Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 577 - 351: Milan Under Wolf Race Rule

Evening, Milan.

Putting aside religious status, Milan has been, for quite a long period in history, the most splendid jewel on the Apennine Peninsula, and even in all of Europe, sought after by the Holy Roman Emperor through several expeditions to Italy in order to clutch this gem in his palm.

This also included Losa's father's feudal lord, Emperor Henry of Great Germania, from the Hohenstaufen dynasty.

However, as Losa and Lavinia rode through the city, they found it unexpectedly desolate.

The farmers were in tatters and scattered like birds at the sight of the two riding high horses, unlike those in Piedmont who would dare to stand by the roadside and converse with them.

In the world of Yesterday's Giant Ship, the entire Lombardy Region, including Milan, was, like the Veneto Region, a crown territory of the Habsburg Family, but during the German unification wars, under pressure from the joint forces of England and France, it was forced to grant independence.

Otherwise, what difference would it make if a Habsburg Empire, whose territory spanned across Central Europe, were to resurrect like the Holy Roman Empire, which Emperor Napoleon once disbanded?

Moreover, it would be a centrally governed, brand-new Holy Roman Empire.

After Lombardy gained independence, the Wolf Race forces promptly seized the opportunity to infiltrate, using their rich experience in gang, street, and urban struggles to gradually control this prosperous city—in name, Lombardy remained an independent duchy, but in reality, it had completely fallen under the influence of the Wolf Race.

This also means there won't be a family called "Milan."

All family forces could compete fairly here, making this city far less straightforward than Saluzzo or Bologna (located in the Romagna Region).

Various forces gathered here.

The twelve prominent families, small families aspiring to rise, old retainers of the previous Habsburg era, feudal nobles...

A chaotic situation, with almost daily street shootings and family feuds, had long cost the Lombardy Region its past glory.

"The people of Milan once rejoiced over their independence, now they can't wait to return under the shelter of the Habsburg's wings."

Losa sighed deeply.

He had no intention to speak in defense of the Habsburg Family of this world, just like in Losa's original world, where parts of the Austria-Hungary desired independence, only to find life more miserable after the disassembly of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

"Unfortunately, England and France won't allow Habsburg to expand again, and that weak emperor of Habsburg probably has no interest in stepping into the quagmire of the Apennine Peninsula."

Losa couldn't help but say, "This truly is an era of decline, neither the factory owners nor the feudal nobles are much better than the other."

This is probably what is known as "the pains of the era."

"One can only hope for the wisdom of future generations."

Lavinia's face showed a slight look of helplessness, but soon regained determination.

Whether or not she decides to leave, she must handle the current matter well.

This is also an account for her past insistence, an account for her life so far.

"Nia, which is the biggest force in Milan now?"

"No single force can be said to be the biggest, but recently, the Sassari Family is definitely the most prominent. They are under the guidance of the Yakxi Family and have integrated several small families, although this has caused the original Sassari clan members to lose their dominant position, it has also greatly increased their strength."

Losa couldn't help but laugh, "Looks like Sassari has completely become a puppet of the Yakxi Family."

The issue of population has always been a major limiting factor for the expansion of family forces, and the gradual replacement of pure-blooded Wolf Race by mixed-blood individuals as the mainstream also has this reason behind it.

Unexpectedly, the Sassari Family has taken a progressive path of ignoring lineage and origin.

However, as things stand, this is definitely more detrimental than beneficial. The current Sassari Family, rather than being Sassari, is more like an alliance of a dozen small families under the name of Sassari, with the original Sassari Family's stakes diluted to a dangerous level.

"They didn't have much of a choice either."

Lavinia sighed softly, "So Losa, the enemy we are likely to face next may very well include experts from the Yakxi Family, and they are likely not to shy away from quietly getting rid of the two of us."

"Then let them come,"

Losa smiled, "Don't forget, I can tap into the power of the Holy Spear, and with your assistance, our real strength is far greater than on paper, unless the Yakxi Family is crazy enough to send those old antiques to deal with the two of us nobodies."

Losa had considered it before coming here.

There was definitely danger.

Families were not like medieval nobles, where everyone was related and after breaking bones they were still connected. Letting the other go could mean extorting a huge ransom.

The struggle between family forces is always bloody and brutal.

Assassination, shootings, poisoning...

There's no shortage of any.

"Nia, I heard that the old retainers of the Habsburg Dynasty still wield considerable influence in Milan?"

Lavinia immediately understood the implication of Losa's question and shook her head, saying, "True, but don't count on them. They just carry the name of Habsburg, but at the end of the day, it's just a name. During the Habsburg rule, they were unruly local nobles, constantly at odds with the Germanic nobles sent by Habsburg to manage them. They were major advocates of Lombardy's independence."

Through the conversation, Losa understood as well.

These old retainers, while still possessing some strength, were only at the level of small to medium-sized Wolf Race families.

After all, even among nobles, commoners made up the majority.

Someone like Hans, a One-Star Attendant, was already considered quite capable among ordinary people.

Bear in mind, the Teutonic Order was a military monastery that had developed to the point of being a military force with a country's scale. Even its attendants were trained to the standard of killing machines.

The power of a Wolf Race family against ordinary forces felt like a dimensional strike, full of deterrence.

Of course, such family and gang-style combat power definitely couldn't compete with magic energy cannons and firearms soldier formations on the battlefield, but only three major countries in all of Europe could afford to equip magic energy cannons.

Among them, the Northern Germans were latecomers. Although their homeland was the broadest among the Three Kingdoms, they had no colonies producing essential materials like magic stones and white crystals.

Their few territories in Africa were all financial drains, liabilities.

So, human forces couldn't be anticipated to intervene; they neither dared nor had the capability to stand up for Mr. Madlen.

As for the Wolf Race families, without Losa and Lavinia achieving certain results first, they wouldn't possibly take the field.

In the end, the two of them were still fighting alone.

Two people, confronting a quasi-prominent family!