The Rikaner Kingdom was like a drunk collapsed beside a gutter. Swarms of rats poured out of the sewers and gnawed at his flesh, but numb with drink, he remained lost in his final stupor. Only one little finger felt the pain of their bites.
The Rikaner Kingdom was too large, and Star-Moon Bay was too small.
"How are you planning to do it... create a major incident?" Olmedo asked after quietly listening to Annan's reasoning.
"There are twelve Kings of the North."
"There's no time. Only four King of the North families are within the kingdom." Knowing Annan could not remember which families they were, Olmedo listed them. "The Reeves Family you represent, the Diatra Family of Betar City, the Laurencet Family of Blue Agate County, and the Barros Family, currently serving as a 'mascot' in the Royal Capital."
Annan had at least learned something. "I remember there's one at Snow Mountain Fortress too?"
"The Jana Family? They're nearly extinct. Besides, they've been at the fortress for centuries. All they have left on the surface is a declining branch family."
"They?"
"The Previous God of War's 'blessing' to the Jana Family. Once they reach adulthood, they have the strength of Dragons, but they can only bear daughters."
"Sounds like they'd end up benefiting whoever married them..."
"That's exactly what happened. So the Jana Ancestor, whose family was once the strongest of the Kings of the North, fled into the Snow Mountains. They also have trouble... conceiving."
But a Dragon needed centuries to grow from birth to adulthood, while the Jana Family were human. Their "strength of Dragons" only gave their oldest members the power of an Elite or a Master Level fighter. The so-called blessing was more like a talent.
"So there are five King of the North families