Mount and Blade System: Start from Pioneer Lords.

Chapter 473 A Smile That Could Topple Kingdoms

"If the world knew that the hero who saved Gonda and resolved the plague of the dead was a lecher, I wonder how many admirers would be heartbroken."

Tina held the chrysanthemum tea, sipping it slowly, her eyes squinting with contentment.

"Aren't heroes lustful? Are heroes perfect?" The lord didn't care about the title at all, but was instead smug: "On the contrary, those guys who call me a lecher are probably very envious and jealous."

This proves that he has countless beauties as his wives, beauty that is unimaginable to ordinary people.

Sophia, who was happily gnawing on a roasted lamb leg bigger than her face, her mouth smeared with oil, mumbled as she interjected, "That's right, that's right, one of our Dragon Island's Silver Dragon Heroes has many wives!"

“Great minds think alike. Sophia, it seems you also have the qualities to become a hero.” Levi gave a thumbs up, surprised that this silver dragon girl shared the same view as him.

Sofia chuckled twice.

"Fool, Li Wei will trick you into bed one day!" Sersney, who was idly looking at the white clouds outside the window, suddenly turned around and cursed.

The black dragon queen had recently been reprimanded by the lord and was full of resentment. Whenever she saw a silver dragon that she didn't get along with, she would immediately vent her anger.

"You!" Sophia's face turned bright red, but when she saw that it was the old woman with the black dragon who spoke, she immediately shrank her neck, buried her face in the plate, and pretended that she was a hamster eating and had not heard anything.

In any case, as Li Wei would say, fortunes change every thirty years, and one should never underestimate the Silver Dragon's potential. When she ascends to legendary status, she, Sophia Silver Dragon Queen, will definitely beat this hateful black dragon to a pulp!

Tina shook her head, her expression becoming slightly serious: "Darling, perhaps I can go and talk to Duke Frena."

"You're going?" Li Wei was somewhat surprised.

“Hmm.” Tina nodded. “Women always talk to each other more easily. I can represent High Cliff Castle to express our sincerity. At least let her know that even with a marriage alliance, she will not be looked down upon or ostracized. Cooperation between the North and High Cliff Castle is inevitable, but the approach can be gentler, giving her and the nobles of the North a more acceptable way out.”

Looking at Tina, Li Wei felt a warm current surge in his heart.

Tina is always like this: intelligent and generous, she will always support him no matter what he does.

"Although High Cliff Fortress has a small population, our warriors are always full of passion. Regardless of whether the Northern Territory helps us or not, we are not afraid of the wolves surrounding us." Li Wei grasped Tina's hand and said with great pride, "You don't need to go. At worst, I'll go find Leah, find the Western Territory... I don't believe that no force will choose not to invest in me, the Dragon Knight."

He wasn't exaggerating when he said that. His desire for a marriage alliance with the North was simply because the North lay between Gondar and High Cliff Fortress, which would inevitably affect the future development of High Cliff Fortress. To avoid the two sides turning against each other in the future, he wanted to form a marriage alliance.

Otherwise, given his current prestige and strength, it would be no problem for him to nominate the nominal heir, Ashel, as the new king of Debe.

Tina squeezed his hand back, her voice tender and gentle, "Darling..."

Just then, an orc guard strode in: "Boss, Lady Tina. Duke Flina has sent a messenger to ask if you are free today. She would like to invite you to tour the Northern Legion's encampment together."

Li Wei and Tina exchanged a glance.

"It seems someone has become restless, or has figured something out?" Tina said softly, a knowing glint in her eyes.

Li Wei nodded: "Tell him I'll be there in a bit."

"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and left.

Li Wei looked at Tina.

Tina smiled understandingly: "Go ahead, business is important. When you meet with Frena, be sincere and don't act like you've got her cornered. Duke Frena became a duke by force, not by coercion."

As she spoke, she reached out her slender fingers and gently straightened Li Wei's slightly crooked collar.

Li Wei took her hand and kissed it lightly: "I know what to do."

He stood up, ready to keep his appointment.

Mir wanted to sneak out too, but Tina stopped him in his tracks with a look.

“You, stay here. Tell me properly what good deeds you’ve done in Gonda these past few days.” Tina smiled, but her eyes flashed with a dangerous light.

Mil's face fell instantly. How could he change his expression so quickly? He was so gentle just now.

He looked to Sofia for help.

Sofia immediately raised her hands, her mouth full of food, and mumbled, "Mmm... I don't know anything! The roast lamb leg is so delicious!"

Livy glanced at Mil with sympathy, then decisively turned and left this place of trouble.

Behind him came Mir's desperate wails and Tina's gentle interrogation.

Stepping out of the mansion, the morning sun had completely dispelled the darkness, shining on the dilapidated yet revitalized streets of Gonda.

……

The Northern Legion's encampment was located on a high, open area outside the city. The white tents were neatly arranged, the flags were bright, and the sentries stood tall, exuding an aura of battle-hardened elites, a stark contrast to the still desolate atmosphere inside the city.

Clearly, even on her ally's territory, Duke Frena remained vigilant.

Attendants were already waiting at the door. Li Wei was led through layers of guards to the vicinity of the noble's tent.

From afar, he spotted Freya's figure.

The Duke of the North was not dressed in a gorgeous dress, but rather in a well-fitting, light silver-blue hunting outfit that accentuated his tall and proud figure.

Her long red hair was simply tied back, revealing her smooth forehead and sharp blue eyes.

She was frowning slightly as she listened to a general beside her report something, her fingers unconsciously tapping the hilt of her sword at her waist.

Upon seeing Li Wei arrive, she raised her hand to stop her subordinate from speaking and turned her gaze towards him.

That gaze seemed to hold a hint of relief and other complex emotions.

In fact, she regretted turning away back then, but as a duke, it was impossible for her to bow her head.

“Frina.” Levi stepped forward, a flawless smile on his face, a smile that would make most women’s hearts race. Of course, he didn’t know if this would work on Frina, but he had to give it a try.

After all, no one in the world dislikes beautiful things; even the gods cannot avoid it.

Frena's gaze lingered on his face for two seconds, her heart skipped a beat, but she only nodded slightly.

Without exchanging many pleasantries, she turned around and gestured for Li Wei to follow.

The two walked side by side, and the guards were dismissed.

The morning breeze swept through the campsite, carrying the fresh scent of grass and a hint of morning chill.

"How did Li Wei sleep last night?" Frena asked casually, looking straight ahead.

“The nights in Gundar are exceptionally quiet, except for those old guys who wail and howl every day.” Li Wei said, then suddenly sneered, “Thinking about returning to their respective territories to make preparations early is simply a pipe dream.”

Frina seemed to chuckle softly, or perhaps it was just a passing breeze: "Aren't you afraid they'll cause trouble?"

"Without troops under your command, you can't even fart properly!" Li Wei scoffed. "If they had a dozen or so regular legions at their disposal, I would give them some face. But if they weren't still useful, they would have been dealt with long ago for their attempt to overthrow the Debe regime."

The two men didn't take these remaining old noble ministers seriously at all. When Harland was still alive, these guys had some say, but now they were just a few ornaments, symbolic puppets.

The two walked and talked, and soon came to a high slope where a bitter love tree stood alone and proudly, yet to bloom.

From her vantage point, Flina looked down at the soldiers who were making synchronized slashing motions at the officers' commands. A hint of pride flickered in her eyes, but her tone remained restrained: "The North is harsh and cold, bordering the wilderness. Not only do we face various natural disasters, but we also have to contend with the invasions of wild tribes. The ancestors of the Martell family were able to establish themselves in the North by relying on their swords and the loyalty of their warriors. Every Northerner, from the moment they learn to walk, must learn to hold a weapon firmly."

“Adversity makes one stronger.” Li Wei nodded in agreement. “That is why the bravery and resilience of the Northern warriors are renowned throughout Debei.”

His words were half flattery and half heartfelt.

Governing Gaoyabao made him realize that maintaining rule on a border surrounded by powerful enemies required far more effort than the nobles in the interior who had enjoyed peace for a long time.

Warfare and politics are two completely different things. If it weren't for Elder Tang Jin and others handling the political affairs, he wouldn't have been able to manage Gaoyabao at all.

Therefore, the purpose of the marriage was also to allow Freya to provide some political support.

Elder Tang Jin and his group are very knowledgeable and manage Gaoyabao in an orderly manner, but they are too few in number to manage the entire Debei.

Frena glanced at him sideways, seemingly surprised that he would say such a thing.

She was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Li Wei, what are your thoughts on the future of the North and High Cliff Fortress?"

Are we finally getting to the main topic?

Li Wei perked up, his smile faded, and his expression became serious.

He did not answer immediately, but instead looked around at the orderly camp and the faint outline of Gonda City in the distance, and slowly said, "Although I have resolved the calamity of the undead, the turmoil in the Seven Kingdoms has not subsided. The expeditionary force is still fighting in the Persian Gulf Empire, and there are still people spying on us in the shadows. The order in Debe urgently needs to be restored."

"Gaoyabao and the northern border will both benefit from cooperation, but will both suffer from conflict."

He stopped and looked at Flina with a frank gaze: "Flina, my desire to form an alliance with the North is not entirely out of ambition."

To be honest, this is the path that is more beneficial to the people of Debei. A stable, strong, and united nation will be the best gift we can give to this land.

"No one wants war, and neither do I. I hope that the people of High Cliff Fortress can have enough to eat and wear, and not have to worry about their safety. I hope that those barbarian lads can all learn knowledge, so that when they meet someone, they will greet them with a friendly and polite 'Iskosmi! Dear sir,' instead of coming up to them with 'Obislach, you little scoundrel.'"

The lord spoke with a smile, though the last part was somewhat inappropriate, it was still his true thought.

As a true 21st-century youth, accustomed to a peaceful and tranquil life, I naturally dislike the continuous wars and turmoil from the bottom of my heart.

On the surface, he seems to have been assimilated by this cannibalistic world, becoming more ruthless and killing without blinking an eye, but deep down he still has a pure land.

Flina also stopped, her emerald eyes like deep pools reflecting Li Wei's figure.

“A very moving vision, Li Wei.” Her voice remained steady. “To be honest, it’s an incredibly grand vision.”

"Yes, now that I think about it, it seems that all I wanted to do was be a scoundrel lord who enjoyed massages from beautiful maids whenever he had nothing to do, occasionally attend noble banquets, and make friends with noble girls." Li Wei thought about it and felt that made sense: "But I never expected that I would start to worry about the country and its people in the blink of an eye."

“Alright, I agree to the marriage.” Frina gently tucked a strand of long hair behind her ear and said suddenly.

"Huh?" The lord was momentarily taken aback. "I thought you would disagree."

"Did I say I would disagree?" Frina smiled slightly, a gentle breeze ruffling her long hair, making her extremely beautiful, which stunned even the lord.

Sunlight shone on the two of them, casting long shadows behind them.

……

The process that followed went very smoothly, and the Northern Legion began to break camp and enter Gondar.

It took half a day for the 100,000-strong contingent to even enter the city.

These lowly soldiers had no idea what was happening at the top; only some high-ranking Northern nobles knew the inside story.

Their true intention was naturally not to marry into High Cliffs. This marriage, seemingly a powerful alliance, would in reality severely impact the centuries-old independence of the North and the absolute dominance of the Martell family, potentially even reducing it to a complete vassal state of High Cliffs. This was entirely different from the relatively equal marriages they had previously formed with royalty or other great nobles.

But faced with the smiling lord and the frost giants acting as his honor guard, these guys could only grit their teeth and pretend to be heroes.

If you can't win a fight, what can you do but admit defeat?
That evening, Livy hosted a banquet in the banquet hall that originally belonged to Harland Palace to celebrate the marriage alliance between the North and High Cliffs, inviting the main nobles and generals of the North.

The atmosphere in the brightly lit hall was somewhat subtle.

The long table was laden with fine wines and dishes made with the finest ingredients sourced from Gonda, and rabbit-man waiters moved about busily.

The lord sat in the main seat, with Tina, the lady of High Cliff Castle, to his left, on his right, on ...

(End of this chapter)