Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest-Chapter 393 - 23: The Last Conquest Expedition

Pine remained silent, for the family motto of Fury was to be wordless.

He witnessed the death of Iao III, but never had he so cherished Iolion. Fury and the Church Court were utterly defeated in the political struggle and could only forcibly wage war, using unjust means to destroy Iolion.

Iota Hina was more outstanding than her predecessors, launching a surprise raid that nearly crushed the Holy War Army, holding out until reinforcements arrived.

Both of them had the demeanor of a king, yet Iaoonis did not.

A true king would never become a puppet manipulated by others, for within them lies the entire land.

"Your Majesty, they’re merely a spent force." The Duke consoled the weakened King, as nothing in the Black Iron Court escaped his sight.

Yet he hadn’t anticipated that Iaoonis would be so frightened.

The White Steel Princess possessed great talent, but even stronger than her talent was Tashina’s will.

Iolion might have been persuaded to remove the crown, but there was no possibility for the White Steel Princess to yield.

In her eyes burned the flames of war, and she rode a pure white warhorse, intent on emulating the great former king to save this land.

But, oh, proud and strong child, have you ever considered that even the great former king could make mistakes? thought the Duke of Furious Tide. How much I wished this could be resolved peacefully and appropriately, but you and your father are blinded by the glory of the Conquerors.

If Iolion were to remove the Black Iron Crown and lift the blockade on the Church Court, then how would they come to arms?

He would risk his life to protect the master of the Black Iron Throne, never allowing the Church Court to wreak vengeance upon the Conqueror Family.

Yet both father and daughter are extreme.

Iolion was like this, never wavering even with enemies at the gates.

Iota Hina even more so, unyielding even as order crumbled, young and impetuous, not realizing that when the wind blows against the mountain, only the wind shatters.

Even if the former king were alive, he could not change the course of fate.

No one understood this better than him.

A century ago, Iaoonus conquered the nations because he went with the flow, whereas now, it was against the tide.

Human strength cannot oppose the great tide. It cannot calm the deep sea whirlpool, nor can it stop the Dark Age.

But no matter what, he always believed that a new king would emerge from the ancient bloodline of Ao, illuminating the land just like the Conqueror of old.

"A spent force can still kill," said Iaoonis. As king, he was quite content, sharing his bed with young women and matronly ladies, yet each time he thought of Tashina, that cold woman like a steel knife, his three legs would go weak, having feared that strong elder sister since childhood.

The Black Iron Land now had two Black Iron Kings, both of royal descent, of pure lineage.

Iaoonis was extremely reluctant to enter a conflict with Tashina, truly a matter of life and death.

But he had no choice; he knew upon whom he must rely.

Pine said, "Your Majesty, I swear to protect the Black Iron Throne. As long as you sit upon it, no one shall threaten your life."

"What should we do about Tashina and the Blasphemers?"

"There will be those to handle them."

Just then, the chamberlain rushed into the council hall to report, "Prime Minister, Your Majesty, Lord Gael has arrived."

The Grand Duke of Riptide bore the Immortal Shield.

His face was increasingly lined, and he followed the chamberlain into the council hall.

Upon seeing Gael, Pine immediately said, "I’ve received intelligence that Tana only took a small number of elite Oak soldiers with her, suggesting that Ryan does not support her, which is reassuring."

Pine said, "But Roman will surely help her; that young man is shrouded in a thick fog of mystery."

"Let them perish together in the Valley. I will head east to salvage that country torn by war."

Upon seeing Gael with the Immortal Shield as if about to depart, Iaoonis mustered his courage and said, "Uncle Gael, what about the Northern Front? The foreign tribes are still eyeing us."

Pine said, "You have made your decision."

Gael nodded, "The Pope also supports my decision, but I am not fighting for the Church Court. This will be the Riptide Family’s final conquest expedition—in the name of the Conqueror, in the name of Alster."

Pine gazed at Gael, his blue eyes awash with hidden currents, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Finally, he only said, "Take care."

The Duke of Split Armor said, "I have family legacy; those barbarians and their faith pose no threat to me."

What Alster had promised as family legacy before his passing returned to its rightful place during the war of the kings unexpectedly, leading Gael to wonder if his father had foreseen this outcome.

To this day, he still had no answer.

The power he once longed for lay in his hands; he fought against the North Ice Pirates but was constantly hampered. He drove out the highland barbarians but faced setbacks due to divided focus.

He was of the ancient Ao bloodline, nearly seventy yet appearing very aged, his face growing increasingly solemn, a shadow looming over him.

His lifespan remained lengthy, yet he felt that time was short as the world changed too swiftly. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Bookmarked as the Duke of Riptide, he said, "Pine... wait for me to return, I have some questions to ask you and the Pope."

He didn’t mention what questions these were and just left, shield-burdened, heavy and solitary.

The Duke of Furious Tide watched Gael’s departing figure, his eyes still, his face rugged as underwater rocks, his presence statue-like in silence.

Iaoonis, sensing the atmosphere was strange, cautiously said, "Prime Minister, the dragon problem in the north hasn’t settled, and Uncle Gael has gone east; what about the Blasphemers and Tashina? You must think of a solution."

After a moment’s silence, the Duke of Furious Tide replied, "Your Majesty, the Church Court will deal with the Dragon Clan, you need not worry. My child, Makor, will go to the Valley to exterminate the Blasphemers’ forces, nipping them in the bud."

"Is it just Makor?" Iaoonis exclaimed in surprise.

Even in his ignorance, he knew the Blasphemers couldn’t be easily eradicated.

Pine’s eyes surged like the tide, deep as the sea, and he said, "Not just him. I will inform Tana they don’t know the true nature of power; unaware that by your decree, they would be reduced to ashes... some things require no direct intervention from us."

...

In the following ten days, Roman continued his recruitment efforts daily.

The results were mixed.

High Star Level Angel Envoys were either from Black Iron and White Knights or Oak elite soldiers, already affiliated.

Roman’s new Angel Envoys were of lower star levels, only barely usable with investment and enhancement.

The problem was that Roman had few resources left now.

Origin City had been mining all kinds of resources, but the output of extraordinary resources was hard to boost.

It would take until next year or the year after to fully cultivate all potential Angel Envoys from this recruitment round.

If no solution were found, Roman would just have to wait.

Yet it wasn’t that there was no way.

Roman turned his gaze to Tashina in the military camp.

The White Steel Princess, lavishly wealthy, after the defeat at the Heavenly Pegasus Plain, had tactically retreated—taking everything movable from the Black Castle Palace.

That was wealth the Black Iron Royal Family had plundered over a hundred years!

A veritable super-rich woman!

Your Highness the Princess, since we’re allied now, do splash out some gold coins.

...