Haight's nature was not inherently bad, but he was overly obsessed with aristocratic bloodlines and orthodox succession. He looked down on Godrick, who had defiled the dignity of the Golden Lineage, and naturally refused to acknowledge Godrick as a lord.
However, when Limgrave returned to the Junction, Haight was shocked to discover that Stormveil Castle was now governed by a pair of commoners—Kenneth Haight and Kaethin. This enraged him, and he vehemently objected.
If Niđhöggr had become the lord of the castle, Haight would have found it justifiable. Firstly, he was the consort of "Lunar Princess" Ranni, and secondly, he had defeated Godrick, whom Haight despised. That was acceptable.
But it was neither Niđhöggr nor anyone else he deemed qualified to be a lord—it was simply two outsiders.
Haight refused to recognize Kenneth Haight and Kaethin's authority over Limgrave and began plotting a rebellion.
But his conspiracy was child's play. Not to mention that if it grew any larger, Niđhöggr would have intervened. Even against Kenneth Haight and Kaethin alone, he couldn't overcome that obstacle, let alone Melina's intelligence network, which had uncovered his actions in advance.
Haight, who could have continued governing Fort Haight, was now stripped of his power and imprisoned. He would continue to undergo labor reform in Limgrave, just like Daiba.
Fortunately, his uprising was suppressed by Kenneth Haight, Kaethin, Pippin, Judeau, Corkus, Rickert, and others before it could even begin. Otherwise, the outcome would not have been as simple as imprisonment and labor reform.
Niđhöggr observed Melina's verdict and found no fault with it. He only hoped that Haight could learn his lesson and change his views during his time in prison.
Afterwards, Melina also shared much of the recently gathered intelligence, passing it to Niđhöggr, who reviewed it piece by piece.
The information on the Empire of Yoda and the Kingdom of Ys was less critical. Among it, the news concerning the Kingdom of Midland was of the highest priority and extremely shocking.
The King of Midland had died of plague, succeeded by Princess Charlotte.
But at the same time, the army of the Kushan Empire had marched, advancing to attack the royal capital, Windham.
The returning leader of the White Tiger Knights was defeated and killed. Minister Foss, Laban, and Owen fled. Other important figures of the Kingdom of Midland, such as Princess Charlotte, became prisoners of the Kushan Empire.
It was said that the Terror of the Emperor had ordered a terrible and bloody massacre throughout Windham, searched everywhere for the women of the Kingdom of Midland, and imprisoned them. Their fate could be imagined.
The once-prosperous city of Windham had now become the magic capital of the Kushan Empire's invasion of the European continent.
At the same time, there were many scattered pieces of intelligence: for example, the armies commanded by the Kushan Empire included war elephants and terrifying monsters, which was one reason for their invincibility.
Furthermore, a knightly order had suddenly emerged in the Kingdom of Midland, resisting the Kushan Empire's invasion everywhere and winning many battles.
This knightly order, calling itself the "Band of the Hawk," was rumored to be led by the long-lost "White Hawk," Griffith.
After reading the latest news, Niđhöggr silently passed it to Kenneth Haight, Kaethin, and the others.
When they saw it, they were first shocked, then frowned and fell silent, pacing in a circle.
Finally, the original members of the Band of the Hawk, who needed to read this information, finished reading it. Their faces darkened one by one.
As Niđhöggr had predicted, he had returned.
The old members of the Band of the Hawk should have been mentally prepared, but they were still caught off guard.
Simply because they hadn't expected Griffith to once again raise the banner of the "Band of the Hawk" and march under its name.
From an intellectual standpoint, if Griffith wanted to deceive the world and play the hero, the identity of the "White Hawk" and the Knights of the Hawk was indeed the best cover.
But from an emotional standpoint, Kenneth Haight, Kaethin, and the others could not understand Griffith's audacity.
In particular, the name "Band of the Hawk" reminded them, whether they liked it or not, of their comrades who had perished in the Hundred-Year War and been sacrificed during the Eclipse. It had become a stepping stone for Griffith.
If Griffith truly succeeded, all the evil he had committed would be erased. Most people would only remember his heroic side, and the experiences of these comrades would be forgotten, becoming insignificant.
The long-suppressed anger in everyone's hearts flared up, but they had nowhere to vent it.
"What in the hell does he think he's doing?" Kenneth Haight looked coldly at Niđhöggr.
Niđhöggr thought for a moment and said, "Do you remember what he spoke of regarding 'dreams'?"
Of course, the old members of the Band of the Hawk remembered. Griffith had dreamed of obtaining a kingdom of his own. He wanted to become a hawk and soar ever higher.
Before, they too had been immersed in Griffith's dream, wishing to surround him and make him king, even if it meant sacrificing themselves—but the ugliness of the Eclipse had completely shattered their illusions.
They had been willing to sacrifice themselves to fulfill Griffith's dream; death had become less frightening.
But they did not want to be offered up by Griffith to evil, so that the souls of their comrades would never be reborn from the abyss. That was an entirely different matter.
Niđhöggr continued to explain:
"He will create a heavenly kingdom on earth and a beacon of civilization in the Kingdom of Midland. But the price will be being shrouded in darkness and overrun by the demons of the abyss."
"A dark storm will sweep across the continent. Only where he and his apostles stand will be a safe haven. Those outside the haven will be tormented by nightmares, and he will appear as a hero to save them."
"People will yearn for this pure land and revere him as king. But he will not accept or protect them. He will make this pure land a blood-sucking entity, let his apostles openly devour people, and let his believers be its protectors."
"Of course, sooner or later, Griffith will let the power of the abyss shroud the Junction and the Fairies' Island."
"He will isolate us from each other, constantly interfere internally, paint us as the evil side in the eyes of the world, wear us down with doubt, war, sensuality, deception, and plagues, making us question ourselves and abandon our beliefs."
"If we cannot withstand this onslaught, we will not only pay an extremely heavy price and be completely destroyed, but we will also be remembered in history as detestable and repulsive barbaric fighters."
Niđhöggr once again spoke this heavy, eerie prophecy, leaving everyone present breathless.
"Then what should we do?" It was Kenneth Haight who once again broke the silence and asked.
This time, Niđhöggr answered directly:
"Of course, we continue to fight. After thousands of years of struggle, like the Skeleton Rider, there will be a group of people like us. We must continue to fight so that people understand, support, and inherit our will."
"We will never let them be so content. We will never let them reap the fruits of this land. This requires resolve, faith, and unity."
Everyone listened. After a brief pause, their spirits were lifted once more.
This decision had been made long ago. If not to resist, then why had they come here?
Junction and the Fairies' Island, no matter what, would become a force firmly resisting the Abyss.