Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Nine-Tailed Fox Breathing Technique
In a remarkably short period, Frost Wolf Ridge successfully annexed Silver Fox Town.
The swift victory was partly due to the Silver Fox family being unprepared for such a sudden assault. However, the primary reason lay in the overwhelming disparity in strength.
A Grand Knight leading the Frost Wolf Knight Corps and a pack of gray wolves was an unstoppable force against a mere baronial domain.
Of course, David had planned meticulously for this.
The Silver Fox family was renowned for its mercantile prowess, and rumors of their immense wealth were well-known. Now, with their downfall, all their riches were up for grabs.
Once the takeover was complete, David left the town's administration to officials from Frost Wolf Ridge and headed to the castle to assess his spoils.
When David unlocked the treasury using the keys taken from the Silver Fox Baron, he was momentarily blinded by the gleaming wealth inside.
The Silver Fox family's reputation for wealth was no exaggeration.
Gold coins, silver, rare gems, and a treasure trove of materials filled the room. Among them, David spotted high-grade wolf blood grass—an essential ingredient for the fourth-tier Frost Wolf Elixir.
Seeing this, David let out a cold snort. No wonder the Silver Fox Baron met his end. Such blatant greed and treachery deserved punishment.
After assigning the task of cataloging the treasury's contents to the officials, David moved on to the Baron's study and chambers.
In the study, David discovered a collection of antique paintings and rare artifacts, all of which he claimed for himself. However, he found no hidden chambers here.
What he did find was a concealed compartment containing several scrolls.
Unrolling one of them, David realized they were trade ledgers, detailing the Silver Fox family's extensive mercantile operations.
These records were a goldmine.
With this information, David could take over the Silver Fox family's trade routes and contacts. Among the entries, he noted connections to the Ice Bear family.
"Interesting. Another target to settle accounts with," David mused, tucking the ledgers away.
At the bottom of the hidden compartment, he stumbled upon an old and worn manual.
The Nine-Tailed Fox Breathing Technique.
The title alone made David pause.
He had expected to find the Silver Fox family's eponymous breathing technique but was instead greeted by a much rarer and more mythical counterpart.
According to ancient lore, nine-tailed foxes were legendary creatures of immense power and cunning. They were said to be emissaries between the mortal and spiritual realms, capable of shapeshifting and weaving powerful magic.
In some tales, they appeared as enchanting women, leading men to their doom. Yet, in other stories, they acted as allies to the virtuous, bestowing blessings and invaluable knowledge.
Frost Wolf Ridge's family records had briefly mentioned such beings, highlighting their rarity and mystique.
As David held the manual, he speculated, Could the Silver Fox family's breathing technique have originated from this Nine-Tailed Fox lineage?
His thoughts turned to Cynthia, the young fox-girl now residing in Frost Wolf Ridge. Her unique bloodline might allow her to practice this technique and perhaps unlock untapped potential.
The Nine-Tailed Fox Breathing Technique held far more allure than his own Frost Wolf Breathing Technique. If Cynthia could master it, she might surpass even him in the future.
David stored the manual securely before proceeding to the Baron's bedroom. Beneath the bed, he discovered a secret vault.
To his amusement, the vault contained nothing but mountains of silver coins. It seemed the Silver Fox Baron had an odd fixation with silver, even going so far as to sleep above it.
That evening, David presided over the Silver Fox family's trial in the town square.
The charges against them were read aloud, including treason against the Frost Wolf family, conspiracy to cut off Frost Wolf Ridge's trade routes, and hoarding resources vital to the Frost Wolf Elixir.
The evidence was overwhelming, and the sentence was clear. Every member of the Silver Fox family was executed.
News of Silver Fox Town's swift fall and the eradication of its ruling family spread rapidly.
Among those who had recently sworn renewed allegiance to Frost Wolf Ridge, there was a collective sigh of relief. They had narrowly avoided a similar fate.
For the still-defiant noble houses, however, panic set in.
David's decisiveness left no room for hesitation. His destruction of the Silver Fox family demonstrated that there would be no leniency for those who wavered.
The remaining rebellious families scrambled to send their overdue taxes. Many went beyond the required amounts, adding rare treasures, elixirs, and even offering their daughters in marriage to curry favor.
David did not grant forgiveness indiscriminately.
Families that had merely declared independence were fined heavily but allowed to continue under his rule. Those who had actively harmed the Frost Wolf family, however, were obliterated.
By the time spring fully arrived, David had reclaimed all of Frost Wolf Ridge's lost territories.
The Frost Wolf family's resurgence was undeniable.
Now, David turned his attention to the larger threats looming on the horizon—namely, the Ice Bear family and their allies. For the Frost Wolf family to truly
dominate the northern territories, these final obstacles would need to be overcome.
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