafraid of challenges. Once conquered by force, they would instead sing praises for the victor, because this was the Northern Lands, a land that glorified bravery.
Moreover, no matter where one ca from, upon entering the Northern Lands, they would beco a part of it. Those who could not beco Northern n, those who could not adapt, would be buried by the earth.
But Cooper clearly knew that if Marl’s plan beca reality in the Northern Lands, then as long as he wished, a slave could be made into a hero overnight.
“That will overturn the traditions of the Northern Lands,” Cooper said firmly.
Hode glanced at Cooper and said, “But do we have a choice?”
Cooper froze.
Hode continued, “This is Greenwood. The power of three principalities has been gathered here. Even in its current broken state, its strength is still formidable. When they recover from their unified war, will they cross the surging Demis River to attack the mighty Altlinsmann Empire? Or will they send knights into the mountainous and jungle-filled Principality of Valorian? Or will they head north, into the Northern Kingdom embroiled in a war against the Fiends? Don’t forget how fertile Greenwood is—so fertile that even now, the people of the Northern Kingdom trade with Greenwood’s rchants.”
“Yes, trade is mutually beneficial, but those rchants have their loyalties. Compared to the strength-focused Northern Lands, they naturally prefer that the Northern Lands accept the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. So, they gift the Northerners tokens of identity. On our travels, you should have seen how those things are admired by so in the Northern Lands, even though to Northerners they are useless trinkets that cannot be wielded in battle.”
“But in the traditions of the Northern Lands, the strong enjoy everything. And the weak? They long for order.”
“Beneath the great nobles are the lesser nobles, beneath them the gentry, and beneath the gentry, the warriors. That is the Northern Lands, where even commoners carry the blood of battle.”
“The mont the first gentry saw a Greenwood rchant and chose to speak instead of killing him on sight, the invasion had already begun.”
Hode looked at Cooper, his calm gaze stirring fear in Cooper’s heart.
Hode went on, “I was once part of the Church, so I understand even more. In their eyes, it is never about a single person, a single land, or a single nation. The Scriptures you mock are not rely a tool for maintaining power—they are their unwavering Faith.”
“Yes, the Northern Kingdom is strong. Even the legendary Lords of Annihilation were regarded by those nobles as re prey. But are the Fiendish armies of the Lords of Annihilation truly as weak as they imagine?”
“And Cooper, you saw it with your own eyes. Greenwood is not weak either. Here, even a prostitute would not fear our threats. Instead, she would call upon the city guards to defend her rights—for just five York silver coins, she would not fear our revenge, even though we could easily kill her. Is that not courage? And who gave her that courage?”
“Cooper, I do not believe that if even a prostitute can be so courageous in Greenwood, the proud nobles of the Northern Lands will be able to resist when the true invasion cos.”
“And besides, whether they resist or not has nothing to do with us. I was born in the Northern Lands, but I grew up in Greenwood. I feel no pride for the North. I only wish for the Hoover Family to endure, for the Hoover bloodline to continue. And right now, I believe Marl’s way is more reliable than seeking the help of nobles.”
Hode looked at Cooper and said, “If you wish to uphold the traditions of the Northern Lands, I won’t bla you. You were once a warrior of the North and proud of it. But when we et again in the North, if you stand against , I will kill you without hesitation.”
“And you too carry the Hoover na. You once helped . So I hope you will continue to help —until we make the Hoover Family glorious again.”
With that, Hode patted Cooper’s shoulder and walked on.
Cooper stood still. At that mont when Hode’s hand touched his shoulder, he seed to glimpse Beo once more.
That was when the Hoover Territory had just been struck by the power of the Lord of Dominion, and the family’s warriors scattered. They spoke of seeking aid from other nobles, but how could Cooper not know them?
Revering the strong was the Northern tradition—but who would not wish to beco strong themselves?
The blood of battle made Northerners powerful, but it also filled them with ambition to beco the strong. Like their first trial, where they had to slay a Snowfield Wolf. When united under a leader, they were loyal. But once their leader fell and they beca lone wolves, they sought to make themselves leaders.
They would never think of re-swearing loyalty to the Hoover Family. They would rather beco wanderers or serve under another powerful noble.
The forr gave them the chance to beco strong themselves. The latter allowed them to continue revering strength.
So Beo once told him, “If you want to be like them, I won’t bla you, for that is the Northern tradition. But you too carry the Hoover na, so I hope you will always believe in the strength of the Hoovers.”
Back then, he chose to follow. And now...
Cooper caught up with Hode’s steps.
…
The Half Horseshoe Tavern was not in a lively district, but in the southeastern corner of York City, known as the slums.
Yet when Hode and Cooper arrived, they found the environnt here cleaner than even the Northern Royal Capital.
The reason Marl had sent them here was naturally because the tavern’s owner bore the surna Rich.
So the next day at noon, the esteed Greenwood Viscount and Senator of the Lundex Kingdom, Puniel Rich, t them in that quiet tavern.
There was no one else in the tavern, only the three of them and the bartender pouring drinks.
Puniel looked Hode up and down and said, “I’ve heard of you—the Church’s forr knight. Of course, forr. But you carry noble blood, a descendant of a marquis’s family. So I will not think you foolish, even if losing knighthood to the Church was indeed foolish.”
He placed Marl’s letter on the table. “And because I believe you are not a fool, you should already know what we want to do.”
“Do not disappoint by proving otherwise,” Puniel added.
Hode froze. He had not expected Marl’s contact to be so direct.
But seeing Puniel’s eyes, he hesitated and abandoned his prepared empty words. At last, he said, “I only wish to preserve the glory of the Hoover Family. I care nothing for anything else.”
Puniel laughed. “Good. Then you are not a fool. I like working with clever n.”
He straightened, leaning forward slightly. “Allow to introduce myself—Viscount Puniel Rich of Rich Territory, now serving as Senator under His Majesty the King, managing certain matters of the kingdom. And the rcenary Tavern falls under my oversight.”
“Of course, that is no secret.”
Hode nodded. “I understand. So, what must I do?”
Puniel’s smile grew more sincere. “Excellent. I think we will both get what we want.”
He pulled out a map—the map of the entire Northern Lands—marked with the positions of nobles.
Puniel said, “Although nobles serve the king, they are not vassals. In the North, high nobles are even more independent, especially now that the Northern King’s power wanes.”
“The five marquises and two earls—each of their territories is nearly a kingdom of its own, with their own laws. And surrounding them, the lesser nobles must also follow their rules.”
“And because of Northern tradition—you both should know this—the wandering bandits are even more nurous.”
“But in barren Northern Lands, bandits barely find food. Before the Fishn invasion, many Northerners ca south to Greenwood to ply that trade.”
Puniel’s words carried undisguised mockery of the North’s poverty. Hode and Cooper did not mind—it was simply truth.
Seeing no reaction, Puniel was even more satisfied. He continued, “These n are all potential rcenaries. After all, rcenary life is so free, and they can live on their bravery.”
“If they seek protection, they can join larger rcenary companies. If they wish to be the protectors, they can form their own. They will have supply bases, warm lodgings, sharp weapons, and won when they need release.”
“Of course, before this, they must be permitted to walk openly in so noble’s lands as rcenaries.”
“But those nobles are too proud. They won’t even grant my envoys an audience. Perhaps they think a re rcenary is unworthy of eting their greatness.”
Hode asked, “So, you want to persuade them to permit rcenaries?”
Puniel shook his head, raising a finger. “No, no, no—not them. Just one. Convincing one noble will be enough.”
He stood, sliding the map toward Hode. “The five marquises—oh, apologies, it should be four now—and the two earls. Any of them would do. But I recomnd persuading Earl Leonard Cortes.”
He pointed to a territory backed by the Northwind Mountains. “This Earl’s land deals most closely with our rchants. Mostly the gentry. When it cos to lords, our poor rchants must pay dearly in luxury goods.”
“But because of this, we have forged so friendship with the lords. Though they still look down on rchants, when the Earl considers granting rcenary licenses, they are willing to speak kindly for us.”
“After all, we are helping the Earl reduce the bandits in his land. And when he wages war, these rcenaries will fight for him. Even warriors roaming elsewhere will respect this benevolent Earl and beco his rcenaries, fighting under his banner.”
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