Throne of the North.

Chapter 752 Insidious and Cunning, Using Every Means
What is nobility? This question can be asked a hundred times and you'll get a hundred different answers, and all of these answers form roughly the same vocabulary.

Insidious and cunning, willing to do anything for profit.

All nobles share the same trait: they do not want to lose what they have, and they prefer to see others fall into misfortune.

They wished for their family to prosper forever.

Therefore, if it were more than a hundred years ago, the nobles of the empire might have looked at their own bloodline and risked their lives for the emperor's loyalty, even if it meant dying in the fighting in the south, they would have considered it an honor.

But... now it's over a hundred years later.

The nobles of the empire envied the Earl of Clayton, because none of the empire's nobles were as prolific.

Every direct descendant is precious.

Now, most of the empire's nobles have sent one of these offspring to the south to embark on a glorious mission of avenging the emperor.

What they wanted was revenge, glory, and a triumphant return alive.

Therefore—this is not a pure war, but a political struggle between the imperial nobles and the nobles and clergy loyal to the Dawn.

Political battles are never superficial, and the decisive factor is not the killing of noble knights in the dueling arena.

The capital city was filled with nobles, all anxiously awaiting news from the south: letters of challenge.

"Are these damned bastards still living a thousand years in the past? Do they think a knightly duel can decide the war between dawn and light, and shake the empire's resolve for revenge?"

"How ridiculous, gentlemen! Let these ancient fellows, who should be lying in their coffins, see the methods of the Empire."

"Goffman? Ha!"

“Viscount Isaacson, he looks down on you.”

A count, bored, tossed a duel letter on the ground. His servants picked it up with their heads bowed and took it a hundred meters away to a nobleman dressed in magnificent viscount's attire.

Looking at the invitation that specifically named him, Viscount Isaacson sneered, feeling a sense of shame and annoyance at being looked down upon.

"A lackey of the Dawn Church."

It has been two years since Carlos destroyed the country during the Southern War.

The once-blocked Flor Empire has reconnected with the world, but the Dawn Church could never have imagined the true impact the empire, now free of its cage, would have on the world.

It not only showed the world the changes of the times, but also allowed the southern lands to witness the power of the empire and the ever-changing prosperity of civilization.

Rather, it is—bloodline.

When Ryan arrived in this world, he was filled with emotion, realizing that he had become a nobleman instead of a commoner or a slave.

Why? Because apart from the nobility, all other social classes are too difficult to traverse.

Bloodline is both the shackle and the license for everything done in this world.

To put it simply—

The nobles were all related by blood.

Even during the interdimensional war between gods, many nobles from other worlds came to the continent of Norris. However, most of them were wandering nobles. A few nobles from other worlds who acquired land gradually formed marriage alliances and kinship ties with the native nobles of Norris over the past hundred years.

If the world were a tree, then every branch and vein of that tree would be connected by blood; it would be a great tree made of blood vessels.

If any two nobles were to compare their family trees back a hundred or a thousand years, they could potentially find kinship ties between them. The king in the far north might be a cousin of the knight in the far south, and the lord of the castle in the far east might be an uncle and nephew of the lord of the island in the far west.

"We were one family five hundred years ago."

In this world ruled by aristocracy, this statement was not just a polite remark, but a true historical fact.

The most terrifying thing about the Empire breaking free from the Dawn Church's blockade is that it has given the Empire's nobles countless more relatives in this land that is only one-third the size of the territory.

Of course, relatives aren't that important, because even relatives need to be mutually beneficial to be considered relatives.

The key point is that, for nobles outside the empire, the nobles within the empire, this vast empire, are exactly in their interest.

I will only acknowledge you as my cousin if you can bring me benefits. Nobles, driven by self-interest, will certainly not abandon this ancient creed.

Can the nobles of the empire give that? They can give it to anyone.

In accordance with the principle of prioritizing interests, no one would refuse when the nobles of the empire wanted to establish kinship ties.

Iron Eagle Kingdom.

Duchy of Costa.

This is an ancient surname, alongside Ignacio, established by the original thirteen knights who were followers of the Pope of Dawn. Today, it has declined considerably in the southern lands, but even a lean camel is still powerful.

In particular, when the Dawn Church retraced the Dawn Road, it did not designate this area as part of that route, thus Costa has preserved a rich heritage and strength.

In recent years, Ignacio, acting as an intermediary, has been continuously purchasing weapons and equipment from the North, which has greatly benefited the same Thirteen Knights family. The wealth of the Duke Costa family is gradually being transformed into military power.

"My lord, there is a guest from the Empire. He says he comes from the Viscountry of Isaacson."

The young duke, who had inherited his father's title, couldn't help but frown as he heard the name mentioned by the steward.

"This name sounds familiar. Is it from the Empire?"

The butler, with practiced experience, began to speak:
"Viscount Isaacson, originally from the far north covered in ice and snow, was a member of the Fletcher royal family. After being granted a fief, he became Viscount Isaacson. After coming to the south, he joined the empire because he married a royal woman from the Flor Empire."

"However, on the way south, the eldest daughter of the Isaacson family married... your great-grandfather, who was also your great-great-grandmother."

"By all accounts, the current Viscount Isaacson is still your distant uncle."

“More than a year ago, when your followers went to the North, they visited Viscount Isaacson and learned that he had married a granddaughter of the Grand Duke of Fleming of the Empire, and was also the son-in-law of Count Vera of the Empire. His fief was in the Volga Province of the Empire, which is said to produce enough grain to feed the entire Empire every year.”

The butler only mentioned the most important relationships, worried that the duke might not remember more.

"I see. Let him in."

The young man, his face weathered and worn, greeted Duke Costa with utmost respect: “Sura Isaacson, greetings, Uncle Costa. My father is the second son of Viscount Isaacson’s grandfather, and is currently serving in the Imperial Army, on his way south to avenge His Majesty the Emperor.”

Grand Duke Costa scrutinized the boy before him and immediately noticed that everything he wore, including the cloak that protected him from the wind and rain, was of considerable value. A direct descendant of a viscount's family was dressed in more precious clothes than the children of his own Duke Costa family.

“You’ve come all the way from the Empire, Sula, you have such courage.”

Grand Duke Costa's sentiments were genuine; he hadn't expected such a young child to travel thousands of miles alone to appear in the Iron Eagle Kingdom.

Sula responded with a smile, neither humble nor arrogant:
“Uncle Costa, I have been adventuring in the Empire for two and a half years. Even His Majesty the Emperor has praised my adventurous spirit. If it weren’t for my father, my plan this year would have been to go to the far north to hunt the orcs there, earn gold coins at the Northern Warriors Guild, and buy a knight’s longsword.”

"You still need to earn your own money?"

"No, it's a kind of training. My father said that a caged sheep can't become a soaring eagle. He hopes that I can rely on my own strength to gain a stronger inner self."

"In order to gain my father's approval, I have traveled to more than 170 noble territories and made friends with a bard from the North. He promised to write down my experiences in a book, which can be given to Uncle Costa as a gift later."

Grand Duke Costa looked at Sulla and couldn't help but feel envious; even his own children weren't as outstanding as this young man.

Indeed, the empire's transformation has left the rest of the world in the dust.
In the Iron Eagle Kingdom, it's incredibly difficult for someone of noble blood to appear in another noble territory. Once they enter, they face countless warnings and rejections, as if they're there to steal or do something bad. That's the difference.

"So, Sura, what brings you here this time?"

Sula continued in a calm tone:
"Your Excellency Duke Costa, I come on behalf of my father. This year, His Majesty Emperor Flor promulgated the Code of Trade Licensing, and my grandfather owns a share in the Golden Land Merchant Guild, one of the Imperial Merchant Guilds, and has the right to trade anywhere in the entire continent of Norris."

"In the near future, the Chamber of Commerce will arrive at the Iron Eagle Chamber of Commerce. At that time, I will help Your Excellency Duke Costa gain the friendship of various chambers of commerce and purchase goods from the Empire at 90% or less of the original price."

"At the same time, my grandfather also wished to pay homage to your great-grandmother, my grandfather's great-aunt. My grandfather said that there are two women in the Isaacson family who are still unmarried, and if the Grand Duke of Costa's family has a suitable member, we can inherit the friendship of our ancestors."

Grand Duke Costa nodded, narrowing his eyes as he asked:

"So, what does your grandfather want me to do?"

“Grandfather hopes that you can send someone to the Viscount Goffman’s family to put pressure on that viscount and kill him, or kill his child who is about to go to the Kingdom of Nantes, that fellow named Rudy Goffman.”

“If even Grand Duke Costa cannot do this, then at the very least, we must make him take this life potion.”

"However, in that case, perhaps my two aunts wouldn't have traveled all that way to the Iron Eagle Kingdom... this not-so-prosperous land."

Sura placed a bottle of potion on the table; the blood-red, transparent liquid resembled a flowing ruby, both magnificent and despairing.

In the hall, the other Costa members were somewhat dissatisfied and angry. The difference between the Viscount family and the Grand Duke Costa family was enormous, yet this Sura dared to say such disparaging things about Costa.

They are the oldest and most prestigious of the Thirteen Knights' bloodlines.

Even Grand Duke Costa couldn't help but feel dissatisfied as he looked at this amazing young man.

“Even your grandfather, a viscount, is not qualified to make a deal with me.”

According to seniority, the other party is his uncle, but among nobles, this is never the case, especially when the two parties have not communicated for many years.

"In the Empire, even a baron can communicate with a grand duke."

Sula stood up, filled with the pride of being a citizen of the empire.

"Moreover, my grandfather had many friends, one of whom told him that you seem to still have dealings with the baron of the North, who is just a baron."

Grand Duke Costa fell silent for a long time before speaking:
"Is it absolutely necessary to kill the entire Goffman family?"

"In last year's war, we killed thirty-two members of the Goffman family, and his family has been wiped out."

"That would be the best outcome. If the Goffman family no longer exists, the Iron Eagle Kingdom will not have to suffer the torment of light and dawn."

“Killing a viscount is not so easy; it would cause the entire nobility to reject him.”

"This is revenge from the Empire. They chose to become the sharp blade of the Dawn Church, so they are now within the Empire's hunting range. The deaths of nobles are not as serious as you imagine, Uncle Costa. Moreover, after today, many nobles in the Iron Eagle Kingdom will make the same choice as you."

"No one cares about the demise of the Goffman family, and no one will condemn your actions."

"The lands of the South should be left to nobles who can survive the North, not to cowards who inherit lands by blood."

"They should be eliminated."

Grand Duke Costa remained silent for a long time, while the other Costa members stared in shock at Sura, the young man from the Empire.

“Sura, Sura Isaacson, I would like to ask, how famous are you in the Flor Empire?”

Sula became somewhat frustrated.

“I am not yet qualified to be received by the great nobles, but if I am able to return to the Empire this time, I should have the opportunity to be received by Count Vera. Perhaps he will bestow upon me a well-fitting robe. The fabric of Alta Province is the best in the entire Empire.”

"Moreover, if Count Vera is willing to see me, I will be qualified to tell my grandfather that I want to compete for the title of Eight Knights."

Upon hearing Sula's description, Grand Duke Costa remained silent. In his view, Sula was already quite outstanding, but according to the other party's words, she was just an unknown figure in the empire.

Within the empire, there are countless talents like this.

The Empire... the Empire, is it really that powerful?

Grand Duke Costa instinctively wanted to deny it, but compared to the unfamiliar Empire, the Dawn Church could keep him tossing and turning, unable to sleep—that was the power he knew.

The Dawn Church has lost to the Empire many times.

“Sura, you can stay here. As for Viscount Goffman… I’ll take care of that. Tell your grandfather that the Costa family has no shortage of excellent men, and his women can marry into the family without worry.”

The butler, sensing the situation, stepped forward and collected the potions from the table. The life magic of the empire was the original foundation of its rise, and nobles from all over the world were very curious about it.

A glamorous political deal came to an end, but beneath the political negotiating table, that very night, Viscount Goffman's territory suffered a heavy blow. The Viscount was critically injured and fell into a coma, while Rudy Goffman collapsed, coughing up blood, in the Viscount's castle.

When the next day arrived, many anxious nobles discovered that... overnight, many noble territories within the kingdom had once again fallen into ruin.

It turns out that it wasn't just one company doing the work.

They who were still worried suddenly felt less anxious.

(End of this chapter)