The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

The light in Veronica's beautiful almond-shaped eyes nearly overwhelmed Ryan as she squirmed with excitement, her face gradually turning red. "Oh! My God! Wow! I mean... Ryan, you... that…"

"Calm down, Veronica." Ryan smiled wryly. "I regret telling you here."

"Is it really a Light Magic Steed? Really? Oh my God, I've wanted to ride one since I was three!" Veronica was so excited she didn't know what to say. The Garland Witch, rarely losing her composure, repeatedly hammered her thighs with her small fists. "Oh my God, oh my God!"

A Light Magic Steed is an extremely powerful war machine, created over many years through secret methods by the Imperial College of Light Wizards. It consists of a warhorse, a carriage body, and magical instruments atop the carriage. The warhorse and carriage are easy to obtain, but the magical instruments atop the carriage are crucial.

The magical instruments on the Light Magic Steed have three functions that every spellcaster dreams of.

First, stable overload. The magical instruments on the Light Magic Steed link several mysterious optical devices, which can overload a spellcaster's magic, multiplying its original power several times or even dozens of times! For example, a Soul Fire spell, after being overloaded by the optical devices, can directly shoot out a beam that instantly vaporizes any soul!

Second, fixed spellcasting. The Light Magic Steed is also a chariot bound with a powerful magical array. By pre-setting spells on it, this powerful war machine can instantly cast any spell except for grand incantations, storing up to three spells!

Third, it assists in perceiving and storing the Winds of Magic, which is self-explanatory.

The Empire controls the Light Magic Steeds with extreme strictness. In the entire Garland Council, only Speaker Margarita possesses a Light Magic Steed! This is a terrifying war machine that money cannot buy.

Could it be that she, Veronica, would be the second witch in the council to own such a war machine?

"Dear, tell me, how did you get a Light Magic Steed? The Empire actually agreed to sell it to you?" Veronica asked repeatedly, her face filled with pride and disbelief. "How is that possible?"

Grape ran swiftly, the streets on either side retreating rapidly. Before long, Veronica's Dawn Wizard Tower, glowing with white light, was in sight.

"How is it impossible? I heard your Garland Council's Speaker Margarita also has a Light Magic Steed, which is an antique over a hundred years old." Ryan dismounted and then helped Veronica down, continuing to talk.

"That was a token of affection from His Majesty Ludwig to Speaker Margarita!" Veronica was amused by Ryan. She put her hands on her hips and stood firmly in front of Ryan, her almond eyes filled with his reflection. The Garland Witch's questions came one after another. "Only the Imperial College of Light Wizards, with the help of the Brunswick Arsenal, can build such a terrifying war machine. Every wizard hopes to own a Light Magic Steed, but the Empire always keeps them as the highest reward for wizards... Even Teresa's mother, Aurora, tried everything and couldn't get one! Hey, dear, if you really get me a Light Magic Steed, I'll be way ahead of that little princess!"

"Aurora? I remember she has quite a few connections in the Empire." Ryan muttered.

"Yes, Elder Aurora is very well-connected in the Empire. She sought help from many nobles and wizards, but all were rejected. The only exception was a noble who oversaw the construction of one part of the Light Magic Steed. He was interested in Aurora and agreed to help, but the day after he agreed, he and his family were secretly executed by the Empire. Since then, Aurora never dared to mention the Light Magic Steed again, nor did she dare to go to the southern Empire." Veronica laughed. "Otherwise, why do you think the little princess has been with you for so long and Aurora hasn't come to visit?"

"I think it's because this is Bretonnia." Ryan and Veronica walked towards the wizard tower.

"Bretonnia? Sort of. In this country, your lady and the Lady of the Lake in your castle have the final say." Veronica held Ryan's arm. "It essentially doesn't welcome foreign spellcasters."

"Good morning, mentor." "Good morning, council member." "Good morning, council member!"

At the entrance of the wizard tower, Veronica's former apprentice Catherine, along with two young witch apprentices, waited. They were all dressed in red robes. Catherine, now over twenty and more graceful than ever, saw her mentor and the count together and quickly greeted them in a low voice. "Good morning, Count."

"Good morning, Catherine." Ryan instinctively wanted to pat Catherine's head but quickly realized she wasn't the little maid Emilia, so he awkwardly withdrew his hand. "Catherine, long time no see."

"Catherine, what's the matter? Why are you waiting here?" Veronica noticed something unusual.

"Mentor, this is a letter from the council, sealed with Speaker Margarita's ring." Catherine handed over a letter. Veronica hesitated before opening it to read quickly without revealing its contents.

A letter personally written by Margarita must be extremely important, best read in her private area.

"Wow! It's Count Ryan-Macado!"

"So handsome! So dashing!"

"Oh, it's the Count! The Count!"

"Ah, it's Count Macado, I'm dead!"

On the third and fourth floors of the wizard tower, a group of little girls peeked from the windows, watching Ryan and Veronica, but dared not approach because of Veronica's imposing presence.

Opening the tower's door, they ascended the spiral staircase. Veronica then asked, "Tell me, dear, how much did you spend ordering this Light Magic Steed from the Empire?"

"Five thousand gold crowns."

The Light Magic Steed itself wasn't super expensive, but it was an absolute strategic reserve item in the Empire. If it weren't for Ryan's good relationship with Emperor Karl Franz, the emperor wouldn't have allowed its sale. The Light Magic Steed, with its immense power and low production, was irreplaceable.

The door to Veronica's private quarters opened with her spell and closed immediately after they entered. Her private area was carpeted in bright red, with the dome decorated with stars symbolizing the sun and sky. The patterns on the walls and dome moved on their own, indicating Veronica was deducing something.

"Five thousand gold crowns... Ryan, you really are giving it to me?" In her private quarters, Veronica seemed to relax. She breathed a sigh of relief, her almond eyes showing warmth and gratitude. She hugged Ryan's neck, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him. Then, looking doubtful, she said, "My great knight, is there some plot here?"

"If you don't like it, you can pay for it yourself." Ryan teased. "I can advance the payment, and you can pay me back in installments, bit by bit."

Veronica sat on the bed, stretched out a silk-clad foot, and signaled Ryan to help her remove her high heels. Ryan smiled and obliged. "How about my proposal?"

"Five thousand gold crowns… My wizard tower's monthly income is only one or two hundred gold crowns." Veronica complained, "I spent most of my savings building the wizard tower. Your Garland little princess borrowed three thousand gold crowns from me. Now, there are only one or two thousand left in the treasury. How am I supposed to repay you? Are you trying to take advantage of this?"

"There are many ways to repay." Ryan looked at Veronica mischievously. She suddenly blushed, realizing what he meant. She wanted to retreat but found her ankle gripped by Ryan. "Damn it, Ryan, what are you doing?"

Ryan helped Veronica take off her high heels, placing them under the bed. He held her delicate foot, playing with it for a while, enjoying the soft skin and red nail polish. He laughed at her words. "Alright, I said it's a gift, Veronica. You know, you're my first woman."

"Hmph, that's more like it." Veronica proudly raised her head and motioned Ryan to come closer.

These two affectionate people snuggled together under the covers. Ryan held Veronica in his lap. "It's not that quick. The Empire hasn't finished delivering. You still have to assemble it yourself, inscribe the magic arrays, inject magic, and adjust the magical and optical instruments. How's your magic recovery?"

"Mostly recovered." Veronica leaned against Ryan's chest, holding his hand. She quickly realized her skirt was lifted to her waist but didn't resist, blushing. "The Speaker asked if I needed more staff and inquired about the Light Magic Steed."

"It seems the Garland Council knows you'll have a Light Magic Steed soon. Their news is fast." Ryan thought the council might be trying to see if they could also order one through his connections.

"Speaker Margarita doesn't dare to contact you directly because you're the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion. So she contacted me, but what can I do?" Veronica shook her head helplessly. After thinking for a while, she whispered, "Ryan, you gave me a Light Magic Steed... What about Trovik? Aren't you afraid she'll cause trouble?"

"But only one can be bought. She's severely injured and needs long-term rest. I also plan to attack Blackstone Stronghold. If I don't equip you now and form a combat-ready unit, who knows when we'll be ready for the Blackstone Stronghold attack." Ryan sought Veronica's opinion. "What do you think about attacking Blackstone Stronghold? Sulia is very serious about it. She hopes I can use my title as the Lady's chosen champion to

 summon a knight army and prepare with François for the attack, along with the dwarves."

Veronica understood that Ryan wanted to discuss this matter with her. In considering an attack on Blackstone Stronghold, everyone in his territory had their own interests: knights craved military glory, commoners sought promotion, and Emilia, Olica, and Morgiana didn't want Ryan to take risks. Only Veronica had no particular stance and would wholeheartedly consider Ryan's well-being. "If you want me to think clearly, get your hand off my leg!"

"Hehehe~" Ryan hugged Veronica's waist, giving her time to think.

After five minutes of careful consideration, Veronica spoke, "Ryan, I think the attack on Blackstone Stronghold shouldn't be rushed. You must be thoroughly prepared, very thoroughly. It's best to wait until Trovik has recovered and your territory and the kingdom have fully recovered from the war's exhaustion."

"That will take at least a year." Ryan nodded.

"Then a year, or even longer. The Necromancer Heinrich Kemmler has been operating in Blackstone Stronghold for years. You must be prepared before attacking. I understand Lady Sulia's thoughts. Her grandfather, the previous Duke of Winford, died in Kemmler's first invasion of Bretonnia. The ducal family has a blood feud with Kemmler. But you must stay clear-headed and not fight unprepared. Blackstone Stronghold is inside the mountains, not on the plains." Veronica continued, "Your army needs time to practice coordinating with the dwarves. Don't be hasty. You're the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion, a model of chivalry."

"Wise advice." Ryan decided to prepare thoroughly before attacking Blackstone Stronghold, not rushing into it.

"As for Trovik, I suggest you let her recover before attacking Blackstone Stronghold. Having another legendary ice and psychic sorceress will increase our chances of success. As for the Light Magic Steed... We're already sharing a man. Sharing a magic chariot isn't impossible." Veronica smirked. "But the Light Magic Steed must belong to me."

"My great witch, I love how sensible you are."

"Then why don't you cook me a sumptuous lunch yourself?"

"On it!"

…

Old World, Bretonnia, capital of Bordeleaux, Bordelaux.

The Mannan Shipyard was as busy as ever, with merchant ships from most orderly races around the world bustling in and out of the docks. Since the Axe Bite Pass trade route was cut off, Bretonnia's main external trade areas were jointly handled by Le-Angoulême and Bordeleaux. The Mannan Dry Dock, as an excellent deep-water port, could accommodate high elf ocean fleets. Many believed that Duke Bodrick of Bordeleaux was one of the main beneficiaries of Teclis' visit to the Old World. The lucrative trade with the high elves had filled Duke Bodrick's treasury with gold.

At this moment, an imperial large sailboat docked at Bordeleaux, loaded with a lot of imperial goods and even imperial troops. After presenting the trade license and a pass signed by the duke, it was quickly allowed entry.

Several people disembarked from the large sailboat.

The first person, if Ryan were present, he would recognize as the Rick Guardsman (now officially promoted), Master Engineer Wagner from Nuln.

The second person was a tall man like a brown bear, over two meters tall, wearing a black rune-encrusted gromril plate armor with Nuln's emblem—a golden lion holding a balance on a black background—on his shoulder. A runeblade hung at his waist. With his brown hair and well-groomed long beard, he looked imposing. He was a grim, silent giant.

The third person was a slender woman, veiled and robed, holding a huge scythe. She moved like a specter, shrouded in visible magic, even at noon. Nearby people felt a chill, unable to see her face.

The fourth person wore a tattered sea knight plate armor decorated with turquoise and enamel. His brown hair, shoulders bearing the family crest of the sea god's trident, and a scimitar at his waist exuded the glory of the lake god. His blood-red eyes and glowing skin indicated he was no longer a mere mortal. "Welcome to my homeland, Bordeleaux, Lady Elspeth, Mr. Theodore, Mr. Wagner."

"It's a beautiful place. If not for seeking Emmanuelle, we'd certainly stay longer." Wagner shook hands with the sea knight.

Their presence alerted the dock guards. As the sea knights approached to question them, they were stunned, their initial hostility turning to joy. "Fe… Fedmond, my lord!!! You're finally back!!!"

"Tell father, by the Lady's grace, I have completed my Grail Quest and returned."

Happy New Year! The Son of Heaven sends New Year blessings to everyone: first, health; second, good luck; third, unstoppable fortune; fourth, eternal happiness!

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