Chapter 1072: Thank You, Taro!

Konstantinye, the headquarters of the Ashen Legion, had been nearly half-destroyed during the great battle a few years ago. However, with the influx of new recruits and the spoils of war, the city was quickly rebuilt, with significant help from the Lizardmen.

As a result, the rebuilt Konstantinye bore distinct Lizardmen architectural influences. Fulgrim had constructed a grand palace for himself, most of which was used as an opera house or a museum. The opera house was Fulgrim’s and the Phoenix Guard’s favorite place, hosting performances almost weekly. Fulgrim alone had rewritten thousands of scripts from memory, ranging from ancient Terra’s prehistoric operas to rare works he had collected from various planets during the Great Crusade. Thus, theater performances became the favorite pastime of Konstantinye’s residents.

The museum, of course, was filled with tapestries, paintings, sculptures, and trophies documenting the glorious achievements of the Purple Phoenix and his Ashen Legion. Among these, the most prized trophy was ironically the most inconspicuous—a Nurgle-corrupted pistol called The Lantern, sealed with golden runic chains by Fulgrim.

Outside the museum was a large marketplace where one could find carefully selected meats, wines, seafood, vegetables, fruits, pastries, cheeses, and honey. Luxuries like silk, jewelry, goldware, leather, glassware, and perfumes were also abundant. Besides humans, Lizardmen and High Elves traded here daily, with occasional appearances by Dark Elves or Dwarfs.

Fulgrim’s personal residence was lavishly decorated. The reception hall was elegant and luxurious, made of ivory, gold, pearls, and gemstones. The ceiling was adorned with a canopy, and the throne’s backrest featured the golden double-headed eagle of the Imperium, along with a flaming eagle claw motif. The throne was wide, cushioned, and designed for two, but Fulgrim never sat on the left side. The left seat was occupied only by a book titled The Lectitio Divinitatus 3.0, authored by Lorgar Aurelian.

Many were curious about this Lorgar, but most found no information. Only a few, like the commander of the Hussars, Julius, had met him. When asked, Julius would usually shake his head, at most revealing that Lorgar was a brother of Fulgrim and Ryan, with strength comparable to his own.

Fulgrim’s private quarters were equally opulent. The marble floors were covered with exquisite brocade rugs embroidered with floral patterns. Delicately carved ivory and silver furniture adorned the rooms, while stained glass windows bathed the space in soft, colorful light.

Fulgrim’s office had three large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a terraced garden, but thanks to the Golden Wizard’s magic, no one outside could see in.

The garden extended downward to the shimmering sea, dotted with winding paths, flower-filled terraces, marble fountains, and numerous pavilions nestled among trees and plants. There were also underground passages leading to the harbor, allowing Fulgrim to travel to the docks.

The Wood Elf Princess Carolna lay on a soft couch, shyly covering herself with a blanket. She gazed affectionately at Fulgrim, feeling that the past few years had been blissful. Fulgrim was so charming that Carolna was utterly captivated, wishing she could cling to him every day. In fact, her father, Talsyn Forest Lord Alarielle, had repeatedly asked her to return, as he had been injured during the Battle of Wolfenburg and needed her help. But Carolna refused to leave. Wood Elves valued freedom and spontaneity, so Alarielle couldn’t force her.

“You need a Lizardmen Sun Engine?” Fulgrim closed his eyes, communicating with Ryan over ten thousand kilometers away. He knew such long-distance communication drained psychic energy, so he kept it brief. “What for, and when do you need it?”

Ryan succinctly explained his needs.

“Persuading the Lizardmen to hand over a fully functional Sun Engine is nearly impossible. There are fewer than a hundred left in Lustria, and only Lord Kroak knows how to make them, lacking the rare metals required,” Fulgrim thought carefully. The Primarch of the Emperor’s Children instinctively reached for his wine glass but found it empty. With a wave of his hand, a bottle of Bretonnian Haut-Brion wine flew from the distant cabinet into his grasp.

“Even with your good relations with the Lizardmen, there’s no way?” Ryan sounded disappointed.

“Not entirely,” Fulgrim pondered. “In the rebuilt Golden City of Chaqua and the Awakening City of Huata, we’ve discovered Sun Engines that have fallen into disrepair. I can persuade Lord Kroak to give us one. I can repair it. I’ve tested it—a fully functional Sun Engine can provide 1400-1500 horsepower, more than enough for your land cruiser… By the way, you actually made that land ship work?”

“Oh? Brother, you can repair engines too? I thought only Perturabo and Vulkan knew how to do that,” Ryan’s voice was filled with interest. “I didn’t know you were into that, Fulgrim.”

I suspect you’re mocking me, you little brother! Fulgrim’s veins bulged as his mood soured. He had been interrupted in the middle of something enjoyable.

Today had been uneventful. Last night, he had spent the evening with Carolna, and this morning, the Wood Elf princess had come in wearing a new outfit, supposedly fashionable in the Old World, and initiated intimacy. Carolna was clingy, and for Fulgrim, a goddess-descended, wild, and tall, athletic princess was a decent companion—at least sturdy enough not to break or fall apart easily, with a reasonably long lifespan. So Fulgrim had gone along with it. He wasn’t obsessed with such activities, but unlike some of his brothers who had no interest at all, he was more like Jaghatai Khan of the White Scars—take it or leave it.

But being interrupted mid-act was frustrating, so Fulgrim’s tone turned dangerous. “Oh? You doubt me? Brother, let me tell you, if there were STCs available in this world, I could hammer out an Emperor’s Baneblade with a single tool. Don’t forget, I’m a miner by origin. There’s nothing technical I don’t understand.”

You’re a miner by origin? I’d have thought you were born into the Habsburgs or Bourbons! Ryan thought to himself, amused by Fulgrim’s perfection, nobility, and aloofness.

“What’s the plan, brother? Name your terms,” Ryan said after a brief silence. Long-distance psychic communication was draining, so he decided to cut to the chase.

“I need a force of elite knights, preferably Questing Knights,” Fulgrim stated after some thought. “Additionally, I want to import ten million kilograms of grain from you at standard prices.”

“Deal. I’ll convince the Lady to send a force of thirty Questing Knights, plus a reinforced battalion of five hundred squires and freemen infantry to Lustria under your command. Consider it training,” Ryan agreed without hesitation. “I have plenty of grain—tons of it. I started building several massive grain reserves five years ago. I can mobilize some.”

“Thank you, Taro!”

“You’re welcome, Shafrin!”

As the End Times approached, Ryan had consciously begun large-scale grain storage. The dukes and governors obediently followed his orders to establish massive reserves. However, Ryan didn’t enforce strict control; the dukes could sell some grain if prices rose. The dukes and the Knight King agreed to coordinate on grain prices, though some, like Duke Ford and Duke Theodoric, were dissatisfied. No one dared to defy Ryan’s decisions.

Apart from the knightly nobles’ grain reserves, the most astonishing stockpile was held by the Lady of the Lake’s church. The church’s tithe was collected in kind, and according to Morgiana, the church had amassed over a hundred million kilograms of grain over the years. Recently, some old grain had been sold or used for charity, leaving around eighty million kilograms.

“That’s just my condition,” Fulgrim added. “As for the Lizardmen’s terms, I’ll discuss them with Lord Mazdamundi. Hold on.”

“Alright!”

After ending the psychic communication, Ryan suddenly lost all interest in intimacy. He lifted Emmanuelle and placed her beside him, then began massaging Sulia’s feet, sheathed in glossy black tights. He sighed, “It’s a bit tricky. Brother Fulgrim wants a force of Questing Knights and a squire infantry battalion.”

“The Questing Knights aren’t a problem,” Sulia said after a moment’s thought. “Many Kingdom Knights have been considering giving up their secular titles to embark on the Quest for the Grail in recent years. I’ll speak to the Lady and arrange a group Quest. As for the grain, this year’s harvest is still abundant. Ten million kilograms is a lot, but we can adjust exports. Besides, Brother Fulgrim isn’t asking for it for free.”

“True, but it’s still a hassle!” Ryan groaned, leaning back. “Why can’t Brother Fulgrim just get me one for free?”

“Get me one too!” Emmanuelle’s eyes lit up at the mention of the Sun Engine. The mistress of Nulr wasn’t well-versed in high-tech engineering, but she knew the basics. Hearing about a 1500-horsepower engine?

This was a treasure! If they could get one to Nulr and have Chief Engineer Maybach figure out the原理, wouldn’t they be able to create something revolutionary?

This treasure must be shared with Nulr! With that in mind, the Countess threw herself at Ryan, wrapping her arms and legs around him. “Ryan, get me one too!”

“What do you mean, ‘get me one’? You’re already the mother of three. Want another one?” Ryan teased, letting Emmanuelle find a comfortable position in his arms. He gently caressed her slender legs, sheathed in sheer patterned tights, and her delicate feet, feeling his interest rekindled.

“Ryan!” Before Emmanuelle could respond, Sulia spoke up with a hint of displeasure. “I don’t mind you two doing something, but wait until the banquet is over. Also, I haven’t settled the matter of Shire Trolovic with you yet!”

“I’m sorry, my lady!” Ryan genuinely felt guilty about this and could only awkwardly lower his head. “I was forced. The situation changed.”

“Oh? Really?” Sulia gave him a knowing smile. The queen pressed lightly but didn’t push further. “That’s at most half the reason. I know you. If you didn’t want to, they couldn’t force you.”

“Hehehe~” Ryan chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head.

Sulia let it go, knowing to save face for Ryan in front of Emmanuelle, though the Countess surely understood. The queen leaned back on Ryan’s shoulder. “The Sun Engine—it doesn’t run on coal or firewood, does it?”

Could coal or firewood produce 1500 horsepower? If so, Nulr’s steam tanks would have taken to the skies long ago.

“Right,” Ryan nodded, his expression serious as he addressed Emmanuelle. “That’s what I wanted to say, Emmanuelle. The Sun Engine requires psychic energy or the Winds of Magic.”

“Sigh~ No problem. We have Frederick!” Emmanuelle said nonchalantly.

Sons are meant to be sold!

“Him? That’s like using a small horse to pull a heavy cart! Emmanuelle! How can you sell your son like that?” Ryan laughed, holding his little maid. “Frederick’s psychic energy isn’t enough to fill that gap. Most likely, I’ll have to charge it, or at the very least, the five Grey Knight recruits or Veronique. If possible.”

“Speaking of Veronique, including Theresa and Erona, they’ve rarely helped you since the reconstruction of the College of Magic, right?” Sulia brought up another matter. “They consume so much of the budget each year. I know they’re your court ladies, but don’t let them get too comfortable. Money doesn’t come easily.”

“Nulr wasn’t built in a day, Sister Sulia,” Emmanuelle defended Veronique and Theresa. “Establishing a wizard’s guild from scratch is a massive expense. The Black Lady of Nulr has been deployed fewer than ten times in decades, yet she still takes a significant chunk of the city council’s budget every year. But she’s saved Nulr more than once in critical moments.”

“Hmm… that’s true,” Sulia glanced at Emmanuelle.

Indeed, this little maid is my greatest rival!

Ryan, however, was deep in thought.

Veronique, Theresa, and Erona had consumed a lot of the budget for reconstruction, temporarily limiting their combat effectiveness. On the other hand, Ryan’s battles had escalated in scale.

Simply put, if Ryan didn’t deploy them, they wouldn’t act. When he did, it was often large-scale battles involving dozens of legions and numerous Saint-level fighters. Veronique and the others’ roles had become limited, and Theresa and Erona, who disliked going out and lacked sufficient strength, had even faded from the main combat roster.

Theresa and Erona also handled intelligence work, so staying behind was understandable. But Veronique couldn’t just take money without contributing. Thus, the Luminark had to be mounted on the land cruiser.

Ryan was convinced this would be the decisive factor in future wars.

Now, only the engine issue remained.

After about an hour, Fulgrim’s psychic message arrived.

“Brother, in principle, Lord Mazdamundi has agreed to your request, but there’s a condition,” Fulgrim’s voice came through the Warp. “The Firstborn of the Old Ones demand that you and your knightly forces, at an appropriate time, cross the sea to attack the Old Ones’ ruins in Albion—the city of Konquata, which is infested with Chaos daemons and barbarians.”

“What’s the purpose?” Ryan asked, puzzled.

“Lord Kroak plans to use the Old Ones’ stone circle in Konquata, when the stars align, to summon an ancient Slann—one of the first spawn of the Old Ones, a demigod, and one of the most powerful guardians left by the Old Ones for this world. A being who once single-handedly wiped out five Chaos daemon legions.”

“Its name is Nakai the Wanderer!”