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

Chapter 307 The White Wolf's Request

……

……

Durant and the others sat blankly in the brand-new Lord's Hall.

This was the first group meeting since the Lord's Hall was completed, and everyone was still somewhat unfamiliar with each other.

For example, Gunle, who had just returned, looked around at the decorations in the hall with curiosity in his eyes.

One should not roam freely in the wilderness during winter, especially after heavy snow, as it is easy to freeze to death.

So a few days ago, Gunle ended his life as a bandit and returned to Black Pine Ridge.

After everyone had gathered, Leah and her servants poured hot tea for everyone.

The wooden door to the council chamber was pushed open, and Rod strode in with a serious expression, flanked by Avril and Vivian.

"Lord Lord!"

Without hesitation, everyone stood up and respectfully bowed to Rhodes.

Lia pulled out the high-backed chair in the main seat and bowed to Rhodes as he approached.

Rhodes stood in front of the main seat, his gaze swept over everyone, raised his arm and waved slightly before sitting down.

After receiving instructions, everyone sat down and stood at attention, watching Rhodes.

Only Gunle's hand quietly reached for the cup, and after speaking to Rhodes, he secretly took a sip of hot tea.

Leah waved to the servants, led everyone out, and closed the door behind them.

"His Majesty the Emperor has fallen."

Rhodes's words, spoken without any prior warning, caused everyone's expressions to freeze instantly.

"Clang."

The cup that Gunther had just picked up fell to the ground, and the hot tea splashed onto the back of his hand, causing him to instinctively shake his hand off quickly.

"My lord, the emperor you're talking about... is he the emperor of our Shattered Rock Empire?"

Gunther tilted his head and asked cautiously.

Rhodes nodded slightly.

"An urgent secret letter from the Count of the Red Griffin: His Majesty the Emperor was stabbed to death while receiving a captured necromancer."

"what?"

Gunle was clearly taken aback and couldn't help but ask loudly, "Is the emperor really that stupid?"

Gunle sensed something was wrong and quickly covered his mouth, but then couldn't help asking again.
"Doesn't he know that wizards can cast spells?"

"Count Red Griffin said that the necromancer's magic had been drained and all his belongings had been taken."

Rhodes said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty the Emperor was careless. He did not expect that necromancers had other ways of casting spells."

"Huh?" Gunle scratched his head. "All the magic power has been drained, how can I cast spells now?"

The others looked at Rhodes with puzzled expressions, but Durant lowered his head thoughtfully.

"Do you remember that lizardman shaman we killed?"

Rhodes said slowly, "Back then, the great shaman slit his own throat, and we thought he was dead."

Durant looked up abruptly, "He's casting a spell with his own life?!"

Everyone suddenly realized.

Rhodes nodded slightly and explained in a deep voice, "I just checked with Avril, and necromancers can indeed consume their own life energy to cast spells."

"They can even cast spells beyond their level when they completely sacrifice their lives."

"terrible……"

Gunle couldn't help but shudder. "Does that mean they could die with us at any moment?"

"You can say that."

Rod understood Gunle's surprise.

Necromancers are like the evil cultivators in Rod's previous life novels, able to possess powerful strength and magic through various unacceptable means.

Rhodes is now even tempted to have some of the wizards in the territory study it.

"My lord, His Majesty the Emperor has fallen. What is the royal family's reaction now?"

Durant asked with a serious expression, "According to the timeline, the Emperor's only son is only three years old..."

"The royal family announced that Princess Atreia would succeed to the throne and called on the lords to swear allegiance to her."

Rhodes said in a deep voice, "But Prince Golden Hammer declared that although the eldest princess is noble, she is not qualified or powerful enough to rule the entire empire."

"Prince Golden Hammer claimed that as the son of the late emperor, his bloodline was even purer."

"Prince Golden Hammer?"

Durant glanced at Gunle, then asked Rhodes in shock, "Sir, isn't Prince Golden Hammer dead? Gunle knows that!"

Gunle nodded vigorously and hurriedly.

"The Prince of Golden Hammer has spread the word that Emperor Agnar plotted to kill him, killing his children and wife. He was rescued by the Church of Dawn."

Rhodes explained, “So, Prince Golden Hammer said that Agnar’s royal family is evil and corrupt and needs a new emperor like him.”

He called upon all the noble lords to support him as emperor.

"And if he succeeds to the throne, he will reduce taxes for three years."

“If that’s the case… compared to Her Highness the First Princess, I think Prince Golden Hammer is more worthy of support.”

Durant spoke slowly and thoughtfully, "Actually, Her Highness the First Princess should announce that she is only temporarily holding the throne as regent, and will return the throne to the young prince after he comes of age."

"This will attract more lords to support her."

"If nothing else, Durant, I agree with you."

Durant's words brought a look of satisfaction to Rod's eyes.

When it comes to political maneuvering, Durant is several times more sensitive than anyone else.

"However, first of all, Prince Golden Hammer has the shadow of the Dawn Church's frequent activities around him."

"Secondly, another ruler in the empire made the choice you described."

Rhodes recalled the information given by Count Red Griffin, and a helpless smile appeared on his face.

"The Queen has fled the palace with the young prince and has returned to the Duke of Flowers in the Western Province."

"The Duke of Flowers declared himself regent and supported the young prince as emperor."

Rod's words once again left everyone speechless and wide-eyed.

"The Queen betrayed the eldest princess?" Durant looked at Rhodes in disbelief.

"Perhaps they were afraid that after the eldest princess ascended the throne, she would harm her child."

Rhodes shook his head slightly. "But is the Duke of Flowers more credible? I don't know the specifics."

As soon as Rhodes finished speaking, everyone in the lord's hall fell silent.

Gunle looked around, then at Rhodes, and asked in a low voice, "Sir, whose side should we support?"

Upon hearing this question, everyone immediately looked up at Rhodes.

The empire was in turmoil, and a three-way power struggle ensued.

If you make the right choice, and the monarch you are loyal to actually ascends the throne, then even if you cannot become a duke, you can still become a marquis.

But if you make the wrong choice, it could very well be a disaster.

"Whatever you choose, we support your choice."

Durant understood the psychological pressure of this choice and, not wanting to see Rod in a difficult position, took the initiative to speak up.
"We will follow in your footsteps and pledge our lives to serve you!"

"I swear to serve you to the death!"

The others echoed loudly at the same time.

Rhodes's gaze swept over the crowd, nodding repeatedly.

He then took a deep breath and spoke calmly.

"We support none of them."

A mysterious smile appeared on Rhodes' face.

“In our Black Pine Ridge, there is an heir to the throne with a purer bloodline.”

Everyone looked somewhat bewildered and couldn't help but turn to look at the people around them.

Gunle stared at Rhodes and asked cautiously, "You're not His Majesty the Emperor's illegitimate son, are you?"

Gonner's words immediately piqued everyone's interest.

Everyone stared intently at Rhodes, their gazes burning.

"You think too much."

Rod picked up his teacup and took two sips of tea, somewhat speechless.

"Dong dong dong."

The thick iron doors of the hall were knocked on.

"Gangle, go and bring the man in."

Rhodes commanded, "Our main character should have arrived by now."

Gunle nodded somewhat blankly, pushed aside the stool, and rushed out quickly.

The metal door was pulled open, and the white wolf slowly walked in.

Rhodes stood up and said to everyone, "This is our heir to the throne, His Majesty Agnar's younger brother, Count Aura Stonecrush."

The lord's hall fell into a deathly silence.

Gunle froze, his hand still on the door, feeling like his head was about to explode. In that short time, he had already received two or three messages that could stop his heart from beating.

"Sir, I'm not questioning you."

Looking at the tall white wolf beside him, Gunle hesitated and said, "Although the white wolf can talk, how could he possibly be Count Aura?"

Rhodes looked at the white wolf and asked with a smile, "Shall I tell your story?"

The white wolf's head swayed slightly up and down.

Rod turned around and told everyone about his encounter with the white wolf and the story of the white wolf.

Everyone was once again stunned into silence.

However, so much has happened today that everyone is used to it.

“We believe the story you tell,”

Durant hesitated before speaking, "But it's too bizarre; no one will believe it."

"Besides, with Count Aura in his current state, no one will support us."

"So what other options do you have?" Durant asked.

"I do have a way."

Rhodes looked at the white wolf.

"I discussed it with Avril, and we will restore the White Wolf to the appearance of Earl Aura."

With that, Rhodes turned his gaze to the crowd.

"Therefore, I now need you all to immediately assemble the army and take stock of military supplies and provisions."

"Next, Black Pine Ridge will face war."

"Yes, Lord Lord!"

Everyone responded loudly in unison, their eyes filled with anticipation!
Those present are all core members of Black Pine Ridge, and everyone knows the current strength of Black Pine Ridge.

It is truly distressing that so many excellent soldiers are forced to remain obediently in Black Pine Ridge due to imperial decrees.

Now that the emperor has passed away, the previous edicts are no longer valid, and the order prohibiting attacks on other lords has also been lifted.

More importantly, there is also Count Aura.

Everything seemed so perfectly legitimate!
……

……

Everyone excitedly left the hall to prepare the items they needed.

Gunner and Chris were tasked with assisting Durant in ensuring the legion was fully equipped with supplies.

Raine was in charge of the hunting party's supplies, preparing a sufficient quantity of bows and arrows.

Sejuani went to help Lawrence with the preparation of provisions and supplies.

Rhodes watched everyone leave, leaving only Vivian, Avril, and the White Wolf in the hall.

After the gate closed, Rhodes turned to look at the white wolf.

"actually……"

"Lord Rhodes..."

Rhodes and the White Wolf spoke at the same time.

“You speak first, Count Aura.” Rhodes sat back down in the main seat.

The white wolf breathed a sigh of relief, jumped onto the chair to sit down, but found that the narrow seat could not support his buttocks and hind legs.

“You can sit at the table,” Rod reminded him.

The white wolf nodded slightly and jumped onto the table to sit down.

Looking at the teacup on the table, he couldn't help but sigh, "I'm no longer used to human life."

After speaking, the white wolf looked up at Rhodes.
"I have read the letter you gave me, and I can seize the throne as you have instructed."

The white wolf said slowly, "But I hope you can fulfill two conditions for me."

"Of course, you've fought alongside me so many times, I would have tried my best to meet your request even without this incident."

Rhodes nodded without hesitation. "Go ahead and speak."

"If we are lucky enough to succeed, and I become the emperor."

Sincerity shone in the white wolf's eyes. "I hope to pass the throne to you, so that you can control the entire empire, rather than just be a guardian of the empire."

The white wolf continued without pausing.
"In just two years, you have brought life to the desolate Black Pine Ridge. Even the slaves here have rosy complexions and are full of energy."

"If the rich south is handed over to you, the entire empire will undergo a leap forward, and the Western Alliance will no longer be a match for the Shattered Rock Empire."

Rhodes was somewhat surprised.

The message he conveyed to White Wolf was to support White Wolf as emperor and to have White Wolf gather the nobles to pledge their loyalty to him.

Rhodes's role is that of the Imperial Guardian, similar to a regent, who would want more territory if he succeeded.

When the White Wolf passes away in the future, his children will not be able to succeed him, and Rhodes will naturally take over the empire.

But Rhodes didn't expect the White Wolf to be so blunt now.

"But in that case, the Rockbreaker Empire wouldn't be the Rockbreaker Empire."

Rhodes made no attempt to hide his feelings and said seriously, "Moreover, many nobles may refuse my rule."

"That's why I'm telling you in advance, Lord Rhodes, you can make many arrangements beforehand."

White Wolf lowered his head, lost in thought. "As for whether the Shattered Rock Empire still exists, that's not the most important thing. What's important is that I hope everyone can live a better life."

"This was also my initial purpose in coming to the wilderness: to use knowledge to change the lives of the people here."

"I know."

Rhodes said in a deep voice, "This is not a request, but a gift to me, and I have no reason to refuse."

"And what's the other request?"

"Actually, it's related to what I just said. I hope that after you turn me into a human, you can turn me back at any time."

The white wolf tilted its head, as if remembering something, and said slowly:
"I had nothing when I was a human being."

"But as the White Wolf, I have a wife and children."

The white wolf grinned, a smile spreading across its face.

"Actually, Ruma wants more children in the future, if I become human..."

White Wolf sighed helplessly.

What the white wolf didn't say was that he was afraid that once he became human, he would no longer be able to accept Ruma.

"Hahaha……"

Rhodes couldn't help but laugh as he listened to the white wolf's words.

White Wolf's expression tightened, and he hurriedly said, "Rhodes, please stop imagining the scenario of me having a relationship with Ruma after I become human."

"puff!"

Vivian couldn't help but laugh out loud, and Avril lowered her head and covered her mouth, feeling a little embarrassed.

A human-like helplessness flickered in the white wolf's eyes. "Lady Avril, you are an elegant noblewoman!"

"Okay, okay, no more joking."

Rhodes' smile faded, and he said seriously, "Actually, Aura, there's no way we can turn you back into a human."

"The transformation spell that allows one to become human is of a very high level, and we cannot do it now."

"Then, what to do?"

The white wolf looked at Rhodes with some confusion, "I didn't have much prestige to begin with. If I were just a wolf, no nobles would follow me."

"We have other ways."

Rhodes looked at Avril and said, "Explain yourself."

Avril nodded slightly. "We need to turn your corpse, which you left on the glacier, into a zombie puppet."

"This is a very basic necromancy spell, and the materials required are not precious."

"As long as you keep injecting life energy and spend some materials to make some modifications, it will look basically the same as a real person."

"For example, the art of disguise, although this spell that turns an animal into a human is very easy to detect,"

"But if you just add a few decorations to an existing body, no one will notice even if you touch it with your hands."

Avril laughed and said, "Surely no one's going to gouge your eyes out, right?"

"In addition, I will implant a seed of nature into it and continuously provide it with life energy."

Rhodes interrupted Avril, adding, "If you slowly nurture it into a higher-level undead, it will become more like a human."

"At the beginning, its shortcomings were also obvious: it had no soul, no memory, and was like a puppet that needed to be manipulated."

Avril stared at the white wolf and said, "However, we have you here, Count Aura."

"Just let it ride on your back and control it."

"Then all its behaviors and habits will be just like yours."

Avril's words left the white wolf somewhat confused.

Although the white wolf is now a magical beast, it has absolutely no knowledge of necromancy.

He looked at Avril, then at Rod.

"Is this okay?"

Have confidence in knowledge.

Rhodes stood up. "But before that, we need to retrieve your body first."

(End of this chapter)