Late April, the Old World, Morros Plains in northern Estalia, Imperial Army Camp.
In a large golden tent, Ryan and his entourage sat opposite the Imperial Grand Alchemist, Balthasar Gelt, and Imperial General Bernhardt. The well-trained Imperial army was camped directly on the plains and near the forest.
The tent featured a long table laden with food and drink. Gelt, leading all the officers of the Imperial army, was hosting Ryan and his company. It was clear to everyone that the Imperial display of hospitality was primarily for Ryan Macado, Earl of Bretonnia, who had established a favorable relationship with the Empire.
"Why is the Imperial army here?" Ryan asked as he sipped the Empire's black beer from his mug. "I don't recall any significant diplomatic disputes between Estalia and the Empire, nor have I heard of Araby invading again."
"We're searching for something," Balthasar Gelt responded, his face hidden behind a golden mask, his expression unreadable. Even as he sat to eat, the Grand Alchemist held his golden staff. "A treasure. It belongs to me and only to me."
"You need an army of over ten thousand men to seize a treasure?" Ryan continued, pressing for more details. "Grand Alchemist, I'm not questioning your motives, but what situation warrants deploying such a large force?"
Ryan's directness was a bit abrupt. General Bernhardt and a knight captain from the Sun Knights found his questioning rather blunt. The general immediately countered, "And you, esteemed Earl Macado? Why have you brought fifty Sea God Knights to Estalia?"
"We encountered trouble. Some rogue knights turned thieves, and we must recover the stolen goods," Ryan explained, revealing a bit of his situation. "We learned that these rogue knights plan to sell their loot to Estalian merchants on the Morros Plains in a few days. We're here to intercept them."
"Understood. Do you need our help?" Gelt offered, taking Ryan's honesty as a signal to extend assistance.
The Imperial officers nodded in agreement. Confronting rogue knights and Estalian merchants could yield substantial loot, and with the disciplined Imperial army against the long-complacent Estalian forces, it would be akin to a military exercise.
"No need. This is a private family matter," Fedmond interjected, asserting his authority in this issue. "We appreciate the Empire's offer, but we will handle it ourselves. On behalf of the Bordeleaux ducal family, I thank you."
"Very well then," General Bernhardt said, somewhat disappointed.
"And the Empire? Why are you here?" Ryan redirected his question to Gelt.
"A talisman, a powerful magical amulet, buried in the tomb of a great lord," Gelt replied directly. "I must secure it and prevent it from falling into vampire hands."
"Grand Alchemist…" The Imperial general hesitated, clearly uncomfortable sharing the full story with the chivalrous Bretonnians, fearing complications.
Gelt raised his golden glove, signaling silence. He knew that Ryan was truly an ally.
Yes, a true ally.
Gelt commanded immense respect within the Imperial army. His contributions in black powder and engineering had earned the admiration of even the traditionally magic-averse Imperial engineers. His prowess in battle had demonstrated his ability to single-handedly turn the tide. Whenever the battle was at a stalemate, Gelt would soar on his Pegasus into the fray, his alchemical magic wreaking havoc on the enemies. His metallic floods would sweep through, transforming weapons and armor into lead and clay, turning blood into metallic sludge. No chaos spawn, greenskin, or vampire could withstand his powerful spells.
If his spells failed to settle matters, his golden hounds would tear the enemies apart. His ultimate alchemy had once turned hundreds of beastmen into golden statues, decisively shifting the battle in the Empire's favor.
Since his return from Norsca with the new Emperor Karl Franz eight years ago, Gelt's magical prowess had been advancing at a rapid pace, and his status had risen accordingly. Under his leadership, the Alchemy College of the Imperial Royal Wizard Academy had grown to rival the once-dominant Fire College. Alongside Reik Marshal Helborg, Gelt had become one of the Emperor's most trusted aides, frequently handling mystical and arcane matters for the Empire, especially during campaigns.
Such loyalty sometimes made even the Emperor feel Gelt was excessively devoted.
When Gelt requested a military expedition to Estalia to seek treasure, Emperor Karl Franz promptly agreed, both as a reward for Gelt's loyalty and as a gesture of compensation.
"A talisman? We're also looking for one," Ryan remarked seriously. "I heard that Estalian merchants found a talisman and plan to present it as a sacred artifact of Myrmidia to the temple in Magritta. Maybe we're after the same item?"
"That's false information we disseminated."
"What?"
"It was a ploy to mislead the vampires," Gelt clarified. "This was advised by the Emperor's council. They believed that if we made it appear that both the Empire and the Myrmidian Church were vying for the same talisman, it would give the cunning vampires pause. These midnight aristocrats are inherently selfish."
"The ruse was so convincing that even I believed it," Ryan said, his face twitching slightly.
"To deceive the enemy, one must first deceive oneself," Gelt summarized concisely. He began explaining their strategy. "We tightly controlled the information."
The Sea Gold Talisman was an ancient and powerful magical amulet, a masterpiece from the High Elves before they retreated from the Old World. Gelt had discovered its existence while researching in the Imperial Royal Wizard Academy.
Simultaneously, Gelt learned that vampires were also searching for the talisman. He dispatched witch hunters who, after assassinating several vampire scouts, confirmed that Vampire Count Leopold Harken was also seeking the Sea Gold Talisman. The Imperial army, led by Gelt, had already clashed with Leopold Harken's forces at the Marbad Tomb in Middenland. Although the Empire had defeated Harken's vampire army, the talisman was not there.
The only remaining target was the High Elf tomb in Estalia. Knowing the vampires were racing to reach it, and given the logistical challenges of foreign operations, Gelt orchestrated a deception. They spread false information that a talisman had been found by the Magritta Merchant League and was to be enshrined in the Myrmidian Temple.
With years of presence in Estalia, the Empire's misinformation was credible enough to mislead adventurers and mercenaries alike, who flocked to Magritta in hopes of fortune. Even Magritta's nobles and the Church of Myrmidia believed it.
"Well, that might explain why we encountered a high-ranking vampire," Ryan pondered, realizing they had been duped by the false intel.
"A high-ranking vampire? Was it Leopold Harken?" Gelt, typically emotionless, sounded intrigued by Ryan's experiences.
"No, it was a bloodline of the Lahmian family," Ryan shook his head.
Ryan recounted their recent encounters to Gelt in detail.
"I see," Gelt's metal face betrayed no emotion, making his thoughts unreadable. He instructed General Bernhardt, "Bring it."
"Bring what?" Bernhardt hesitated. "But that was personally granted by the Emperor…"
"Ryan is a friend and ally of the Emperor, isn't he?" Gelt pressed.
"…I understand." The general, recalling the honors Ryan received in the Empire, nodded. He retrieved a scroll of parchment from the tent.
"This is a military passage permit for Estalia. We have several copies," Gelt handed the parchment to Ryan. "Take it. I can see you don't have one."
"Thank you very much." Ryan accepted the permit without hesitation. He and the Duke of Bordeleaux indeed needed it. With a smile, Ryan remarked, "This must be difficult to obtain."
"Not really. Every city-state in Estalia is eager to sell their military passage rights. It's just a matter of connections," General Bernhardt said smugly. "These southerners will sell out for money. With this permit, you can move freely in Estalia as our ally and collaborator."
"Don't these southerners have any dignity?" Fedmond commented with a frown.
"None, at least not in the face of our giant cannons, Hellstorm rockets, and Gelt's metal torrents," Balthasar Gelt said, standing up. "Lord Ryan, may I speak with you privately? There are matters I wish to discuss."
"Of course." Ryan rose as well.
Gelt's request for a private conversation indicated something of great importance.
They walked out of the tent, and Ryan admired the sight of the well-equipped and disciplined Imperial army setting up camp on the plains, surrounded by formidable war machines. Ryan couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. The foundries in Brunswick and Nuln produced many powerful war machines, while his own territories still lagged behind.
They moved away from the camp into a small grove. The sunlight in Estalia was bright and harsh. Here, the forests were far from Chaos' taint, vibrant and alive, filled with the sounds of nature.
The Grand Alchemist's attire was resplendent: golden scale armor, a golden mask, a golden staff, and a golden cloak. Though gaudy, it commanded awe and respect. Ryan followed behind him, hands clasped behind his back, smiling, "What does our Grand Alchemist wish to discuss?"
"Recently, a significant event occurred in the Empire that concerns you," Gelt said quietly. "All the Elector Counts are currently convening at Brunswick for an Imperial Council meeting."
"A significant event? Is it about Emilia… no, Emmanuelle?" Ryan
's eyes narrowed as he quickly surmised.
"Indeed, Emmanuelle von Lebwitz-Bernardino, the long-missing noble lady, returned to Nuln under heavy escort. With the backing of the Nuln nobility, the Nuln Wizard's Guild, and the Nuln Ironclad Regiment, she has assumed the title of Duchess of Nuln," Gelt recounted the major recent development in the Empire. "But Emmanuelle isn't satisfied. She has formally filed a lawsuit with the Imperial Council, claiming that the Elector Count title and the Grand Duke of Wissenland position were unlawfully taken from her. She demands justice from Emperor Karl Franz and the Elector Counts."
"That sounds complicated," Ryan nodded. Emmanuelle naturally had a strong claim to the Elector Count title and the Grand Duke position, but possessing a claim was one thing; securing the titles was another.
"The Emperor has accepted her lawsuit, and the Imperial Council is now in session. All the Elector Counts have gathered at the Brunswick Palace. During the council, Emmanuelle used the Elector Count's Sacred Sword to verify her identity," Gelt continued. "However, the Wissenland's ruling family, the Schraders, argue that while Emmanuelle's identity is not in question, she lacks familiarity with the territory's current conditions, the threats facing Wissenland, and she has no heir, risking the extinction of the Bernardino family's direct line."
"That's not the main issue. The main issue should be that Janni should relinquish his titles, which he unlawfully holds. Emmanuelle has the right to reclaim everything that is hers," Ryan remarked, puzzled.
"Correct. Emperor Karl Franz deems the Schrader family's argument preposterous. Elector Count Boris even demanded the Schrader family representative be thrown out," Gelt nodded. "However, the Schraders are not without allies. For instance, Elector Count Albert of Uterbad and the Grand Duke of Stirland, as well as Elector Count Wolfram of Bekafen and Chairman of the Ostermark League Council, believe that the Imperial Council is not solely under the Emperor's control. The Schrader family and the current Elector Count, Janni, have the right to speak at the council."
"What are their conditions?" Ryan asked.
"The Schrader family demands that Emmanuelle marry Janni Bernardino, thereby transferring the Elector Count title through marriage. Additionally, Emmanuelle must spend at least six months each year in Wissenburg, undergoing Elector Count training," Gelt explained.
"Marriage, producing an heir, and attending training is essentially house arrest," Ryan observed. "Until she bears an heir, Emmanuelle will be rendered useless."
"Emmanuelle, of course, refused," Gelt said, stopping to face Ryan. "She revealed two shocking facts to the entire Imperial Council."
"First, the current Elector Count, Janni Bernardino, is also a woman! This was her distant relative's deepest secret. The Schrader family apparently misunderstood something."
"Second, she is already pregnant. The father of the child is the renowned human hero, the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion, Ryan Macado. This child will inherit all her future titles. She has an heir!"
"Excellent." Ryan nodded thoughtfully. After a moment's pause, he asked, "What should I do? How can I assist Emilia… Emmanuelle?"
"You should…"
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