Hurried footsteps came from the Kurfürst Palace. It was the sound of high heels of Emmanuel, Duchess of the Empire. Emmanuel was wearing a standard Kurfürst dress, a rose-red blouse, a black skirt, red tights, and high heels with skulls on them. She walked quickly to the city council.
At this time, the face of the beautiful Kurfürst was shrouded in gloom. Emilia did not expect that a huge army of Chaos would appear in the territory of the Princes at the border and was about to charge at the Empire.
Now, the Nur people who knew about the appearance of the army of Chaos were panicking. Many people had packed up their belongings and fled. The citizens were shouting that the end of the world was coming. Food and some valuables on the market were being looted. Many nobles had listed their mansions in Nur for sale. Rarely, the price of land in Nur fell again after a hundred years.
And this was only because they knew that the army of Chaos had appeared in the territory of the Princes at the border.
Of course, the Nur City Council led by Emilia reacted immediately. First, the Grand Chanter Casmir the Ninth went out and arrested all the people who were spreading lies. The battle priests and demon hunters walked on the streets and announced that the Duchess would be with them. At the same time, the Nur army took over the security of the city and announced that the city had entered a state of alert.
To Emilia's relief, Laing agreed to stay. This gave the Duchess of the Empire some confidence. Two maids followed behind her. The Duchess noticed that her Kurfürst Palace was still orderly, but it seemed a little bleak.
The Ludwig Black Stone Hall was once the place where the savior gathered the last forces of the Empire in the south of Nur and united the Empire. The best granite and marble mined from the Ridge of the World were the main components of this hall. Other than that, huge pillars inlaid with silver supported the ceiling. The walls were covered with coats of arms. The black statue of the savior, more than six meters tall, sat at the highest point of the hall and looked at everyone quietly.
The face of Ludwig the Savior was not as beautified as Brunswick's. The pride of Nur made it difficult for him to be called a handsome man. At least, Emilia felt that the savior was definitely not as handsome as Laing. His facial features were as plain as an old farmer's. He wore a monocle and had a big bald head with only a black braid at the back of his head.
But it was this man who had saved the entire Empire and the entire world.
Under such a solemn and sacred atmosphere, the people in the Black Stone Hall seemed insignificant. They were lined up in two rows, surrounding the empty center of the city council and sitting behind the high platform. Their expressions varied, but there was no doubt that everyone was worried and nervous. They were wearing the most expensive robes and clothes made of silk or satin, and wearing jewelry made of gems and gold. Among them were nobles, bureaucrats, warriors, and wizards, but they were all waiting for the arrival of the Duchess of the Empire.
The door was pushed open, and Emilia stepped into the Black Stone Hall with a serious face. She walked directly to the statue of the savior in the hall. There was nothing but sternness and nobility on her face.
Emilia stepped forward and sat in her seat.
There were many people in the meeting. The Duchess of the Empire calmly judged the situation.
The Grand Marshal of Nur, Erstein, had arrived. He was the representative of the Nur army.
The Grand Marshal of Nur, Theodore Bruckner, had arrived. He was the representative of a dozen of Nur's knight orders.
The Grand Marshal of the Armoured Nur, Jubal Fokke, had arrived. He represented the will of the Nur Firearms Academy.
The Marquis of Wesen, Orgel Hawke, had arrived. This old Marquis represented the thoughts of the nobles and the army of Wesen. Old Orgel was old, but he stood upright. Normally, after the great Holy War, the Empire did not have a Marquis. However, old Orgel was a genuine Marquis of Wesen. This could only mean one thing: his title had been passed down for at least a thousand years, long enough for Ludwig to make an exception.
The Grand Marshal of the Scorching Sun Knights, Pfitzman, had also arrived. He wore a dazzling runic armor and stood together with a dozen other Scorching Sun Knights. As one of the Seven Great Knight Orders of the Empire and the wealthiest one, Emilia was very happy to see the Scorching Sun Knights here. She noticed that her distant cousin, Jenny Bernardino, was also holding a Scorching Sun Knight's helmet and standing behind Pfitzman. This woman had once disguised herself as a man and replaced Emilia to lead the Kurfürst. However, she had always dreamed of becoming a Scorching Sun Knight, and now her wish had come true.
There were also Nur City Defense General Drake, Nur Military Factory Chief Engineer Gunter Maybach, as well as some of the nobles of Nur. They were all nobles with outstanding military achievements.
Someone was absent. The Duchess of the Empire frowned in her seat.
"The Duchess has arrived. I think we can begin." The Grand Marshal of Nur, Erstein, had a thick beard. He looked like a lion. "Very good. The Army of Chaos has appeared in the Prince's territory at the border! Now, the Prince's territory at the border has become a scorched land and hell. Let us think, what can we do? "
"What can we do?" Marquis Ogel of Weissen shouted, "We need the help of Nur. The army of Weissen cannot defeat Chaos!"
"We have no idea how to defeat Chaos, Sir Ogel." Drake, the City Defense General, said, "None of us know. If we knew, His Excellency the Savior would have succeeded. The only thing we can do is to live on bravely and defeat them again and again. Then, we will be prepared to wait for their return!"
"What a load of bullshit. You want us to pretend that nothing happened?" Marquis Ogel of Weissen roared angrily. "How did you become the City Defense General? Drake? Charlemagne curses you! "
"Under the threat of Chaos, none of us can survive."
"But we can't let our army die!"
"You'll be punished for your cowardice!"
"There's nothing wrong with hiding behind the city walls! It's suicidal to send an army to the Prince's territory at this time! "
A quarrel broke out in the spacious Blackstone Hall. Amelia immediately picked up the wooden hammer in front of her and slammed it on the table in front of her. The Countess's action caused the hall to quiet down. "Enough, quiet down. We still have time, don't rush!"
Only then did everyone quiet down. Amelia looked at everyone present and first asked one of the attendants, "Has our Emperor sent back any news?"
"His Majesty Karl-franz was shocked by the outcome. But the Emperor and his army are fighting with an Orc army at Hawk Territory and the Chaos Army at the Central Mountain Range," the servant said in a low voice. "The war won't end quickly. Nur has to rely on herself."
"This is our Emperor, this is the court of Brunswick. We can never count on them. In times of crisis, Nur can only count on Nur itself!" Nur's Chief Judge Theodore Bruckner said. His face was filled with disdain for the Empire's court and the Emperor himself. Emilia knew that this disdain was not formed in a day.
"Very well. I think the poor people at Steele Territory can't help us. What about Ivy Territory? What did Elector Umberto say? "Emilia suppressed her anger and asked the servant.
"Elector Umberto has led the Knights of the Golden Fleece and 20,000 soldiers to the Black Fire Pass," Pfizer Knight Pfizer said loudly. Pfitzman, the Grand Commander of the Flaming Sun Knights, said loudly, "But whether they can stop the Army of Chaos is still unknown. Perhaps we need to send enough reinforcements?"
"We can't even defend our own city. How can we send reinforcements?" Drake objected. "We should strengthen the defense of Nur."
"You don't care about the safety of Weissen Territory?!" Marquis Ogger of Weissen Territory objected.
"Fortify the defense and clear the field! Preserve our strength! " Nur's Grand Marshal agreed with Drake's suggestion. "Gather all of Weissen Territory's troops at Nur! We have to gather enough troops to defeat the Chaos Army … or hold on until that damn Emperor and his damn reinforcements arrive! "
"No! Earl, what are you trying to do? Do you think you can command all of us like this?! " Ogger's weathered face was flushed red. "The land of Weissen Territory can't be given up so easily!"
"Then all of you will die there! Chaos will take you down one by one! "The Grand Marshal emphasized his will." If you want to do this! Very well, you bring your men to die. I'll bring my men here to fight against the Chaos Army! We've reached an agreement. Let's divide the work! "
"Earl! You bastard! "
"You're the one who's stubborn and stupid!"
The quarrel in the Blackstone Hall reverberated under the dome. Emilia raised her wooden hammer once more, wanting to calm everyone down. However, hurried and scattered footsteps could be heard from outside the door. Armoured Nur's Grand Marshal, Jubal Fokke, immediately brought a few armoured soldiers to block the entrance. "Private meeting, no entry!"
However, the bald man who appeared at the entrance was dressed in a long black robe, a twin-tailed comet and an iron cross emblem that immediately silenced the entire hall. Upon seeing the newcomer, Zhubal Fokke gestured for the Nuer Armoured Troops to make way.
The newcomer was Nur's Grand Chanter, Casmir the Ninth. He quickly walked into the hall. "In the name of Emperor Charlemagne, what are you arguing about? Where's the Grand Duchess? Where's Grand Marshal Nur? "
"I'm here. My Grand Chanter is here." Emilia was wondering if she should tell everyone that Laing had agreed to stay for the time being. The Duchess of the Empire turned her gaze to Casmir the Ninth. "I hope you've brought good news."
"Good news?!" The Grand Chanter almost laughed out loud. He clenched the twin-tailed comet scepter in his hand. "My Lady Kurfürst, are you hoping that a twin-tailed comet will fall from the sky and destroy the Chaos Army?"
"How can that be? Of course, that would be the best. My dear Grand Chanter, tell me the situation." Emilia, of course, could hear the sarcasm in Casmir's voice. She fiercely replied, "Otherwise, don't talk nonsense with me. The city needs you and your battle priests, demon hunters, and ascetics to maintain the situation!"
"That's right! I'm supposed to be doing my job. Why didn't your damned valet tell me that you've ordered me to come here for this damned meeting?! " Casmir the Ninth was obviously flustered. He said loudly, "The Church of Justice has conducted a divination. My Lord's oracle and divination have shown that an unprecedented disaster will befall Nur, the city that belongs to the savior!"
As soon as he said that, the hall was filled with gasps and whispers of uneasiness.
Panic and uneasiness shrouded everyone in the Black Stone Hall.
Everyone's eyes were on Nur's Grand Marshal Erstein and Nur's Grand Chanter Theodore Bruckner. The former was the leader of Nur's army, while the latter was the only Sanctum expert in the Black Stone Hall.
Some people had begun to suggest retreating to Brunswick, but Emilia immediately refused.
"That's right. A great catastrophe is about to befall." At this moment, the door of the Black Stone Hall was pushed open again.
A slender, beautiful woman who looked no more than thirty years old entered from the gate with a scythe in her hand. She was wearing a purple dress and robe, and it was rare that the black mist didn't cover her gorgeous face. Her face was unnaturally pale, and her greyish-white hair was not carefully combed, floating in the air just like that.
The Black Lady of Nur, the headmaster of the Amethyst Academy of the Empire's Royal Sorcerer Academy, and the great Necromancer Elspeth von Drakken appeared in front of everyone.
"Black Lady, the protector of Nur! You're finally here. "Emilia stood up and took the initiative to greet the great Necromancer. The Empire's Countess respected and feared Elspeth. This great Necromancer had always stayed away from the Nur Palace, and even the Nur Sorcerer Guild. But when she appeared, something big was bound to happen.
"The prince's territory at the border has been reduced to ruins," Elspeth whispered. "The power of the Wind of Death told me who is coming. If we can't stop him, this world will be destroyed, and the Empire will completely collapse."
"He is the son of Emperor Kurgan, the champion of the Evil God of Chaos Nurgle, Tarim Khan. Soon, he will bring all the filth to visit us. We must be prepared. We must kill Tarim Khan," Elspeth whispered. "Otherwise, Nur will be reduced to ashes."
"Do we have a way to defeat this Tarim Khan?" Emilia immediately asked the question she was most concerned about.
"Tarim Khan is very powerful, but he is not invincible," Elspeth whispered. "But this city needs enough powerful people."
"Nur needs me. I will deal with Tarim Khan." Theodore Bruckner stepped forward. Nur's Chief Judge and Elspeth were the only two saints in Nur.
"Of course we need Theodore's power, but we have a better choice at the moment." Elspeth nodded. The Black Lady of Nur whispered, "We also need the power of Laing Macado, the champion of the Lady of the Lake. Only he can deal with Tarim Khan. Only with him can we have a chance of winning this war."
"Otherwise, we can only hope that Theodore can find a chance to perish together with the enemy."
The Black Lady of Nur never joked. As soon as she finished speaking, everyone in the Black Stone Hall turned their attention to the Countess of the Empire. Laing was Emilia's man and also Frey Derick's father.
"My Countess! We need Laing Macado's power! "
"Please let Laing help us!"
"My Countess, I'll leave it to you."
"My Countess, Nur needs your help!"
In less than a minute, the entire Black Stone Hall was filled with pleading voices for Emilia. The nobles of Nur immediately began to beg. Laing was not a noble of the Empire. He had no obligation to help Nur. His only connection to the city was Emilia and her son, Frey Derick Jr.
Emilia looked very troubled. Facing everyone's pleading, the Countess of the Empire put on a helpless expression. "But he's about to leave Nur. He's already planned his journey. The Knight King on the other side of the mountain needs him, more than Nur."
"My Countess! The fate of this city is in your hands, "a nobleman said. One of the nobles asked sincerely, "We can only ask you to communicate with Mr. Ryan. If he has any requests, we will try our best to accept them."
"That's right!"
"I agree!"
"We all understand your difficulties, but this is for Nur. Please, my Countess."
Under everyone's gaze, Emilia seemed to be angered. The Countess of the Empire's expression changed back and forth a few times before she nodded with an ugly expression. Her blonde bangs covered her pure and bright eyes.
"Then I'll try my best."
"Also, immediately send someone to the city to spread the news that Laing's visit has ended. At this critical juncture, he's about to leave Nur. The Nur City Council wants to keep him, but he's still reconsidering!" The little maid's eyes flashed with a cunning light.
"Yes!"
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