The world was snow-white, and pines and ice fountains were mixed with a chill that drifted through the air. Stepping through one hill after another, the hunting team finally came to the Norsca continent, the territory of the barbarians. What unfolds in front of you is no longer a complex terrain, but an endless plain, or more precisely, snowy fields. In the spring, when the snow in Kislev has begun to melt, the snow here shows no signs of melting.

The sky was clear and white, and there were truly no clouds. However, when the heavy snow stopped falling, the temperature still did not rise, and the breathing of the warriors turned into bursts of white mist in the air and quickly drifted away.

Riding a war horse, Rhodes raised his eyes and looked into the distance, and could vaguely see the village located on the coastline, Dragon Bone Village. A few wisps of white smoke were rising from the low wooden house, reaching into the sky.

This is the village that Rhodes conquered many years ago, and here lives a small northern clan, the Hague clan.

Many years ago, there was a serious invasion in the north, and the remnants of the Blood Spear Clan joined forces with several tribal clans such as the Hague Clan, the Thunder Axe Clan, and the Snow Wolf Clan to invade the Black Hammer Fort in the south. Rhodes united the forces of the northern frontier of Kislev to crush this vast barbarian army in the wilderness. and pursued the Norscar coalition to their lair.

The Hague clan on the coastline originally chose to flee, but was threatened by the extreme inland climate and other fierce clans, and had to accept Rhodes' offer and return to the village. The condition is to become an appendage of Blackhammer Keep.

Now, when Rhodes arrives again, things are very different. Back then, Blackhammer Fort's troops arrived at the dilapidated village of Dragonbone and simply renovated it for the refugees of the Hague Clan. Now, after a few years of development, this small fishing village has become a small town that is beginning to take shape. All this is thanks to this natural and excellent port - Keel Port.

Located on the northern shore of the Talon Sea, the Dragonbone Harbor just forms a triangle with Blackhammer Fort and Erengrad, and can take care of each other in terms of trade and military. Kislev was the only small port in the north, where all northern trade was carried out, from which Norska furs and logs were shipped to Erengrad and Dulong, while Kislev's spirits, furniture, and various tools of production and life were transported from the south. After a few years of development, the village became a small town, and even the lives of the locals gradually changed.

Walking through the streets of Dragonbone Village, although most of them are still clan people, you can see some faces from the south, merchants of Kislev. It's rare, but it was never possible before. Noscar, in the eyes of the Empire and Lady Kesley, is the land of barbarians, and when you come here, you are either captured as slaves, hacked to death by barbarians, or matured to death by wild beasts. No one would set foot on this land unless they were outlaws.

Today, the situation is different, and the village of Dragonbones, which has become a vassal territory, is inhabited by about a hundred Kithrie Lady. Their lives are guaranteed and trade is legalized, all of which are subtly changing the culture of the tribe.

Led by Chief Tucker, Rhodes made his way to the port area, where several docks were dotted with unloaders, and it was a little deserted because it was summer in Norsca, and the thin ice blocked many ships from docking. However, several whaling ships are about to leave the port, and the crew is making final preparations before leaving.

As one of the main food sources of the Hague clan, whale meat is very popular among the clansmen. But whaling is a high-risk profession, wrestling with giant beasts on the vast oceans and dying. Only the strongest warriors are qualified to become whalers. Hunters who succeed in hunting will become the admirers of the whole village, and may even be favored by the maidens. At the same time, a successful sea hunt was enough to make the whalers' pockets bulge. This is also one of the channels through which clan men get rich. It's just that it's gambling with life.

Military towers were erected around the port area, on which large ballistas were erected, to protect against raids and raids by other clans. The entire Norsca Peninsula is inhabited by hundreds of thousands of barbarians, who belong to different tribes, and the different clans are often at war with each other, and the pollution of chaos makes these tribes even more aggressive.

As a small clan, the Hague clan naturally had to guard against the invasion and plunder of other clans. The Norskians don't care about any etiquette and rules, they rob whoever is rich, and in the Norsca Peninsula, where resources and food are scarce, plundering is commonplace. Book Bar

"My lord, do you have any mission to go north this time?"

In the town hall, Chief Tucker sat respectfully below and asked. At the same time, the chefs have already begun to prepare the dinner party in the back kitchen.

This was originally the clan hall, where the chiefs issued their orders. Rhodes later ordered his troops to renovate and rebuild it into a large stone house that replaced the rudimentary tribal tents.

And the chief Tucker, so to speak, is the master of this place on weekdays, and if it weren't for Rhodes, everyone would have to follow his orders. Although it was a vassal territory, Rhodes gave the Hague clan full autonomy at the beginning of his conquest. The only requirement is that a tribute must be paid to Blackhammer every year.

"Well, important and dangerous task. "We're hunting a frost dragon. Was there any news of the ice dragon infestation some time ago?"

"My lord, do you mean the Frost Dragon? I haven't seen an Ice Dragon here for decades, and I don't even know what the Frost Dragon looks like in my memory...... Sorry......"

The chief replied. From his eyes, Rod could not see a trace of cunning and hypocrisy. Moreover, if the chief cheats, he will not do himself any good. Because if there is a real threat from the dragon, Blackhammer Castle will send troops to support, and if the chief hides the news of the ice dragon's infestation, it will not be good for him or the entire Dragonbone Harbor. The only possibility is for the Chieftain himself to work with the great clans that enslave the Frost Dragons. But the chances of this happening are slim to none, so Rhodes chooses to believe him.

"You don't need to apologize, it's none of your business. ”

Rhodes paused for a moment and continued—

"But I need some experienced hunters to help me hunt down that frost dragon. ”

"I will select fifty warriors to follow you. ”

Chief Tucker replied.

"No, it doesn't need that much. Too many people will expose the target. Moreover, unlike the coastline, the inland does not have as much food supplies, and the large number of people can sometimes be a burden. What I need is the best of the best. ”

Rod commanded.