A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 2327 - 1565: Forced Into a Difficult Position (The Quilt Is Either Too Thin or Too Thick)
Just as Princess Noren was considering how to get Fureya on board with their scheme, someone else in the Summoning Country was pondering the same thing.
"It seems we must take action now..."
Looking at the intelligence report in her hand, the woman sitting on the throne sighed quietly. She was none other than Mirelia Q. Melomag, the Queen of the Summoning Country.
In truth, in the Summoning Country, King Ottokre the Thirty-second didn’t hold much power; the real authority lay with Queen Mirelia. When the King summoned the Hero, Mirelia and the Second Princess Merti were abroad and thus unaware of the details until they returned home.
Of course, since both the King and the First Princess, along with their guards, were replaced by Duanmu Huai’s shadows, the information the Queen received was naturally altered. However, the shadows didn’t completely lie; they merely concealed the fact that Duanmu Huai had killed the King and Princess, along with their loyal guards, and altered the story to say Duanmu Huai defeated them. Under the threat of Duanmu Huai, the King agreed to handle the First Princess and, to show goodwill, handed military power to Duanmu Huai.
As a side note, the shadow of the First Princess was officially exiled by the King, but in reality, was sent to her death. A shadow leaves no corpse, so no one will ever find that woman again.
However, the Queen had no time to worry about her troublesome eldest daughter now, because there was a much more pressing issue at hand.
And that was the relationship between Duanmu Huai and the Summoning Country!
It must be said, Princess Noren’s strategy was quite clever. Most of the Subhumans that Duanmu Huai had captured were escorted back to the Summoning Country. Of course, these Subhumans weren’t easy to subdue, given the centuries of enmity with Humans, filled with blood and vengeance, yet... Duanmu Huai’s reluctance to waste time on such trivial matters didn’t mean Princess Noren shared the same sentiment!
She excelled in this!
Princess Noren knew well that despite the fierce words of these Subhumans, claiming liberty or death, it was mere bravado. Duanmu Huai’s ruthless attacks had long shattered their pride and backbone, and their stubbornness was just instinct.
Others might resort to torture to break the Subhumans’ spirit; Noren used to enjoy this, but after witnessing the Tribunal’s extreme and irrational violence, she found mere torture dull and thus devised another method.
That being separation and division.
For example, she would have people investigate the Subhumans’ relationships and offer that if they surrendered, their families could be enslaved together in the same place. If they refused, they would be separated, with males sent to the Magic Tool Country for mining operations—since the Magic Tool Country specialized in making Magic Weapons, they required a lot of ores, and many areas with Magic Ores were too dangerous for regular workers. It was fitting to have Subhumans do this work.
After all, no one would miss their deaths.
The strategy was highly effective. Faced with family separation, many Subhumans chose to submit and surrender, while some refused to drag their families into hardship, preferring to toil alone. Ultimately, these Subhumans had no will to resist, only wishing to survive.
Of course, perhaps in a few centuries, these Subhumans might rise again, contesting Humans for control, but Duanmu Huai couldn’t care less. From the Tribunal’s point of view, both Humans and Subhumans were of the Human Race; the Tribunal never intervened in Human civil wars.
Thus, whether Humans continued to oppress Subhumans, turning them into Slave Races, or Subhumans eventually awakened and rose against Humans, Duanmu Huai was indifferent.
Previously, he dealt with the White Wings because they were Demon Clan supporters, purely heretical, with no chance of mercy. As for the Subhumans, they could at least be spared.
After acquiring a large number of Subhuman slaves, the Summoning Country’s power significantly increased. In this respect, Noren showed great foresight and anticipation.
As Queen of the Summoning Country, Mirelia was fully aware of these implications, and thus—how to reestablish a good relationship with Duanmu Huai became her primary task.
The arrival of both Princess Fureya and Princess Noren was a clear warning to the Queen!
Duanmu Huai’s speech had been viewed by the Queen, and it made her uneasy. From the speech, it was clear Duanmu Huai held no affection for the Summoning Country. His opposition to the Demon Clan was merely a duty, a simple job. Obtaining command of the army from the King was merely compensation. Not to mention, father and daughter had previously conspired against him out of dissatisfaction, so expecting Duanmu Huai to have any goodwill towards the Summoning Country was unrealistic. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Thus... things were indeed difficult!
The Queen had her own sources and learned that within the United Army, Duanmu Huai’s relationship with First Princess Fureya was ordinary, but his rapport with Second Princess Noren was quite good. According to her intelligence, Princess Noren was essentially commanding the United Army, while Duanmu Huai and Fureya were nominally the leaders, the true commander was Princess Noren!
This was unacceptable!
Realizing this, the Queen nearly fainted.
Duanmu Huai practically sold the Summoning Country’s army!
Of course, the Summoning Country’s soldiers didn’t see it that way. To them, Duanmu Huai was their summoned Hero, naturally one of their own, so during idle chats, they would boast about their Hero’s exploits, hoping he might win the hearts of both Princesses and bring them back to their country...
These were mere idle talks among soldiers, but they left the Queen deeply unsettled. She knew the real situation, aware that had it not been for his combat prowess, the Hero would have long been ruined by the King and First Princess!
The fact that he wasn’t holding a grudge against the country was already a blessing! Expecting him to be grateful? Absurd! Judging from the Hero’s methods, he was ruthless and without a shred of sentiment!
It’s possible he might not bring the two Princesses here but rather follow them away!
If that’s the case, the impact on the Summoning Kingdom would be the greatest!
The Queen knows very well that although the Summoning Kingdom has gained considerable strength due to acquiring many slave races of subhumans, the main reason those subhumans obey is because they were scared by the Tribunal. Once they find out that Duanmu Huai is going to sever relations with the Summoning Kingdom, it would be surprising if they didn’t rise up in rebellion!
We must find a way to win over Duanmu Huai!
And quickly!
But in fact, there is only one way right now.
Looking at the intelligence in hand, Her Majesty the Queen made a decision.
Although she had this idea before, now, she must speed up!
After completely destroying the Lizard Clan tribe, the United Army had already reached the border region of the Demon Territory. At this moment, the entire Demon Territory was in a state of heightened alert. However, the Union Army did not immediately advance but instead faced off along the western mountain boundary.
After all, all the autumn winds were fought along the way, entering the Demon Territory means an extermination war!
So both sides dispatched an additional three thousand soldiers to join the Union Army at the frontline.
And among these three thousand soldiers, there was one special person......
"Ah......"
Sitting in the carriage, looking at the scenery outside, the young girl sighed with slight melancholy — she was the Second Princess of the Summoning Kingdom and the first crown prince, Merti Melomag.
From appearance, Merti’s age is about the same as Princess Noren, she has long deep blue hair tied into twin-tails on each side, her childish face looks rather cute, but that lovely face now carries a hint of melancholy.
Merti’s reason for personally coming to the frontline as a princess is very simple; first, since the Magic Tool Country sent out a princess, the Summoning Kingdom also needs to send a princess to the frontline to boost morale. The First Princess won’t do, she’s a troublemaker, or else Merti wouldn’t have been granted the status of first crown prince as the Second Princess.
"This time, Mother really has given me a difficult challenge......"
Merti murmured to herself, looking out the window. Her main task at the frontline is only one, which is to win over Duanmu Huai. At least———to prevent him from leaning even more towards the Magic Tool Country.
But this task is not easy to complete.
Merti also knows what her sister did, frankly speaking, she was speechless when she found out about it, completely unable to understand why her father and sister would take action against Duanmu Huai. After all, Duanmu Huai is not someone who looks weak and frail, just his appearance and physique are intimidating enough, and yet under such circumstances, they still dare to provoke him?
Being bitten by an unknown venomous snake could be deemed careless, but deliberately pulling a tiger’s tail, that’s courting death......
This matter is already difficult, and her opponent is even more troublesome.
Princess Noren Second Princess......
Thinking of her, Merti felt a headache.
In this world, there’s an academy specially constructed for the education of royal families, heirs from the three main countries and other principalities would enroll there, serving as a way to expand networks. Noren and Merti are similar in age, they study in the same grade, both are princesses from major countries, and they are also Second Princesses, sharing many common points, naturally making them fairly familiar with each other.
Precisely because of this, Merti understands Noren’s violent nature hidden beneath her seemingly innocent and lively exterior, although she often uses her innocent appearance to deceive men, once she desires to achieve a goal, she reveals her ruthless and brutal side.
The knowledge that Duanmu Huai is so close to Princess Noren truly worries Merti, wondering if he might be deceived by Princess Noren like other men.
In school, Merti and Noren belong to the category of minding their own business, exchanging polite formalities, but without true communication or conflict. Merti understands that although Noren’s fighting power is not as strong as hers, her wit and — more importantly, her terrifying intelligence devoid of humanity is the greatest threat.
She does not wish to inexplicably establish a powerful enemy for herself and her nation.
But now it seems......
Merti sat up straight, displaying a warrior’s spirit.
Perhaps here at the frontline, she needs to have a proper contest with Princess Noren.
