Warhammer Divine Throne

”Laine again?” Boris glared with his one eye, intentionally saying, ”Egil is the Divine Chosen Champion of the Blood God, yet Laine managed to kill Egil! It’s unbelievable. You remember last year when Nord sacrificed thousands of lives just to barely hold on until Egil and his army retreated.”

”Brittania brought a notice requesting the release of some captured knights first... Holy Grail Knight Commander Jules was killed by Egil in a Champion duel. As Leonais was about to fall, Laine led over fifteen thousand troops to arrive, defeating the Skaelings’ army. Amidst the chaos, Egil and Laine met, engaging in a great Champion duel.” Emperor’s Standard Bearer Ludwig read the intelligence, ”The duel was extremely fierce, according to witnesses; it was like incarnations of deities clashing in a grand duel.”

”Lord Jules perished?” It was Vamil von Rukov, the Prince-Elector who interrupted Ludwig’s speech, ”That is a huge loss for humanity.”

”Yes, Lord Jules’s death is indeed a massive loss for humanity.” Emperor Franz nodded empathetically.

”Ahem, after a bitter fight, Count Laine Macado utilized mysterious movement abilities to suddenly appear before Egil, risking everything to kill Egil, beheading him.” Ludwig continued at the Emperor’s gesture: ”It was a glorious victory, a thirty-year-old Holy Grail Knight killing the Champion of Khorne who had been rampant in the Northern Wasteland for centuries. This is good news for the entire Old World, and the news of Egil’s death hasn’t spread yet. I dare say if it did, the entire Northern Empire would celebrate.”

”It seems Laine’s fame will spread from Margaret Port in the west of the Old World to the World’s Roof Mountain Range in the Empire’s east, becoming known everywhere.” Emperor Franz said with a smile, casually remarking, ”By the way, why doesn’t our Empire have such a formidable Champion?”

Upon hearing this, the conference hall fell silent, and several Prince-Electors and other attendees remained quiet.

Emperor Franz’s strongest Champion, without doubt, was his Standard Bearer Ludwig, an elderly grandmaster of Holy Sanctuary, akin in power to Jules.

And next?

That’s all; Emperor Franz could directly command only Ludwig. Ivan Ferdinand, the Griffin Duke and Grand Master of the Griffin Knight Order, was merely a nominal vassal with a degree of independence, not easy to command directly. ”The Resolute” Vicma, the Church Archbishop, was also of Holy Sanctuary caliber, yet the Church Archbishop held an independent status within the Empire, forcing the Emperor to negotiate.

There were the White Wolf Knight Order—Grand Master Axel Griss and ”Great Yurik” Emil Wager, both of Holy Sanctuary strength.

But neither of these could be commanded by Emperor Franz; even Boris, the White Wolf Prince-Elector, could scarcely direct them, as they had to negotiate matters.

The Empire’s issue lay here; the Empire was the strongest Human Realm in the Old World, yet critically lacked high-level forces. Whenever Barbarians came forth seeking Champion duels, it troubled the Empire’s people that they struggled to find warriors capable of matching the Barbarian Champions, unlike the Holy Grail Knights of Brittania—each one truly formidable.

”Amazing, Laine Macado is this powerful? So many formidable foes, he strikes and kills with precision.” Another Prince-Elector spoke, ”Shame he’s a double-sider, first becoming a White Wolf Knight, then defecting across the mountain.”

Upon hearing this, Boris, Vamil, and Emperor Franz frowned.

He is Prince-Elector and Duke of Talabeck, Helmut Feuerbach.

This Prince-Elector was famously ill-tempered and notorious for capriciously issuing decrees out of whims and odd ideas. His rule over his territory was harsh to the extreme, nearly uncivil. As such, throughout Talabeck Territory—from nobles to commoners, merchants associations to artisans and tailors—everyone detested this Prince-Elector, wishing for his immediate demise, even fabricating rumors of his sudden death.

However, there was no evidence of Helmut’s mental illness or corruption influence; in contrast, he was fervently against Chaos Forces and all kinds of cults. Thanks to his efforts, the market that should have been noisy and chaotic was orderly and vibrant, sustaining peace and relatively good governance over the vast area and sparsely populated Talabeheim.

Since the Empire’s establishment, several Emperors successively ascended the throne, with Emperor Franz undoubtedly being a highly charismatic human leader. He inherited the ability from his father Luitpold to navigate the Empire’s countless intricate political networks and was a fine general himself. Under his diligent governance, the Rick Territory thrived like never before, reminiscent of the Empire’s most glorious era.

Simultaneously, Emperor Franz employed internal affairs, diplomacy, and military pressure, using both soft and hard tactics, forcing the Prince-Electors to cease internal hostilities and mutual suspicion, unite against external foes. Although the alliance was fragile, at least the Prince-Electors united under the Empire’s banner and marched together.

Thus, Emperor Franz viewed Laine deeply, more than anyone else.

”Laine is an object worth drawing in; he shares deep ties with the Empire.” Emperor Franz gestured for Prince-Elector Helmut to silence, ”Lord Helmut, lest you forget, the Half-Elf Warhorse you just selected from the zoo was imported from Laine’s side; or you could choose to forgo it.”

”Oh, no, what I meant was, Laine’s indeed a mighty man; I like someone so genuine.” Prince-Elector Helmut shamelessly changed tone immediately, ”Of course, I’d prefer another one.”

”Just one! Lord Helmut, one per person!” Boris impatiently said, ”If you don’t want it, give it to me; my wolf cubs can hardly wait.”

Boris did not mention Laine privately gave him two Half-Elf Warhorses, but these treasured mounts were never enough for the White Wolf Knights, prompting Grand Master Axel and ”Great Yurik” Wager to ride them immediately.

In the Empire, Elf Warhorses were rare and precious, unlike Brittania Dukes who had plenty of Pure-blooded Elf Warhorses in their stables. Compared with Brittania’s horses, the Empire’s mounts fell short in speed, load capacity, and endurance. Even Emperor Franz himself rode a Half-Elf Warhorse, gifted by High Elves upon his ascension.

Brittania strictly prohibited Elf Warhorse exports. The Emperor managed to buy several from Laine at high prices, deciding to offer one each to the attending Prince-Electors as a draw, retaining two for future Rick Marshals and his own Standard Bearer.

”Yes, yes! Of course!” Prince-Elector Helmut shamelessly waved his hand, ”I’m merely considering for my son; if I have one, he should have one too!”

”You could give yours to him to ride!” Boris continued to scold, ”If it’s unfair, skip them. My sons Stefan and Heinrich want them.”

”Bullshit, come over here, Boris, I’ll show you!” Helmut was furious, reaching for the Prince-Elector’s Holy Sword Stone Breaker at his waist.

”Come on!” Boris also gripped the Prince-Elector’s Holy Sword Leg-Slicing Bite’s hilt.

”Enough!” Emperor roared, ”This isn’t the arena, it’s the Imperial Palace!”

The two Prince-Electors quieted down.

”We need more imports of Half-Elf Warhorses from Laine and more medicine from Wood Elves.” Emperor Franz continued.

At this, the Prince-Electors nodded repeatedly.

The Wood Elves’ medicine was highly efficient, with no side effects, being treasures to Noblemen across the Empire where everyone feared death, and the Emperor’s army needed pharmaceuticals. Sadly, Wood Elves’ medicine traded from Laine was limited in quantity, with the black market pricing them sky-high.

”What shall we trade for them? Count Laine requires merely two things: Volatile Oil and Magic Ore.” Gailte finally spoke.

”And another thing.” Emperor Franz cast his gaze towards the Empire’s north.

”That is... people!”