Warhammer Divine Throne

PS. This is today’s second update, the third is expected in the evening.

”I’m sorry, Godfather.” Mathew Bade’s face looked bad, and he bowed to apologize.

A consistently dry hand emerged from the black robe, pointing straight at Mathew Bade, the ring on the hand was flashing, and the owner of the hand signaled Mathew Bade not to worry. Akhan’s voice remained as gentle and courteous as ever: ”It’s okay, my godson. Things don’t always develop in the direction we desire. This failure merely gives you more experience. It’s evident that my previous plan was not perfect.”

In the pale ripples beside Akhan, Nagash’s fourth book appeared, opened, and the pages began flipping, detailing the past and various magics left by Nagash, Master of the Undead. Akhan felt the surging power within the book and then put it away: ”Another book has returned to its rightful owner, ah, we are one step closer to my Lord’s return. The quality of this sacrifice is excellent and will enhance my Lord’s power.”

Mathew Bade walked to Akhan’s side, the young Ranger Knight once again showed his respect, then he asked: ”Then what should I do next?”

”You might have been exposed, my godson, in our chase for the fourth book we might have been a bit rash.” Akhan, leaning on the Magic Staff, gestured for Mathew Bade to look at the other side of the cave.

That was a map of Brittania. Brittania faced the sea to the north, with the Northern Wasteland across the sea, the west was also a sea, and the east faced the empire across the Gray Mountain Range.

”I hid well, should not have been exposed, Godfather, but Fiona suspected me today.” Mathew Bade recounted his experience today to Akhan.

The Witch Demon King’s flesh had long since decayed, making it impossible for him to produce any expression; the only fluctuation was in his voice: ”Oh, my godson, Mathew Bade, this is a dangerous signal; you can no longer stay in Kulona. We should prepare to go to Musillon together.”

”Why? Godfather? I have already dispelled Fiona’s doubts, I have gained her trust!” Mathew Bade questioned in confusion, walking to Akhan’s front: ”Besides her, who else could be suspicious of me?”

”Too many people, my godson.” Akhan’s voice remained so suave: ”The identity we prepared for you indeed seems very perfect, but it is ultimately a false identity. True, the Dukes in this country are rife with contradictions, and the new Duke of Connet, Lorne, has not fully grasped the situation of his territory...but every lie has a day when it gets exposed.”

”Furthermore, even in this situation, there could still be people who might guess your true identity, my godson, don’t assume all knights are fools. Many knights in this country suffer from Chivalry Syndrome, but there are also those who are smart.” Akhan shook his head. ”You have involved yourself deeply in some matters, and befriending that little girl to go to Borelion was indeed a shortcut, but it left traces. My intention was for you to win the knight tournament’s Championship; that way, you would be promoted to a Kingdom Knight and would receive rewards. Under such a halo, your previous series of suspicious actions would be forgotten…or temporarily forgotten.”

”A second place is not enough, my godson.” Akhan shook his head repeatedly: ”This is what I hadn’t anticipated; you were still careless, my godson.”

Mathew Bade’s face showed fury and embarrassment, his complexion turned green, even in the dark cave, one could sense his agitated emotion.

After a long time, the young Ranger Knight sighed: ”It was my mistake, Godfather.”

”It’s not entirely your fault, my godson. My original plan also went wrong. I initially planned to weaken the Holy Grail Knights’ forces through the Great Army of Nurgle’s attack. Firstly, I never expected that the Great Nurgle Demon would be defeated in such a manner; then, I didn’t anticipate that the Divine Chosen Champion’s injury would cause the Lake God Witch to stay in the Holy Grail Cathedral almost non-stop, leaving us without a chance to act.” Akhan continued to analyze: ”The best opportunity would have been those few days following the knight tournament’s end. If you had succeeded in winning the Championship, while the whole city was indulged in the tournament’s afterglow, you could have made a humble request as a champion to Mogiana to call her out, with at least a 70% chance of capturing her.”

”However, there’s no rush now; what we lack the least is time. This plan failed; we need the power of the Red Duke.”

”Withdraw, when dawn comes, we leave this place, heading to Musillon.”

”Yes!”

......

Another ten days or so passed. By mid-April, Laine’s injuries were declared healed.

He still resided in the Holy Grail Cathedral; as the Kingdom’s hero, defeating the Great Nurgle Demon, he became the focus of peasants and knights alike, his presence inspiring admiration among many, while jealousy from the outside was not lacking.

Under the pressure from Mogiana, Richard had to appear again, to confer honors upon Laine; a First-class Grand Cross Medal was pinned to Laine’s chest, forming a stark contrast with the previously awarded Second-class Iris Medal; at twenty-six years old, he had acquired two high-level Kingdom medals in succession, certainly giving Laine a reason for pride.

The process of being honored he had already experienced, thus it wouldn’t be repeated here; what Laine could feel was Richard’s helplessness and displeasure towards him.