The Path to Lordship Begins in the North

"Cordick, I disagree with you."

The first to object was naturally the ruler of the North, Rena's grandfather—Grand Duke Lars.

Grand Duke Lars, with his white hair and beard, leaned back in his chair, his hands resting naturally on the table. His tall frame, like a small mountain, occupied most of the space at the round table, exuding a dangerous aura, much like a giant bear waiting for its prey.

Although he is over seventy years old, this is only considered old for a high-level professional, not advanced age. A normal high-level professional, even without considering various secret medicines and magic, can live to be over one hundred.

"First of all, the kingdom has not provided any assistance to our northern border."

As Grand Duke Lars's gaze swept over them, some guilty nobles lowered their heads. Not only did the kingdom not provide any assistance to the Northern Territory, but it was also secretly trying to win over the nobles there. Not to mention, some merchants were openly and secretly selling weapons, salt, and iron to the demons. This was one of the reasons why the Northern Territory, which was almost half the size of the entire kingdom, had been forced to retreat by the demons.

"Secondly, I do not believe that compromise can bring peace. Giving way to aggressors will only make them more greedy."

Grand Duke Lars's voice boomed, but it received little response. Almost all the nobles sided with the royal family, or at least remained neutral and watched from the sidelines. The North was not only being invaded by foreign enemies, but its own borders were also embroiled in a war of succession. Decline was practically inevitable; the only question was how much. Would you care what the meat on the table was saying? Although the piece of meat looked a bit tough, the bright red bloodstains on it made the surrounding nobles lick their lips.

Instead of directly refuting him, Cordick clapped his hands, and immediately the servants spread out a painting on the conference table.

The painting depicts an infant and a child who appears to be under ten years old. On the ground are two corpses holding weapons, while two soldiers in armor bearing the North Wind Bear crest of the Lars family are snatching compensation money from the slightly older child. Around them are many corpses of starving refugees.

Many of the nobles present began to discuss the matter.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the North under the rule of the Lars family. When I heard the bards telling me about it, I didn't want to believe it until I saw this magical scroll depicting the North."

After saying that, Cordick immediately put on a pained expression and began to vividly recount the dangers of war.

"What has war brought us? Think about the Blood Mist Turmoil. Nearly a third of the kingdom's elite died in that internal strife, the people suffered, and rebels emerged from all sides."

To more vividly depict the scene in the painting, Cordick recalled how he had exploited the serfs under his command, and then continued loudly, "To survive, these people even had to sell their young children!"

Then, Cordick attributed his own methods of using welfare facilities to bribe and abduct children, and turning them into victims through forced labor and mutilation, to the Lars family.

Cordick's tone was sharp, and he pounded his chest with exaggerated gestures, seemingly very heartbroken. Some of the noblewomen he had brought had already begun to cry or even become frightened. After all, although the practice of mutilation and genital mutilation had always existed in the kingdom, most nobles were not very familiar with these things.

Of course, many nobles were also very interested in these exotic things, and some even wanted to talk to Cordick about them afterwards.

Those lesser nobles who were not qualified to sit in the seats and could only listen in showed disdain, and some even wanted to laugh, mocking Cordick for not being in this line of work long enough, for his methods to be full of loopholes and completely unprofessional.

"You're just spouting nonsense!"

Grand Duke Lars slammed his fist on the table in anger, his magic gathering around him, but in the end, under the warning of the enforcers and the disdain of the nobles, he could only helplessly dissipate his magic.

Many nobles were even whispering among themselves, saying that as expected of a family that had produced such a disgrace to the nobility, the upper beam was crooked and the lower beam was crooked as well. But after being warned by a look from Grand Duke Lars, the nobles immediately fell silent.

In the past two years, the demon army has been renamed the Demon King's Army, seemingly because a new king has emerged among the demons. Under this king's leadership, the northern border is finding it increasingly difficult to resist the invasion of the border demons.

Originally, the royal family and the North could coexist peacefully, and the royal family even wanted to marry the North’s eldest daughter, Lena. However, with the disappearance of Lena’s father, the royal family’s attitude gradually changed from uniting with the North to protect the monarchy to weakening the North to maintain the monarchy.

Because the North has become too weak, it is still unknown who will give blood to whom if a marriage alliance is formed. However, this is just speculation. After the astrologers in the tower visited the old king, the old king's attitude suddenly changed 180 degrees. He wanted to exterminate the North and was even willing to sell land and unite with the demons.

Seeing Grand Duke Lars's silence, the atmosphere had reached a comfortable level. Cordick no longer concealed his intentions and changed the subject: "However, there is no need for you to worry. Previously, the Demon King's envoy arrived in the capital and had a long talk with me. The Demon King is no different from us, and is even more peace-loving and approachable than we imagined."

"The Demon King also detests war."

At this point, Cordick turned his gaze to Grand Duke Lars, seemingly mocking Lars as a warmonger.

"Therefore, the Demon King hopes that both sides can take a step back and achieve peace. I am unworthy to represent His Majesty the King in signing a new agreement with the Demon King. Although the details are still under discussion, I believe that this agreement will bring lasting peace to the North, the Kingdom of Cape, and the Demon Race."

Although that's what Cordick said, when copies of the agreement were distributed to the nobles and church representatives at the round table, almost everyone showed expressions of bewilderment and shock.

The land north of the Northern Snow Territory will be ceded to the Demon Race, and trade between the Northern Territory and the Demon Race will be fully opened. The Northern Territory will be required to provide the Demon Race with 300,000 silver leaf coins annually, while the Demon Race will provide a certain amount of monster fur and ore.

Neither of these clauses is an exaggeration. Isn't this tantamount to ceding territory and paying reparations? What kind of peace-loving mentality does the Demon King have? Is he trying to make the war in the North even more intense? Isn't this clearly a defeat clause?

Many people stared in disbelief at the enormous figure that exuded a dangerous aura, unconsciously taking a step back as if they feared that Grand Duke Lars would launch an attack at any moment.

Even church personnel have begun preparing for on-site rescue efforts.

"The Suld region north of Duanxue Territory is rich in minerals. We ceded these places, yet we still have to buy minerals from the demons?"

Grand Duke Lars questioned loudly, even seeming to laugh at the absurdity of the contract.

"This is only a preliminary agreement, and we can discuss the specifics further. But Lord Demon King definitely needs these places rich in minerals. The Northern Territory is vast and rich in resources; losing a little territory shouldn't be a big deal, right?"

Cordick was not afraid of Lars, and his sarcastic tone never stopped.

"Hmph, I hope you don't end up being eaten by the wolves you fed."

After saying this, Grand Duke Lars stood up and left his seat. Whether the Lars family participated in the roundtable meeting or not was no longer important. Cordick wasn't even there to discuss anything, but rather to deliver a message. In the power struggle between the royal family and the North, the royal family had promised numerous benefits and paid a heavy price in exchange for a full-scale siege of the weakened Lars family. Now, it was time to close the net.

"Your Excellency, regarding our Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation in the North..."

The Church of Light finally spoke, but not in opposition to the treaty's contents. Instead, they inquired about the Church of Cordick's church in the North.

"Don't worry, the Demon King's army is a civilized army. I've already communicated with them, and they will ensure the safe evacuation of the people from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation."

Cordier looked confidently at Augustine III, who had remained silent.

Augustine III's face, now showing signs of age spots, remained expressionless as he simply nodded. Cordier then resumed presiding over the meeting, and immediately after Grand Duke Lars left, he began discussing with the various nobles how to divide the North.