Chapter 309: Herod’s lobbying, the Mad God’s Sanctuary, the visit of the princess
Ice Sea.
On the pale coastline, lies the withered skeleton of an ancient sea monster, fifty meters long. The huge skeleton is covered with snow, and its empty eye sockets face the thousands of miles of frozen sea.
Hilud and Sora stood on a high cliff, overlooking the corpse of the giant beast. The shock of the giant beast came towards them, and they involuntarily exhaled a deep breath of cold mist.
"This should be an imperial-level monster, the Emperor's Ancient Abyssal Whale. It was accidentally stranded. After death, its bones became immortal and was left here to be worshiped by the local tribe." Sola speculated.
The Imperial Whale is an ancient monster that has survived from the Old Era to the present day.
The cubs are born with the blood of the emperor, and they can be promoted to the emperor as soon as they reach adulthood. This is where the name emperor comes from.
However, even the Emperor's Abyssal Whale, which travels across the sea, is at risk of falling unexpectedly before the power of nature.
Hilud stopped and stared for a long time, then said: "Ahead is the Stone Spear Beach, the garrison of the troll tribe. Let's go there and visit... and wait until we have a clear observation before deciding whether to take action."
< br>Sora nodded.
The cold wind howled, like a blade scraping across the Argonians' cheeks. Sora, who grew up in the warm southern continent, had the scales on his face crack and fall off many times. He has also become accustomed to the harsh climate in the north, and his face has grown thicker. Bright iron-gray scales.
Sora felt helpless about this...Gods be damned, she was a famous beauty in her hometown of the Great Swamp. She was envied by others for her delicate scales, but now she was almost turned into a snake by the wind. !
It is extremely difficult to fly in the harsh weather in the north. In order to take care of Sora, Hilud chose to walk through the waist-deep snowfield.
In the snowfield, no matter how skilled the hunter is, it is inevitable to leave a series of deep grooves behind him. However, Sora and Hilud learned how to walk in the snow without leaving footprints at the Wolf Academy, like wolves. Moving vigorously and lightly through the violent storm and snow, a camp standing on the Gobi Desert appeared in front of them.
The cliffs of the glacier towered into the sky on both sides of the camp. The dark blue ice walls seemed to be squeezing in from both sides. Animal skin tents were pitched on the Gobi desert, as well as wooden planks, seal skins, and stones. The simple dwellings are made of mixed bricks. It is obvious that the tribe has been stationed here for some time.
In the center of the camp, there was a huge pot, in which indistinguishable ingredients were stewed, emitting a rotten heat. Next to it, a big troll was taking out frosty pieces of meat from a leather bag and throwing them away one by one. Into the cauldron.
"Ibex meat, mammoth ribs, and frozen seal fat..."
Hilud stood on the cliff and looked into the distance, his sharp eagle eyes piercing the wind and snow, his tone There was a hint of surprise in it:
“These trolls know how to eat.”
The trolls are cannibals, but Hilud did not find any suspicious ingredients.
It seems that just as the rumors said, the new troll king implemented a new policy within the clan and no longer allowed the clan to cannibalize.
"It seems that we have just hit the troll's meal." Sola said, "Lord Hilud, should we go in directly?"
"Wait a moment." Hilud said, "Only the chief is qualified to be the first to enjoy the delicious food."
From the central camp, the animal skin tent was opened by a big hand, revealing a man with blue skin and muscles like rock. The troll came out hunched over, with a red beard sprouting from under its fanged face, and a passionate smile on its face.
It seems to be Yeats’s old acquaintance, Ogg the Troll!
The troll Ogg carried a wide ice hammer on his back and took a pot of steaming stew from the troll holding the spoon. At this time, two young trolls ran out from the crowd waiting for the meal and hugged him. Live Ogg's legs.
Ogg laughed loudly, and the laughter echoed on the ice wall, and even reached the top of the cliff. He gently patted the heads of the two trolls, and drove the two teenagers into the team. Only then did the troll in charge start distributing the food.
Hilud secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
People change, and trolls are no exception.
Ogg has grown from an abandoned baby in troll society to the king of the troll tribe. Shirud is not sure whether he is still the same as before.
But now, Ogg's image and memory are gradually overlapping, and Xilud feels lucky and whispers:
"Yeats has one less opponent and one more friend."
"Xilu Lord De, how do we deliver the news to Duke Yeats's friends?" Sola asked.
Hirud stretched out his hand towards the sky, and an eagle hovering in the sky was shrouded in the spell 'Animal Messenger' and consciously landed on Herod's raised arm.
Taking out the letter that he had already written, Hilud tied the letter to the eagle's talons, then lightly flapped its wings, and the eagle spread its wings and flew towards the camp.
In the center of the camp.
Behind Ogg, a witch doctor Wall with blue skin covered with tattoos, a cold expression, and a snake staff on his back said coldly:
"You are the king now, Ogg. , you should be more restrained when you laugh, otherwise it will damage your prestige."
"But didn't you see? When I laugh, everyone's nervous expressions will also relax."< br>
Ogmo stroked his red beard and said with a glimmer of light in his eyes:
"The weather is really too cold. People die every day because of the cold, but laughter has warmth, Vog."
"The colder it is, the louder you should laugh, so that you can Only by keeping your body warm can you fight the cold winter!" Ogg said seriously.
Witch Doctor Wall looked at Ogg, was silent for a long time, and sighed softly:
“I don’t know where you learned your philosophy of doing things, and it is different from that of humans. Show yourself to the optimists ”
“It’s not optimism, it’s courage ”
Ogg grinned and said: "A human friend of Ogg told me that when facing difficulties, you must face them with a smile!"
"Which human friend?" Witch Doctor Wall frowned, "Do I recognize him? ?”
“Yeats”
Ogg couldn’t forget this name and said happily:
“He is also the poet chosen by the goddess of art!”< br>
Witch doctor Wall had no impression of Yeats, but when he heard that he was the chosen poet, the corresponding information immediately came to his mind.
Yeats Brondi, the Duke of Honeysuckle, is said to be a five-ring hero!
Any hero cannot be underestimated on the Zhongting Continent. Yeats has shown great prowess in recent days. Even the witch doctors on the northern border have heard about the Golden Lion. The kingdom has just crowned a new Duke.
“The Duke in human society is actually your friend.” Wall said incredulously, “Why haven’t I heard you talk about it before?”
“You have met before. Well, maybe you have forgotten." Ogg scratched his head, "He is kind to me, Ogg will never forget to be a good friend to Ogg..."
At this time, an eagle spread its wings and flew over and landed on the top of the tent.
Oger's eyes lit up, and he was thinking about adding another meal when Wall's quick eyesight and quick hands stopped him.
“Wait a minute, there’s a letter tied to the talons!” Wall shouted, “Take it off and take a look!”
Ogg was stunned, and took off the letter tied to the eagle’s talons. He unfolded the parchment, looked at it for a moment, and said happily:
"Wal, we have a guest here!"
"Guest?!" Wall looked stunned.
At the entrance of the camp, Ogg personally went out to greet the arriving Hilud and Sola.
Wall was wondering that there were guests in the troll tribe. He looked up and saw a red-haired woman with an eagle helmet standing in the wind and snow, and was secretly speechless.
——Stay away from red-haired humans, this is a warning passed down from ancient times by tribes!
"I remember you, you are Yeats's friend." Ogg raised his arm in greeting and smiled, "Yeats's friend is Ogg's friend!"
Herod nodded lightly and said:
"King of Trolls, I am here for one thing... This matter concerns Yeats, so please help me."< br>
Ogg's smile gradually faded, his expression became a little serious, and he nodded slowly.
"Yeats helped Ogg and Ogg's mother." Ogg said, "As long as you can help, just ask!"
In the tent, hanging on the wall There were skulls of giant beasts and sea monsters, and blankets made of animal skins and moss were spread on the ground. Ogg sat on the ground, and Shilud followed the Romans and inquired about the movements of Grem Stormhammer and the orc army.
"Grim...Ogg has seen that guy, a despicable orc!"
Ogg frowned and said: "He and his tribe stole our prey, the mammoth. We were obviously the ones who targeted him first!”
When talking about this matter, Ogg was still a little aggrieved.
Hilud then asked about Greem's alliance plan.
Ogg said that Greem had found him and promised to give the troll tribe a whole winter of food so that they would not have to starve, but Ogg refused.
"Humph, you can't believe what Greem said. That cunning guy has been talking about how warm and rich the land south of the mountains is, and is encouraging other tribes to cross the mountains with him and attack the south."
Au Griem scratched his bald head and said honestly:
“But how many lives will be sacrificed by crossing the mountain range? Griem didn’t mention it, and he doesn’t care at all... What’s more, even if he crosses the mountain range, he may not be able to find it. When it comes to food, his promise is a lie, and even Ogg can see this!"
After hearing Ogg's words, Hilud pondered for a moment and thought, it seems that Ogg doesn't know yet, South of the Jueling Mountains is Yeats' territory.
"Oger...south of the Jueling Mountains is Morning Frost Ridge, and Morning Frost Ridge is Yeats's territory."
Hillud said: "If the orc coalition launches an attack, Yeats and his subjects will be the first to bear the brunt."
Ogg's eyes widened: "What? Morning Frost Ridge is Yeats's territory!"
The Orc tribe knows very little about the fiefdoms and corresponding lords of the Golden Lion Kingdom. After all, the feudal system and the tribal system are very different. Even the witch doctor Wall will be confused by the complex names of human territories. .
Sitting next to Ogg, Wall heard Shilud's words. He first doubted the credibility, and then secretly thought that something was wrong... South of the Jueling Mountains was actually the territory of Duke Honeysuckle. This Almost cutting off the tribe's hope of migrating south!
Hilud nodded and said: "On the one hand, I don't want you to meet Yeats on the battlefield, so I suggest you not to join Greem's alliance..."
"On the other hand, Yeats's strength is far beyond what the current Graem can compete with."
Hilud seemed to be stating a fact and said:
"Wait until the swords are facing each other. The moment when Greem is buried, the tribes allied with Greem will not have a good end."
Ogg rubbed his chin with his broad palm, thinking and nodding. .
“I heard that Greem is already a five-ring hero and has gained the power of ancient witchcraft.”
At this time, the witch doctor Wall interjected and questioned in fluent Northern dialect:
"The Duke of Honeysuckle is certainly famous, but to say that he can easily defeat Greem would be to underestimate the power of the tribe. Are you ready?"
Hilud stood up slowly without comment, looked at the giant sword handed over by Sola, and then slowly put his fingers on the hilt. The moment she grasped the sword in the tree, the majestic heroic will, like the authority of heaven and earth, swept from her body to all directions, making Wall's face turn livid.
This king-like sense of oppression! She definitely has the blood of the red-haired king flowing through her body!
In the past year, Ogg has inherited the throne of the King of Trolls. His bloodline power as a royal troll has been successfully awakened, giving him the strength of the peak of the fourth ring.
Facing Herod's will, Ogg's face became a little solemn, and he forcibly withstood the majestic pressure, protected in front of Wall, and said in a rough voice:
"Please accept it. Pick up the weapon, my friend."
Hilud loosened his grip on the hilt of the sword, and the pressure in the room dissipated. Ogg and Wall breathed a sigh of relief, but heard Xi. Lourdes apologized, speaking calmly, and said:
"I'm sorry... I just want to show the fact that as a fifth-ringed person, I have a strict and accurate judgment on the strength of others."
"I understand Yeats's strength."
Through the communication established through tacit understanding, Herod was able to understand Yeats's growth trajectory.
Currently, Yeats has acquired the inheritance of the God of Light. With the blessing of the Lyre and the Sword of Silver, even Herod is not sure of defeating him.
"Yeats's strength is even better than mine!"
Hirud made a conclusion and said: "Orcs who rely on witchcraft are vulnerable to him. ! ”
Ogg and Wall looked at each other and saw the shock in each other's eyes.
Duke Honeysuckle is young, but can he be more powerful than the descendant of the red-haired king?
Wall found it a little unbelievable, but he had to admit that it was a very wise decision not to join Greem's alliance and not to confront Yeats.
"Is there anything Og can do for your friends?"
"I hope you can go to lobby the chiefs of the other two tribes to give up joining Greem's alliance. Army." Hillud pondered, "Although these enemies do not pose a threat to Yeats, they will inevitably invade his territory and subjects... I think this is what Yeats does not want to see."
Ogg nodded vigorously, stood up, patted his chest and said:
"Don't worry! Ogg will go to Frosthorn Peak to persuade that old cow not to get into Yeats' bad luck!"
"Remember to give someone a copper bell." Wall added, "That cow likes to ring bells the most."
Sola cursed, if the old cow dares to talk to Yeats The Duke is his enemy, even if it really means he will die!
“Actually, I still have something else I want to ask for.”
"Please speak, friend!"
"I want to go to the [Mad Holy Sanctuary] to have a look."
Ogg's laughter suddenly stopped, and the tent fell into a dead silence.
Hilud also understood that it was very presumptuous for a human like her to propose going to the sanctuary.
However, the dean of the Wolf School once said that most of the traces of the Mad God in this world have been artificially erased. Even his name is no longer known to the world, and only the relationship with him remains. Only the isolated northern tribes could preserve the sacrificial rituals and sacrificial relics related to the Mad God.
Ogg turned his inquiring gaze to Wall who was standing aside.
Waldao: "The Mad Holy Sanctuary does not belong to our troll tribe, and the four major tribes are all qualified to worship... However, if humans want to enter it, they must pass the guardian's test. "Refined."
"Guardian?"
"A giant wolf, said to be the descendant of the giant wolf Taotie, holding a sword made of frost in his mouth," Wall said with lingering fear. I have seen its swordsmanship... more fierce than that of the master swordsman!"
"The descendant of Taotie..."
Hilud once received a temporary blessing during the trial of the Sword in the Tree, summoning two giant wolves to fight for her.
At this moment, she felt that the name was very familiar. She hung the sword in the tree behind her back, nodded and said:
"Please take me to the trial, and I will try it out! ”
*
Lion Palace.
Night fell, and the moonlight lengthened the shadows of the stone pillars on the corridor.
Colin held the medicinal soup brewed by the potion master in his hand, walked down the empty corridor, and stood in front of a luxuriously carved mahogany door.
“Ahem——”
A dull cough sounded in the room.
A trace of distress flashed across Colin's eyes, he knocked on the door and whispered: "Your Majesty, it's me."
"Come in." His voice was as weak as that of a tired old man. He said feebly, "The door is unlocked."
Colin pushed the door open and walked in. He smelled a damp and rotten smell, and his mood became more and more intense. heavy.
On the bed, Richard's cheekbones and eye sockets were deeply sunken, and his face was thin.
Two months ago, Colin was still on the shores of Lake Ness, fighting against the quasi-sacred-level apostles with Richard.
The Lionheart King was so high-spirited at that time, but now even the lake water of Avalon can't revive him again... Colin felt deep self-blame and guilt. The Lionheart King was seriously ill. , has an inseparable relationship with his momentary confusion.
"Just put the medicine on the bedside."
Lionheart King leaned on the hospital bed, put his hands on his temples, closed his eyes and said:
"Is there anything important recently...?"< br>
“In Portsmouth, south of London, the local lord claimed that there was a cult in his territory that believed in demons from the deep sea. He was helpless and asked the royal capital to send more help.”
"Baron Crane has volunteered to go to Plymouth to investigate. With his ability, I believe the matter will make progress soon."
Crane has a reputation as a legendary detective among the people. Even Lionheart King heard about this and said dumbly:
“I didn’t even give him a decree, but he has already run away on his own... He What are you trying to do?”
“Some extraordinary people can do something based on interest, regardless of profit.” Colin said cautiously, “Maybe Crane is a detective driven by interest.”
The Lionheart King closed his eyes to rest, gently rubbed his eyebrows with his fingers, and said: "Is there anything else?"
"Duke Yeats recently sent a letter."
"Why are you saying it now!" Lionheart King opened his eyes and said displeased.
"You became ill last night and didn't wake up until now..." Colin said cautiously.
"Bring it."
"Yes."
The Lionheart King unfolded the letter, read it carefully, and then let out a gentle sigh.
Colin said: "Your Majesty, this year's cold wave has not arrived. The orcs in the north are gathering people and horses, preparing to cross the mountains and invade our borders. This will be...a great test for Duke Yeats."
" Since ancient times, nobles who guard the borders of the kingdom have always had privileges."
The Lionheart King calmly said: "Reducing Yeats' taxes... If he can win the competition with Thomas, he will go north. The position of Duke of Earth was changed to hereditary, after all, he took Baiye City with his own hands."
Ke Lin nodded respectfully and thought to himself.
Since His Majesty tried to centralize power, the Golden Lion has rarely granted hereditary titles, and even Yeats's father's dukedom title was reclaimed.
However, the Duke of Honeysuckle was able to influence his descendants, which shows Yeats's status in His Majesty's heart.
White Night City is clearly the territory of Thomas, but His Majesty gave the claim to Yeats. This is actually a means of checks and balances, allowing the Yeats and Thomas families to consume each other.
"The orc chief of North County, Grimm is just a lackey of Hallag. I believe Yeats can deal with it." Lionheart stroked his eyebrows lightly, "But he is my right-hand man after all... Colin , you go to Chenshuang Ridge on my behalf, and if the orcs have the sixth-ring combat power, you can help me in case something goes wrong."
"If I am worrying too much, then don't be here. Appeared in front of Yeats... That boy is very smart. When he sees you, he can guess that I can no longer move."
Lionheart smiled to himself and said:
< br>
"It's still not necessary, let him know."
Ke Lin said silently and respectfully: "Understood, I will go to Chenshuang Ridge secretly to protect the important people and guard the border."
Lion Heart Wang nodded gently, said nothing, and waved Colin to leave.
Kelin slowly left the bedroom, closed the door, faced the shadow in the corner, and sighed softly:
"Your Highness, there is no need to hide it, just say what you have to say."< br>
Teresa walked out of the shadows and stood under the cold moonlight, wearing a crown, with tears remaining on her white cheeks.
“I want to go to Chenshuang Ridge with you, Uncle Colin.”
Kelin frowned and said puzzledly: “How could His Highness, a rich man, think of traveling a long distance to Chenshuang Ridge? Frost Ridge?”
“Since my father cannot patrol in person, I will be his eyes.”
Teresa lowered her head and said: “Besides, my father said that he would stay in Shen for a long time. If you stay away from the front line, you will forget the weight of life..."
"So, please let me go with you." Teresa said, "I swear, I will not act rashly. I just want to know... what kind of place is the Morning Frost Ridge where my father won the great victory?" < br>
Kelin was silent, his eyes reflecting the thin and stubborn princess. He knew His Highness's temper. Once she made up her mind, nothing could shake her except her father.
Looking at the closed door, Colin knew that the Lionheart King in the room must have heard the conversation between the two.
But by remaining silent and not raising any objection, he acquiesced to His Highness’s wishes—agreed for Teresa to follow Colin to Morning Frost Ridge, experience the cruelty of war, and cultivate the Queen’s grace.
“Okay, Your Highness, I promise you.”
Looking at Teresa who breathed a sigh of relief, Colin added:
"Today's Morning Frost Ridge, under the governance of Duke Yeats, is no longer the miserable place it was back then...His business talent , in my opinion, it is also rare."
Teresa looked thoughtful, nodded lightly, and said:
"When I have the opportunity, I will ask the Honeysuckle Duke again. , ask for advice in person!”
……
(End of this chapter)