The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

At 4:30 in the afternoon, inside the officers' dining room of the grand ship "Manaan's Wrath" in Bordeleaux, Ryan gave instructions to Federmond: "We are not just giving him these gifts for free. Once we catch those rogue knights and their mastermind, if we have evidence proving that the Estalians were behind it, we can march straight to the Myrmidia Cathedral in Magritta, and demand answers from Archbishop Giovanni or Lord Lorenzo!"

Isabella Giovanni, the Archbishop of Myrmidia, is the most powerful person in Estalia, a woman.

Lorenzo Marco, the Grand Master of the Order of the Blazing Sun.

Both of these individuals wield immense political power in Estalia. Even the powerful Duke Rubio the Sunwatcher of Magritta doesn't dare to provoke them, as more than half of Estalia's army are followers of Myrmidia.

Federmond frowned and remained silent. The newly minted Grail Knight's expressions were unreadable, hiding his thoughts.

Olica, the Dark Elf, let out a cold laugh. On one hand, she mocked humans for using such cumbersome methods to reclaim their belongings; on the other, she felt it ridiculous that the legitimate son of the Duke of Bordeleaux had such limited intellect.

For Dark Elves, growing up meant surviving endless bloodshed, slaughter, and conspiracy. Even after reaching adulthood, they could not afford a moment's slack. Olica was no different, always embroiled in eternal struggles of assassination and schemes until she became Ryan's maid...

Still, my master is the most handsome and powerful! The Dark Elf thought cheerfully to herself.

Ryan began to understand why Boderick wanted him to guide his son.

As a Grail Knight, Federmond was qualified in terms of valor and virtue.

But as a duke's heir, his political acumen and sensitivity were lacking. After a long Grail quest, Federmond had developed a tendency to resolve issues through force and the virtues of chivalry.

Duke Boderick was not satisfied with this, but being a non-Grail knight, he sometimes found it difficult to directly influence Federmond's actions.

So, I'm here to help train your son, huh? Ryan thought to himself.

Fine, guiding the future heir of the duchy has its advantages. Ryan needed strong allies with solid ties. François was one, and in the future, Federmond would be another. Besides, the conditions offered by Duke Boderick were quite attractive.

"This isn't quite what I expected. I thought once we arrived in Bilbali, we could start the investigation immediately. But it seems more complicated than that," Federmond could argue against Boderick's guidance because his father wasn't a Grail Knight. But standing before him was not only a Grail Knight but also the chosen champion of the Lady of the Lake.

"This is the mortal realm, the kingdom of men. We are people of order, ruling our lands through faith and law. Similarly, since we are venturing into Estalia, we must interact with the local nobility," Ryan said, taking a sip of imperial stout. "Human beings are social creatures. We can't brandish our search for the rogue knights as an act of invasion. How would we be different from the Chaos-worshipping Norscans if we did that?"

"But… we don't have many leads at the moment," Federmond reluctantly accepted Ryan's opinion. The combination of having their ancestral treasure stolen and their ancestors' graves desecrated left him barely calm. "If we waste too much time, I fear those rogue knights might move the Sea God Trident elsewhere."

"How did you determine that the rogue knights are in Bilbali?" Ryan asked.

Federmond began to recount the events.

After the grave robbery, Duke Boderick's first reaction was that the vampire army from Mousilon wanted to steal the Sea God Trident. He dispatched troops to secure all ports and the quarantine zones around Mousilon, checking travelers and passersby, but the Sea God Trident was nowhere to be found.

In his despair, Duke Boderick received a dream from the Sea God Manaan, who told him that the thieves were heading south. The Duke immediately led the Sea God Knights southward, finally capturing a… peasant in Berleon.

The peasant approached Duke Boderick, seeking favor, claiming to have information about the rogue knights in exchange for a reward. The Duke, having no time to haggle with the peasant, had him severely tortured. The near-death peasant was forced to confess that the rogue knights had a plan. They had taken advantage of the chaotic situation in Berleon to set up base there, and the peasant had overheard their conversations while hunting in the mountains.

A group of Estalians had hired these rogue knights with a substantial sum to steal the Sea God Trident, with an agreement to hand it over in the forests near the Duchy of Bilbali.

That was all the peasant knew, and considerable time had passed since the incident. The rogue knights were likely already nearing Bilbali, preparing for the exchange.

"I see. So we need to reclaim the Sea God Trident from the rogue knights before they complete the handover?" Veronica also recognized the difficulty of the task. Conducting a military operation in another country always required extreme caution. A misstep could lead to facing the entire nation's resistance.

"What if we arrive in Bilbali only to find that the Sea God Trident has already been traded to the Estalian masterminds?" Temple Knight Alfred asked his question.

"We must reclaim the ancestral relic of the House of Bordeleaux no matter what," Federmond's attitude was clear and straightforward.

"It might not be that simple to complete the handover," Ryan interjected with a different opinion, shaking his head. "If the Estalians are indeed trying to remain in the shadows, the exchange would need to be highly cautious. Given Estalia's chaotic state… In any case, we'll assess the situation once we arrive in Bilbali. Federmond, is there any other information?"

"No," Federmond shook his head.

"Hmm…" Ryan picked up the intelligence report on the table.

The Duchy of Bilbali is primarily dominated by three forces: Duke Silva of Bilbali, the Estalian Merchant League, and the local branch of the Blazing Sun Knights.

Duke Silva of Bilbali commands part of the duchy's army and navy. Located in northern Estalia, the duchy controls part of the coastline. The land is rugged and cliff-strewn, so its main revenue comes from maritime trade. As the Duke of Bilbali, Silva commands a powerful fleet to maintain order.

Additionally, the Estalian Merchant League holds significant influence here. In the more liberated southern regions, far from the threat of Chaos and Greenskins, people enjoy greater freedom and disorder, allowing merchants to gain notable status, much like in Marienburg.

Lastly, there's the Imperial Blazing Sun Knights' branch. Though numbering less than sixty, they are not to be underestimated, backed by a powerful empire.

"Emperor Karl Franz might be the most adept leader in diplomatic maneuvering," Ryan remarked, tapping on the map. The Count smiled and continued, "It's because of him that Estalia lacks a formidable military. In Estalia, all the troops desire to join the Empire and serve under the Emperor. Compared to the fragmented Estalia, the grand Empire's allure is much stronger. The Empire's grandeur and strength attract so many people that every year, a significant portion of Estalia's finest heads north to serve Emperor Karl Franz. This is part of the Emperor's 'Imperial Vassal' diplomacy aimed at southern nations. Each year, the Empire draws brave warriors and quality settlers from Estalia."

"Duke Silva of Bilbali is a tyrant driven by greed. He cares only for his ports and ignores the Beastmen rampaging in the southern forests. The Merchant League is always seeking more wealth and new trade routes. Encouraged by them, Estalians have repeatedly clashed with us over maritime and border issues. These people will only hinder our investigation!" Federmond frowned. "And as for the small group of Blazing Sun Knights from the Empire, I can't see how they could assist us."

"That's not the right way to see it, Federmond," Ryan shook his head, pointing to the port of the Duchy of Bilbali.

"Just as you said, Duke Silva is a tyrant. While this is a disaster for his people, it's an opportunity for us."

"An opportunity?" Federmond looked puzzled.

"Everyone has their desires. Since Duke Silva ignores the Beastmen in the southern forests, if we find out what he wants, he could similarly turn a blind eye to our investigation or even military actions. Isn't that good news for us?" Ryan explained slowly.

"Yes, indeed," Federmond nodded repeatedly.

"As for the Merchant League, we don't need to worry about them causing trouble. On the contrary, these merchants will likely welcome us as honored guests," Ryan continued.

"But these merchants have been inciting the Estalian nobles to go to war with us in Bretonnia…" Federmond seemed to grasp something.

"Exactly, that's the nature of merchants. Their position dictates that they follow the flow of profit. They maintain basic order but also thrive on sufficient chaos," Ryan elaborated. "They don't genuinely want full-scale war; they seek to create chaos because it causes price fluctuations, and they can profit from that. But if we make it clear that failing to find the Sea God Trident would lead us to cut off trade routes, what can they use to challenge us? Their private guards? Mercenaries? Are you not

 confident in your own skills and our Sea God Fleet, Federmond? Merchants won't push things that far. They thrive on peaceful commerce and will surely help us if the situation escalates."

"I see! I understand now!" Federmond exhaled deeply, feeling more confident after Ryan's detailed analysis. "What about the Blazing Sun Knights?"

"The Blazing Sun Knights will be our allies. We need to know how to use them," Ryan traced the trade route from Estalia to the Empire, leading to the headquarters of the Blazing Sun Knights in Talabheim. "The Empire and Bretonnia have been allies for centuries, fighting side by side against many foes. The Blazing Sun Knights uphold chivalry, and I have many agreements and cooperation deals with the Empire. Communication with them shouldn't be an issue."

"The Blazing Sun Knights have managed the trade route between the Empire and Estalia for five hundred years. They hold significant influence and recruitment channels in Estalia. They have personnel and small fortifications along major roads. If I'm not mistaken, they could provide us with crucial information on the whereabouts of the rogue knights."

By the time Ryan finished speaking, it was already 6 PM. The chefs served a feast of bread, cheese, smoked meats, and fresh fish, accompanied by Bordeleaux wine.

"Ryan, I'm truly impressed by your wisdom!" Federmond, feeling more composed after Ryan's analysis, poured wine into Ryan's goblet. "With you by our side, we will surely reclaim the Sea God Trident!"

"It's not these people I'm worried about," Ryan frowned. "Humans, after all, abide by some rules. My real concern is… according to intelligence, Beastmen have been wreaking havoc in Estalia recently, destroying many villages."

"We'll find a way, Ryan. Worrying about it now won't help," Veronica patted Ryan's hand. "The Garland Council has an office in Magritta. Melissa will assist us."

"Isn't Chairwoman Margarita from Estalia?" Ryan suddenly recalled.

"Magritta, Margarita, darling, don't you get it?" Veronica chuckled. "Look at the name; it's obvious she's Estalian."

"I don't usually pay attention to such details…" Ryan retorted. "For example, Nord calls it Ryan, Bretonnia calls it Leon, and Estalia calls it Leo. These three words all mean lion. Does that mean people named Lion come from the same country?"

"As long as they are humans," Alfred concluded for the dinner.

"Hahaha~"

After dinner, Ryan and the others returned to their cabins. Alfred bid them goodnight: "Well… my friends, I'll head down now."

"Have a pleasant evening, Tohru," Ryan also bid Alfred farewell, then opened the door to his room. Feeling a bit bored, he slumped onto the sofa. The Dark Elf maid prepared some tea for him: "Master, please enjoy your tea."

"And for you, Veronica."

"Thank you," Veronica kicked off her high heels and sat naturally on the bed. The Garland Witch teased, "You really are here to train Duke Boderick's son."

"Why not?" Ryan motioned for Olica to come over. She obediently slipped into his arms.

"Your old nephew needs more experience~ He's over fifty and still so naive about these things," Veronica said, rubbing her back, speaking candidly in front of Ryan.

"Old nephew… haha~" Ryan laughed at Veronica's words. Old nephew? Federmond was over fifty, while he himself was just over thirty.

"By the way, Olica, Veronica, have you decided who's sleeping on the sofa tonight?" Ryan asked, holding Olica's soft body with a mischievous smile.

"No one's sleeping on the sofa tonight, Master," Olica's answer was full of implications.

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