Zong Shen had truly come into his own.
His negotiation with Ragnar had treated the continent as a chessboard and kingdoms as pieces.
It was as if those native kingdoms had become fish on the chopping block, waiting to be carved up.
When the golden glow of the contract completely sank into their brows, the King of Nord slowly exhaled a breath of frost-white vapor.
The red mark on his fingertip quickly faded beneath his royal bloodline, as though it had never been cut by an axe blade.
Yet the weight of that pact, branded deep into their souls with blood and mana, was heavier than the great ship beneath their feet.
"Vigia's frozen earth will remember this day."
Ragnar's voice was hard and unyielding.
In Zong Shen's eyes, the man was just putting on airs.
His gaze swept over the terms of the contract branded within his sea of consciousness.
Those flowing Runes rearranged and recombined.
They swiftly imprinted themselves upon his soul in wording easier for him to understand.
[Northern Frontier Oath and Southeastern Alliance]
[Contracting Parties:]
[Supreme King Ragnar Lodbrok of Nord, wielder of the Blood Roar Battle Axe]
[Independent Lord Zong Shen and his successors in authority]
[Oath of Iron and Blood]
[1. Transfer of Territory: Nord Kingdom shall immediately and permanently transfer half of the territory controlled by the Trivashin Family, with its precise borders determined by a map jointly surveyed after the signing of this pact, including sovereignty and governing rights, to Zong Shen's side.
Zong Shen's side promises not to interfere with Nord royal authority.]
[2. Pact of Conquest: -
Ragnar shall lead the full strength of Nord and devour the main territory of Vigia Kingdom, including all frozen plains north of the Wall of Despair.
The future sovereignty and governing rights over