Your war hammer is too fake

At that moment, he realized that he was not really without empathy, he just couldn't empathize with most people. Whether it was An Jiyue or An Jiyue, they could only empathize with good people who suffered. If the "good person" was also a warrior, then An Jiyue would definitely feel distressed for the other person's experience... and deeply hate his own powerlessness.

The girl had forgotten this feeling for a long time, until she met the rangers of the Mountain Kingdom. Some emotions that had been stagnant for many years once again boiled over, rolling and roaring hysterically. And this time, An Jiyue was finally able to do something.

"...Guilds are not suitable for rangers. After all, dwarf guilds are highly tied to clans." An Jiyue had thought about this issue more than once, and the operation plan was ready. "The imperial dwarves are not so strict in this regard, but I guess everyone here will definitely not be able to accept the relatively relaxed style of the imperial dwarves." After a brief pause to give everyone enough time to think, the girl continued: "Therefore, I think it is better to operate according to the brotherhood model."

Clans and guilds are the two most important organizational models in dwarven society. Although they are two systems in theory, in reality clans and guilds are two sides of the same coin to some extent, because members of dwarven guilds usually come from several fixed clans, and the guilds themselves have often been operating under the leadership of a specific clan for thousands of years, or even longer.

Compared with guilds that have innate entry requirements for members, brotherhoods that have more freedom in member selection are more suitable for complex groups like rangers with delicate status.

"Of course, the guild is a mature and reliable mechanism after all, and its operating method is worth learning from." An Jiyue knew how to deal with dwarves very well, and changed the subject. "My personal suggestion is that the Mountain Kingdom can establish a brand new brotherhood that includes all rangers, and then establish more specific ranger groups under its framework."

"The headquarters of the Brotherhood can be placed in Black Rock Castle, and every fortress and stronghold that is large enough should have a branch. The relationship between the Brotherhood headquarters and branches can refer to what the guild does in this regard. All rangers should join the Brotherhood, and the way to join will be decided based on the specific circumstances. For example, ranger clans like the Frostbeard clan will naturally join as a whole clan, and those that do not have clans will be reorganized as a whole."

"No matter what the specific situation is, all expenses required for the daily operation of the Brotherhood will be borne by the local Fortress, and the Brotherhood's Rangers will swear allegiance to the local Fortress King as a standing army, just like the Hammer Warriors or the Iron Breakers. In order to ensure that they can better perform this duty, it is best to compile a special book to standardize, systematize, and institutionalize the details of the Rangers' recruitment, training, equipment, tactics, logistics, and even clothing accessories."

"I personally recommend Joseph Bergman to perform this task. He is the best dwarf ranger I know, bar none. I believe you should agree with this."

Thorgrim paused for a moment. "Where are Joseph and his men now?" the High King asked.

"They left after the battle with the Grinning Clan." A servant replied immediately.

"Send to find them immediately. Tell Joseph that the High King calls for him."

"Yes!"

"That's pretty much my suggestion," An Jiyue returned to her seat and sat down. "The newly recovered Black Rock Castle needs to be populated, but the population of the dwarves is really... We in Zhendan never have to worry about this kind of problem. In fact, we often worry about having too many people and being unable to provide the survival resources that so many people need."

"So, Oakley Phillipson," the girl looked at a certain dwarf chieftain who had not dared to interrupt, "as the soon-to-be-crowned king of Black Rock Castle, are you willing to give the rangers a chance?"

Hundreds of eyes were cast towards the dwarf chieftain who was standing there at a loss.

"I..." Oakley, who still hasn't recovered from the explosive news that he is about to become the king, scratched his head in distress, "I don't know what to say, Little Moon. I have never thought about this kind of question."

"But you have to face this problem now. You don't want to escape, do you? There is a famous saying in Nibon, 'Escape is shameful but useful.' The person who said this later became the ruler of Nibon, and the way he conquered Nibon was by relying on his longevity to outlive all the competitors who were better than him." Plus bullying orphans and widows.

"Don't ridicule me, Little Moon, you know I'm not that kind of person!" Oakley jumped up and said, "Alright, alright, I swear I will give the Ranger a chance to integrate into my territory, is that okay?"

An Jiyue nodded with satisfaction. "Look, kings," the girl said with a smile to the dwarves with subtle expressions, "Black Rock Castle now has enough people to guard her."

"If no one objects, then this matter is settled," the Supreme King made the decision, "It's time to put the establishment of the Brotherhood on the agenda. Hmm... the Brotherhood also needs a resounding name. Little Moon, do you have any suggestions?"

"How about The Shadowbeard?" An Jiyue had actually considered this question. She just said this, and Thorgrim actually nodded: "It sounds very suitable for the rangers' fighting style."

After the Brotherhood was finalized, other dwarves also joined the discussion. At this time, An Jiyue became a bystander, silently watching the dwarves discuss the specific details of forming the Shadowbeard Brotherhood.

Just as she was watching intently, a dusty messenger, led by the Eternal Guard, broke into the throne hall.

"Your Majesty, the caravan has brought us some incredible news!" The messenger shouted without even catching his breath: "A group of high elves have occupied Akendorf and built a brand new city!"

Chapter 49: Dustan Falcon (Part 1)

There was a loud bang in the throne hall.

After the siege of the Eternal Peak was lifted, Thorgrim informed the dwarf kings of the Mountain Kingdom and some of the Longbearded Elders that the Mountain Kingdom had secretly formed an alliance with the Cathay Dynasty. Although the two sides had not yet formally signed an alliance, after An Jiyue had wiped out the main force of the Grinning Clan, the dwarves had basically regarded the Cathay people as allies.

Naturally, the dwarves also knew what the conditions for the alliance were: to recognize the occupation of Akendorf by the Zhendan people, to further deepen trade between the two sides, and to allow the other side's army to conditionally borrow their transportation network and settlements. When one side was invaded by foreign enemies, the other side was obliged to provide military assistance.

Even the dwarves, who were the most distrustful of foreigners, had to admit that this was an agreement with very generous terms and great sincerity. The dwarves had won themselves a powerful ally at almost no cost. Of all the terms, the only one that had some weight was the public recognition of the Chinese people's right to rule Akendorf, but it was only a little.

Akendorf's geographical location is crucial, because this "principality" with a population of 800 is located right on the Silver Road. To the west is the famous Blackfire Pass, and to the east is the capital of the Mountain Kingdom, Everpeak. In the heyday of the Sigma Empire, this place was once one of the many territories under the rule of the Empire and belonged to the Lichtenberg Province, but that was a long time ago. In this era, I'm afraid no one in the Empire would still think that the Border Prince Territory is the Empire's territory.

Allowing a powerful external force to appear next to one's own capital is a major matter that any ruler needs to consider carefully. Fortunately, the "Aurora Expeditionary Force" has proved with practical actions that they can be trusted - both in terms of credibility and military strength.

Even the most stubborn long-bearded venerable would not question the decision of a king who had proven himself, especially when developments further confirmed the king's judgment. Even though the so-called Zhendan expeditionary force had not had time to receive the new territory of the Heavenly Court, the dwarves had already tacitly accepted that the place belonged to Zhen.

The place that was supposed to be given to the allies was occupied by the high elves. This sudden bad news caught the dwarves off guard. They were even more surprised than Oakley who learned that he was about to become king. When the surprise gradually subsided, it was followed by a raging anger like a volcanic eruption.

"Thorgrim, give the order!" Agrim, who had the hottest temper, jumped up from his seat and grabbed the Axe of Dago leaning on the stone chair: "Mobilize all clans, summon all warriors, it's time for another battle of revenge!"

The excited dwarf kings all echoed Agrim's opinion. If it weren't for the fact that Thorgrim, the Supreme King, hadn't spoken yet, An Jiyue had no doubt that these irritable guys would have rushed out with axes and hammers to chop up the Asur who had come out of nowhere: even if the dwarves hadn't promised Akendorf to the Cathay people, the fact that the high elves suddenly occupied Akendorf and built a city itself would have a high probability of causing a war between the two races.

You should know that the High Elves had no prior communication with the Dwarves on this matter! Finubar, the current Phoenix King of Ulthuan, visited the Eternal Peak five hundred years ago. Although there is still a gap as deep as the Mariana Trench between the two races, at least the minimum level of diplomatic exchanges has been restored. If the High Elves must occupy Akendorf for some reason, can you at least send an envoy to inform them first?

The High King raised his hands and pressed them down. The angry dwarves immediately quieted down and waited for their leader to make the final decision. "If those pointy-eared people who live on the island, eat and live with dragons and have no beer to enjoy, have forgotten how they got out of the old world," Thorgrim took a deep breath and used his willpower to suppress his boiling anger, "then the dwarves don't mind not helping them review their history. Come forward, messenger. Tell me, what are the names of those high elf leaders?"

"Um... Your Majesty, regarding this matter," the dwarf messenger stepped forward with a very strange expression, "In fact, he has already arrived. The leader of the elves is outside the fortress, waiting for your summons."

An Jiyue suddenly asked, "Is the leader of the elves a wizard?"

"Yes, ma'am. It was an elven wizard who claimed to be from the White Tower of Hoth in Safri," the dwarf messenger replied politely. "He rode a gigantic bird with brightly colored feathers, the likes of which I had never seen before."

"Little Moon, what's wrong?" Thorgrin suppressed his anger and forced a smile towards An Jiuyue.

"I can sense that there is a powerful wizard outside. The heavy rock mountain itself will hinder the caster's magical senses, and the powerful runes everywhere in the Eternal Peak further enhance the interference, so I didn't notice it at first," the young alchemist explained, "until the messenger said that the leader of the elves had arrived. I deliberately sensed it and found that there was a companion. Oh, and there is also a powerful magical creature. It gives me the feeling of a thunderbird, but more powerful and purer. Could it be an arcane phoenix?"

"Do we need to call some runesmiths?" the High King asked after thinking for a moment. The best choice was actually Krag the Grim, one of the most powerful rune lords in the Mountain Kingdom. However, the old dwarf returned to his workshop after the battle, and even Thorgrim didn't want to disturb him.

"That's not necessary. If he has any ill intentions, I will kill him before he utters the first syllable of the spell," An Jiyue shook her head slightly, "Do you want to meet him?"

"Since he is a visiting guest, he has the right to be received... even if he is an elf." The High King was obviously hesitant about this issue, but finally decided to abide by the rules, "Bring him in."

"Thorgrim!" Agrim growled in dissatisfaction.

"Algrim, I know what I am doing," Thorgrim said seriously, "This is actually very strange. Finubar is a man who is well versed in and willing to respect the customs of other peoples. This is not like his style."

"Finubar would definitely not do such a thing. I heard that when he visited the Eternal Peak, he took a sip of your beer. In order to avoid offending you, he used his willpower to suppress the physical discomfort and did not spit it out." The beautiful girl with silver hair and red eyes supported her left cheek with one hand. "It is impossible for such a person to be so reckless in diplomacy. However, other elves may not be so reckless."

Especially the elves of Caledor, the girl thought. Even by the standards of the high elves, the elves of Caledor were arrogant and unreasonable.

"Just the thought of vomiting it out is offensive enough," Agrim muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

During the conversation, the door of the throne room was pushed open again, and a male elf dressed in the style of a high elf, holding a slender sky-blue staff, walked in with his head held high, followed closely by two elf followers. An Jiyue noticed that the other party's eyes first fell on the Supreme King who was sitting high in the main seat, and then glanced around. When the male elf saw An Jiyue and Yin Siran sitting next to him, his eyes suddenly lit up.

Yin Siran frowned slightly, and An Jiyue clenched her fists. As a man, she understood the meaning of the other person's gaze.

"Good afternoon, His Majesty Thorgrim the Grudgebearer, High King of the Mountain Kingdom," the elf said politely, touching his chest and saluting the High King. "I am Dustan the Falcon, the Archmage of the White Tower of Hoeth, and your new neighbor."

"You are not welcome here, Elf," Thorgrim said bluntly. "You occupy lands that do not belong to the Elf. Are you acting on your own initiative, or at the behest of Ulthuan?"

"I was exiled, I guess," the elven wizard shrugged. "Everyone in Ulthuan hated me. They thought it was disgusting that someone liked a Bretonnian knight, and they called me a 'monkey lover'. So I exiled myself and came to this unclaimed land with my followers, ready to establish a new territory."

"It's really disgusting, Mr. Dustan Falcon," An Jiyue had put on a smiling expression without knowing when, "You may have some unrealistic expectations of the existence of female knights. As far as I know, although there are female knights in the Knight Kingdom, they are often more manly than men."

"Excuse me, are you...?"

An Jiyue, who had been speaking in Kazarid, narrowed her eyes slightly and suddenly switched to her mother tongue: "An Jiyue, Jiedushi of Anxi Army, the plenipotentiary representative of Weijing Tianting here."

"Hello, Governor An," the Elf Mage subconsciously switched to Aurora, "Nice to meet you."

It couldn't be wrong, the girl made a judgment in her heart. Then, she took action.

"Odd changes to even."

"The symbol looks at the quadrant... eh?!"

Chapter 50 Dustan Falcon (Part 2)

An Jiyue originally wanted to find an opportunity to exchange the secret code later.

But as soon as this thought came to her mind, the girl realized that she had to intervene immediately - given the current situation, if An Jiyue did not intervene, this high-level wizard who suddenly appeared would most likely not be able to walk out of the Eternal Peak alive.

Whether Dustan was a fellow traveler or not, this question could be put aside for now. The girl decided to find a way to save this guy's life first. If she found out later that he was a "fellow villager" like Ke Shuzhan, it would not be too late to kill him then; if he was a potential ally who could be won over, the girl would definitely not watch this guy die in front of her.

After all, the messenger made it clear that a brand new city had emerged in Akendorf. To be able to mobilize such resources in self-exile, either Dustan's personal ability was quite outstanding and he was doing well in the toilet circle; or this fellow villager also had some kind of powerful golden finger.

"Your Majesty Thorgrim, and all the kings, perhaps this is what is called fate," An Jiyue nodded slightly to the dwarf leaders, "I know this Asur, although this is the first time we meet face to face. Although I still don't know why he wants to rob the spoils that belong to the Heavenly Court... I think there may be some misunderstanding here."

Thorgrim stroked his beard and asked angrily, "Have you heard of him?"

"Mr. Dustan Falcon and I are pen pals. We have been communicating about academic issues through letters before," the girl gave a polite smile to the still confused High Elf Mage, "Can you give me a little time?"

"Of course," the High King gestured, "he had better have thought of how to explain his actions."

"Thank you for your understanding. As for you, Mr. Dustan Falcon," An Jiyue said, "I have some questions and I hope you can answer them truthfully."

"Uh..." Dustan shrugged, "You ask."

"Historically, Akendorf has never been ruled by elves. Why do you want to occupy it? I noticed that you mentioned that you have some followers, enough in number to build a new city in a short time. If you are as, um, notorious as you claim, then where did you recruit these followers from?"

"Because I have no choice," the wizard spread his hands, "The better places in the whole Old World are basically owned by owners. The only places with not-too-bad conditions and no owners are the border princes. Akendorf is a spiritual vein festival after all... Well, I think Akendorf has great potential for development. I have always been interested in doing business, and this place is quite suitable for doing business. As for where my followers come from, I am a great wizard in the White Tower of Hoeth after all, so I still have some appeal."

"But the problem is that Akendorf must face the pressure from the greenskins. The WAAAGH!! from the badlands will pass through Akendorf endlessly. How can you have the confidence to defend this city? Do you have so many troops? Even if you do, are your troops endless and can they withstand such endless consumption?"

“…I think this is a personal problem.”

"So, you have never considered what the sudden appearance of a group of aliens near the capital, and a group with whom they have an extremely bad relationship, means to the dwarves. What does this behavior mean?"

"Uh," the Asur leader scratched the back of his head in confusion, "Is it really that serious?"

"No matter what the reason is, because of your rash occupation of Akendorf, the high elves and dwarves are already on the brink of war," An Jiyue said in a low voice, "Don't think I'm exaggerating. The border prince's territory is vast and sparsely populated, and there are many places that can be developed into new colonies, but you chose the most troublesome one. If you really have something to hide, I hope to confirm it one last time. Is the reason you chose Akendorf so that you can't tell anyone, or just can't tell the dwarves?"

An Jiuyue thought that it would be best if this "fellow villager" of unknown origin could understand her hints.

Hearing this, Dustan showed an expression of sudden enlightenment. He looked up at the dwarves and cleared his throat: "My reason is not convenient to tell anyone, whether it is a dwarf or other elves. However, I can tell you alone."

An Jiyue was silent for a moment after hearing this. "As the plenipotentiary representative of Weijing Tianting," the girl paused delicately, "I am indignant at Asur's act of snatching the spoils. But considering the overall situation of fighting against Chaos, and my 'pen pal' did not do it on purpose, as long as he can provide appropriate compensation and apologize publicly, I can forgive this matter on behalf of Tianting."

"No problem," Dustan nodded quickly, "Apologize and compensate me, right? How much do you want?"

The girl breathed a sigh of relief. She was afraid that this "fellow villager" was the kind of person who would never get enough of taking advantage of others and would not accept even the slightest loss. If that were the case, she would have no choice but to watch him die on the spot.

"We can discuss the specific compensation measures later," An Jiyue said. "Your Majesty Thorgrim, I know this guy. He is just a nerd who has stayed in the White Tower of Hoeth for too long and seriously lacks a correct understanding of 'this' world. I assure you that he really does not understand what his actions mean. This matter is not serious enough to be resolved by war. Sometimes, diplomatic negotiations can also resolve differences... as long as both sides are sincere enough."

"I have sworn, Little Moon." Thorgrim didn't really want to go to war with the High Elves. "You know the dwarves very well. You must know what 'oath' means to them."

"These are dark times, Lord Thorgrim. A new Everchosen seeks his throne, and nightmare omens are brewing of an invasion of Chaos far more terrible than that of two hundred years ago. No matter how much we hate the Elves, now is not the time to go to war with Ulthuan. There is no shame in enduring a few insults for the sake of all living things."

"So even the usually arrogant and aloof Dragon Gods are beginning to seek allies? Interesting. It is undoubtedly the right decision for them to choose you to carry out this mission, Little Moon." Thorgrim glared at Dustan, who was standing there uncomfortably, and said, "Maybe I should write a letter to Finubar and ask these uninvited elves to get out."

"Don't!" The wizard screamed, "The original city has been taken, and the new city heart needs..."

An Jiyue coughed hard. She glared at the guy who let the cat out of the bag in annoyance, wishing she could rush over and sew his mouth shut. Of course, thanks to this, the girl was able to confirm that this guy had the same type of golden finger as her.

After all, the "initial city" and "heart of the city" have emerged.

“Diplomatic dealings with the High Elves need to be handled with caution. Although Finubar is a reasonable man, the Caledorians are not. As the Phoenix King from Etain, Finubar’s kingdom has always had a bad relationship with Caledor, especially after Finubar exiled Prince Asarnil. Finubar will certainly try to avoid escalation, but if word of this reaches Ulthuan, I can almost imagine what Imrik will do.”

"At that time, even if Dustan is willing to give up Akendorf, it will be useless. The Caledor will definitely gather their army and go to the Old World under the banner of maintaining the dignity and honor of Ulthuan. Unless Finubar is willing to completely break off relations with Caledor, I mean, unless he is willing to use force to stop the Caledor from going crazy, otherwise at that point, war will really be inevitable. As I said above, now is really not a good time to fight the elves to the death."

"Elders, are you willing to place your hopes on Finubar? Even if he is considered a good man."

The dwarves whispered to each other, and from time to time a fierce quarrel broke out.

"The Sons of the Rocks are never afraid of war. If someone wants to impose violence and bloodshed on us, let him come. The dwarf's axe is always ready!" Thorgrim was the first to set the tone: "But as Little Moon said, sometimes anger must obey reason. Ancestors, dwarves are not as short-sighted as elves!"

An Jiyue tilted her head at the right time: "So?"

"You can stay there, behind that broken wall, elf! But unless the dwarves allow, you and your people will never set foot in the dwarf territory. Finally, you must give Little Moon a satisfactory compensation." The High King seemed to think for a while when he said this. "The oath of the dwarves is as solid and reliable as steel, but I can no longer fulfill my original promise. This is unacceptable, so I must also give you appropriate compensation."

The last sentence was said to An Jiyue. With a slightly surprised expression on the girl's face, she heard Thorgrim say, "The Land of Three Rivers and Iron Rock belong to you, Little Moon."

Chapter 51 Dustan Falcon (Part 2)

No matter how dissatisfied they were, the dwarves finally acquiesced to Dustan's occupation of Akendorf. They glared at the elven wizard angrily, but in the end they did not rush up to chop him up with an axe.

"…Your Majesty Thorgrim, are you serious?"

"I won't joke about this kind of thing, and dwarves don't like to joke!" The High King saw the undisguised surprise on the Jiedushi's face, although that expression was fleeting. He said seriously: "Little Moon, the dwarves will not betray their oaths, never!"

It was a foregone conclusion that Akendorf would be occupied by the high elves. Under the premise that another party involved, An Jiyue, stated that she would not use force but preferred to resolve the matter through peaceful means, the dwarves could only grit their teeth and endure it no matter how angry they were. There was no doubt that all the dwarves who knew about this would regard this incident as an offense to the dwarves. As for whether the name of a certain Asur mage would appear in the Book of Hatred, An Jiyue said that she had tried her best... It was her limit to save Dustan's life.

Anyway, even if it was really included in the Book of Hatred, with An Jiyue's understanding of the dwarves, this matter is actually not as serious as it seems. Being included in the Book of Hatred does not mean that the dwarves will definitely seek revenge. The dwarves will never forget the hatred, but whether to take revenge is a very flexible matter. The dwarves will decide when, where, and how to settle the hatred according to the specific situation, and the way of settlement does not necessarily have to be bloody. Sometimes, a sufficiently rich sum of gold is enough to settle the grudge.

"The Iron Rock alone is enough to make up for the losses of the Heavenly Court, both materially and spiritually. Isn't the Three Rivers Land too much?" An Jiyue said sincerely: "Akendorf has nothing good except its geographical location. It is really not worth the price."

"The Dragon Gods may think that just one Iron Rock is enough, but according to the dwarf's measurement standards, it is far from enough!" Thorgrim snorted, "I swear, Little Moon! I swear that as long as you fulfill everything you promised, the dwarves will also give you everything you ask for. If the dwarves promise and fail to do so, then compensation must be given, otherwise not only will my personal reputation be ruined, but the entire Mountain Kingdom will also suffer disgrace."

That was enough. An Jiyue knew what Thorgrin hadn't said: If this matter wasn't handled well, Thorgrin might have to become a butcher.

The Butcher High King? An Jiyue felt that this was a bit too much fun just by thinking about it.

"Byronos, your fleet needs to strengthen patrols on the Bloodwater River. The extra expenses will be borne by Eternal Peak," Thorgrim said to Byronos. "The Three Rivers is a good place, but it's a pity that there are always greenskins running around."

"Just leave it to me, Thorgrim." The Lord of Haimen Pass immediately agreed.

The Skull River, the Howling River, and the Blood River all originate from the World's Edge Mountains and eventually converge at the Sea Gate Pass, flowing into the sea. With the irrigation of the three rivers, this area sandwiched between the Sea Gate Pass, the Dark Forest, the Badlands, and the World's Edge Mountains has formed a plain that is no less fertile than Averland in terms of land area and fertility.

If you don't consider that the south is a bad place, the Three Rivers is definitely a good place. As long as this land can be fully developed, its agricultural output can at least feed half of the empire. In addition, Iron Rock is an excellent heavy industrial base. The people of Zhendan usually call this kind of land the Emperor's Foundation.

Originally, An Jiyue was going to place the initial city at the Squighorn Mountain, which was close to the Dark Land, so that it would be easier to explain how the "Aurora Expeditionary Force" that appeared later came to the Old World. However, when Thorgrim proposed his compensation plan, the girl knew that there was a more suitable location for the initial city.

The initial city needs to be deployed within 720 hours after the main anchor point is dropped, and there are only 11 hours left before the countdown ends. An Jiyue has many questions to ask Dustan. She needs to confirm whether Dustan is a friend or an enemy, but for now she must do the most important work first.