News of Rod's victory in the North reached Blackhammer Castle, and the people were excited. Many even regret not investing in the war in the first place. They should believe in their lord's and choose to contribute their own strength, to be powerful, and to have money to contribute. Now, after the great victory, those soldiers must be the first to be rewarded, then the ones who invested in the war before the war, and when the army of Blackhammer Castle returns, they will make a lot of money.

According to Rhodes's previous agreement, as long as there are people who have invested in the war, they will have a share of interests after the war. Many people were partying, and they couldn't imagine what it would be like to share the spoils of war with the lords, and the excitement of everyone participating in the light was the first time they had encountered it.

In the past, when there was war in the territory, the nobles fled, and the commoners could only hide at home and pray that the war would end sooner. Now, Rod has changed that completely. The populace is no longer an escapee from the war, but a participant. This is fundamentally different, they advance and retreat with the lords, because a war is at stake in the pockets of thousands.

And some people are tossed and turned in regret and envy. What they see is the joyful looks of others, but they do not participate in advance. The Norsca tribes, the northern invaders, aren't that terrible! They regret it, but they don't regret it.

"Have you ever seen such a crazy populace?"

Standing on the balcony of his villa, looking at the joyful crowd all over the city, the old nobleman Quareala couldn't help frowning. Since he was deceived by Alves here, Rod's approach has refreshed his three views again and again. First, there are all kinds of different new systems and new methods, and then there are all kinds of large-scale construction. It seems that the whole town has a lot of work going on every day. Indeed, in just one year, dams were built, roads were built, and the town's new town was neatly planned, with theaters, stadiums, libraries, colleges, prisons, bridges, and ...... All kinds of facilities are available, except for the lack of scale, and everything else is close to catching up with the capital city of Kislev.

And his own interests, although he lost in the defeat of Laheim, in the long run, still gained more than when he was in Kislev City. I have to say that I came to the right enemy. It's just that the power is limited, which is a little uncomfortable. But compared to his former colleagues, Quarellara felt lucky.

"No, this is the first time I've seen it in my more than 30 years of life. ”

The young nobleman Skagard sat down in the armchair and said—

"We should have probably believed him sooner. ”

"You mean Rod?"

"Who else but him? Could it be the dwarf?"

"Maybe, maybe you and I should invest in him, Rhodes is a worthy investment in himself. ”

Quareara walked in from the balcony, picked up the glass on the table, and took a sip of wine.

"Well, I think so too. ”

Skagard chimed in.

"I'm worried about another issue, though. ”

Quarellara frowned.

"What's the problem?"

"Katarina. We all know about Kislev City, in order to make up for the financial deficit caused by the rebellion of Erengrad, our Snow Queen can be described as cruel, and how many people have been executed by her on various charges, in fact, only for their property. The rapid development of Blackhammer Castle I think is probably about to catch the Queen's attention. If you want to invest in Rhodes, you have to take into account the threat posed to him by the Ice Queen. You know, it's not a good thing to be too dazzling. ”

The scheming Quareala read silently.

......

When Jabeur caught up with the main force, they were climbing a steep mountain. The mountain is made up entirely of solid rocks and ice blocks, and the cliffs are thousands of feet long, like a high wall made of ice and boulders. It is hard to imagine that the remnants of the Hague clan would have to climb this high mountain, and almost half of them were old people and children.

The wind blows the snow and roars like a beast. At the top of the mountain, a never-ending wind of death is formed.

"Stop, stop, are you all crazy, this mountain can't be climbed at all!"

Elder Jabeur, riding Lady Keighrie's pack horse, rushed ahead of the large army. The new clan leader looked at him with a stunned expression......

"Uncle, have you changed your mind?"

The young leader shouted at Jabeur. The wind and snow were raging, muffling out most of the voices of people. But you can vaguely see the look of surprise on his face.

"Yes, I've changed my mind, and I'm going to stop you from climbing this mountain. ”

Jabeur took off his fur hat and said breathlessly. His breath dissipated quickly as white mist in the bitter cold air.

"And you'll find a better way for us to get inland?"

The young leader asked. He was Jabeur's nephew, Tucker, whose father had traveled south with Gretil's army a month earlier and never returned. It should be said that as long as the people who followed Gretil to the south, they did not come back later. In desperation, Tucker shouldered the heavy responsibility of leading the clan. When he heard that the Kislev coalition was coming, Tucker had to lead his people on a wandering path. Because he knew, and all the people of the Hague clan knew how Lady Kithry treated the vanquished. They either slaughtered the vanquished to vent their anger or sold them into slavery. This has been the case for thousands of years.

"Yes. ”

"Tell me, I'll stop them now!"

In the snow, Tucker asked with a loud shout.

"The only way is to go back, back to Keel Harbor. I have spoken to the leader of Lady Keighrie, and he is willing to let us stay in the village. And, there will be no enslavement, no slaughter of us. As long as we hand over our weapons. ”

Jabeur shouted back. The wind and snow ruffled his hair, dyeing his brow and beard white.

"Believe in the conditions of a Southerner? Uncle, are you crazy?"

Tucker approached, staring at his uncle. As the elder of the Hague clan, Jabeur has a certain voice and high status in the tribe. However, at this moment, none of these fleeing clan companions wanted to believe his words. Centuries-old beliefs told them that Mrs. Keishrie would never show mercy to the people of the North. They have fought for hundreds of years, and never once have they given dignity to their captives. Not to mention letting them get on with their old lives.

"No, I'm not crazy. Believe me, Tucker, we have no choice, just as I chose to stay. Keel Harbor is where we have lived for generations. Where can we go without Dragonbone Harbor? The Empire hates us, and the tribes to the west are eyeing us, let alone the inland. There are the Wag Clan and the Garrin Clan, and they are no different from beasts. At the same time, the brutality of the environment in the hinterland is unimaginable to you and me. Those clans, they hunt behemoths for food, can we?"

Jabeur grabbed Tucker's shoulders and yelled—

"Look at this mountain, we can't even conquer it, let alone conquer the beasts. Just like learning to hunt them, we can't survive. The people of the Wag clan will never spare us. Because we robbed them of their food. Wherever we go, we are a threat to other clans. ”

"I know, you and I both knew this kind of situation at the beginning, but staying will only wait for death. ”

Tucker retorted loudly. While the two were talking, several more people fell to their deaths while climbing the rock wall due to physical exhaustion. The young new leader could only look at the scene in front of him in despair, but there was nothing he could do.

"It's different now. The chief of the Kithrie Lady allowed us to continue living where we were. As long as we surrender all our weapons and declare our submission. ”

"Damn, their words can't be trusted! If we go back, I promise he'll ambush us on the road as soon as possible. ”

Tucker stubbornly roared. His education taught him that the Southerners were not trustworthy. For them, only talk with an ax.

"But if we don't go back, we'll all die. Looking at the current situation, even if the gods have mercy on us, some of us have managed to climb this mountain. How many of the Hague clans are left? How are we going to face the furious beasts behind the mountains and the hunting of the Wag tribe?"

Jabeur yelled. If there is despair on both sides, then he would rather choose to believe in Rhodes, at least there is a glimmer of hope for survival on that road. And this road is definitely the road of death......