Power in the Northlands (I)

Zero Crossing City was as lively as ever, but lately, many adventurers had noticed that they seemed to have gained more competitors.

During the final month of the contest for the Eight Knights, a large number of people competing for the Eight Knights had appeared in Zero Crossing City.

Some people questioned them, and those newcomers produced their adventurer badges, which recorded when they had registered as adventurers.

This made the adventurers who had once felt confident lose their nerve again. Among lower-ranking knights, the gap in strength was not great to begin with. One mistake could lead to defeat.

"Damn it, what right do these kingdom folk have to enter the Empire?"

Many people were dissatisfied and demanded that those kingdom adventurers be driven out. The benefits of the Eight Knights should be reserved for native adventurers like them.

"This was invited and permitted by Lord Ryan."

That was how the bards of the Northern Kingdom's Braveheart Guild responded.

All the benefits the Eight Knights could bring were provided by Ryan. If he agreed, naturally no one else could say anything.

The nobles did not care much about the kingdom people appearing here either. These days, they were guests in Frozen Earth Territory.

"Viscount Miles, I heard your wealth has grown again. The farmland outside Zero Crossing City had a bountiful harvest this year."

Ryan raised his glass to Viscount Miles and spoke with a smile.

The nobles present all wore smiles. This year had been the best year they had ever lived through. There had been no invasions by other races, no troubles of war, and certainly no worries about money.

They were willing for things to remain this way forever.

"Hahaha, I must also thank you for your help, Ryan. Those wheat seeds can grow in even