The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

"Wait, don't rush to answer," Karl Franz said, staring at the burning fireplace and the smoke rising from it. The Emperor of the Empire raised his hand, "I don't want an offhand answer. I want you to think seriously before responding."

Ryan thought to himself, *You just told me not to take it too seriously, and now you're asking for a well-considered response?*

Reflecting further, Ryan understood the emperor's inner conflict. He wanted an answer but was afraid of what it might entail.

"If you want a casual answer, I'll give you one. But if you want a serious response, how can I assume the role of the Emperor of the Empire? I don't know anything about these people," Ryan retorted. "You've given me three candidates. I know a bit about Gelt, but I've only met Otto once, and I don't know the Royal Chief Wizard Cernus Gehrman at all. How can I seriously consider this?"

"Haha, well then, give me your casual thoughts first, and I'll fill in the details," Karl Franz replied, relaxing a bit as he reached for a bottle of fine wine, "Lysalus," near the fireplace. He was about to pour himself a glass when Ryan, noticing the emperor reaching for a glass that Amelia had used, discreetly handed him a new one. The emperor understood, took the new glass, poured himself some wine, and sipped contentedly, smacking his lips. "Hmm, you've married a wonderful wife. She's helped you in many ways. I've heard about these fireside chats... Of course, I'm not saying Helena isn't a good wife; it's just that her skills in domestic affairs don't match Sulia's."

"Hmph! Of course, that's my Sulia!" Ryan's voice carried a hint of pride. Karl Franz smiled slightly, knowing that despite having two court ladies, Ryan was famously devoted to his wife.

In a public setting, Ryan's demeanor might seem a bit shallow, but in this informal family visit, it showed trust and a sense of ease with Karl Franz. Moreover, the emperor understood that Ryan was sending a subtle message.

The emperor was clear about it: taking the family approach had its merits.

"It's said that High Chancellor Otto of the Light College is a peak Legendary wizard, while Cernus Gehrman, the High Chancellor of the Fire College, and Balthasar Gelt, the Grand Alchemist, are both at the Sanctuary level. So, I think the Royal Chief Wizard should be chosen from one of these two," Ryan said, leaving a hint before smiling. "It depends on what you prioritize. If you want more battlefield support to strike harder against enemies, choose Cernus Gehrman. If you're looking for broader benefits, Balthasar Gelt might be a better choice. Of course, Otto has proven his value and loyalty as the High Chancellor of the Light College, so choosing him is also a sound decision."

*Broader benefits?* Karl Franz's eyes flickered. Ryan seemed to be hinting at something without saying anything concrete, speaking in vague terms.

"I said we're speaking privately. You don't need to fob me off with diplomatic language," the emperor drained his glass of wine, leaned forward, and placed his elbows on his knees. He smiled bitterly, "I just want your advice, not a brush-off."

"With the current information, that's the best advice I can give you," Ryan replied, deftly tossing the responsibility back to Karl Franz. "I'm just a guest. My emperor, you're the decision-maker."

"Call me Karl privately," the emperor reluctantly agreed. "Alright, let me explain the situation."

"First, there's High Chancellor Otto of the Light College..." The emperor began discussing Otto, whose background had been previously mentioned, so it wasn't repeated.

After hearing about Otto, Ryan felt it difficult to comment, as it involved the Church of Justice. He chose to remain silent.

"Next, we have the current Royal Chief Wizard, Cernus Gehrman, the High Chancellor of the Fire College," the emperor continued. "Gehrman is a powerful Sanctuary-level fire mage, often using flames to inflict devastating damage on the battlefield. He has served as the Royal Chief Wizard since my adulthood, often acting as my father's advisor in internal affairs. He is one of the most trusted wizards left to me by my father."

Ryan nodded, signaling for the emperor to continue.

"But because of this, Gehrman has accumulated significant political influence in the Imperial court over a long period," the emperor added, staring into the flames. He even added another log to the fire, intensifying the flames. "Moreover, Gehrman has close ties with the military nobles, as it's hard not to appreciate a comrade who repeatedly uses magic to devastate enemies on the battlefield."

"The worst part is, Gehrman is one of my father's legacies," Karl Franz said with a bitter smile. "He sometimes talks to me in a lecturing or admonishing tone, as if he has some permission from my father."

"I understand," Ryan nodded again, recognizing that such "trusted ministers" rarely fared well. Whether their intentions were good or bad, new rulers typically didn't like them. They were necessary at first but often faced suppression or even retaliation over time.

From the emperor's tone, Ryan sensed a faint dissatisfaction with Gehrman—not hatred, not rejection, just some dissatisfaction.

Moreover, for Karl Franz, Gehrman extending his influence into the military was a serious concern. The army was the emperor's most crucial support within the Imperial court. Karl Franz wielded the God Hammer Ghal Maraz and rode either a Pegasus or the griffon Deathclaw to the front lines in every major battle, earning the respect of military nobles across the Empire.

Of course, the emperor didn't need to say all this, and Ryan didn't ask, as it wasn't necessary.

"Lastly, there's Balthasar Gelt, the Grand Alchemist of the Empire. He arrived in Marienburg by ship, paying his fare with conjured gold, and joined the Alchemist's Guild," the emperor recalled, laughing at the memory. "The cheated captain issued a bounty in Marienburg, but no one dared to claim it. Then he came to Brunswick to lodge a complaint, but it was to no avail, as there was no evidence after the fact, even though we all knew it was Gelt's magic."

"Gelt's strengths lie in his rapid advancement in magic and significant achievements in gunpowder and alchemy. He's logical, brave, and never shies away from responsibility. More importantly, he's loyal!" the emperor emphasized.

Ryan's expression twisted slightly; his facial muscles twitched as he nodded.

"But Gelt's problem is his lack of a strong foundation. His influence in the wizarding and court circles is limited, and the origins of his serendipitous encounter are mysterious. The ruins of the Old Ones, what exactly Gelt obtained there, remains a mystery. I later sent people to investigate those ruins, but they were destroyed," the emperor continued, oblivious to Ryan's reaction. "Do you know anything about it? My advisors told me that the manor where the ruins were found was recovered by you and your sorceress courtier."

"That's right. I also explored the manor and found the ruins of the Old Ones," Ryan confirmed, sharing that he had driven out a Manticore there, omitting some details.

"Alright, I've told you about the three candidates," Karl Franz continued without dwelling on the past. "You don't have to answer right away; think it over. You're about to become a king. If you were in my place, what would you do?"

Ryan pondered for two minutes before suddenly smiling. "Karl, the fact that you're asking me means you've already made up your mind. Am I right? Why seek my approval if you already have an answer? You have so many subordinates and courtiers you could ask."

"...Because you don't have a stake in this," the emperor said, staring at the flames. "If I ask in the Imperial court, everyone will instantly respond with the name of their favored candidate, but that's not what I want."

If he asked Vikmar, the answer would undoubtedly be Otto; if he asked the Imperial army, it would likely be Gehrman; and if he asked the musketeers or Amelia, it would definitely be Gelt. They weren't genuinely interested in who was best suited; they had already taken sides.

Ryan understood the emperor's dilemma. "So, if you've already decided, why not just appoint someone?"

Karl Franz smiled weakly, "Ryan, I'm curious, how do you get along with the Enchantress Morgiana?"

"How do we get along?" Ryan hesitated, "We each handle our own responsibilities. When necessary, we consult each other and respect each other's opinions. Morgiana isn't someone who disregards advice; if needed, I'll try to persuade her."

"Is that so? That's nice. As the Emperor, I can't even appoint a Royal Chief Wizard on my own," Karl Franz sighed. "But I can't be a mere puppet either. My concern is that I want someone who can help and advise me, but others don't see it that way."

Both leaders fell silent, staring at the flames as if they were pondering something profound.

Karl Franz thought, *If what Ryan says is true, then the Enchantress Morgiana isn't as difficult to deal with as the rumors suggest. It seems the rumors are indeed unreliable.*

*If only Archbishop Vikmar were as agreeable as the Enchantress Morgiana.*

As for Ryan, his face remained stoic, but he was deep in thought about how to proceed.

The emperor was unaware that Ryan had his own vested interests in this matter.

However, Ryan knew that if he spoke too favorably about Gelt, praising the Grand Alchemist, it might backfire for obvious reasons

.

How could he support Gelt without antagonizing the emperor?

"Karl, you're thinking about this all wrong," Ryan said after a few minutes. "You're confusing the purpose of the Royal Chief Wizard position."

"Why?" Karl Franz was intrigued.

"The Royal Chief Wizard's role is to provide you with the best magical solutions and support," Ryan explained, speaking earnestly. "That's the essence and purpose of the position. But you've turned it into a bargaining chip for various interests!"

The emperor's eyes brightened. "You're saying?"

"Such an important position shouldn't be acquired through various means and deals," Ryan said seriously. "Karl, you need to ensure fairness and impartiality. As the emperor, you should oversee the competition and ensure that the three candidates rely solely on their magical abilities to determine the winner. This way, no one can argue with the outcome!"

Of course! The emperor's eyes lit up with clarity, but he quickly hesitated. "But what if..."

"Do you have no confidence in him?" Ryan asked pointedly.

"I see!" Karl Franz finally showed a determined expression. He extended his hand to Ryan. "I know what to do now. Thank you, Ryan."

"You're welcome," Ryan replied, shaking hands with the emperor.

Having received his answer, the emperor didn't stay much longer. He arranged for both families to visit the royal zoo together in two days and then took his leave.

By this time, it was late, and young Devonshire had fallen asleep. Ryan and the others also prepared to rest.

Amelia, in her plush slippers, approached her son, smiling sweetly. "Frederick, how about you sleep with your brother tonight?"

"Okay!" The little boy, unsuspecting, eagerly agreed, genuinely enjoying his brother's company.

"Good boy," Amelia said, patting her son's head with a joyful smile. "You're such a good son."

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