My queen is rebelling!

The interior of the mountain villa had clearly been renovated.

The original living room was transformed into a spacious negotiation room, with walls inlaid with magical crystals that could isolate auras and defend against magical detection.

A huge round negotiation table occupied more than half of the room's area, made entirely of millennium-old ebony, with intricate magic runes carved on the surface, shimmering with faint magical fluctuations.

The negotiation table was already filled with documents made of magical parchment, thoughtfully translated into different languages.

"Golden Wing" Isabella Windsor sat quietly in the main seat, holding a cup of fragrant and elegant flower tea in her hands, sipping it gently.

Not far away, stood a dwarf as tall as the table.

The dwarf was clad in heavy metal armor, covered in scratches, his body short and sturdy, his face like a piece of stubborn rock.

His thick beard, like burning flames, hung from his chin to his chest, interspersed with a few strands of silver.

His deep-set eyes were like burning coals, yet his gaze revealed an unease with the surrounding luxurious and elegant environment.

Isabella put down her teacup and parted her red lips slightly:

"Chief, you don't need to be so nervous, please make yourself at home."

"Eh, okay."

Although he responded verbally, his hands unconsciously flexed and extended, his body hunched, and his footsteps moved back and forth nervously, betraying his unease and anxiety.

The Grand Duke saw Isabella in the main seat, a look of surprise on his face, and said with a smile:

"I didn't expect the Golden Wing to come in person!"

Isabella stood up and saluted:

"Greetings, Your Highness the Grand Duke, you must be tired from your journey."

Grand Duke Roland's loud laughter echoed in the room:

"Haha, little Isa, you're too polite!

The last time I saw you, you were only this big."

The Grand Duke gestured, and continued with a smile:

"So many years have passed, and the cute little lark has transformed into a beautiful woman that noble young men are vying to pursue!"

Isabella smiled faintly:

"Your Highness the Grand Duke's praise is always delightful!

Before my father came, he specifically instructed me to send his regards to Uncle Roland."

Grand Duke Roland let out a hearty laugh:

"I have already felt old Windsor's sincerity, it seems we will have a good start!"

Isabella nodded firmly:

"I am also full of expectations for the future of our negotiations!"

Mr. Modo interjected at the right moment:

"Your Highness the Grand Duke, in fact, the establishment of this cross-racial trade route was entirely initiated and implemented by Miss.

The relationship with the dwarves is all thanks to Miss!"

Grand Duke Roland's face showed undisguised surprise, and he exclaimed:

"Truly worthy of being old Windsor's descendant, beautiful Miss, your beauty pales in comparison to your wisdom and ability."

Isabella smiled modestly at Grand Duke Roland's compliment, gracefully raised her right hand, pointed to the dwarf on the side, and introduced:

"This is the chief of the Dwarven 'Forgefire Tribe', Mr. Groin Firehammer."

The dwarf hurriedly saluted Grand Duke Roland, with a hint of fear in his eyes.

Grand Duke Roland laughed heartily:

"Mr. Firehammer, haha, old acquaintance, but I think my subordinates should know you better."

Groin Firehammer's "Forgefire Tribe" was adjacent to Grand Duke Roland's territory, and the two groups often clashed.

The dwarves, who were never good at fighting, were naturally no match for Grand Duke Roland, who had "elite" family guards.

They were often beaten until they fled with their heads in their hands, suffering heavy casualties.

Grand Duke Roland looked at the uneasy dwarven chief and waved his big hand forcefully:

"But that's all in the past, we are now going to join hands and move towards a new era!"

The Northwest Continent is home to a dwarven population no smaller than that of the human empire, with approximately hundreds of tribes.

They are located adjacent to the vast northern mountains of the Western Empire, which is Grand Duke Roland's territory.

The dwarves possess exceptional talent in mining, forging, and construction. They are excellent craftsmen, capable of crafting exquisite magical weapons, armor, and handicrafts.

They also have a unique ability to identify magic crystal ores and magical gemstones.

These skills are extremely valuable strategic assets for any country—mastering the dwarves is equivalent to mastering a continuous source of mines and weaponry.

The Western Empire had always wanted to find an opportunity to swallow the juicy morsel that was the dwarven race.

However, although the dwarves were not good at fighting, they were exceptionally brave and united, with a strong sense of loyalty and pride in their families, tribes, and traditions.

It was as if needles could not be inserted, and water could not be splashed in.

Several ambitious emperors of the Western Empire wanted to conquer this dwarven race, but all ultimately failed.

Until the "Pale Wing," the Golden Wing, by chance, sent people into the dwarven tribe and successfully contacted the chief of the "Forgefire" tribe.

After multiple rounds of mediation, the other party finally agreed to open a secret cross-racial trade route.

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The route would naturally pass through the Western Empire, which was Grand Duke Roland's territory.

The Emperor of the Western Empire had been troubled by the lack of opportunity to infiltrate the dwarven tribe, which was like an impregnable fortress. Upon hearing this, he was immediately very interested, and after a brief contact, the two sides hit it off.

Today was the day agreed upon by both parties for formal negotiations.

Time passed, and the atmosphere at the negotiation table gradually became much heavier.

It wasn't that the dwarven side had any objections. Regarding the distribution of benefits for the dwarves, the "Pale Wing" had already completely negotiated it during the previous rounds of mediation. Chief Firehammer was here today to serve as a witness.

The disagreement was between Grand Duke Roland and the "Pale Wing."

Grand Duke Roland's tone at this time was no longer as kind as before, and his tone was very serious:

"...Miss Windsor, I must remind you that there is still a large part of the Northern Mountains between the Dwarven Tribal Alliance and my territory, not to mention that after passing the mountains, there is still a large 'Lost Land' in existence.

Without my 'elite' army as a guard, your cross-racial trade route will simply not work!"

He tapped the table heavily with the ring on his right hand, firmly repeating his bottom line:

"Fifty percent, our Western Empire must take fifty percent! Even if old Windsor were here, I would still have this attitude!"

The so-called "Lost Land" was the imperial ruins left behind when the Arcane Empire collapsed thousands of years ago.

It was filled with various disordered magic, surging magic tides, strange traps, and various mutated and corrupted magic beasts.

Logically speaking, no race should be able to survive in such a place, but these disordered lands, which normal people talked about with fear, were a paradise for a certain group of people:

Thugs, villains, smugglers, fallen knights, werewolf bandits... and adventurers from all over the continent who wanted to search for the treasures of the Arcane Empire. All unseen evils and transactions were staged in this "Lost Land".

Here, bloody violence is everywhere, kidnapping and murder are commonplace, and everyone seems to be filled with destructive and tyrannical genes, like a dark mirror of the human world.

Isabella also countered tit-for-tat:

"Our Golden Wing family also has an 'elite' merchant group that can participate as well.

What's more, we have already invested a large amount of money in the early construction of this trade route. We cannot accept the ratio you mentioned at all."

Grand Duke Roland continued to retort:

"The preliminary work you mentioned is only limited to the human world, as for that Lost Land, Miss Windsor probably hasn't made any progress yet!

Isn't this the reason why you are seeking our help?"

Isabella was silent for a few seconds, then a confident smile suddenly appeared on her face, and she said slowly:

"Your Highness, I know that there is a force in the 'Lost Land' that you secretly support.

But that force alone cannot cover the entire trade route, right!

What's more, our 'Pale Wing' can also recruit adventure groups to help us conquer the 'Lost Land' and establish safe trade bases.

You can't do much more than we can!"