"Luo Xier."
"Well, what's wrong, Frosia?"
Wearing the performance dress she had not yet changed out of, Loran Hill looked back at her companion beside her. They were currently in the dressing room at the back of the venue.
"The performance is over." Frosia walked to the window and looked at the clear and bright moon in the sky.
"Yes."
"Actually, I mean I'm afraid I won't be able to stay in Emenas for much longer." Frosia's voice sounded somewhat melancholy.
"What happened?" Loranhill looked at the half-elf girl.
"There will be other arrangements at home." Frosia turned her head, her golden hair revealing a faint silver color in the moonlight.
"Will you come back?" the girl asked.
"I don't know." Frosia shook her head.
"What do you think?" Loran Hill guessed the arrangement of the Landsworth family. The eldest daughter of the Grand Duke of Unicorn is now very famous in the upper echelons of Cangcui.
"I will follow my father's arrangements."
Unlike those naive and willful young ladies, Frosia is not the type to abandon her responsibilities. This marriage not only concerns her personally, but also the future arrangements of the Landsworthy family and several provinces in the eastern part of the empire.
The vast conflicts of interest and factional struggles within the court were not something she could simply ignore. Compared to the powerful Griffin Duke and Raven Duke, the Landsworth family had always been more moderate, which earned them a good reputation but also made it difficult for them to forcefully reject the royal family's request.
"Enjoy your time on campus." Loran Hill hugged his friend.
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Two years later, war broke out again in the seven countries of Xuehua. Driven by the promises and interests of Frost Rose, the Falcon Kingdom chose to stand with it.
After the death of the previous Pope of the Holy Land, the priests and clergy in the country were divided into several factions due to disputes. Fortunately, because of the same faith, they maintained superficial peace for the time being.
But the situation is different in the Black Rock Principality in the north. The battle between the "Bow Hunting Faction" and the "Long Spear Faction" has reached the point of brandishing swords.
Witz County, under the city wall.
This majestic city, built on the mountainside, stands tall and majestic, situated at the junction of plains and hills. Its fortress is topped with tall arrow towers and watchtowers, overlooking the vast grassland plain to the west.
The city, which was originally used to defend against enemies on the plains to the west, now faces its compatriots in the mountains behind.
On the other side of the mountains, catapults were set up, and a teeth-grinding twisting sound was heard. Heavy boulders were driven by long wooden arms and rose into the air, drawing a high parabola and flying towards the black city in the distance.
In the valley below, several columns holding round shields rushed towards the city wall under the command of the commander.
Brush, brush, brush——
The sound of dense rain of arrows came from the sky. Archers hiding behind the city walls shot arrows one after another. These arrows carried sharp whistling sounds, pierced the sky, fell like black rain, penetrated one shield after another, and nailed the charging enemies in the valley to the ground.
"hateful!"
The siege commanders on the hillside watched the scene, angrily raised the whips in their hands, and swung them heavily in the air to vent their anger.
Compared with the 'Long Spear Faction' that attacked the city, the 'Hunting Bow Faction' that defended the city had many hunters who were originally from the mountains. They had superb archery skills and were numerous, far exceeding the 'Long Spear Faction' that fought outside.
Although not all citizens of the Black Rock Principality are soldiers, the proportion of people who make combat their profession far exceeds that of other countries. Therefore, this small mountain country can still occupy a seat among the seven countries of Xuehua.
Their ancestors had built a city here under the order of the dynasty to monitor the orcs on the grassland and prevent them from growing stronger and moving southward, threatening human settlements.
As the Mercury Dynasty fell apart, the black legions stationed in the north lost their former goals and no longer had supplies from the heartland of the dynasty. Due to insufficient food and supplies, some people left and went to live in the south, while others began to survive in the mountains. They tried planting, hunting, fishing, etc. Finally, some people started to work as mercenaries.
Originally a frontier army of the Mercury Dynasty, their excellent military training and traditions, good discipline and cost-effective strength quickly made this group of mercenaries from the mountains famous throughout the world.
Many years later, the countries on this land were naturally called mercenary countries by outsiders.
But in fact, those who hold power in the Black Rock Principality are not the mercenaries who are away all year round, but the residents who live in the mountains and by the lake all year round. They make a living by hunting, fishing, and a small amount of planting. At the same time, they are also rich because of the wealth brought by their compatriots who are mercenaries outside. After all, fighting outside, life and death are uncertain, so many people will still send money back home so that they can feel at ease.
With money, people naturally yearn for a better life, but everything in the mountains is not cheap, so wealth slowly flows to these domestic "bow hunters". They control the ownership of a large amount of land and mountains and make a living from it.
In the past, the two factions, one external and one internal, had occasional friction, but the conflicts were minor and they could still get along well. With the establishment of Clansia, mercenaries were no longer needed in the country, and were replaced by a professional army.
Under these circumstances, many mercenaries lost their jobs and gradually returned home. Since then, the conflict between the "Long-Spear Faction" and the "Hunting Bow Faction" has become increasingly serious. So much so that today, the "Long-Spear Faction" has finally erupted. They are unwilling to let the "Hunting Bow Faction" control most of the country's industry and land, and they are eager to gain their own interests.
Under the black banners, spears and shields stood in rows. The leaders of the various mercenary organizations united and attacked the Elders' Association in the country, confiscating the assets of the "bow hunting faction" and moving out boxes of gold, silver, grain, and stored food.
The lucrative profits stimulated these mercenaries who used to live on the edge of a knife. They banged on the city gates one after another until they arrived at the central city of the principality, which was the legion fortress that guarded the border in the past.
The Bow Hunters, who were forced to withdraw their defenses, also gathered here. Although there were not many warriors among them, they had a large number of local supporters and population. Through emergency recruitment and training, they formed combat teams.
As descendants of the same legion and fellow countrymen of these mercenaries, although they have neglected practice, it is not very difficult for them to master these war skills again.
Relying on the mountains and barriers, the defenders in the city attacked the rebellious enemies below. The arrows stored in the city were still made according to the standards of the former dynasty. They were well-made and had a few enchantments. They could easily penetrate those thin armors, causing heavy losses to these mercenaries.
As the rain of arrows covered the area and left many corpses, the commanders of the "Long Spear Faction" had to pause and recall the army.
Perhaps they were awaiting the arrival of promised new weapons from distant allies.
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