I Ascend to the Divine Throne through Arcane Means

Count Solo's Territory, Northwind City.

It was a large city located deeply in the northern territory of the Feis Kingdom, and the core of Count Solo's land.

The reason it was not named after the ruling family, like Kuka City, was that Northwind City had already stood against the cold winds of the north for many years before the first Count Solo was enfeoffed there. It also happened to be an extremely important city on the northern trade routes.

The castle of Count Solo was situated on a small hill at the southern edge of Northwind City, its dark grey walls showing signs of weathering from the desolate winter winds.

Within the castle's secret study.

Ignos stood at attention to one side, covered in dust and looking exhausted as if he had just gone through an extensive journey.

Indeed, this was the case. After receiving permission from Lis to leave the Feis merchant caravan, Ignos didn't even glance at Rashid, joining Mage Xirui in rushing directly to Northwind City.

Pushing their horses hard and traveling day and night, Ignos completed in two days what would have taken the caravan five days.

Without even time to catch his breath, Ignos handed the faint Mage Xirui over to the servants of the castle and went straight to Count Solo.

Ignos had just finished reporting everything that had happened without any omission, even sharing his own feelings in full detail.

Ande Solo was reclining on a sofa, listening to Ignos's account.

This was the current Count Solo, who appeared to be in his prime at forty years old. If Lis were here, he would have known that this man was actually around sixty years old.

Because he was a Gold Ranked Martial Monk who had reached the 'Returning to the Truth' realm!

And when his appearance seemed that of a twenty-year-old youth, it would mean that he had broken through to the Legendary Domain.

Just like the "Broken Mountain" Avin Dern.

Ande rubbed his temples, feeling somewhat of a headache.

He took a Danaman cigar from the box, but this time, he did not light it, instead tapping it in his hand.

Ignos remained silent, just standing quietly to the side.

The room was so quiet that only some faint breathing sounds and the howl of the north wind through the window gaps could be heard.

The unique fragrance of the cold ironwood bookshelves from the northern territory of Feis Kingdom and the books upon them filled the study, casting an even more tranquil atmosphere.

After a long time, Ande Solo finally spoke to Ignos:

"Sit down. You've had a tough journey rushing back here."

Ignos bowed slightly upon hearing this but did not sit down to rest.

As the chief steward of the Solo family, maintaining strict discipline was his rule.

Ande didn't mind, knowing the character of his steward who had followed him since childhood. Shaking his head, he said:

"You did well, there are no problems."

"After learning about the numerous events in Bright City, I wrote specifically to my teacher."

"This Marquis Kane is even more complicated than I had imagined!"

Ande sighed, lit the cigar in his hand, took a gentle puff, leaned back into the sofa, and slowly exhaled the pale blue smoke.

"Ignos, prepare some gifts, something valuable,"

"Arrange for someone to send them to Viscount Kuka, and cancel Lena's engagement."

"Who would have thought that Marquis Kane would come to the Northern Territory at this time, could something big be happening?"

Ande couldn't help but pay attention. As far as he knew, Marquis Kane was deeply involved in all those major incidents that occurred in Bright City. What special matter would bring him to the Northern Territory at the time when the Feis Kingdom declared war on the Boditch Kingdom?

It shouldn't be the case. If there were something, his teacher would have specifically admonished him.

Truly, when it rains, it pours~

Ande sighed, feeling the headache intensify.

To be honest, he didn't really care about the engagement. If his eldest son Lena hadn't been so engrossed in Spellcraft that it consumed him, he would not have agreed to the marriage with the daughter of Viscount Kuka.

After all, that boy Lena was over forty and still unmarried, almost treating Spellcraft as his wife.

"Also, you said that Lis Kain will arrive in Northwind City in five days?"

"Yes, that's what Roque, the person in charge of the Feis caravan, told me; it should be in three days."

Ignos nodded and replied.

"Prepare the dinner, I would like to invite Marquis Kane to attend."

Ande instructed indifferently, since Lis would be arriving in a few days, it would be an opportunity for a minor test.

"Yes, Lord Ande."

Ignos nodded to show he understood and then hesitantly asked:

"Lord Ande, what about Master Lena..."

"Don't worry about him."

Ande said irritably:

"The engagement is off, he should be happier now, that kid."

Even though Lena was already forty, to Ande he was still an unmarried brat.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Understood, Lord Ande. Then I'll go make arrangements."

Ignos bowed, gently closed the door, and left the study.

Spying on Dillon Kingdom's movements?

Ande sighed and frowned.

Alas, the task the teacher arranged was really not an easy one!

-----------------

Northwind City, a certain basement.

"Lord Seth, what brings you to Northwind City?"

The middle-aged man dressed in civilian clothes ushered Seth, who was wrapped tightly in a black cloak, into the house and asked quietly.

"Uer, this is a mission assigned by His Majesty the King and Lord Anna, no more questions needed."

The deep tone of Seth carried a hint of warning.

"Yes, Lord Seth, it was impertinent of me."

Uer quickly bowed and apologised.

Seth was his direct superior, the head of Dillon Kingdom's espionage organization based in the northern territory of Feis Kingdom; Uer naturally didn't dare to disobey.

"Bring me all the intelligence you've gathered recently, especially concerning the movements of Bright City and the nobles in the northern territory."

Seeing Uer's obedient demeanor, Seth nodded and instructed.

"Yes, my lord."

Uer replied immediately, but then seemed hesitant.

"Lord Seth, the previous reports are stored here, but the intelligence from the other outposts for the last two months has not yet arrived, this..."

Seth furrowed his brows; Northwind City's intelligence outpost was somewhat special. Due to its unique geographical location, all intelligence from Dillon Kingdom's outposts in the southern part of the Northern Territory were sent here before being passed back to the Kingdom's interior.

Lord Anna had instructed him to bring back all the recent intelligence, and missing this part wouldn't be right.

"How long will it take to gather everything?"

Upon hearing this, Uer promptly replied:

"I'll inform them now. I estimate that the farthest outpost will only take about five days to send the information here."

Five days, that's acceptable, certainly better than personally retrieving the intelligence from those outposts.

Although most of the intelligence gathered by each outpost was of no use, often the most critical intelligence hid within seemingly trivial matters.

This was what Seth had learned from his years of experience in intelligence work.

Experience tales with empire

"Then I will wait a few days. Bring me all the intelligence you have for now; I want to review it first."

"Yes, Lord Seth."