Warhammer Divine Throne

How sacred, the Holy Grail! The life-long desire of all young people, praise the Lady!

”Father, you rarely talk about your past.” Surya caught up, riding a Pegasus, and gently spoke to Francois: ”Even to me and brother, you hardly mention it.”

”That’s not something particularly glorious, my daughter. Theodoric deeply resents me since losing to me, believing I had stolen his championship through dishonorable means.” Francois’ expression was like a calm spring, without any ripples: ”But the Lady can prove everything.”

Theodoric failed to complete the Holy Grail Trial, and then became occupied with the war against Estalia, while Francois completed the trial and returned gloriously. By this time, the Duke of Winford no longer needed to argue with Theodoric, as he said, the Lady can prove everything.

The Duke of Winford was unwilling to go to war with Duke Borelion over this reason, and Theodoric was a passionate person and a warmonger, there was no need to initiate a conflict over mere words.

Laine nodded repeatedly, the spring sunlight shining on him. The Holy Grail Knight held the reins, pondering that Francois was also a hot-blooded youth in his younger days, a knight of bold charges. Yet, after assuming the ducal position, this Duke started to quietly cultivate his resources, over time becoming now a shrewd and wise individual with every action infused with intelligence.

Travelling with the Duke himself along with his daughter and Laine’s young maid, Laine felt very pleased.

A few days later, the group arrived in Fogler Town in the morning, a town located within the territory of Le Anglong Duchy, ruled by Count Fogler, and less than a day’s journey from Kulona.

Francois, however, signaled everyone to stop here and depart tomorrow.

Thus, the knights and soldiers lodged in the town.

After lunch and a brief noon rest, Francois found Laine: ”Interested in accompanying me for a stroll? Young man? Just the two of us.”

”???” Laine, though puzzled, immediately accepted, as the person before him was his superior and a supportive great noble, there was no reason to refuse such an invitation.

Fogler Town is near Le Anglong Castle, and the first impression it gave Laine was prosperity, extremely prosperous. Not only is the population dense, but its economy is also well-developed, bustling with merchants in the streets. Laine even spotted some half-elves around.

Francois wore blue-and-white Brittania silk attire of great nobles, with a hat adorned with four mink pelts. The crown had a gold ring adorned with eight red gold leaves, and his clothing was embroidered with his family’s Pure White Pegasus emblem, especially the Holy Grail Knight Badge on his chest dazzling brightly, signifying his noble status.

Peasants dared not approach to disturb, all avoiding his path. Merchants tried hard to engage him, but after seeing Francois wave his hand, they immediately averted their gaze, for no one dared to pester a Holy Grail Knight.

Laine followed behind Francois, the aura of the Divine Chosen Champion equally formidable. He wore red Brittania silk noble attire without a hat: ”My Duke? It’s so prosperous here.”

”Fogler has always been very prosperous. Here is one of Richard’s major tax sources as Duke of Le Anglong.” Francois smiled and said: ”A town with a population of over eight thousand, it is indeed thriving. Coastal towns mostly have such scale.”

”Yes, just a bit dirty and chaotic.” Laine noticed lots of feces, dirty water, and garbage hidden around street corners.

Generally, the larger the settlement, the more hygiene and facilities are required. Often, the population concentration is not simply 1+1, like in Marinburg, where nobles can only maintain the cleanliness of the Temple University District, while the city is actually flooded with seawater, garbage, and silt.

”You’re very astute, Laine. During governance, you grasp control well, but today I want to show you a story.” Francois led Laine around a street corner.

The street was somewhat dirty, with lots of garbage piled on both sides, waiting for regular cleaners to come by. But this wasn’t the focus, Laine noticed many townspeople and peasants anxiously standing at a store entrance, most of them elderly, gray-haired, with many cursing loudly.

”Cavendish! You bastard-born, where’s our bread? Why hasn’t it been delivered yet?”

”You cursed outsider, you despicable thief!”

”I curse you!”

Meanwhile, two fully armed guards stood post at the store’s entrance, and it’s precisely due to their presence that this large group didn’t directly rush in or attack the store owner; they could only stand outside, anxiously waiting and cursing.

A wooden sign hung above the store: Cavendish Store.

”What is this, what are they doing?” Laine was very curious, wondering what would require the Lord to dispatch guards to protect a store, and what would cause dozens of people to continuously curse at its entrance?