The Blackheart Rep's Eagle Mercenary Group might be the best-equipped and most well-trained mercenary group in the Border Princes' domain. Although these mercenaries still had a noticeable gap in strength compared to the Empire's regular army, Blackheart Rep always spared no expense. They spent a lot of money equipping these mercenaries with crossbows and some obsolete firearms produced by the Empire. Therefore, when the Chaos Army arrived, this group of the worst scum and the most vile soldiers helped Blackheart Rep earn his notorious reputation and their own infamy.
However, all of this collapsed under the onslaught of the Chaos Army. When Blackheart Rep broke through the encirclement, the once several hundred-strong mercenary group had dwindled to just over a hundred. They were desperately using crossbows and firearms to try and hold back the advancing Chaos Army. In fact, they did manage to repel a few small Chaos warbands, but survival in the war was absolutely impossible.
This was Blackheart Rep's judgment.
At this moment, a Chaos Champion had already breached the Eagle Mercenary Group's formation. He was clad in a rusted full suit of Chaos plate armor, wielding a giant axe, and was wantonly slaughtering the halberdiers and spearmen trying to stop him. The brave mercenaries swarmed him, using halberd and spear formations together. A volley of gunfire and spear thrusts battered the Chaos Champion, but at the cost of several men being chopped into pieces.
"Kill! Slash! For the Father of Decay!" The Nurgle Champion's mask was pierced by a spear, revealing his pustule-covered face, which made the mercenaries nearly wet themselves in terror.
It was a face no longer human, covered in lumps, boils, and reeking sores, oozing thick green foam. Eyes grew in clusters on every lump, boil, and pustule on his face. The Nurgle Champion opened his mouth and spat out a glob of pus, shouting, "Eat, kill!"
"Don't panic, brothers! Your prince is back!" Blackheart Rep roared, drawing the Nurgle Champion's attention. The Champion turned slowly, charging at Blackheart Rep with his giant axe poised to deliver a lethal blow.
Blackheart Rep dared not be complacent. He knew that these Chaos Champions were formidable opponents. The mercenary baron immediately gripped a two-handed longsword from his back. This sword, entirely pitch black, crackled with black lightning when unsheathed.
Its name was "Blood of Valor," an enchanted rune sword.
The origin of this two-handed sword was mysterious. Blackheart Rep had acquired it during an adventure in the Border Princes' domain. He spent many years researching its history and learned that it likely belonged to an ancient Tomb King, an artifact from the time when the "Eternal Emperor" Settra had once reached and conquered the Border Princes, though he could not hold it, similar to the Empire. This sword was probably a weapon of some Tomb King or priest, which Blackheart Rep had luckily obtained and claimed as his own.
"Try this, you putrid pustule! Your grandpa Littlebird is gonna bash you to pieces today!" Blackheart Rep, riding a warhorse, charged at the Nurgle Champion with a roar.
After several exchanges, Blackheart Rep let out a hoarse shout, deciding to go all out.
Black lightning and flames burst from the Blood of Valor. Black energy surged from the blade, and the Nurgle Champion watched in terror as his giant axe was cut in half by the enchanted rune sword. All of his eyes filled with fear, and he instinctively took a step back.
There was no way Blackheart Rep would miss this opportunity. The mercenary baron charged forward recklessly, using a life-for-life tactic to dodge the Nurgle Champion's iron fist. The enchanted blade danced across the Plague Knight's body, severing heads and limbs, leaving only a mutilated torso to collapse to the ground.
"Elites? I take down elites! Champions? I slay champions!" Blackheart Rep roared, declaring his victory. The death of the Nurgle Champion caused the entire Chaos warband's morale to collapse. Nearby Chaos warriors began to retreat, relieving the pressure on the mercenaries.
"Victory!" The mercenaries, seeing Blackheart Rep slay the Chaos Champion, erupted in hysterical cheers. It was a shout that transcended courage in the face of desperation, welcoming the mercenary baron back as a hero.
By now, Blackheart Rep's once magnificent armor was full of gaps and scratches, a complete mess. He dismounted and discarded his damaged gear, grabbing a new horse and some rations and water.
"Hold the line, brothers!" Blackheart Rep shouted before the mercenaries could question him. "Reinforcements are on the way! I'll break through and bring them back. Together, we'll send these bastards back to their mother's wombs!"
The mercenaries cheered and shouted with renewed fighting spirit, not noticing the large Chaos force gathering in the distance. Clearly, the death of a Chaos Champion had drawn attention. Footsteps, armor clashing, and weapons clanking could be heard—more enemies were coming!
Blackheart Rep even saw a massive monster composed of twisted flesh and various tentacles.
"Size doesn't matter! You wait, I'll get the Empire to blast you with a steam tank cannon!" Blackheart Rep muttered, his hands shaking from exhaustion and fear. He took a deep breath to feign calm, then pulled the reins. "I'll leave these scum to you, brothers! I'm off to get reinforcements. Victory belongs to the Eagle Mercenary Group! For Charlemagne and Lady Shallya! For glory and gold!"
The mercenary baron's enthusiastic rallying cry inspired the mercenaries, who responded with louder cheers, drawing even more Chaos warriors and warbands' attention.
Heh, a bunch of fools, all going to die, Blackheart Rep sneered internally. He couldn't stay any longer. He pulled the reins and spurred his horse, which seemed equally eager to flee the Chaos onslaught, galloping away.
Blackheart Rep didn't dare look back. At first, he heard sporadic gunfire, but it quickly turned into agonized screams and the sounds of close combat. He urged his horse to run until he couldn't hear anything anymore.
Thus, in this summer, the Border Princes faced an existential crisis, and Blackheart Rep, the only surviving mercenary baron, fled madly. He had to let the Empire know that a terrifying Chaos army had appeared in the Border Princes, and their next target might very well be the Empire.
Blackheart Rep spent an entire week crossing the Black Mountains, arriving at the Wisenland stronghold at the foot of the mountains—Mannendorf Castle.
Garrisoned here was an Imperial general appointed by Wisenland and the lord of Mannendorf Castle. When he saw the infamous Blackheart Rep, covered in mud and reeking of unwashed stench mixed with the aroma of the Black Mountains' red soil, standing at the castle gates, the lord of Mannendorf Castle loudly mocked Blackheart Rep's plight.
However, Blackheart Rep had an "official" status. His border baron title was formally granted by the Imperial court (even though he had no actual land or army). Despite the general's disdain for this scoundrel, he still opened the castle gates and allowed him to rest.
Blackheart Rep wasted no time. His horse had run itself to death, and he had endured solely due to his peak legendary physique. While devouring food and recounting his experiences, the initially mocking castle lord's expression grew serious.
To the Imperial nobles, Blackheart Rep was a despicable scoundrel, a vile executioner, a dishonorable swindler, a greedy bastard. But he was also a peak legendary strongman and an excellent mercenary leader (otherwise, the Empire wouldn't have granted him the border baron title). When Blackheart Rep described his encounter in the Border Princes and the coming wave of destruction, detailing the horrors and savagery of the Chaos tribes from the World's Edge Mountains, the castle lord set aside all prejudices. He immediately accepted Blackheart Rep's suggestion—urgently reporting the presence of a Chaos army in the Border Princes to the Nuln City Council and the Imperial court!
A messenger was dispatched immediately, sending the news through the Empire's postal and relay system to the Wisenland Duchess Emanuelle's seat in Wissenburg (though she never resided there) and the capital of Pfeildorf!
Wisenland Marquis Olger Holk, currently in Pfeildorf, realized the gravity of the situation. The Magic Guild of Pfeildorf used their array to transmit the news of a Chaos army in the Border Princes to Nuln. Simultaneously, the old marquis ordered Mannendorf Castle to dispatch troops to escort Blackheart Rep to Nuln to explain the situation to the city council and the great nobles.
A large Chaos army had appeared in the Border Princes!
It was speculated to be led by the Nurgle Champion Tamukhan, with the Kurgan tribe forming the Chaos army. Chaos dwarves were also seen among them!
Their target was likely the Empire!
And with a Chaos invasion from the south, Nuln, the southern stronghold, would be the first to face the brunt!
The news sent shockwaves through Nuln.
The first to receive the news was the Imperial Duchess Emanuelle von Lebwitz-Bernadino. Upon hearing the news, her first reaction was to convene a city council meeting in the Nuln court to discuss how to respond to this invasion. Her second reaction was to rush to where Ryan was staying, grabbing his sleeve and collar, telling her man that
he absolutely could not leave Nuln.
She needed him.
Seeing the maid and their son with tearful eyes softened Ryan's heart. He did have a responsibility. Facing Emanuelle's plea, Ryan smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry, I won't leave Nuln no matter what."
"Really?" Emanuelle's beautiful face showed deep emotion. She hugged Ryan's neck and whispered in his ear, "You're not lying to me?"
"I'm the Lady's chosen champion, how could I lie to you?" Ryan gently hugged Emanuelle's petite frame. "Rest assured."
"Alright, I have to go to the meeting now, lots to do these days." Emanuelle studied Ryan for a moment to ensure he wasn't just appeasing her, then handed little Frederick to Ryan and hurried away.
As the Duchess of Nuln, Elector of Bressia, and Duchess of Wisenland, Emanuelle had many matters to attend to.
Seeing Emanuelle leave in a hurry, Sulia sighed and sat beside Ryan. The lady knight wore a golden-yellow fishtail dress that shimmered in the sunlight, beneath which were long, slender legs in white lace suspenders and stockings, ending in white pointed strappy high heels. She watched Emanuelle's hurried departure. "You agreed to her so easily? My husband?"
"I can't leave at a time like this." Ryan smiled wryly, taking his wife's delicate hand. "I hope you understand, Sulia."
"Of course I understand. My husband is like the sun, radiating light and heat, not only illuminating me but many others, many women." Sulia's tone was peculiar, her sea-blue eyes reflecting Ryan's image. "I just feel you agreed too hastily. Maybe we should help, but..."
"But does it seem cheap? Shouldn't I be used?" Ryan hugged Sulia just as he had hugged Emanuelle earlier. He sighed and placed her on his lap. "Fighting evil is a duty, my wife."
"Yes, it's a duty." Sulia didn't argue further. She leaned against Ryan. It was now June, and the weather was hot. The lady knight felt embarrassed being held by her husband but still snuggled in his arms. "But what about Mousilon? You had Carsonberg and others prepare a series of plans, ready to implement, but now this unexpected event?"
"Plans can't keep up with changes." Ryan knew Sulia's reasoning. He was also surprised by the news of the Chaos army in the Border Princes. When Sulia mentioned it, he felt troubled.
The nobles of the Bretonnia kingdom generally supported Ryan's reforms, but without his personal guidance, he felt uneasy. His subordinates lacked his prestige, and the nobles with prestige lacked ability. After pondering, Ryan decided, "It seems I can only write a letter asking François to handle the matters I've set in motion."
"Father taking charge?" Sulia was not pleased but worried. "Will the southern nobles get too much of the share?"
"They shouldn't." Ryan thought for a moment. "There are no other options now. Let me write a detailed letter to François."
"Yes, that's all we can do for now." Sulia shook her head. "Looks like we'll be staying in Nuln for a while."
"A letter isn't enough." Ryan stroked his chin. "Also, a letter to Karad, asking him to muster a knight army, bring the old guard and those semi-professional infantry regiments to Nuln!"
"He's Devonshire's godfather! How can we fight without him!"
...I am a letter-writing divider...
A few hours later, in the old world, Bretonnia, Helenhild, the capital of Winford Principality, in the ducal castle.
Duke François of Winford sat on his ducal throne. Below him were Count Cui'lerou, Grail Knight Anselm, and Paladin Sir Gerald. Ryan's father-in-law, glowing with pride, had reached near-legendary strength after defeating Kemmler. Holding Ryan's letter, François smiled meaningfully. "My son-in-law, he really thinks highly of me."
"Cousin, Ryan means for you to oversee Mousilon's development?" Anselm asked, puzzled.
"Yes." François sipped his tea. "Look at this letter, it's long."
A long scroll of parchment reached the floor.
Ryan's letter was indeed long. He detailed the benefits of various reforms and their importance to the kingdom, imploring François to help implement them fairly and justly.
Ryan first emphasized the necessity and urgency of the kingdom's reforms, describing what he had seen in the Empire and the numerous inventions in Nuln's factories, proving Bretonnia lagged behind the Empire in some aspects.
Secondly, Ryan worried about resistance to reforms, fearing that in his absence, many aspects might not be implemented. The noble knights might pretend to comply but maliciously alter his reforms to exploit the serfs further.
Lastly, Ryan hoped François would fairly handle relations between northern and southern nobles, favoring slightly but not relying solely on southern knights.
François glanced at the letter and set it aside. He coughed lightly, shaking his head. "My son-in-law, he underestimates me a bit."
"My Duke..." Gerald looked worriedly at François.
"I'm the Duke of Winford, a Grail Knight of the Lady, not just a southern duke or a Winford Grail Knight!" François dismissed the letter. "Is he so distrustful?"
Anselm and Gerald were solemn.
François gripped the hilt of his unicorn sword. "Let me teach you a lesson today, Gerald."
"Yes!" Sir Gerald responded loudly.
"This country is improving under Ryan's efforts. When the kingdom prospers, the people's lives improve. That's paramount!"
"Everything else." François glanced at the letter on the floor, shaking his head. "Isn't important."
"The true meaning of the Eight Virtues of the Knight lies within. Do you understand?"
Gerald felt his blood boiling. He controlled his excitement. "Understood!"
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