Chapter 235 – Mark
This may be the last time Wolfgang and the others meet face-to-face.
The first topic brought up at such an important occasion was the concern for the safety of the party.
What that fact means is not difficult.
It must mean that there is a high possibility that direct harm will be done to the party leaving the land of frost.
Bjorn calmly placed his arms on the table.
He continued to explain in a calm voice.
“I came to meet an old friend. We were pretty close. But he’s changed… So much.”
“What if it’s your best friend?”
“Chief Angorn Sigbaldi. He’s the current leader of the alliance. There’s no need to hide it from you guys.”
It was a story that passed lightly like water flowing, but the weight contained in it was enormous.
“What? Did Uncle Angorn do anything wrong to Dad? I can’t help him…”
“Daughter, calm down. We’ll talk about that later.”
Perhaps they already knew each other, Astrid’s eyes suddenly sharpened.
Leaving her furious at her sense of betrayal behind her, her companions immersed themselves in her own thoughts.
Angorn Sigbaldi.
There was not a single person present who did not know his name.
“Uh… Sigbaldi? Could it be that he’s the one I know? Boo, it’s clearly listed in the convent’s textbook. He was Kagan’s number one henchman.”
“That’s a name I’ve heard of too. You must have said that he was a very strong guy, right?”
Ophelia stammering with her mouth open, and Lazarus showing deep interest.
Even the two rather ignorant people knew his name.
Although he received separate training before embarking on this operation, apart from that, Commander Sigbaldi’s prestige was widely known to the people of the empire.
“That’s the Angorn you know. He didn’t take it very well when I told him my thoughts.”
“Hmm. Is that okay…”
“It’s not okay, but what can I do? The bowstring has already been pulled.”
Of course, the most famous Northerner in the Empire is a Kagan, a rare transcendental being known throughout history, famous for having a mythical duel with a great general.
It was Angorn who was notorious enough to be compared to that kagan.
In the Empire, he is called the ‘vanguard of ambition’.
Human beings naturally feel more intense emotions and give meaning to objects that are somewhat closer than those who are too far away. The same goes for feelings of disgust.
Some even go so far as to single out Kagan as the culprit of the war.
For veterans Wolfgang and Scarlett, it goes without saying that he is a particularly unpleasant presence.
“Hmm…”
“Hey Chief, thank you for telling me. Aren’t you the one who should be more careful than us? We can just walk away and that’s it. But you guys have to keep coming face to face with them.”
It was Scarlett who continued the conversation by sticking her head out next to Wolfgang, who was quietly frowning.
She has the best brain among the party and is the actual staff member.
It was natural to question what had already happened and its aftermath.
“You don’t have to worry about that part, mage lady. At least you won’t be able to act outwardly, even on the outside. Angorn, he’s a cunning friend. You’ve already noticed that we have an ally we can’t ignore. That’s it.”
“Wait, an ally we can’t ignore…? Could that be us?”
“You’re not the only one. There are already numerous tribes who have doubts about the effectiveness of the alliance and agree with me. It’s enough to fight head-to-head with the existing alliance.”
“Well, I’m glad that’s the case…”
After that, the meeting went on and on.
Bjorn and Wolfgang’s party kept a close eye on Wolfgang as they talked about the secret pact between the Empire and the Frosttooth tribe.
I did come back a bit, though.
After all, the fundamental purpose of this seat is to organize the future direction.
Somehow, the relationship between the two powers has become so complex that it cannot be summarized in just a few words.
It was Wolfgang who had to decide what form it would last.
He was the leader of the party.
All the big and small incidents that happened in the polar regions were also from him.
As the meeting came to a close, Bjorn cleared his throat and stared at Wolfgang.
“Kuhmm. Well, anyway… As promised to you, the Frosttooth tribe and I will fully cooperate with the Empire. However, even if we don’t dare to ask for a price, this is a sure proof that we can be relieved of the many threats we will face in the future. Need it.”
After a not-so-short talk, Bjorn’s side eventually presented its own conclusions.
Scarlett, who had been quietly listening to him, also nodded in agreement with him.
Did she accept it as a requirement that was understandable enough even for her picky nature?
“It’s definitely not wrong. Once you’ve created a local ally, you definitely need to give them a breather. This is a matter of efficiency rather than recognition, so you have to think about it seriously.”
“I see. Evidence…”
After a long silence, Wolfgang finally nodded.
Needless to say, he hadn’t been wasting his time sitting idly by all this time.
The fact that he finally responded must mean that he had finished organizing his thoughts in his own way.
Instead of answering, he called out to Astrid.
“Hey, Astrid.”
“Eh? Me?”
Then it was she who twisted her hair and opened her eyes wide.
The only reason he was forcibly putting the contents of the meeting into his head even though he couldn’t hide his boredom was because of his duty and face as a tribal chief.
Such a serious meeting in the first place. It was a bit of a tough spot for her, her natural warrior.
That’s why she thought that no matter what was said in the middle, there would be nothing to do.
He was taken aback when his name was called.
Besides, the appearance of Wolfgang with such a serious face in front of Astrid’s eyes.
It was embarrassing for no reason, but I was embarrassed for some reason and wanted to avoid looking at her.
“Take it. It’s yours now.”
“Uh…?”
Staring at her, Wolfgang took out her golden veil from her bosom and held it out towards her.
Then Astrid hardened on the spot like a stone statue.
The eyes of the people in the left widened all at once.
“Oh oh!”
In particular, Chief Bjorn had an emotional expression on his face, as if he was about to shed tears.
To Wolfgang himself, his reaction was just astonishing.
‘Why are you doing that?’
Wolfgang just came up with the neatest solution to the current situation.
One sure sign will be more effective than a promise of a hundred words.
For him as a soldier, entrusting the rank insignia to someone else is a sign of absolute trust.
In addition, the rank insignia of high-ranking generals is a kind of artifact and even has numerous functions.
“This insignia will be the link between me and the Frosttooth Clan from now on. I leave it to you.”
“That, that… Are you serious?”
“Yes. I’ll tell you how to use the communication function from now on. Press the big star in the center 3 short times, 3 long times, and then 3 short times again. Then, brief communication is possible with a few set signals… “
No matter how expensive and precious it is, what if it could leave a token of affection for the Frosttooth tribe and even secure an emergency contact line?
It was Wolfgang who thought that this was enough business.
However, there was one important fact he didn’t know.
“Why are you doing this? Hurry up and don’t accept it.”
“Well, I went all the way with you anyway. I-I don’t think it’s going to change anything if I receive something like this.”
—Wow!
Contrary to his blunt words, Bjorn wiped away tears as he explained behind Astrid, who was holding Wolfgang’s rank insignia in her arms.
“In our tribe, a man handing a woman an accessory is a sign of marriage. It’s really emotional. My daughter is finally…”
“What?! No, wait.”
Hehe…! Now I can really call you son-in-law. What could be a clearer proof and answer than this. Thank you so much, son-in-law! I never thought you would take my daughter so seriously…!”
For Wolfgang, it was a dumbfounded thing to do.
How could he have known the unique wedding culture of the Frosttooth tribe?
However, the mood had already come too far to turn back.
“Heh, this isn’t quite as bad as I thought. It’s not really bad. It might be a little… Good…”
Astrid blushes like a girl and can’t hide her liking.
Beside him, Bjorn shed tears of emotion.
And,
—Goooh…
“We’ll talk later.”
“Ha, that’s the worst. Really…”
Ophelia and Scarlet, in contrast, had a distinctly brooding aura.
There were minor incidents in the middle, but the final negotiations were completed successfully anyway.
The last night in the Frosttooth tribe ended just like that.
* * *
Similar perspective.
In front of the eyes of Angorn Sigbaldi, the chief of the Nidhoeg tribe and the head of the alliance, a dark demonic spirit swayed and a figure appeared swaying.
[Meet the Left of Wrath]
“It’s rhetoric. Just the main point.”
Angorn, who stood tall with her arms folded with her figure at her feet as she bowed her head towards herself, frowned at her as if she was deeply displeased, but she couldn’t help it.
Their help is essential to punish those who seduced his friends astray.
“Are they still in this land?”
[Yes that’s right]
—Fast…
In an instant, blood vessels rose on the calm middle-aged man’s face, and then it was distorted like a demon.
“Never let a single one live.”
