Chapter 14 : Chapter 14
Chapter 14. Discovery, Turmoil in the Northern Frontier
Only a few days later, a shocking piece of news returned to the royal palace—the messenger sent to the Derek Family’s territory was dead.
“What exactly is the Derek Family trying to do?”
Kroll II slammed his hand on the table and rose to his feet, his face as dark as iron.
“Good, very good! Since they refuse to accept my goodwill, then they should not blame me for being ruthless!”
He looked at the ministers and several great dukes below him, his voice carrying unquestionable resolve.
“I will personally lead the campaign and reclaim the Northern Frontier!”
“Your Majesty, please reconsider!”
The dukes and ministers hurried forward to persuade him.
“The situation in the Northern Frontier is complicated. Your Majesty’s body is worth a fortune. It would be unwise for you to personally enter such a dangerous place!”
“Say no more. I have already made my decision.” Kroll II flicked his sleeve and walked away, leaving the hall full of stunned officials staring at one another.
“What is going on?”
Someone muttered quietly.
“His Majesty is usually calm and steady. Why would he suddenly act so impulsively?”
“He must truly be enraged by the Derek Family. They even dared to kill the royal messenger—this is an open provocation against the authority of the royal family!”
The ministers gradually dispersed, each busy preparing for the expedition. Meanwhile, the three great dukes gathered together, strange lights flickering in their eyes.
“Heh, it seems the Derek Family can no longer hide it.” Duke Lane let out a cold laugh and glanced at Duke Carden.
Duke Carden raised an eyebrow. “Go on. Do not hold back.”
“His Majesty has always been cautious. If he did not possess absolute confidence, he would never personally lead a campaign so easily.”
Another duke added, “The benefits hidden here are probably greater than we imagined.”
“Exactly.”
Duke Lane stroked his beard as a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
“Perhaps the Derek Family has discovered some extraordinary treasure. That is why they dare to act so arrogantly.”
“His Majesty’s Shadow Guards are spread across the Northern Frontier. They must have uncovered something. Otherwise, why would he truly take action?”
“Let us go.”
Duke Carden laughed as he brushed the dust from his clothes.
“Time to prepare. His Majesty may eat the meat, but we should at least go and share a bowl of the soup.”
The three men exchanged smiles and walked away with light steps, as if they could already see the benefits of the Northern Frontier falling into their hands.
Kroll II walked along the palace corridor, the anger from earlier completely gone from his face, replaced by calm composure.
He quickly headed toward the study. Suddenly, a surge of overwhelming pressure erupted from the area where the court mages lived, like giant waves rising on the surface of a calm lake.
“Someone has broken through to the legendary rank?”
Eyes opened within the palace’s magic towers and knight palaces. They all looked toward Irene’s room with surprise.
A black-clothed Shadow Guard suddenly appeared beside Kroll II and reported in a low voice.
“Your Majesty, it should be Mage Irene who has broken through.”
“The Fourth Prince delivered Stardust Sand to her a few days ago.”
Kroll II waved his hand, signaling the Shadow Guard to withdraw.
He glanced at the distant energy fluctuations that were still spreading, said nothing further, and pushed open the door to his study.
Inside the study, three Shadow Guards were already waiting. Their attire was different from the palace guards, and snow wolf patterns unique to the Northern Frontier were embroidered on their sleeves.
Upon seeing Kroll II, all three knelt on one knee in salute.
The leader spoke first.
“Your Majesty, we have confirmed that the Derek Family’s two legendary combatants were leading the core forces of their family into a secret realm.”
“Because the Barbarian offensive advanced too quickly, Duke Derek has used a bloodline artifact to urgently recall one of the legendary combatants.”
After reporting, he bowed and stepped back.
The second Shadow Guard stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, the corpse of the envoy sent to the Northern Frontier, along with all related traces, has been cleaned up. No clues were left behind.”
After speaking, he also stepped back.
The third Shadow Guard finally stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, according to the latest intelligence, the legendary combatant who entered the secret realm seems to have discovered a supreme treasure within it. He has been continuously ordering the family’s legions to charge into the secret realm.”
“That situation… strongly resembles a sacrificial ritual.”
After the three Shadow Guards finished their reports, the study fell into silence.
Kroll II sat behind his desk, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table as if calculating something.
After a long while, he finally spoke.
“You may leave.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The three bowed again. Their figures melted into the shadows of the study like drops of ink dissolving into darkness and disappeared without a trace.
Only Kroll II remained.
He looked out the window at the silhouette of the royal palace, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
The Derek Family’s secret realm. Their sacrificial actions. The recalled legendary combatant…
When these pieces were connected together, they pointed toward a very intriguing answer.
He picked up the feather pen on the desk and wrote several words on a sheet of parchment. Then he suddenly crossed them out, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Early the next morning, a stern royal decree spread across the entire Kroll Kingdom.
The Derek Family had attempted rebellion, intending to sever the Northern Frontier from the kingdom. They had even brazenly murdered a royal envoy, making their ambitions unmistakably clear.
The Derek Family was hereby declared a traitorous force.
King Kroll II would personally lead twenty legions northward to immediately reclaim the Northern Frontier.
As soon as the news spread, the entire kingdom was shaken.
Since the founding of the nation, no ducal family had ever dared to commit treason. The Derek Family’s actions had set a precedent.
Although the Derek Family urgently issued statements denying the accusations, few believed them. In the eyes of most people, the Kroll royal family was the legitimate authority, and its proclamations carried unquestionable weight.
The nobles large and small who had been attached to the Derek Family were immediately thrown into panic.
They had originally hoped to gain a share of benefits by relying on the Derek Family’s power. Now that the royal family had taken serious action, how could they dare remain?
Overnight they packed their belongings, taking their families and private troops with them as they fled in panic from the Derek Family’s territory toward Dragonfang Fortress in the Central Realm, hoping to demonstrate their loyalty to the royal family and wash away suspicion.
Seeing this, the Derek Family understood that the situation had already turned against them. They no longer bothered to maintain appearances.
They quickly seized those nobles who had failed to escape in time and imprisoned them all. Their family wealth, private soldiers, and even their territories were confiscated, forcibly absorbed to strengthen the Derek Family’s own forces.
When the news reached William in the royal capital, he was inspecting the cultivation progress of Kyle and the others.
When he heard the word “treason,” the wooden sword in his hand paused slightly.
His father had finally torn away all pretense. He intended to resolve the Northern Frontier with thunderous force.
“Your Highness, could the Derek Family truly…” Knight Tos stood nearby, his tone filled with confusion.
William shook his head and looked toward the north.
“Whether it is true or not is no longer important.”
“The royal family needs a reason to reclaim the Northern Frontier, and the Derek Family killing the envoy has conveniently provided that reason.”
He could imagine that the Northern Frontier must already be in chaos.
The threat of the Barbarians had not yet been eliminated, and now the royal army was already pressing forward. Surrounded by enemies on both sides, the Derek Family would likely not be able to hold out for long.
He withdrew his gaze and said to Tos, “Continue monitoring news from the Northern Frontier.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
From the training ground came the synchronized shouts of training.
Kyle and the others were pushing themselves to the limit in their final sprint to break through to the Bronze Rank.