The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

Several days of sea travel can be quite monotonous, but for Ryan, having the company of delightful companions made it anything but dull. With nights filled with revelry and song, the time passed pleasantly.

After eight days, they finally arrived at the Duchy of Bilbali.

The Sea God Fleet, naturally, didn't brazenly sail into the port of the Duchy of Bilbali, as that would have been tantamount to a declaration of war. Instead, as they neared the harbor, Ryan and his entourage transferred to a merchant ship, leading fifty Sea God Knights to land in Bilbali, masquerading as a trade delegation on a diplomatic mission.

The arrival of the Sea God Fleet put immense pressure on the Bilbali fleet and its nobles. The sight of the blue and yellow trident emblem on the harbor made the people remember the terrifying tales of how the Sea God Fleet once shattered the pride of the Estalian "Invincible Armada" and fed its remnants to the sea.

"What the hell are those damn Bordeleaux people doing here?!"

"This is free land! This is the domain granted to us by the war goddess Myrmidia, and we will not let the Bretonnians meddle!"

"Bilbali belongs to the people of Bilbali!"

"Oh God! Are they here to attack us?!"

Whether out of fear or curiosity, the residents watched as the Bordeleaux merchant ship drew closer to the docks.

First to disembark were Captain Pepe and his crew. The sailors from Bordeleaux, fierce and intimidating, were armed with cutlasses, muskets, or crossbows. They unloaded a significant amount of cargo and gathered at the port, their imposing presence overwhelming the dock guards and pressuring the tax officials who were preparing to collect duties.

Next came the formidable Sea God Knights, fully armored and clad in lavish yellow and blue surcoats. Each wore a cross or kite helm adorned with a golden mermaid holding a trident. Armed with tridents and carrying cutlasses at their waists, they marched in precise formation down the gangplank.

The mere presence of these knights made the tax officials realize that their three hundred dock guards were no match for the Sea God Knights.

But that was not all.

Following them, a knight in full Bretonnian mithril plate armor, wearing a gold-crested Sea God cross helm, appeared, bearing the emblem of the Bordeleaux family. Encased in armor that was a true work of art, each inch embellished with ancient scriptures and silver, his surcoat was covered with the Holy Emblems and intricate designs of the Sea God. Golden beads and relics from Bordeleaux's ancestors adorned him, with the fleur-de-lis patterns and a Holy Grail emblem on his shield.

This was a Grail Knight!

So handsome! This was the first thought of almost every woman on the dock.

And there was more. Following this Grail Knight, several individuals stepped out.

The first was clad in full plate armor of the Church of Justice, without a helmet. His shield bore the emblem of the Order of the Temple Knights. With golden hair and blue eyes exuding warmth and zeal, he waved to the crowd.

The second and third were women.

One had dark brown shoulder-length hair, dressed in a bright red robe of a senior Garland Council sorceress, and wielded the purple staff "Yndini's Staff." She smiled as she descended the steps, her oval face adorned with beautiful almond eyes filled with sweet smiles and curiosity. Her figure, graceful like a ripe peach, was accentuated by a pink tulip-patterned dress, with silver lace-up high heels as the finishing touch.

The next was a Dark Elf with long black hair flowing to her waist, wearing a black mask that obscured her face, igniting the imaginations of many regarding the beauty behind the mask. Her amber eyes were cold and merciless, and she wore a golden spiked crown. Her voluptuous figure was clad in a gothic black silk fishtail gown adorned with night stars, reaching just to her calves, revealing only her slender legs wrapped in black stockings and a pair of purple short boots.

Some sailors who had just returned from trading trips were already gawking at her with open mouths.

Finally, a handsome nobleman, dressed in a Bretonnian count's ceremonial outfit with black parted hair and a silver half-sword with a skull insignia at his waist, stepped out. He wore a golden Holy Grail Knight's emblem with white wings spread wide on his chest, exuding strong confidence and a slight rebellious air. His blue eyes scanned the surroundings, and he nodded, "So, we have arrived."

Bilbali, one of the most prosperous city-states in Estalia, displayed its wealth prominently. Most of its buildings were white-walled with red-tiled roofs, arranged in tiers from the coast up to the cliffs, creating a strong sense of depth and contrast. The structures were simple, mostly made of wood and stone in cool colors, stretching all the way to the edge of the cliffs.

Compared to the gentle sunlight of Bretonnia, Estalia's sun was much harsher and glaring, almost blinding. As mid-April approached, the locals wore only one or two garments. They didn't seem wealthy, but at least they showed no signs of hunger in this season of scarcity.

"The Duke of Bilbali's castle is on the cliff's edge. It looks more like a shoddy stone palisade," Captain Pepe pointed to the small castle at the far end of the city, baring his gold teeth. "Do you want to go see him now?"

Federmond turned his gaze to Ryan.

"Hmm… What's going on over there? It seems lively," Ryan hesitated slightly and then noticed the cheers and jeers coming from a tall building not far from the dock.

"The arena, Sir Ryan," Captain Pepe said enthusiastically. He didn't wait for Ryan to respond before continuing, "Sir Ryan, you must have heard of the famous Estalian duelists? The people here love duels and watching matches. Every city in Estalia has an arena! I love the bullfights, beast fights, and honor duels here the most!"

"Estalian duelists? Yes, perhaps the only notable thing from this country," Veronica remarked, crossing her arms with interest.

Ryan nodded. Estalian duelists were indeed renowned.

Unlike the Empire or Kislev, which spent most of their time battling northern barbarian tribes, the people here had much more leisure to dedicate to other pursuits. From science to philosophy, from crime to vengeance, bullfighting and fencing duels were among the most popular activities. Estalia was the birthplace of fencing, with its fine swords favored by Imperial nobles and many Witch Hunters.

Unlike the northern warriors who preferred war hammers, sword-and-shield, and axes, Estalians favored weapons that combined elegance and lethality. And, living in relative peace, they often failed to grasp the true danger of their enemies. Against heavily armored Chaos warriors, the poor armor-piercing capability of rapiers posed significant challenges.

Even so, Estalian duelists were famous across the Old World. They particularly enjoyed traveling to Bretonnia and Tilea, participating in numerous duels and wars to hone their skills. The bravest and most audacious among them ventured to the Empire or even Kislev, fighting on the front lines against Chaos.

"Interesting~" Ryan suddenly smiled. "Captain Pepe, lead the Sea God Knights to find lodging. It's best if we book the entire inn."

"Yes, sir." The captain bowed deeply and withdrew.

"Let's attend to business first. We should pay a visit to the Duke of Bilbali."

"Understood," Federmond nodded.

Ryan and his group naturally drew the attention of the residents as they passed through the city, although the streets were not very crowded, as many were attending the arena matches. The few remaining residents did not dare to approach Ryan's group too closely, but their gossip and especially their lecherous gazes towards the Dark Elf were inevitable. Over thirty pairs of greedy eyes lingered on the beautiful Dark Elf, with whispers coming from the corners and behind curtains.

This was the southern land, the so-called free territory, where only the most basic laws were upheld. Society here was livelier and more chaotic compared to Bretonnia and the Empire. Here, people openly questioned their lord's laws and shouted slogans of freedom. Anyone with a hundred gold crowns to buy knightly gear and pay the required dues could earn the title of knight. Here, no matter the crime, as long as one hadn't fallen to Chaos, they could be released upon paying bail.

The threats of Chaos from the north and Greenskins from the east were considered real, but the residents rarely saw Chaos warriors adorned with skulls or the marauding Greenskin boys. Hence, they were content with their simple lives. Their main concerns were the pirates from the pirate principality of Sartosa in Tilea and the occasional Beastmen lurking in the nearby forests. But these were seen as minor problems.

The Dark Elf, feeling the burning sunlight and the covetous stares, was filled with a rare fury. Olica almost reached for the pair of daggers at her waist.

The Butterfly Daggers, crafted by the Dwarven runesmith Deron Feinsen, bore runes sharp enough to cut through finely made human armor and flesh alike.

Ryan gently held Olica's gloved hand, signaling her to calm down. The Dark Elf leaned into Ryan, clinging to his arm without further complaint.

Veronica squinted at the Dark Elf, sensing Olica's strong murderous intent. The origins of this Dark Elf were clearly not simple. Meanwhile, Federmond focused his attention on the streets of Bilbali, looking for potential clues.

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at Duke Silva of Bilbali's mansion

.

The four-story white-walled, red-tiled mansion, built of stone blocks, looked more like a villa with a wall than a castle. Only about a dozen guards lazily patrolled the area, seeming more interested in soaking up the sun.

When they saw Ryan's group, the guards' first reaction was not to be on alert but to let their eyes wander over Veronica and Olica. Only then did they notice the Holy Grail Knight emblems on Federmond and Ryan's chests.

They instantly snapped to attention. The Holy Grail Knights, renowned as the foremost knightly order in the Old World, were known from Kislev to Estalia.

The guards looked as if they had been stung by a viper. They immediately stood straight. The lead guard, wearing a triangular helmet, shouted, "Bretonnians? State your names and business!"

"I am Count Ryan-Macado of Glamorgan, the chosen champion of the Lady of the Lake. I have urgent business with Duke Silva," Ryan said, approaching with an air of indifference. "Could you inform him of our arrival?"

"Uh, greetings, Sir Ryan." The guard recognized Ryan's name and saw the Holy Grail Knight emblem on his chest. In this world of gods, no one dared to fake such a badge.

Confronted by this human hero, the guard's tone softened significantly. "I'm sorry, but the Duke is not at home."

"Where has your Duke gone?" Federmond, holding back his impatience, asked, frowning. "We have urgent matters to discuss with him."

"The Duke has gone to the arena," the guard leader replied, knowing that the appearance of two Grail Knights meant trouble but unable to avoid answering Ryan's question. "There's an exciting bullfight today. Estalia's own brave, fencing master Fernandez Vasquez, is set to duel a captured woolly rhino in the arena! If Mr. Vasquez wins, he will earn five hundred Excellents!"

Excellents, Estalia's own gold coins, were somewhat inferior in value compared to the Empire's Gold Marks and Bretonnia's Gold Crowns. Five hundred Excellents were roughly equivalent to two hundred Gold Crowns.

Ryan and his group had no choice but to retrace their steps down the mountain path towards the arena.

"My dear, are you really going to the arena to find the Duke? This will make us far too conspicuous!" Veronica hesitated as they descended. "The arena is where the most people gather. It's possible the rogue knights are also mingling there."

"That's not a concern. What we fear most is that the rogue knights might be hiding in or near the city, staying inactive," Ryan thoughtfully replied. "As long as they make a move, we can more easily track them. Think about it, if I were a rogue knight and saw Bordeleaux people arriving, what would be my first reaction?"

"To subconsciously notify their Estalian employer and expedite the handover," the Dark Elf answered from behind her veil.

"The Sea God Knights and sailors will keep an eye on the city's activities," Federmond nodded in agreement.

After passing through three streets, they arrived at the arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Today, we witness a great duel! This will be the most spectacular match Bilbali has seen in the last two years!"

"Facing each other are… the pure-blood descendant of the Basque family, the handsome and dashing fencing master, Fernandez Vasquez!"

A man with brown long hair, a narrow face, a high-bridged nose, and slightly dark skin, dressed in half-plate armor, wearing a helmet with three feathers, and wielding a rapier and a red cloth, entered the arena amid cheers.

"And from the western Black Mountains… the Woolly Rhino!"

A ferocious rhino, about four meters tall and three meters long, with two sharp horns, was dragged into the arena by soldiers, bound with dozens of chains.

"Let the duel begin!"

With the bullfighting music playing, the match commenced.

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