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

Chapter 231 Allegiance
……

……

"It was my fault for not gathering intelligence in time, which made you rush back."

In the manor hall, Durant lowered his head, his voice filled with remorse.

Ryan stood to the side with his head down, and Avril's expression was also somewhat unpleasant.

After learning everything from Vivian, Rhodes immediately set off back to the manor.

But before they had even reached halfway there, new news arrived in Frostleaf Town.

The Frozen Wasteland only has destroyed towns, but no trace of the lizardmen.

"It was my fault, please punish me."

Durant, looking deeply ashamed, knelt down on one knee, his head bowed even lower.

"stand up."

Rod waved his hand, "It has nothing to do with you."

His tone was calm, without the slightest hint of blame.

It's normal for there to be delays in the investigation.

No one has any prophetic abilities.

Durant slowly stood up, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes.

"I've come back to take you to deal with those lizardmen."

Rhodes looked at the map,

"According to the patrol, this is the perfect opportunity for us to deal with the lizardmen, and it's something we absolutely must do."

After learning that the town had been destroyed, Rod began to have doubts.

The patrol team repeatedly confirmed a detail.

There were no bodies or remains in that town.

This made Rhodes even more convinced that the lizardmen were gathering strength to build a monster army.

After interrogating the lizard monster last time, Rhode knew that these lizardmen could enhance their strength through flesh and blood, or rather, create lizard monsters.

The town is now destroyed, but no bodies remain, nor are there any human remains left after eating.

What does this mean?
This indicates that the flesh and blood were important materials for them, and they took them all away.

The target these lizardmen were gathering their strength for was naturally to take revenge on Black Pine Ridge.

"Durant, how's the information I asked you to investigate?"

Rod looked up at Durant and asked.

Durant immediately replied, "We searched for the Lynx people in the Icefield Mountains, but found no trace of the Lizardmen."

"Only traces of their lives were found; it seems they have moved away from their original camp."

"The Lynx people are venturing deeper into the Icefield Mountains to continue their search."

Rhodes nodded and speculated, "This also proves that the Bloodscale Tribe is deliberately avoiding us."

"They knew they were no match for us, so they deliberately avoided Black Pine Ridge and sent their legions to attack other towns to the west."

"Should we wipe them all out before they can gather their strength?" Durant asked.

"Correct!"

Rhodes looked at the map. "Before I came back, I had the White Frost Prophet do some divination. Our enemies are indeed in this area to the northwest."

"Send the patrols of the Frozen Wasteland forward to search; they must find traces of those lizardmen."

Rhodes instructed, "But do not let the enemy discover us; wait for our army."

"Is the army ready?"

"As you instructed, we have entered a state of war and are ready to depart at any time."

Durant replied seriously.

"Alright, send the army westward. Once we receive the news, we will strike immediately."

Rod gave the order without hesitation.

Currently, both the Frozen Bone Wasteland and Ice Edge Valley are unclaimed, allowing Rhodes' army to freely enter and exit.

"Yes, Lord Baron!"

Their answers were even louder.

"Tell Lawrence not to conserve supplies at this time,"

Rhodes emphasized, "All resources are being poured into the military."

As he spoke, Rod suddenly remembered something.

"Have you sent a message to the town in the Ice Breath Hills to the west?"

"The message has been sent out."

Durant's voice was hesitant, "But the exact location of the town on Icebreath Hills... none of us know."

"We can only ask them to do their best to search and send the message as soon as possible."

"There's nothing we can do about it."

Rhodes's words carried a hint of helplessness, "The wasteland is so vast, and none of us have ever been to the northwest. We can only do our best."

Rod waved his hand. "Go get ready now. We'll leave in a little while."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Durant and Ryan bowed and left.

Avril walked over and sat down next to Rhodes, taking his hand in hers.

"Going to deal with those lizardmen again? This time, shall I go with you?"

"Need not,"

Rod took Avril's hand in his own, squeezing it gently, feeling the softness in his palm, and smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry, even if we wipe out their lair, I won't bring the female lizardmen back. I'm not interested in them."

Avril paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"If you can even be attracted to them, then it must be my sister's and my fault."

"Hahaha."

Rhodes couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to pinch Avril's cheek.

"Then you're right."

"How did the crab taste?" Rod asked casually.

"I've never eaten such delicious crab before!"

Avril's voice was clear and bright, with a hint of excitement.
“It’s delicious!”

"The freshly steamed crab meat was tender and fragrant, and I ate a big bowl of it."

Avril gestured with her hands.

"As long as you like it."

Rod looked at Avril and felt happy too.

The recipient's jubilation will also give the giver a great sense of accomplishment.

"I brought some back with me, all of them are for you."

"Thank you, darling!" Avril happily kissed Rod's cheek.

"Then remember to clean out the internal organs of those giant crabs after you finish eating."

Rhodes instructed Avril, "They're all stored in the ice cellar. Get rid of them as soon as possible."

"You'll have to take charge of preparing the ice resistance potion as well."

"no problem!"

Avril solemnly assured him.

Rod joked, "I can't collect the thanks you promised for now, so you'll have to do more work."

Avril raised an eyebrow and glanced at Vivian. "Let your sister take care of things on the march."

"Forget it, let's not waste our energy now."

Rhodes looked down at the map, then stood up.

"I should also get ready; we're quite a distance from the Frozen Bone Wasteland."

Just then, a guard knocked on the door and entered, reporting, "My lord, Musen says he has something important to discuss with me."

"Let him in."

Rhodes nodded slightly.

Then Musen, draped in a long robe, strode in, clutching a roll of parchment in his hand.

"Good day, my lord!"

Musen knelt on one knee, his voice urgent and filled with excitement.

"I have mastered the basics of frost runes, and the sketch is completely perfect!"

Musen lowered his head and presented a stack of draft paper to Rod with both hands above his head.

Avril got up and went over, took the scraps of paper, and carefully examined them against the classic texts on the table.

"No need to look anymore, Avril."

Rod waved his hand, signaling Musen to get up.

“I trust Musen; he wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

Rhodes looked at Musen, "So now you can try drawing real frost runes?"

"Yes, my lord!"

Musen's eyes sparkled with excitement, but then he scratched his head, looking slightly troubled.

"My lord, the runes are fine, but..."

He paused, his voice lowering.

"The magical dye for drawing runes requires more than just the blood of magical beasts. It also needs the bodily fluids or internal organs of aquatic or marine magical beasts, and ideally, the skin of these magical beasts as a carrier. This will make it easier to succeed."

"But we don't have any of these..."

"There's none?"

Rhodes couldn't help but laugh when he saw Musen's embarrassed look.

Musen was visibly taken aback, then his eyes widened as he stared at Rhodes in disbelief.

"Yes, really?!"

"Of course!"

Without hesitation, Rhodes said, "We just hunted two giant crabs, and we have blue blood, crab fluids, and all sorts of crab entrails!"

"Sea, sea crab?!"

Musen's brain went blank for a moment. "We have sea crabs here?"

"My lord, I'm not questioning you, but... why are there sea crabs here?"

Rhodes waved his hand, "It's alright, you don't need to worry about any of that. Just focus on drawing the frost runes."

Frost runes are the most important material for making freezers.

The benefits of freezers are self-evident.

With the freezer, Rhodes can produce ice even in the summer and transport seafood safely to Frostleaf Town.

"Go back and continue your research. The materials will be sent over shortly."

"Yes, Lord!" Musen nodded vigorously, bowed excitedly, and withdrew.

Rod also got up and helped Vivian and Avril pack their luggage.

After packing his luggage, Durant came to report that the army was ready to depart at any time.

Rhodes glanced at the dim sky outside, but decided to head towards the border outpost first.

Just as they were preparing to depart, a guard came to report that Baron Bron requested an audience.

"There's quite a lot to do before I leave."

Rod couldn't help but sigh.

At this moment, Durant spoke up, "Your Excellency, Baron Bloom seems to have something to discuss with you. He came once before, but you weren't here."

"Alright, let him in then."

Rhodes granted Bloom's request to see him.

The guard nodded in response and turned to leave.

Then Baron Bronn, leaning on his cane, limped into the hall.

“Excuse me, Baron Rhodes.”

Bloom, his face slightly pale, bowed deeply in respect.

Rod quickly stepped forward to stop him, saying, "You should rest now."

With that, Rod personally led Bronn to a chair and made him sit down.

"There's no need for such formality."

"You saved my life, so any form of courtesy is appropriate."

Baron Bronn said earnestly.

"If it weren't for you, I would have died long ago under the claws of those lizard monsters."

"Alright, we can talk about these things once you've recovered."

Rhodes raised his hand to stop Baron Bloom and asked directly, "Durant said you contacted me before. Was it something important?"

Baron Bronn took a deep breath, his gaze intense, and met Lord Rhodes's questioning eyes directly. He spoke solemnly.
"I, Bronn Warblade, Lord of Icewind Valley and Baron of the Shattered Rock Empire, humbly request to join your ranks, to serve as your vassal, and to become your loyal sword and shield!"

Bloom's words were forceful and clear, each word like a piece of iron hammered in a blacksmith's furnace, clanging as it struck a stone slab.

Durant, Avril Lavigne, and Vivi all stared at Bloom in disbelief.

The hall fell silent instantly.

The only sound was the soft crackling of the burning firewood in the fireplace.

Rhodes stopped moving and stared at Brown, who was sitting in the chair, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

“I appreciate your gratitude, Baron Bronn.”

After a moment, Rhodes spoke slowly, his brow furrowed.

“However, this seems to be against the rules; you are a baron of the empire.”

“I can mortgage my territory to you, we will sign a mortgage contract, and then I will serve you,” Baron Bronn said without hesitation.

Rhodes looked at Durant, "I don't know much about Imperial history. Is there any precedent for this?"

"Yes, my lord."

Durant nodded seriously.
"But those were all agreements reached by evil nobles through underhanded means, after threatening other lords."

Durant glanced cautiously at Baron Bloom.
“I’ve never heard of anyone as proactive as Baron Bronn.”

Rhodes snapped out of his daze and his gaze fell on Baron Bronn.

To say that saving Bloom was done without expecting anything in return is a lie.

But Rhodes' previous target price was to gain some benefits from the natural resources of Icewind Valley, such as mineral veins, forests, and wild animals.

In addition, it is important to maintain good relations with Baron Bronn and the Warblade family.

Rhodes liked Baron Bronn's personality very much, and as the territory developed in the future, Rhodes would definitely want to extend his reach beyond the North.

It won't just be fighting and killing, but also about human relationships and social interactions.

But now, Rhodes didn't expect Baron Bronn to pull such a stunt.

"Baron Bronn, why don't you return to your family?"

"The Warblade family has a long history. Although you are not the eldest son, your father will not be stingy with his support, relying on the Warblade family's heritage."

Rhodes leaned forward, staring intently at Bloom.

"I want to know why you gave up your lordship to pledge allegiance to me."

"The future of the Warblade family belongs to my eldest brother, and I don't want to become a burden that steals his wealth,"

Brown's gaze was firm. "I will repay your kindness with my own abilities. This is the honor of the Warblade family."

“You said that my value exceeds that of the land of Ice Peak Valley.”

"Yes, I admit it."

Rhodes nodded seriously.

"Of course, besides repaying your kindness, I also have my own selfish motives."

Bloom continued without hesitation, "I see a better future in you."

"What better future?"

Rhodes had a sudden realization, but he still asked the question.

"The walls of Frostleaf Town, the prosperous lives of the townspeople, the soldiers' armor, and the sudden change in Durant's knightly aura."

Bloom replied seriously, "No one could have achieved so much in just one year."

"I've also heard some rumors in your territory."

“I don’t believe those rumors, but I trust my intuition.”

Bron said, word by word, "Your steps will surely extend beyond the North, and I will follow you, going even further than as the lord of Icefang Valley."

As soon as Bloom finished speaking, Durant's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to shout.

But at the most crucial moment, he swallowed hard and managed to stop himself from spitting out his saliva.

"Intuition is not reliable, Bloom."

Rhodes said quietly, "But I admire you, and I can accept your loyalty."

Rhodes paused, looking at Brom's pale face.
"But I think you should think this through carefully, and you should also explain it to your father."

Rhodes knew that Bloom's intuition was basically derived from the effects of his own stats.

However, Bloom is also a rather meticulous person.

Unlike Günler, Blon had received a formal aristocratic education, giving him a broader perspective and more open-minded thinking.

If Rhodes had someone like Brûlé to assist him, many things would be much easier.

“My father will definitely agree to this once he finds out.”

"Brown said firmly."

"Moreover, I am now a baron of the empire, and I can make such a decision without my father's consent."

"I have already considered the consequences of this decision and am just waiting for your decision."

Rhodes stood up.

"In that case, I accept your allegiance."

Bloom's face lit up with joy, and he immediately struggled to his feet, then knelt down on one knee, leaning on his cane.

Rod didn't stop him, but waved for Durant to come forward and help.

After kneeling down, Bloom placed one hand on his chest, lowered his head, and spoke in a firm and powerful voice.

"I, Bronn Warblade, Baron of Icecrown Citadel, swear by the honor and life of my family,"

"From this moment on, I am willing to fight for you, to protect your territory and your family. Your will will be the direction my blade points!"

clang--

With a soft metallic clang, Rhodes drew Ashbringer and lightly tapped it on Bron's shoulder.

“I accept your allegiance, Bronn Warblade, and will protect you and your lands.”

Rhodes didn't know what the ceremony for accepting allegiance from other lords was like. After speaking, he handed Ashbringer to Durant and personally helped Braum up.

"Alright, Bloom, you should go back and rest now. We can talk about the rest later."

"As you command, my lord."

Bron nodded and limped away, leaning on his cane.

After Bronn left, Rhodes breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly I felt a burden on my shoulders.

However, Rhodes didn't think much of it. He looked at Durant and ordered, "Let's go and deal with the Lizardmen."

"Yes, Lord Baron!"

Having just witnessed Braum's loyalty, Durant was somewhat excited and presented Ashbringer to Rhodes.

Rhodes took the Ashbringer and asked as he walked away.
"By the way, what were you trying to say just now?"

Durant hesitated for a moment, but finally answered honestly.

“Your Excellency, I would like to say that my intuition is the same as Baron Bronn’s.”

……

……

The biting wind whipped at the snow-covered mountains of the Icefield, and the swirling snowflakes made it impossible for Sejuani to open her eyes.

The cold in the depths of the icy mountains was worse than that of a normal winter; even Sejuani of the Snow Clan, wrapped in a thick fur coat, felt the bone-chilling cold.

Even though it was difficult, Sejuani persevered and moved forward, step by step, through snow that was above her knees.

Breath turns into white mist in the air, instantly condensing into tiny ice crystals.

Sejuani had been trekking through these snow-covered mountains for five days, and the jerky in her pack was almost gone.

Sejuani had to speed up her search to find the legendary temple of the goddess deep in the snow before she starved to death.

Seeing its master struggling to walk, the winter boar following behind gently nudged Sejuani with its head, lay down in the snow, and gestured for Sejuani to return to its back.

Sejuani shook her head, staring intently at the Winter Boar.

"Snow White, I must cross this snow mountain alone; this is a test from the goddess."

"There is no room for negotiation on this matter."

After saying that, Sejuani turned around and continued walking, ignoring her companions behind her.

The winter boar had no choice but to growl and stand up again, obediently following behind Sejuani.

Not long after he finished speaking, snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

The cold wind blew even harder, and the cloak was torn and fluttered loudly.

"We need to find somewhere to shelter from this blizzard..."

Sejuani raised her hand to shield herself from the wind and snow and searched into the distance, where a crack in the cliff face was faintly visible amidst the ice and snow.

"Hurry up, Snow White."

Sejuani pointed ahead,

That's where we'll spend the night.

(End of this chapter)