Refined, elegant, and exceptionally handsome—these were Julius's first impressions of Fugen.
Stern, resolute, and unsmiling—these were Fugen's first impressions of Julius.
To Julius, Fugen's appearance was drastically different from the other brothers of Ryan he had encountered. Among the two brothers who left the deepest impression on him, Angron was a brute with a fearsome look, a bald head, and a penchant for hunting and farming. Lorgar, on the other hand, was also bald, his face inscribed with strange scriptures, constantly muttering incomprehensible words.
These encounters had left Julius with a rather unfavorable impression of Ryan's brothers, making him wonder what kind of strange people they were.
He also recalled meeting others at the wedding—one with red hair and a red face, one with skin as black as charcoal, and another as pale as snow. They all seemed rather abnormal, with only the two brothers dressed in deep blue and dark green attire, with short golden hair and long golden hair, appearing somewhat normal.
Now that he was meeting Fugen, Julius felt a sense of relief. This was what a true noble should be like, someone who carried themselves with the bearing of a descendant of a noble lineage.
Julius was convinced that Fugen and Ryan must share the same mother, while Lorgar and Angron were surely the offspring of Ryan's biological father and another woman, likely a barbarian.
As Julius's mind wandered through these thoughts, Fugen was also sizing up his new brother-in-law.
Fugen had heard of Julius but had never met him. However, upon seeing Julius's appearance, his family crest, and the gear he wore, Fugen could be almost certain that this man was indeed Ryan's brother-in-law. In this world, such things were not easily faked. Julius's gear, though somewhat worn, included a double-edged greatsword blessed by the Prophetess of the Lake and a full set of armor forged from Bretonnian mithril—items no ordinary person could easily acquire or impersonate.
Could he be a disguised Changeling of Tzeentch? Fugen briefly considered this possibility but quickly dismissed it. Kroak, the Great Lord of the Lizardmen, had once explained in detail the Great Ward and the Maelstrom. Under the protection of these twin defenses, it was not impossible for a daemon of Tzeentch to enter the material world, but it could not stay long, let alone impersonate Julius for an extended period.
Likewise, in the material realm, the powers of beings such as Slaan mages, Primarchs, and the Emperor's Custodians were also significantly suppressed, though not as much as daemons were. However, if this were the material universe, the situation would be different. There, without the Great Ward, the Emperor's Astronomican would have to illuminate the entire galaxy, unable to suppress the Winds of Chaos as the Great Ward did, leaving the material universe vulnerable to the corrupting influence of the Chaos Gods.
So why was Ryan's brother-in-law here? What was he doing here? Why was he looking for Fugen? Was Ryan in trouble? Or was he seeking assistance?
Fugen's mind was full of questions. His handsome face showed a hint of curiosity and a touch of awkwardness. Although Sulia was indeed acknowledged by the Emperor as his daughter-in-law and crowned as the Imperial Queen, this was Fugen's first meeting with Julius. The unfamiliarity made the Primarch, who prided himself on perfection, a bit worried about whether he might unintentionally slight the brother of Queen Sulia. "Then I shall apologize for any rudeness. Welcome, Julius. Welcome to Raider's Port. On behalf of all the soldiers of the Ashen Legion and the residents here, I extend a warm welcome to you."
"Thank you," Julius replied stiffly, which only added to the awkwardness between them.
"Let's continue this inside; the wind is strong out here," suggested Felix Edmondovich, the general of the Kislevite Winged Lancers of the "Zhelezni" regiment, stepping in to ease the tension. This soldier from Kislev had quickly adapted to his new environment and found a role within the Ashen Legion.
He had established a new department, referred to in Kislevite as "Cheka," tasked with monitoring Chaos corruption, eliminating Chaos cultists, and managing prisons, searches, arrests, and detentions. Felix had earned the nickname "Iron Face" for his uncompromising approach.
"Come on, my friend from afar! Habby will prepare a grand feast for you, using my favorite cauldron! Fresh ingredients guaranteed!" Fugen's halfling chef, Habby, who wore a tall chef's hat, a dirty white apron, and a big red clown nose, chimed in. Several officers chuckled at the sight. Even Julius, though maintaining a stern expression, softened slightly upon seeing Habby's appearance. "Sorry for the trouble."
"No trouble at all, we're family after all," Fugen responded gracefully, displaying his impeccable manners. "Let us offer our distinguished guest some wine and cheese, along with the tropical fruits unique to this jungle."
"Thank you."
Inside Raider's Port, order reigned supreme. People gathered in groups of three or five, and in the market, livestock were being slaughtered and sold. Merchants from the Empire and Bretonnia were also present, selling goods from the Old World. Due to the shortage of supplies, trade was bustling, with people spending large sums of gold and silver to buy a variety of items from the Old World. Even High Elf merchants had joined in.
The lord's mansion was located on a cliff by the sea, a striking structure resembling a pearl on the coastline, built using large sheets of glass and steel. This unique and imaginative luxury home was set on a white sandy beach, surrounded by a blue-green ocean, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and an opulent design that seemed almost unreal.
Brightly colored flowers and tropical plants surrounded the mansion, making it a tropical gem, a beautiful accent against the white sugar-like sand and the deep blue sea. Baroque-style architecture combined with the High Elven motifs of flames and phoenixes in purple and gold stood out against the green hills and blue ocean.
Fugen's subordinates, including the Ashen Legion's Vice-Commander Fernando Pilazzo, who had undergone Lizardmen gene symbiosis in the spawning pools, Karim the Golden Mage from Araby, and Felix the Winged Lancer General, were all present. Inside the mansion, every corner was meticulously crafted with attention to detail, and one could see the ocean through the glass ceiling. Even Julius found his mood lifting.
After everyone took their seats, servants handed out cups of hot cocoa, a beverage made from ingredients sourced from Ruscia.
After some brief pleasantries, Fugen, who was sitting in the main seat with great interest, spoke up. His seat was a wide-backed chair made of golden material, crafted with time and care by Dwarven artisans, featuring the emblem of a golden double-headed eagle. The Primarch of the Emperor's Children smiled and said, "Julius, how is it that we meet here?"
"On an expedition," Julius replied curtly.
"An expedition? So you've become an Expedition Knight? But as far as I know, Bretonnian Expedition Knights don't usually leave the Old World, even if they continue their quests," Fugen remarked, curiosity piqued. "Ruscia? That's almost unbelievable. How did you get here?"
"With the Imperial Expeditionary Force. We sailed here," Julius nodded.
The Imperial Expeditionary Force?! Fugen quickly picked up on the crucial information in Julius's words. "You mean, you came with the Imperial Expeditionary Force?"
"The Toccan Temple." Ryan's brother-in-law mentioned the location briefly.
The others exchanged glances. They knew about the Imperial Expeditionary Force's arrival, but why had Julius come with them?
"It is the Lady's will," Julius suddenly said seriously, his face showing only solemnity and devotion. "I received a divine revelation from the Lady. In the deepest part of my dreams, she whispered to me with words as soft as feathers. To complete my Grail Quest, to finish the Grail Expedition, I had to come to Ruscia."
"I see. That explains it," Fugen replied nonchalantly, brushing aside his silvery hair from his armored wings. The Primarch seemed indifferent to the so-called Lady of the Lake's prophecy. "In that case, Lord Julius, please feel free to continue your expedition. Should you need anything, you're welcome to seek our assistance, whether it's resupplying, repairing your armor, or treating injuries. I will do my best to help."
"No, that's not why I came to find you," Julius finally frowned. "The Lady sent me to assist your army. You need my help."
The atmosphere in the room immediately shifted. Fugen was momentarily taken aback, then burst into laughter as if he had heard something amusing.
"Hahaha! We need your help? Your Lady told you we need your help?" Fugen laughed like a child. "Do you even know what we're up against? Do you know our plans? You don't understand anything! Your Lady tells you to help us, and you just come running? Have you even considered whether you're up to the task?"
"Hahahahahahaha!" The hall echoed with laughter.
Julius's face turned from ashen to pale. He had never been so humiliated in his life.
Instinctively, he wanted to reach for the white glove in his pocket, but thinking of his beloved sister, now Ryan's wife, Julius forced himself to suppress his anger. He gritted his teeth so hard
they cracked, and after a long pause, he waited for Fugen and the others to finish laughing. Only then did the Expedition Knight speak. "Do you really believe, Commander Fugen, that as a Legendary Peak Expedition Knight, I'm not capable of helping you?"
"Oh? No, of course, you can help," Fugen said, as if realizing something. He smirked sarcastically. "If your Lady thinks you're worthy, then I suppose you are. But on the battlefield, or in critical moments, whose orders will you follow? Mine or your Lady's, Lord Julius?"
Julius felt the flames of anger swell within him, and he immediately pulled out a dirty white glove from his pocket, throwing it at Fugen. "Enough! I cannot tolerate you disrespecting my Lady! I, Julius-Coumani-Antry-de-Winfort, demand a duel with you!"
The white glove flew through the air toward Fugen, whose eyes held a calm yet playful glint. He reached out, caught the glove in midair, and handed it back to Julius. "No, I refuse."
"Why?!" Julius stood up, feeling his anger boiling over.
Fugen smiled, his eyes glowing with psychic energy, filled with immense pride and confidence. "A duel without suspense lacks any meaning."
"Do you even know who I am? You want to challenge me to a duel? Honor, bravery, faith—prove yourself first, then speak to me of duels."
"You're not worthy."
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