What? I Actually Reincarnated As Stepping Stone In Another World?

Chapter 169  Unexpected Incident, and Conversations Between David and Noah

Immediately, Arthur opened the white book, but to his surprise, the page was entirely blank—a pristine white sheet devoid of any words or letters.

"Huh? Why is there nothing in it at all?" Arthur furrowed his brow in confusion as he continued to flip through the pages, finding the same emptiness within.

"Is something wrong?" He scratched his forehead, squinting as he tried to determine if he had made a mistake.

While he pondered, suddenly the blank page in the white book began to glow, leaving Arthur astonished.

"What on earth is this?" He hastily tossed the white book into the air, his fear growing that it might be some kind of trap.

Yet, to his amazement, the white book suspended itself in the air, and the radiance from its pages intensified.

"Whooshhh!"

The brilliance of the white light grew even stronger, prompting Arthur to make a swift dash for the exit of the reading room.

What came as a shock was that the white book not only emitted a blindingly bright light but also began to spin rapidly like a spinning top, hurtling toward Arthur as he sprinted for the door.

In a panic, Arthur glanced back while running and was met with the unsettling sight of the white book whirling towards him at high side to avoid it.

However, his body inexplicably froze, and the surrounding space speed.

"No!" His eyes widened in horror, and he attempted to veer to the side to avoid it.

However, his body inexplicably froze, and the surrounding space seemed to warp and freeze, leaving only his eyes capable of movement.

"Whoosh!"

The white book collided with him, unleashing a brilliant white light that bathed the entire room.

As the radiance slowly diminished, Arthur himself vanished from the scene.

...

In the northern region of the Balka Empire, Duke Wilhelm stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the falling snow.

The climate in the Northern Region starkly contrasted with the other three regions of the Empire.

Here, winter extended its icy grip for nine long months, yielding the rest of spring, summer, and fall—a peculiar weather pattern indeed.

This unique climate made the Northern region heavily reliant on its counterparts, especially the prosperous Southern region, where various branches of Luvic noble families were strategically positioned to fortify its strength.

While the southern region boasted four prominent Luvic families, the northern region housed only two such influential high-rangking Luvic families, both of which held comparatively less sway.

This discrepancy was mainly attributed to the overwhelming might of the Wilhem family, a dominance that positioned Duke Noah as the supreme authority.

It was no wonder that many regarded Duke Noah as an authoritarian and even a dictator due to this disproportionate distribution of power.

"It seems that in the near future, a conflict I cannot evade will erupt," Noah mused, a faint sigh escaping his lips, forming frosty tendrils in the frigid air.

Clad in his icy-blue fur-lined robe coat, Duke Noah exuded an aura of formidable authority, rivaling even that of David Asvold.

Emblazoned on the back of his robe coat was the distinctive ice chip pattern—the enduring symbol of the Wilhem family, an emblem with a legacy spanning millennia.

Despite the Wilhem family's renowned mastery of water elemental power, it was the ice chip pattern that held pride of place as the family's symbol in its founding region.

"Tuk! Tuk!"

Abruptly, familiar, light footsteps echoed behind Duke Noah.

"Have you finally joined me, David?" Duke Noah turned slowly, In response, David nodded ever so slightly and approached Duke Noah, his gaze locked on the cascading snow.

revealing a burly man donning a fiery red robe, his demeanor exuding an awe-inspiring presence.

In response, David nodded ever so slightly and approached Duke Noah, his gaze locked on the cascading snow.

Observing David's customary composure, Duke Noah harbored no trace of annoyance and returned to his previous position.

The two remained silent, their words held in abeyance, until Noah eventually shifted his gaze toward David, standing by his side, and inquired, "Did you vanquish all the barbarian troops?"

Noah's eyes sought affirmation of news previously conveyed through his militer spies.

Although he was confident that David had indeed eradicated the barbarian forces, he desired confirmation.

At the question, David gave a curt nod, his eyes lifting to the dark blue sky above.

"Yes, I've exterminated them all," he replied succinctly, aligning with Duke Noah's expectations.

With a slight nod in response to David's confirmation, Noah returned to silence, and the two men once again lapsed into quiet contemplation.

"So, why have you graced us with your presence here? Aren't you supposed to be back in the southern region, overseeing matters there, rather than getting tangled up in the affairs of the north?" Noah inquired once more, his tone laced with a teasing quality—a stark departure from his usual demeanor.

This time, David chose to remain silent, not providing an immediate response.

He slowly turned to face Noah, casting a gaze that carried a subtle shift from his typical countenance.

"My visit... naturally, it's to eliminate the remnants of the barbarian forces. Afterward, I intend to proceed directly to the Savaran Empire for its annihilation," he stated calmly and with indifference, his words carrying a chilling finality as if it were a mere matter of fact.

Upon hearing this declaration, David narrowed his eyes slightly and posed a grave question, his tone weighted with concern apparent to Noah in every word.

"Are you serious? Aren't you concerned about the centuries-old Pact of the Five Empires and the One Kingdom?" Noah's apprehension was evident to David.

Nevertheless, David brushed aside his concerns with a casual nod.

"I remember those agreements well, but do you think I care?" His indifferent countenance and icy gaze prompted a furrowed brow from Noah, who could only shake his head in helpless resignation.

"You truly remain unchanged, David," Noah murmured, a tinge of regret coloring his thoughts.

"If you actually go through with that, the Emperor of the Ancient Star Empire will undoubtedly come for you. You're well aware of that old man's unwavering dedication to preserving peace across the human continent, aren't you?" Noah's tone carried a playful undertone, but it was conspicuously devoid of concern, much like before.

In fact, there was a subtle edge of anticipation in his every word, for he sought to gauge David's reaction to this statement.

However, it proved regrettable that David's expression remained as impassive as ever.

"Hehe, if that old man dares to obstruct my path, he shouldn't be surprised if I incinerate him with my flames!" David responded with an air of unshakable resolve.