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Click-clack, click-clack.

In the dull sound of turning gears, the city gate of Winterfell City started to open slowly.

An envoy, riding a fast horse, dashed out and galloped towards the Golden Lion Legion camp located outside the city.

It didn’t take long before the Golden Lion Legion began to assemble and slowly advanced towards the open city gate.

Meanwhile, everyone at Lion Roar Castle had also arrived at the city gate to welcome them.

Colin and Archbishop Agani stood at the very front of the welcome party. Joyce, however, was nowhere to be seen.

This young third son of the Duke couldn’t endure such a drastic fall from heaven and had already given up and hidden himself away.

Of course, no one was paying attention to this third son anymore at this point.

Unless a miracle occurred, he was destined to have nothing to do with the title of Northern Duke.

“Viscount Angler, Miss Vera hasn’t been baptized yet, has she?” Archbishop Agani suddenly spoke.

Colin turned his head slightly, smiled at the beautiful archbishop bathed in the morning light, and said, “If I remember correctly, the Law of Lords doesn’t explicitly state that only baptized Knights can inherit nobility, does it?”

“Of course not.” Archbishop Agani smiled faintly, her perfect side profile suddenly radiated a captivating glow, “I just think that as the future Northern Duke, how could she not have the guidance of the Lord of Glory?”

Colin turned his head away, ignoring Agani’s words, and stared at the slowly approaching Golden Lion Legion outside the city.

Vera, as a mage, accepting the Church’s baptism ceremony meant officially announcing her conversion to the Lord of Glory.

This would definitely provoke the Mage Council of Yevir.

However, if Vera didn’t accept baptism, it would cause numerous troubles for her in ruling the North Territory.

However, choosing between being an ordinary mage and being the Northern Duke was not hard or tricky.

Colin had long planned for Vera to openly convert to the Lord of Glory after inheriting the title. The Mage Council might oppose this, but they wouldn’t dare to do anything to a Duchess of the Empire.

Except for Mr. Ji, of course, who was a madman…

But according to Mage Cusius, after Mr. Ji cast the “Eyes of Judgment” last time and killed Duke St. Hilde, he himself was seriously injured and couldn’t make waves for a while.

Moreover, if he wanted to cast the “Eyes of Judgment” again, this forbidden spell, it would be difficult to find a city to sacrifice easily, like the first time.

However, Colin did not plan to just easily agree to Archbishop Agani’s request.

Things easily obtained are never cherished.

Moreover, he intended to use this as a bargaining chip to squeeze out more benefits from the Church.

Soon, Vera’s figure appeared clearly before everyone’s eyes.

She was riding a white horse, wearing a solemn black dress, with a black veil covering her face. She looked sad and her eyes were downcast.

Behind her, Duke St. Hilde’s coffin was placed on a horse-drawn carriage, guarded by eight Northern Knights.

Colin and Agani immediately led everyone forward to meet them.

After a round of greetings, Colin and Vera walked shoulder to shoulder at the front, escorting Duke St. Hilde’s coffin into Winterfell City.

The streets in the city were already crowded with people. Although some rumors about the Duke’s death had been circulating around the city, the Lion Roar Castle hadn’t issued any statement, and the Duke’s remains weren’t seen, so the citizens of Winterfell had doubts about the truth of these rumors.

But now, as the funeral carriage slowly entered Winterfell City, the news of the Duke’s death was confirmed.

The city of Winterfell was suddenly shrouded in an atmosphere of grief and anger.

People on both sides of the streets knelt. Some wept, some prayed silently, while others, with red eyes, were angrily mourning…

Unquestionably, Duke St. Hilde weighed heavily in the hearts of these commoners.

Having ruled the North Territory for more than thirty years, personally slain a Troll Emperor, and being a powerful Holy Knight himself…

This kind of person, despite receiving some controversy over the Troll invasion and famine rebellion issues in recent years, remained the guarantor of peace and stability for the North Territory, particularly in the hearts of the residents of Winterfell City.

But now, this pillar-like figure had fallen.

Panic and confusion enveloped the citizens of Winterfell City, and they could only vent their unease through crying.

Among the cries of the massive population, the funeral carriage slowly entered Lion Roar Castle.

The Duke’s remains were temporarily settled in the back garden of the castle, waiting to be buried at a later date.

Then, everyone returned to the conference hall.

The bodies that had been here were already moved; the blood on the ground had been cleaned up. Only a faint smell of blood still hung in the air, reminding everyone of the intense and cruel political struggle that took place here.

Now the losers have gone sourly, and the winners, well, they are still a bit puzzled.

Just then, Vera asked Colin in a low voice, “Where’s Joyce?”

Colin shook his head slightly, “He might be feeling a bit unwell and went back to rest.”

Vera seemed to understand something, then she didn’t go after her brother, she turned around and stood on the high platform in the hall, looking around, then asked loudly,

“According to the news from the scout cavalry, the Menam family has combined forces with the Dawson family and they’re on their way to Winterfell City which they should reach in approximately three days. What does everybody think about this?”

When faced with the future Northern Duke’s query, everybody almost simultaneously turned their gazes toward Colin.

Obviously, they all knew who would be in charge of the North Territory in the future.

Colin then spoke without hesitation, “I think we should first secure the city and guard against it. Wait until the rebel army’s morale drops after a long failed siege, then we can look for opportunities to strike.”

Hearing this, Archbishop Agani’s elegant face furrowed, she then asked, “Viscount Angler, didn’t you previously think that we should take the initiative to go out of the city and have a decisive battle with the rebel army? Now why are you making such a conservative strategy, it doesn’t match the brave image of a Northern Knight like you.”

Colin curled his mouth slightly, secretly considering whether this archbishop truly understood military strategy, or whether she had ulterior motives.

“Archbishop Agani, it’s not that I’m afraid of war. Instead, it’s that I don’t think we should make the northern soldiers sacrifice needlessly. Since we have Winterfell City, a strong city as a barrier, why should we give up our own advantage and fight hard with the rebel army?”

Agani’s gaze swept over Viscount Walra who was silently standing at one side, then she opened her mouth and spoke again,

“Viscount Angler, I’m not doubting your strategy, instead, I think, with the dwarf rebel army humiliating us like this, even sending assassins to cruelly murder Count Uman, would hiding in the city cause dissatisfaction among some of our soldiers due to such hatred?”

Before Colin could respond, Viscount Walra took the initiative to speak,

“Please rest assured, archbishop. Although the soldiers of the Uman Clan wish to immediately avenge my father, we will certainly obey Miss Vera’s orders!”

Agani’s face suddenly showed a look of surprise, she was somewhat confused why the son of Count Uman would cooperate with Colin so well, even remaining unmoved towards her provocative comments.

But after this round of probing, Agani realized that she could no longer do anything.

Vera and Colin had fully seized control of Winterfell City, and it would be difficult for others to influence their decisions.

Although the City Defense Force was still in the hands of Knight Louis, with such a small force, it was impossible to change the situation.

Moreover, this knight, whose position has always been somewhat unstable, might have decided to throw his lot in wholeheartedly with Vera.

Thinking of this, Agani stopped talking.

Colin looked around and seeing that no one else disagreed, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction in his heart. Then, he opened his mouth and declared loudly,

“Please rest assured, everyone. I have written a letter and sent it back to Ice Rock City, ordering Knight Shar to lead the main force of the Dark Cavalry to the south, and they should be able to reach Winterfell City in a few more days.

In addition, Duke Modewen of the Half-Elf Kingdom will also lead the Silver Moon Guards to the south to jointly strike at the dwarf rebel army.

When they arrive, it will be the best time for us to take the initiative to strike and calm the northern rebellion!”

Colin’s words lit up the eyes of everyone in the conference hall.

Only then did they realize that the Angler family still had a force in Ice Rock City.

At that time, no one objected to Colin’s strategy anymore.

Moreover, their confidence in quelling the rebellion in the North Territory had become stronger than ever.

Vera and Colin exchanged a glance, then she proudly declared,

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the peace and security of the northern part of the Empire needs your guardianship.

I swear in the name of the sacred ancestors of the St. Hilde family that we will advance and retreat together, share in hardships!

Storms will eventually pass, and evil will definitely be defeated!

May the Lord of Glory grant us courage and witness our dedication!”

The girl’s crisp and powerful voice echoed in the conference hall, as if she already had a bit of the air of being the ruler of the North Territory.

Colin then knelt on one knee and shouted, “For the North Territory!”

Immediately, the knights in the hall also kneeled in response to the gesture.

Archbishop Agani’s gaze flickered, and in the end, she bent her straight waist and bowed towards Vera.

“For the North Territory!”