Chapter 73: The Lord’s Suspicion (Part I)

　　Although Raffel had once listened to his advisors and concluded that outright conquest was an exhausting and fruitless endeavor, his descendants spent generations of time and wealth to finally bind the scattered Pendeer people into a loose confederation through a mix of conflict and strategic marriages. Root, having mastered the etiquette and administrative codes of the Willem Dynasty, ascended the throne at Kurselon amidst the sincere or feigned blessings of the Pendeer lords, becoming the first King of Pendeer recorded in history.　　This fragile kingdom progressed into the era of Dunrak through cycles of friction and cooperation. The battle-hardened armies of Voxmire expanded the Duke's territories to the very edges of the Pendeer lands. They used vast quantities of gold denars to purchase Pendeer assistance, augmenting their own forces and establishing a relationship with the Pendeer King. The accuracy and lethal power of the Pendeer slingers and archers were legendary, earning them lasting praise from the Limidea people.　　Under the leadership of Lord Nord, his people navigated the forested lands using a shrewd blend of force and diplomacy. They not only held their defensive lines but also pushed northward, securing a vast expanse of fertile soil. The local populace, once enemies of Nord, now supported the Lord and his army out of their share