The already chaotic night of Marienburg descended into further madness due to the fierce skirmish. The sounds of battle still echoed through the streets, and tensions were high. Whether they were the Reiksguard, Griffon Knights, or Eldred Lancers, all regarded the approaching Marienburg forces with suspicion and anger. After all, who could say if these mercenaries weren't in league with the attackers who had already crossed swords with the emperor's forces?
Reiksguard Banner Bearer Ludwig Schwarzhammer nearly ordered an immediate retreat to protect the emperor, urging the party to flee Marienburg and regroup at Altdorf to muster the Imperial army before demanding justice for the night's events.
"This is all a misunderstanding, Your Majesty! I was merely dispatching my private army to escort a shipment at the docks. The fighting broke out because I failed to properly control my men!" pleaded Van Hughmans, the head of the Jutone Trading Company. He was being held down by two Reiksguard knights, who were visibly furious. The Imperial general, Rudolf, slapped Hughmans hard across the face, leaving his cheek swollen and sagging like a beaten dog. "A misunderstanding? Is it a misunderstanding to draw weapons on us? Is it a misunderstanding to order your musketeers to open fire? To hell with your 'misunderstanding'!"
"What happened?" asked Sir Campbell, the commander of Marienburg's city guard. Kneeling before the emperor, the knight urgently inquired, "Your Majesty, how did the Jutone soldiers come to blows with your forces?"
"How should I know?" Karl Franz replied icily, his mind racing with thoughts on how to handle the situation. "Must I provide an explanation after being ambushed in your city? This is an attack on the emperor of the Empire, on Imperial soil!"
The emperor's sharp words silenced Sir Campbell, leaving him with a deep sense of foreboding. "Please, Your Majesty, allow me to investigate the situation," he said, his voice wavering.
Karl Franz's patience was thin. "Investigate? You think questioning them will reveal the truth? What if they claim I attacked them? Will you believe that too?"
"Well..." Campbell was left speechless, unsure whether to advance or retreat. He was a military man at heart, a former Imperial knight. After some hesitation, he asked cautiously, "What are your intentions, then, Your Majesty?"
"Take him into custody. My Reiksguard will handle the interrogation," the emperor replied firmly, gesturing for Hughmans to be dragged away. The Reiksguard complied, seizing the merchant prince and marching him off.
Faced with this crisis, Sir Campbell had no choice but to escort the emperor back to the Imperial embassy while he hurried to the palace district to inform the Marienburg leadership.
"Your Majesty, I have reason to believe this was an assassination attempt—a coordinated, premeditated plot!" declared Balthasar Gelt, Imperial Chief Alchemist and Golden Wizard, with his usual assertiveness. "Think about it, Your Majesty: we had barely entered the city when a fully armed group of enemies appeared out of nowhere, seemingly prepared for our arrival. I suspect this is a conspiracy, with the full involvement of Marienburg's upper and lower councils, as well as the city guard!"
Griffon Duke Ivan Ferdinand, a seasoned warrior over a century old, remained calm despite the situation. Though youthful and graceful thanks to his Saintly powers, he found Gelt's assessment lacking. "Something about this doesn't sit right, Your Majesty. If Marienburg truly intended to move against us, they wouldn't have sent only a few hundred men, and surely they would have involved their wizards."
"I agree," Karl Franz said with certainty. "I believe we are dealing with a small faction of rebels, not a widespread conspiracy. These individuals aimed to disrupt Marienburg's peace and sow discord between the city and the Empire, but they will not succeed."
Gelt, hidden behind his golden mask, gave no outward reaction to the emperor's decision. He quickly abandoned the idea of further pursuit, though Ivan found it curious that the emperor, who had long sought to reclaim Marienburg, was pulling back now. However, the emperor's next words made Ivan's eyes light up.
With a meaningful smile, Karl Franz said, "But this incident shows that the situation in Marienburg is far more complicated than it appears. I believe most of the merchant class and the city's elite are loyal, but the fact that such a confrontation could happen on the streets points to serious issues with law enforcement."
"Exactly, Your Majesty!" Ivan quickly agreed. "Marienburg has been neglected for far too long. It's overgrown with weeds."
"Indeed, Duke, it's time to weed the garden and plant anew," Karl Franz said, his smile broadening as he gazed out over the restless city. "Secure that merchant, and tomorrow morning, I want his full confession."
Rudolf and the Reiksguard snapped to attention, but the emperor added, "No, leave this to Gelt."
The Chief Alchemist stepped forward. "As you command, Your Majesty."
"Remember," Karl Franz cautioned, "keep this contained. Focus only on Hughmans and his company. There's no need to escalate this further."
"And his accomplices in the Jutone Trading Company?" Gelt inquired.
"Limit the investigation to them," the emperor instructed. "But don't be too harsh. After all, Hughmans is still a descendant of the Jutone royal line."
"Understood," Gelt nodded.
"Well then, everyone, it's been a long night. Get some rest," Karl Franz ordered, dismissing his troops.
As the emperor retired to his quarters, the entire city of Marienburg was in an uproar. Grand Duke Schultz, upon learning of the night's events, immediately called for an emergency council meeting. All the city's merchant princes, local nobles, mercenary captains, and church leaders were summoned to the council chambers to discuss the crisis.
"Hughmans has lost his mind! What a madman!" shouted one of the merchant princes during the meeting. The chamber was in chaos as the city's elite vented their frustration. Hughmans was cursed up and down the halls, with every imaginable insult hurled at him.
But no amount of cursing could undo the damage. The situation was dire.
Seated at the head of the council chamber, Grand Duke Van der Kuyp Schultz looked grim. The situation had spun out of control, and even he felt the weight of it. After all, it was no secret that Karl Franz had long harbored ambitions to reclaim Marienburg. Twenty years ago, the emperor had made a similar attempt, and now, he had returned.
"Where is Hughmans?" Schultz asked, turning to Sir Campbell. "And what of the Jutone Trading Company?"
"Hughmans has been detained by the Reiksguard and is being interrogated at the Imperial embassy," Campbell reported. "Our concern now is whether the emperor will use this as an excuse to escalate the situation."
"We cannot allow that!"
"Kick the Empire out!"
"This is our city, not theirs! The emperor clearly orchestrated this!"
The council chamber erupted in anger once more, the merchant princes and city officials turning their ire toward Karl Franz.
"Silence! Quiet down!" Schultz banged his gavel, calling for order. His voice carried authority, and the room gradually settled. Once he had everyone's attention, he spoke again. "Now is not the time for denial. Does anyone here know what Hughmans was trying to do when he deployed his private army in the middle of the night?"
The chamber fell silent as the council members exchanged uncertain glances. No one seemed to know.
"Was Hughmans planning to fight the dwarfs? Or perhaps move some of his assets?" someone speculated.
The room was quiet for several more minutes.
"If only that were the case," Schultz said, shaking his head. "Listen, everyone, we must stand united. I have three requests, and I expect all of you to take them to heart."
The council members nodded. Schultz had ruled Marienburg for thirty years, his leadership marked by a careful balance of power, respect for order, and a keen understanding of the city's complex politics. While some harbored ambitions of their own, all knew that Schultz was their best hope in the current crisis.
"First, we must all deny any involvement in Hughmans' actions. Whatever his intentions were, they are his alone. We do not know what he was planning, and we must distance ourselves from the Jutone Trading Company."
There were murmurs of agreement. Sacrificing the Jutone Trading Company seemed inevitable.
"Second, regarding the dwarven debt—there is no time for further delay. To those of you involved, handle it swiftly. If the dwarfs become more deeply involved, it will only complicate matters further." Schultz continued, "We'll initiate a city-wide levy and donation campaign. Everyone must pitch in to get through this."
Again, there were no objections.
"Third, the emperor will likely make demands tomorrow. We must be prepared to negotiate. While we may offer some concessions, Marienburg's autonomy must not be compromised!"
"Understood," the council members responded.
"Good. Now, go home, rest, and prepare for tomorrow's meeting with Karl Franz."
With the session adjourned, the council members filed out, leaving Schultz alone with his thoughts. He felt an intense frustration building inside him. Of all times, this was the worst for Hughmans to cause such a disaster. The city was already in turmoil from
the dwarven debts, and now this!
To make matters worse, Schultz had his own secret task from the Emperor of Mankind that he still needed to fulfill.
"Mueller?" Schultz called out as he heard footsteps approaching but didn't open his eyes.
"My lord, it's nearly three in the morning," replied Mueller, Schultz's chief attendant, who looked equally haggard after being roused in the middle of the night. "You should get some rest."
"Mueller, have you ever seen the Marienburg sky at four in the morning?" Schultz asked, his voice heavy with weariness.
"Yes, I have," Mueller responded as he took a seat beside Schultz. With a warm smile, he added, "I was just a young apprentice blacksmith back then. It was you, my lord, who spotted me among the other apprentices and raised me to this position."
Schultz chuckled softly. "I've seen it too. What about King Ryan and Lord Fugen? Have they been informed of what happened?"
"They have," Mueller confirmed. "A messenger was sent at once. According to the report, King Ryan was still asleep when the news arrived. He merely said, 'I know,' and returned to bed. Lord Fugen's response was identical."
"And the High Elves?"
"Lord Teclis was furious about being disturbed during his rest. He told us to get out, and he hasn't made his intentions clear."
"Invite everyone—bring them all here," Schultz ordered in a low voice. "Everyone."
"Understood," Mueller replied, knowing exactly who Schultz meant.
As his attendant hurried off, Schultz rose from his chair and moved to the window. Gazing out at the summer night and the starry sky, he couldn't help but smile ruefully.
"I once loved the Marienburg night—the bustling streets, the fishing birds, the vast sea. Oh, Lord Sigmar, when will this age of chaos finally end?"
Several hours later, Marienburg was once again in an uproar.
The Iris Guards, the Pathfinders, and the Mannan Mercenaries had been deployed, surrounding the Marienburg Council Building with a triple layer of defenses. No one was allowed in or out.
On the other side of the city, the Old Guard and Phoenix Guard formed a majestic procession. King Ryan and Queen Surya, along with Ashen Legion Commander Fugen, made their way to the council.
On yet another street, Emperor Karl Franz, Griffon Duke Ivan, and Balthasar Gelt led the Reiksguard, Griffon Knights, and Eldred Lancers in a similarly grand parade.
Even High Elf Ambassador Teclis and Dwarven envoy Sorgrim Ironhammer had arrived.
After exchanging brief pleasantries, everyone entered the council chambers to address the pressing issue of the attempted assassination of the emperor.
First, Grand Duke Schultz and the assembled council members all bowed in apology. "We deeply regret what has transpired, Your Majesty. On behalf of all of Marienburg, I offer our sincerest apologies. We take full responsibility for the events that occurred last night and are prepared to compensate you for your losses."
"Hughmans has already confessed everything," Karl Franz said, his voice dripping with calm authority. He took out a piece of parchment. "Would you all like to hear what he had to say?"
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the emperor and the parchment in his hands.
Ryan narrowed his eyes slightly.
The show was about to begin.
What was the emperor planning?
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