Chapter 487: Opposition Within the Federation
Chapter 487: Opposition Within the Federation
"This," Terina's face turned slightly red.
But upon recalling the conversation she had with Vice Speaker Bertron not long ago, she nodded and said,
"Of course, Vice Speaker Rayne, there is a lounge next door, and we can talk there."
While Rebecca was looking at her mother in shock.
In her impression, her mother Terina had never been coy with men who pursued her since her father's passing.
But when faced with Rayne's invitation for a private chat, she readily agreed.
Where is the female's modesty?
Is her mother really fond of Rayne?
Rebecca felt that her previous perceptions of her mother completely collapsed!
"No, no, it must be because Rayne, in battle, together with several other strong individuals, killed Gazrian, so Mother, on behalf of the Federation, expresses her gratitude to Rayne."
"It must be this."
"Mother's recent actions are official conduct!"
After some contemplation, Rebecca finally found a reason to comfort herself.
However, seeing her mother and Rayne's figures disappear at the entrance of the lounge, she felt a little uncomfortable in her heart.
In the lounge.
Terina and Rayne sat side by side.
A lonely man and woman, alone together, a scene Terina had not encountered for many years.
She only glanced at Rayne, her cheeks slightly red, feeling a little embarrassed as she smoothed her hair to ease her tension.
Originally, Rayne was going to directly ask Terina about the follow-up Level 4 Spell matters of the Occult Sawtooth Ring.
However, when he saw Terina, this mature beauty, flirting with her hair, and her face slightly red with a charming demeanor, his heart stirred, and he couldn't help but start to look her up and down.
Her fair, oval face, looked dignified, now with a touch of red, added a few more charms.
Her upper body was full, her waist was slender, and her hips were like peaches; from her figure, she was no less than a young girl.
Moreover, with her identity as a Federation Parliamentarian,
Rayne suddenly felt a hot stream rising in his lower abdomen, and he couldn't help but feel a little thirsty.
However, having already become a Dawn Wizard, Rayne soon became aware of this.
"Huh? Is my reaction a little big? Could it be that I was influenced by the Dragon's bloodline?"
"But now is not the time for romantic distractions; I must first ask clearly about the follow-up Spell." Rayne pondered.
"When facing important matters, Rayne is still very good at distinguishing the primary from the secondary.
"Cough, Parliamentarian Terina, the several Metal Spells that Vice Speaker Hamadi gifted you last time, I really liked them."
"But I found that there should be a follow-up Level 4 Metal Spell."
"Parliamentarian Terina, are you willing?"
Hearing what Rayne said, Terina was no longer nervous.
Originally, Rayne was going to ask her about this matter, but she had already seen the information before coming.
Therefore, she was already prepared.
In fact, the opinion of the Federation Intelligence Department is that the follow-up Level 4 Metal Spell can be given to Rayne, but Rayne must agree to join the Federation.
At the very least, Rayne must agree to join the Federation's intelligence system.
Terina, of course, knew the intention of this move, which was to have leverage, and once Rayne broke his promise, the secrets of the once-joined Federation Intelligence System would be exposed.
However, regarding this, Terina immediately raised objections.
The reason is simple; if this matter is handled by her, then it will be done according to her intentions.
And she didn't think Rayne was a person who would accept coercion.
"Of course, the follow-up Level 4 Metal Spell is with me."
"If Rayne has a need, wait until you arrive at Antuhol, and I'll give it to you."
Hmm?
Hearing Terina's words, Rayne was slightly startled!
This is an agreement?
Hearing Terina's easy agreement, it was clearly far beyond Rayne's expectations.
A rare Level 4 Metal Spell, the value is immeasurable, so there's no need to mention it.
For Rayne, some important matters, he is clear in his heart.
The sky won't drop such a great opportunity; it's not going to happen.
Thinking it over, Rayne's expression turned solemn, and he said, "That. Parliamentarian Terina, what do I need to do?"
Seeing Rayne's expression, Terina hesitated and said with embarrassment,
"That. Rayne, I just saw Rebecca chatting with you. You two are of similar age, and you are both Metal Mages. There should be a lot of common ground, right?"
Hmm?
Hearing Terina's words, Rayne was puzzled!
Why did she suddenly mention Rebecca?
"Cough, Rebecca has high standards, and normally, she hardly chats with young men."
"You think Rebecca is how?"
Seeing Rayne's doubtful expression, Terina had no choice but to speak plainly.
This.
Rayne, I was just seeing Rebecca chatting with you. She and you are of similar age, and you are both Metal Mages. There should be a lot of common ground, right?
Rayne was a little speechless.
The female Parliamentarian in front of him, is she trying to introduce her daughter Rebecca to him?
But to be honest, although Rebecca is very beautiful, Rayne's heart, however, did not stir in the aspect of romantic matters.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Rayne glanced at the dignified and elegant mature female senator beside him.
If it were her, it wouldn't be out of the question.
Tereyna, noticing Rayne's silence and his gaze, blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment, joy, and annoyance.
Indeed, the intelligence report was spot-on. Lord Rayne, despite his youth, had a unique preference for mature women like her.
It seemed that her plan to match Rebecca with him was unlikely to succeed.
"Ms. Tereyna, Rebecca is indeed beautiful, but our conversations revolve around golem crafting. I believe she will find a better partner," Rayne politely declined.
To marry a girl he wasn't fond of for a Level 4 spell? Rayne immediately dismissed the thought.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" Rayne asked.
"Lord Rayne, would you consider becoming a Guardian Knight for the Haydenberg Duchy?" Tereyna proposed after some thought.
She had her reasons for this request.
If Rayne became a Guardian Knight for the duchy, it could gradually lead to him becoming a protector of the Federation.
A Guardian Knight?
Rayne understood the responsibilities that came with the title.
As the name suggested, a family's Guardian Knight protected that family. The only family Rayne had agreed to protect was the Crowley family, where Jennifer held sway.
And since Jennifer was his person, there was no conflict of interest.
As for personal Guardian Knights, the only one Rayne had committed to was Claire.
"I'm sorry, but my position is sensitive, and it's difficult to accept your request, Ms. Tereyna."
"How about this? I can agree to be your personal Guardian Knight," Rayne suggested after some consideration.
After all, Tereyna's conditions weren't harsh; they were quite lenient. However, it would be unreasonable for him, as the Empire's Deputy Chief, to serve as a Guardian Knight for a duchy under the Federation.
Having declined the beautiful woman twice, Rayne proposed an alternative he could agree to.
Being a personal Guardian Knight was a more justifiable role.
Moreover, Rayne had an advantage; as a federal senator, Tereyna was unlikely to encounter any significant security issues.
In other words, his role as a Guardian Knight would be more symbolic.
Tereyna's face reddened further upon hearing this.
After all, becoming her Guardian Knight was akin to pursuing her. "Alright, then," she agreed after some thought.
It was a step forward in their relationship, though still far from the minimum requirement set by the intelligence department.
After Rayne and Tereyna exited the lounge, Rebecca, who had been waiting nearby, hurried over, huffed at Rayne, and then pulled her mother away.
On the main seat in the hall, Lady Maynia's beautiful eyes briefly rested on Rayne and Tereyna as they left the room, then quickly shifted away.
Senator Bertrand, sitting beside her, witnessed this and smiled even more brightly.
"Lady Maynia, would you care to dance?"
"Thank you, but I haven't danced in a long time."
After the banquet, the Imperial delegation prepared to return to their quarters for rest.
"Oh? Opposition forces?" Rayne contemplated.
He was well aware that there were opposition forces within the Empire as well.
For instance, many powerful nobles remained staunchly opposed to cooperating with the Federation, and the reasons were intricate and multifaceted. It was a complex web of interests and long-standing grudges.
Tracing back the grudges, one would find themselves delving into the early days of the Federation's establishment.
It seemed that the Federation had its own share of opposition as well.
"Yes, especially a force called the Zalar Resistance, which has been quite active recently," Maynia nodded.
"The Zalar Resistance?" Rayne's eyebrows arched.
He was quite familiar with them.
Back in Meister, he had slain a brigadier general from their ranks.
Furthermore, he had interrogated the captured opponent, and it seemed that the Zalar Resistance had been receiving military and financial support from within the Federation.
Now it appeared that the support didn't come from the Federation's official channels but rather from opposition forces within the Federation who were backing the Zalar Resistance.
Meanwhile, outside the banquet hall, a long line of luxurious carriages adorned with various family crests stretched along the street for several miles.
In one of these carriages, two men sat facing each other.
"Lord Richmond, I never expected that the Empire and the Federation's first joint operation would result in such a resounding victory," said a middle-aged man in a tailcoat, his expression solemn.
"It's foreseeable that the federal parliamentarians advocating for a union with the Empire will leverage this victory to further deepen cooperation with the Empire."
"This doesn't align with our interests! Therefore, Lord Richmond, as one of the leaders of the Zalar Resistance, you should take action promptly."
"Yes, we must do something, or the Zalar Resistance will have no place to stand," said a bearded man named Richmond in a deep voice.
"However, please convey to Nelson and Stein that it's too early to draw conclusions, and we hope that the esteemed parliamentarians will continue to support us as they have in the past."
"Additionally, we have made certain arrangements, and I believe good news will arrive soon." Richmond smiled mysteriously.
"Oh? That's excellent news indeed, and we eagerly await Lord Richmond's update." The man in the tailcoat smiled.
Soon after, the man in the tailcoat disembarked from the carriage and disappeared into the night.
The next morning, the combined Empire and Federation airship fleet set off once more. Accompanied by Vice-Speaker Bertrand, Parliamentarian Tereyna, and a host of reception staff, the Empire's delegation headed for the Federation's capital, Antuhol.
In Antuhol, the Empire's delegation leader, 'Red Queen' Maynia, was scheduled to hold talks with the Federation's Speaker.
Of course, none of this concerned Rayne.
At that moment, he was in the luxurious cabin of the airship, fully focused on improving his Master Leatherworker profession level.
Two hours later, a pleasant system prompt sounded:
[You have crafted a Hawthorn Robe, enhancing your understanding!]
[Your skill in crafting Hawthorn Robes has improved. Experience gained: +12]
[You have successfully crafted a Hawthorn Robe. Master Leatherworker profession experience gained: +10]
[Congratulations! Your Master Leatherworker level has increased!]
"Finally, I've managed to raise my Master Leatherworker level to lv10," Rayne said, putting down the completed Hawthorn Robe and glancing at the system prompt with a smile.
Now, he could finally change his profession to Elven Leatherworker.
As if reminded of something, Rayne checked the skill points at the bottom of his attribute panel.
After slaying the Ice Sea Demon Gazrian, his Dragon Vein Wizard level was too high, resulting in only a one-level increase to lv16. However, the golden skill points rewarded were quite generous, totaling 247.
Now, with the Master Leatherworker level up, he gained 1 attribute point and 1 skill point.
Subtracting the 5 attribute points used in combat, Rayne currently had 8 attribute points, 24 skill points, and a whopping 674 golden skill points.
"Not bad, I have enough skill points. Once we reach Antuhol and obtain the Level 4 Metal Spell, I can quickly enhance my combat capabilities."
"The golden skill points are sufficient too, and I should be able to master the new Dawn Kill technique directly."
"Then, I'll have two Dawn Kill techniques at my disposal."
Rayne's eyes lit up at the thought.
It was well-known that the strength of Level 4 Dawn Wizards varied greatly.
Powerful Dawn Kill techniques were a critical factor in determining their combat prowess.
Additionally, Rayne's unique ability, the Dragon Soul Smash, a core skill of Dragon Vein Wizards, meant that the stronger his magic, the higher the true damage he could inflict.
"Eight attribute points should suffice for a major battle, but it's still a bit lacking."
"I should change professions quickly and accumulate more attribute points."
Just as Rayne was about to change professions, the airship's alarm suddenly blared!
"Hmm? Enemy attack?" Rayne frowned.
Logically, it was unlikely for any enemy to dare attack such a massive combined Empire-Federation fleet.
Rayne, perplexed, quickly stepped out of the cabin.
(End of Chapter)
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