While the Eternal Sleepers regrouped and restarted their plans after the Startellers' Return of the Stars, other groups outside the fringes of human civilization who were also affected by the event were also quelling the dramatic chaos.

On the frontier reef in the eastern part of the Endless Sea, several tidal barriers have been urgently erected, and powerful magical forces have formed shields on the edges of the islands and reefs to replace the coastal fortifications that were destroyed by the waves before, and within the barriers, the barely recovered Stormchildren are busy around the clock, they have to repair the magic arrays on the islands, rebuild the destroyed coastal buildings, rescue the food and herbs that have not been polluted and have not rotted, and before the next storm comes, They must get these vital frontiers back up and running, at least to a point where they can be self-sustaining.

In an underground lair somewhere in Ansu, the druids of the Society of the End of Everything have finally resealed the "False God Body", and the massive amount of biomass they have lost in the process is difficult to replenish in a short period of time, and the new flesh multiplication plan has begun to be implemented, and the High Imam, who was badly damaged by the event, has returned to the depths of the crypt and entered a dormant state that could last for an entire year.

In the deep sea, tens of thousands of Krakens lay neatly on the seabed, burping and discussing how long the Core Fusion Tower would run.

However, the mortal realms on the continent of Loren do not know this, and as winter falls, peace is enveloping their kingdoms and empires—a semblance of calm.

The capital of Typhon, Aldenan, the aristocratic district.

It's been two months since the last time he saw the Earl of Winterburgh, and after hearing that the Northern Earl was about to leave the Imperial Capital, Archduke Ferdinand Wendell visited the Count's mansion in the Imperial Capital again.

One is the most powerful duke in the empire, and the other is an earl located in the cold regions of the north of the empire, there is obviously a gap in the status of the two titles, but in fact, everyone knows that the Grand Duke of Peernan and the Count of Winterhold have a close personal relationship - the two families have been close allies for many years, and the main camp of the Winter Wolf Legion controlled by the Wendell family is located in the northwestern frontier of the Empire, which is adjacent to the hereditary fiefdom of the Count of Winterhold, and half of the warriors of the Winter Wolf Legion are from the Winterhold region, The Winterhold family not only provided the Winter Wolves with their youth, but also provided them with supplies for a long time, while the Wendells acted as the protectors of the Winter Wolves in the imperial power network, a relationship that has remained unchanged for hundreds of years.

Twenty years ago, a mutual aid on the battlefield of the Northern Frontier established a personal friendship between Ferdinand Wendell and the current Earl of Winterhold, Parin Wintercastle, which continues to this day.

Compared to the last time they met, the Earl of Wintercastle looked a little more haggard, this powerful spellcaster had probably not rested well for many days and nights, his face was gray, his cheeks were sunken, and even his eyes full of magic were much cloudier than usual, Archduke Ferdinand had to worry about his old friend's health first, "Are you okay?" Palin? You look like you haven't slept for three days and three nights! ”

"Today is indeed the third day," said the Earl of Wintercastle, sitting in his large high-backed chair, with a sad brow on his face, "I can't sleep...... Our Imperial Majesty is becoming more and more worried. ”

"I have heard that Your Majesty has once again rejected your proposal, and that the Winterhold region has been ordered to prepare for war in the coming year...... He ......"

"Your Majesty is completely unable to listen to any dissuasion, whether it is what you say or what I say," Count Winterhold shook his head, "now is not a good time to start an all-out war, my duke, no one knows Ansu the Eastern Guardian family better than you and me, they are tough to bite - it is true that the Empire's army is strong, with new tactics and better equipment, and Ansu is outdated in this regard, but that doesn't mean we can do it without a price...... At least, now is not the time. ”

"Like you, neither of us has ever doubted that the strength of the Empire is enough to defeat the enemy, but the key is the size of the cost," Archduke Peddinand frowned, "yet our Imperial Majesty seems to have lost his judgment in this regard, he ...... It's too radical. ”

"It's not just radical, Duke, it's not just radical," Count Wintercastle's tone became serious, "I doubt it...... That mad curse has already begun to affect His Majesty the Emperor. ”

Archduke Ferdinand's eyebrows jumped, "What have you observed?" ”

He knew that Count Winterhold was a powerful spellcaster and a learned master of the occult realm, and he might be far superior in force, but in the realm of magic and curses, there were not many people in the entire empire who could surpass Count Winterhold, and he saw the glow of magic overflowing from the eyes of his old friend, whose expression became heavy and solemn, "I have not observed anything, but there are some suspicions that can be detected without the involvement of magic - His Majesty the Emperor is deliberately avoiding being me" The Magic Eye 'watched, and when they met, there were four royal mages standing next to him, and the powerful magic interference made me unable to see anything, and this was precisely where it was most suspicious. ”

"Your Majesty knows you're wrong......" Archduke Ferdinand's breathing became a little rapid, "but he consciously prevented you from helping him?!" ”

"That's the most disturbing part - Your Majesty consciously indulges your own madness, which is more terrible than sheer madness," Count Winter Castle looked into the eyes of Archduke Ferdinand, "I have lost the trust of Your Majesty, who ordered me to return to the realm and not to set foot in the Imperial Capital again unless I am pardoned, so now I can't do anything, only you can take action - you have to keep an eye on the palace and prepare for the day when Your Majesty will fall into complete madness." According to my estimates, His Majesty is still mostly sober now, but his personality has changed, so he can still be a good king when it comes to governing the country, but I am afraid that this state of affairs will not last for a few years......"

"I am loyal to His Majesty the Emperor," Archduke Ferdinand said suddenly, and after saying this, he was silent for a few seconds before continuing to speak slowly, "but I am more loyal to this country founded by the martyrs. ”

"That's what you would say," said the Count of Winterhold, smiling a little, and the smile quickly became odd, "Speaking of the Founding Martyrs...... Our decaying neighbor has really stood up for a martyr......"

Ferdinand Wendell's expression also became strange, "You mean...... The rumored Grand Duke Gawain Cecil? Do you believe that's true? ”

"Whether it's true or not, it's already a given, and based on the information I have and the results of several divinations, it's more likely to be true," Count Wintercastle said solemnly, "You should have received information that the resurrected 'Pioneer Hero' is currently in the Dark Mountains of southern Ansu, he has established a pioneer realm, and is trying to expand human civilization back into the vicinity of the Gondor wasteland, and he has solved several cult problems in the process, and these actions are clearly not for pleasure- If all this was really a lie created by Ansu, they didn't need to play it to this extent, and it would be most appropriate for a resurrected founding hero to be used as a totem in the royal capital to enhance the legitimacy of their illegitimate dynasty. ”

"I did get this information, and the actions of the pioneer hero fit the historical description...... It's just that this thing is still too unbelievable. ”

"Whether it's unbelievable or not, we have to consider this as a variable," said Count Wintercastle seriously, "Now that the cultists are raging in Ansu, and their nobles are anxious to solve these internal problems, this has also led to our Emperor's Majesty's determination to take this opportunity to start a war, and he has ordered the Winter Wolf Legion on the border to launch a new round of infiltration of Ansu, and part of the infiltration route ...... Close to the Dark Mountains. ”

The old duke knew at once what the Count of Winterhold wanted to say, "Andesa is there. ”

Andesa Wendell, the heir to the Wendell family, the daughter of Bard Wendell, the youngest wolf general in history, after the disappearance of her father Bud Wendell on the battlefield, this young and gifted girl quickly grew up, as if to wash away the shame of her family's defeat on the border and avenge her father, she stood on the border where her father was stationed, and that border was located in the southeast corner of Ansu - close to the territory of Silas Loren, the guardian of the East, and close to the Dark Mountains.

If His Majesty the Emperor's order to infiltrate reaches the front line, there is no doubt that Andrisa will choose the Dark Mountains as the infiltration route - a polluted wasteland that is dangerous for most ordinary people, but a way forward for elite Imperial warriors, and it would also be a good way to bypass the main line of defense of the Eastern Ansu Defense Corps, which Ferdinand Wendell thinks he would have chosen himself if he was also the commander of the Winter Wolves.

"If they are unlucky, they will run headlong into that Duke Gawain Cecil, in which case we would rather believe that all the legends of that duke, including his resurrection, are true," said the Earl of Wintercastle sincerely, "Andesa is a brave and powerful warrior, I have watched her grow to this day, but I ...... to a legendary hero from seven hundred years ago"

"She should know how to measure, as a commander, she won't act herself......" The old duke frowned, although he said so, he thought of his granddaughter's stubborn character, and the hatred she had for Ansu after her father's disappearance, so he finally added, "I will remind her not to act impulsively." She has powerful Elven Ranger under her command, and I will remind her to send those who are more suitable to carry out the mission. ”

The two talked for a long time, about the situation in the empire, about the situation on the border, about Ansu, about the resurrected pioneer hero, both of them understood very well - this was probably the last time they met in the imperial capital of Aldenan.

After this, the Earl of Winterhold has to return to his Wintercastle, and the Duke of Peerinand cannot leave Aldenan at will, and the two old battlefield friends, who are no longer young, know that time is precious, but time is limited after all.

The sun is setting.

The lights of the imperial capital gradually turned on, and looking at the city illuminated by the lights, Archduke Ferdinand, who was standing in front of the carriage, couldn't help but think of that legendary era - the time when human civilization fell into darkness and the descendants of the Gondor Empire carved out to survive in the savage wasteland.

At that time, the night was dark, but the hearts of men were bright.

"Say, how will the resurrected Duke of Cecil feel when he sees this era?" He stopped in front of the carriage and turned his head to look at his old friend, "Cults are rampant, society is rotten, the borders are deserted, and the human kingdom that was once like a brother ...... A war is being prepared. ”

“…… Probably disappointed in all of us. ”

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