200 Ice Dragon Duke (2)

“Until today?” William continued asking.

“Forever and ever,” Morton only replied indifferently.

“That’s… too cruel.”

William shook his head.

“It’s cruel to whom? You and your kind?” Morton asked.

“It’s too cruel for her,” William replied.

In William’s impression, Remides was an extremely restless person who yearned for adventure. This could be seen from the fact that she gave up her last name and embarked on the Vic Continent alone as a Ranger.

Politics didn’t suit her.

Moreover, an eternal rule wasn’t suitable for a mortal.

Morton didn’t reply. The three of them quickly walked along the silent corridor and crossed the entire atrium to a door made of copper.

William noticed that a faint mist was constantly drifting out from the crack in the door.

Mist Hall, the center of Moonlaw City. It was formerly the King of Mist’s throne room.

“In here?” William asked.

Morton didn’t say anything. Instead, he half-knelt in front of the door.

“Your Majesty, Bloodblade requests an audience.”

Although it’s the City of Mages, there isn’t even a guard outside? William muttered.

William suddenly realized a problem—it wasn’t just the guards. He hadn’t seen anyone else since they entered the castle.

…

“Bring whom up?”

Ward looked puzzled as he watched the Phoenix Guards leave.

“The person who was supposed to meet you in Isu City,” Remides replied tersely.

“Isu City? Who?” Ward repeated in confusion.

“An Eighth Order prophet and perhaps an ambassador of the empire’s royal family,”

Remides said. She looked at Ward’s puzzled expression and added, “The person who came to baptize you.”

“What baptism?”

“Then why did you destroy Isu City’s communication spell previously?”

Remides asked immediately when she saw that Ward didn’t look like he was joking.

As she asked, she placed her hand on the dragon crystal glass display cabinet where her loved bow, Glazed Moon, was. The constantly changing gorgeous colors on it began to fade layer by layer.

“The impeachment vote of the entire country overloaded and destroyed it. That’s an old spell that hasn’t been maintained for more than 30 years,”

Ward replied in confusion. He looked at Remides’s serious expression and continued,

“Even if I want to contact the Empire, I can’t be stupid enough to use the public spell facilities in the city, right?”

With a crack, the lid of the dragon crystal glass display cabinet automatically opened. Remides took out the crystalline bow that seemed to melt in the air at any moment.

“Then, what’s your way of contacting the empire?”

Remides held the bow that was bent like a crescent and hung the quiver embedded with dragon scales on her waist. Then, she pulled out an arrow and rolled it in her hand.

Ward grew up listening to Ranger stories. Looking at the Glazed Moon that was said to be able to down an adult dragon with a single arrow, he couldn’t help but gulp.

Therefore, Ward naturally didn’t dare to delay his answer.

“Smuggling ship. I’ve always been in contact with the empire through smuggling ships…”

“Will smuggling ships work for the empire?”

Everyone knew that most of the smuggling ships that had been traveling between the Ava State and the Vic Continent over the years didn’t have a harmonious relationship with the empire’s officials. After all, if they didn’t have a choice, who would be willing to risk the ship’s destruction and death on the endless stormy Shattered Sea?

Remides turned her head and glanced at the Mist Crown before placing her attention on the door of the collection room.

“They don’t know whom they’re working for. They’ve always thought that their biggest client is just a rich elven crafts enthusiast from Coldstone Province.” Looking at Remides’s actions, Ward quickly replied. Then, he asked nervously, “What happened?”

Remides didn’t answer his question and continued asking coldly, “If it’s not the Eighth Order, who are you working with, the empire?”

“I do have connections with the empire, but the empire is a very broad concept…” Ward replied.

“Get to the point.”

The arrow in her hand began to flicker with a dark-blue light.

“The biggest financier behind those smuggling ships is also our greatest trading partner over the years. He’s the current Ice Dragon Duke, Gray Riel, Empress Erin’s elder brother who was exiled to Cold Plains and is now protected by Coldstone Province.”

Although he didn’t know if this arrow would target him, Ward—who sensed the sharp killing intent—answered directly.

This time, Remides turned her head and looked at him. She stared at him for a long time until he felt his hair stand on end.

“You have to know that the relationship between siblings isn’t always that… harmonious?”

Ward, who couldn’t stand the stare, spread his hands and explained.

Remides fell silent for a moment before asking, “Is this why you keep insisting that our peace talks with the empire are a bargaining chip?”

“It’s also why I’ve always insisted on not fighting the empire head-on. I don’t believe we should risk our precious kinsmen’s lives with them. When the time comes, they will return obediently,” Ward replied helplessly.

“Then why didn’t you bring it up at the Mooncycle Conference?” Remides continued asking.

“Tell everyone that Gray Riel plans on snatching the throne? Am I crazy? If any of you leak this news to Platinum Palace—don’t tell me that none of you will. As long as this news gets back to Platinum Palace, my setup in Coldstone Province over the years will be ruined.”

Ward’s plan was very simple. He wanted to negotiate with the empire, but it wasn’t an empire ruled by Empress Erin, but an empire ruled by the future Emperor Gray.

If the empire wanted to completely devour Ava State, it needed at least three legions and at least three Divine Realm powerhouses to hold down the fort. Moreover, they had to be direct troops that Empress Erin absolutely trusted.

This way, Platinum Province would be left empty and hollow; Gray Riel could take advantage of the situation and snatch the throne that should have belonged to him in one fell swoop while the Ava State garrison couldn’t swiftly return.

Being key to this plan, the Ava State naturally had enough bargaining chips to bargain with the empire.

Ward revealed a puzzled expression again.

“So you don’t know my plan with Ice Dragon Duke? Then why did you capture me?”

Remides didn’t say a word. Instead, she frowned as if she was thinking about something.

“Do you think I’m cooperating with the Eighth Order?”

Remides didn’t answer Ward’s probe.

This confirmed Ward’s suspicions.

“Where did you obtain the Eighth Order’s information?” Ward continued asking.

Without waiting for the other party to answer, he said, “Morton Bloodblade, right?”

Remides nodded slowly.

“I’ve already said not to believe him. There’s nothing else in his mind other than war and honor. When the time comes…”

Whoosh!

Before Ward could finish speaking, an arrow grazed his cheek. The whistling wind instantly tightened his back, and cold sweat kept dripping down.

A tingling sensation came from his cheek, followed by the feeling of something warm slowly dripping along his cheek.

His mind went blank for a second or two before he turned to look at Remides, who had drawn her bow like a moon.

Then, he followed her gaze and looked behind him.

A Phoenix Guard was nailed to the wall.