Within the lord's manor of Bristle-Wolf City, the discussion over the future Northwest Count continued. Benite Wyvern, the Legendary Dragon Mage, proposed having Cohen Bristle-Wolf, the Bristle-Wolf Family's Archmage, serve as acting count, but no one agreed.
Given the Northwest's current situation, the simplest solution would have been for Landen to temporarily handle the count's affairs until a Bristle-Wolf descendant reached the high rank and took over.
However, Landen was about to become the Western Count. The kingdom had established the position of Western Count both to win him over and to prevent him from interfering too deeply, so Landen had never even considered acting as count himself.
After a brief silence, Dauchi Kalles spoke. "My lords, the Temple Alliance recommends that the count's third son, Fekoli, inherit the countship according to the line of succession. Fekoli has long spread faith in His Majesty the God Emperor within the church, and he has never abandoned his training in swordsmanship and Battle Qi..."
"Priest Dauchi, even if Fekoli is Ariana Red-Dragon's son, that does not mean he can truly reach the high rank, does it?" Benite grew anxious the moment he heard that the Temple Alliance's candidate was even less reliable. "If he inherits the title under your Temple Alliance's nomination, I'm afraid he will neither convince the vassals nor manage the territory properly!"
"My lords," Cohen Bristle-Wolf cautiously said, "my son has already reached Intermediate Knight. If he could be allowed to..."
"Mentor Cohen, as far as I know, your son has lived in Dragon Tooth City all his life. He has never handled border affairs, nor does he have Territory Residents of his own." Richelieu cut Cohen off before he could finish.
As a mage the Bristle-Wolf Family had cultivated with particular care, Cohen's branch had long intermarried with