"It seems like a seasoned wizard," Ryan said to Francois on their way to Kurona. "With the information we have now, I can't tell what kind of wizard that is."
"The Knights' Tournament is approaching, and it's normal for wizards to come to Britannia for activities, but something feels off," Francois frowned. "Maybe I should discuss this with Princess Morgiana. Ryan, this matter is up to you."
"Why is it always me?" Ryan complained.
"You are the Lady's Chosen Champion, and Princess Morgiana holds you in high regard. Who else but you?" Francois chuckled. "Interacting more with Princess Morgiana will benefit your future."
"...Maybe," Ryan thought. Princess Morgiana didn't avoid contact with him, partly due to the Lady of the Lake's command and partly because his psychic light had a positive effect on casters.
"Ryan, do you plan to stay with us after arriving in Kurona?" Sulia, riding up from behind, asked eagerly. The spirited female knight felt shy in front of her father but, remembering his subtle encouragement and affirmation, she gathered her courage to ask. Francois immediately gave his daughter an encouraging look.
"Yes, I will definitely move with you all. I heard that the Duke has a separate mansion in Kurona?"
"Of course, you're very welcome," Francois nodded. "Baptiste? Gaston? This matter is in your hands."
"Yes!" the two knights of Winfort bowed in response.
Majestic and magnificent, the capital of Britannia, Kurona, was now in sight.
As the team approached the gates of Kurona, a squadron of elite knights in silver helmets and armors appeared before Ryan and the others. These knights, all with thick beards and decorated with white wolf pelts, wielded war hammers and wore wolf pelt capes. On the red banner of their knightly order, a white wolf held a war hammer, glaring backward.
"The White Wolf Knightly Order?!" Ryan exclaimed in shock. "Good heavens, a whole squadron of White Wolf Knights here?"
If the most powerful knightly order in the Old World was the Grail Knights, then undoubtedly, the White Wolf Knightly Order was the most famous. Founded in the second year after the establishment of the Charlemagne Empire, it was the oldest and largest knightly order in the Old World, with fifteen squadrons and more than 1,800 knights under its banner. They were disciplined, militarily skilled, and ferocious barbarian warriors. Even the most bloodthirsty barbarians who had joined Chaos couldn't withstand them.
"Hehe, I heard that the Empire sent an envoy for this tournament. I didn't expect it to be an old acquaintance of yours, Ryan!" Francois seemed unconcerned, only smiling at Ryan.
But Ryan's face remained serious, especially as he noticed the second group of knights. This squad, slightly smaller than the White Wolf Knights, about forty strong, had helmets adorned with leopard heads, and their saddles and capes were made of leopard skin. Their blue and silver armor shone in the sunlight, and their blue and yellow leopard banners bore the symbol of Charlemagne's twin-tailed comet and skull.
The elite among the Empire's many knightly orders, one of the several prestigious knightly orders, the Leopard Knightly Order!
"The Leopard Knightly Order... White Wolf Knightly Order. When these two knightly forces appear together, it is undoubtedly Boris, Boris Todbringer, who has come as the Empire's envoy," Ryan murmured.
"Boris? The new Elector of Middenland?" Francois asked curiously. "Do you know him?"
"I do. We fought together against an Orc tribe in the Drakwald Forest when he was still the Elector's heir," Ryan whispered. "Why him?"
So Ryan rode forward alone, a Grail Knight with his war hammer, moving towards the center of the encircling White Wolf and Leopard Knights.
Years of bloody warfare, a record of numerous achievements, and the highest honor and status were all evident in Ryan's confident and majestic face. His attire was clearly that of a high nobleman. He stood in front of the entire Empire knightly squadron with a smile, "Boris? It's a pleasure to see you here!"
The White Wolf Knights laughed heartily, most recognizing Ryan. Only the Leopard Knights glared at Ryan, wondering who this Grail Knight was.
"Ah, make way, all of you. A young lad has come to show off before me. Let me see how well he has fared," said a nobleman emerging from the knights. He had a bushy red beard, wore a full suit of rune-enchanted Mithril plate armor blessed by the Wolf God, and a wolf helmet adorned with a golden statue from the temple of Ulric, topped with huge red and white peacock feathers. One of his eyes was covered by a black eyepatch, and his other eye stared intently at Ryan. His gaze was bright, examining Ryan for a long time before bursting into laughter, "So it's you, Ryan, you little rascal. I tell you, if not for my Lord's divine message, I would have smashed your skull with my sword!"
Hanging at his waist was the holy sword of the Electors – the Leg-Biter.
Clearly, this man was the new Elector of Middenland, the Lord of Middenheim, Boris Todbringer.
"I didn't expect you to be the one, Lord Boris," Ryan said, somewhat astonished.
"What, not happy to see me?" Boris's face showed toughness and generosity.
"Yes, not happy. Who knows what chaos you and your knights might cause at the tournament? I'd rather have you and your White Wolf Knights stay in Middenheim, and the Leopard Knights stay in their palace!" Ryan said helplessly. Boris had brought an entire squadron of White Wolf Knights and dozens of Leopard Knights, along with hundreds of attendants. As envoys, they were impressively large and elite.
Were these people here for diplomacy or intimidation?
"Ah, there are some reasons for this, not suitable to discuss here. Maybe we can talk about it in a few days," Boris's voice carried a deep sense of helplessness. "I envy you, being the Chosen Champion, no longer entangled in these matters. Your father, Norman, is getting old. Wagner, the Grandmaster, thinks it's time for him to retire."
"I think so too... See you later, Elector."
"See you later, Baron." After speaking, Boris Todbringer led the Empire's delegation into the city. The knights of the Empire exuded an imposing and awe-inspiring aura, attracting the attention and admiration of many Britannian nobles and citizens.
When Ryan returned to his group, he found Amelia hiding fearfully behind Sulia, peeking out her head. Only after the Empire's delegation entered the city did the girl come out from behind Sulia.
"Are you familiar with Elector Boris?" Francois asked with interest, thinking Ryan indeed had an advantage in these matters, having connections in many powers of the Empire.
"Not very familiar. We've only fought side by side once, and our meetings have been rare. But Boris is indeed a respectable man," Ryan said with a mix of sadness and admiration. "Boris is a truly tenacious person. To tell his story would be long."
"Then let's save this fascinating story for tonight. Let's settle down first," Francois suggested, motioning the knights to enter the city.
As one of the Grand Dukes of the kingdom, Duke Winfort had his own mansion in Kurona. The mansion wasn't very large, but nearby was the division of the Grail Knights in Kurona and, a bit farther, the Grail Cathedral.
Only the Duke's family and people like Ryan were entitled to stay here. Others had to find lodging in inns.
Francois's eldest son, Julius, had arrived here earlier. The kingdom's knight had been traveling extensively and rarely returned to Helenhild. Like his father, he was very interested in the Knight's Tournament.
After enjoying a sumptuous dinner, Francois, Ryan, and others gathered around the warm fireplace. The Duke's family was dressed casually, while Ryan still wore formal attire. He leaned back on a soft sofa, seemingly organizing his thoughts.
Francois, stroking his goatee, discussed with his children and Ryan the size and subtle attitude of the Empire's delegation.
"The Empire sending so many people this time is indeed strange, but it also indicates something: without the Grail Knights, maybe Britannia's national power is no longer enough to contend with the Empire," Francois said thoughtfully. "Not long ago, you were directly involved in the Battle of the Kohler Plains near Marienburg. You should have a better understanding that the alliance between Britannia and the Empire is becoming dominated by the Empire due to Emperor Karl-Franz-Frederick's assertiveness."
"Indeed," Ryan agreed, feeling the same.
"I've met the old Emperor Luitpold-Franz-Frederick. He was a benevolent and visionary monarch, favoring conciliation and indulgence in his personality and governance. It was because of this that during Richard's reign, the relationship between the two countries was equal and close," Francois continued.
"But everything changed after Karl-Franz took the throne. The new Emperor is strong and domineering. Since his ascension, he has never stopped waging wars to the south and north, always victorious. Under such circumstances, Richard, with a weak personality and skilled in political manipulation, naturally fell behind. The kingdom has been declining since the Dautreleau Incident, while the Empire has been transformed under the reforms of Emperor Ludwig, becoming the strongest human nation in the world. The new Empire has abandoned the old empire's decadent political system and parasitic old nobility. Which of the new military nobles doesn't manage the army on horseback and govern the people off it?"
"So, this time the Empire's envoy being an Elector, especially the renowned White Wolf Elector, is a strong signal from Karl-Franz to Britannia," Francois's expression was grim. "In the long run, the alliance between the Empire and Britannia will become Empire-centric!"
"How can this be?! Father!" Julius stood up immediately, the young kingdom knight filled with anger. "What do those humans over the mountains want to do? Force us into submission?"
"Sit down, Julius!" Francois glared fiercely at his son, who reluctantly sat down. "We are weak, so we must humble ourselves. To earn the Empire's respect, we must become strong ourselves. What's the use of showing off?"
Julius replied in a low voice, "As you say, Father."
"Then we need to understand more about this Empire's envoy, the Elector of the White Wolf title passed down since Charlemagne founded the Empire, Lord Boris Todbringer, who has come to Britannia with a large group of Leopard and White Wolf Knights," Francois turned to Ryan. "Tell us, my Baron."
"Boris Todbringer is a man with a painful past and a temperamental personality. From his birth, he has continuously experienced suffering," Ryan began.
"He lost his mother in his youth and his father in recent years. In the Battle of Drakwald Forest, he blinded the Orc Warboss 'One-Eye' Kazzak in one eye and lost an eye himself. He married early, but his first wife, Maria-Liese Hoffen, died in childbirth, leaving him a son, Stefan, a drooling paralytic."
"Not only that, Boris later learned that a court lady he had favored bore him an illegitimate son. He named the boy Heinrich. This illegitimate child, not only the eldest but also immensely talented, left Boris in agony over whom to choose as his heir."
"This shaped Boris Todbringer into a volatile and irritable man. His demands on subordinates and people are extremely strict, and many dislike him. Yet, he is also a great warrior and politician. Now forty, his strength is probably at the high legendary level. His unwavering faith in the Wolf God never let him give up hope and honor. His heart is as unshakeable as the deepest orichalcum in the mountains."
"If that's the case, we'll soon know what Emperor Karl-Franz intends by sending Elector Boris to Kurona," Francois nodded.
As they discussed, a servant burst into the living room. Seeing many people there, he hesitated before speaking: "My Duke? Someone has come to visit."
"Who at this hour?" Francois frowned. "We're all family here, just say who it is."
"The new Duke of Connacht, Lorne-Leo Cornwall, has come to visit. He specifically asked for Duke Francois... and Baron Ryan," the servant said softly.
Ryan and Francois exchanged puzzled looks. What matter could bring a visitor at this late hour, around eight in the evening?
"Let him in!" said Francois.
"Yes!"
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