Chapter 335: Meeting the Scholar Again

As the new city built by the Ancestor Chosen Snorri Thorsson, Tumobao naturally could not lack temples to the Dwarf gods. In the center square, directly facing the city's main gate, sat a majestic and unadorned building in the Dwarf style.

It was divided into two levels, underground and above ground; the underground was a temple dedicated to the seven Ancestor Gods, while the above-ground level was the city's center of power. The Council of Elders, the court, and other administrative departments were all located here.

On either side of the building were two cathedrals of vastly different styles, where the Grail and iris emblem representing the Lady of the Lake and the warhammer and Twin-Tailed Comet of the Sigmar Cult shone in mutual brilliance.

The city radiated outward from the square, with guilds, markets, residential areas, schools, and other related living facilities all fully equipped; it already possessed the essential conditions of a prosperous settlement.

With the railway in operation, travel time had been greatly reduced, and the Knight lords and Empire estate owners who had immigrated to the Southlands were one after another purchasing property in Tumobao. Life here was far richer than in the villages, and at the same time, they could see the potential for appreciation in Tumobao real estate.

The arrival of the master of the Nan Shijie Bianyuan Shanmai was warmly welcomed by the residents; everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the legendary figure who embodied the roles of the God-Chosen, warrior, Zhezhe, and benevolent king.

After touring the city and observing the public sentiment, Snorri met with the upper-class figures such as landlords, merchants, and priests, listened to their opinions, and made some revisions to the currently implemented policies.

Although the fortresses in the Grey Mountains were also inhabited by both Bretonnians and people of the Empire, Dwarfs still made up the majority after all. Some policies could be used as reference, but copying them directly had caused some problems.

After finishing all this, Snorri took the time to check on the situation at the Huosiren Huankeng. It seemed that Wahaf, the eldest son of Settra the Imperishable, had stationed troops in the Coffin Canyon to attract the attention of the Undead legions to the west, and now there were no organized Undead assaults on the Lost Plateau.

"Your Majesty, a Human calling himself the Scholar Buxuezhe Pukeerte requests an audience; he says he is an old acquaintance of yours!"

Snorri had just finished pacifying a fierce dispute between the Prophetess of the Lady of the Lake, Freya, and the old bald Kasimir VII, and was preparing to have a small drink before going to bed when Gotrek walked in and disrupted his plans.

"Scholar Buxuezhe Pukeerte!" Snorri repeated the name, and as his memories unfolded, the dust-covered recollections gradually became clear.

It was in the city of Bordeleaux, after the great battle, and on a night just like this, when this mysterious visitor had brought the news that Brother Kangsitanting had died under the wrath of Mannan'en, and had analyzed for him the differences between the gods.

"What do you say? Do you want to see him? Or should I send him away?" Gotrek's voice pulled Snorri back from his thoughts.

"Bring him in quickly! Also, fetch me a small barrel of good ale; it must be the Bergman Selection!"

A few minutes later, the Scholar walked in slowly; he was still covered from head to toe in a black cloak, leaning on a walking stick. However, compared to last time, he had lowered his hood, revealing his bald head and aged face.

"It has been years, yet you seem unchanged! What wind has blown you to the Southlands?"

Snorri smiled as he stood up to welcome him and handed the old man a cup of fine ale. Even though he now held a high position, he still maintained sufficient respect for a fellow who was knowledgeable and of mysterious origin.

"Hehe, greetings to you, noble King of the Southlands. For ordinary people, the passage of time brings nothing but a step closer to death, but for a wise ruler like you, a few years are enough to trigger earth-shaking changes!" The Scholar laughed and offered a few words of flattery.

"From what I have seen along the way, your territory is thriving, especially this great railway that spans a thousand miles; it can be called a wonder of the world!" The old man praised Snorri's achievements, and the transmigrator stroked his beard; who doesn't like having their results recognized?

"The Greenskins and Skaven to the north have already fallen apart under your Warhammer and can no longer pose a threat; the dead of Nehekhara are now keeping each other in check and are unable to harass your subjects; as for the two types of pointy-ears, their strength is as thin as their frames, and one could say they are not worth mentioning!"

This Scholar did not know how long he had been traveling in the Southlands; in a few words, he had dissected the situation of the forces surrounding Snorri. Snorri nodded repeatedly as he listened; such talent with a sense of the big picture was truly rare among Dwarfs.

"To tell you the truth, I have already heard enough of the good aspects. Your insight is extraordinary; do you have any advice for me? If nothing else, a few hundred gold coins to fund your travels is certainly possible."

Snorri knew that this Scholar, who had suddenly appeared after disappearing for seven or eight years, was surely not here just to sing praises, and he gestured for the Human opposite him to get straight to the point.

"When I arrived, I heard that the heir to the Norscan Dwarf throne is preparing to head south; once he and your sister are wed, the nobility will take another step forward in internal unity!" Buxuezhe Pukeerte was indeed well-informed; Snorri, as the brother-in-law, hadn't even heard the news!

"My Norscan kin have been away from the embrace of the Qunshan for a long time. Although my father has restored contact with them, it is still not very close. I truly do not know the specific situation; perhaps you could tell me about it."

Snorri sat up straight. The knowledge he had about this world beyond what a normal Dwarf noble would know was based on the games of his past life, but they didn't single out the northern Dwarfs, so he only knew the generalities.

"Hahaha, as far as I know, that northern noble intends to go all the way to Gaoyuanbao. Didn't the traditional custom of the marriage challenge also bring you to the city of Bordeleaux? When the time comes, you can discuss it with him in detail yourself."

The Human shook his head; he was not here this time to provide Snorri with intelligence on the four northern cities.

"After your sister Princess Nina is married off, it will be your turn. A suitable marriage can bring solid allies, and an outstanding heir can ensure the long-term stability of the territory; as a king, you must be observant!"

"Hmm?" Snorri raised an eyebrow at these words. He hadn't expected a Human to be concerned about his marriage, but it did touch upon his own thoughts. Ever since Ainiya Furen had brought it up again at Keladeluomen, he had indeed been pondering it now that he was done with the fighting.

"Continue, what advice do you have? My father, as the High King of the Qunshan, has already contacted all the fortresses of our race that have noblewomen of marriageable age. Could it be that some Human Elector Count also wants to recruit me as a son-in-law?"

Snorri spoke in jest, but in his heart, he felt that listening to the opinion of the Scholar before him on this matter wouldn't be bad. Compared to the Dwarf civil and military officials around him, a Human would have fewer entanglements of interest.

"In my humble opinion, perhaps there is one point you should consider carefully, and that is the matter of your partner's lifespan. After all, I fear your own lifespan will not be limited by a mortal frame." Buxuezhe Pukeerte's face was as calm as a lake, but the words he spoke made Snorri's heart skip a beat.