Chapter 625: Winter Wolf

To the north of the Highlands lies Frostbite Castle.

Cape Storm resembles a giant horn on the map and borders both the Highlands and the northern region of Windfire Plains.

Of course, due to the terrain and climate, the Storm Warriors still prefer to move south each winter to plunder the wealth and women of the northern Highlands.

As the largest castle in the north, Frostbite Castle bears the heavy responsibility of defending the entire northern region.

However, now the originally thick castle gates are opened from within. Numerous Storm Warriors, wearing winter wolf pelts, adorned with various strange decorations, and wearing helmets made from wolf skins, resembling werewolves, flood Frostbite Castle, witnessing a coronation ceremony.

“I… Veron Wellington! Hereby swear to become the Earl of Frostbite Castle and form an alliance with the Winter Wolf Tribe!”

Veron Wellington throws a severed head into the castle. Beneath the pale hair lies a pair of wide-open, unblinking eyes.

This is the head of the previous Earl of Frostbite Castle, who was killed by Veron after being lured in the Storm Warriors, for refusing to obey orders from his family.

As for his castle, wealth, and even his wife, Veron naturally accepted them without hesitation.

Even the late Duke Wellington could never have imagined that the person he had chosen would turn out to be such a venomous snake!

After forcing nearby minor lords and knights to swear fealty through military might, Veron finally returns to the castle, full of pride and satisfaction.

“Bring more meat and bones, and more wine! Haha…”

However, all this joy vanishes instantly as he enters the great hall.

Veron’s face darkens as he gazes at a barbarian sitting in his seat.

The man is tall and rugged, with beard like steel. He is tearing into a large hind leg of lamb without any restraint, throwing bones all over the floor, which attract packs of hounds fighting for them.

“Chief Carter Ben Makhtum Moldrake of Cape Storm!”

Veron frowns, calling out the name of the chief of the largest tribe in Cape Storm: “You promised me that everything in Frostbite Castle belongs to me!”

“Of course, my friend!” Carter carelessly discards the bone in his hand. “The stone city is yours, but the women, wealth, salt, and food belong to my Storm Warriors!”

As soon as these words are spoken, the newly appointed Earl of Frostbite Castle’s face immediately darkens.

But looking at the many wolf-pelted Storm Warriors watching hungrily around him, he dares not make a move.

These Storm Warriors are a unique product of Cape Storm. It is said that during their coming-of-age ceremony, each warrior must wrestle an adult winter wolf barehanded, using its pelt to make armor, or die in the wolf’s jaws.

Through brutal training and an astonishing attrition rate, they have developed terrifying combat effectiveness and beast-like willpower.

They are fearless and valiant; only the endless and boundless world storms at the edge of the Storm Cape can defeat them, hence their name “Storm Warriors.”

Veron not only originally had few personal soldiers, but even if he brought all his family’s retainers, he still had no confidence to confront the Winter Wolf Tribe.

“Fine…”

He forces a smile: “Then, great Chief Carter, when do you plan to move south and plunder your lambs?”

“After those ironclad men arrive!”

Chief Carter grins, revealing unexpected shrewdness contrary to his rough appearance: “The harsh cold is our best ally. The snow and wind will make the ironclads slow, and their weapons will injure them!”

…

“My King!”

Emma Lys has a charming face and eyes like rippling water: “I have good news and bad news. Which one would you like to hear?”

“Stop with these little games!”

Wu Ming looks at this woman who is nominally his mother-in-law but appears more like a sister: “The worst news would be either the tribal chiefs from Cape Storm moving south in large numbers or pirates from Emerald Harbor invading the Windfire Plains. Only these two could barely impress me!”

“That’s impossible. The merchants from Emerald Harbor don’t have such courage; their ships can only sail on water, not land. And given the narrow terrain and climate where our plains meet the north, those northern savages probably won’t last long before getting sick!”

Emma Lys says confidently: “It’s from the north of the Highlands. The Winter Wolf Tribe has moved south. Their chief, Carter, commands over two thousand Storm Warriors. They’ve allied with Veron Wellington, pushing him to the position of Earl of Frostbite Castle.”

“Oh?”

Wu Ming instantly recalls the position and importance of Frostbite Castle: “This Chief Carter seems to be a clever fellow! But doing this, how would the other Wellingtons take it?”

“That’s the good news I want to tell you.”

Emma Lys smiles: “After Viscount Garcia visited Arthur and I delivered this news to him, that man finally yielded. He is willing to swear fealty to you, never to betray, and to subdue the other branches of the Wellington family and fight against Veron Wellington!”

“Fine!”

Wu Ming hesitates briefly before agreeing immediately.

Arthur Wellington, the true king chosen by the Sword in the Stone, was no longer seen by him as a rival.

After conquering most of the Highlands, the power of the people surged within him, and his understanding of the Sword in the Stone progressed rapidly. Soon, he would surpass Arthur’s authority. At that time, even if the Sword in the Stone were placed before him, he wouldn’t be able to use it.

Moreover, such a child of destiny, with grand fortune, in Western terms, is someone carrying the force of fate, coming into the world with a special mission!

In the past, Wu Ming would surely have killed him directly, a simple and brutal way to gain a quick profit.

But now, he could take a long-term approach, bringing Arthur under his command, letting him fight and struggle, slowly exploiting his remaining value.

“I will first grant him the titles of Viscount and General, letting Arthur subdue the other branches of the Wellington family. Once the army is integrated, he must immediately move north to strike against Veron Wellington and Chief Carter.

“When he completes all this and offers the Highlands to me, I will fulfill my promise, bestowing upon him the title of Duke of Wellington and appointing him to guard the western border of the kingdom!”

Clearly, this promise is like the carrot in front of a donkey, inevitably forcing Arthur to fight tirelessly for Wu Ming.

Wu Ming, on the other hand, would reap the benefits without effort, gradually wearing down Arthur’s fortune—a sophisticated method of plundering the world. The gains might not be much less than killing him outright, and it has the added benefits of being subtle and safe.

…

Time passes, and several months quickly go by.

Year One of the New Calendar, December.

As snow falls, the war clouds that have long hung over the Highlands finally disperse slightly.

During these months, Wu Ming remained in Lionheart Castle, allowing his soldiers ample rest. Meanwhile, Arthur fought battles for him in both the south and the north. Leveraging the influence of the Blue Dragon Alliance and his status as the legitimate heir of the Wellington family, he quickly convinced several branch families to recognize him as the next clan leader. With this support, he swiftly raised an army of several thousand, surpassing the power of Viscount Garcia, the head of the main family.

Undoubtedly, whether in personal valor, strategy, or charisma, Garcia is inferior to Arthur.

Thus, aside from the northern region, the entire Highlands have now submitted to the Blue Dragon banner. Nobles of all sizes travel to Lionheart Castle, offering their oaths and loyalty to their new lord, King Conqueror William Wallace.

At this time, Arthur also leads his army northward to Frostbite Castle.

The hastily assembled rabble led by Veron Wellington is no match for Arthur. He fights bravely, always leading the charge, boosting the morale of his troops. Soon, Veron’s army is defeated and scattered, and Arthur’s forces advance all the way to the gates of Frostbite Castle.

It is only the intervention of Chief Carter of the Winter Wolf Tribe that changes the tide.

Indeed, the Storm Warriors’ reputation across the continent is well-deserved.

The Winter Wolf Tribe only sends a thousand warriors to assist, yet Arthur’s army suffers a major defeat, forcing him to retreat back to Lionheart Castle. At the same time, an envoy from the Winter Wolf Tribe almost arrives in the city simultaneously with Arthur.

“Carter says that if you acknowledge his title of King of the Storms and pay the Winter Wolf Tribe one hundred thousand gold Denari annually, or an equivalent amount in grain, cloth, salt, and other goods, you will gain his friendship, and he will also recognize your status as the Conqueror King!”

In the great hall of Lionheart Castle, a roaring fireplace emits waves of heat, while numerous nobles stand on either side, watching the Storm Warrior speaking calmly in the center, trembling with fear.

It is not from the cold but sheer terror.

After brief contact, they have come to understand the character of this Conqueror King.

He is powerful and arrogant, never compromising, especially not in the face of threats.

“Mutual recognition of kingship?”

Wu Ming almost wants to laugh.

If that condition still had some justification, the subsequent annual tribute was simply intolerable.

Victory has not been lost, yet annual tribute is demanded. Did Carter think he was some fattened sheep to be milked?

“I rule Windfire and the Highlands, with an army of one hundred thousand and thousands of knights. What does Carter possess that he dares to seek an alliance with me?”

He directly counters.

The Storm Warrior proudly lifts his head: “Each of our Storm Warriors can defeat ten soldiers of equal strength. Our chief commands five thousand Storm Warriors, and he will bring you war!”

“If the Winter Wolf Tribe truly had so many warriors, Carter would have already unified all of Cape Storm!”

Wu Ming rolls his eyes. It seems military exaggeration and intimidation are second nature to any faction.

He stands up and solemnly declares: “Go back and tell your chief that since he desires war, I shall grant him a humiliating defeat!”