Warhammer Divine Throne

They are even conspiring for independence.

After the brief private meeting concluded and when they came out, Laine was still discussing the matter with Surya. In the carriage, the couple sat together, and Surya continued, "If Bertrand and Remon’s investigation is correct, then a full-scale revolt in Léonas is just a matter of time, and this could potentially bring unpredictable variables to our offensive against Musillon."

"..." Laine did not speak; he just nodded lightly and remained silent.

Seeing Laine’s silence, Surya continued, "Should we discuss this with my father and the Quenalis Champion Knights brothers?"

"That is possible, collective brainstorming might help, but perhaps it still won’t greatly assist Leonas," Laine nodded first and then suddenly shook his head, "We might propose many solutions, but they are just discussions. Surya, the Kingdom’s north is not like the south, and their problems cannot be solved overnight."

Surya sighed deeply upon hearing this, "If only the Kingdom’s north could fully learn from your reforms, switching to collective fixed tax collection."

Since this year, the four duchies in the southern Brittania, namely the Boldro Duchy, Winford Duchy, Bastogne Duchy, and Kakasong Duchy, have collectively decided to learn from Laine’s tax reform plan, changing from the original ten-tax-nine (Winford was ten-tax-seven) to a fixed tax and implemented tax reduction incentives to encourage peasants to work more and earn more, encouraging nobles to redevelop those wastelands. As long as a wasteland can be defended for three years, the dukes are willing to create new noble titles.

Castles and villages abandoned for many years have been restored, Chaos minions are hunted in the forests, many long-abandoned barbarian lands are resettled, and the Goddess’s radiance once again shines on many corners of the southern Kingdom. Advanced smelting technology and industrial technology introduced from the Empire and Dwarves have brought significant profits, trade prosperity, agricultural harvests, and industrial innovation have greatly changed the lives of the peasants, alleviating to some extent the sharp conflict between the knight class and peasant class. The huge profits brought by the import and export trade led by Laine benefited the knights of the duchies. While benefiting, the nobles who were long aware of the Kingdom’s problems began to side with Laine, and the voices of many conservative nobles also gradually quieted down while enjoying the profits.

Because they realized, perhaps Laine indeed had the ability to rejuvenate this thousand-year-old Kingdom.

Francois and Bohemond took the opportunity to unite and publicly support Laine’s views, and the firm stance of these two Holy Sanctuary Holy Grail Knights ensured the continued implementation and deepening of reforms.

After the Estalia incident, Duke Boldro Bodric defied all dissenting opinions and, for the first time in Brittania’s history, officially visited the Great Temple of Manannan located on a small island off the coast of Boldro. No one knew what Duke Bodric and the Sea God Manannan communicated, but after he returned, he announced that Boldro would fully support Laine’s attack on Musillon.

"I will notify Oliver and his men to send more personnel to closely monitor Leonas’s movements." After thinking for a long time, Laine finally made a decision, "Also, message Duke Lorne, informing him of Leonas’s issues and asking him to intervene."

"Mm, I understand." Surya nodded in agreement.

When the couple returned to the castle, the female sorcerer Teresa was already waiting.

"Laine, mother has already decided to lead a large Witch Corps to visit your domain after this autumn’s harvest, and she asked me to inform you," the female sorcerer, dressed in a fresh white form-fitting blouse paired with straight blue wide-leg pants, showed off her tall, slender figure. Teresa was very pleased about her mother’s upcoming visit here.

"Excellent," upon hearing this, Laine’s heart calmed down.

This attack on Musillon indeed requires Aurora’s assistance.

......I am the Witch Visiting Group’s dividing line......

Meanwhile, in the Old World, Brittania, the Cursed City Musillon.

The black and gold snake emblem belonging to Mathew Bade hangs on Musillon’s city walls. This Cursed Land is plagued by extreme weather all year round. When the wind calms and the sky clears, Musillon is shrouded in a thick mist. Even when the wind blows, it’s a gale strong enough to topple trees. When it rains, it’s torrential downpours, sometimes mixed with large hail. Thunderstorms are often accompanied by lightning that sometimes sparks forest fires, but fortunately, these fires do not spread far since the entire land of Musillon is submerged in swamps.

At the center of Musillon, in Merovin Castle, the Black Duke of Musillon, Mathew Bade, sits on his Blood Throne. The young and handsome Black Knight’s complexion grows paler even as his power strengthens.

Once, Merovin Castle was also a place of blooming flowers. Its gardens were filled with irises. If one looked from Merovin Castle, the endless fields were filled with dancing fireflies, and the entire plain was a magnificent sight.

But that was hundreds of years ago. Now, Musillon no longer has flowers; even if there are, they are dead.

Duke of Musillon, Mathew Bade, stood up and gazed out of the window. In June, hail was falling in Musillon, and the strong wind hit him in the face, soaking his black-gold satin robe.

Mathew Bade’s expression became dreamy as if he returned to more than a decade ago when that young ranger knight, full of chivalry and honor, came to Musillon for the first time, vowing to save this land.

Once, he was a faithful believer of the Lake Fairy. Among the younger generation, no one was more devout than Mathew Bade. No one. He used to be one of the most skilled and glorious Chivalric Knights, performing many heroic feats.

But the lie was eventually shattered. When Mathew Bade arrived at Musillon, he found a cup of pure Holy Water in an abandoned Holy Grail Church. He thought it was a blessing from the Lake Fairy and immediately drank it, hoping to become the legendary glorious Holy Grail Knight.

Everything changed. Instead of being destroyed by the Holy Water for harboring evil thoughts or receiving an Oracle or becoming a Holy Grail Knight, his godfather, the Witch Demon King Akhan, had left his Magic on him that activated, revealing to him the truth about the Lake Fairy.

When he realized this, Mathew Bade resolved to seize the throne for himself, liberating this land from the Lake Jade Pool’s lie forever.

But how could he prove the Lake Jade Pool’s lie? The Duke of Musillon was utterly confused. He could firmly believe in it because Akhan’s Magic and his trust in his godfather allowed him to ultimately see the truth. However, if he shared this information, everyone would think he was insane.

Therefore, to expose the Lake Fairy’s lie, Mathew Bade must become a king himself and then find a way to the Holy Grail Cathedral to reveal everything.

The Black Duke of Musillon was still contemplating when the hall doors were knocked: "Come in."

A Black Knight wearing black Cursed Armor and donning a Dragon Wing Helmet entered. His name was Belites.

This Black Knight held a unique status as he was the half-brother of the renowned Holy Sanctuary Holy Grail Knight — Kaled-Galament. After Kaled’s fiancée Elizabeth poisoned Kaled’s father and stepmother, an extremely bitter Belites swore he would never forgive Kaled and Elizabeth’s "atrocities" and left alone, vowing one day to make Kaled pay blood for blood.

However, what he eventually heard was that Kaled had become a Holy Grail Knight. Knowing that revenge was impossible, Belites chose to come to Musillon to pledge allegiance to Mathew Bade, whereupon he was immediately transformed into a Vampire. To avenge, he was willing to give anything.

"What is it, Belites? I have said, do not disturb me unless it’s important," Mathew Bade coldly stated.

Belites didn’t have time to respond before an angry and piercing female voice interrupted Kaled’s words. The sound of high heels clattering on the solid stone floor echoed loudly as a noble lady, lifting her gown, stormed in from the doorway: "Mathew Bade! So here you are!"

So it was this young lady. Mathew Bade let out a cold smile in his heart. His handsome and pale face seemed warm and earnest: "Dear, you are here?"

"We agreed it would be three years, but now three years have passed and then some, and it’s almost been eight years now, Mathew Bade, when do you plan to marry me?"