Chapter 60: The Witch Annie

At Frost Wolf Castle, David maintained his disciplined routine of training and developing his territory.

Although he had successfully eliminated the Ice Bear Marquis, the greatest immediate threat, he understood that the marquis had only been a pawn of the Second Prince in the struggle for the northern lands. A new pawn could be propped up at any time.

The North was vast and complex, teeming with influences not just from the Second Prince, but also from the First Prince and the neighboring Crystal Song Kingdom.

Even his father, a powerful sixth-tier knight, had fallen on the battlefield under suspicious circumstances. David knew that he still had a long way to go to reach his father's level of strength.

In addition to these political dangers, the Church and the Ice Crown Duke posed their own threats, and he could not afford to let his guard down.

His priority was to continue strengthening himself and developing Frost Wolf Ridge, preparing to counter any force that dared to act against him.

The recent decisive victory over the Ice Bear Marquis had been a deliberate show of force to establish his dominance. He expected that, at least for the time being, no power would openly challenge him, giving Frost Wolf Ridge a rare window to consolidate its growth.

Over time, nobles bearing ransom payments began arriving to secure the release of their lords and knights. The ransoms included not only gold but also serfs, livestock, weapons, grain, and even women.

In the council hall, Reina busied herself organizing the assets.

"The Ice Bear family's wealth is staggering," she remarked.

The Ice Bear Marquis's accumulation of resources during his reign had been extraordinary, and now it all belonged to Frost Wolf Ridge. Plundering truly was the fastest path to wealth.

Among the spoils was an unexpected treasure: a map detailing the Second Prince's influence in the North.

David was intrigued.

The map revealed the Second Prince's extensive infiltration of the region. Many forces that had once supported his father had been systematically eliminated or absorbed by the prince's agents.

Reina frowned as she studied the map. "This is troubling, my lord."

The stakes of royal succession were always perilous. For every family that rose to prominence, countless others met their ruin.

"Don't worry. I have a plan," David reassured her.

He had long accepted that his battle was far from over.

The Frost Wolf family had historically aligned with the First Prince, making them a natural target for the Second Prince's machinations. With the aging Silver Moon King still alive, the Second Prince had been limited to indirect actions, but once the king passed, a civil war was inevitable.

David suspected that his father's death had been orchestrated by the Second Prince.

Now, with the powerful Frost Wolf bloodline that could potentially break through to the seventh-tier Sky Knight level and his own prodigious talent, David doubted the Second Prince would hesitate to strike if given the opportunity.

When the civil war began, he would have no choice but to support the First Prince. Only by defeating the Second Prince could he ensure the survival of his family and their legacy.

Reina, sensing his resolve, nodded firmly. "We will prevail."

Her thoughts turned to her homeland, the Crystal Song Kingdom, where similar struggles for power had unfolded. She was determined to stand by David and rewrite their fates together.

Meanwhile, David focused on another priority: finding more witches. To become a powerful sorcerer, he needed access to proper magical inheritance.

---

In one of the estates within Frost Wolf Ridge, laborers toiled under the watchful eyes of overseers.

Among them was Anne, a woman whose striking beauty had caught the steward's attention. She had been selected for training as a potential maid for the castle.

The position granted her a private room, ostensibly to prepare her for service in the castle.

Once alone, Anne bolted the door, pulled the curtains closed, and began chanting softly.

A faint silver light enveloped her, forming an intricate magical circle on the floor. She placed a black feather at its center and continued her incantation.

The circle glowed brighter, consuming the feather. Moments later, a small black sparrow emerged from the magic.

"Hello, Black Sparrow," Anne greeted it warmly.

The sparrow chirped in response, and Anne handed it a sealed message. The bird swallowed the message whole, its form dissolving into black mist before vanishing completely.

Recently, Anne had received word from her mentor, Rosa, that the Frost Wolf Duke had welcomed witches into his domain. Intrigued and suspicious, Anne had arranged to travel to Frost Wolf Ridge under the guise of a laborer.

This was her chance to investigate both the rumored witch presence and the duke himself.

"Why would a noble openly accept witches?" Anne mused.

She had no intention of revealing her identity outright. If the duke sought to exploit witchcraft for power, she needed to tread carefully. If his acceptance was genuine, however, this could mark the beginning of a sanctuary for her kind.

Anne's thoughts were interrupted by another chirp. Summoning another messenger familiar, she dispatched additional updates to her network.

Behind Anne was a clandestine organization of witches who had been forced to scatter due to the Church's persecution. They now looked to her for guidance in these turbulent times.

As the Silver Moon Kingdom teetered on the brink of civil war, the witches sought to secure alliances and sanctuaries wherever they could.

Anne's heart raced as she considered the risks. If discovered, her life would be forfeit.

Unbeknownst to her, David was already searching for witches to strengthen his territory. Their meeting seemed inevitable.

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