Mount and Blade System: Start from Pioneer Lords

Li Wei didn't want their pleasant conversation to turn tragic.

Regarding the incident at Colon back then, frankly, it was morally and ethically indefensible, but there was no choice. Development required a lot of initial capital, so this was the only way to obtain it in a roundabout manner.

Otherwise, if he wanted to acquire a large amount of gold, he would have to massacre nobles.

Although he could easily do so with his strength, such an act would inevitably incur the animosity of the Seven Kingdoms.

No noble could tolerate the existence of someone with the power to slaughter nobles with impunity.

The outcome would either be him killing all the nobles, or the nobles killing him.

Although he had the system, Li Wei didn't think he could single-handedly contend against an entire class.

Due to the magic tide, the extraordinary elements in this world had declined significantly, and some earth-shattering magic could no longer be cast.

However, low-level extraordinary abilities such as knights' aura manuals, mages' little fireballs, healing spells, and earth spike spells still existed.

In that era of flourishing magic and divine revelations a thousand years ago, there might still be some artifacts left behind.

After all, there was the stone egg left by the Goddess of Nature as a precedent.

Those court archmages might also be holding onto some powerful gadgets.

The two of them tacitly avoided the past, not mentioning a word, and only discussed some current situations.

"Duchess Frelina is preparing to start a war in Debe, what does our king think about it?"

The gentle cold wind from the wilderness blew on their bodies, making the topic even more chilling.

No one likes war unless absolutely necessary; war is often cruel and cold, not just a string of numbers.

However, this battle for the title had to be resolved through war.

Not to mention that Lia's mother was still imprisoned in Colon, with no news of her well-being.

If they didn't fight this war, it would be equivalent to acknowledging the Damon line as the legitimate Duke of the South.

They would be defeated usurpers, and there would be no place for them to survive in Debe.

Now that Frelina was willing to send troops to attack the South, sharing the pressure between them, it was naturally excellent.

Although Frelina was willing to send troops, not because she was concerned about her sister's safety, she might have other ulterior motives.

But this was clearly the best outcome.

Li Wei brought Lia to the North because he knew that this ambitious duchess would never let go of this opportunity to launch military operations against the South.

Holding Lia, the military activities against the South could be labeled with the righteous cause of reclaiming her title, rather than being seen as the actions of an ambitious person wanting to plunder land and wealth.

After all, everything requires a justifiable reason.

This was also why the Noble Assembly did not directly use military coercion, but instead wrote letters of persuasion, even though Frelina had clearly stated that unless the usurper of Colon was hanged, the title was returned, and the eldest daughter of the Martel family was released, she would continue the war to the end.

After all, Debe's founding slogan back then was to kill the despicable usurper on the throne and let the legitimate king ascend.

This kind of excuse was considered a tradition in Debe.

Therefore, the Noble Assembly could not criticize anything; once they rebuked Frelina, it would be tantamount to admitting that Debe's initial slogan was just an excuse.

Although there was nothing wrong with this excuse, no smart king would watch his two dukes start a war, as it could easily destabilize the situation and allow other lurking jackals to take advantage.

After all, the relationship between the Seven Kingdoms was only superficially harmonious, but in reality, it was full of undercurrents.

"The king wrote a letter scolding Aunt Frelina, then said he would urge Damon to release my mother as soon as possible, and finally added that male inheritance takes precedence over female inheritance," Lia sighed, Aunt Frelina was furious because of the last sentence.

"Hehe, our king is really good at playing both sides."

Li Wei chuckled with an ambiguous expression.

He didn't say who was the real heir, only that male inheritance took precedence over female inheritance.

Regarding Lia's mother, he only said he would urge her release as soon as possible, but how soon was that?

However, it also indirectly showed that the king was on Damon's side.

This was normal, after all, as the heir, Lia now only had a baronial vassal and was forced to flee to the North.

For the king, as long as the Duke of the South was from the Iseli family, maintaining the current situation was clearly the best.

They continued to stay in the North obediently, and the Damon line also obediently served as their duke in the South.

"Aunt Frelina wrote a letter angrily rebuking the king, and said that the Martel family's motto is—vengeance is a must!" Lia then said, with a hint of radiance on her face.

"As expected of the Thorn Duchess, she's tough!" Li Wei sincerely gave a thumbs up.

Daring to confront the king so directly, only this duchess among the four dukes would do such a thing.

But frankly, in terms of military strength alone, these dukedoms, which were divided and ruled, might not necessarily be worse than the king's army.

Especially since the North was adjacent to the chaotic wilderness, and various wars occurred frequently.

It could be said that the soldiers under this duchess were all seasoned veterans who often saw blood, while those young masters and knights in the royal court probably only saw blood in the arena or brothel.

"Currently, the king tends to side with Damon, and the Noble Assembly's intentions are unclear. Even if we start a war against the South, the situation will be unfavorable to us, and it may be a long-term war of attrition. The South is not as weak as imagined, especially since it may receive the king's support."

"We may not even be able to return to White River City for several years," Lia was pessimistic, she didn't even have much thought about the title, she only wanted her mother to return safely.

But as long as she existed, her mother could not be released, because whether the war broke out was no longer up to her, but her mother was a bargaining chip that could play a decisive role at a critical moment.

"I was able to bring you out of Colon City back then, and I can bring you back!" Li Wei waved his hand and curled his lip in disdain, "Damon chased us back then, didn't he get scared away by me, Duke!"

Lia's expression was originally very dim, but when she heard this arrogant braggart's boasting, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth, "I wonder if Damon will dare to stand in front of you next time he sees you."

If there was anyone who knew this baron best, she was one of them. She was held in this knight's arms, from the first-person perspective, and witnessed how he fought his way out of the chaos of Colon with a sword.