Ten days later.
Ice Prefecture.
The Ming King's Residence.
Huge flakes of snow drifted down from the sky.
The once-bustling residence of the Ice Prefecture Overlord was much quieter now.
Ever since Overlord's visit, the Ming King's prestige in Ice Prefecture City had plummeted.
Of the former Five Overlords, only he and Shorty remained, struggling to hold on.
Their former glory was long gone.
The Butler pushed the Ming King's wheelchair carefully through the garden.
"Master, Shorty has already sent three groups of people to invite you to his banquet."
Master and servant moved slowly through the snow.
This had become the Ming King's obligatory after-meal routine since Overlord broke his legs.
Only at this time would he leave his room to move about outside.
To outsiders, the Ming King had grown old.
And useless.
"Turn him down for me."
The Ming King's hair and beard were white, and he waved a feeble hand.
"Our people say... the Ma Family's people have entered Ice Prefecture."
The Butler offered the reminder thoughtfully.
The Ming King's eyes were dull and gray, without a trace of vitality.
His old sharpness was long gone.
He merely shook his head with a bitter, self-mocking smile. "Does the Ma Family think I'm old too? I haven't shorted them a penny of tribute. What more do they want from me?"
Even someone as powerful as Ice Prefecture's Ming King had to pay tribute to the Ma Family on time every year.
The Stewards of almost every prefecture in the Northeast did the same.
Only with the Ma Family's approval could they hold their positions securely.
In name, they were the overlords of their prefectures. In reality, they were all dogs raised by the Ma Family.
They could be replaced at any time.
Of all those prefectures, only