Ashen Dragon

Chapter 307: Chapter 230: The Second Lionheart Alliance
 

Boske Duchy, Stratholme Fortress, Lion Hall.

All the northern nobles gathered again in the grand hall, seated according to their titles and influence on either side of the luxurious long table.

Seated at the head of the table was undoubtedly the initiator of this assembly, the honorific ruler of the Northern United Kingdom, and the current head of the Boske House—Duke Leo Boske.

The atmosphere was heavy, for this was no merry feast filled with songs and dances but a meeting that concerned the fate of the North and even the entire Anzeta, its significance surpassing that of the “Lionheart Alliance” forty years ago.

Finally, Duke Leo Boske’s weighted voice broke the silence.

“Everyone, since none of you wish to speak, I shall be direct.”

“The North has reached a life-and-death juncture. Our thousands of years of Scania heritage could end here. The culprit behind all this is that greedy Red Dragon and his evil domain!”

His words fell like an iron hammer, landing heavily on everyone’s hearts.

The hall erupted into an uproar instantly, with nobles exhibiting various expressions and whispers breaking out.

Most of the nobles had an inkling of why Duke Leo had called them here, but they hadn’t expected his tone to be so fierce, as if he was ready to stake everything, even to the extent of initiating a grand scale war.

“Your Grace, isn’t this a bit too much?”

“Indeed.”

“The Red Dragon hasn’t caused any trouble for five years now. We can continue appeasing him to strive for more prolonged peace…”

“Now might not be the best time.”

“The Ashen Kingdom is too powerful and wealthy. We might need more thorough preparations.”

After a brief discussion, voices of dissent began to emerge.

Duke Leo Boske slowly stood up, his profound gaze sweeping across every noble’s face. His lush gray beard made him look like an old, cunning lion, imposing a considerable sense of pressure on the attendees.

Once the hall fell silent again, he articulated each word clearly:

“I know some of you have taken the Ashen Kingdom’s dirty Gold Coins, shamelessly becoming their agents in exploiting the Scania people, even willingly becoming the Red Dragon’s dogs.”

His tone paused deliberately, his piercing gaze like a sword slicing through the air and landing on a few individuals.

Instantly, some nobles’ breaths nearly halted, sweat oozing from their foreheads.

With a signal from Duke Leo, fully armed soldiers, already prepared, swarmed in to seize several unsuspecting nobles.

“Wait, don’t touch me! I’m an Earl!”

“Your Grace, it wasn’t me!”

“We haven’t collaborated with the Ashen Kingdom!”

“That’s blatant slander, you’re heeding malicious gossip!”

“It’s not just us, the Arle Family did it too! They must be the ones framing us!”

Those nobles shouted, pleaded, even tried implicating other families.

But with a glance from Duke Leo, the soldiers gagged their mouths with cloth and mercilessly dragged the panic-stricken nobles out of the hall.

“Clang!”

Soon, the sound of a blade falling on the executioner’s block echoed from outside the hall.

In fact, these nobles weren’t the ones who had the most contact with the Ashen Kingdom. Their titles weren’t very high, with the highest being an Earl from the Fano Duchy.

Duke Leo’s approach was clear—using an imported term from the Ashen Kingdom, it was “kill the chicken to warn the monkey,” instilling fear in the remaining northern nobility to deter them from collaborating with the Ashen Kingdom.

Simultaneously, every duchy had scapegoats to blame for collaborating with the Ashen Kingdom, allowing families with tarnished reputations to save face. Duke Leo had pre-negotiated with the most powerful dukes, who tacitly approved this punishment.

This was not merely Duke Leo’s personal decision but a result of the power struggles among several factions.

The hall fell silent, so quiet that the drop of a pin could be heard.

Standing in place, the execution of those few lives conferred Duke Leo with an unyielding authority, causing some minor noble representatives to shiver in fear.

They suddenly remembered this Duke, dubbed the “Northern Lion”, who once single-handedly subdued all the major duchies, reestablishing the Boske Duchy as the leader of the North. Despite remaining dormant for many years, Leo Boske was a genuinely formidable ruler.

“As the ruler of the Northern United Kingdom, though I feel great regret, I had no choice but to eliminate these pests.”

“I hope this becomes a lesson for you all.”

He shifted his tone and continued, “Perhaps others have made the same mistakes. However, with the imminent threat, I may temporarily forgive your transgressions. You might have merely sought small gains, forgetting the colossal risks beyond. But remember, that is no noble, but a greedy, brutal Red Dragon!”

“Do you all remember the Rackman Family?”

“No matter what they’ve done, the Rackman Family has always been an essential part of the northern nobility. Their ancestors made great contributions to the Northern United Kingdom centuries ago, inherently bestowing them high status, an undeniable fact and our collective recognition.”

“But where are they now? Annihilated by that Red Dragon!”

“I wouldn’t even call the Ashen Kingdom a state, as it resembles a monstrous ‘monster’ more than anything. That ‘monster’ is filled with a terrifying, bloody ideology, aiming to impose the most stringent order on the world.”

“It cares not for your noble lineage or rightful heritage, only its own power growth. It can wantonly massacre nobles, allow serfs to trample upon us, even turn us into its nourishment. That would be a nightmare for all northern nobility!”

“In the past several years, no one consistently opposed the Ashen Kingdom like I have. Ignoring the difficulties and dangers won’t solve the problem. Standing by idly won’t solve the problem. Adopting an appeasement policy won’t work either. What we need now is to take steps to resolve the problem. The longer we delay, the more difficult it becomes, and the greater the danger posed by the Ashen Kingdom.”

“Remember: do not let present benefits blind you, or the fate of the Rackman Family will be yours! The thousand-year rule of northern nobility will be utterly terminated!”

By the end of his impassioned speech, Duke Leo Boske was nearly exerting all his strength, every strand of his beard, and every hair on his head trembling.

In the grand Lion Hall, whether out of compulsion or moved by his words, the nobles burst into prolonged applause, eerily reminiscent of the scene from nearly forty years ago during the “Lionheart Alliance”.