Chapter 169: Debate

"So, Uncle, you are really going to lead troops to support the Knights of Bretonnia?" After hearing Sinuoli's report, Princess Pamila was in a good mood; her marriage, which had taken a year, was finally officially settled.

"Indeed, since Lord Luoleike has spoken to that extent, I cannot decline!" Sinuoli nodded.

"I wish you a triumphant victory! I believe that under the gaze of the Mother Goddess, nothing can withstand your Storm Hammer." Although she herself was not present as the bride-to-be, she had naturally been watching the challenge from the shadows the previous night.

Now, Pamila had great confidence in Sinuoli's strength; in her view, it was perfectly reasonable for the Mother Goddess's grace to incidentally boost his combat power, and this was indeed close to the truth.

"Regarding that Doom Anvil, I must trouble you to put in some extra effort! To say nothing else, I have no confidence in dealing with those walking dead; we must rely heavily on the power of such a treasure to deal with spellcasters!" Sinuoli did not stand on ceremony and began to discuss the serious business directly.

Princess Pamila had presumably chatted quite a bit with Prince Sitelinge after the banquet ended yesterday; she had verified the truth of Sinuoli's previous words and had become much more enthusiastic because of it.

"I dare not give you a guarantee, but my confidence is not small now!" Princess Pamila could not easily make a promise to Sinuoli regarding such an important matter; this was the first major issue since they met, and whether it succeeded or not would have a great impact on their future uncle-in-law and sister-in-law relationship.

In any Dwarf society, the sibling relationship is of vital importance, and coupled with the potential future collaborative relationship between the Lord and the Rune Master, Princess Pamila was very concerned about Sinuoli's affairs.

After revealing his top price, Sinuoli took his leave; he had to return to his room to rest for a while. Tomorrow night was New Year's Eve, and given his status, he was destined to be drunk until the world went dark. The night after tomorrow—sigh, better not to mention it—he would have to worry about the war again.

After Sinuoli left, Pamila sought out her younger brother, Prince Sitelinge, and the two went together to the living quarters of Lord Luoleike and his wife.

"Father, I want to go to Karaz-a-Karak to escort my sister to her wedding!" Prince Sitelinge came straight to the point.

"And then, and then stay there to study for ten or twenty years?" Lord Luoleike blew a smoke ring and furrowed his brows.

"I told you, no! You need to stay here, stay in Kalake-Zifulin, the place where you, I, and our Clan ancestors fought and pioneered! Learn how to take over for me and become a qualified Lord." His attitude remained just as firm.

"Then why can Sister..." Sitelinge was interrupted before he could finish.

"I have said it many times! She is a girl and will eventually be married off, but you are different; you are to inherit the Clan and the Shanbao! We have ruled here for generations!" Lord Luoleike tapped his left vambrace, Mountain Breaker, with his pipe.

"You are still in the prime of your life!"

"You still have much to learn! Before, you were only busy learning the craft of Runes; do you know how to arrange troops? Do you understand how to handle conflicts between clans?" The Dwarf Lord began to nag.

"Pamila, stop instigating your brother!" Seeing that Princess Pamila was about to speak again, Lord Luoleike blocked her words in advance.

"It is a good thing to become a Rune Lord, but you shouldn't—what is it? —choke on your food because you fear choking! No one has stipulated that the Lord of Weifengbao must be a Rune Master; it is true that your Stonemason skills need to be practiced well!"

"Father, if that is truly what you think, I have another suggestion." Pamila spoke up.

"Speak!"

"That Doom Anvil—I mean the one that is sealed away—Master Sinuoli wants it!"

"What?" Upon hearing this, Lord Luoleike could not help but be furious.

"You haven't even married out of the house yet, and you are already eyeing our ancestral property for someone else? Furthermore, your brother will need to use it in the future!"

"According to this trend, Sitelinge won't be able to use it!" Pamila smiled slightly; her plan was not bad, and with two things put together, she could always succeed in one if she were lucky.

"What do you mean? Are you so superstitious about everything in Karaz-a-Karak? Then don't come back to your maiden home in the future!" Lord Luoleike felt offended; his children seemed to have opinions about everything in Weifengbao, although he himself knew of the prosperity of Everpeak.

"Could it be that no Rune Smith can be produced in the Grey Mountains? Then how were we, and the Rune Masters of Karak-Norn, cultivated generation after generation? Did they all go to Everpeak for advanced studies? Haleke told me just a few days ago that you are very impetuous and need to settle down!"

Lord Luoleike was worthy of being the co-ruler of the Dwarfs for hundreds of miles; he easily suppressed his son and daughter by fighting one against two.

"No, that is not what I meant. I mean, if Sitelinge becomes a Rune Master after Cousin Sangleike, then that sealed Doom Anvil still won't be his turn to use!" Princess Pamila seemed to have grown bolder since she was already married.

"What are you saying again? Your brother's talent is obvious to all in the Grey Mountains; if it weren't for Sinuoli-Suorsen appearing out of nowhere, he would be the most talented young person in the Mountain Kingdom!" It was clear that Lord Luoleike was still very proud of his son.

"Yes, but to master a Master Rune, someone has to teach, right? Or are you, Father, counting on Sitelinge to create one himself?" Pamila continued.

"Indeed, as far as I know, only Master Krag the Grim has achieved that in the entire Mountain Kingdom!" Sitelinge echoed his sister.

"I won't even mention organizing expeditions to explore lost Karaks; you won't even let my brother go to Everpeak, let alone those underground cities infested with Chaos creations?" Pamila blocked her father's next words.

"So what? Can't Haleke teach him? Sitelinge is his apprentice!" Lord Luoleike's words sounded a bit weak, as if he had realized something.

"Cousin Sangleike!" Princess Pamila said the name again. Master Haleke was already older than the Lord, and Lord Luoleike had married relatively late to wait for a match of equal social standing, so Sangleike was about fifty years older than Pamila and her brother.

Lord Luoleike closed his mouth and took a deep puff from his pipe. "Continue, he is not here!" The middle-aged Dwarf simply closed his eyes as well.

"If Sitelinge does not go to Everpeak, whether or when he can become a Rune Master is up to Uncle Haleke. As long as he is determined to focus on cultivating Cousin Sangleike, we have no way out!" Seeing that she was about to leave Weifengbao, Pamila simply spoke her mind.