Dawn and Darkness (8)

At the foot of Rhino Horn Mountain, Ryan watched his army train in the cold wind.

Frozen Earth Territory had entered another period of consolidation. While other nobles were either striving to welcome the new era of the world or suffering under the threat of the Black Swan Assassin, Ryan had already begun quietly strengthening himself.

He now only hoped that Grand Duke Gailan of Corland Kingdom possessed the same ambitions as he did. Only then could they become friends.

Granted, Baron Ryan and Grand Duke Gailan had deep conflicts due to the previous war, but they were both nobles. Hatred and friendship between nobles could change.

Everything depended on interests, which could make two nobles adopt entirely different attitudes.

Grand Duke Gailan was the ally Ryan had chosen within Corland Kingdom, much like Sir Darryl and Queen Leta in Andara Kingdom, and the MacReynolds Royal House in Sera Kingdom.

Through Grand Duke Gailan, he could steer Corland Kingdom's policies and decisions more in his favor. That was what Ryan wanted.

The prerequisite for this outcome was that no opposing voices could emerge within Corland Kingdom.

There were two ways to stop others from opposing him. One was to tempt them with benefits—give them enough, and naturally they would shut up. The other was to make them afraid.

All the resources and wealth Ryan currently possessed had been poured into the major fortifications of Frozen Earth Territory, especially the Great Wall Fortress on the Snow Plains in the North. Its increasing height every day represented an endless consumption of resources.

In this regard, Ryan had not even had the chance to thank Emperor Florian for his support.

He could not offer benefits sufficient for an entire kingdom, so he could only choose the second method.

And while he was at