Throne of the North.

Chapter 702 The Emperor's Funeral

"His Majesty's funeral?!"

In Twilight Province, the entire sky was bathed in magical light. This was the first war in the Empire's history in which mages were fully engaged in combat. The whole world witnessed the terrifying power of mages, whose magical strength left even the increasingly frenzied orcs helpless.

"Damn, how could this happen!"

Volvo roared, suppressing his anger. Before, he wanted to return to the capital, but now he only wanted to stay in the North. As long as he won the war, the nobles would put him on the throne.

He just needs to follow the steps.

"This is His Highness Freud's trick."

Beside Volvo, Chrysus said this, he was equally unwilling, but it was clear that His Highness Freud would not allow Volvo to easily become the next emperor of the empire.

"According to custom, His Majesty's funeral must be held on the day of the Feast of Grace, with priests praying that the great God of Light will guide the Emperor to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven and allow him to enjoy infinite life."

"Damn it, they can't just hold a funeral like this!"

Volvo, suppressing his anger, rebuked him; he absolutely could not leave this place now.

However... he couldn't afford not to attend the emperor's funeral, otherwise he could say that he had given up his competition for the throne.

"That Freud guy would never have thought of such a method. It was a nobleman, Grand Duke Rodrigo, who came up with this idea for him?"

boom!
Volvo slammed his fist on the table, gritting his teeth.

"I've already promised him that the president of the Mage's Guild won't be a legend other than Rodrigo. What exactly does he want?!"

Chrysus was surprised, not expecting that Volvo had such a deal with Grand Duke Rodrigo.

However, he didn't say anything; Meyers had no right to prevent the future emperor from communicating with other nobles.

But isn't this concession a bit too much?

The longer one stayed in Twilight Province, the more one could feel how terrifying the magicians' control over this war was; the entire empire witnessed the power of magic and wealth in amplifying the war.

"Your Highness, the rule you mentioned refers to the death of His Majesty the Emperor when his normal lifespan has come to an end."

“But your father, His Majesty Emperor Flor… died in full view of everyone.”

Chrysus said helplessly:
"Like your grandfather and your great-grandfather, their deaths were accidental, and their funerals were not held on Grace Day."

"After all, without the Pope's prayer, the great being will not personally guide you."

Volvo knew this, of course, but he was unwilling to accept it.

“Stop them from holding His Majesty's funeral.”

“I will remain in the North, you understand, Chryseth.”

“Only by staying here can I surpass Freud and become the emperor of the empire. That’s what you told me, and I must become the emperor of the empire.”

“I will not treat Meyers unfairly, Chrysus, you and your father must find a way.”

Volvo put his hand on Chrysus's shoulder and said with utmost seriousness.

"That's impossible, Your Highness."

Chrysus asked with a wry smile:

Are you trying to stop your father's funeral?

The Meyers family absolutely cannot help Volvo do such a thing, otherwise they will offend not only the nobles of the empire, but also the nobles of the entire world, who will look at their Grand Duke family with different eyes.

The Grand Duke's support for the elector was... limited.

Everything is for profit, but it is clear that such methods will damage Meyers' own prestige.

Chrysus quickly left this place of trouble, and once he was gone, the once calm Volvo became extremely angry, smashing and destroying the valuable objects around him.

Ryan was still halfway there, with the Northwind Province almost within reach, when Volvo called him back.

"Your Highness, what exactly do you want to do? The situation in Beifeng Province is very tense, and I must go back."

Ryan was helpless; Volvo had given the order in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the North.

Volvo, with his deep gaze and dignified expression, looked intently at Ryan and asked:

“Mr. Ryan, I know you always have a lot of unusual ideas.”

Ryan remained noncommittal and asked:

"Your Highness, what unexpected events have occurred in the war here?"

Volvo paused before changing the subject and saying:

“That’s not what I’m talking about, Ryan. Do you have a way… to postpone His Majesty the Emperor’s funeral? At least until after the war here is over.”

"what?"

Ryan hadn't even realized what the question was yet.

But soon, Ryan realized what had happened.

"The capital city is going to hold a funeral for His Majesty Columbus?"

Only something like this could elicit such a reaction from Volvo; he had to return to his father's funeral.

“But if that’s the case, what about the war in the North? His Highness Freud certainly won’t come.”

Are the war in the North so easily overlooked by these Southern politicians, nobles, and electors? Do they really not know what it means if problems arise in the war in the North?
"They will select a suitable new Commander-in-Chief of the North to temporarily replace me in my duties."

"But... if I'm not mistaken, this funeral will last a long time, and in the meantime, they will try to end the war between the North and the Orcs."

Volvo gritted his teeth. After several hours of speculation and conversations with the nobles, he understood what Freud was up to.

"They have learned my methods of warfare. It is foreseeable that on the day I leave the North, Grand Duke Rodrigo will lead at least a quarter of the empire's nobles to continue to increase their financial support for the war in the North in exchange for an early end to the war."

Whenever Volvo thinks about this, he can't help but tap the table.

His supernatural power wasn't strong, but Ryan glanced at the solid wood antique, which didn't look well.

"Stop His Majesty's funeral...that's probably impossible, isn't it? Didn't Grand Duke Meyers try to help you?"

That's ridiculous. Ryan wouldn't go looking for trouble like that.

"I need a solution!"

Volvo practically roared, but the more he did so, the calmer Ryan remained. He was not afraid of such an elector.

"Your Highness, your performance at this moment will likely disappoint many people."

Ryan's calm tone startled Volvo. After a long while, he took a few deep breaths before regaining his gentle demeanor.

“You’re right, Ryan, I lost my composure.”

Volvo smiled, a bright and cheerful smile.

Ryan waited a moment before continuing:
"So, according to what you're saying, His Highness Freud of the Imperial Capital wants to use His Majesty's funeral to bring you back to the Imperial Capital and disqualify you from the credit for the Northern War?" "Yes."

"So, the crux of the matter is that what you need is the merit you gained against the orcs in the Northern War."

"It is this achievement that His Highness Freud is trying to stop."

Ryan laughed and looked at Volvo.

“Your Highness, I don’t understand political struggles very well, but I do understand war. Merit in war is not gained at the political negotiating table, but at the moment the war ends.”

"You need merit, but you have to return to the capital. So... why not get the merit before you leave?"

"Before returning to the capital, obtain what Your Highness requires."

"I don't think His Majesty Columbus's funeral can be tomorrow."

Volvo nodded, his eyes lighting up.

"Of course it can't be tomorrow. His Majesty's funeral needs to be prepared, but Freud will probably speed up the preparation process so that I can go back."

"That would be perfect. Moreover, the capital city has not yet selected the supreme commander of the Northern War. You are the commander of the Northern War personally appointed by His Majesty. Your replacement cannot be of too low a status."

"Grand Duke Russell is in the North, in the province of Hot Springs."

“But I think… Your Highness has a way to prevent Grand Duke Russell from becoming the highest military commander in the North.”

Anyone can kick a ball around.

"I'll figure something out, but..."

Volvo hesitated.

“Ryan, you understand war too. War is not something that can be ended so easily.”

If he could, Volvo would have ended the war in the North long ago; he's just keeping the orcs at the gates of the Empire.

There is still some time before the war ends.

"Yes, Your Highness, even the method I suggested is not guaranteed to succeed. The orcs' strength lies in their fearless charges and countless cannon fodder."

"If this war were fought normally, it would take a very long time."

"Perhaps you can no longer think about ending the war along the entire northern defense line."

"Perhaps you can end the war in one of the provinces before returning to the capital."

"In this way, any temporary replacement of yours who comes to the North will not be able to surpass your achievements, and if he makes a mistake, you will have a reason to return to the North to take charge."

"The capital city is using His Majesty's funeral to force you to return. Why can't you use the war between humans and other races to force them to let you come back?"

Ryan gave his advice and then asked Volvo for another batch of supplies.

"As for how to end a war in a province, it's quite simple. If the war is ending too slowly, it means that not enough money has been spent!"

This was Ryan's advice to Volvo: if they wanted to end the war as quickly as possible, they had to spend money.

The difference in combat strength between the Empire and the Orcs was not significant, but with the support of wealth, the Empire completely surpassed the Orc army, which ate raw meat and didn't even wear clothes.

If we just throw money at it, all the wealth accumulated by the imperial nobles over the past hundred years will be poured in, enough to sink the northern border.

Whether Volvo can achieve this is none of Ryan's business.

He must return to the North as soon as possible. The fragile military alliance he has built is recently on the verge of falling apart, and he must stay behind to restore stability.

Once this war is over, everything will be fine.

"If only the war at Twilight Keep could be ended."

Volvo regained his confidence and, looking north, he had his own ideas.

The South simply wants to cover up its achievements in the North, so let's make sure its achievements are impossible to hide.

Volvo looked north and then sent a message back to the capital.

……

"The war in the North is filled with brutal bloodshed and death. I cannot bear to watch the Empire's soldiers die meaninglessly in the jaws of the orcs, becoming food for the evil orcs."

"As the elector of the empire, as a member of the Columbus royal family, and as His Majesty's child, I should inherit his will and do everything in my power to stop the orcs from persecuting the empire's lands."

“I pity the people of the Empire. They are all His Majesty’s children. They live on this coldest land and are constantly threatened by the orcs.”

"I want to help them, and I want to help the entire empire, defeat the orcs."

"I am extremely worried that my departure will cause a change in the morale of the Imperial Army. If my departure leads to the defeat of the war, I will never be able to forgive myself."

"The name Volvo Columbus, standing alongside them on the battlefield closest to the orcs, is the best encouragement and help for the soldiers."

“I fear failure, because failure will cause countless deaths and injuries to the people of the empire. I fear the arrival of the orcs. Only courage allows me to stand on the battlefield against the orcs.”

"As the elector and the future master of the empire, I have every reason to wield my weapons and stand with my people."

"I am on the battlefield, I am at the council table of the military conference, I am on the walls of Twilight Keep, I am on the snowfields of the North..."

“I will describe to the council what I am doing at this moment with the blood of orcs.”

"—and an elector's concerns about the war in the North."

Volvo's blood-stained letter was read aloud at the council of elders, and many nobles were moved to tears, praising His Highness Volvo's benevolence and compassion for his people.

"Your Highness should remain in the North to fight against the evil orcs."

There are quite a few nobles who support Volvo. They are not fools. They just hope that Volvo will not return empty-handed, but rather return in triumph with a huge victory in the North.

On the other hand, Floyd didn't feel so good about it.

"Volvo actually calls himself the future master of the empire, but he's not even the emperor yet!"

"His Highness Volvo fought bravely against the orcs in the North, truly worthy of being His Majesty's child. However, this is why he didn't attend his own father's funeral."

Grand Duke Rodrigo's voice wasn't loud, but the legendary duke's words, amplified by magic, were clearly heard by every nobleman.

Grand Duke Meyers looked at his old friend and argued with reason:

“His Highness Volvo isn’t not coming back; he just wants to know when His Majesty’s funeral is, and he’s only worried that his departure might affect morale in the Northern War.”

"Your Excellency Grand Duke Rodrigo, can you bear the responsibility for the collapse of the war in the North due to the blow to morale after His Highness Volvo's departure?"

Political clashes among nobles boil down to two things: shifting blame and blaming the opponent.

Grand Duke Rodrigo, of course, understood the key to political struggle: avoiding the pitfalls his opponents had dug for him.

"As the elector of the empire, His Highness Volvo has the right and the qualification to decide the timing of Columbus III's funeral. He needs to consult with the royal family members to determine when His Majesty's funeral will be held."

(End of this chapter)