In the year 2513 of the Imperial calendar, summer had arrived in full force, bathing the lands of Lyonnesse in bright sunlight. The temperature began to rise, but this year was one of the best in Bretonnia's recent history. The wealth from the Great Expedition to Eight Peaks Mountain was being enjoyed by everyone—from nobles to peasants. At the same time, the rapid industrialization along the river in Mousillon had opened numerous factories, offering well-paid jobs to many. The progress of this industrial development was undeniable, and Ryan, King of Bretonnia, held absolute control over the kingdom, thanks to his military and economic success.
Two major industrial zones had emerged in Bretonnia: one along the Chinon River and the other along the river in Mousillon. The largest of these, the Mousillon Gunpowder Factory, had just officially opened. As promised, Chief Engineer Urban had achieved the remarkable feat of producing the legendary Hellstorm Rocket Battery within a little over a month. The Empire was astonished by this, though their head engineer, Maybach of Nuln, wasn't surprised, knowing Urban's background.
In his second month in Bretonnia, Urban accomplished two impressive feats.
The first was his improvement of the Hellstorm Rocket Battery. Urban redesigned the internal structure of the rocket launcher and incorporated a new black powder formula—courtesy of the Supreme Patriarch, Balthasar Gelt. Combining the two, Urban revolutionized the weapon's firepower, naming his new creation the Sunburst Rocket Battery.
The Sunburst Rocket Battery had twice the power of the standard Hellstorm Rocket Battery, and if it used the explosive powder developed by Veronica's Dawn Wizard Tower, its power tripled.
However, the cost was equally staggering. The Sunburst inherited the Hellstorm's accuracy issues, and the use of custom black powder and the new firing mechanism meant both the ammunition and the weapon itself were more expensive to produce and maintain.
Despite the high cost, Ryan was highly impressed by Urban's achievements. Both Urban and his collaborator Belial received substantial recognition and rewards for their efforts.
The second remarkable feat? The maid assigned to Urban was confirmed to be pregnant by the end of the second month. Urban cheerfully requested another maid.
Considering the success of his work, Ryan agreed.
Urban's achievements naturally provoked a sense of competition in Dugan Ironhand, the chief engineer of the first factory. The dwarf, feeling the pressure, had no choice but to innovate himself. Dwarves are known for their reluctance to change unless they feel threatened—typically preferring to use a weapon for centuries until it's completely unusable.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
—Dwarf Engineer Girard-Const
The gunpowder factories continued their operation, but Ryan had another matter to address—the awakening of Saint Gilles. That day on the deck of the Enterprise, Saint Gilles' consciousness briefly resurfaced. However, when Ryan and the other Primarchs tried to converse with him, the Primarch of the Blood Angels once again fell into a deep slumber. Despite Ryan and Fulgrim's combined efforts, they failed to fully awaken Saint Gilles. According to Olica, Saint Gilles was still under the curse of the four Chaos Gods. His brief awakening had been due to the fluctuations in the Winds of Magic—an unstable force known to range from manifesting Chaos Daemons directly into the world at its peak, to disintegrating entire Chaos armies at its weakest.
Saint Gilles' consciousness seemed to follow a similar rhythm, dependent on his willpower and the strength of the Winds of Magic.
It was frustrating, but there was little Ryan could do. He had hoped for more, but the small glimpse of consciousness was a promising start, even though Fulgrim and Angron shared his disappointment.
They still needed the Sacred Flame Scroll sealed by Asuryan on the Isle of Fire. Ryan sat at his desk, contemplating this issue. His face was stern. To steal the scroll outright was an impossible task—doing so would destroy Bretonnia's friendship with the High Elves, and it would dismantle the defensive alliance that Teclis and the Lady of the Lake, Lileath, had painstakingly built.
But as things stood, Ryan knew little about Ulthuan, the homeland of the High Elves. Human knowledge of the elven kingdom was sparse, and the Isle of Fire even less so.
It was a challenging problem, one that Ryan had discussed with Fulgrim several times without coming up with a good solution.
Fortunately, Lileath had informed Ryan that Teclis had succeeded in convincing the High Elven War Council to invite Ryan and his party to Ulthuan. Teclis was already on his way and expected to arrive in Marienburg by July.
Ryan decided to deal with the situation when the time came.
Next on the agenda was the third matter.
In the afternoon sunlight, Ryan sat at his desk reviewing documents. Olica stood behind him, gently massaging his shoulders. The warm light helped Ryan relax somewhat as he occasionally glanced at the large grandfather clock, feigning focus on his paperwork.
Olica smiled sweetly, dressed in her usual black-and-white maid outfit, her head adorned with a white silk ribbon. Around her neck hung the Sunfire Amulet, which gleamed softly on her chest. The soul of Saint Gilles still slumbered within the amulet. Her long, slender legs, clad in sheer white stockings, crossed elegantly, her feet adorned with black lace-up heels. Olica's mood was evidently cheerful; she not only massaged Ryan's shoulders but also occasionally blew softly into his ear.
"Olica! Stop that." Ryan smiled, motioning for Olica to stop teasing him. "I know you've recently learned some powerful new spells from the knowledge my father shared with you."
"Master~ Following you has been the wisest decision of my life," Olica leaned into Ryan's back affectionately, her weight pressing down on him and making it difficult for Ryan to concentrate. "Master, who will you take with you to Ulthuan?"
"You want to come with me?" Ryan's eyes widened. His first instinct was to shake his head, but then he hesitated. "Bringing a Dark Elf to Ulthuan would be seen as a direct provocation… but…"
"Master, I'm the only one who can help you in Ulthuan," Olica whispered. "If you trust me, take me along."
"I know you're looking out for me, Olica." Ryan pulled her onto his lap and kissed her gently. "But this could put you in danger."
"The Witch King and Witch Queen have planted dozens of spies in Ulthuan, and there are five secret contact points I'm aware of. I can manage, Master. The way the High Elves think, their political system, and their attitude toward outsiders—I understand it better than most of them. Plus, when the time comes, I'm the one you can rely on the most."
"Alright, Olica." Ryan closed his eyes and exhaled. "Don't worry, as long as I'm there, no High Elf will harm you."
Olica smiled triumphantly, subtly flashing a victory sign behind Ryan's back.
Success!
Ryan noticed Olica's expression but said nothing. He simply held his maid a little tighter.
Olica was indeed unique. Among Ryan's circle, she was the only one without an agenda, wholly dedicated to his cause. For this particular mission, that trait made her indispensable.
Yes, Olica was the only one for this.
Teclis, the Lady of the Lake, and Fulgrim would accompany Ryan on the journey to Ulthuan. Their overarching goals aligned, but each had their own core interests. Ryan had no intention of being used as a pawn in Teclis' and Lileath's schemes, and Olica's presence would give him the support he needed to navigate the political intricacies.
As Ryan reflected on this, he realized how true this was. Emilia was an Imperial noblewoman, Theresa had her own research and business, Veronica was Speaker of the Council, and the Lady of the Lake was a religious leader. They all gathered around Ryan, but each had their own priorities. Most of the time, their goals aligned with his, but not always, which was natural.
Even his wife, Suria, while aligned with him as his queen, had her own interests. She favored appointments for her "mother's family" or "those aligned with the Lady," and her stance on distributing power in Ryan's lands leaned toward the Lady of the Lake.
Ryan, with his commanding personality, often made decisions alongside Suria and Morgiana, but there was no denying they had their own agendas. Only Olica lacked one.
"Come with me to the Isle of Lilies in an hour, Olica," Ryan said, standing up after spending half an hour with her. Olica nodded, her face flushed, as she adjusted her clothes. She had some matters to attend to in the Pale Court, where a potion for Aurora and the other witches had finished brewing.
It turned out that isolating them had been necessary. Ryan held a quill in his hand, considering the ongoing situation with the Garland Council.
After discovering a Tzeentch daemon among Aurora's witches, all of the Garland witches had to undergo "cleansing"—a holy ritual involving sacred words meant to purge any corruption from deep within. Contrary to popular belief, Chaos corruption could be removed, provided it wasn't too severe. The Ruinous Powers were often too preoccupied to care about weak mortals, even their own followers.
As expected, more witches were found to be corrupted during the cleansing process. Aurora had hoped to be released after only a few days, but her hopes were dashed. Ryan had visited her; she was isolated in a single room at the monastery, in relatively good spirits. She often complained about the lengthy
process and the isolation, but her daughter, Theresa, visited daily to bring her meals and chat for a while.
Ryan wasn't entirely sure how the ritual worked, and neither Morgiana nor Olica had elaborated. He worried the process might turn Aurora into a mindless puppet, but after visiting her two or three times, he found her mind was still sharp—although her walking posture was a bit strange. She continued to grumble and subtly used her daughter to negotiate favors with Ryan. Since she seemed fine, Ryan stopped worrying about it. He had too much on his plate.
Ryan's attention returned to a letter from the Duke of Lionesse, Adalhard. The duke had requested the king's help in industrializing his province, and he had already recalled three hundred knights from the Arabian expedition to bolster his forces. After a period of instability, the duchy had begun to stabilize, and the losses it suffered during the Great Expedition were offset by significant gains.
Ryan saw potential in using Lionesse as a launching point for future reforms, but he knew not to rush things.
At that moment, he heard the clicking of high heels approaching. Ryan smiled slightly, knowing who it was.
Wearing a white blouse and tailored blazer with a twenty-centimeter pencil skirt, Theresa entered, holding a stack of parchment in her arms. The tall, slender sorceress had been serving as Ryan's personal secretary recently, helping him manage paperwork.
Theresa had been working hard lately, trying to ensure her mother's safety. She had reluctantly agreed to Olica's suggestion to change her outfit from her usual trousers and robe to a blouse and skirt, paired with black sheer stockings. The new look highlighted her long, elegant legs, exuding both a cold and alluring charm. She even accepted one of Veronica's small recommendations, albeit reluctantly.
The result was noticeable, as Theresa often felt weak in the knees and short of breath.
"Theresa, how's the Imperial treasury transfer coming along this year?" Ryan asked, mischievously inviting her to sit beside him.
"You promised me! Don't bully me again!" Theresa pleaded, clearly nervous after a month of being Ryan's personal secretary, where subtle but undeniable changes had occurred.
Ryan raised his hand in surrender. "I promise. Now come here."
She hesitated but eventually approached, only to be pulled into Ryan's embrace. She squealed and tried to wriggle free. "No! Ryan, please! You always leave me unable to walk afterward!"
"Haha, I'm a good man. I wouldn't do that to you, would I?" Ryan laughed, releasing her waist and letting her sit next to him. "Alright, I'll be leaving soon. Let's finish up this paperwork."
"Alright," Theresa sighed in relief and began her report. Despite her nervousness, she competently managed the documents. She was a capable secretary, though her thought process still leaned toward the typical mindset of a wizard. Ryan hadn't intended to mold her into a bureaucrat.
As he reviewed everything, Ryan mused that he might need to find a permanent secretary soon.
After discussing various matters, Ryan asked, "Theresa, I'll be traveling to Ulthuan in a few months. Would you like to come with me?"
"To Ulthuan?" Theresa paused, considering it for a moment before shaking her head. "I think I'll pass, Ryan. I'm still juggling my work with the Seventh Department and overseeing the reconstruction of the Sorceresses' Assembly. I can't leave for too long."
"Alright," Ryan replied. He noticed that no one seemed eager to accompany him to Ulthuan. Everyone he'd asked had refused.
To put it simply, dealing with the High Elves meant enduring some level of humiliation. For merchants seeking profit, being scorned and mocked was par for the course. But for an official delegation like Ryan's, the elves would undoubtedly play their tricks, deliberately displaying their arrogance and attempting to belittle Ryan and Fulgrim. Both Ryan and Fulgrim understood this, and for the sake of Saint Gilles, they were willing to endure it.
Because of this, none of his companions, including Emilia, Veronica, or Theresa, seemed eager to join him.
With the paperwork finished, Ryan checked the time and stood up, preparing to head to the Isle of Lilies.
The Emperor, along with Lorgar, Fulgrim, and Angron, was there conducting gene-seed implantation procedures for the five remaining Grey Knight recruits.
Additionally, Suria, Emilia, young Devonshire, and young Frederick were there as well. Apart from the implantation, the Emperor was personally training his daughter-in-law, the Queen of Bretonnia, and the Imperial Duchess in swordsmanship. Specifically, the Emperor had asked for Suria, the Imperial Queen, to receive his personal instruction. She had been there for several days.
Ryan mused to himself, Why do I feel like my father is playing favorites? He seems to like his daughter-in-law more than his son!
Whatever, I better get going.
Fulgrim had hinted that the Emperor had something important to discuss with Ryan.
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