Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

It was heard that even the Frost Giants were coming to join the grand event at the workshop, which surprised Malin to find that neither the Dwarves nor the Half-humans reacted at all. As for the Elves and Gnomes, who had enmity with the Frost Giants in the past, the ambassador merely laughed upon hearing the news. As for the master Gnome craftsman, he even commented that it was a private matter of Lord Malin.

By "private matter", Malin understood; after all, he was partly a Frost Giant, even though his height never supported his claim. However, the behavior of the other three races left Malin truly clueless, so he had to make some indirect inquiries on the human side.

Faye gave an answer—the Frost Giants liked to make big things. Their one-handed swords would be considered colossal weapons among the other races, fit only for those of exceptional strength, unwieldy and embarrassing for anyone with a strength below 16.

Similarly, what the Frost Giants called a firearm was a giant single-shot shotgun made from a hollow iron tube bound with iron bars, and it was a muzzleloader at that. Faye had seen the Frost Giants use this thing, taking at least ten seconds to reload—and that’s for the Elite Archers.

To the contemporary Dwarves and Half-humans, such a thing was impressive if it could even shoot fifty paces. Such an antiquated piece, what use could it possibly have?

Lord Malin was able to persuade them to join because he himself was of mixed heritage with the Frost Giants. Given this connection, whether Dwarves, Half-humans, or even Elves, none would bear any grudges.

In their eyes, the fact that Lord Malin had only now started to recruit his relatives spoke volumes—those who obeyed would be fed. With such arrogance previously shown by the Frost Giant’s royal court, refusing to submit to Lord Malin’s banner, it was natural that he wouldn’t be all smiles in welcoming them.

However, it wasn’t too late now, and the Frost Giants were considered to be bringing substantial assets with them. The pure iron mines they brought with them were coveted even by the Dwarves, and the North was too cold for anyone but Frost Giants to withstand the weather, so much so that any territory they gained could not be held by others. Hence, even before the treaty was signed, the races of the South and the Frost Giants remained in a state of mutual wariness, yet still traded pleasantly. After the Frost Giant’s envoy returned, he brought with him a princess, said to be from the royal family of the Frost Giants.

Malin already had preconceived notions about the princess of the Frost Giants—she was probably no different from Princess Marathon or any other such princess.

Surprisingly though, this new princess looked more like an Elf. As a witness to the contract, she observed the signing ceremony between Malin and the envoy, then took a copy back to the North.

Malin thought the Frost Giants were resorting to seduction once more.

Fortunately, though the woman was beautiful, she wasn’t quite Malin’s type, and unexpectedly... Malin felt he quite detested her.