Throne of the North.

Chapter 663 Northern Power (Part 1)

Zero Crossing City remains as bustling as ever, but these days, many adventurers have noticed that they seem to have more competitors.

In the final month of the competition for the Eight Knights, a large number of people emerged in Zero Crossing City to compete for the Eight Knights.

Someone raised a question, and those people produced their adventurer badges, which showed when they had registered as adventurers.

This made the adventurers who were initially confident lose confidence again. The difference in strength between the lower-level knights was not significant to begin with, and a single mistake could lead to failure.

"Damn it, what right do these Kingdom people have to enter the Empire?"

Many people were dissatisfied and demanded that the kingdom's adventurers be driven out, and that the benefits of the Eight Knights should be left to the native adventurers.

"This was at Lord Ryan's invitation and with his permission."

The bards of the Northern Heroes Guild responded in this way.

All the benefits that the Eight Knights can bring are provided by Ryan, so if he agrees, no one else can say anything.

The nobles didn't seem to care about the presence of people from the kingdom; they were simply visiting the Frozen Territory these days.

“Viscount Miles, I hear your wealth has increased again; the farmland outside Zero Crossing has yielded a bumper harvest this year.”

Ryan raised his glass to Viscount Miles and said with a smile.

The nobles present all wore smiles. This year had been the best year of their lives, free from invasions by foreign tribes, the troubles of war, and financial worries.

They are willing to continue like this.

"Haha, I also have to thank Ryan for your help. Those wheat seeds can grow in a much harsher environment, and the land I reclaimed means I no longer have to be beholden to those nobles in the south."

“Ryan, you don’t know, those nobles even wrote to me this year asking why I’m not buying their grain anymore, and they’re even willing to lower the price.”

"The Southern Wars have caused losses to many nobles, and they want to recoup their losses through this method."

Ryan responded that the nobles in the south are now doing everything they can to increase their power because of the Papacy.

“However, now that you, Viscount Miles, have acquired wealth, you should acquire the power to protect it.”

"In this respect, the nobles in the south are much more vigilant than you are."

"This……"

The view of the family.

"There's no need for that, Ryan. No one can threaten the Northwind Province."

The army is a huge drain on resources, and nobles are reluctant to waste gold coins on it.

"Prepare in advance. The orcs reproduce faster than we imagined. An army is not built overnight. As you have seen, a powerful army cannot be formed simply by giving slaves a weapon."

"Over in Zero Crossing City, even with the immense temptation, those slaves couldn't kill the orcs."

"If we wait a few years and the orcs in the North multiply, it will be too late for us."

"We can't just send my army to fight off the orcs, can we?"

After Ryan finished speaking, the nobles were still hesitant. If this decision were made, it would result in huge expenses every year.

Ryan calmly sipped his fruit wine, without continuing the conversation.

Among the nobles present, Baron Hatton possessed the greatest political acumen. As a baron who knew how to enjoy life, he had the typical aristocratic talent to notice the unusual nature of the matter.

What Ryan needs is not for the nobles to arm him, but this matter; essentially, Ryan wants the nobles to do something.

He could not refuse the nobles whatever he asked them to do.

Thinking of this, Baron Hatton broke out in a cold sweat. Ryan was still young, but he was becoming more and more domineering.

Fortunately, Baron Hatton was not an ambitious nobleman. After understanding Ryan's intentions, he immediately said:
“I will have Liam build an army. Don’t worry, Ryan, we will definitely be able to build an army of one hundred men before the Feast of Grace.”

Baron Hatton took the lead, and the nobles gradually agreed, while Viscount Miles was still hesitant.

His family had suffered enormous losses in the past, and now they cherish their money all the more.

“If Viscount Miles is unwilling, then let me recruit soldiers from Zero Crossing City to form the garrison of Zero Crossing City.”

Ryan casually remarked, and Viscount Miles agreed. The army of Zero Crossing City was already under Ryan's control, and it was impossible for him to obtain it.

However, what Viscount Miles did not expect was that Ryan would be recruited from among his people.

“Mr. Miles has many serfs on his lands, and I will train them until they become qualified soldiers.”

“This is impossible, Ryan…”

Viscount Miles stood up in shock, then saw Ryan staring calmly into his eyes and dared not continue speaking.

"That's settled then. We'll all be busy from now on. I've invited friends from the three kingdoms and noble territories in the east. Adventurers from their territories will participate in this year's Eight Knights competition."

"I hope your knights can defeat them and leave those slave squires in the province of Northwind."

……

It may have been over a hundred years since the people of the Empire and the Kingdom met.

The last time they met was back when the northern border was covered, and countless nobles from the north fled south, a time when conflicts erupted between the ancestors of both sides.

The people of Zero Crossing City never expected to meet the kingdom's citizens in this way, and they were filled with curiosity about them.

Then it turned into condescending mockery.

"A bunch of country bumpkins."

Adventurers from the kingdom, curious about all the prosperity of the empire, saw here scenes that the kingdom had never seen.

The towering buildings, the ornate signs, the fragrant food, the delivery drivers running through the streets, and the flamboyant and voluptuous women.

The adventurers from the kingdom were dazzled; this Zero Crossing City was even more prosperous and luxurious than their royal city, and many adventurers quickly became lost in it.

But there are also those who strive to improve.

"Get out of here, you bunch of country bumpkins! This is our White Bull Adventurer Group's territory."

Outside the tavern, an adventurer from the Kingdom of Andara was pushed out, surrounded by a group of people who looked at him with mockery and onlookers who were just there to watch the spectacle.

"What are you doing? I am a follower of Baron Claude!"

The kingdom's adventurers were enraged, which only drew more ridicule from those around them.

"A baron of the kingdom? Which of our adventurers isn't a follower of a noble lord?"

"Here, only powerful adventurers earn respect. If you were one of the Eight Knights, the tavern would be begging you to come. But you're just a country bumpkin from a trash kingdom."

"Get out of here, this is not a place for you."

The empire's natives were filled with superiority, while the kingdom's adventurers felt utterly ashamed and turned to swear an oath to become one of the Eight Knights. "Sir, would you like a blessing?"

A cultist appeared before the kingdom's adventurer and asked him a question.

The latter was surprised to learn that the other party was a member of the Dawn Cult.

"Does the Empire also have Dawn Cultists?"

"Yes, there are still Dawn Cult members in the Northwind Province. In Zero Crossing City, we will offer free lucky blessings to adventurers. May Lady Luck favor you."

A blessing from Lady Luck? The adventurer was intrigued and followed the Dawn Cult to the cathedral in Zero Crossing City, where he prayed for two hours.

When will the blessing be bestowed?

Beside him, a pastor murmured, then said:

"I have prayed to Lady Luck for you, hoping that she will favor you."

The adventurer left satisfied, while the priest in the church moved on to the next lucky one.

To put it bluntly, the Dawn Cult members still believe in the Creator in heaven. They would never pray to a goddess, but outsiders firmly believe what the clergy say.

"As expected of an empire, the priests here can even offer prayers for free."

The adventurers from the kingdom, having only glimpsed a corner of this powerful empire, already understood its strength.

Even the slaves looked at them with genuine pride.

Oh, those poor fellows are heading to the arena; I wonder how many slaves will survive today.

Many people are curious about this result.

The arena was packed on the first day, but in the following days, many people were dissatisfied with the slaves' fighting ability, leading to a slight decline in attendance.

But as more and more slaves died, the remaining slaves finally found their own way to survive in the arena, and they finally disappointed many adventurers who hoped that the orcs would cruelly kill them.

The slaves began to fight back and kill the orcs, which thrilled some adventurers.

"Damn it, charge! Kill that disgusting orc! Look at its teeth, it doesn't have any teeth at all! Kill it, shove it into its brain and churn out all its mush!"

In the stands, adventurers roared excitedly, and a slave held a short sword he had forged for fifteen silver coins. If he could kill an orc, he would be rich!

"Damn slave, kill it, kill it!"

"Hahaha, I've placed my bet! Poor Morton, is it possible for him to earn as much as eight gold coins?"

A crowd of people cheered and some even placed bets amidst the lively atmosphere. The adventurers from the kingdom, who had just arrived, had never seen such a lively scene before, and couldn't help but blush and try to join in.

"We won! We won! Hahahaha! He killed that damn orc! I love him! I'm going to treat him to a big meal!"

Around them, many people were surprised and happy, while many others were disappointed and frustrated; they experienced both wins and losses.

"Morton, you'd better be careful. It's hard to say whether these slaves will even live for another half month. You'll only have a chance to invite him to dinner once they become the squires of the Eight Knights."

"Nearly ten gold coins..."

Many people were extremely envious; this guy earned so much money in just one day, equivalent to a year's income.

Many adventurers from the kingdom benefited from this; like the native adventurers, they chose to believe at first, and they were lucky.

"Making money in the Empire is so easy! The priest's blessing really worked. Lady Luck is on my side. I've earned five silver coins in such a short time."

The adventurers resolved to go to church to pray more often from now on, so that the goddess of fortune would not disappear.

Looking at the bustling city of Lingdu, many people have planted a seed in their hearts.

"I wonder if the legendary West Coast is as prosperous as Zero Crossing City."

They couldn't imagine any place more bustling than Lingdu City.

"Commander Brand is back!"

The distant sounds brought Zero Crossing City to a climax, with tens of thousands of people heading out of the city to watch the terrifying knightly procession returning from the east. The figure at the very front, riding a tall warhorse and wearing a mask, was none other than the legendary guardian knight who had followed Baron Ryan.

Many people are thinking that this Baron's guardian knight could also become a legend, since Baron Ryan himself is already a legend, so how could his guardian knight be any less? Moreover, legend has it that the Baron possesses a divine potion that helps people become legends.

"I heard that even the Grand Duke's extraordinary legion couldn't do anything to this legion commander."

In Zero Crossing City, the people and things of the Frozen Territory are easily made legendary, because Zero Crossing City is still some distance from the Frozen Territory. For many people traveling from the south to the north, Zero Crossing City is their final destination, but the Frozen Territory is located in the northern border.

In addition, people from the Frozen Territory rarely appear in Zero Crossing City, and each time they do, they have various identities that make them seem distant.

This lends them an air of mystery.

"Eighty percent of the entire Zero Crossing City belongs to the Frozen Territory."

"Even the Northern Warriors Guild was founded by Baron Ryan. Back in the day..."

……

Brand did not linger in Zero Crossing City, but returned directly to Frozen Territory, to Rhinoceros Horn Mountain.

"Grand Duke Gelan and His Majesty King Coran have agreed to your request. They will gather the nobles' slaves and, upon your decision, begin construction of the road connecting the Northwind Avenue and the Gerald noble territory."

Ryan raised his head, and in that instant, his gaze, once filled with ambition, turned into one of jubilation.

Everything happening in Zero Crossing City is a microcosm of what Ryan is after.

He wanted to unite the Northwind Province, the Kingdom of Andara, the Kingdom of Sera, the Gerald Noble Territory, and the Kingdom of Coran into a single entity, so that even with national borders and the separation of noble territories, the flow of people would not be affected within this land.

Let this vast land blend together, and let the collision of civilizations bring about a more vibrant spirit.

Ryan did this for one purpose only: to ensure that only one voice could be heard in this land, and that Ryan's power would be above everyone else's.

Of course, such a large-scale integration of Zero Crossing City is not enough. The flow of population is mostly influenced by only one factor.

That is convenience.

A wide road would allow the kingdom's citizens to reach Zero Crossing City in a single day, but without such a road, they might perish in unknown dangers along the way.

The roads, the extensive network of roads, are the tentacles of Ryan's expanding power, the clarion call for the spread of his voice. Once the roads are built, no one in these lands will be able to stop him.

One Northwind Road is not enough; Ryan needs this road to be longer, extending to Gerald and to the Kingdom of Coran, providing convenience for everyone, and then everyone will give Ryan power.

Political power flows from the bottom up, and this path is the conveyor belt through which power from below is delivered to Ryan.

"There couldn't be better news than today."

Ryan laughed, his eyes regaining their ambition for the future.

(End of this chapter)