Warhammer Divine Throne-Chapter 659 - 290, Jialan Grand Assembly (Part 2)_2

"The Beastmen want to eat more meat,

the lords want to build higher walls,

we build walls, they eat meat.

Let us pray,

that we build walls high enough,

and the Beastmen eat enough meat.

Otherwise, the Beastmen will eat our meat."

— A Northern Empire nursery rhyme, "High Walls and Meat"

The most striking battle is between the White Wolf Prince-Elector "One-eyed" Boris Todbringer and the Beastman Beast King "One-eyed" Kazik, during which both lost an eye and both swore to kill the other as quickly as possible.

Over seventy percent of the Midland Province is covered by Drakwald, with less than thirty percent of the land controlled by humans. The territories are fragmented and scattered. Hawk Territory only has some villages and cities along the southern Talabeck River, while the north is almost entirely covered by forests and mountains, making the capital, Hesige, frequently threatened by Beastmen and Chaos Warbands, often putting it in a state of emergency.

"Yes, monks of the Wolf Pack Order and a few White Wolf Knights led the patrol battalion to drive back several Beastman Warbands into the forest, ensuring they did not cause greater destruction." Veronica frowned as she held some letters: "Not only that, Hawk Territory is also facing harassment from both the Beastmen and Chaos Warbands from the Central Mountain Range. Recently... the actions of the Dark Forces have become increasingly frequent."

Veronica nodded slowly, thinking to herself that it was fortunate that Laine's foster father Norman's territory Autene is near White Wolf City, as it offers relatively secure protection.

This topic was quite heavy, and none of the female council members wanted to continue discussing it. Philis forced a smile and said, "By the way, Veronica, I heard that over in Count Glamorgan's domain, you never have to worry about law enforcement issues?"

"Laine is too strong, as is his army. The Beastmen and Green Skins are always slaughtered whenever he encounters them." Teresa answered the question as if claiming credit: "A few months ago, Laine organized an army to enter the forest and eliminate the Beastmen and Green Skin tribes, beheading thousands."

Laine has garnered countless military achievements along the way. He has the ability to accomplish this, and neither Noel nor Philis doubted it. Even among the older generation of Empire's strong men, few can compare with Laine now. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"The situation in Brittania is somewhat different from the Empire. There are quite a few Holy Grail Knights there, and the strongest Holy Grail Knight can even single-handedly repel a small Beastman Warband, so the law enforcement situation is relatively better." Veronica stated a fair point, but everyone could still see the hint of joy in her expression.

Having a reliable man is really great.

After chatting a while longer, Noel and Philis decided to take their leave. They could tell that Teresa and Veronica had something to discuss: "Then we'll go ahead, Veronica. We'll definitely visit your Wizard Tower if we have the chance."

"Of course, you're welcome anytime. Thank you, Noel, Philis." Veronica stood up and presented two gifts: Wood Elf Perfume and Dwarf-crafted soft armor: "Please accept them."

"Thank you!" The two witches didn't refuse. They understood Veronica's character, and both Noel and Philis were delighted to accept the gifts, as Wood Elf items were extraordinarily rare in the Empire.

After Noel and Philis closed the door and left, Veronica looked at the closed door, turned around with a faint smile on her sweet face, her beautiful apricot eyes gleaming with interest: "It's really unexpected that you'd come to find me, Miss Trovik."

"I thought there was a need for communication between us, Veronica." Teresa glanced around Veronica's room, which was extremely bare, with hardly anything of value besides a few clothes and books.

However, the sorceress quickly realized that Veronica had already transferred all her assets to the Dawn Wizard Tower. She coughed lightly to cover her slight embarrassment: "Ahem... Congratulations on joining the Elder Council."

"That's really not something I'd expect to hear from you, Miss Trovik." Veronica looked somewhat mockingly at her as the Jialan Witch appraised Teresa's attire: "Leather jacket, skin-tight leather pants, you really do have a strong presence. Good, it suits you."

This sounded like a compliment, but Teresa felt she could hear sarcasm and tension in it, and she retorted: "Jialan doesn't believe in tears. We are all independent individuals, there's no need for you to mock me about this. What I choose to wear is my business."

"Yes, indeed, it's your business." Veronica continued with a mocking tone: "Then why doesn't our Miss Trovik become a thoroughly independent individual? Why do you need a man? If you want a man, they're everywhere, why fixate on my man?"

"Laine is not yours!" Teresa stood up instinctively, a little anger in her voice: "At most, you just knew him first!"

"Ha, you still know I met Laine first?" Veronica was too tired to argue with Teresa anymore. Who stole whose man had become a muddled affair that couldn't be sorted out: "Don't you have any sense of shame, my little princess?"

Teresa felt as if her blood was rushing to her head. Veronica, this woman who climbed out from the witch apprentice army, had an exceedingly sharp tongue, so cutting yet without a single curse.

But instead, the sorceress calmed down: "I didn't come to argue with you. I know you want to provoke me. I won't let you get to me."

This surprised Veronica.

"...I see now, Miss Trovik, you have indeed made progress." Veronica nodded after closely examining Teresa for a few moments: "I would never consult someone who is hot-tempered and excessively proud. But from what I see now, Laine has indeed changed you to some extent."

"People change, both actively and passively." Teresa shook her head and stood up: "Do you have anything else to do next? We could go to Ilona's restaurant for dinner together this evening."

"I need to meet Elder Calerona first." Veronica picked up her small bag: "You can join me to meet Calerona, or wait for me at Ilona's restaurant."

"I'll go with you," Teresa got up, and the two witches left the room together.

Voices of witches and witch apprentices filled the stone-paved corridor. The Celestial Vault Castle was hosting a grand assembly, so the two didn't attract much attention from others. During this time, the witches constantly engaged in numerous interactions and negotiations, making it a period full of intrigue, where quiet whispers and clandestine rendezvous took place in the secluded pavilions.

"Why are you meeting Elder Calerona? He's quite a difficult man to deal with." Teresa commented as they walked.

Calerona is a Holy Sanctuary Grand Mage originally from the Northern Empire and is one of only three Holy Sanctuary Grand Mages in the Jialan Council. However, unlike Margarita or Aurora, this female Grand Mage of the Death and Alchemy elements is not as approachable; she is eccentric and brooding. She rarely leaves her laboratory, only emerging to bring destruction to enemies.

"She has asked me to find Laine's help with some matters." Veronica frowned, her heel tapping rhythmically on the floor: "The Supreme Grandmaster of the Demon Hunter Guild, the legendary strongest Demon Hunter, Ernst, has come to the Jialan Council."

"Ernst... the legendary strongest Demon Hunter..." Teresa felt a sense of insignificance upon hearing the name. This was the legendary figure who had become famous over hundreds of years in the Old World, born during the Three Emperors Era, had experienced the Vampire War and Great Holy War, and had survived to this day.

"""