CHAPTER 415: CHAPTER 356: THE NINE-HEADED DRAGON UNDER THE GUN_1

Yan Xing immediately met with the messenger sent by Lady Karol, learning why the Silvermane Principality and the Gryphon Heart Empire had so suddenly erupted into war.

After all, this was a war concerning the fate of a nation; how could they jump into battle so readily!

It turned out Karol had played an extremely important role in this.

She advised Duke Silvermane, "If we must fight, then it’s better to strike early than late. The Empire will receive alchemical equipment from Cloud Tower much later than the Principality will receive equipment from Thunderous Swamp."

Their familiarity and training with the new equipment naturally couldn’t compare to the Duchy’s Army, which had been receiving equipment continuously throughout the winter.

Recently, Thunderous Swamp had delivered tens of thousands of flintlock guns and thousands of smoothbore cannons; the required ammunition could be produced within the Principality.

There were also the Beak Eagle Transport Plane production lines.

These were all huge military advantages.

If we don’t utilize these now to demonstrate our strength to those watchful nobles, should we wait until the Gryphon Heart Empire has completed its armament before we fight?

Lady Karol had obtained so many weapons for the Principality from Thunderous Swamp, many at half price or even as outright free technology transfers.

This made Silver Mane Duke tremendously trustful of Karol.

Especially since Karol had managed to bring the Beak Eagle Transport Plane assembly plant to Dawnspirit City, her status had risen to the highest peak she could currently achieve.

Silver Mane Duke was already seriously considering ending his current marriage.

If the Silvermane Principality went to war with the Empire, the current Duchess, with her deep Imperial connections, would have no reason to remain in her position.

With the full support of Thunderous Swamp and as Yan Xing’s sworn sister, Karol was about to take the most crucial step in her journey of revenge.

Duke Silvermane accepted Karol’s advice.

He issued a proclamation to all humankind: "A treacherous courtier has offered slanderous advice to the Gryphon Heart Emperor, beguiling His Majesty into ennobling a false Duke over the territories of the Silvermane Principality.

"If this precedent is set, the Imperial Court could arbitrarily ennoble any lord’s vassal, which would inevitably lead to the collapse of the human nobility system.

"For both public and private reasons, the Silvermane Principality has decided to take up arms to protect His Majesty—to eliminate traitors for the Empire and clear the monarch’s side of evil influences!"

With the issuance of this military proclamation, Duke Silvermane seized the moral high ground and ordered the Duchy’s Army, already on high alert, to strike across the entire territory.

On the first day of the war, the Duchy’s Army, leveraging its advantages in weaponry and soldier quality, successively captured Imperial cities, pushing the border fifty kilometers into Imperial territory.

They advanced victoriously, seizing towns and territory along the way.

Along with the details of the war, the messenger also brought a secret letter from Lady Karol.

Yan Xing broke the magical seal on the envelope and scrutinized its contents.

Karol informed Yan Xing that Duke Silvermane had formally promised to dissolve his current marriage in the coming days. He had also proposed to her.

"I have accepted his offer. I express my sincere thanks to you once again; without your support, I could never have fulfilled my wishes and would have met a miserable end in some desolate place.

"I will fulfill my promise as well.

"Your enemies are the enemies of the Silvermane Principality."

After Yan Xing finished reading the letter, the messenger bowed respectfully to the man who would soon be the Duke’s brother-in-law.

"Lady Karol thinks of you every day, Sir Yan Xing. She heard that your territories are being attacked by Anderson’s rebel forces and asked me to convey her and Duke Silvermane’s concern for you.

"She also hopes that when the fighting subsides, you might visit Dawnspirit City, as Duke Silvermane wishes to form an official alliance with Thunderous Swamp."

Yan Xing put away the letter and replied to the messenger, "Please convey my own longing for Sister Karol and my regards to Duke Silvermane, wishing him good health.

"As for forming an alliance with the Silvermane Principality, I’m afraid that will have to wait a while longer.

"After all, Duke Anderson... the false Duke, has launched a fierce offensive against us.

"I will need to choose an auspicious day to visit Dawnspirit City."

As an official messenger, he served both Lady Karol and Duke Silvermane.

Therefore, Yan Xing’s response regarding the formal alliance was also very clear.

An auspicious day... What day could be more auspicious than one’s sister’s wedding day? This was him, the future brother-in-law, pressing for the marriage. A way to ensure Duke Silvermane wouldn’t say one thing and do another. He needed to hasten the wedding and grant Karol her rightful status.

The messenger bowed to Yan Xing again. "Yes, Sir Yan Xing. I shall convey your fond thoughts and greetings to Lady Karol and Duke Silvermane."

"Hmm... If there’s nothing else, you may leave. If there’s nothing urgent in Dawnspirit City, feel free to stay here for a day before departing."

Once the messenger had left, Yan Xing had Chui Chui display the virtual map.

Erelado had already reached Maple Leaf City and successfully taken control of it.

His next step was to launch a raid on the Elf King’s Royal Court and seize control of Snowland.

To the south, the Silvermane Principality, under the pretext of "cleansing the monarch’s side," had launched a full-scale assault on the Gryphon Heart Empire, located even further south.

The offensive was progressing very smoothly.

There were signs that Anderson and Old Mom, the chieftain of the Barbaric Orcs, had engaged in multiple secret dealings.

Anderson, caught between the Silvermane Principality and Thunderous Swamp, undoubtedly wanted to find a nearby ally.

However, since he claims to be the Duke of Wildwind and to possess all of the Wildwind Highlands, I wonder how the Orcs will treat Anderson.

But based on Yan Xing’s interactions with and understanding of Old Mom, it seemed only a matter of time before the Orcs allied with Anderson.

After all, the Barbaric Orcs, pinned between the Snow Elves and the Silvermane Principality, would face an extremely awkward situation once Erelado became the Elf King.