Jarvan III

On the way to the palace, Jarvan was not as enthusiastic as before.

Herren thought Jarvan was a little angry, but after hesitating for a long time, Jarvan finally spoke in a low voice.

"I still have to clarify, I didn't mean to look down on you... However, perhaps I am indeed too ignorant, I really have never heard of Winter's Claw."

Herren looked at Jarvan, who seemed rather guilty, with some surprise. It turned out that the guy was silent because he was reflecting on his behavior just now.

Herren immediately smiled and waved his hand.

"It's nothing. On the contrary, I was too arrogant. To be honest, Winter's Claw is indeed a small place."

Heron was indeed a bit too emotional just now. After all, Winter's Claw is only famous in Freljord. In the entire continent of Valoran, especially in populous places like Noxus and Demacia, it is like a small village.

Even if it was unintentional, or even if they deliberately mistook Winter's Claw for a down-on-his-luck person, Harren wouldn't have anything to say.

But after this incident, Herren developed a better impression of the prince and even took the initiative to strike up a conversation with him.

Heron was naturally talkative, and although Jarvan was a prince and had been to the battlefield, he was not a pampered child. However, the knowledge that Heron showed still amazed him.

How could a Freljordian know so much?

"Are you really capable of making a deal with Noxus?"

Jarvan was somewhat surprised.

"Those guys are notoriously arrogant...you'd better watch out for them."

"What? Don't you Demacians make deals with the Noxians?"

"There are caravans traveling between the civilian population, but there is almost no contact between nations. Demacia has ample supplies and doesn't need to exchange anything with the Noxians. They just need to keep them out of trouble... We have no desire to get involved with them."

Jarvan snorted coldly, his words filled with disgust for Noxus.

Demacia and Noxus are indeed sworn enemies. To say nothing of the distant past, Jarvan I was killed on the battlefield by the previous Hand of Noxus, Sion.

Previously, Demacia had a tradition of the king charging ahead, but that tradition has ended since then... However, Jarvan is an exception. He is somewhat "retro" and loves to lead the charge, which has put him in dangerous situations several times.

The shame of his ancestors was a thorn in his heart.

"However, I don't mind if you make a deal with the Noxians. I won't judge others based on my own likes or dislikes... So, are you here to make a deal with Demacia?"

"Sort of... but not for food or supplies."

"What is that? Um...am I talking too much?"

"Ha, no."

Heron had never seen Jarvan behave in front of other nobles, but he felt that Jarvan was being excessively humble at this moment.

Before they knew it, they were almost at the palace where Jarvan III was, and Harren stopped talking to Jarvan.

Jarvan stopped Herren and asked him to wait a moment before going in to report.

Herren did not have to wait long before he received a summons.

Herren straightened his clothes a little; Jarvan's reaction just now had made him pay more attention to his appearance...

He then stepped into the king's palace.

……

……

Herren was nearly blinded by the light.

At first glance, the palace is dazzlingly bright, so bright that it's hard to open your eyes. But upon closer inspection, you'll find that you rarely see precious metals like real gold and silver. The main structure is still made of magic-resistant stone.

However, the palace's excellent lighting technology allows sunlight to enter the palace from all angles, making the milky white "stone" emit a dazzling light.

It must be said that the Demacians had a very high level of artistic skill in construction.

Once his eyes had adjusted a little, Heron could see the old man sitting on the throne in the distance.

His beard was half white, and his face had some wrinkles, giving him an air of authority that came from someone who had long held a high position, but his eyes always revealed a kind and benevolent look.

There were no other guards in the palace, only Zhao Xin holding a long spear, standing straight below the throne, while Jarvan stood guard on the other side.

Jarvan III's appearance was quite different from what Heron remembered. He was old, but not completely old, and still had plenty of energy.

After a slight pause, Herren bowed in greeting.

This was a scene Heron had never witnessed before; it wasn't a dazzling spectacle of magic flying everywhere, but rather a kind of oppressive aura belonging to the pinnacle of power.

Fortunately, Jarvan III did not deliberately maintain this atmosphere.

The tense atmosphere dissipated the moment he opened his mouth, and he spoke slowly and steadily, like the retired old man next door, with a kind and gentle air.

"Young man, you're from Freljord? Winter's Claw... I know that tribe."

Have you heard of our tribe?

Harren had gradually accepted the fact that his tribe was unknown, but he never expected that the old king would actually know about the Claw of Winter. Harren even thought that he was just being polite.

But then, Jarvan III began to recount the past as if it were a treasure trove of memories.

"Demacia and Avarosa used to be neighbors, and we'd heard about the Winter's Claw from them... Of course, we'd never actually met the Winter's Claw; we only knew they were, like Avarosa, a powerful tribe in Freljord."

"Avarosa?"

"Yes, ha, Avarosa used to live on the coast next to Demacia, but then their War Mother somehow migrated inland and was never heard from again..."

Glenna... she led the tribe to find the One Piece—the relics of Avarosa.

We Freljordians have our own one picecs...

However, since Jarvan III knows about Winter's Claw, things are much easier.

Harren took out a token engraved with the Claw of Winter totem. Jarvan III examined it for a while, then recalled it for a moment before nodding.

"If I remember correctly... this is indeed the symbol of the Winter's Claw."

It was obvious to the naked eye that Herren could see Jarvan breathe a sigh of relief, seemingly genuinely worried that Herren was actually there to "deceive and swindle".

The old king naturally noticed his son's little actions and couldn't help but laugh as he spoke.

"Before you came in, Jarvan said a lot of good things about you to me... as if all the young people in Demacia are not as good as a young man from Freljord."

"Father, that's not what I meant..."

Herren was somewhat touched that Jarvan was willing to come in early to help him spread the word.

I'll never call you Cao Guolong again... I'll never badmouth you in front of Sejuani again...

I've gone from being a casual observer to a fan.

"So, what brings the Claw of Winter to Demacia?"

Then, Jarvan III steered the conversation back on track, his eyes now showing a more scrutinizing gaze.

"If I remember correctly, the tribes of Freljord don't like dealing with outsiders... What problem could possibly make you travel all this way to Demacia?"