King
Chapter 581 - 581 135 Plan to Assassinate the King_1

581: Chapter 135, Plan to Assassinate the King_1 581: Chapter 135, Plan to Assassinate the King_1 “Count, Snow Moon Lake is one of Orc Empire’s taboos, we shouldn’t keep substantial forces stationed by the lake!”

Just as he ordered a base to be established near the lake for logistics transfer, a group of Nobles of the North rushed over to discourage him.

Seeing their fearful expressions, Hudson knew there must be some story behind this.

On the Continent of Aslante, “forbidden zones” are not uncommon, but their terror is relatively speaking.

Many threats target ordinary people and rarely pose a major threat to a large army.

According to the intelligence gathered by the official kingdom, the three most dangerous areas of the Orc Empire are located in the Northern Plateau, the Western Salar Hills, and the Ula Mountains in the Central Region.

Snow Moon Lake is not even mentioned in the records.

He genuinely couldn’t remember what dangers could potentially reside here.

“Oh, what terror lurks in this lake that you hold such fear?”

Hudson asked, puzzled.

Being a long-standing adversary, the Alpha Kingdom should have a good understanding of the Orc Empire.

Snow Moon Lake covers an area of thousands of kilometers.

If there were a threat to the large army, it should not be overlooked.

“Your Excellency the Count, we’re not sure what specific dangers Snow Moon Lake holds.”

“A few years ago, when we infiltrated the Orc Empire to gather intelligence, I inadvertently heard an interesting tale.”

The old legend says Snow Moon Lake is where a divine spirit fell to earth, a curse resides in the lake, those tribes who stay for a long time here often encounter various accidents, then rapidly decline until they perish.”

We don’t have tangible evidence, but direct tribes of the Five Royal Clans all unspokenly gave up Snow Moon Lake for it had an abundance of water and grass, suitable for agricultural production.”

The orc tribes living near here are often small tribes forced to move here because they couldn’t survive in the outside world.”

Even so, these tribes try to keep as far away from the lake as possible.

The closest tribe is at least thirty miles away.”

Only in years when food is scarce do these tribes move to live by the lake.

As soon as it was over, they would leave immediately.”

After hearing Baron Katelai’s words, Hudson’s expression turned serious.

Ancient myths might not be true, but the choice of the orc natives couldn’t be ignored.”

Normally, everyone would fight over such fertile land, but it has become a dangerous place that everyone avoids.

It couldn’t be okay.”

In his heart, Hudson’s discontent with the Five Great Dukes of the North rose.

These Northern Nobles under his command who had only infiltrated the Orc Empire a few times for trades, all knew that Snow Moon Lake had problems.

These local nobles surely knew as well.”

But the information they provided to him regarding Snow Moon Lake contained only one sentence: the land is fertile with abundant water and grassland.

It’s obvious they deliberately set him a trap.”

The convenience of water transport was something Hudson didn’t want to give up.

But he had to take into account the potential dangers that might exist in the lake.”

Glancing at the nobles from the Northland, Hudson asked with concern, “Do you have more specific information about Snow Moon Lake, including local legends?”

“Your Excellency the Count, there are many legends about Snow Moon Lake, mainly divided into three categories: aquatic beasts, evil gods, and curses.”

It’s said that those who stay here for a long time will meet with notoriety from the lake.

I encountered a wiped-out small tribe here three years ago while I was on a mission.”

Out of curiosity, we carefully examined the bodies but found no wounds.

There were no signs of a struggle, and the only thing that was unusual was the fresh corpses covered in dust.”

Realizing something was amiss, we quickly left and stealthily asked the local orcs.

It is said such incidents occur every few years.”

The victims are mostly members of the tribes living nearby.

Some died in the wild, some at home.

The manner of death was almost the same, without any wounds on the bodies.”

Some say it’s the aquatic beasts taking lives, others claim it’s the transient evil gods, but most believe that the ominous object in the lake is a curse.”

It’s said that the Orc’s Royal Court has sent experts to check it in the past.

We do not know the result, but none of the tribes from the Five Royal Clans have moved here since.”

Snow Moon Lake also goes by another name within the Orc Empire — Devil Lake.”

Baron Lino replied with somewhat fear.

His words seemed to have awakened his deep-seated terror, leaving Hudson in bewilderment.”

However, he did capture a key piece of information—dust on the corpses.”

Normally, whether it’s an evil god, an aquatic beast, or a curse killing people, it happens straightforwardly and wouldn’t leave any dust.”

“Volcanic Lake!”

These three words instantly sprang up in Hudson’s head.”

From past memories, he recalled information about volcanic lakes, which matched the situation of Snow Moon Lake.”

Whenever a volcano erupts, it releases a lot of harmful gases and dust, and ordinary people can hardly resist.”

For the orcs who lack knowledge, it’s normal to make wild guesses when encountering unknown things.”

“Send a message.

Move the camp thirty miles upstream along the Green Jade River.

Send someone to the lake to find out if there is a volcanic vent.”

Hudson decisively ordered.

The truth can be investigated gradually, but we must stay away from potential hazards.

If you’re unlucky, and a volcanic eruption occurs, the army will suffer heavy losses.”

If the judgment was wrong, that would be even more terrifying.

Unknown dangers are far more fearsome than known risks.”