After resting for another three days, Laing finally brought his army back to Glamorgan. It was already May by the time they returned, and Brittany was once again filled with life.
Leon was lying in the soft carriage with a look of contentment on his face. The carriage was covered with soft cushions and blankets, and there was light coming in from the window. The Count curled himself up in the corner of the carriage and leaned against the cushions. "Veronica, what are you looking at?"
Besides Laing himself, Veronica was also in the carriage. The three women seemed to have discussed that they would take turns to accompany him at different times. Now it was Veronica's turn, and the witch sat beside him. In fact, Laing's injuries were almost healed, so Suria had loosened her restrictions.
"Me? I'm looking at this book. I found it in Lyonnesse's library. " Magus Garland sat right next to Leon, her pearl earrings swinging from side to side. "This is the only one of its kind. Sir Dalhead gave us a lot of things to thank us for our help."
"Unique copy? What did you learn? What's written in it? " Ryan sat up and looked around curiously. He put his arm around Wizard Garland's waist and took advantage of her. Veronica let him do as he pleased.
"This book recorded some words of Charlemagne before he founded the human Empire." Veronica snuggled into Laing's arms and sat on his lap. Garland's sweet face was a little red. "Come, I'll tell you."
Veronica had taken a book from the early days of Brittany. It recorded some things before Charlemagne founded the Empire.
"One thousand and five hundred years before Charlemagne established the Empire, humans had already been seen moving in large numbers in the Old World. The first to discover humans was a group of dwarves. At that time, the Supreme King of the dwarves was called Gaultrec Shatterstar. When he was fighting by the mountain range, he discovered a group of humans passing by in the form of a tribe. After seeing the Supreme King of the dwarves, the group of humans panicked. However! Not only did he not come to pay his respects to the Supreme Dwarf King, but he also ran far away. This incident was recorded in the dwarf's book of hatred, and it was not erased until Emperor Charlemagne and the dwarves formed the Sacred Alliance. " Veronica flipped through the book with interest. "But the dwarves still remember this and occasionally joke with their human friends about it. At that time, the human wizard Empire supported by the elves had been destroyed in the north. The remaining humans were a group of barbarians. The dwarves despised their arts and culture, but admired their bravery and strength."
"That's how dwarves are." Laing complained. He hugged Veronica from behind and kissed her soft lips. "What else did you see?"
"The Brittany used to be part of Charlemagne's Empire. That was more than a thousand years ago. More than two thousand years ago, the Brittany were famous for their excellent horsemanship in the old world. But after Charlemagne disappeared, the Brittany did not recognize Charlemagne's successor. So, most of them crossed the Grey Mountains and migrated to Brittany." Veronica continued to flip through the book, but her face was getting redder and redder because Laing's big hand was groping her full breasts and her stockinged legs. "Laing … Don't. When we get back to the territory, you can do whatever you want. Don't do it here. Suria will scold me."
"Well, go on." Laing was actually just taking advantage of her.
"Of course, before they migrated, a large number of humans had already settled here. Next, the Brittany quickly found a suitable place to live in what is now Brittany, which is a large number of ruins and ruins of elven cities." Veronica curled up in Laing's arms and continued to read with interest.
"The Brittany spent two hundred years learning many of the skills left behind by the elves and forming their own culture. After nearly a thousand years of development, Brittany and the Empire on the other side of the Grey Mountains had a lot of differences in culture. Although everyone recognized each other as fellow humans, when the great Holy War ended, His Excellency Ludwig the Savior came to Cullona and asked the then Knight King Tayloff to let Brittany join the Empire as a province. All the dukes of Brittany refused." Veronica continued with a smile. "It seems that the dukes are not willing to live under someone else's roof."
"Haha, that's right."
Along the way, there were endless sounds of laughter.
… …
Just as Laing was sitting in the carriage and was heading back to Count Glamorgan's territory with ease.
Old World, Empire Capital Brunswick, Empire Royal Palace.
Emperor Karl-franz of the Empire, the Emperor's Flag Bearer, Ludwig Schwarzhammer, Elector Vollrich and Grand Duke of Midland, "One-eyed" Boris Todbinger, Elector Vollrich and Grand Duke of Midland, Helmut Feuerbach, Elector Vollfen and Grand Duke of Auster, Wamir von Zhukov, and Grand Tutor of the Alchemy School of the Empire's Royal Wizard Academy, Bayershazer Gelt.
These people were in a meeting.
"King Egil of Skalinth is dead. He was killed by the Lady of the Lake's Chosen Champion, Laing Macado, in the north of Brittany. According to Nord's news, Nord and the northern wasteland are in chaos because of this. Many ambitious chiefs have begun to fight each other. In just a few days, several small tribes have been annihilated." Emperor Karl-franz said in a relaxed tone, which was rare for him, "This has greatly reduced the pressure on the northern sea of the Empire. General Helberg led the Rik Guards and the army to easily eliminate a large number of barbarian troops who were trying to plunder the south."
"Laing again?" Boris stared with his single eye and said deliberately, "Egil is the Chosen Champion of the Blood God. Laing can actually kill Egil! It's incredible. Do you remember that Nord paid the price of thousands of lives to resist Egil last year? They barely managed to hold on until Egil and his army retreated. "
"Brittany sent a note, hoping to release some captured knights first … The Holy Grail Knight Captain Ulles was killed by Egil in the championship match. In the end, when Lyonasser was about to fall, Laing arrived with an army of more than 15,000 and defeated the army of Skalinth. In the chaos, the two met. Egil and Laing had a great championship match." The Emperor's flag bearer, Ludwig, read the report. "The championship match between the two was very fierce. According to the witnesses, they were like two incarnations of gods having a great duel."
"Even His Excellency Ulles died in battle?" The one who answered was Wamir von Zhukov. The Kurfürst interrupted Ludwig. "That's a great loss to mankind."
"Yes, the death of His Excellency Ulles is a great loss to mankind." Emperor Karl-franz nodded with deep feelings.
"Ahem, Count Laing -Macado came to Egil in an instant with his mysterious movement ability after a hard battle. He killed Egil in a dangerous situation and beheaded him." Ludwig continued under the emperor's signal. "This is a glorious victory. A 30-year-old Holy Grail Knight killed the Chosen Champion of Terror who had run rampant in the wasteland in the north for centuries. This is good news for the whole old world. The news of Egil's death hasn't spread yet. I dare say that if it does, the whole north of the Empire will celebrate."
"It seems that Laing's reputation will be known by everyone from the Magritte Port in the west of the old world to the Roof of the World in the easternmost part of the Empire." Karl-franz said with a smile. He casually complained, "By the way, why doesn't our Empire have such a good champion?"
As soon as these words came out, the meeting fell into silence. Several Kurfürsten and other participants no longer made a sound.
The most powerful champion under Karl-franz was undoubtedly his flag bearer Ludwig. This old grandpa was a Sanctuary expert and his strength was similar to that of Ulles.
What about the next one?
No. Karl-franz could only directly command Ludwig. Ivan Ferdinand, the Duke of Griffin and the Grand Mentor of the Griffin Knights, was only his nominal vassal and enjoyed a certain independent status. It was not convenient for him to command directly. The Archbishop of the Church of Justice, "Resolute" Vickmar, was a Sanctuary expert. However, the Archbishop of the Church of Justice enjoyed an independent status in the Empire, so the emperor could only negotiate with him.
Then there was the White Wolf Knights. The Grand Mentor (Great Leader) of the White Wolf Knights, Axel Gris, was a Sanctuary expert. The Pope of the White Wolf Church, "Big Yurick" Emil Wager, was also a Sanctuary expert.
However, these two people could not be commanded by Karl-franz. Not to mention the emperor, even Boris, the Kurfürst of the White Wolf, could not command them. They could only negotiate.
This was the problem of the Empire. The Empire was the most powerful human country in the old world, but they were very lacking in high-end combat power. Every time the barbarians came out to request a championship, the Empire had a headache because they could not find a warrior who could fight against the barbarian champion. They were not like the Brittany's Knights of the Holy Grail, who were all really fierce.
"I'm shocked. Is Laing Macado so powerful? There are so many strong enemies, but he is able to hit and kill them all. " Another Kurfürst said, "It's a pity that he is a traitor. He first became a White Wolf Knight and then defected to the other side of the mountain."
Hearing this, Boris, Valmier, and Karl-franz all frowned.
He was Helmut Feuerbach, Kurfürst of Tarabeheim and Grand Duke of Tarabeheim.
This Kurfürst had always been notorious for his bad temper. What he liked most was to issue random orders out of capriciousness and whimsy. He ruled his territory very strictly and almost inhumanely. Therefore, the entire Tarabeheim, from part of the nobles to the civilians, to the Association of Merchants, and all the craftsmen and tailors, hated this Kurfürst. They all hoped that the Kurfürst would die immediately. They even deliberately made up lies about his sudden death.
However, there was no evidence to prove that Helmut was mentally ill or influenced by corruption. On the contrary, the Kurfürst loathed the forces of Chaos and all kinds of evil cults. It was exactly because of his efforts that the markets in the city, which should have been noisy and chaotic, were in good order, and the trade was flourishing. As a result, the whole of Tara Beheim remained peaceful and relatively well-controlled despite its vast area and sparse settlements.
Since the establishment of the Empire, dozens of emperors had ascended the throne one after another. Karl-franz was undoubtedly a very charismatic leader of mankind. He inherited his father Luitpold's ability to deal with the complicated politics of the Empire. He was also an excellent general. Under his diligent governance, the Rik Region was becoming more prosperous than ever, as if it were the most glorious years in the history of the Empire.
In the meantime, Emperor Karl-franz forced the Kurfürsten to stop their civil war and their suspicion of each other through internal affairs, diplomacy, and military oppression so that they could unite against the foreign enemy. Although the alliance was very fragile, the Kurfürsten had at least been united under the banner of the Empire and marched forward side by side.
Therefore, Karl-franz saw the problem of Laing more deeply than anybody else.
"Laing is a target that we can draw to our side. He has a deep connection with the Empire." Karl-franz hinted Kurfürst Helmut to shut up. "Your Excellency Helmut, don't forget that the half-blood elvish horse that you just picked from the zoo was imported from Laing. Or maybe you can choose not to take it."
"Oh, no. What I mean is that Laing is truly a tough man. I like such a real man." Kurfürst Helmut immediately corrected himself without any integrity. "Of course, it would be great if you could give me one more."
"Only one! Your Excellency Helmut, one for each of us! " Boris said impatiently, "You can give it to me if you don't want it. My wolf pups are scrambling for it."
Boris did not mention that Laing had given him two half-blood elvish horses in private, but such treasures could never be too much for the White Wolf Knights. Axel and "Big Yurick" Wager immediately rode on them.
In the Empire, elvish horses were definitely rare goods and treasures. Unlike the Brittany dukes who had a lot of pure-blood elvish horses in their stables, the horses of the Empire were worlds apart in terms of speed, weight, and endurance compared to the horses of the Brittany. Even Emperor Karl-franz himself rode a half-blood elvish horse, which was a gift from the High Elves after he ascended the throne.
The Brittany strictly forbade the export of elvish horses. The emperor finally bought a few from Laing at a high price. He decided to give one to each of the Kurfürsten on the spot as a way to win them over and keep two for himself for the future General Rick and his flag bearer.
"Yes, yes, yes! Of course! " Kurfürst Helmut waved his hands rather shamelessly. "I'm just thinking for my son. If I have one, he should have one too!"
"You can give your horse to him!" Boris continued cursing, "If you think it's unfair, none of you should take it. My son Stefan and Heinrich both want it."
"Bullsh * t. Come here, Boris. I'll make you understand!" Helmut was infuriated. He simply reached for the Kurfürst holy sword on his waist.
"Come on!" Boris grabbed the handle of the Kurfürst holy sword, Devour, too.
"Enough!" The emperor roared. "This is the royal palace of the Empire, not an arena!"
The two Kurfürsten finally quieted down.
"We need to find a way to import more half-blood elvish horses from Laing and get more drugs for the wood elves," said Karl-franz.
The Kurfürsten all nodded in agreement.
The drugs of the wood elves were effective and had no side effects. They were no different from treasures for the nobles of the Empire. Everybody was scared of death. The emperor's army needed drugs too. It was a pity that Laing's trade with the wood elves was limited, and the price of the drugs on the black market was sky-high.
"Then what do we trade with? Count Laing only needs two things, alchemical fire oil and magic ores. "Galt finally spoke.
"There's one more thing." Karl-franz looked at the north of the Empire.
"That's … people!"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
