Chapter 534: First Meeting with Kajielin

"Hmm, back then I made three great vows before the Mother Goddess. The first two have basically been realized, and restoring the glory of the Mountain Kingdom still depends on everyone struggling together!"

By an optimistic estimate, Suojiade-Keluomsen will inherit the throne in the near future. Old wounds and accumulated Chaos corruption are simultaneously tormenting the Scarlet Lord's body and will; anyone less resilient would have already collapsed.

In the days that followed, Suojiade and his wife accompanied Sinuoli to tour the other three cities. Karak Ungor and Karak Kadrin are also situated in the Giant Country Mountains, while Karak Vlag faces the Bingfeng Hai further to the north. Large gold mines allow a group of the most fearless Dwarfs to live on the edge of Chaos.

Sinuoli stood up for them with the most distinct attitude—as the most active Dwarf Demigod since the Dark Age. After the Norscan Dwarfs cut off contact with the Old World, only one Demigod was born; he established the dominant position of Dulongcheng in one stroke, but he is still far from as powerful as Sinuoli.

The accidental death rate of leaders in harsh environments is high, so Norscan women are more important than in the Old World. Karak Ungor is currently governed by a queen, and Sinuoli sternly rejected her request to "try to leave behind good seed."

"This An gun he passage is truly a work of nature!"

"That it is. In the days when Chaos ran rampant, this was the lifeline of Norsca. We four cities strictly control its existence and frequency of use."

Traveling by barrel-ship through the underground river to land at Siqiaotelaken in Kislev and return to the Old World, Sinuoli summoned Anduonuofu and Tupolev to listen to the recent progress of the two Apostles' work.

The Bear God Ursun issued a decree that the newly established Great Orthodoxy would no longer blatantly persecute Sinuoli's believers. Compared to a group of Old Gods who have been severely damaged and proven themselves "incompetent" under the tide of Chaos, the newborn deity represents new hope.

"Your father and I were friends; I am deeply sorry for what happened to him."

In the Bohagong in Kislev, with its large onion dome, Sinuoli's majesty made the court officials silent as cicadas. Mortals cannot quantify the gold content of a Greater Daemon of the Four Gods, but defeating the renowned Northern Border's Yulike-Wokehade without using Authority was enough.

"The Ungols are willing to give their lives to protect the Motherland; for thousands of years, my compatriots have always done so. Right now, I follow Ursun's guidance, only hoping that everything can develop according to your plan."

In Boris-Boha, Sinuoli could hardly find the shadow of the high-spirited fighter from Sambo. The so-called "he who wears the crown must bear its weight"—serving as the leader of a theocratic state in such a turbulent era left him exhausted.

"Praise the friendship with our Dwarf friend!"

"Ura!"

"Wishing the great Demigod success in his martial endeavors!"

Kislevites are mostly forthright men; since the gods have spoken plainly, what more do mortals need to worry about? At the banquet, Sinuoli formally introduced his two Apostles, creating opportunities for them to connect with the upper echelons.

"This is my daughter; I have named her Kajielin, Kajielin-Boha."

"Hmm."

In the living quarters, Boris took a swaddled infant from the arms of a lady-in-waiting and held her out before Sinuoli. The Tsar's face bore unconcealable sorrow and reluctance, while the Demigod squinted his eyes, trying to find what was extraordinary about her.

"The Bingxuenüwu of the Frost House prophesied that she is the reincarnation of the legendary Khan Queen Misi'ka; this is both a blessing and a curse. The innate ice magic caused her mother to die in childbirth; my poor little Natasha almost..."

"Froze into an ice sculpture, is that it? Many highly gifted mages manifest such omens. In childhood, they cannot control their own magic power, and it erupts whenever they are stimulated."

Compared to a young king under thirty, Sinuoli had overwhelming insight and vision. Touching the baby's hair, which had not yet faded, he understood—the snow wind of the Northern Border flowed in her veins.

"The darkness shrouding Kislev has not been completely dispelled, and my father died under unclear circumstances. Both the Bear God and the White Wolf God recognize your wisdom and martial prowess; if I could receive your guidance..."

"Are you worried? Ursun has already awakened from his severe injuries; he is, after all, a true god."

Furrowing his brows, Sinuoli's mind raced. Before the Empire of Man established magic colleges to accept spellcasters, Kislev also persecuted the Bingxuenüwu—a group that drew power from nature—to the extreme, and the religious orders whose supernatural power originated from gods were the vanguard of this.

Although they now have official organizations and serve the various Boyars, they still have constant friction with the religious orders. Combined with Boris's identity as Ursun's chosen, Kajielin would have an awkward status regardless of which side she entrusted herself to.

Furthermore, his own territory being in the south of the world was also a major consideration. Kislev, after all, is too close to the Chaos Wastes—besides the threats of the material world, those with magical affinity must also resist the temptations from the Warp.

"Meeting is fate. I will give her an Amulet; it can save her life when you cannot look after her. As for things like guidance, wait until she is older, and you have considered it clearly."

Raising his hand to condense a mountain-shaped Amulet with divine power and placing it on the baby's head, Sinuoli rose to leave. Being a nanny for a newborn is thankless work, and her magical ability will only gradually attract outside attention as she grows older.

Continuing south, Sinuoli's schedule was very tight: inspecting the Apostles' work, communicating with human rulers along the way, showing divine power at the right time to help spread the faith, and even finding time to summon the half-Elf Xiwa to exchange affections.

The construction of the Circle of the Earth was highly effective. By organically combining the Black Knife's intelligence assassin network with the taverns that Dwarfs had spread throughout the Old World, and then using Rune telegraphs to speed up the dissemination of information, the Dwarf kings could no longer do without the weekly and monthly reports placed on their desks.

"I heard an interesting rumor—you like Dragons, the Dragons of Zhendan. Is it true~? Be honest~."

After the battle, the half-Elf hung on the Dwarf, grumbling jealously. It was not hard for Sinuoli to guess that the heroine had been rumored to be the Minglong Yin Yin, but why deny it? It was just a matter of the difference between liking, liking more, and liking especially.

"What, a pointed-ear can be a Dragon Knight, but this King cannot?"

Sinuoli entered Sage Mode. In his Northern Expedition plan, Zhendan was a key link. Last time, because he had put a collar on Miaoying, he had fled in a panic and dared not go to the Tianting. This time, Zhaoming informed him of the Dragon Emperor's whereabouts, which was just the right excuse to go again.

Returning to Gaoyuanbao, Sinuoli summoned his ministers to give instructions. Tiepi's threat to the Eight Peaks had still not been lifted, and Xiwa had also brought news that Arkhan the Black was making moves, but dealing with it required great determination.

Once arrangements were made, Sinuoli boarded the Ironclad—he did not use the Valaya-gifted battleship, as claiming to be in seclusion to the outside world could appropriately confuse hostile forces. Relying on the Storm Authority to propel the warship and shorten the voyage, he was confident he could return before the enemy realized something was wrong.

(End of chapter)