Throne of the North.

Chapter 676 The Elected Emperor Returns

When faced with his father's question, Archduke Freming shook his head.

"They have never been recorded in human history."

"It's not just them."

Grand Duke Freming said:

"Slaves cannot even know the history of ten years ago; commoners can hardly know the stories of fifty or a hundred years ago; and minor nobles can only sing empty praises of their bloodline's glory without knowing why it is glorious."

"Even you and I, the Grand Dukes of the Empire, are completely clueless about the development of human civilization."

"Why is that? Is it because our ancestors didn't know how to record their actions?"

Ferredias Fleming did have an answer to this question.

"The Dawn Church has banned the recitation of ancient history."

"The Dawn Church once had a strict system of governance. They only served the Lord of Dawn and did not allow or have any record of history."

The nobles may not understand history, but they do understand the Dawn Church.

"Yes, the Dawn Church, but why? Why would they do this?"

"And why is it that even without history books, we can still know the stories of heroes and hero kings?"

"Even after thousands of years, perhaps only thousands of years, do we still remember the heroes of humanity's earliest, most primitive era?"

"Perhaps... it's something that people have passed down by word of mouth."

Grand Duke Freming sighed deeply and said:

"If the interdimensional war of the gods had not been discovered, then so many other world planes would not have been discovered either, and this reason would be quite sufficient."

"What do you think is the difference between humans from other worlds and us?"

"There is no difference, Father."

"It's just that their world was destroyed, and they became destitute and our slaves."

The heirs of the Grand Duke will receive the best education in the world, and the first priority will be the development of their mindset.

Grand Duke Freming did not have any condescending attitude towards the slave class; he was very indifferent, as indifferent as a roadside stone, existing in a perfectly reasonable way.

"I once explored the development history of human civilizations in other worlds, and I found that the budding of human civilizations in those other worlds actually occurred at the same time as the Norris continent."

"Later I discovered that the reason why the heroes we talk about and the legendary hero kings have been recorded to this day is not because of word of mouth. The Dawn Church can shut the whole world up."

"The reason they have preserved their legends is because...they are always here."

Feredias looked at his father in confusion. Wasn't this going too far? Weren't they discussing whether or not to take the army to the south?

"Fredias, only the faithless can become heroes, and the most extreme faithless among the faithless can become the King of Heroes."

Grand Duke Freming looked up, vibrant petals floating in his palm, and Feredias stared in shock at his father.

Of the four Grand Dukes of the Empire, only Grand Duke Freming possessed no extraordinary power. Everyone expected him to be the first Grand Duke to grow old and die, but now...?

"The future world is beyond our imagination, my child. I see disaster coming in the North. Taking Fleming's army to the South is the best choice."

Grand Duke Freming left in a daze, never understanding how his return to discuss the Emperor's affairs with his father had somehow led to the topic of human civilization.

Suddenly they've become so lofty and profound—is that really something they should be pondering?

Grand Duke Freming was puzzled, while the old Grand Duke Freming looked at his side with a grim expression. Two more figures had appeared there; they had been there all along.

A man with golden hair, a sturdy build, and perfect proportions that made him tall and heroic, with a look of worry about the world between his brows, had a long sword hanging at his waist with his hand on it. He looked like a legendary hero fighting a dragon. No one had ever seen what a hero looked like, but this man standing here seemed to provide a template for the hero.

The second figure was tall and slender, with long silver hair cascading down to her waist. It was a woman, an absolutely beautiful woman, and her pointed ears confirmed her identity: an elf, and a member of the royal family of elves.

"Your Excellency, your successor, also seems unable to comprehend the future you envision."

The blond man spoke with a smile, and his smile caused the countless flowers around him to sway even more, as if trying to compete for his favor.

Grand Duke Fleming slumped down, feeling dazed and disoriented, sitting in his chair and staring at the blond man.

“Your Highness, I do not believe in the destiny you have shown me.”

"Even if the person beside you is the most talented High Priestess of Fate in the history of the Elven race, and the Moon Goddess favors her, the Moon Goddess cannot see all the future, can she?"

Viking Columbus, the third elector of the empire to be exiled, if there is anything in this world that can be described with the word "perfect," then the Viking must be number one.

He was humble yet courageous, and spoke respectfully to the old Grand Duke Freming before answering the Grand Duke's questions.

"The Vikings believe in the guidance of fate, and the fate you see, Your Excellency Grand Duke Fleming, will surely come true, for I will personally bring all good things to the people of this world."

"I will inherit the will of the Hero King and become a pioneer of human civilization. Perhaps you, Your Excellency Grand Duke Freming, do not know that the former Hero King also had the same name as me; he was also called Viking."

Grand Duke Freming's eyes were cloudy. He offered no comment on the elector's words, but simply asked:

"What exactly did I mean by what I just said to Ferreas?"

Yes, even the old Grand Duke Fleming didn't know what his own words meant, because he was merely... describing the few words he had vaguely grasped.

As a blasphemous nobleman, and one of the four grand dukes among the original nobles, Grand Duke Freming could not live up to his self-proclaimed unbelief; deep down, he harbored a certain degree of awe for the great beings.

The Viking remained humble, bowing his head, and then said:
“Your Excellency, what you see is beyond my ability to see, but I can interpret it for you.”

"I will bring a perfect world where humanity will live in peace and prosperity, where there will be no more slaves and nobles, and everyone will enjoy equal rights."

Grand Duke Freming narrowed his eyes, staring at the Viking elector.

"But what does this have to do with the King of Heroes?"

"The Hero King is the one who led the ancient ancestors of mankind to rise on this land. He has become a great being, and I am his successor. I will lead mankind forward as the Hero King, not as the emperor of the Flor Empire."

"When the flame of human civilization is lit, I will leave this world and go to a great country, where I will stand and watch over the development of humankind. Perhaps ten thousand years later, my successor will appear and lead human civilization forward once again."

"This is my vision, and I hope that Your Excellency Grand Duke Fleming can help me."

Grand Duke Fleming looked at the Elector Viking for a long time before speaking. "You should go to Russell. The Russell family is now under the control of that boy Galen, and he will be your supporter."

The Viking shook his head and replied:
"I will not become the leader of mankind as an emperor, Your Excellency. Only you can support me."

Grand Duke Freming coughed, feeling the Elector Viking gently pat his back, which made him feel much better, but the tears of laughter in the corners of his eyes never disappeared.

"Hahahahaha."

"I thought that the future I saw was truly related to human civilization. I thought that this old man would one day be able to view the development of mankind from the perspective of a god. I thought that what I said to my child was really from the perspective of the entire human civilization, so that he would work hard for all mankind."

“I’m glad that my child doesn’t understand or listen to anything I say.”

"It turns out that the perfect elector—Viking Columbus—traveled thousands of miles back to his homeland to compete with his two brothers for the supreme power that was about to be granted."

"You speak so nobly that I thought you really were that perfect Viking prince."

Grand Duke Freming smiled as he looked at the Chosen One Viking, then landed on the elf not far away.

"Servant of fate, are you his supporter?"

"The nobles of the Flor Empire have no Viking supporters, so the elves become their friends. Your Highness, you are truly perfect. Even the proud elves would bow their heads before you."

Electors Volvo Columbus and Freud Columbus were both contenders for the title of the next emperor. However, in terms of their intentions, Elector Viking Columbus had already reached a moral high ground and considered the issue from the perspective of human civilization.

However, if you compete to become emperor, no matter how lofty your ambitions are, it's all for naught.

Grand Duke Fleming looked at the Vikings.

"Back then, Your Highness, you were exiled from the empire, and this land no longer had a place for you. Now, what makes you think you can return?"

Viking looked at the old Grand Duke Freming, who was trying to return to the Empire and needed nothing more than the support of the Freming family.

Why Grand Duke Freming? Because the Freming family was the victor among the four grand dukes of this era, wielding considerable influence among the imperial nobility. However, Grand Duke Freming is no longer a staunch supporter of the emperor.

This is the best entry point. He wants to return to the Empire, and none of the other three Grand Dukes can provide adequate support except for Grand Duke Freming.

As for his father, Columbus III, there was absolutely no chance. His father would never retract his order; it was Columbus who had spoken of banishing the Vikings.

“Fate has guided me, and you will help me, Your Excellency.”

Why are you so certain that fate is right and that I will help you?

Grand Duke Freming finally acknowledged his formidable power in the empire at this moment, even as he grew old and relinquished the Freming family title.

"I can't be sure, but I'd also like to know why."

Viking spoke very sincerely, telling the truth that he really knew nothing, but fate had guided him back here.

Grand Duke Freming remained silent for a long time before finally speaking softly.

"I will help you."

The brief words surprised both the Chosen One Viking and the silver-haired elf. So direct?

"why?"

The question was directed to the silver-haired elf, the priestess of fate. She had helped the Vikings understand the direction of destiny, but she herself did not know its specifics.

"Because this is the guidance of fate."

Grand Duke Fleming suddenly burst into laughter.

"Whether you are a hero king or an emperor or whatever, Your Highness Viking, I will help you return to this homeland that belongs to you, but this is the only thing I will help you with."

Grand Duke Freming lay down and gently closed his eyes. In that instant, the Elector Viking and the silver-haired elf felt the surrounding space begin to distort. The Grand Duke Freming's castle had come to life and was driving them away with terrifying power.

The mansions of the four dukes have always been the most terrifying forbidden places in the world. In this extraordinary world, they wield the most powerful extraordinary forces.

In the blink of an eye, the two disappeared from the Grand Duke's side and were left thousands of miles away.

After they left, Grand Duke Fleming opened his eyes again and stared at the ceiling of his room.

Before that, he had actually been enduring the power of the Priestess of Fate, or more precisely, the divine power of the Lady of Fate, which allowed him to sense the future of destiny.

This process was lengthy, but in the end, the old Grand Duke Freming's soul was affected by his offspring, forcing him to end his favor with fate.

"Why? Tell me, why in the destiny and future I have touched, is there a roaring voice that does not praise the gods, but praises a person's name instead?"

"A... baron from the North?"

The deep ceiling, like an endless, dark ocean, brought a vast, empty shadow into his field of vision as Archduke Fleming inquired.

It... or rather, it watched over him.

Grand Duke Fleming did not change as a result; he remained human and did not become one of the great beings' servants simply because he was too close to them.

"Whether you like it or not, you have become a part of me, my noble Lord."

"Now, can you tell me? And why did the Viking return to the Empire, to the lands of the Empire when his father was at the height of his authority?"

"He still wants to compete to become emperor? Is that really possible?"

Grand Duke Freming was still that frail old man, but within him resided a great being.

The enormous shadow lingered throughout the entire Grand Duke Freming's castle, unnoticed by anyone except the Grand Duke himself.

He did not respond to Archduke Freming, but kept looking in the north.

Meanwhile, in the North, in the Frozen Territory.

Ryan looked at his spiritual panel; it had rioted, and the process of nurturing a legendary gift had entered its final stage.

The transparent, ethereal, and tiny dragon was squeezed out of the spiritual panel, but this time it was not in a hurry. Instead, it looked at Ryan with awe.

Ryan was still thinking about the problems in the South.

(End of this chapter)