A count wearing luxurious gold-trimmed attire sat quietly in the carriage.

His hands tightly gripped the elegant black cane as he gazed pensively out the window.

The carriage moved along the uneven street, making deep rattling sounds.

Though the carriage swayed unsteadily, the count seemed completely accustomed to this bumpy road.

Through the window, he looked back.

Behind him was a convoy of carriages carrying other imperial ministers.

Around them were imperial knights riding white horses, surrounding the carriages.

The knights wore silver armor, their expressions as cold as ice, exuding great authority.

Leading the knights at the front was a figure riding a white horse, with flowing silver hair.

The piercing aura emanating from her made the count's spine tingle.

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This knight, who seemed like an ice sculpture, must be Viktor Kravina's fiancée - Gwen Delin.

According to rumors, this knight also possessed top-tier strength.

In the descriptions of those diplomatic ministers, she even had heavenly abilities and could communicate with deities, using their power.

This was quite absurd for an imperial knight, as the Empire was a country that prohibited any religious beliefs.

However, to become a count in the Calensia Empire at such a young age.

Her strength definitely couldn't be weak.

Count Laurien would like to spar with this fellow count and great knight Gwen, trying to test what level this young imperial knight was really at, but...

He came back to his senses and looked at the man sitting opposite him.

The man wore a black coat with a distinctive badge bearing three broken skulls on his chest.

His expression was cold, even several degrees colder than Gwen outside.

At this moment, he just quietly clasped his hands together and placed them on his legs.

But that cold gaze would always make Count Laurien's body tremble.

Yes, this was the rumored Councilor Viktor Kravina.

He was sitting in the same carriage as himself.

Though he seemed full of openings from head to toe, the powerful pressure emanating from him kept circulating within the carriage.

He still remembered, just now.

When this Councilor Viktor got off the train.

He just reached out his hand and gently gripped towards that damaged magic train.

Instantly, the train that still retained some shape was gradually compressed by his powerful magic.

Finally, the train carriage that could originally accommodate over a hundred people.

Was gripped and compressed by him into a cubic block of scrap metal, now sitting quietly in the corner of the station.

As soon as he got off the train, he cleverly demonstrated his power to the kingdom's people.

That was perhaps a show of authority.

But Count Laurien really bought into it.

After all, when they arrived here, those ministers had already mentioned.

Half of the South Gabulna Gorge had been blown away.

This was almost impossible in everyone's eyes.

The South Gabulna Gorge was a towering valley that separated the two great nations.

Its existence forced peace between the Kingdom and Empire, these two huge neighboring countries.

After all, if it was just mutual visits, that would be fine.

They only needed to take the magic train to quickly shuttle between the two neighboring countries through the air above the valley.

However, if one country really had thoughts about the other and wanted to go to war.

They would have to bypass this huge valley, taking a very long detour.

This way, the journey would be an extremely big trouble.

Supplies couldn't be transported in time, putting them at a disadvantage in prolonged warfare.

And if the attacking side's army suffered losses, it would even be difficult to request reinforcements.

So much so that once these two countries went to war, no matter who attacked whom.

As long as one side was defending, they would definitely have a huge advantage.

After all, the entire gorge separated the whole country, making support really too slow.

And the Kingdom had proven the important strategic significance of this valley with bloody lessons.

Their harassment and occupation of the Empire's borders ultimately ended in failure.

That was already a long time ago, when the Empire was far from as powerful as it is now.

But that valley rift spanned hundreds of miles?

To blow away that part with just one spell, was that possible?

Yes.

For this Councilor Kravina, it was absolutely possible.

He had naturally seen that earth-shattering naval battle spread by the Mage Council.

At that moment, the name Viktor Kravina had already deeply entered people's hearts, becoming known to countless people.

Internationally, he already had a very prominent position.

And himself...

Laurien Niss.

Was just a three-star count.

In terms of age and seniority, he might indeed have lived longer than Viktor.

But in terms of strength.

Perhaps ten of him couldn't match one Viktor.

There was no need to cause discord between both sides just because he wanted to spar with Viktor's fiancée.

If they really fought, Viktor's side would feel uncomfortable first.

But if they lost, then what would be lost would be the face of the entire Kanter Kingdom.

As fellow counts, for a count of the Kanter Kingdom to lose to a young knight of the Empire.

This would indeed make people laugh if word got out.

In short, neither option was good.

Laurien took a deep breath, then looked at Aurelianne sitting beside Viktor.

He said kindly to Aurelianne:

"Your Highness, welcome again for coming from afar."

"As it's getting late, I've prepared accommodation for you first, and we'll set out for the royal city tomorrow."

Hearing this, Aurelianne nodded lightly, responding very politely:

"Thank you for Count Laurien's thoughtful arrangements."

"""

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com