Pioneer Wizard's Notebook

A magical ice storm is now sweeping across the northern ice plains.

In the forests and canyons, the terrifying Icefield Demon roams.

The extreme cold and the invasion of monsters not only pose a baptismal test for animal populations, but also represent a major reshuffling of noble power in the northern provinces of the kingdom.

As a result, Windcliff City lost its lord and male heir, and the city fell into the hands of usurpers, remaining in chaos ever since.

Sunflower Manor was attacked three times by Ice Demons, and the scars left by the war are visible everywhere on the city walls and the ground.

The situation in other baronies was naturally no better.

Many weak noble families have long since faded from the historical stage, buried under the cruel snow of winter.

The military alliance of the barons sounds wonderful, promising mutual support when facing a powerful enemy.

But it's actually more like a merchants' market, where people trade the goods they need.

As for sending troops to provide assistance?

With everyone struggling to survive, how could we possibly waste our precious soldiers to help another side defend against the Icefield Demons?

Ultimately, you have to rely on yourself to survive.

Based on Linde's performance during the military alliance, he was at the bottom of the alliance.

Other barons wouldn't even consider requesting military assistance from him; instead, they'd worry about when he might disappear without a trace.

Mrs. Maria was certainly aware of this.

Therefore, the letter sent by this aunt was not a request for his help in defending against the Icefield Demons.

Instead, they hoped he would represent the Sunflower Movement and stand up for them.

After reading the letter, Linde got a general idea of ​​the situation.

In short, not long ago, the Icefield Ghosts attacked Riverbank Territory, and the two sides fought an extremely bloody battle.

Although the territory successfully repelled the enemy, the Riverbank Baron and his three sons died on the battlefield, sacrificing their lives heroically.

As the owners of the territory, the Pharos family was left with only Lady Maria and two young daughters.

According to the inheritance law of the Kingdom of Rosa, upon the death of the lord and male heir, the title of Riverbank Baron will be inherited by Lady Maria, who is his legal wife.

However, the northern provinces are located on the outskirts of the north.

In this cruel land, there exists a unique inheritance rule—the illegitimate child challenge.

When all male heirs in a noble family die out, the family must be inherited by a woman.

Illegitimate children who are separated from their parents have the right to challenge for inheritance rights.

The female heir must defeat the illegitimate child.

She must prove her ability to her people, the other nobles around her, and her superior lords, demonstrating that she is qualified to withstand the winter and defend this land.

From then on, women could rightfully become lords.

Lady Maria encountered this problem.

Not long after her husband and son died in battle, a shoemaker named Aubrey came forward and claimed to be the illegitimate son of the Riverbank Baron.

And passed the bloodline verification of the territory's herald officer.

According to ancient tradition, the system of challenging illegitimate children was put into practice.

This lady must defeat the shoemaker Aubrey in order to officially take control of the Riverbank Territory Pharos family and gain the loyalty of the family knights.

As for how to win the challenge, the most direct way is, of course, to be good enough at fighting.

The problem is solved by beheading the illegitimate child in the street.

Unfortunately, Lady Maria was a sheltered young lady who was not skilled in martial arts, so she could only choose the second method—calling for reinforcements.

Territorial knights are not allowed to interfere with challenges, but female heirs are permitted to summon other noble allies for assistance.

This is why the illegitimate child challenge system has always been a joke.

What woman who can become a lord's principal wife doesn't have a powerful backer?

Once the letter was sent out, a bunch of knights rushed over from her family in no time, chopped that audacious bastard into mincemeat, and fed it to the dogs in the street.

This is very unfair to illegitimate children.

But background is part of one's strength, and no one can criticize that.

The letter Linde received was just like that, hoping he would lead men to the riverbank to provide assistance in dealing with that annoying shoemaker.

Mrs. Maria promised to pay her a generous reward for this.

This sounded like a simple little thing, and Lind decided to help.

Lady Maria had been visiting the Sunflower Family in Blossom Territory for many years, and Lind and this aunt were acquainted.

As a family ally, helping his aunt become the Riverbank Baron would undoubtedly boost the future development of the Flourishing Territory.

The social networks of the nobility are built upon blood ties.

"It's time to change the outside world's perception of the current Flowery Collar."

With that thought in mind, Linde went outside the hall and looked around at the soldiers training and the busy residents.

Sunflower Farm now has sufficient capacity to protect itself and urgently needs to replenish its population with external labor.

Due to the extreme cold, the refugee crisis common in the south simply does not exist in the northern ice fields.

The limited population was mostly confined to the various noble territories, and they were unwilling to flee even if they starved to death.

If he wanted to increase the population, he could only turn his attention to other baronies.

To avoid being collectively resisted by the surrounding barons like Jason the "power usurper".

Linde knew he needed a plausible excuse.

Demonstrating the strength of an extraordinary knight, intervening in surrounding territories under the guise of military aid, and taking the opportunity to plunder people—this is the most suitable option at present.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside Sunflower Manor, the victory celebration banquet concluded last night.

The fire that had just been extinguished was still emitting wisps of white smoke, and the ground was littered with wooden barrels, wine glasses, overturned wooden bowls, tables, and chairs.

Early morning.

The women who had gotten up rushed over and started cleaning up the mess from the banquet.

At the gate of the manor.

The Rangers are ready.

Linde rode on the back of a maned horse, at the very front of the procession.

He turned around to inspect the troops.

Behind him were seven rangers from the manor.

Including the three knights who had been promoted not long ago, and the remaining four knights' squires, all of them were dressed in wolfskin armor, carrying swords and bows, and ready to set off at any time.

After the previous battle with the White Bear King, the core energy of the Wall Golem was mostly depleted, and it is now in a dormant state, silently absorbing the earth's magic power from deep within.

Wynn has a severe arm injury and needs to rest quietly. Frostfang Wolf has extensive abrasions all over his body and is lying in the garden being fed and rested by a specialist.

Sunflower Manor has suffered a loss of strength and is currently in a state of recuperation.

Therefore, Lind left William behind to guard the manor.

He himself led seven rangers to Riverbank to support Lady Maria.

If all goes well, I believe I'll be back soon.

Before setting off, Lind checked his equipment.

The wolf king's leather armor covered his entire body, and even when hit by the polar bear king's shockwave, it remained undamaged, effectively absorbing the incoming damage.

Wearing the Wolf King Straight Sword at the waist greatly enhances the release of combat skills enhanced by the Frost Enhancement Rune.

He also carries another longsword, which is used to unleash the fire of the sun.

Unleashing the dual swords of ice and fire is Linde's strongest fighting stance at present.

Of course, there are also quite a few problems.

This posture consumes a lot of magic power, and if the temperature released is too high, the longsword will twist and melt.

The longsword that killed the King of the White Bears was like that; it was rendered useless after use.

Without the aid of extraordinary weapons, Sunfire is destined to be a prolific sword-devourer.

With everything ready, Lind put on the knight's robe representing the Sunflower Family and rode off.

"Set off!"