NOVEL NEXT Chapter 394: Chapter 394: Rebuild or Destroy?
Belagar Ironhammer, the self-proclaimed King of Eight Peaks, and the last of the Rune King bloodline, clad in meteorite armor and wearing a king's crown helm, entered the room panting. "Oh! Emperor of the Empire, I heard Helmgart was attacked by Skaven scum. I brought my men to support you! Don't worry! The dwarves are here, and everything is under control! The dwarves are always the best!"
Emperor Karl Franz wore a sincere smile, but internally he thought: Quickly? By the time you dwarves arrive, everything will be over.
Of course, the Emperor wouldn't say that out loud. "Thank you for your support, King Belagar."
"Ryan, my friend, friend of the Angrund clan, I heard you needed help, so I came immediately," Belagar said proudly to Ryan. "The Angrund clan remembers the help you provided in your territory. Now your dwarf friends are here to help you!"
With that, the self-proclaimed King of Eight Peaks raised his arms to display his strength. "But you've already dealt with the rat tide. I'm pleased to see that a fragile race like yours can hold out in this dark world. It's a testament to the teachings of the dwarf ancestors."
Ryan thought, what help are you providing now? The battle is over, and the rats have been driven away.
He decided to tease the King of Eight Peaks a bit. "How many troops did you bring this time, King Belagar?"
"Uh, I brought thirty rangers and fifty oath-bound guards," Belagar stammered, then whispered somewhat sheepishly.
"Eighty men? The Skaven tide at Helmgart was at least a hundred thousand..." A Rick guard muttered, "Can one dwarf handle a thousand rats? That's still not enough."
"Is he here to watch the show?"
"Did he bring eighty men to feed the rats?"
"I heard dwarf meat is tough?"
The Rick guards whispered, making Belagar's face turn red. He shouted, "Have you ever seen a dwarf shield wall? The Angrund clan will show you. We may be few, but we will not retreat a single step!"
Ryan stifled a laugh. He knew he couldn't blame Belagar for arriving late because dwarves have short legs and march slowly. They couldn't compare to Emperor Karl Franz's all-cavalry forced march that took only a day and a night to reach Helmgart.
The Emperor signaled the Rick guards to bring a stool for Belagar. After some discussion, they learned that Belagar had planned to take a boat to Bogenhafen (reachable from Helmgart by river). Hearing about the Skaven attack, he rushed back.
Dwarves march quickly over long distances because they need little rest apart from sleep. For long marches, their pace surpasses that of humans. However, for short distances, they can't match mounted humans, especially since Emperor Karl Franz's forced march through his territory used horses and supplies prepared by local nobles, enabling them to reach Helmgart in just one day and night and defeat the Skaven.
After sitting down, High Grand Master Ernst of the Witch Hunters resumed his old argument. "We must burn this city to the ground. Only fire can purify the chaos left behind. Even then, I don't recommend anyone living here again."
Emperor Karl Franz frowned.
The Emperor was weighing the pros and cons of abandoning Helmgart entirely.
Helmgart was an important border city for the Empire, facilitating major land trade routes with Bretonnia and guarding against Bretonnian invasions. Allies though they were, the Empire and Bretonnia had a history of border skirmishes and wars. After the resignation of the Savior Ludwig, Emperor Leopold fought a battle at Helmgart with a Bretonnian duke, and after Karl Franz's ascension, he fought Duke Cassvon of Parravon there.
Abandoning Helmgart would severely impact Reikland's trade with Bretonnia, a significant loss for the wealthy province. More importantly, without Helmgart, Bretonnian knights could invade unchecked, reaching Reikland's heart.
"No, burning it won't solve the problem," Ryan shook his head. "Helmgart's destruction means a lot, but it can be rebuilt. We shouldn't destroy the city just because it was attacked by Skaven. If we do, what's the point of defeating the Skaven?"
Ryan remembered that High Grand Master Ernst hadn't appeared in public for many years. Many had heard of him but never seen him. There were rumors that he was in his final years.
Ernst looked very old, but his body and spirit were still strong. The High Grand Master likely had decades left.
"You don't understand, young man. Do you know what chaos really is? Do you understand the Skaven plague's severity?" Ernst felt the Emperor's hesitation, becoming irritable. "A polluted city must be destroyed. It can't be restored."
"Twenty years ago, Nuln's city was half-destroyed by Skaven, and it's been rebuilt," Ryan countered. "Bretonnia's southern Duchy of Carcassonne is often harassed by Skaven. Yes, they can destroy cities and spread plagues, but so what? Have humans ever succumbed to terror?"
"If we follow your advice and destroy a city every time Skaven attack, how many cities do we have to spare?" Ryan asked. "I examined the refugees. Some are sick but not plagued. The city should be burned and rebuilt."
The Emperor nodded at Ryan's analysis, clearly not favoring Ernst's suggestion. Economically and strategically, Helmgart was too important. The city could be rebuilt, but abandoning it was hard to accept.
Ernst was furious. The High Grand Master fired at Ryan, "Young man, do you know what chaos is? Do you know what chaos corruption means? Just because you've fought chaos demons and killed a Khorne champion, don't act like a fool quoting books. You don't know the true heights."
Here it comes! Ryan smirked. Clearly, Ernst couldn't win the argument and resorted to posturing and personal attacks.
"Do you know what chaos is, Master Ernst? I respect you and your deeds, but I know more about chaos. I've heard Khorne's whispers and faced chaos demons. I've even touched forbidden knowledge in the Book of Chaos." Ryan was getting angry. "Age doesn't mean knowledge."
"Boy, pick up your warhammer." Ernst was done talking. He drew a scimitar and an axe. "Outside. We fight. Loser shuts up!"
"I'm the Lady's champion. I won't duel for such nonsense." Ryan laughed. "I'm also a Bretonnian noble. How Helmgart is handled isn't my business. I'm just giving my opinion."
"Enough, stop arguing. Master Ernst, Ryan, I know you're both well-intentioned but have different views. Let me think it over," the Emperor intervened, his head pounding from the argument.
"Um... Humans, do you have a misunderstanding about Skaven?" Belagar, sitting aside, spoke up, his tone full of disdain and superiority. "Both of you are wrong! You don't understand Skaven tactics or behavior. This witch hunter mixes Skaven with chaos, and Ryan knows more but still makes major mistakes!"
Ernst glared at Belagar with eyes full of hatred but gave up arguing. Dwarves' stubbornness was world-renowned. Witch Hunters could judge and execute humans but not dwarves.
Ryan, although scolded, was calmer. He leaned back in his chair, taking deep breaths. The recent misfortunes, with Theresa and Veronica injured, and Sulia exhausted, had soured their imperial journey, which was supposed to be a continuation of their honeymoon.
Ryan was a man with feelings.
Belagar's cold water calmed him. Ryan thought it through and decided to humbly ask for Belagar's advice. "King Belagar, I know you've fought Skaven many times and know them well. What should we do in this situation? What should humans do?"
"Yes, King Belagar, you know Skaven best." Emperor Karl Franz's eyes brightened, showing humility. "Please enlighten us."
"Well, if you ask like that, you're asking the right person." Belagar enjoyed their deference, feeling proud. He stroked his white beard and took a deep drink of the imperial royal malt black beer before giving his opinion.
"First, the witch hunter is wrong. Abandoning Helmgart is exactly what the Skaven want. They would occupy the ruins and establish an underground city, spreading plague and corruption from Helmgart to Reikland, Montfort, and the entire Grey Mountains."
Everyone nodded. The Emperor asked, "So we should rebuild the city, as Ryan suggests?"
"Ryan's idea is also wrong." Belagar shook his head. "Rebuilding the city is easy, but it can be easily destroyed again. The Skaven must have established a secret base and portal under the mountains to raid Helmgart. These portals are well-hidden and sparsely manned. The Skaven would happily watch humans rebuild and then destroy the city again."
Ryan and Emperor Karl Franz broke into a cold sweat.
No one had thought of this!
The Empire and Bretonnia had limited records and descriptions of Skaven. No one realized how cunning these damned Skaven were!
"Didn't expect that?" Belagar said loudly. "These are lessons learned with the lives and blood of countless dwarves!"
"Alright, I didn't know." High Grand Master Ernst admitted, glancing at Ryan, grudgingly conceding he hadn't considered everything. He had to ask Belagar, "So, dwarf, can you lead us into the mountains to destroy the Skaven base and portal?"
"Of course." Belagar nodded solemnly. "
Otherwise, I wouldn't be here to help, especially for Ryan."
"Me?" Ryan asked curiously.
"When I led my defeated troops to Breezeborough, you had Dugan send us much-needed supplies. When I came to your land, you hosted me and my clan generously, invited me to your wedding, and later supported us with abundant food. I remember all this." Belagar raised his Angrund Hammer. "Dwarves don't forget their friends."
"Thank you." Ryan was touched. This matter didn't concern Belagar, but he rushed back because Ryan and his friends were in danger.
"As for the Empire... Dwarf help isn't free!" Belagar told the Emperor. "I want twenty sacks of barley flour and thirty barrels of the best malt beer. Fair enough?"
"If everything goes well, I'll give you fifty barrels." The Emperor was generous. Fifty barrels of top-quality malt beer wouldn't exceed 300 gold marks. Adding twenty sacks of barley flour, it would be 400-500 gold marks. Helmgart's annual tax revenue was over 1,000 gold marks.
"Very good. I have one more condition. Besides my men, I need the Emperor to send 100 elite greatswords, 50 elite foot knights, and Ryan to join me. My condition is that everyone must swear to follow my commands in the underground battle!"
"No problem. I'll have Helborg gather the troops under your command." The Emperor agreed readily.
"Excellent. Rest and gather strength. We set off tomorrow morning!" Belagar declared. "The Skaven are nocturnal creatures. Daytime is when they're drowsy!"
"The Skaven's end is near!"
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