Throne of the North.

Chapter 745 The Grand Duke and the Extraordinary Organization

In the province of Hot Springs, the most powerful person at present is undoubtedly the Duke of Russell, and Ryan's trip here will inevitably involve dealing with this duke.

However, even after thinking about it for a long time, Ryan still couldn't figure out what Grand Duke Russell's purpose was.

After the war in the province of Thermopylae ended, Archduke Russell only proposed the idea of ​​establishing settlements. Considering the Archduke's merits in the war and the Emperor's current influence, Volvo agreed to Archduke Russell's proposal.

Therefore, during this period of time, the Duke of Russell remained in the province of Thermopylae, and as long as the Duke remained in Thermopylae, the supreme power of this land would not return to the hands of the Governor of Thermopylae, the Marquis.

All the resources that Ryan wanted are now under the control of Grand Duke Russell.

However, because Ryan couldn't figure out the Grand Duke's purpose, he went to Earl Ferguson and Marquis of Hot Springs first, trying to win over the two nobles to his side.

In other words, Ryan now has the confidence to divide up those war resources in the name of the Emperor.

However, that would also erode Ryan's trust in the two noblemen, since Ryan had made so many promises and provided so much, yet they couldn't see any of it now.

Ryan and Grand Duke Russell were not strangers. Grand Duke Russell's previous letter was considered their first encounter. Ryan's relationship with him was even closer than that of the two noblemen.

Grand Duke Russell now resides in Thermopylae, where he has suppressed the officers of the royal family to the point of having no arrogance.

"Baron Ryan? You actually came to Hot Spring Province in person? The orc war in the North Wind is not over yet. His Majesty the Emperor just issued an order to come and have me allocate some supplies to be transported to the North."

Archduke Russell was quite surprised and continued:

"I have prepared the supplies to send to Northwind and we will be setting off in the next couple of days. Your advice to me was very good. Don't worry, Ryan, these resources will definitely help Northwind Province repel the orcs."

Grand Duke Russell assumed that Ryan had come to urge the allocation of war resources.

"Your Excellency the Grand Duke."

Ryan expressed his gratitude and then stated that he had come to the Hot Spring Province because he needed more resources.

"The war that the Northwind Province experienced was far more brutal than anyone could have imagined, Your Excellency."

"The war that the North Wind Province experienced cannot be counted from this year, but began five years ago."

"From the very beginning, the Northwind Province had its war potential greatly depleted by Count Weiss's treason. Later, after several orc invasions, the Northwind Province had little military strength left."

"This year's orc war has exhausted all the potential of that land. The nobles have given their all to barely hold on to this war."

"The extraordinary legions of Flying Wing Canyon have all been mobilized; otherwise, the Northwind Province would not have been able to defend against this year's orc invasion."

“That place is different from the rest of the empire. If this continues, the nobles will collapse. I haven’t even left them an army to guard their castles.”

“I’ve sent the extraordinary legions of Count Solon and Count Winter to fill in the gaps in the Fragrant Hills Plain. They’re probably trying to find ways to deprive me of my voice in that land.”

"It's only because that Marquis of the North Wind is still young, otherwise I don't know how much trouble I would be in now."

Ryan spoke half-truthfully about the North Wind, which Grand Duke Russell paid little attention to.

However, Archduke Russell could understand what Ryan meant.

"So, you feel those resources aren't enough and you want more?"

“I need enough resources to repel the werewolf army that has invaded the Northwind Province. Those werewolves are different from all other orcs; they have a strong sense of militaristic control.”

"This is terrible."

Orcs who are knowledgeable in military affairs can indeed be terrifying, as Grand Duke Russell of the Hot Springs Province has witnessed firsthand, but he cannot make a decision simply because Ryan said so.

“Ryan, for the sake of our friendship, I have actually given you more supplies than you are entitled to, and I haven’t even informed the other nobles.”

"But you haven't even seen those resources, yet you think it's not enough. I think that's a unreasonable reason, and..."

"You must understand, the war is not over."

These words ultimately came back to Ryan himself.

"A divine war broke out in the Hot Spring Province. A legendary magician sacrificed his life, and the divine remains beneath the capital city were used. The empire's extraordinary legions all participated in the war, and they finally won."

"But the orcs in Morelos, Purple Mountain and Blazing Snow Province have not disappeared. Even in Twilight Province, large and small orc attacks have reappeared. They have crossed mountains and valleys and passed through our fortresses. They can appear in the territories of nobles."

"Especially the provinces next to Hot Spring Province. I previously mobilized all my troops to Hot Spring Province, which resulted in heavy losses for both provinces. For the past month or so, they have been complaining to me almost three times a day. Even His Majesty the Emperor has been urging me to send Bauhinia Knights to provide support."

"The resources for war belong to the entire empire. The consumption of every grain of food will ultimately be placed before all the nobles of the empire. It is not something that I alone can control."

Ryan only half understood what he was hearing. It seemed that this was a battle between the northern border provinces and the southern provinces of the empire over resources.
When Columbus III was still alive, he required the nobles of the empire to contribute their efforts, except for the six northern provinces, which were in war zones and did not need to make any external contributions.

Now that the war is over, these resources have become a feast in the eyes of the nobles of the North.

It's not just us eyeing these resources.

This should even include Grand Duke Russell, who is not from the North.

But what did Archduke Russell mean by saying this? Was it a refusal? Or something else?
Just as Ryan finished thinking, Grand Duke Russell spoke up:
"However, the war between the Empire and the Orcs is no longer as intense, and the demand for resources is different from before."

"North Wind Province has the most iron mines and artisans in the empire. I am now in charge of stockpiling military equipment in the north of the empire, and I understand very well that the need for weapons in war is inevitable."

"Under the condition of equal value, as the Grand Duke of the Empire, I am also entitled to exchange some war resources that are not easy to store with the Northwind Province for metal war equipment."

"The exchange of resources will not affect this war wealth, and it is easy to preserve and avoids the destruction of resources."

Grand Duke Russell could not arbitrarily send war resources from the nobles to the North, but he could exchange them for equivalent value, ensuring that the figures on the books would not change.

This reflects his power and prestige as a Grand Duke.

However, when the Marquis of Hot Springs said he lacked weapons, armor, and even warhorses, Ryan agreed without hesitation. But when faced with the proposal from Grand Duke Russell, Ryan dared not respond easily.

What does the Grand Duke need so many weapons and armor for while he's establishing settlements in the north?
The Empire shouldn't lack these things, right? Otherwise, it wouldn't have remained lukewarm towards the Northwind Province all these years.

If it's not for the empire, then it must be for Archduke Russell's personal needs?

Ryan thought about it and wondered why this matter felt so terrifying.

However, the reason given by Archduke Russell was quite valid: most war resources are not easy to preserve, but they can be easily replaced with metal products.

This left Ryan with no way to ask indirectly, so he simply couldn't give an answer.

No matter how you look at it, this couldn't possibly be in the collective interest of the empire; otherwise, it would have been an order from the emperor.

Ryan has no reason to take this job.

So he simply came up with a second plan, which is what he has been working on these past two days.

"Your Excellency, His Majesty the Emperor has issued an order to allocate war resources in the North to the North Wind. The nobles in the South are too far away to discuss this matter, they can only observe the outcome. But the nobles in the North, we can't just ignore this, can we?"

"As for how much should be taken out, I think the nobles also have their own ideas." Ryan was unwilling to respond to Grand Duke Russell's words, which the Grand Duke could tell, but he was somewhat surprised.

"Has Baron Ryan already convinced those high-ranking nobles?"

Without gathering more people, how could Ryan dare to say such a thing? The resources are out in the open, and those nobles would rather not give a single penny to the Northwind Province, but keep it in their own hands.

After all, the resources nominally belong to the Empire, but those who use them are the northern nobles who directly face the orcs.

Aren't those theirs?
"I just feel that the nobles need to discuss any orders coming from the capital city."

Grand Duke Russell looked at Ryan, and his usually cheerful face suddenly became wise, no longer so carefree.

Neither of them believed what the other was saying.

"Baron Ryan, is he also a member of the Wings of Light?"

The Grand Duke's sudden change of topic left Ryan completely bewildered. As for the Wings of Light... Ryan remembered.

That loose organization? Back in Count Pascal's castle, Ryan joined it at the invitation of the demigod.

The demigod Anselmo was the right-hand man of the previous Grand Duke of the Russell family and the family's strategist.

"Why would the Grand Duke bring this up?"

“Now that you’ve remembered, Baron Ryan should be familiar with the Black Swan assassins.”

"They threatened and killed nobles, which went beyond the boundaries of the war between the Empire and the Dawn Church, but no one could stop them. The only way the Empire could retaliate was in the same way."

"But in this dark slaughter, the nobles are no longer safe."

Ryan nodded and continued:
"That was the original intention behind the founding of the Wings of Light. I still have some soldiers who were entrusted to the Wings of Light. I wonder how they are doing now."

"Baron Ryan's shadow assassins are very powerful and have protected many nobles. However, due to an agreement, the nobles will only know that it was the Wings of Light who helped them. Even my soldiers will not be considered as my agents."

"That's why those nobles can't directly thank you, Baron Ryan."

Grand Duke Russell laughed, but within the Wings of Light group, Baron Ryan's strength was also among the top five.

Of course, this was an extremely loose organization. Now that the Black Swan assassins have disappeared, that's how these dark killers are; they can't possibly exist in one place forever.

Ryan was puzzled by Archduke Russell's intention in bringing this up.

"The Black Swan assassin has never gone away."

"Historically, the Black Swan Assassins are said to have been completely wiped out several times, but Ryan, you don't know that the Black Swan Assassins always appear when the Dawn Church needs them."

"As long as the Dawn Church exists, this shadow belonging to the Dawn will not disappear."

"Perhaps... I should tell you more specifically, Baron Ryan, that as long as Dawn Sunbird Ifrit has not completely perished, the Black Swan Assassins will not disappear."

"They serve the Lord of Dawn, but the Lord of Dawn never directly accepts the faith of the Black Swans. Therefore, the Black Swans' devotion to the Lord of Dawn must first be baptized by the Sun Bird before finally being presented to the Lord of Dawn."

"The Lord of Dawn will only accept the faith of His pure and devout followers. Black Swans are not pure in this regard."

Ryan was surprised and blinked, saying:

"You don't mean to say that the Dawn Church has thirteen kinds of powers similar to the Black Swan Assassins, do you?"

If it's true, then he'll be truly shocked by the power of the Dawn Church, since these things are completely outside the main body of the Dawn Church.

"If it were more than 130 years ago, I couldn't be sure if it still existed, but more than 100 years later, it definitely doesn't."

"At most, it only includes a few of the ten legions of the Papacy."

Grand Duke Russell was worried that speaking too seriously would frighten Ryan, after all, the history of Norris that the Dawn Church had accumulated was the history of all human civilization.

"That's good. Does the Grand Duke mean that black swan events will return?"

"It will definitely reappear."

Archduke Russell affirmed.

"Baron Ryan, you haven't forgotten how Columbus III died, have you?"

"Divine punishment has engulfed the Cathedral of Light; even the empire's foundation could not protect His Majesty."

"What divine punishment? Without that High Pope of Light, how could divine punishment possibly fall upon the capital city? Great beings instinctively avoid that void."

Yes, beneath the capital city lies the remains of a god, whose divine kingdom still lingers there.

"In short, the Emperor's death should be blamed on the Dawn Church."

"This is a mountain that Volvo can never cross. Unless he kills Solarion, he will never be able to take over the authority left to him by his father. The nobles can tolerate the trade licenses he created for the merchant guild, but does he want to control the entire empire? He should avenge his father first."

At this point, even Archduke Russell couldn't help but reveal his murderous intent.

Like the emperor, he also carried the burden of the murder of his father, and similarly, he could not fully inherit his father's legacy unless he could overcome this matter.

He and the emperor were both successors, not creators. All their glory did not depend entirely on themselves; in fact, most of it was inherited from their bloodline.

During the previous Southern War, the Bauhinia Knights Legion launched a full-scale attack. On the battlefield of the Kingdom of Nantes, that great being, the Sun Bird, was sealed away.

but now……

"The Dawn Sunbird Ifrit has been released, and with the Eternal Gaze awakened by the Empire, this is a sign that the Lord of Dawn is about to truly awaken."

"If He awakens, the Dawn Church will absolutely regain control of the Norris continent."

"If the Empire wants to achieve a dominant position before then, it must resolve its conflict with the Papacy before the Lord of Dawn awakens."

"Therefore, the Black Swan assassin will definitely reappear."

After all that, Archduke Russell finally got back to the main point.

“I need the mineral veins of the Northwind Province to prepare for the fight against the Black Swan assassins. This is also an opportunity for us to win over the imperial nobles, Mr. Ryan.”

Ryan blinked, looking somewhat dazed.

So, you wanted to avenge your father.

That scared me to death! I thought it was something terrifying.

Ryan silently wiped the sweat from his forehead, a gentle smile appearing on his lips.

(End of this chapter)