Chapter 197: Return Voyage 1

24 2 0
                                    


Translator: Cinder Translations

...

Recently, several major events occurred in Niceport, the capital of the Horns Bay Alliance.

Firstly, Baroness Fanny, the sister-in-law of the Duke of Eaton, who was visiting from the Grand Duchy of Eaton, was kidnapped. This nearly caused the collapse of the agreements already negotiated between the Horns Bay Alliance and the Eaton Manor. Fortunately, the abductors were intercepted by the royal guards of Eaton when they attempted to leave Niceport, rescuing Baroness Fanny who had been kidnapped for several days. Negotiations between the two countries were able to continue, though the identity of the abductors remains a mystery, as Eaton has not disclosed any information to the public.

Then there was the incident of the wolf howling that night. In the middle of the night, the wolf pack in the forest outside the city suddenly began howling collectively, reminiscent of ancient legends from a hundred years ago. Adults began using this incident to scare children, warning them that they might be carried away by wolves if they misbehaved. Fortunately, the wolf pups only howled a couple of times and did not attack human villages as described in the legends.

However, some unlucky individuals fell victim. Several pedestrians traveling late at night and their horses were attacked by wolves, leaving only skeletons behind after being torn apart. Judging from the remaining clothing and armor, they appeared to be knights of the church. Large-scale wolf activity was discovered in the vicinity of their location.

To reassure the fearful residents and travelers, both the municipal hall and the church issued bounty tasks, summoning adventurers to hunt wolves outside the city. Adventurers from all over gathered in Niceport, and the wolves outside the city were in for trouble.

Another major event was the Horns Bay Alliance's invitation to many countries in the region to send their rulers to Niceport for a multinational conference. During the conference, a series of political and economic cooperation agreements will be reached, and preparations for the grand event are currently underway.

Quill distinctly felt that his father's smile had become more frequent recently.

Marquis Foster was naturally delighted. The Duke of Eaton's sister-in-law had been found, and initially, the Council was concerned that the Grand Duke's family might leave abruptly. However, it turned out to be unnecessary worry. The Grand Duke of Eaton continued to stay in Niceport for negotiations with the Council, and plans were made for Eaton to attend the upcoming multinational conference.

Of particular importance, the Grand Duke of Eaton developed a strong dislike for the church. Previously hesitant and indecisive about cooperation between the two countries against the church, during the new round of negotiations, the Grand Duke openly berated the church. In the meeting, he revealed two points: that the church was behind the kidnapping of his sister-in-law, and that the Horns Bay Alliance's plan to unite various countries to resist the church had apparently been leaked. However, he was not yet prepared to join the alliance, and the church had resorted to such despicable means against him.

Enraged by his youthful pride, the Grand Duke of Eaton decided without hesitation to stand on the side of the alliance and prepared to persuade the rulers of various countries to resist the church during the upcoming multinational conference.

However, for various reasons, the Grand Duchy of Eaton has not yet publicly disclosed that the church is the mastermind behind the kidnapping case.

Members of the Alliance Council were ecstatic. The church had indeed shot itself in the foot. If the plan was leaked, so be it; the escalating tensions between the two sides were already semi-public knowledge.

Firearms in a Fantasy WorldWhere stories live. Discover now