The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

Looking at the Templar standing in the center of the camp, Ryan's expression changed slightly.

"Alfred, are you serious?"

The Templar who volunteered stood before everyone, nodding vigorously. "I am serious. I believe that I am the only one suitable for this task!"

The person was Alfred, who had led a group of about a hundred Templars and flagellants to the camp.

"Alfred, this task is not as simple as you think. We need to transport a large amount of explosives to the bottom of the conduit," Ryan said, furrowing his brow. "Do you understand what it means to detonate explosives in an underground, enclosed cave?"

"It means that even if I use the Holy Shield, I might not come out alive," Alfred understood well.

"Even so, you still..." Ryan looked at Alfred, the newly appointed Duke of Mousilon, hesitating.

The Holy Shield was not invincible. Currently, Alfred, with his legendary strength, could maintain the Holy Shield for twelve seconds, usable once a day.

But even so, the Holy Shield could not protect Alfred from the most severe and terrifying damage. Faced with such an explosion, he was likely to be blown to pieces on the spot.

"No one but me can handle this job," Alfred said earnestly. "First, as a Templar, I naturally counter undead powers. My plate armor is inscribed with blessings, and the Holy Light can temporarily protect me from undead magic. Furthermore, as you mentioned, the Holy Shield."

"But..." Ryan knew Alfred's mind was set. He opened his mouth, "This is too risky."

"Do you have a better candidate than me?" Alfred countered. "You can't be thinking of going down there to light the fuse yourself, can you?"

Ryan hesitated again.

The Duke's original plan was to have a willing peasant soldier light the fuse, promising great rewards to the peasant's family and elevating them to free citizens. Ryan believed many peasants would volunteer for such a promise.

However, with Alfred insisting, Ryan couldn't refuse, especially since he had asked him directly.

Ryan exchanged a look with Teresa: Can you ensure Alfred's safety?

I'll do my best, the sorceress gave Ryan a reassuring look.

"Alright then." Ryan finally nodded. "In that case, Alfred, the dwarf engineers will prepare enough explosives. Veronica will infuse them with a large amount of fire energy. Your task is to place the explosives and then enter the conduit to ignite the fuse. At that time, I will lead the entire army to attack the city, distracting the defenders and creating an opportunity for you."

"Understood, leave it to me!" Alfred was confident, responding loudly.

With Ryan's order, the dwarves began testing. The chief engineer of the Angrund clan, Haralf the Gold Seeker, led the dwarf engineers and craftsmen to calculate how much explosives and force were needed to collapse the walls using the conduit.

Teresa also began preparing spells to cast ice barriers and frost shields on Alfred, increasing his chances of survival.

Everything started to proceed in an intense and orderly manner.

Meanwhile, deep in the forest outside the allied camp.

Blinding green light illuminated the midnight forest. The Green Knight, riding his ghostly steed, wandered through.

For a thousand years, he had protected this country. The knightly kingdom was his everything. The Lady of the Lake had granted him immortality and eternal life. For a millennium, he watched this country from its birth, to prosperity, to its zenith, and then to decline. The Green Knight had experienced too much; mortal emotions had gradually faded, and his heart was weary. All he could do was continue to fight, ceaselessly. Over the millennium, he had killed tens of thousands of beasts and countless strong enemies with his sword.

Holding the Blade of Pain, the Green Knight walked slowly through the forest.

"In the end, Landuin left me too," he murmured. "But in Ryan, I see a new strength. Perhaps... he can bring new life to this kingdom."

"Therefore, I cannot allow you to appear here." The Green Knight's cold, indifferent eyes looked deep into the forest. "Why do you appear here now?"

"I came for my bloodline." From the depths of the forest emerged a knight whose age was indiscernible.

This knight was burly, clad in a set of blood dragon armor inscribed with dark red runes. His pale hair fell from the gaps in his helmet, and a massive blood dragon statue adorned his helmet.

The knight's appearance was simple, save for the dark red blood dragon armor and the large sword he carried. He had nothing else.

Yet, standing there, it was as if he had conquered everything, trampling all enemies underfoot. With every move, the space around him was consumed by a blood-red aura. The hem of his armored skirt was stained with blood. When he spoke, the surrounding plants seemed to slowly turn away, as if wanting to escape everything.

His appearance was rugged, showing the marks of time, but his gaze was commanding. His every word seemed to be the absolute truth of the world, remembered by all living beings. The era of the living was over! Now was the time for his dominion!

His presence shook the world, intimidating all races. His unrivaled majesty demanded absolute respect from those facing him. If one looked into his history, they would find his life marked by sweeping destruction, an unyielding force that overcame everything in its path. No one could stand against him.

Only in the knightly kingdom had he met the Green Knight, and their battle had ended in a stalemate.

The Green Knight focused on his old adversary, rolling the Blade of Pain in his hand. "You finally came, but I must say, you did not keep our oath. You promised me."

"Yes, for that, I apologize, my esteemed adversary." The knight approached slowly. "So, I have come to resolve this issue."

"You wish to challenge him in a champion duel?! I won't allow it." The Green Knight's voice was cold and unwavering. "He is not yet ready to face you."

"I look forward to it," the knight said, his overwhelming arrogance slightly restrained in the presence of the Green Knight. "I look forward to his growth. He will one day be my equal."

"But not now." The Green Knight rode his steed closer, walking side by side with the knight. "If you want to face him, you must first face me."

"I promised." The knight nodded. "I promised I would not trouble the knightly kingdom."

"But your bloodline has caused much trouble here." The Green Knight said faintly. "They have brought great distress to this country."

"That was an accident. Besides, I am me, and my bloodline is my bloodline. I have never controlled them."

"You do not control them, yet you appear here."

"I came with a solution to the problem," the knight said confidently. "To resolve this, I visited the ruins of the ancient empire of Usoran and collected something. I keep my promises. I once hoped to create a kingdom of heroes and ideals with you, but you refused."

"The living and the dead can never coexist, never... I remember now, Usoran was your old master." The Green Knight nodded. "So, what do you intend to do?"

"Bring that young knight here," the knight said, enunciating each word. "I want to make a deal with him. Rest assured, I, Ebo Wallace, patriarch of the Blood Dragon family, swear not to harm your future king!"

The speaker was none other than Ebo Wallace, the Blood Dragon Patriarch, one of the five vampire families. Known for his immense power and dragon-slaying feats.

The Green Knight remained silent, his expression hidden behind his helmet, unreadable. He stared at Ebo Wallace, seemingly hesitating and contemplating something.

After a long time, the Green Knight finally nodded. "I will bring him here. I hope your terms will satisfy him."

"I will."

The Green Knight's figure slowly retreated, disappearing into the forest. Ebo Wallace let out a low sound from deep in his throat and nodded slightly. "You still give everything to protect this kingdom, my esteemed adversary."

"But I have nothing left worth protecting. Usoran's empire and Neferata too." Ebo Wallace recalled the years of battle with the Green Knight and smiled wryly. "The glory of the past is long gone."

"All that remains is emptiness!"

...… I am the line of emptiness ...

An hour later, Ryan, led by the Green Knight, stood before the Blood Dragon Patriarch.

The two sides engaged in serious discussion.

"So, you want me to spare the blood dragon vampires in the city?" Ryan furrowed his brow. He knew the origin of the person before him—terrifyingly powerful. This was Ebo Wallace, the Blood Dragon Patriarch, possibly the strongest warrior in the old world. His strength was unimaginable; he had once single-handedly slain a dragon and drank its blood, freeing himself from the vampire curse. He had single-handedly destroyed several armies. Ebo Wallace was once synonymous with invincibility. No one could challenge him, none.

"Yes," Ebo Wallace said softly, his eyes under his helmet fixed on Ryan's face. "I once fought the Green Knight to a standstill, recognizing him as my first true opponent. We made a pact; I would not trouble the knightly kingdom."

"But you didn't keep your promise!" Ryan said discontentedly. "Your subordinates have brought too much suffering to this kingdom."

"That was an accident. I had entrusted everything to Varazi Haken, but he failed to control his men," Ebo Wallace said slowly. "I apologize for

 that, but I cannot watch my bloodline perish here. That is why I am here."

With that, Ebo Wallace clapped his hands, and four blood knights emerged from the forest, pushing twenty large chests. "Of course, everything comes at a price. I won't let your interests suffer. I promise."

"I won't yield to the undead. I despise vampires who desecrate the living and feed on blood," Ryan said righteously. "The undead have caused enough harm to this country. I am the rightful Duke of Mousilon. I must be responsible for this land. This is my right and duty. Indeed, due to Chaos's intervention, I did accept the surrender of the von Carstein family, but that does not change my aversion to the undead. Now you want me to spare the vampires in the castle who have committed numerous atrocities. That is impossible. No matter what sincerity you show, it is simply..."

The twenty large chests were opened. Each chest was two meters long and one meter wide. The first ten chests were filled with countless gold and silver treasures, pure gold and silver, and various jewels and ornaments, each worth a fortune.

The last ten chests were packed with endless gold coins of various types—Imperial Gold Marks, Bretonnian Gold Crowns, Estalian Gold Excellents, Kislevite Gold Ducats, Tilean Gold Talents.

One chest even contained dwarf oath gold coins, numbering over a thousand! The rich runic power and dwarven craftsmanship proved their authenticity.

Two chests were filled with high elf sovereigns! These exquisitely crafted coins depicted castles, spires, and temples, sometimes dragons, pegasi, and other magical creatures. Each gold dragon coin could be exchanged for twenty-five to thirty gold crowns.

Even more astonishing, one chest contained legendary Jinshi coins from the ancient and distant empire of Cathay! Older than any known human era, these were priceless treasures in the market!

When the last chest was opened, Ryan was speechless.

The final chest contained not many items, mostly small silver leaves. These leaves, made of pure silver, represented different trees such as ash, elm, maple, oak, or birch. Though they seemed unremarkable, Ryan recognized them. These silver leaves were the universal currency used by elves before they retreated from the old world! Their exquisite craftsmanship made them incredibly valuable, each leaf selling for 250 gold marks on the Empire's black market!

"How about it? Is this enough to buy my bloodline a way out?" Ebo Wallace dismissed the gold and silver with disdain. To the Blood Dragon Patriarch, such things were mere externalities. Only honor and martial prowess were the true path.

Ryan took a deep breath, his voice trembling.

"Simply... irresistible."

"Then it's a deal," Ebo Wallace nodded.

"However, I have one more condition!"

"Speak."

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