Their obstinacy is famous even in Madara; though people often say stubborn as Madara’s rotten bone skeletons, the Black Knights are particularly willful. The Knights of the living adhere to doctrine, while these deceased knights are trapped eternally by oaths and curses.
Instarlon felt they could be called ’Madara of Madara’. He watched the scene with a mocking expression, contrasting sharply with the stern-faced Tagus beside him.
A buzzing voice sounded in the hall: "By the name of the Eternal Dark Moon and the Black Flower, the Supreme King of the Dark Country, Staff Holder of Loki, please accept the allegiance and tribute from the Lords of the East."
This voice seemed to further stretch the vast hall, echoing to the far end but lingering without response. The Supreme seated on the throne above waited a moment before gently uttering a ’hm’.
The Black Knights bowed their heads one by one.
"Cheers to Your Majesty’s dignity; after even the territories of the Sea of the Dead Moon surrender, the unification of the Dark Kingdom after a thousand years is almost within grasp. Apart from that woman Alvette still musing over some thoughts, only the one nation of Spider Land remains, Tagus. The waning moon rises, participating in such a historical event truly excites one." Instarlon couldn’t help but whisper to his companion while watching the Black Knights bowing.
"Expectations are not emotions the Dead should have," Tagus responded faintly, his expression hardly changing. As one of the most noble vampires of the Manlayin Family, he was allowed to wear a black noble robe with gold trim in this hall, standing with the lowly Instarlon, which seemed quite ridiculous, "Madara now acts according to the Will of the Mercury Wand, as if it were a curse rather than a goal. The world of the living is but quickly rotten in the eyes of the Eternal Dead; to me, only time, truth, and dust have value."
"Hence the outsiders call us stubborn bone skeletons."
"But the real drama has only just begun, Tagus. Today, the arrival of the Black Knights is merely an appetizer." Instarlon showed no embarrassment for his humble status and was instead quite enthusiastic: "Watch, Your Majesty summoned the Blood Wand back, surely because something good has happened."
Tagus remained silent, knowing what had transpired. One week ago, in the territories to the west of Madara near the direction of the Erune Kingdom, two nobles from the Dark were successively attacked by humans. One Vampire castle was almost entirely charred, now bearing marks of ’Purification’ from the flames, leaving little room for any undead creature to escape.
Which means at least one Knight Order of the Flame Temple had infiltrated the territories of Madara.
The occurrence of such events at this time gave him a strong sense of conspiracy. Although such matters were not uncommon at the border between Erune and Madara; humans responded to the call of the Holy Temple, and the undead plundered the opposite’s territory, often with knights secretly forming armies to invade each other’s lands.
However, since Erune’s Oberg VI ascended, Madara shifted from defense to attack, gradually taking the initiative in the war.
But times have changed; the treaty between the Eruein people and Madara was signed just a year ago, and word has it that the Human Kingdom is caught in a civil war dilemma, evidently not ready to start a conflict now.
Then just who is muddying the waters here, makes one very suspicious.
The indifferent vampire squinted his remaining eye, looking up to see, as Instarlon had said, next the Dark Lord who once gave the Eruein people a painful lesson in Karasu, clad in a blood-red robe—the Blood Wand himself, King of Corpse Witches, Juge, slowly walked to the center of the hall.
"Honorable Your Majesty, I bring today news that is not so joyous."
"Those humble humans now provoke your dignity again on Madara’s lands."
"It seems the pain from the war a year ago has been forgotten by the stubborn human nobles."
"Today, I come to request your permission to bring them new terror."
The hoarse voice of the Blood Wand echoed under the dome of the Eludiniel Holy Palace, and both Tagus and Instarlon squinted slightly.
...
Brand lightly tossed the letter from Delphine to her, he scrutinized this woman carefully. In fact, he had previously glimpsed her during the Trade Wind swap, but that was only from afar, quite unlike the close examination of today.
He couldn’t help acknowledging her beauty, enough to capture anyone’s heart. Among all the women he had seen, only Princess Griffine could compare.
But compared to her malicious nature, Her Highness the Princess was as pure as a child.
"Miss Delphine, though I don’t know where I’ve offended you. You didn’t need to go to such lengths to retaliate against me... Lord Veronica had you deliver this message to me, speaking of which, it seems your Cruz people aren’t planning to wage war on us Eruein people, but rather seek my help——"
He paused, unable to resist a light, teasing remark: "If she knew you were coming to offer me conditions this way, she might not be pleased."
The daughter of the Prime Minister remained silent, staring coldly at him, her eyes filled with venom like a snake flicking its tongue. This caused Brand to frown, never imagining he had so deeply offended her to receive such deep-seated hatred.
But fortunately, he didn’t need this woman to speak; he glanced at the letter, knowing its contents. He raised his head, silently calculating which historical event this was.
The act orchestrated by the Blood Wand had once occurred historically. He initially thought, since history had been thoroughly altered, all this would never happen again. Yet unexpectedly, the unlucky King of Corpse Witches still brought this trouble right to him.
However, Brand narrowed his eyes, not feeling very worried.
For him now, it’s a rare opportunity. Rarely encountering familiar historical events, such fortune might not come again.
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)