Warhammer Divine Throne

Mogiana didn’t want to use this power, but at this moment she had no choice but to try and use it.

At this moment, Ollica was chanting: ”Power of Chaos, heed my command, in the name of Eros, Pale Flame.”

Unbeknownst to anyone, a massive magic staff appeared in the hands of the Dark Elf, it was entirely navy blue with a gigantic ruby embedded at the top.

The Dark Elf was surrounded by surging, swirling purple-black magic power. This magic entered her body, gradually becoming a purer dark purple. Ollica’s waist-length hair flowed with her movements as she stood there, gently waving her magic staff, channeling the power of Black Magic.

Then, the Dark Elf released all her mana in one go: ”Hoo~”

”Seventh-Ring Magic, Destructive Magic Arrow!”

The sky shattered, a mass of purple-black light unleashed violent lightning, thicker than a barrel, the pale lightning tore through the cold night air and struck directly at the Sphinx Beast.

”Boom~ Crackle~ Bang~” Deafening explosions followed, the Sphinx Beast almost completely dismembered in the air, its golden wings shattered, fragmented from its back to its body and down to its limbs. The beast exploded in the sky less than 500 meters from the Wine Castle, turning to ash, leaving only a trail of blue smoke and countless fragments.

”Wow! Ollica Sister! You’re amazing,” Amelia sighed in relief as the crisis was averted, her delicate and lovely face full of admiration, ”I didn’t know you were capable of such powerful magic.”

Having cast such a powerful spell, the Dark Elf’s face was slightly pale. She smirked disdainfully, glancing at the Lake God Witch.

Mogiana’s face immediately fell.

After a while, Laine returned, with some snow clinging to him. The Count sheathed the Goddess of Revenge: ”I don’t know where that foul beast came from, Durand is dead, according to the Holy Grail Knights, it seemed to have flown over from the nearby Oracle Mountain Range for food...”

”Master~” Before Laine could finish speaking, Ollica, who had just been calm and composed, suddenly appeared fragile and unsteady, staggering a few steps towards Laine.

......

About three hours later, the Winter Festival dinner resumed, the only difference was that the Dark Elf was sitting on Laine’s lap, enjoying being fed by him: ”Master, I want to eat this.”

”Alright, Ollica, thanks for your help this time.” Laine used a fork to pick up a piece of honey-coated toast and fed it to the Dark Elf: ”If it weren’t for you, we’d be in quite a bit of trouble this time, I wouldn’t even know how to handle that creature.”

”Master, I still want to eat this.”

”Master, I’m too tired.”

The Dark Elf took the opportunity to act coyly towards Laine, her face flushed an odd shade of crimson as she accepted being fed without hesitation.

Amelia was fine, but Mogiana’s face was dark. The Lake God Witch spooned up some corn vegetable chowder, trying to divert Laine’s attention: ”Why would a Sphinx Beast appear in the Oracle Mountain Range? Moreover, why would it come to your territory? I suspect there’s a conspiracy afoot. The Sphinx is the war beast of the Ancient Tomb King, could it be Setra? Or Akhan?”

”I’m not too sure either, the only thing we know is that this vile beast somehow got stuck in the Oracle Mountain Range.” Laine fed the Dark Elf some food as Amelia sliced off a turkey drumstick and handed it to Laine.

Under the bright magic lamp and silver candlesticks, the room was filled with a warm and harmonious atmosphere, the beast’s attack didn’t affect Laine and the others’ festive spirit, except for Mogiana’s gloomy expression.

”The Sphinx Beast needs to hunt, it requires energy replenishment.” With a tinge of anger, Mogiana’s words came out a bit sharp: ”The Nikohara Desert is hot and dry year-round, allowing the Sphinx Beast to sleep for extended periods, but Brittania’s temperate and rainy climate, particularly the cold of winter, is unbearable for the Sphinx. It has to come out to feed.”

”So the question is, why would the Ancient Tomb King position such a creature in the Oracle Mountain Range? I remember having no grudges with the Ancient Tomb King.” Laine fed the Dark Elf some soup, thinking carefully: ”Then... the Witch Demon King Akhan? That doesn’t seem likely either.”

Akhan indeed came near his territory but was quickly wiped out, only Akhan himself barely escaping. Under such circumstances, Akhan wouldn’t have time to place a Sphinx Beast in the Oracle Mountain Range.

Laine sensed something suspicious about the whole affair.

Laine and Mogiana discussed the topic for a while but couldn’t come up with anything new, so Laine switched topics with some regret: ”Durand is dead, half of his body was devoured by the Sphinx, with the other half falling in the vineyard. I think I need a new person to oversee the winery.”

”Surya Sister’s side has many excellent winemakers.” Amelia’s tone carried some regret too: ”Mr. Durand was very dedicated, but he was somewhat lacking in management skills. The Winford Court has many excellent winemakers, as long as you, Laine, say the word to Surya Sister, many winemakers would be willing to work under you.”

”Is that so.” Laine didn’t show much emotion, responding casually.

The Count knew his team was riddled with various factions, including the tax officer Gaspardon sent by the Lake Fairy and the Lake God Witch Mogiana, the steward Kasenberg from Winford College and his fiancée Surya, not to mention local and foreign knights, as well as Dwarves and Wood Elves, even Ollica, a Dark Elf.

The factions needed balance, but when it came to brewing and managing wineries, without a doubt, the Winford Duchy had the Old World’s finest vintners.

Second best were the vintners of Boldro and the winemakers of Kakasong.

”In that case, I’ll write a letter to Mr. Francois requesting him to send a new person to oversee the winery.” After much thought, Laine decided to seek help from his father-in-law.

Winford’s wine culture was too renowned; it had the Old World’s only super first level winery and two of the five first-class wineries, with the remaining three located in the Boldro Duchy, Connet Duchy, and the Empire’s Avey Territory.

After Laine’s rise, the Duke of Winford, Francois, began to support and infiltrate his influence into Laine’s domain, even marrying his daughter to Laine. Laine’s rise was largely thanks to Francois’s patronage, to which he naturally reciprocated, with the Wood Elves’ goods, Dwarven masterwork weapons and armors, and various magic potions produced by Veronica Wizard Tower greatly boosting Winford Duchy’s continued prosperity.

One only reaps with input, without giving, there’s no gain.

After finishing dinner, it was already quite dark outside. Due to several delays, it was already past ten o’clock at night when they finished dinner, and it was time for everyone to rest.

”Your Highness Mogiana, I’ll stay with Ollica tonight, so I won’t be coming over.” Laine said to the Lake God Witch after dinner while Amelia was washing dishes: ”Ollica... is a bit weak.”

”She’s weak? I saw her energetic earlier.” Mogiana said with displeasure, ”The moment you showed up, she got weak.”

Laine didn’t know what to say, so he just smiled, knowing Mogiana was sulking. She was more frustrated with herself for being useless. If she were at her normal state, taking out a Sphinx with High-Tier Magic would be easy, but this time the Dark Elf, considered an enemy, snatched the initiative.

Returning to the master bedroom, after a simple wash, Laine lay in the middle of the bed with Ollica, who was flushed, resting her head on his chest. The Dark Elf was wearing a purple velvet nightgown, revealing her black-stockinged legs under the gown: ”Master, today’s events were a bit strange.”

”Yes, I thought so too.” Laine hugged his exclusive pillow and gently blew into her ear: ”Ollica, you did well today, if it wasn’t for you, things might have gotten complicated.”

The Dark Elf hugged Laine’s neck: ”Master, do you think the Sphinx Beast was targeting Her Highness Mogiana?”

”Why not? I suspect the Sphinx Beast came after Mogiana, the Vampires never gave up searching for Mogiana’s whereabouts.” Laine nodded.

”No... Master, I think this vile beast most likely came for you.”

”What?”