Conquering His Cold Heart

"We need to break this alliance and ensure that the south won't be besieged." After a lengthy discussion the group had their goals set.

"The kingdoms and tribes in the external regions primarily respect strength. How can we ensure their cooperation when we can't even defend ourselves from our current enemy." General Danielle asked, unable to see a viable solution.

"Since the Duke cannot leave nor can any of you I will take up the mantle. I may currently be just a deposed Princess, but my lineage should still carry some weight diplomatically speaking." Avira despite the chaos in the Empire was still a legitimate princess. She may not have the strength and support of her brothers, but she still represented the might of the Northrend empire.

"….With the Princess speaking on our behalf they should at least humour our request and think twice about double crossing us." General Katrina agreed with Avira, other than the Duke himself she was the best candidate for an envoy within the external regions.

"That should buy us some wiggle room in the south, but the priority remains with the Glacial mountain liberation alliance." Duke Runak was also in agreement with Avira's plan but that was only a small and far less dangerous part of the problem.

His words immediately put a damper on everyone's emotions, the atmosphere was once again tensed.

Avira bit her bottom lip out of frustration, she was coming up empty just like everyone else.

"The 5 groups leading the alliance what do you know about them?" Frost who had been quietly listening at the side finally spoke up.

'In war sometimes it's not military power that determines the winner but the degree of one's knowledge.' He remembered this phrase from a book he read and felt that it held merit for their current situation.

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One of the main reasons why this assault was so deadly was because from Duke Runak's perspective there was no warning thus he was caught unprepared.

"Katrina give them a run down." Duke Runak was pleased with Frost's insight but at the same time disappointed by the failure of his own intelligence network.

"Yes War Marshall" Katrina saluted before starting the explanation.

"First off let's start with the beastkin Kingdom of Jabrak." She inserted her mana into the metal war table causing the 3d model of Icethorne to shift into a large and unfortunately simple map of the Glacial mountains inner regions.

"The Jabrak Kingdom can be found within the eastern section of the 5th layer, a powerful nation that loves war and battle." The map zoomed over to the 5th layer where a crude drawing of the kingdom's borders and major cities were marked.

"The citizens are primarily beastkin and it is ruled by the mighty winter tigerkin tribe who serve as the kingdom's royal family and the cunning snow leopardkin tribe who serve as its highest officials. Due to their love of war and aggression our Duchy has been in a constant state of war with the Jabrak Kingdom, often engaging in minor and major battles throughout the year.

However, our relationship with them can actually be considered rather amicable. Since the Jabrak Kingdom respect strength far more than the other tribes and nations thus they are very fond of Duke Runak who is known far and wide as the War God of the Glacial mountains."

There was no inherent hatred between the Icethorne Duchy and the Jabrak Kingdom, war and battle was simply their way of expressing friendly competition.

"…..Is there any way to convince the Jabrak Kingdom to fight alongside the Duchy rather than the liberation alliance?" If they were only involved in the attack due their love of war and battle then it shouldn't matter what side they're on right?

"Unfortunately not." Duke Runak sighed and shook his head before explaining. "King Doloman is a prideful man who lives by his own ethics. He has no problem with entering alliances to take down a larger foe, but he abhors betrayal.

Since he officially announced that the Jabrak Kingdom is a part of the Glacial mountain liberation alliance there is no way they'd join us, he'd rather die than betray his own moral code." Duke Runak respected King Doloman and internally cursed the incompetence of his intelligence corps.

If he knew about the alliance in advance he would have tried to rope in the Jabrak kingdom before they officially joined his enemy.

"Flipping the Jabrak kingdom is impossible but unlike the other groups they should back off once they've had their fill of carnage." Katrina also lamented the lost opportunity but instead looked at the bright aspects having them as an enemy.

"2nd on the alliance list is the Northern nation of Glacial sprites and ice elementals." The map on the table once again shifted, this time focusing on the 3rd layer.

"Unlike the Jabrak Kingdom this nation truly despises us, they hate the idea of Sapients having a foothold within the inner regions of the Glacial mountains and would like nothing more than to feast on our flesh. Unfortunately for them however they lack the strength to do anything about it and because of their antagonistic views we have routinely supressed them, growing their hatred towards us."

Though still one of the big names in the inner regions the Northern nation of Glacial sprites and Ice elementals was weaker and smaller than the Jabrak kingdom, posing far less of a threat….at least when they were alone.

"3rd we have the horde of ravenous blue ants and polar mantises who dwell between 5th and 6th layers. They lack the intelligence found in the Jabrak Kingdom and the Northern nation but instead they make up for it with numbers and ferocity. The horde is bloodthirsty and eternally hungry, seeing anything that moves as a meal to be devoured.

Only the upper caste have the ability to think and plan, the rest simply follow their baser instincts." This group was the farthest thing from civilised, a barbaric horde of eternally starving monsters.

"I'm guessing the Duchy's relationship with them isn't that great either." Given the expression on the Duke and his General's faces it was obvious how they viewed the horde.

"Correct, just like the Northern nation of Glacial sprites and Ice elementals we've routinely supressed their growth, culling millions of their numbers throughout the past decade." However they weren't the only group to do so.

"What's their angle then? Revenge?"

"That's probably part of it but likely their true aim is the external regions." The horde that continued to grow was routinely suppressed within the inner regions and could never fully satisfy its hunger. But if they managed to enter the external regions where the prey was plentiful, weak and for ripe for the picking then they could overturn their fate.

The War Ursa Battalion and the Duchy knew full well of the carnage and horror the horde could cause in the external regions and perhaps even the southlands thus they vehemently denied them access.

'One group enjoys war; another hates them with a passion while the other vehemently wants access to the bountiful feast that lies behind their walls…..shit.'

Frost internally cursed, the prospect of breaking the alliance through of these three was all but impossible. Though their end goals differed the Duchy was always the one barring their way, a common enemy that strongly bound their interests.

"The 4th member is the tribe of the large horned ice drakes and their many vassal tribes. They reside within the 7th layer and can be considered as one of most powerful groups within the inner regions. Their military power is greater than the Jabrak Kingdom and their domain is nearly twice as large.

Plus like the Jabrak kingdom the Duchy has engaged in several wars with them since its inception, but the reasons were more economical." When the map showed the domain of the large horned ice drakes it was clear that the details were more advanced, and that the territory was much larger than the previous three.

"The large horned ice drakes control a vast amount of resources due to their location, personal strength and connection to the core regions of the glacial mountains. This allows them to conduct vast amounts of trade between the other nations within the inner regions."

"Icethorne prevents them from reaching their claws into the external regions and the Sapient lands." Frost was quick to pick up on the reason for their beef with the Duchy.

"Precisely, our relationship is that of business rivals and in some ways their hatred is even greater than that of the Northern nation of Glacial sprites and ice elementals." Riches can drive men and women to do terrible things let alone a mighty tribe or nation.

"What about the final member?" The moment Frost said this an eerie silence filled the room and the expressions of Duke Runak and his Generals turned black.

"….The last member of the Glacial mountains liberation alliance, the most powerful of them all and the likely ringleader, is the Frozen Demonic Empire." Even the tone in Katrina's voice was different when she spoke of them, it was laced with wariness and even fear.

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