Chapter 363: Triumph Ceremony
"Good news! Under Marshal Dolo's leadership, the Kingdom's army has triumphed over the coalition forces!"
"His Majesty Cassius has defeated 'Silver Wing' Oszedro in a glorious victory!"
"The Kingdom's forces are advancing on all fronts and are about to occupy the entire Northlands!"
"Grand Duke Leo, the supreme ruler of the Northlands, was discovered to have colluded with demons and has since mysteriously disappeared—is this the corruption of humanity or the collapse of morality?"
The cries and sales pitches of newsboys echoed through the streets of Northwind Fortress.
News of the Kingdom's victories had already spread throughout Northwind Fortress, but the people weren't surprised; to them, victory was an inevitability. What mattered more was reaping the spoils of triumph.
Factories ramped up production to meet the demands of a vast, newly accessible market and the consumer boom brought about by the war.
The booming military industry drove the growth of related sectors such as steel, manufacturing, and machinery, creating more jobs and fueling economic growth.
Some shrewd merchants had already set out for Northern cities, aiming to establish factories and claim valuable real estate in these newly conquered territories.
War-related products were selling briskly, making some vendors a fortune, with some even profiting handsomely from pre-war bonds.
This was one of the most terrifying aspects of the Ember Kingdom in the eyes of Northern nobles—war didn't weaken its national power but instead brought a surge of prosperity, even alleviating existing social tensions.
Compared to the chaos in the Northlands caused by forced grain levies, the Kingdom seemed like an unstoppable war machine.
At this moment, a grand triumph ceremony was taking place at the gates of Northwind Fortress.
"They're back!"
"It's the Kingdom's army!"
"So majestic! I want to enlist too."
"Is that Marshal Dolo? The legendary Jealous Warl—mmph, why are you covering my mouth?"
"Are you insane? Calling him that? Watch out, the Ministry of War might come for you!"
Infantry units made up of humans, hobgoblins, and tieflings marched in orderly formations, following the drumbeats as they steadily approached Northwind Fortress.
Behind the formations, Dolo rode on the back of a massive, heavily armored terrestrial dragon beast.
Suddenly, the crowd erupted into even greater excitement—a towering ogre archmage, Langpu, appeared, smiling and waving at the people as he hovered gracefully in the air, surrounded by mages and guards.
"Look! It's Langpu! Langpu has personally come to greet them!"
"He's the Kingdom's chief minister!"
"Such high honors, with two dukes present!"
Accompanied by triumphant music played by satyrs, and under the gaze of tens of thousands, Dolo and Langpu reunited once more.
For some reason, Langpu felt a twinge of nostalgia.
When they first met, he had been nothing more than a slightly smarter ogre, while Dolo had been a downtrodden hobgoblin chieftain commanding only a handful of goblins. Langpu had always held the upper hand.
Now, they stood at the pinnacle of power in the vast Anzeta Wasteland, capable of deciding the fate of countless lives.
Yet Langpu's status still outshone Dolo's—being one of the Red Dragon's earliest vassals, he would forever remain the victor.
Langpu thought this to himself but maintained a composed demeanor, offering polite congratulations.
"Congratulations on your triumphant return, Marshal Dolo. This is a blessing for the entire Kingdom."
"Not at all. It is my honor that you personally came to greet me, Lord Langpu."
Marshal Dolo dismounted from his terrestrial dragon beast and strode forward to shake Langpu's massive hands with both of his own, a fierce smile spreading across his rugged face.
Langpu nodded slightly, a fleeting smirk flashing in his eyes.
The ogre knew well of Dolo's ambitions to replace him. Their factions often clashed, both openly and covertly.
But now, Dolo had buried those ambitions deep within.
After years in power, the hobgoblin marshal no longer wore his emotions openly. He understood that presenting a "jealous and barbaric" image to the public was unwise, especially if it reached Cassius's ears.
Thus, despite their hidden agendas, the two presented a facade of camaraderie and mutual understanding.
"Marshal Dolo, your achievements have spread throughout the Kingdom. His Majesty holds you in the highest regard," Langpu said. "The Kingdom still needs your strength to stabilize the Northlands."
Marshal Dolo nodded solemnly, his expression serious as he replied, "I will do everything in my power to serve the Kingdom loyally."
With the army's return, celebrations in Northwind Fortress reached their peak.
"For the Ember Kingdom!"
"Long live! Long live!"
"Triumph!"
People flooded the streets, cheering and rejoicing over the victory, with Dolo and Langpu becoming the center of everyone's attention.
Yet beneath the jubilance lurked unseen undercurrents—months had passed since Oszedro's escape and the coalition's defeat, and news had spread across the continent of Fianso.
This once-isolated kingdom had now drawn the attention of numerous powers from across the continent, with countless gazes now fixed upon it.
Amid the celebrating crowd, a small figure struggled to push through, raising her hands high—it was Misha.
"Lord Langpu! I want to see His Majesty!"
Misha shouted with all her might.
But her voice was drowned out by the thunderous cheers, and her petite frame was swallowed by the frenzied crowd.
Langpu, the Kingdom's chief minister, had countless petitioners vying for his attention.
At such a grand event, no one would notice a small eight- or nine-year-old girl, let alone listen to her plea.
"My lord!"
"Lord Langpu! Look at me, Lord Langpu!"
Surrounded by adoring citizens, Langpu floated through the air with his staff, smiling warmly as he waved to the crowd.
The taller, stronger citizens pushed their way to the front, while the diminutive Misha was quickly forced to the back.
To her, the crowd ahead was like a towering wall, blocking her view and leaving her trapped.
"Please, don't block me."
"I need to see Lord Langpu!"
Tears welled in Misha's eyes as she grew desperate.
This was a rare chance for her, as a commoner, to approach Langpu. If she missed it, who knew when another opportunity might come?
And by then, her revenge would remain unfulfilled.
"What should I do?"
Misha lowered her gaze, biting her lip as her clenched fists trembled slightly.
Finally, she seemed to make up her mind. With resolve etched on her face, she raised her tear-filled eyes, determination glimmering within.