Chapter 450

Chapter 450: The City of Black Mountain

  ”Loil.”

  ”Hmm? What is it, Florasia?”

  Still dressed in the performance gown that had not yet been changed, Lolan Hill turned to look at her companion beside her. They were currently in the dressing room at the back of the venue.

  ”The performance has ended,” Florasia walked to the window, gazing at the cold, bright moon in the sky.

  ”Yes.”

  ”In fact, I’m afraid I won’t be staying in Emanas for much longer,” Florasia’s voice carried a hint of melancholy.

  ”Has something happened?” Lolan Hill looked at this half-elf girl.

  ”There will be other arrangements at home,” Florasia turned her head, and her golden hair revealed a faint silver glow under the moonlight.

  ”Will you come back?” the young lady asked.

  ”I don’t know,” Florasia shook her head.

  ”What do you think?” Lolan Hill guessed at the arrangements of the Landsworth family. The eldest daughter of the great unicorn duke was now quite famous in the upper echelons of the verdant city.

  ”I will follow my father’s arrangements.”

  Unlike those naive and capricious young ladies, Florasia was not someone who would abandon her responsibilities. This marriage was not only about her personally but also concerned the future arrangements of the Landsworth family and several provinces in the eastern part of the Empire.

  The complex web of interests and the struggles within the court were not something she could completely ignore by saying she didn’t want to. Compared to the powerful Griffin Duke and Raven Duke, the Landsworth family had always maintained a gentle approach. While they gained good reputations, it made it difficult for them to firmly reject the royal family’s requests.

  ”Enjoy your time touring the campus for a while,” Lolan Hill hugged this friend.

—

  Two years later, the civil war broke out again in the Snowfall Seven Kingdoms. Under the various promises and interests of the Falcon Nation, the Frost Rose chose to stand with it.

  After the previous Pope of the Holy Land passed away, the priests and clerics within the country split into several factions due to disputes. Fortunately, because of their shared faith, they managed to maintain a superficial peace.

  The Northern Black Rock Duchy was different. The conflict between the ‘Hunt Bow’ faction and the ‘Halberd’ faction reached a point where swords were drawn.

  Vitz County, under the smoky walls of the Beacon City.

  This majestic city built on the mountain stood tall and imposing, right in the middle of a peaceful scene.

At the intersection of two geographical environments, plain and hill, the city’s fortresses boasted tall watchtowers that overlooked the vast grasslands to the west.

Originally built to defend against enemies from the western plains, the city now faced fellow countrymen from the mountainous region behind it.

On the opposite side among the mountains, catapults were set up. The grating sound of twisted ropes echoed as heavy stones were launched into the air by wooden arms, tracing high parabolic arcs before flying towards the distant black fortress.

Below, in the valley, several squads carrying round shields charged towards the city walls under the command of their officers.

Whoosh—

A dense rain of arrows descended from the sky. Archers hidden behind the city walls launched volley after volley of arrows. These arrows whistled sharply through the air, like a dark storm, piercing through shields and pinning the charging enemies in the valley to the ground.

“Damn!”

The commanders on the hillside, watching this scene, angrily raised their whips and lashed them down hard in the air, venting their frustration.

In contrast to the ‘Halberd’ faction attacking the city, the ‘Hunter Bow’ faction defending the city consisted of many hunters from the mountain area. They were skilled archers with a much larger number than the ‘Halberd’ faction fighting outside.

Although Black Rock Duchy was not a nation where every citizen was a soldier, the proportion of people whose profession was combat far exceeded that of other countries. Thus, despite its small land area, this mountainous country still held a seat among the Snowflower Seven Nations.

Their ancestors had once built these fortifications at the behest of the Mercury Dynasty to monitor the grasslands for orcs, preventing them from growing too powerful and moving south to threaten human settlements.

With the disintegration of the Mercury Dynasty, the black legions stationed in the north lost their former targets and also lacked supplies from the heart of the dynasty. Under conditions of insufficient food and resources, some left for the south to live, while others began to seek survival in the mountains. They tried farming, hunting, fishing, and eventually, some turned to becoming mercenaries.

Originally border troops of the Mercury Dynasty, they maintained excellent military training and traditions. Their strict discipline and high efficiency quickly made these mountain-born mercenaries renowned worldwide.

Years later, the nations on this land were naturally dubbed mercenary states by outsiders.

But in reality, within Black Rock Duchy, those in power were not the long-term mercenaries, but the local rulers who had been in charge for generations.

The residents living in the mountainous areas and by the lakesides made their living through hunting, fishing, and small-scale farming. They also benefited from the wealth brought back by their fellow countrymen who worked as mercenaries abroad. After all, in the uncertainties of war, many still sent their earnings home for peace of mind.

With money came a desire for a better life, but everything in the mountains was expensive. As a result, wealth gradually flowed towards these ‘Crossbow Faction’ members within the country. They controlled large tracts of land and rivers, relying on them for their livelihood.

In the past, the two factions—those inside and those outside—occasionally had frictions, but conflicts were not severe, and they managed to coexist harmoniously. However, with the establishment of Clancia, the country no longer needed mercenaries and instead replaced them with a professional army.

Under these circumstances, many mercenaries lost their jobs and returned home. From then on, the conflict between the ‘Halberd Faction’ and the ‘Crossbow Faction’ intensified. Today, the ‘Halberd Faction’ finally erupted, unwilling to see most of the industries and lands controlled by the ‘Crossbow Faction.’ They yearned to gain their own interests.

Under black banners, spears and shields stood tall. The leaders of various mercenary organizations united to challenge the elders’ council within the country, seizing the wealth of the ‘Crossbow Faction.’ They carried away chests of gold, silver, grain, and stored provisions.

The substantial gains motivated these former mercenaries, who broke down the gates of cities one after another until they reached the capital city of this duchy—the former stronghold that once guarded the frontier.

Forced to consolidate their defenses, the ‘Crossbow Faction’ gathered here. Although they had few warriors, their local supporters and population were numerous. Through urgent mobilization and training, they formed combat units.

As descendants of the same legion and compatriots of these mercenaries, though they had neglected practice, mastering these war skills was not a difficult task.

Relying on the mountains and fortifications, the city’s garrison struck hard at the rebels below. The arrows stored in the city were crafted according to the standards of the old dynasty, well-made and slightly enchanted, easily piercing the thin armor of these mercenaries, causing significant losses.

As the rain of arrows continued, leaving countless bodies behind, the commanders of the ‘Halberd Faction’ had no choice but to temporarily halt their advance and recall their troops.

Perhaps they were waiting for new weapons promised by distant allies to arrive.

(End of Chapter)