"This is the truth, Your Majesty," Ryan said, his expression calm but his words sharp. He adjusted his posture, gripping his silverware with a fake smile. "You're the one who set the tone for this conversation. You asked for 100,000 soldiers, told me how dangerous Grimgor Ironhide is, and I thought, if you need so many men, why even bother asking humans for help? Dwarves should handle their own problems. Involving humans seems redundant, doesn't it?"
Thorgrim paused, his eyes glinting as he raised his head. Without a word, he waved his knife and fork, signaling Ryan to continue.
After Ryan's pointed remark, Thorgrim stopped eating and leaned back in his chair, his posture inviting Ryan to elaborate further.
"Everyone needs people, Your Majesty—dwarves need them, and so do the people of Bretonnia," Ryan continued sincerely. "One hundred thousand soldiers won't just appear out of nowhere. I could rotate a force of ten thousand, but with 100,000, even without considering homeland defense, maintenance costs, and supply lines, they would be wasted just sitting at Eight Peaks. Surely you understand that in these dark times, every army is a precious resource. For both humans and dwarves..."
"Humans and dwarves?" Thorgrim stroked his white beard, cutting Ryan off. "Don't make it sound so noble, young man. I know you've helped Belegar, but haven't you received enough compensation?"
Ryan smirked slightly. "Of course. Talking about justice without discussing reward is just playing the righteous fool. To help in the Eight Peaks campaign, my kingdom lost over 20,000 troops." Leaning back in his chair, he calmly added, "What does it take to be a qualified king, Your Majesty? Do I need to teach you?"
Tactical Backfire!
Both the High King and the Knight King sat there, staring at each other, neither willing to back down.
Seeing that Ryan was holding his ground, Thorgrim spent a few minutes organizing his thoughts. Finally, in a tone of mild irritation, he said, "The information about the Norscan dwarves might have come from Belegar, or perhaps some other source. Either way, you only know half the story. How could you compare to me? I've been to Iron Dragon Hold and met with King Thorgard the Crimson myself."
"I might have jumped to conclusions," Ryan admitted, taking a step back. He knew that everything he knew about Iron Dragon Hold came from Belegar, and it couldn't match Thorgrim's firsthand experience.
Thorgrim chuckled. "You? Why don't you tell this old man why you're so interested in the Norscan dwarves. What's the story behind that?"
"I'm genuinely curious how such a large group of dwarves has managed to survive and even thrive in the Chaos-tainted north," Ryan nodded, not hiding his curiosity. "I once heard about them from Belegar and pressed him for more details."
Ryan had learned about the situation in Iron Dragon Hold when Belegar's queen, Cormanek, mentioned it in a conversation with Sulia. Cormanek had complained that Belegar had borrowed soldiers, food, and money from every dwarf hold in the Old World except for Iron Dragon Hold and Breezewind Keep. She had remarked that if Iron Dragon Hold weren't so far away, Belegar would have sought their help as well.
In fact, Belegar had indeed attempted to travel north, but his army encountered the dangers of Troll Country after reaching Kislev. He had repeatedly tried to find a route to Iron Dragon Hold, but each attempt ended in failure, forcing him to retreat south.
Ryan found the situation peculiar. With the Mountain Kingdom of the dwarves already suffering from a population shortage, why leave such a large population of dwarves on the frontlines of Norsca, facing off against northern barbarians? Why not bring them back?
Fighting Chaos alone was a recipe for disaster, especially when scattered forces were vulnerable to being overwhelmed. The most effective way to defeat Chaos was to concentrate strength and strike at the head of the army. Without a leader, Chaos forces would quickly collapse, and the demons would return to the Warp.
"That's exactly what I've said," Thorgrim nodded in agreement with Ryan's assessment. "But Thorgard and his people don't see it that way. The mines in Norsca are far too valuable. Can you imagine a mountain that's just stone one day, and the next day, after a gust of Chaos wind, it becomes a mountain of gold and silver, with gemstone veins sprouting inside? They can't bring themselves to leave that behind. Their only thought is to fill their vaults with gold, build another one, and fill that one too."
Ryan nodded. "I get that. But what's the point of hoarding so much wealth if they lose their lives in the process?"
"Exactly! That's what I've been saying!" Thorgrim slapped his thigh. "You're thinking the same way I am, young man."
"That's also what I think about the Badlands," Ryan said, following Thorgrim's lead. "And that's why I proposed the Badlands Defense Strategy."
Thorgrim suddenly sat up straight, his eyes wide as he stared at Ryan, speechless.
Ryan remained calm, continuing to cut his lamb chop.
Yes, it's salty.
"Hmph-hmph! Hahahahaha!" After a long pause, Thorgrim burst out laughing. The High King laughed so hard that the black pepper sauce splattered from his plate, staining his once-pristine white beard. His laughter was infectious, and it took several moments for him to regain his composure.
When he finally calmed down, Thorgrim's face was much more relaxed. His blue eyes locked onto Ryan as he nodded approvingly. "It seems the rumors were true. The new Knight King is not only formidable in battle but also possesses strategic vision, political wisdom, and the ability to assess situations."
"Was this a test?" Ryan finally realized what had been going on. The Knight King's expression turned thoughtful.
"Do you know why I started off by demanding you send 100,000 men to defend Eight Peaks? Do you know why I emphasized Grimgor's strength?" Thorgrim nodded slightly, speaking to Ryan with the tone of a wise elder. "If you had foolishly told me you would raise an army just because I was offering gold, or if you had excitedly claimed you weren't afraid of Grimgor and invited him to come, then I would have known you were just like Belegar—a fool and an ass. No matter how strong such a person is, they're not worth trusting as an ally. I would have gone back and told all the dwarf kings that Ryan Malcador is nothing but a brainless brute, unworthy of deeper relations."
"Why would you even think I might be a brute or a fool?" Ryan smiled, knowing he had passed Thorgrim's test. "Surely, my reputation isn't that bad?"
"Because two fools often attract one another," Thorgrim replied with a wry grin. "I had to test you to make sure you and Belegar weren't two fools drawn together. Now, I'm satisfied. It seems the Old World has produced two worthy kings—me, Thorgrim, and you, Ryan Malcador."
"As for Belegar, he was probably clinging to the childish hope that the Norscan dwarves would help him reclaim Eight Peaks," Thorgrim continued, looking more tired and downcast. "Don't bother. If I couldn't convince them, you certainly won't. Those stubborn fools would rather die in the north than return. At least they serve to split Chaos forces a bit. The real solution for defending Eight Peaks lies with the dwarves of the Mountain Kingdom and you humans."
"A proper ally and a worthy king must have nerves of steel, a will as strong as iron, and a clear sense of purpose," Thorgrim said with a nod of approval. "You can't be swayed easily. The line between stubbornness and weakness is thin. That's why I had to test you with experience and seniority. I had to be sure what kind of man you were!"
"Now that you've figured me out, what do you think?" Ryan chuckled coldly. "I am my own man, beholden to no one. Maybe you should have this conversation with my brother Belegar."
"I've told him before—more than once," Thorgrim sighed deeply, suddenly looking even older. "But did it help? I led an army of 10,000 to assist him—did it help?"
"..." Ryan stayed silent. Belegar had clearly been a significant burden on the High King.
Thorgrim sighed again, a long, deep sigh that made him seem as if he had aged a thousand years in an instant. "Belegar's hard-headed nature can't be changed. If he were still struggling and failing, maybe he'd be more open to advice. But with your help, he managed to reclaim Eight Peaks. Honestly, Ryan Malcador, I don't know if you've helped him or harmed him."
"He's gotten cocky," Ryan nodded, understanding Thorgrim's sentiment. Since reclaiming Eight Peaks, Belegar had grown increasingly arrogant, even disregarding the High King's authority.
"Exactly—he's swollen with pride. Hmph, your description is spot on," Thorgrim nodded. His face was full of frustration. "And it's not just Belegar. The Butcher King Agrim, Riptide King Valendin, Horn King Araksson, Brewmaster King Bugman, Ironpeak King Kazador, Bree
zewind King Lorrek, and all the other kings of the Mountain Kingdom—they're all fools, stubborn to the core! What's the result of all their stubbornness? Do I need to spell it out? If we can't concentrate our strength, the fate of the dwarves is extinction. Without your help, Belegar's fate is sealed—he will die in Eight Peaks. It's just a matter of time. I can see it clearly, and that's why I won't help him anymore!"
"I originally came here just to see what kind of man this supposedly greatest knightly king since Arthur really is. I didn't expect this," Thorgrim said, smiling approvingly. "Fine, the Badlands Defense Strategy is approved. If you need anything, you can come to me. Eternal Peak and Sea Gate will do their best to support you."
"As for Belegar, I leave him in your hands. With you there, I won't have to worry about him anymore," Thorgrim pushed his plate aside. "This is the happiest I've been since I took the throne. Ha! Not an easy thing. By Grungni, the world finally has a reliable human king again!"
"I'm honored to receive such praise, Your Majesty," Ryan replied, finally relaxing. "And I'm equally honored to see the depth of your wisdom—it has truly impressed me."
"Hahaha! To the ancestors (and the Lady)!" The two kings clinked their oversized mugs of Bugman's black beer, sending froth flying.
Thus, the duel and tests between the kings came to an end.
From the very beginning, when the High King had demanded 100,000 troops, when he had used his age and experience to press Ryan, the two had been testing each other with every word. Initially, Ryan had been caught off guard, unprepared for such a conversation and unfamiliar with the High King's personality. This allowed Thorgrim to take control. However, once Ryan discerned Thorgrim's intentions, he managed to turn the tide and earn the High King's approval.
In order to implement the Badlands Defense Strategy, Thorgrim's approval was crucial, as the Badlands fell within the dwarf kingdom's sphere of influence.
Thus, every word exchanged between the two kings held deeper meaning. Many might have seen only Thorgrim's arrogance or Ryan's momentary bewilderment, but beneath the surface was a fierce battle of wills and wits.
If Ryan had let his pride get the better of him and stormed out, it would have been a fool's bravado—an unworthy king's rashness. That would have shown Thorgrim that Ryan was no better than Belegar and not fit for true leadership.
Instead, Ryan had earned the High King's respect.
As the feast of kings ended in mutual recognition, Ryan, exhausted from his campaigns and travels, finally stood up. "If there's nothing more, I'll take my leave."
"By the way, I heard from the Sea Gate Engineers Guild that you're interested in commissioning a dwarf ironclad?" Thorgrim asked, not stopping Ryan from leaving.
"Yes, but last year the engineers told me their schedule was full," Ryan nodded. "They said I should discuss it after my expedition."
"Well then," Thorgrim said slowly, nodding. "Go talk to them again. The schedule has opened up. As for the price, I think they'll give you a good deal. Don't worry."
"Excellent."
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