When Olica returned to the Elector Palace, Ryan had already led his army back to Nuln.
As the knights entered the city, the citizens of Nuln lined the streets, welcoming the heroes back. Ryan and his men showcased their trophies: carts filled with the heads of Kurgan warriors, Chaos Dwarfs, and the head of the Beastman chieftain Hurd. When the entire cavalry force displayed these spoils to the citizens, the crowd erupted in deafening roars in response. Cheers echoed from one end of the street to the other. At this moment, everyone in Nuln, whether noble or from the slums, was shouting the heroes' names, as if the war had already been won.
No one noticed that the old Marquis of Wissenland, Ogier, was absent from the army. His son, Mario, silently wept as he witnessed the sea of people in Nuln.
No one questioned why there was such a parade-like event with the enemy at their gates, nor did anyone ask why the news of Ogier's death in battle, sacrificing himself to buy more time, had not been shared with the citizens.
The reasons were simple: those who questioned the former didn't understand war, and those who questioned the latter didn't understand politics.
As a gesture of gratitude, Nuln's most renowned painter, Master Holbein, who was currently working on a statue painting of the Goddess of Justice, Varenna, presented the returning army with his latest masterpiece.
The painting, titled *Karl-Franz at Hochland*, was an exquisite oil painting, about two meters wide and 2.3 meters long. It depicted the ruler of Nuln, Lady Emmanuelle, standing in the palace hall before the Elector's throne, smiling warmly with love in her eyes as she welcomed Duke Ryan and his companions.
Ryan, Karad, and Pfizman each held the head of a Chaos Champion, a Chaos Dwarf sorcerer, and the Beastman chieftain, presenting their spoils to the Lady. Ryan's wife, Sulia, was deliberately placed in the background, but Holbein still carefully portrayed her flawless features and figure. As for Blackheart Rip, he received no such attention; his body and face were shrouded in shadow, leaving only a vague outline.
Holbein's work was met with much admiration and praise, but it also raised many questions.
Among Nuln's citizens, there were countless queries.
"Who's the person in front of the throne?" someone asked.
"That's the Lady of Nuln, you fool!" a young noble quickly answered, looking quite proud as he showered the painting with all his praise.
"And those men?"
"That's Duke Ryan! The other two men are Count Karad of Garamont and Grand Master Pfizman of the Knights of the Blazing Sun!"
"I see," the questioner finally understood, but he had one more doubt: "But why is the painting named this? I mean... where is Emperor Karl-Franz?"
"Emperor Karl-Franz is in Hochland!"
The entire city of Nuln was especially pleased with and appreciative of this painting, with everyone speaking highly of it.
Ryan noticed the commotion in the crowd, but what comforted him was that the citizens of Nuln had at least fully prepared for the war. It was said that all citizens capable of wielding a weapon had undergone basic military training.
Emmanuelle seemed to read Ryan's thoughts, and the Imperial Lady sneered, shaking her head: "It's not as good as you think, Ryan. There have been two riots in this city since you left."
"Two riots?" Sulia was very interested in this or, more precisely, the knightess was very concerned about her son, young Devonshire. She wondered if Emmanuelle had instilled any strange theories or ideas in him while raising him.
"The first riot occurred when a large number of refugees flooded into the city," Emmanuelle sneered a few times, her face now full of majesty and disdain: "The city had already arranged accommodations and supplies for them, but many refugees were not satisfied. Quite a few wanted to move into the wealthy districts or churches. Some even suggested that the empty classrooms, libraries, and student dormitories of Nuln University were large enough to house them. They argued that Nuln wasn't just for the people of Nuln and demanded that I allow them to freely choose where to live, with independent supplies and the same treatment as citizens."
"...How was the issue resolved?" Sulia asked with interest.
"Simply, with fines and executions," Emmanuelle's tone was unflinching. "After executing several hundred of the leading troublemakers, the problem was solved."
"The second riot was caused by some of Nuln's citizens, particularly female citizens. Over a thousand women marched in protest against recent decisions, such as the suspension of all entertainment activities, the prohibition of banquets, and even the ban on selling alcoholic beverages in taverns (except for Dwarf taverns)." Emmanuelle shook her head: "This problem was also simple to resolve. When I announced that if they didn't like Nuln, they could leave immediately, and that they could go to the city hall to give up their citizenship and move to a place where banquets and entertainment were allowed, I was told that hardly any women went to the city hall."
"Pfft~" Ryan couldn't help but laugh. He opened his mouth, then decided against saying more: "Forget it, as long as you can handle it. Let's change the subject."
"Erstein and the others are already waiting for you at the city council." Emmanuelle gave Sulia a sweet smile: "Sulia, how do you like the painting?"
"Huh? Which painting?" Sulia was momentarily confused.
"*The Emperor Karl-Franz at Hochland*!" Emmanuelle laughed. "Sulia, you must like it a lot. If you do, I can give it to you as a gift. How about that?"
"No need. You can keep it for yourself." Sulia immediately understood what Emmanuelle was implying, and the knightess maintained a polite smile.
"What a pity, Devonshire really liked it!" Emmanuelle sighed, sounding regretful. "I thought you would like it too."
Sulia's expression remained unchanged, but she couldn't help tightening her grip on the reins of her mount.
It seemed she could no longer let Emmanuelle take care of Devonshire.
Her son had to be raised by herself!
The long procession entered the Nuln city council. At this time, all military nobles, imperial generals, wizard leaders, and engineers from the Nuln armory were present.
By now, there was no trace of hostility toward Ryan, Karad, and the others among Nuln's high society. Their eyes were filled with admiration and gratitude, or at least respect. Nuln's Grand Marshal Erstein, seeing Ryan enter, voluntarily gave up the second seat on the right side for him.
The group began preparing for the impending Chaos invasion.
The generals and knightly leaders of the council unanimously agreed that a position with deep defensive lines was necessary. Based on the intelligence Ryan and others had provided earlier, the Nuln war council had already built a new defensive line outside the city, on the peninsula formed by the intersection of the Wissen and Ivy Rivers. This defensive line was constructed by Dwarf and human craftsmen using barbed wire, trenches, and fortresses. Under the guidance of the Dwarf craftsmen, the artillery positions were protected behind many bunkers, and hundreds of mortars and cannons, along with dozens of Hellstorm rocket batteries and Hellblaster volley guns, were ready for battle.
Over fifteen Imperial infantry regiments, thousands of Imperial swordsmen, spearmen, crossbowmen, and halberdiers were stationed at their defensive positions. More than ten regiments of handgunners would fire under the protection of the infantry. Additionally, Nuln kept at least seven reserve regiments of Imperial infantry within the city, ready to respond to changes on the battlefield at any time.
All the religious factions in Nuln decided to join the battle. Grand Theogonist Kazimir IX would stand on the war altar of the Church of Sigmar, leading at least a thousand flagellants, two companies of templars, and hundreds of warrior-priests to support the Imperial army. The other churches also contributed money and manpower; the Mysteries Knights of the Goddess Varenna and the Knights of the Blazing Sun of the Goddess Myrmidia had already joined the battle with Ryan earlier. To some extent, the power that Nuln's churches and believers could muster in their fight for survival was not to be underestimated. The best way to meet fate was to die gloriously in battle against the enemy.
Of course, led by Nuln's Black Lady, the Rose of the Graveyard, the city's guardian deity, and the Supreme Death Mage, Elspeth von Draken, over a hundred Nuln wizards were also prepared to join the fight.
Finally, Nuln's most elite forces were divided into several parts. Lady Emmanuelle herself led the steam tank battalions, Nuln's Ironclad Corps, and the Old Guard. The Imperial Lady would decide when to deploy these elite forces into battle. The elite mercenary company from Marienburg, Mannan's Blades, filled the decks and interiors of four landships under the leadership of their captain, "Blackbeard" Teach. The mercenaries from Marienburg would fight to protect the landships.
Duke Mousilon, the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion Ryan, Count Karad of Garamont, and Nuln's Chief Justice Theodore Bruckner were in charge of commanding a mobile force of 6,
000 knights, pistoliers, and outriders. Among them, Ryan's task was the heaviest. The Lady of the Lake's chosen champion was burdened with the mission of confronting and killing the Nurgle champion Tamurkhan, and the Black Lady believed that only Ryan could undertake this formidable task.
"Come on! Watch me stick it to Tamurkhan and his monstrous horde!" The most excited of all was undoubtedly Blackheart Rip, who had been appointed captain of the outriders. This legendary mercenary baron was so eager for revenge that everyone present could feel his excitement and desire.
After all the preparations were complete, the entire city waited in silence for the approaching day of destruction.
And Tamurkhan did not keep Nuln waiting long.
In the late autumn of that year, as winter approached, under the blood-red sun and amidst the yellow-green and black-brown miasma that filled the sky, Tamurkhan, the son of the Kurgan Emperor, the Builder of Ruin, the King of Armies, and Nurgle's chosen champion, arrived as expected.
The war had begun.
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