I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 158 Hybrids

……

……

White Wolf vaguely remembers that he was once a scholar, or perhaps a herbalist, named Aura.

Aura enjoys studying herbs and often travels through the northern wilderness in search of various exotic herbs.

Now that it's a white wolf, it will still look for various herbs, but instead of picking them by hand, it can only use its claws to dig or its teeth to bite them.

Aura remembered that day when he was gathering herbs in the wasteland.

Or perhaps it was for some reason that they had to leave the wilderness.

Aura doesn't remember.

All he remembers is encountering a group of ugly lizardmen.

Aura tried to communicate.

But these lizardmen went mad and chased after Aura.

Having no other option, Aura turned and fled into the Icefield Mountains.

Then, Aura encountered a ferocious white wolf from the ice plains.

During their frantic escape, an avalanche occurred in the Icefield Mountains, and Aura remembered falling into a glacial crevasse with the white Icefield wolf.

During the fall, a falling ice spike pierced Aura's chest, causing him to lose consciousness completely.

When she woke up again, Aura found herself lying on a stone platform covered with all sorts of intricate patterns.

It resembles an altar, or perhaps an ancient ruin.

Aura didn't know either.

All Aura knew was that his own corpse lay beside him.

The corpse was already pale, and all the blood had been drained, covering the entire stone platform.

Aura walked up to the mirror-like glacier and found herself transformed into a white wolf of the ice plains.

At that moment, Aura's mind was in complete chaos, as disoriented as a small boat in a storm.

Occasionally, the white wolf's bloodthirsty and brutal instincts take over, and it hunts its prey relentlessly, eating raw meat and drinking blood.

Once her stomach is full and her reason returns, Aura will feel a deep sense of regret and self-loathing.

In the beginning, Aura's soul felt as if it had been torn in two, causing her immense pain.

He frantically searched the ruins for answers, wanting to become human again, but found nothing in the empty ruins.

Aura could only drag her wolf body away from the ruins and wander aimlessly.

He even wanted to end this pain himself more than once.

Until Ruma appeared.

This beautiful female accompanied Aura, allowing her to discover the joy of being a white wolf.

At that time, Aura was in a state of chaos and rage, traversing the wasteland and forest, indiscriminately slaughtering all kinds of creatures.

Bison, giant bears, wild boars, and so on all became victims of Aura's claws.

Even ordinary monsters are no match for Aura.

Luma spotted Aura and secretly followed her around, picking up any leftovers.

Aura knew that Ruma was following behind, but she ignored her and let the little she-wolf follow.

Perhaps because she had consumed a lot of the flesh and blood of magical beasts, Luma mutated and became a giant wolf.

Until one day, after Aura and a giant ice bear were both badly injured, Luma appeared in time, dragged Aura away, and hid her in a cave to recover.

Spending their days and nights together, the two wolves naturally became partners.

Luma's companionship gave Aura the courage and meaning to live on.

Although Luma often cannot think like a human, her name was given by Aura, meaning a cute beast that heals the soul.

Even during her mating season, Luma will revert to her beastly nature and constantly stick her butt out at Aura.

But it was precisely because of this that Aura gradually accepted her new identity and eventually got used to being a white wolf of the ice field, and formed her own family with Luma.

They forgot how to speak, and they forgot language.

"Ora..."

After hearing the story, Rhodes silently murmured the name of the white wolf.

My mind is a complete mess.

No wonder he was able to write the imperial language.

No wonder they understand the rules of noble territories.

No wonder he's so easy to talk to.

Rhodes took a closer look at the white wolf in front of him.

Isn't the name Aura the same as that count's?
Everyone thought Aura was dead.

As a result, Aura turned into a white wolf!
This story is too bizarre!
You probably can't even come up with a knight-errant novel, right?

Rhodes took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, calming himself down.

"Don't you really remember who you are?"

White Wolf Aura shook her head slightly and wrote in the snow.

"After becoming a white wolf, I lost many of my memories from my human days, and I can't remember them as well as I can."

Rhodes nodded, without directly stating his opinion.

"I never expected your background to be so unusual. No wonder you said you wanted to be faithful and emphasized your family."

Rhodes nodded in approval.

"So she was your wife who shared your hardships."

White Wolf Aura shook her head slightly, then wrote down.
"It's human nature."

"Wolves tend to have relatively stable mates; even the alpha wolf rarely has more than three female mates."

"Oh."

This surprised Rod somewhat.

"It's okay, you and Luma can have more children,"

Rhodes reverted to his true nature and said with a smile, "I'll take care of raising them; you just need to give birth."

A wolf litter can produce four to six cubs, so Luma's litter was considered to have very few.

They can reproduce once a year.

Rhodes believed that as long as there was enough food, his wolf rider force would eventually be established.

Aura sighed helplessly.

Seeing Rhodes's determined gaze, he finally nodded slightly.

"Don't worry, I will definitely protect your child and your family."

Rod happily patted Aura's wolf head, but the latter refused and moved her head away.

"By the way, I saw one of your children is a silver-white wolf just like you."

Rod stared intently at Aura. "Is it male?"

Aura slowly nodded her wolf head, her icy blue eyes filled with confusion.

“Very good, then your son can have three spouses.”

Rod said cheerfully,
“I understand that you have humanity and deep feelings for your Ruma.”

"But your son is a true white wolf, he doesn't necessarily have to adhere to those emotional concepts."

Rhodes was very happy, as his wolf rider career had taken another step forward.

Aura didn't respond, slightly helpless, not expecting Rhodes to set his sights on her child so quickly.

But Aura did not refuse.

Aura only has deep feelings for Luma, but she is not actually opposed to having multiple partners.

"You can continue living in this Frostwolf Forest, or you can live in the Direwolf Farm, or you can come to my Frostleaf Town."

Rhodes turned to look at the cave, his gaze softening.

"However, your wife is probably not able to move around easily right now, but I can send someone to deliver food regularly."

Aura nodded, then placed her paws in front of her chest and bowed to Rhodes, as if she were bowing in greeting.

Rhodes was somewhat moved, and confirmed once again that the white wolf in front of him should be Count Aura.

"Actually, I might know your previous identity. If you want to know, I can help you look it up."

Rod spoke up.

Aura is, after all, a noble count, so there should be many characteristics or habits that correspond to him.

However, Aura shook her head.

"I've gotten used to it. I can't go back, and I don't want to care about what happened before."

"Please don't reveal my identity."

After writing this, Aura looked at Rod.

Rhodes nodded. "I promise you."

"Do you have any regrets about your life?" Rhodes continued, "If there's anything you haven't said to your family and friends, I can help you convey it."

Aura shook her head again.

"Okay, I respect your decision."

Aura has mated with another female wolf, and she has adapted to the most difficult thing.

Rhodes could understand that after Aura accepted her identity as the white wolf, it would be difficult for her to look back on her life, otherwise her life as a human and her wolf life would be very contradictory.

"Ah, I almost forgot."

Rhodes took a step back and nodded slightly in greeting.

“I am Lord Rhodes Tulip, Baron of Blackpine Ridge. Welcome to my territory.”

Rod extended his hand.

Aura nodded in return, extended her paw, and placed it on her.

"Happy cooperation!"

Rod released the wolf's paw, then couldn't resist patting Aura's head.
"But you should still practice speaking..."

As he spoke, Rod looked up and his movements suddenly froze.

Aura also sensed something was wrong and tried to turn around, but Rod grabbed her.

"I come."

Rod's voice was soft, then he turned and reached out to Wolfhoof.

Give me the bow and arrows.

Wolfhoof didn't know what had happened, but he still handed the longbow and quiver to Rhodes.

Rhodes took the longbow and casually pulled an arrow from the quiver.

The next instant, Rhodes suddenly looked up and raised his longbow!

Aim, release, and do it all in one smooth motion!
The sound of an arrow piercing the air exploded instantly!
"what--"

A piercing scream shattered the silence of the forest!

The other members of the hunting party realized what was happening and quickly ran towards the woods!
A moment later, a man draped in animal skins was dragged to Rhodes, his shoulder pierced by an arrow.

He kept his head down, not daring to meet Rhodes's gaze.

"Looked up."

"Rod commanded."

The man remained unmoved, so Us pinched his face and forcefully lifted him up.

"What is this?"

Rod frowned as he looked at the strange face before him.

The person looked human, but had tiny scales on their face, giving them a sickly appearance.

What happened to his face? Is he sick?

Rhodes asked the crowd.

The white wolf tapped Rhodes with its tail, then walked aside and wrote three words in the snow.

—Mixed-race.

A mixed-race race?
Rhodes suddenly realized.

He had heard of the existence of such hybrid races, which were offspring born from the union of humans and other races, possessing characteristics of both bloodlines.

But this was the first time I had ever seen a mixed-race person in person.

Tell me, who are you?

Rhodes turned around and stared at the half-blood, asking in a deep voice, "Why are you in my territory? And whose orders are you obeying?"

A hint of fear appeared on the strange face of the mixed-race person, who then rattled off a string of words.

The sound was high-pitched, like a cry.

Rhodes couldn't understand a single word.

He looked at the white wolf again, who also shook his head, indicating that he couldn't understand it either.

"This guy must be speaking a foreign language."

Rhodes sighed slightly; no one here understood the alien language.

"Take him back, take good care of him, and don't let him die."

"Rod commanded."

No one here could understand what he was saying, so Rhodes could only go back and try his luck with the Snow Rabbit Man.

……

……

Rod instructed Wolfhoof to take good care of the white wolf and to deliver food to the family of five every day before returning to Frostleaf Town.

After spring arrives, Rhodes will send someone to bring Aura back to Frostleaf Town.

White Wolf's identity is too important; Rhodes really can't just leave him here arbitrarily.

It's worth mentioning that before Rhodes left, he told Aura that if he wanted to break away from his past human identity, he should change his name.

The name Aura is too eye-catching and easily attracts attention.

Since Aura no longer cares about the past, there's no need for her to attract attention because of a name.

However, there's no rush; Aura has another month to think it over.

The appearance of Aura as the White Wolf further convinced Rhodes of his previous speculation.

The bloody edict was a conspiracy personally orchestrated by that emperor.

According to Aura's previous description, he had already buried his body with stones.

But His Majesty claimed to have found Aura's body.

—No one saw the body; the news came from the Empire.

Clearly, either the news is false, or the body is fake.

His Majesty's anger was feigned, and the bloody edict was issued for a specific purpose.

But Rhodes didn't know whether His Majesty wanted to expand the territory or to contain the growing power of the Marquis of Coldblade.

After all, the North is just too big.

The wasteland alone is comparable in size to the territory of an empire.

If the wasteland were truly peaceful and ruled by Marquis Coldblade alone, it would mean that countless resources would flow into his hands.

That Marquis of Cold Blade really poses a threat to His Majesty's rule.

Rhodes couldn't help but sigh at how complicated these family affairs were.

When Rhodes returned to Frostleaf, the second batch of supplies and slaves looted from Gungle's side had also been delivered.

Perhaps it was because news of Earl Falcon's death had already spread throughout Eagle Ridge, causing morale to plummet.

Or perhaps it was because Gunther's persuasive speaking skills had improved.

This time, the number of slaves was greater than before, exceeding seventy people, and various supplies were transported in seven oxcarts.

This is already a lot for a remote mountain village.

This escort was provided by two fully armed squads. Rhodes did not allow them to linger and urged them to return to continue their looting.

Just as Rhodes had predicted, Baron Harlan did not break his promise and delivered the promised reward.

Rhode handed all these people over to Lawrence to arrange, and then called Sherry to his side, asking her to try to understand the language of the half-breeds brought back from the Frostwolf Forest.

Surprisingly, Sherry's eyes filled with resentment the moment she saw the mixed-race person.
"A filthy, pathetic lizard tail!"

"Ok?"

Rod looked at Sherry, and it was the first time he had ever seen the little rabbit with such an expression.

"What did you call him?" Rod asked.

"That's what the Empire calls a slut, a lackey. I apologize, Lord, please forgive my rudeness."

Sherry bowed and apologized, then continued, "They are the lowest-ranking lizardmen, the lizard tails, children born from lizardmen and slaves, and are often abused."

"But they have an innate and strong dependence on the lizardmen, and even though the lizardmen look down on them, they still do things for them."

Rhodes nodded in agreement.

"That's definitely a cheap slut."

"Since you know them, can you say what he says?"

Rhodes pressed on with the question.

Sherry nodded. "Yes, my lord."

“Okay, ask him what he’s doing in my territory and who he works for.”

Upon hearing Rhodes's instructions, Sherry immediately turned to look at the half-blood and rattled off a string of words.

The mixed-race person replied quickly.

Sherry was so angry that her face turned red.

(End of this chapter)