"Power is an intoxicating thing—it can cloud the mind," Ryan said as he strolled hand-in-hand with Veronica through the dense black forest surrounding Middenstag. Despite her trembling legs, Veronica drew strength from her beloved's presence. Her magical reserves brimmed to the point of overflowing, and the sorceress walked gracefully in her black velvet stockings and boots, quietly absorbing Ryan's wisdom.
Moments like this were rare. Since Ryan's ascension to the throne, their time together had been limited. Veronica had poured nearly all her energy into rebuilding the Sorceresses' Assembly, establishing a sustainable source of magical apprentices, and restoring the kingdom's arcane educational system.
Given the chance to walk and talk, Veronica seized the opportunity to converse with Ryan.
"As a captain standing on the bridge, issuing commands, you know that everyone must follow your orders unconditionally because their fate is in your hands," Ryan explained calmly. "Even when you step off the bridge, this power will distort your life."
"What does that mean?" Veronica asked, listening intently.
"Imagine a banquet," Ryan began, his tone gentle. "Everyone watches my every move. When I appear, they flock to me. They laugh at my jokes, anticipate my thoughts, and sing praises of my virtue and valor. Why? Because they know their status, titles, and future prospects hinge on my opinion of them. That's the allure of power."
"Like Belial, then?" Veronica suggested. "That man is always guessing your thoughts and testing your intentions."
"Exactly," Ryan laughed. "People like Belial and Talleyrand are double-edged swords. They need to be carefully managed. You must suppress them while simultaneously allowing them to excel. If they lack talent, it's better not to use them at all. But you, my dear, should focus first on bringing Aurora and Teresa in line before invoking my name every time."
"But it's so convenient to invoke you!" Veronica complained, though she understood the point. "Fine, I'll change my approach. But what if they don't comply? Half the Assembly listens to me, but the neutral faction and Aurora's supporters make up the other half."
"Afraid to offend them?" Ryan asked, glancing around the twisted trees of the Chaos-tainted forest. He motioned for them to stop. Smiling, he said, "Do you think issuing firm commands or making tough decisions will upset the Assembly's veteran sorceresses?"
"…They're all relics from Margarita's era," Veronica sighed. "Not easy to deal with."
"If you want to wield power and make changes, you'll inevitably offend people. Otherwise, you'll just be a figurehead," Ryan said. "Do you know how many old noble families despise me? How many prayed for my failure during the grand campaigns?"
Ryan gestured toward the town. "When I return to Bretonnia, I'll deepen the reforms. Previously, noble families lost their titles and lands if they didn't produce knights within four generations. Now, I'll shorten it to three. Do you think that will win me any love from the old nobility?"
"You're going to push the reforms further?" Veronica was astonished. "Do you realize how many more will hate you for this?"
"That's inevitable," Ryan said, his voice unwavering. "If I want to redistribute societal resources, to give hope to the free folk and serfs, and to revitalize the kingdom, I must act. My goal is to make Bretonnia great again. That means taking lands, titles, and resources from decaying nobility and reallocating them. Is your burden heavier than mine?"
Ryan's fist clenched as he held Veronica's lace-gloved hand, guiding her with care.
Taking from the plates of nobles and stripping privileges from entrenched interests would always invite criticism. But to earn universal praise from the nobility, Ryan knew the formula: endless compromise and appeasement.
History provided examples, like a certain overpraised emperor from Ryan's previous life.
This emperor was adored by scholars and bureaucrats, who lavished him with praise and veneration. What made him so beloved?
He was the ultimate "nice guy" emperor. During his reign, he enacted several major "benevolent policies":
1. Leniency for landlords – Previously, killing tenant farmers resulted in the death penalty. This emperor, in his mercy, abolished that law. Now, landlords faced only mild reprimands or fines. Simultaneously, the gruesome punishment of lingchi was formally codified—for dealing with unruly commoners.
The elite cheered, applauding his wisdom.
2. Public funding indulgence – Bureaucrats could now enjoy unrestricted public expenditures, with the state footing the bill. If funds ran out, additional money would be allocated.
The elite celebrated, singing his praises.
3. Unchecked land consolidation – Under his reign, grain prices skyrocketed from 300 coins per stone to 2,900 coins, as land was devoured by aristocrats. Government bloating was ignored, with bureaucratic positions multiplying for aristocratic children.
The elite worshipped him as an angel incarnate.
What about the common folk? For the most part, they weren't outright abandoned. During natural disasters or famines, the emperor would conscript "militia" and provide meager sustenance. The cost? Military forces ballooned from 910,000 to 1.4 million, with the majority being utterly useless.
This "golden age" left behind a nearly collapsed empire with an empty treasury. The emperor's legacy was reduced to personal virtues and frugality—a man loved by bureaucrats but disastrous for his nation.
Ryan knew that adopting a similar approach in Bretonnia would secure him a glowing reputation. But it would benefit the country not at all.
"Kindness," Ryan mused aloud. "Kindness to whom? A king and nobles living comfortably while the nation rots beneath them?"
Bretonnia didn't need a king praised by the elite. It needed a strong, virtuous kingdom to face the looming End Times.
This was Ryan's manifest destiny—to forge a thriving, martial, and just Bretonnia. Having weathered its darkest days, the kingdom now stood ready to rise under his rule.
Destiny manifests!
---
After convincing Veronica to assert herself with confidence, Ryan prepared to test his newly gained abilities as a Sanctuary summit-tier being.
His first new skill was "Psychic Collapsing Black Hole," a signature ability of the Emperor. In the Battle of Gorgon, the Emperor had used this power to banish an exploding plasma core capable of destroying an entire planet into the Warp, buying time for evacuation.
Ryan's version lacked the Emperor's scale but was no less terrifying. When Ryan unleashed the ability, Veronica trembled in awe.
The black hole, several meters wide, formed in Ryan's hands and tore through the forest. Everything within its radius—trees, soil, air—was dragged into the void and erased from existence. The devastation left behind a gaping trench of pure nothingness, as though those objects had never been.
Panting, Ryan wiped the sweat from his brow. "A terrifying ability, but it consumes immense energy and takes time to charge. Even the Emperor was drained after using it."
"Are you alright, darling?" Veronica asked, supporting him.
"I'm fine," Ryan assured her. "This is a trump card—only for dire situations."
After recovering, Ryan prepared to test his second ability: Time Stop.
By synchronizing with the Warp, Ryan could halt time for several seconds within a radius, allowing him to move freely while everything else froze.
Veronica, intrigued, volunteered to test it. She drew her flaming sword, her movements elegant despite her high-heeled boots, and lunged at Ryan.
As her blade neared, she suddenly felt the world shift.
The air thickened, and a silvery light enveloped everything. In this domain, time crawled. Veronica found her body bound, her sword hovering inches from Ryan's wrist but unable to move further. She tried to speak, but her voice was trapped in her throat.
Not one to surrender, Veronica unleashed her strongest arcane power—knowledge gleaned from her perilous journey into the Crystal Labyrinth of Tzeentch. Slowly, under immense strain, she broke free enough to move and chant. Flames enveloped her.
"Impressive," Ryan remarked, genuinely surprised. Veronica's exposure to the Warp had clearly enhanced her potential.
But it was too late. With a smile, Ryan flicked her sword aside and lightly tapped her chest.
"Ah!" Time resumed, and Veronica stumbled back, clutching herself in embarrassment. "Darling! Are you seriously using this ability for that?"
Ryan chuckled, lifting her effortlessly into his arms. "Impressed?"
"Yes, yes, I'm impressed," Veronica muttered, planting a kiss on his lips. "But enough experiments—how about we hunt together with your new powers?"
"Alright," Ryan grinned. "Let's call it… 'Magic Man Time.'"
---
Meanwhile, 8,000 battered soldiers from Ostermark, Nordland, and Kislev finally reached Wolfenburg—the last bastion of Ostland.
Here, they would make their stand against Archaon's Black Iron Horde. The tide of Chaos was at their gates.
_________________________
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