After resting for three more days, Ryan finally led his troops back to the Earldom of Glamorgan. By the time they returned, it was May, and the land of Bretonnia was once again brimming with vitality.
Ryan lay in the soft comfort of his carriage, enjoying the journey. The carriage was outfitted with plush cushions and blankets, and sunlight filtered through the windows. Nestled in a corner of the carriage and leaning on a cushion, he asked Veronica, who was also in the carriage, "What are you reading?"
Apart from Ryan, Veronica was present, and it seemed that the three women had arranged to take turns keeping him company. Now it was Veronica's turn. In fact, Ryan's injuries had mostly healed, so Sulia had relaxed her restrictions somewhat.
"Me? I'm reading this book I found in the Lyonaisse library," said the Garon witch, sitting beside him, her pearl earrings swaying gently. "It's a rare manuscript. Lord Dalheid, in thanks for our support, gave us many such items."
"A rare manuscript? What have you learned? What does it say?" Ryan, curious, sat up to take a closer look, casually wrapping an arm around the Garon witch's waist to steal a little advantage, which Veronica allowed.
"This book contains fragments of information from before the establishment of the human empire by Emperor Charlemagne." Veronica nestled into Ryan's embrace, sitting on his lap. Her cheeks flushed with a sweet redness as she continued, "Here, let me tell you about it."
Veronica had acquired a book of early Bretonnian records, detailing events before the empire's establishment by Charlemagne.
"About fifteen hundred years before Emperor Charlemagne established the empire, humans were already seen actively in the Old World. The first to discover humans were a group of dwarves. The high king of the dwarves at the time, Gotrek Starbreaker, spotted a group of humans passing by during a battle near the mountains. They existed in tribal forms, and upon seeing the high king, these humans panicked and—unbelievably—failed to pay him the high respects due, even fleeing far away. This incident was recorded in the dwarves' book of grudges until it was erased after the sacred alliance formed between Charlemagne and the dwarves," Veronica explained with interest, flipping through the book. "But the dwarves always remembered this incident, and occasionally joked about it with their human friends. At that time, the human wizard empires supported by elves had already fallen in the north, leaving only barbaric humans whom the dwarves scorned for their crafts and culture, though they admired their bravery and strength."
"Dwarves are just like that," Ryan commented, holding Veronica from behind and stealing a kiss on her soft lips. "What else did you find?"
"The Bretonnians were once part of the Empire of Charlemagne. More than a thousand years ago, and even two thousand years before that, Bretonnians were known across the Old World for their excellent horsemanship. However, after the disappearance of Emperor Charlemagne, the Bretonnians did not recognize his successors and thus many crossed the Grey Mountains, migrating en masse to what is now Bretonnia," Veronica continued, turning the pages, her cheeks reddening more as Ryan's hands wandered over her ample chest and silk-clad legs. "Ryan... stop, wait until we get back to our land. You can do as you please then, not here. Sulia would scold me."
"Uh-huh, go on," Ryan said, content to just flirt for now.
"Before their migration, many humans had already settled here... Continuing, the Bretonnians quickly found suitable living spaces in what is now Bretonnia—many elven city ruins and remnants," Veronica cuddled into Ryan's embrace, interestedly reading on.
"It took the Bretonnians two hundred years to learn many of the elves' left-behind technologies and form their own culture. After nearly a thousand years of development, the culture of Bretonnia and that across the Grey Mountains in the Empire had diverged significantly. Although both sides recognized each other as human kin, after the Great Crusade ended, when Savior Ludwig came to Couronne to propose that Bretonnia join the Empire as a province, all Bretonnian dukes refused," Veronica continued with a smile. "It seems the dukes were not content to live under someone else's roof."
"Ha ha~ That's true."
The journey was filled with laughter and cheer.
...
While Ryan was comfortably returning to the Earldom of Glamorgan.
Old World, Imperial Capital of Altdorf, Imperial Palace.
The Emperor of the Empire, Karl Franz; his Standard Bearer, Ludwig Schwarzhelm; the Elector Count of Middenland, "One-Eyed" Boris Todbringer; the Elector Count
of Talabecland, Grand Duke Helmut Feuerbach; the Elector Count of Ostland, Grand Duke Valmir von Raukov; and the Great Alchemist of the Imperial Royal College of Wizards, Balthasar Gelt, were in a meeting.
"The King of the Skarlings, Egil, is dead, slain by the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion, Ryan Macado, in the northern reaches of Bretonnia. According to reports from Norsca, the Northlands and Wastes are in chaos, with many ambitious chieftains now warring against each other. Several small tribes have been wiped out in just a few days," Emperor Karl Franz unusually spoke in a relaxed tone. "This has greatly reduced the pressure on our northern borders, allowing General Helborg, with his Reiksguard and troops, to easily eliminate many barbarian armies attempting to raid south."
"Ryan again?" Boris squinted his one eye, deliberately saying, "Egil was the chosen champion of the Blood God, and Ryan actually managed to kill him! Incredible. Remember, last year Norsca paid the price of thousands of lives just to barely hold off Egil and his forces."
"The Bretonnians have sent a note, hoping to first release some captured knights... Grail Knight Yules was slain by Egil in a champion duel, and just when Lyonaisse was about to fall, Ryan led an army of over fifteen thousand to defeat the Skarling forces. In the midst of chaos, Egil and Ryan met and engaged in a great champion duel," the Emperor's Standard Bearer Ludwig read from a report. "Their duel was fierce, witnessed as if two deities incarnate were dueling."
"Lord Yules is dead?" It was Valmir von Raukov who spoke up, interrupting Ludwig, "That is a great loss for humanity."
"Yes, Lord Yules's death is a huge loss for humanity," Emperor Karl Franz nodded solemnly.
"Ahem, after a hard fight, Count Ryan Macado used his mysterious mobility to appear instantly before Egil and, taking a risky move, managed to kill him, decapitating Egil," Ludwig continued under the Emperor's cue. "It was a brilliant victory, a thirty-year-old Grail Knight slaying a centuries-long tyrant in the Northern Wastes. This is good news for the entire Old World. The news of Egil's death hasn't spread yet, but I dare say, if it does, the entire northern Empire will be celebrating."
"It seems Ryan's fame will be known from Margritte Port in the western Old World to the World's Edge Mountains in the east of the Empire," Karl Franz said with a smile, jokingly adding, "Why doesn't our Empire have such capable champions?"
This comment led to a moment of silence in the meeting room, as the Elector Counts and other attendees ceased to speak.
The strongest champion under Karl Franz was undoubtedly his Standard Bearer Ludwig, an elderly gentleman who was a Sanctuary power, similar in strength to Yules.
And who else?
There were none; Karl Franz could directly command only Ludwig. Duke Ivan Ferdinand, also Grand Master of the Griffin Knights, was his nominal vassal with a certain degree of independence and not directly commandable. Archbishop Vigmar of the Cult of Sigmar was also a Sanctuary power, but the Cult of Sigmar had an independent status within the Empire, leaving the Emperor only able to negotiate.
Then there were the White Wolf Knights. Grand Master Axel Gries of the White Wolf Knights (and their Great Templar) was a Sanctuary power, and Pope "Great Ulric" Emil Waghal of the White Wolf Church was also of Sanctuary strength.
But Karl Franz could not command these two; not even Boris, the Elector Count of the White Wolves, could hope to command them—they only negotiated.
This was the Empire's problem: while it was the most powerful human nation in the Old World, they severely lacked high-end combat power. Every time the barbarians issued a challenge for a champion duel, the Empire struggled to find a warrior capable of facing the barbarian champions, unlike the Bretonnian Grail Knights, each a true powerhouse.
"Shocking, is Ryan Macado really that formidable? To strike down so many powerful foes," another Elector Count spoke, "It's a pity he's a turncoat, first becoming a White Wolf Knight, then defecting to the mountains."
Hearing this, Boris, Valmir, and Karl Franz all frowned.
He was Helmut Feuerbach, the Elector Count of Talabecland and Grand Duke of Talabek.
This Elector Count was infamous for his volatile temper and his whimsical and capricious edicts. He ruled his lands with an iron fist, nearly devoid of humanity, leading all in Talabeck—from some nobles to commoners, and including merchant guilds and all craftsmen and tailors—to despise him
. They all wished for his immediate death, even going so far as to fabricate rumors of his violent demise.
However, there was no evidence to suggest Helmut's mental state was disturbed or corrupted. On the contrary, the Elector Count deeply despised Chaos forces and various cults, and thanks to his efforts, the typically noisy and chaotic markets in the city were orderly and trade flourished, maintaining peace and relatively good control over a vast area with sparse population.
Since the establishment of the Empire, dozens of Emperors had ascended the throne, and Karl Franz was undoubtedly a charismatic human leader. He inherited his father Luitpold's ability to navigate the Empire's myriad complex political situations and was an excellent general. Under his governance, the Reikland was becoming unprecedentedly prosperous, reminiscent of the most glorious eras in Imperial history.
At the same time, Emperor Karl Franz, through domestic and foreign diplomacy and military pressure, employing both carrot and stick, forced the Elector Counts to halt their internal wars and mutual suspicions, uniting against external enemies. Although this alliance was fragile, at least the Elector Counts were now united under the Empire's banner, marching forward together.
Thus, Karl Franz viewed the issue of Ryan more deeply than anyone.
"Ryan is someone we can ally with; his connections with the Empire run deep," Karl Franz signaled for Helmut to be quiet. "Helmut, don't forget, the half-elf warhorse you just chose from the zoo was imported from Ryan's side. Or you can choose to refuse it."
"Oh, no, I mean, Ryan is truly a strong man. I appreciate that kind of authenticity," Helmut, lacking any scruples, immediately changed his tune. "Of course, I'd appreciate it if you could spare me another."
"Only one! Helmut, one per person!" Boris said impatiently. "If you don't want it, give it to me. My wolf cubs are scrambling for it."
Boris did not mention that Ryan had also privately sent him two half-elf warhorses, but such treasures were never too many for the White Wolf Knights. Grand Master Axel and "Great Ulric" Waghal immediately took to riding them.
In the Empire, elf warhorses were absolute rarities and treasures, unlike in Bretonnia where many dukes had pureblood elf warhorses in their stables. Compared to Bretonnian warhorses, the Empire's steeds were inferior in speed, carrying capacity, and endurance. Even Emperor Karl Franz himself rode a half-elf warhorse, a gift from the High Elves after his coronation.
Bretonnians strictly prohibited the export of elf warhorses. The Emperor, having finally purchased a few at high cost from Ryan, decided to gift one to each present Elector Count as a gesture of alliance, keeping two for himself for the future Marshal of Reikland and his Standard Bearer.
"I'll take it, of course," Helmut, utterly shameless, repeatedly gestured. "I'm just considering for my son. I have one; he should have one too, right?"
"You can give him yours to ride!" Boris continued to berate. "If you think that's unfair, neither of you take it. My sons Stefan and Heinrich both want one."
"Bloody hell, come here, Boris, I'll make you understand!" Helmut was provoked and reached for his Elector Count's sword, Stonebreaker.
"Come on then!" Boris also grasped the hilt of his Elector Count's sword, Leg Biter.
"Enough!" the Emperor roared. "This is the Imperial Palace, not an arena!"
The two Elector Counts then quieted down.
"We need to find a way to import more half-elf warhorses from Ryan, and also try to acquire more Wood Elf medicines," Karl Franz continued.
On this point, the Elector Counts all nodded.
Wood Elf medicines were highly effective and had no side effects, making them treasures for the Empire's nobility, who all feared death. The Emperor's troops also needed medicines, but unfortunately, the quantity of Wood Elf medicines traded from Ryan's side was limited, and those on the black market were priced sky-high.
"What shall we trade? Count Ryan is mainly interested in two things: wildfire oil and magic ore," Gelt finally spoke.
"There's another thing," Karl Franz turned his gaze towards the north of the Empire.
"That is... people!"
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