Several significant events have recently occurred in Fort Ness, the capital of the Horn Bay Alliance.
First, there was the kidnapping of Baroness Fennie, the sister-in-law of the Grand Duke of Eton, which almost jeopardized the agreents already negotiated between the Horn Bay Alliance and the Grand Duchy of Eton. Fortunately, the culprits were intercepted by the royal guards of Eton while trying to leave Fort Ness, rescuing Baroness Fennie, who had been held captive for several days. This allowed the negotiations between the two nations to continue. However, the specific identity of the culprits remains a mystery, as Eton has not disclosed it to the public.
Then there was the incident of the wolves howling. The wolves in the forest outside the city suddenly started howling collectively in the dead of night, reminding many locals of an ancient legend from a century ago. Parents began using this event to scare their children, warning them that if they didnt behave, they would be carried away by wolves. Fortunately, the wolves only howled for a short period and didnt attack human villages as described in the legends.
However, so were not so lucky. Several travelers and their horses, traveling at night, fell prey to the wolves, leaving behind only skeletal remains. The clothes and armor found on the remains suggested they were knights of the church. Evidence of significant wolf activity was also discovered in the area around them.
To calm the anxious populace and rchants, the city hall and the church both issued bounty missions, calling adventurers to hunt wolves outside the city. This led to an influx of adventurers in Fort Ness, signaling trouble for the local wolves.
Another major event was the Horn Bay Alliance extending invitations to rulers of many countries in the region to attend a multi-national conference in Fort Ness. The conference aid to reach a series of political and economic cooperation agreents, and preparations were being made in full swing.
Queller sensed his father, Marquis Foster, smiling more often lately.
Marquis Foster was, of course, pleased. The Grand Duke of Etons sister-in-law was found, and initially, the council was worried the Duke might leave over this incident. However, it seed their concerns were unnecessary. The Duke continued his stay in Fort Ness to negotiate with the council, planning to participate in the upcoming multi-national conference.
Especially significant was the Grand Duke of Etons growing disdain for the church. Initially hesitant about cooperating with other nations against the church, the Duke, during the latest round of talks, openly berated the church. He revealed two things: that the church was behind the kidnapping of his sister-in-law and that the plans to unite various nations against the church seed to have leaked. Yet, before he could even decide to join the alliance, the church resorted to such despicable tactics against him.
The young and impetuous Grand Duke of Eton was infuriated and decisively sided with the alliance, preparing to persuade other national leaders to resist the church at the upcoming conference.
However, for various reasons, the Grand Duchy of Eton had not yet publicly disclosed the churchs involvent in the kidnapping.
The mbers of the Alliance Council were overjoyed. The church had indeed shot itself in the foot. Plans leaked? So be it, as the growing rift between the two sides was becoming an open secret.
With less pressure from official affairs, Marquis Foster began to focus more on his private matters. He even made ti to et with Quik and several rchant representatives, praising the goods from the northwest and expressing hope for further cooperation.
The rchant representatives were flattered and surprised. It was their first ti eting such a high-ranking noble. Although in Horn Bay, anyone with money could play at being a noble, they were now eting a mber of the Alliance Council, a person wielding real power in the state.
They eagerly sought to ingratiate themselves with the Marquis, awkwardly complinting him in their newly learned Horn Bay language, embarrassing Captain Quik who was accompanying them.
During their stay, the rchant representatives experienced a cycle of joy and disappointnt. They thoroughly inspected the comrcial industry of Fort Ness, delighted by the imnse business opportunities but dismayed at how far behind the comrcial environnt of the Northwest Bay was in comparison.
After five days in Fort Ness, Captain Quik decided to return ho. Everyone hoped to be back in the Northwest Bay before the year-end festivities, as although Horn Bay was prosperous, it wasnt ho. Festivities were always more comfortable in ones hotown.
Ladi, are you really unwilling to stay by my side? Horn Bay is your hotown, after all. Ive heard that the area around Northwest Bay
In the back garden of the Eton Embassy, Duchess Helen once again tried to persuade her junior, Ladi, to stay.
Ladi had co to bid farewell, as the next day she would be leaving Horn Bay with her mother aboard the Southern.
I am now an advisor to Count Grayman, and leaving just a few months into the job would be too irresponsible. Besides, the atmosphere here
Sigh
Helen sighed, knowing that Ladi was referring to the churchs oppression. Even with her own sisters identity, they dared to act against them, leaving others even more vulnerable.
I wont force you to stay. Since youve found a life of your own, cherish it well.
Thank you, senior. You take care too.
Of course, I know my limits.
Ladi sister!
A little girl with chubby cheeks ran over, calling out to Ladi in a baby voice.
Here cos our little Fennie!
Ladi picked up the girl, twirling her around and planting a kiss on her rosy cheek.
Fennie, in a whiny voice, said, Sister said youre leaving. Dont go, please stay with ?
Helen sternly said, Fennie, dont be naughty. Sister Ladi has her own things to attend to.
Seeing the unwilling look on the little girls face, Ladi gently stroked her head, I will co back to visit you. Be a good girl and listen to your sister, okay?
With the opening of the shipping route between Northwestern Bay and Horn Bay, there would be more opportunities to travel between the two places, and traveling by boat was safer and faster than by land.
Okay, Fennie obediently nodded her head.
Her recent kidnapping had caused a lot of trouble for her sister and brother-in-law, resulting in the loss of several guards lives, leaving Fennie with a heavy psychological burden. Despite the unforeseeable nature of the incident, she blad herself, as her curiosity had led her to experint with her strange abilities in secret, inadvertently alerting those with ill intentions.
After playing with Fennie in the garden for a while, Ladi bid farewell to Helen.
You have a group of adventurer friends to say goodbye to, right? The companions you used to adventure with?
Yes, weve arranged to have dinner together tonight.
Go ahead, Ill be at the dock tomorrow morning to see you off.
Helen sent Ladi off from the embassy with reluctance.
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