The streets of Mousillon were bustling and orderly, a stark contrast to the decay, swamps, and ruin that had dominated the city just over a decade ago.
Ryan did not hide any of his plans. The Sun King walked ahead, with Sulia following half a step behind. His face was grave: "Louen has the support of local forces in Kislev and the troops we sent. Tell him to prepare for the implementation of the Great Retreat Plan as soon as possible."
"So soon?" Sulia was puzzled. The lady knight thought for a moment, tightening her grip on her husband's hand. "The Chaos forces have just arrived. Even if we hold the line along the Lynsk River, our Northern Army should be able to hold out for a while. Is it really necessary to prepare for retreat so soon? This will be a huge blow to morale."
"Our Northern Army cannot hold Kislev," Ryan sighed. He instinctively wanted to clasp his hands behind his back but then remembered that Sulia was holding his hand. Instead, he squeezed her hand tightly, speaking meaningfully: "All we can do is delay, to slow the advance of the Chaos forces and buy time for the Empire to fortify its defenses."
"Not even by holding the cities?" Sulia asked softly.
"That depends on Archaon the Everchosen's plans," Ryan shook his head with a bitter smile. "And on how quickly the Chaos forces move south, and whether they start infighting."
After the invasion of Morkar, Kislev had been nearly destroyed, and Ostland and Ostermark were half-ruined. In just six years, it was a miracle that they had managed to restore some level of production, let alone rebuild their military strength.
Thus, after the March Storm Campaign, Ryan had ordered Vladimir, the Grand Duke of Erengrad, and Marshal Louen to retake Kislev City and Praag, fortifying them into permanent strongholds. Both cities had largely abandoned their residential and administrative functions, becoming dedicated military fortresses.
This was achieved with the help of the Dwarfs of Kraka Drak.
"Ryan, I've thought about it carefully, and the Lady's opinion is understandable," Sulia said after some consideration. "I understand that you don't want to resurrect Nagash, but without him, how will we resist the Chaos forces? Ryan, does your father... have a solution?"
"You mean my father?" Ryan hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "Chaos has sealed the entrance to this world. My father and his people can't enter for now, but that might change. We'll see if there's another way."
"Then why did you tell the Lady that you could bring reinforcements?" Sulia was both amused and exasperated. She couldn't help but pinch Ryan's palm. "Why would you make promises you can't keep? That's not like you."
"If I hadn't told her I had a plan, she would have acted on her own," Ryan retorted. "You know the Lady as well as I do. She's always full of ideas and schemes."
"True," Sulia chuckled. She knew her good sister well. The Lady of the Lake always had her own plans, no matter the situation.
The topic ended there, and soon the couple arrived at a pastry shop.
This shop was owned by Talleyrand and was called the White Lion Patisserie. It sold a variety of high-end desserts at steep prices, but it was said that buying a large quantity of pastries could earn one a "Gold VIP Membership." With this membership, one could participate in certain events, such as Talleyrand's high-end tea parties and wine tastings, and even gain the opportunity to meet the influential high elf and close confidant of the Sun King.
Some even used this opportunity to be introduced to high nobles and their wives!
Ryan turned a blind eye to this because Talleyrand used this method to gather a wealth of intelligence from the populace. The lame high elf also used the patisserie to uncover many secret societies hidden in the alleys of Mousillon.
For example, the president of the most famous noblewomen's club in Altdorf, the head of the Imperial Archives, and the chief intelligence officer under the Minister of Intelligence, Helena von Cooper, was actually a senior member of the Lahmian Sisterhood. On one hand, she was dedicated to Imperial intelligence, earning the trust of Emperor Karl Franz and Spymaster Amadeus Menken. On the other hand, she kept Neferata informed and worked to combat Chaos cults in Altdorf, achieving significant results and earning the titles "Enemy of Chaos" and "Defender of the Capital."
This senior sister of the Lahmian family was so powerful that she feared neither sunlight, silver, holy water, garlic, nor sacred relics. She didn't even fear mirrors. Only Talleyrand had seen through her true identity, thanks to a few subtle gestures that betrayed the ancient noble etiquette of the Lahmian city-state of Nehekhara.
"Ding-dong~" The sound of a bell announced the arrival of two customers. The sharp-eyed shop assistant immediately recognized the couple as high nobles from their attire.
"Madam, sir, you've come at the perfect time. We've just finished a batch of soufflés," the shop assistant said obsequiously. "Would you like to try some?"
"Sure," Ryan accepted a small plate and took a bite.
Sweet, fragrant, light, and fluffy—the Sun King couldn't help but praise it: "Not bad, well done."
"You certainly have a refined palate, sir," the shop assistant said enthusiastically. "Madam, would you like to try some as well?"
"Here, my dear, have a taste," Ryan offered the soufflé to Sulia.
Sulia took a small, elegant bite and couldn't help but close her eyes in delight. "Hmm, it's quite good."
The couple exchanged a smile and almost simultaneously said, "It's a bit too sweet, though."
"Hahahaha~"
"Of course," the shop assistant immediately boasted. "Sir, madam, the pastries from our White Lion Patisserie are so good that even the Sun King and the Queen have praised them!"
Ryan: "..."
Sulia: "..."
Well, you're not wrong.
"Are you sure the Sun King has actually tried them?" Ryan asked calmly.
"Absolutely! Let me tell you, this is a court secret. Our owner, Lord Talleyrand, often brings our pastries to the palace to present to the Sun King," the店员 said excitedly. "If you want to taste the pastries the Sun King enjoys, come to the White Lion Patisserie!"
"Alright then, if it's the Sun King's favorite, we'll take two boxes. Silvia, pay the man~"
As they left the patisserie, Sulia, still holding Ryan's arm, spoke meaningfully. The lady knight felt sweetness in her mouth and in her heart: "The influence of the upper class spreads downward, Ryan."
"It's unavoidable," Ryan shook his head with a wry smile.
"Oh? Is that so? Since the Sun King ascended the throne, whether it's court ladies or sorceresses, everyone considers wearing stockings to major events a mark of honor. Especially in Bretonnia and Nuln, and now across the Old World, stockings are seen as a must-have symbol of a woman's noble status and high position. My King, could you tell me if this is also unavoidable?" Sulia whispered in Ryan's ear with a smile. "Our King is truly hardworking! To guide the fashion of the Old World, sparing no effort."
"Uh," Ryan forced a smile and whispered back, "My dear, you're being sarcastic again."
"What? Didn't you say you liked it?" Sulia gently tucked her golden curls behind her ear. "I'm just playing along."
"Hahaha!" Ryan replied with equal meaning. "After being my wife for decades, Sulia, it seems you still haven't learned 'obedience.'"
"If the King wants an obedient woman, there are plenty out there," Sulia ignored Ryan's "threat." "With just a word from the King, countless girls, ladies, and even noblewomen would come to the Palace of Fontainebleau for you to choose from. Why seek obedience from me? Go find Theresa, or Olica, or even Veronique and Morgiana. Why come to me?"
"The history mirrors both thriving and calamity," Ryan nodded. He couldn't help but gently embrace his wife. "You're right, Sulia. Everyone wants something from me—power, wealth, strength, status. Only you don't. So no matter what you say to me, no matter how harsh, I'll listen."
Sulia's face blossomed with a smile as radiant as an iris in full bloom, a sight that could intoxicate anyone.
Silvia followed behind, feeling a mix of jealousy, envy, and joy. She envied Sulia's unique place in Ryan's heart but was also happy for the couple's strong relationship. She was glad for the marriage and for her lady's happiness.
"The Elector Count of Talabheim, Helmut, has gone missing. The entire city is in chaos. Shouldn't you ask Bertrand if Taal has any divine revelations? Otherwise, this city, known as the Eye of Taal, can't just continue like this. And Middenheim—your old friend Boris has been so devastated that he's withdrawn from the world. The White Wolf Knights have started internal investigations, and everyone is on edge," Sulia continued. "The Northern Army won't get any help from Middenheim or Talabheim, and the Empire's most elite and powerful forces are concentrated in these two cities."
"Why is everything in the Empire always so messed up," Ryan complained.
"Empress Helena wrote in her letter that the Emperor is doing his best," Sulia sighed. "Who would have thought that Chaos cultists had infiltrated the Empire's upper echelons so deeply? Didn't anyone notice? You didn't recognize them either back then?"
"After seeing the Teutonic Guards' performance in the Three Emperors' War, no one would have connected them to Chaos cultists," Ryan sighed. "And the Nuln Ironclad too. Frederik wrote that most of them didn't even know they were worshipping Chaos Gods. They thought they were following the rightful gods. Besides, the Winds of Chaos blow from the north and south poles across the entire world. Anyone living in this world carries some trace or influence of Chaos. If we were to execute everyone with even the slightest taint, at least 80% of a village would end up on the pyre. I wouldn't be wrong to execute every witch in the Witches' Coven."
"I think you just can't bear to do it," Sulia couldn't help but laugh. The Queen remembered something else: "I rejected Orel's request for a title, using Morgiana's name."
"Ah, I see," Ryan nodded. In truth, whether she was granted a title or not didn't matter much.
"Sometimes, too much love can be harmful. If not for your excessive indulgence, they wouldn't dare make such demands," Sulia said firmly. "I helped you this time, but don't push such matters onto me again."
"My mistake. It won't happen again," Ryan admitted readily.
"Speaking of which, where are Bertrand and the others?" Sulia asked about something else that interested her. "I saw them at the Palace of Fontainebleau just a couple of days ago, but they've disappeared since."
"The bishop of the Lady's Cathedral in Guisoreaux suddenly went mad. He cut open a festering sore on his back and let the pus drip into the Lady's holy water, infecting hundreds with a vile disease. I've sent Bertrand and his men to deal with it," Ryan said coldly. "At the same time, seven Shallyan sisters in Couronne suddenly contracted seven different diseases and slaughtered everyone in the hospice that day. Calard has taken a team to handle that."
"How could this happen? Why didn't you tell me?" Sulia was shocked.
"There's too much going on," Ryan looked up at the sky. "The Imperial Guard in the Forest of Châlons reported that in just the first few dozen days of this year, they've already killed hundreds of Beastmen. These creatures just appeared out of nowhere in the forest, as if blown in by the wind, with no regard for reason."
"Not a single mistake! The first release of this content is at 69 Book Bar!"
"The Forest of Arden isn't safe either," Sulia nodded. "We've stationed heavy troops along the forest border."
As soon as Sulia finished speaking, Ryan suddenly sensed something.
Or rather, the entire world suddenly sensed something!
A thunderclap exploded in the sky!
Like a storm, pure Chaos swept across the mortal world, bringing with it a mysterious fury. Blood rained down, boiling and searing wherever it touched living flesh.
The sky and fields were illuminated by multicolored flames, and clouds and stars twisted into evil, grinning faces, heralding the coming destruction!
Ryan was shocked.
Something terrible had happened. A crucial node of the Great Vortex had failed!
The Grey Knight Primarch instinctively turned his gaze southeast.
...I am Ryan's shocked dividing line...
From Bretonnia, to the Black Mountains, to Tilea, to the Border Princes, to the southern end of the World's Edge Mountains, and to the legendary Dragon Isles, the ancient burial grounds of the dragons who once ruled the world.
"Yay! Yay yay yay yay!"
The Space Wolves Primarch Leman Russ raised his fist to the sky.
He had won! A complete victory!
Our Primarch, Father's good son Russ, and his Wolf Guard Bjorn the Fell-Handed had just routed an entire Dark Elf legion. Even the leader of this legion, Malus Darkblade, known as the Witch King's right-hand man, had been defeated by Leman Russ. If not for Russ holding back, Malus Darkblade would have surely perished.
Soon, the Dark Elves fled on their Black Arks.
This time, Russ had learned from his past mistakes. He did not pursue the pointy-ears to the death but instead showed mercy, letting them go after a minor punishment.
Russ thought this would prevent any further trouble. After all, he had spared the pointy-ears this time.
Unfortunately, his exploration of the Dragon Isles had only yielded a few Old Ones ruins. Unable to decipher the Old Ones' script or solve their puzzles, the Wolf King left empty-handed. After wandering around for a while, Russ decided to leave with Bjorn.
Incidentally, Russ had encountered a High Elf eagle seeking help along the way. He understood the eagle's language but, far from being concerned about the Everqueen, he clapped his hands in delight.
Great! Now the pointy-ears are focused on their little queen. They shouldn't bother me anymore, right?
The Wolf King shooed the eagle away, feeling quite pleased with himself.
However, Russ did not realize that Malus Darkblade's Hag Graef legion had been sent by the Witch King Malekith to investigate and protect a crucial node of the Great Vortex on the Dragon Isles.
Shortly after Russ drove off the Dark Elves and left, a group of Skaven appeared at the Old Ones ruins.
They were the infamous Clan Moulder.
Under the orders of their Warlord, dozens of warpstone bombs were brought into the ruins. Then, a massive explosion completely destroyed the node of the Great Vortex!
The explosion echoed, and the chittering of rats filled the air~
The voice of the Horned Rat echoed from the Warp.
"Yes-yes! The Horned Rat calls-calls us!"
"Kill-kill! Kill all!"
"No-fur things, die-die!"
Amidst the endless "yes-yes" spreading across the island, with the collapse of this Great Vortex node, the Lizardmen in Lustria, the High Elves in Ulthuan, and Ryan, who was staring at the sky, all felt it simultaneously.
The Great Vortex across the world was violently shaken, and the maelstrom began to churn fiercely. Storms spread rapidly, as neither mountains nor seas could stop their advance. Daemonic legions poured out from these vortices, unleashed once more to wreak havoc upon the world.
Dozens of Chaos Daemon legions descended upon the world.
Khorne laughed with bloodlust.
Tzeentch cackled with deceit.
Nurgle chuckled with pestilence.
Slaanesh smirked with desire.
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