Ashen Dragon

Just like that, the twenty Lionheart Knights dispatched by the Boske Duchy were completely annihilated. Even the "Black Lion Knight" Frederick, one of the Seven Great Knight Commanders, became a traitor and a minion of the Red Dragon.

The fate of the hundred Double-Headed Eagle Warriors sent by the Principality of Norton was even more tragic—Cassius didn't even bother to take action personally. He merely issued a casual camp mission, deploying a few Red Scale Conquerors, who decimated these so-called "elites" that weren't even considered professionals, letting those exuberant wyverns ruthlessly burn them into charred remains.

Cassius lay sprawled in the grand hall, gazing at the Anzeta map before him, especially fixated on the small nation adjacent to the Ashen Kingdom.

In the face of the Ashen Kingdom, which integrated Stormy Ridge and the former Rakman Duchy territories, boasting an expansive territory far surpassing most of the Northern duchies, the Principality of Norton seemed like an insect that could be crushed at any time.

Dailenna stood gracefully beside him, the pureblood Serpentfolk adorned in formal attire, always wearing a radiant smile.

"The Boske Duchy is one thing, but as for this Principality of Norton..."

"Where do they muster the audacity to provoke me repeatedly?"

Cassius's tone conveyed puzzlement.

Dailenna mused that since Cassius had forced the Principality of Norton to surrender the so-called "International Trusteeship," they would naturally fight to the death, but she maintained her professional smile and patiently explained:

"The Principality of Norton has a narrow territory and weak strength, essentially more like a vassal state of the Boske Duchy, even mockingly called the 'Marquisate of Norton' or 'Barbarian Tribe' by other northern nobles."

"They aren't Scania people, the nobles of the north, but the original inhabitants of the North, also known as the Val Barbarians. Seven hundred years ago, the Grand Duke of the Boske Duchy, the 'Lionheart King' Aubrick, conquered this place. To facilitate management, he confined the surrendering tribes here, establishing it as a nation, and renamed the chieftain clans to Norton."

"However, over the past four hundred years, with the intentional assimilation by the Scania people, the language and customs of the Principality of Norton have become nearly indistinguishable from the northern countries. Even the surname Norton has long been accepted by the northern nobility."

Cassius suddenly understood.

"So, it's a well-kept dog of the Boske Duchy."

Dailenna immediately praised, "Your Highness Cassius, your summary is truly insightful." Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

"So... how do you plan to deal with the Boske Duchy and the Principality of Norton?"

Though Dailenna was temporarily in charge of the Ashen Kingdom's diplomacy, she knew very well that final decisions still lay with the Red Dragon. She wouldn't risk her future or life for temporary power.

Cassius tried hard to recall memories of his past life.

The Boske Duchy was immense, covering tens of thousands of square kilometers with twenty-eight cities. The current Ashen Kingdom, ruling the former Rakman Duchy, was already struggling to assimilate its legacy and couldn't manage such a vast region.

Moreover, the Holy Fadlan Empire, after this great rebellion, would have a few years of resurgence. Declaring formal war on the Boske Duchy now would undoubtedly trigger a full-scale war across Anzeta, inevitably drawing the intervention of legendary level forces from the Holy Fadlan Federation.

Meanwhile, Cassius currently had only a thousand players under his command, and these beta players would temporarily disappear over the next four years.

The time point Cassius envisioned for unifying the North was five years later.

Yes, five years later.

By then, the great collapse of Holy Fadlan would begin, with various southern factions vying for the enormous imperial remains, leaving no room to look north. Cassius's strength was expected to rise to the Legendary level, ensuring solid hard power. And thirty thousand formal players would surge into Erezer, with Cassius confident to recruit at least ten thousand of them to serve him.

This plan, after numerous internal discussions within the Ashen Kingdom, was close to perfect.

That would be the convergence of time, place, and people.

Cassius would then declare war on Boske Duchy and the northern countries, unifying the entire North with an overwhelming force, becoming the lord of Anzeta, and bringing the [Northern Wind and Cloud] version's players under his rule.

Immediately after, the Ashen Kingdom, or rather, the Empire, could march south and participate in the Kings' Strife as disruptors, becoming the greediest vulture preying on the remains of the Holy Fadlan Empire.

This was his plan for the Boske Duchy.

As for the Principality of Norton?

They were weak, adjacent to the Ashen Kingdom, and as a vassal of the Boske Duchy, they were perfect for becoming a cautionary example to deter the northern countries and secure a stable development space for the Ashen Kingdom.

At the same time, such a level of local war would serve to give the Boske Duchy a warning, to reduce their covert actions.

With these thoughts, Cassius emphatically said, "We will annex them at the fastest speed, leaving no time for the northern countries to react."

"I will kill the Principality of Norton's 'chicken' to show those attention-seeking monkeys."

Hearing this, Dailenna's face was already filled with excitement.

Although she didn't know the story behind the phrase "kill the chicken to warn the monkeys," she easily understood the implication in Cassius's words.

What a wonderful feeling, deciding the fate of other nations, those human lords she once had to please were now only fit to kneel at her feet and beg for mercy.

"Yes, Master."

"I will make sure they understand the consequences of provoking you."

Dailenna knelt on the ground, a smile of anticipation in her eyes, licking her dry lips with her forked tongue.

It had been months since the conquest of the Rakman Duchy, and now the Ashen Kingdom could barely function, but the Dragon Vein Clans had long been suppressed.

Although their lives had become much more affluent after looting the nobles' wealth, compared to a stable and prosperous life, these inherently wicked beings still enjoyed the baptism of blood and fire more.

For this Red Dragon-ruled nation, war was not a burden but an outlet.

...

Stratholme Fortress, Boske Duchy.

As the capital of Boske, and the nominal capital of the entire North, it was always bustling and lively.

In the city center, Aubrick Square, named in honor of the first Duke Boske, merchants, singers, bards, noble scions, and various other people gathered.

Suddenly, a commotion arose in the crowd.

Wyverns swooped from the heights unreachable by arrows, scattering leaflets from the Ashen Kingdom. People had grown used to this sight, and a few leaflets were even rushed to Duke Leo's residence.

But this time, the content was not the usual dull propaganda, but a war report.

It was astonishing, sparking widespread discussion.

"Did someone really go to assassinate that Red Dragon?"

"By the Gods, they are truly righteous and brave, but unfortunately, they failed. I should use them as inspiration to write a deeply moving epic poem."

"Heavens, our twenty Lionheart Knights were utterly wiped out! That's a full twenty men!"

"Is there going to be a war...?"

"I don't want to fight those monsters."

The people in the square, whether shocked, regretful, or worried, all showed great concern for this matter.