Chapter 32: Greetings, I Am Your Father... No, Your Lord
Many estate knights who did not even know that the old lord had passed away were utterly bewildered. Having always stayed in the countryside, and with the heavy snow blocking the roads of communication, they only now received the latest news from the outside world—the old lord's death, an outsider taking over the main city, and the heir to the lordship, the new lord himself, single-handedly counterattacking and succeeding. With this complete sequence of events, these knights had no idea what they should do. After hesitating for a long time, they could only write a letter of congratulations and self-reproach, dispatch their messengers to deliver it to their new liege, and state that they would come to formally pledge their allegiance when spring arrived the following year.
Meanwhile, at the foot of the Great Aias Volcano, in the lava zone, a Dwarf settlement. The enormous lava lake, a blend of red and yellow, churned and roiled, releasing nearly inexhaustible heat. Vast fire elements gathered, melting the wind and snow into nothingness. Heat waves surged upward, even punching a massive hole through the gray clouds that shrouded the sky. Sunlight streamed straight down, enveloping this area like a golden pillar of light.
And beneath the surface residential area, in the underground core forging zone, at the heart of the Black Steel Furnace.
With the operation of the massive runic machinery, molten iron from the steel flowed like an obedient cat along predetermined routes into various molds, then was sequentially sent to different forging stations. Many Dwarf blacksmiths who had been waiting long swung their hammers, forging the red-hot steel, which had been roughly shaped by the molds, into the forms they were meant to become.
Sets of refined weapons were forged one after another, stacked in batches to the side. After a while, other Dwarves would quench them collectively, and finally send them to the major merchant guilds of the various Northern territories.
At the forefront of these blacksmiths, seated on the Iron Throne that controlled the enormous runic furnace, was an aged Dwarf with a steel ring on his head and white hair and beard. Wrinkles piled up on his face and body, but they could not conceal his strength. His robust muscles, as if cast from molten iron, supported a frame that was not very tall but was exceptionally steady.
He had originally had his eyes closed, sitting quietly in his seat, his spirit controlling the massive machine beneath him. But just as the great Black Steel runic machine shook and trembled, this Dwarf seemed to sense something. A radiance like golden molten steel burst forth, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Iron Body · Moreira, the current leader of the Northern Rune Dwarves and the Supreme Forgemaster. This aged Dwarf, renowned for his toughness and wisdom, opened his golden pupils, sensing an inexplicable ripple in his heart. Then the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, pulling at the countless wrinkles on his face.
"Divine Mechanism... another Divine Mechanism has been awakened..."
Murmuring to himself, he slowly stood up and then ordered his attendant beside him: "Bring me my iron hammer."
"Yes! This... Supreme Forgemaster, are you going to take action?"
The young Dwarf attendant bowed respectfully to the old man before him, out of respect for his status and for his unquestionably supreme craftsmanship. Every time the Dwarf leader, who bore the surname Iron Body, took action, it was bound to produce a masterpiece. There had even been several legendary weapons that had come into being through his hands.
The young Dwarf asked with anticipation, but he did not expect to get an answer.
Yet an unexpected reply came.
"Yes, this is a matter promised to a certain family, a covenant written into the bloodline. It cannot be broken."
Smiling softly, Moreira's gaze grew hazy for a moment, as if recalling some events from long ago. Then, he spoke slowly, each word solemn: "A Divine Mechanism, a set of armor. In the name of the Rune Dwarves, this is respect and a promise to the Chaos Warden, the Gatekeeper."
And far away.
"Moldavia, the Radcliffe Family..."
West of the Great Aias Volcano, in the Moldova Territory. The main city, built along the river, was bustling with activity. The three-thousand-mile-long Machel Ice-Free River flowed straight down from the mountain glaciers, all the way to the Ancient Holy River that ran through the entire Northern Human Empire, merging into it. Leveraging this geographical advantage, the local lord, the Scarlett Family, could conduct large-scale trade at any time, regardless of the season, without needing Dragon Carriage caravans.
At this moment, in the side hall of the city's Lord's Manor, the aristocratic afternoon tea had just begun. After listening to her subordinate's report, a slender, delicate hand picked up the black tea that had been prepared on the small table. A young girl with violet-colored hair took a sip, then narrowed her eyes, as if pondering something.
After a long while, she sighed with leisurely emotion: "One month, from Mid-Silver to Gold. A bloodline passed down through a single line for three hundred years without being severed—truly, it has its exceptional qualities."
"Night, help me draft a congratulatory message... Mm, be cautious with the wording. That is a Gold-rank warrior, a powerful warrior who, having just advanced, was able to slay another Gold-rank."
On the other side.
The other side of the Black Forest, north of the Great Aias Volcano, the Vania Territory.
In the ancient castle within the mountains, the current head of the Vlad Family put down the report in his hand, dismissed the spy who had delivered the information, and sat alone in the castle's study, silent.
Finally, from the darkness came a low, magnetic middle-aged male voice. He seemed to be laughing at himself.
"Becoming a Gold-rank before the age of twenty-five... Truly, impressive."
East of the Great Aias Volcano, at the other end of the Black Forest, the Wilson Family.
Relying on the produce of the Black Forest and the ores from the mountains, this family was renowned for its magical accessories and fine weapons. They also possessed the largest Dragon Carriage caravan in the North. With their exceptional economic strength, this new family, which had moved to the North less than two hundred years ago, had managed to take root there.
Now, in the west of the main city, the Wilson Family meeting room had not been empty for two days. The sounds of argument had never ceased. Many people came and went, their expressions very unpleasant. Some were even full of anger, hatred practically written on their faces.
Through the crack in the door, voices could occasionally be heard. Words like "compromise," "compensation," "oppose," "start a war," "fool," and "Gold-rank" appeared from time to time, and with high frequency.
Finally, the argument seemed to reach a final compromise, and the meeting room quieted down.
A young girl with gray hair and purple eyes was the first to walk out of the room. Behind her followed many others with the same gray hair. Although they looked somewhat disheveled, the girl was full of energy, her eyes shining with brilliance.
Because of Joshua's strength and initiative, the entire North was spinning, and all forces felt the tremor.
And time flew by. Starfall Year 831, November 9th, south of the Great Aias Volcano, Moldavia Territory.
It was a snowless day, with sunlight unusually bright. Accompanied by melodious bells, the church rang the bell to summon the people. With priests and knights rushing about, most of the city's populace was gathered in the central square of the main city. They talked among themselves, but did not know why they were there.
But a moment later, the answer was revealed.
A warrior, clad in armor, with coarse black hair and dark red pupils, walked onto the speaking platform in front of the square. Behind him followed a young girl with silver hair, looking very composed. After gazing at the vast, dark mass of people below the platform for a moment, the black-haired warrior nodded in satisfaction. Then, channeling his Battle Qi, he shouted loudly to everyone:
"My people, greetings. I am your new lord, Joshua van Radcliffe."