Warhammer Divine Throne

PS. I consulted with some experts, and they still think ”Expedition Knight” is more fitting, after all, it is an expedition for the Holy Grail, so in the future, we’ll consistently refer to them as Expedition Knights.

In the hall of the Baron Castle, a handsome and striking knight is singing passionately. He has long wavy brown hair, wears heavy armor, and carries a shield on his back. His long spear and longsword are placed at the entrance. In front of everyone, the knight sings loudly, his beautiful voice and captivating stories leaving a lasting impression.

Not far from this knight, a juggler dressed as a jester is performing various acts in sync with the knight’s song. He is dressed in a red and yellow interchanging star costume, holding a horse puppet in one hand and a long spear puppet in the other, making all sorts of amusing gestures before the crowd.

Even though it is drizzling outside the castle, the lively atmosphere in the hall remains unaffected.

The visitor is none other than the famous Knight and Minstrel, the Expedition Knight Tristan from the Boldro Duchy. During a previous visit to Boldro, Laine had met him.

Tristan is a renowned knight across Brittania, his singing blessed by the Lake Fairy and celebrated throughout the kingdom. He had been invited to tour throughout the kingdom, warmly welcomed by all the dukes, performing his songs in their castle halls. After journeying across the kingdom, Tristan decided to abandon all his worldly duties. Pursuing the Holy Grail, he became an Expedition Knight.

Usually, Expedition Knights venture alone, dedicating their lives to seeking the Holy Grail, but Tristan was truly brotherly with his jester Jule, so he brought him along, and together they embarked on the Path of the Holy Grail.

Today, Tristan is singing the ”Song of the Holy Grail”. This ballad tells the legend and glory of the Holy Grail. Since the time of the First Knight King Arthur, countless knights have fought for the Lady’s name on the battlefield, with many laying down their lives to combat evil. Only those knights who have proven their martial valor and virtue truly have the chance to glimpse the Holy Grail.

Apart from Laine, everyone else wore expressions of envy, even including Tristan himself who was singing.

As the ballad ended, the hall erupted in applause. The baron and his attendants clapped enthusiastically. Tristan placed his hand on his chest, offering a knight’s salute to everyone present.

”Please have a seat, Lord Tristan!” Laine gestured for Tristan to sit.

The Expedition Knight and his jester did not refuse. Kasenberg had already arranged a sumptuous feast of beef and goose meat, along with plenty of fish and vegetables. A large iron pot was suspended on hooks and chains over a fire, with the chain adjustable to regulate the heat. The cooked meat was lifted out of the pot with an iron hook, which was a meat fork with a wooden handle and pronged end, while a long-handled ladle with grooves was used for stirring the soup.

After a long expedition, Tristan and his jester were indeed famished. They devoured the food like two hungry wolves, consuming over four times the amount a normal person would. He swallowed large chunks of delicious black pepper beef and downed a bottle of wine in a few gulps.

Laine watched this with an unending smile.

If this were the Celestial Dynasty of his past life, such eating behavior from a guest would have been considered very impolite.

However, in this world, a knight’s ability to eat is viewed as a sign of martial prowess and a symbol of strength.

”Thank you very much, Lord Laine, you are truly an honorable Holy Grail Knight!” Tristan said after finishing his feast. He put down his silver utensils and wiped his mouth with a napkin: ”Thank you for your hospitality, Tristan will remember it fondly.”

Laine nodded. Hosting a traveling Expedition Knight was something every lord in Brittania cherished because it meant that if an Expedition Knight became a Holy Grail Knight, they could forge a substantial friendship.

”My Baron, I bring two pieces of news this time,” Tristan said, parting his brown hair with his hands, his handsome face showing seriousness: ”I have already mentioned the rebellion in the Borelion Duchy before, but I want to emphasize that this rebellion is quite unusual. The rebellion has gathered at Gaius, numbering over two thousand, and they have allied with Count Tobalo of Estalia to oppose Duke Theodoric and his army.”

”The leader of this rebellion is named Stirling. He became fabulously rich overnight by resisting taxes and killing Theodoric’s tax officer. Soon, those peasants unable to survive rallied with him to start a rebellion, now it’s becoming quite a commotion, and the situation is somewhat unstable,” Tristan continued: ”Lord Laine, your lands neighbor the Borelion Duchy. Given your reputation, the rebels may not dare to attack your territory, but you still need to be cautious. Lord Bodric asked me to tell you that Duke Theodoric might look to borrow money and provisions.”

Upon hearing the possibility of having to loan money and grain, Laine’s tax officer Gaspardon and steward Kasenberg frowned, but Laine remained composed and continued, ”So what is the second piece of news?”

”The second piece of news is that Lord Bodric heard from Mr. Ismail that the king is very unhappy with you harboring dwarves and elves. He hopes you will open up wood elf trade and share the dwarves’ technology,” Tristan continued: ”Also, Duke of Leonais Dalheid suggests that your talents lie not in administering a territory, but in leading an army. The king is planning to organize an expeditionary force to explore the southern Nikohara Desert, and Duke Dalheid believes you are a suitable candidate for the Expeditionary Army General.”

”I see, is there anything else?” Laine listened and showed no expression. He narrowed his eyes, his voice very gentle.

”Uh... well, Lord Laine, I have an unreasonable request,” Tristan hesitated a moment before awkwardly saying: ”I would like... to visit the Lady’s Tower.”

Having a Lady’s Tower within Laine’s territory was no secret, and recently several Expedition Knights had come because of it.

”You may, but whether the Lady sees you does not depend on me,” Laine nodded.

Ten minutes later, Laine stood atop the high tower of the Baron Castle, gazing at Tristan, who was kneeling in prayer before the thick mist, lost in thought.

The sound of high heels striking the ground came from behind him. Veronica, dressed in a white wolf fur coat and a sleeved patchwork dress, appeared behind Laine. She wrapped her arms around his hand from behind: ”Laine, you have to know, you cannot accept the Expeditionary Army’s appointment. The scale of your current territory is due to your personal prestige and ability.”

Laine nodded.

Sending him off to the desert for an expedition was a typical demotion disguised as a promotion. Perhaps he could be promoted to Count by becoming the General of the Expeditionary Army, but that would essentially be exile and relegation.

Going to the desert to count stars?

That’s not what he wanted.

Laine did not fear the King’s Order in the slightest, as he had the Lake Fairy backing him. From the Lake Fairy’s standpoint alone, she would absolutely not agree to Richard or Dalheid sending him to the desert to count stars. In this country, not even the King’s power was greater than that of the Lake God Witch. The King could not oppose the Lake God Witch, and Laine alone could have this political order overturned with Mogiana’s support.

What Laine pondered was that, without realizing it, he had unknowingly come to oppose Richard’s conservative faction.

In this country, the conflict between him and conservative nobles like Richard, the Duke of Leonais Dalheid, Duke Montfort Fulcard, and others had become increasingly severe. His appointment of nobles to engage in commerce, encouragement of peasants to work, and acceptance of Dwarves and Wood Elves were all actions the conservative great nobles could not tolerate.

What used to be simply internal conflicts among the great nobles had now escalated into ideological conflicts, which were almost unsolvable. Laine needed money, development, an excellent army, and advanced equipment. The Moment of Destruction wouldn’t come immediately but wasn’t too far off either.

The nation, however, was declining. Richard could not be described as a tyrant or a monarch without any merit, but he was merely a paperhanger, barely maintaining stability with little accomplishment.

Looking at the deep night sky, Laine noticed that the Expedition Knight Tristan had received some sort of answer. The mist did not open up for him, but he rose with reverence and left, waving farewell to Laine from a distance along with his Jester, continuing his expeditionary journey down the Path of the Holy Grail.

Tristan had his goal, which was the Holy Grail.

What about his own goal?

”Laine? Are you listening?” Veronica lightly kissed the Baron on the lips as she leaned against Laine’s embrace: ”Are you lost in thought again?”

”Veronica, what’s your life goal?” Laine held the Witch tightly and asked softly.

”My life goal? I... I want to be the Speaker of the Jialan Council. I want to become the greatest Witch in history.” Veronica leaned against Laine’s chest, thought for a while, her face turning red: ”I also want... to have a child with you. Our combined bloodline would definitely produce an exceptional child. You can teach him swordsmanship, and I can teach him magic.”

It is very difficult for Witches or female sorcerers to get pregnant because their bodies’ violent magical elements would kill male sperm; however, Laine was obviously not an ordinary man.

This is also why the Lake God Prophet mostly become the lovers of Holy Grail Knights since ordinary knights struggle to impregnate them.

”Is that so? Then you must work hard.” Laine laughed, and for an instant, Veronica noticed something more and something less on Laine’s face, making her charmingly inquire: ”What’s wrong, dear? Is something amiss?”

”I’ve found a new goal.” Looking up at the Brittania winter night sky, Laine muttered to himself: ”Since I’ve been chosen, let me hold it firmly in my hands!”

......

The next day, the Baron received good news.

The artillery he commissioned the Dwarves to manufacture was completed. Dwarf Engineer Dugen the Ironman specifically came to his castle and said: ”Lord Laine, the artillery you commissioned us to make has been completed. I guarantee it’s my best work in the last twenty years!”

”Great! Let’s test it out, Mr. Dugen.”

”Of course, Dwarves make the best things!”