Chapter 193: The Iron Warlord’s Uprising

The man known as the Iron Warlord turned his head, calmly acknowledging the Mad Hatter.

“Truly a spectacle,” the Mad Hatter remarked, looking around with a click of his tongue. “I wonder how many noble families will be issuing obituaries tomorrow. The Inquisition must be tearing their hair out over this.”

Without demand, there would be no supply. To eradicate the Empire’s underground s*ave trade, the root cause—the demand side—had to be addressed.

If everyone involved in reselling and buying slaves was eliminated, the Empire’s underground s*ave market would naturally collapse.

“Every person here deserves their fate. Dealing with them all at once saves a great deal of trouble,” the Iron Warlord stated, his voice raspy.

“Won’t this be a bit too high-profile?” the Mad Hatter countered. “Such an extravagant display is bound to attract the attention of the Saints’ Assembly.”

“It matters not. We are soon to become infinitely more conspicuous than this,” the Iron Warlord slowly rose. “Something monumental is coming. This is merely the prelude.”

“Are you finally going public with the uprising?” The Mad Hatter clapped his hands. “Congratulations. When do you officially make your move?”

“You will hear the news in due time,” the man replied, his tone calm, yet his eyes burned with intensity.

The Iron Warlord, once the chieftain of the Ironblood Tribe and widely recognized as the greatest barbarian warrior, had a storied past. A decade and a half ago, the Empire had supported the Dragon’s Ridge Tribe in conquering other barbarian tribes, the Ironblood among them.

At that time, the Iron Warlord, then a Blood Seal Commander of the Third Order, had been an unparalleled force on the battlefield, proving to be a nightmare for the Dragon’s Ridge Tribe.

However, with the Empire secretly deploying two Saints and Templar Assassins in support, the Ironblood Tribe was relentlessly pushed back.

Ultimately, the Ironblood Tribe suffered a brutal massacre, and the Iron Warlord, gravely wounded, barely managed to escape.

For over ten years thereafter, he harbored the hatred of his annihilated tribe. He disfigured himself, lived under false identities, constantly changing his guise—becoming a beast hunter, an explorer, a naturalized barbarian, and even a s*ave.

He adopted an Imperial name, “Hans,” and wandered between the Dragon’s Ridge Kingdom and the Empire, gathering intelligence.

A decade later, following a faint trail of clues, he finally discovered a Second Order Holy Relic within a ruin in the desolate Frozen Lands.

He then returned to the Dragon’s Ridge Kingdom, spending the next five years covertly gathering oppressed slaves and forming the Iron Warlord Army, an insurgent force.

During this period, he met the Mad Hatter, allied with the secret organization known as the Tea Party, and, with the Mad Hatter’s assistance, successfully absorbed the Holy Relic to advance his power. Within the Tea Party, his codename was “Iron Warlord.”

Initially, the Iron Warlord Army operated in deep secrecy underground. It was only in the past year that they began openly establishing bases, yet they had still refrained from publicly declaring an uprising.

Now, however, they were finally prepared to step into the light.

“With the Duke of the North confined to the Imperial City for审查, and most of the northern garrisons withdrawn, it truly is an opportune moment for a public uprising,” the Mad Hatter nodded.

The impeachment of Duke Alençon and the reduction of Imperial garrisons in the north was detrimental to Jeanne Decker. Yet, for the Iron Warlord Army, it presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The Dragon’s Ridge Kingdom was, in essence, the Empire’s proxy in the barbarian territories. Should an uprising occur, the Empire would undoubtedly not stand idly by.

The Duke Alençon, who guarded the northern border, and the vast Imperial garrisons stationed in the north, had always been a thorn in the side of the insurgents.

But now, circumstances were different. The Empire’s northern territories were currently unable to provide timely support to the Dragon’s Ridge Kingdom.

When the Iron Warlord, once the greatest barbarian warrior, raised his arm and called out, a great number of slaves would quickly flock to the Iron Warlord Army.

Their goal was to seize enough strongholds and establish a firm foothold before the Empire could react, igniting an unquenchable fire within the Dragon’s Ridge Kingdom.

“Should the uprising succeed, it will mark the emergence of the first national power to openly defy the Empire and cooperate with the Witch.”

“To achieve great things, one needs help. How have you considered the previous proposal?” the Mad Hatter inquired.

“Cooperating with the Witch, huh…” Iron Warlord Hans mused.

Barbarians, who pursued the “Warlord” path—the antithesis of the “Witch” and representative of masculine authority—possessed a culture distinctly different from the Starlight Kingdom.

In most barbarian tribes, women held very low status, and barbarian culture was highly resistant to the legendary, insidious, and mysterious Witches, only slightly less hostile than the Holy Church, which readily sent witches to the stake.

“Don’t be so rigid, old friend. How many years have I been telling you this? Whether it’s an organization, a people, or a nation, only through continuous progress can you avoid being eliminated by time,” the Mad Hatter said earnestly.

“If you don’t discard the dross of your past beliefs, even if you succeed in your uprising and return to how things once were, you will still be defeated by the Empire again.”

Iron Warlord Hans closed his eyes, contemplating for a moment, then slowly spoke. “You are right. It is time for a change. Without your advice, I would not have come this far.”

“Would you like me to introduce you to the leader of the Witch’s side?” the Mad Hatter proposed. “Her situation and her objectives are almost identical to yours back then. As a senior figure in seeking revenge against the Empire, what do you say to offering her some advice?”

“There’s no advice to give. The hatred for her nation and family within her heart will naturally guide her,” Iron Warlord Hans replied. “There’s no need for a meeting. I am willing to trade.”

“If she prepares to rise up and reclaim her nation, I can lend her people. For every person she asks me to lend, she must, after her success, lend an equal number to assist me—you tell her exactly that!”

“You barbarians truly conduct diplomacy in a simple and brutal manner, don’t you?” The Mad Hatter grinned. “Since you’re planning something big, you should leave a contact person here for us.”

“Haven’t you met my son already? He will be my contact person with you from now on. If needed, you can also command him; it will serve as a trial for him,” Iron Warlord Hans slowly stated.

“Speaking of which, I’ve wanted to say this for a long time: your son doesn’t resemble you at all,” the Mad Hatter suddenly remarked.

“He is not my biological son…”

“Could it be that you… were cuckolded?” The Mad Hatter spread his hands. “I’m so sorry, that’s truly a sad story.”

“…” Iron Warlord Hans silently stared at the Mad Hatter.

“Alright, alright, no more jokes! My friend, you really lack a sense of humor!” The Mad Hatter quickly raised his hands in surrender.

“I’ve actually never told you. He is, in fact, the Prince of the Dragon’s Ridge Kingdom,” Iron Warlord Hans said quietly. “I abducted him.”

“Ah?” The Mad Hatter was astonished.

“He is the illegitimate son of the King and a s*ave woman,” Iron Warlord Hans added. “The King of Dragon’s Ridge viewed this illegitimate son, born of a single night’s pleasure, as a nuisance. He only granted the mother and child some status and treatment out of consideration for his bloodline, but offered them no protection.”

“The King’s other sons bullied and tormented him. His mother was injured protecting him, eventually contracting a terrible illness and dying. By chance, he met me, and I took him away.”

“I see,” the Mad Hatter nodded.

“So you were wrong, old friend. He is actually very much like me,” Iron Warlord Hans said, walking towards the secret exit. “I hope you two get along well in the future.”