Warhammer Divine Throne-Chapter 644 - 284, Gathering of Heroes_2

Laine's name is well-known, and his feats have reached the ears of the empire's nobility. Naturally, the Imperial Knights knew they needed to send an equivalent Champion Knight.

The challenger before him is the Champion Knight of the Griffin Knight Order, Rog.

Before Laine could speak, this Champion Knight took out a glove and threw it at Laine.

Standing not far away, communicating with a Moore Knight, Francois frowned. The Duke of Winford noticed that Carl Franz did not oppose but was rather interested in seeing how the situation would unfold.

Francois thought this might be a coincidence aligning with the Emperor's wishes. It seems the Empire's new Emperor is also interested in Laine's strength, or perhaps this is not a coincidence at all but a deliberate arrangement by Carl Franz.

The new Emperor of the Empire acts overbearingly, with a strong style, but he also inherited his father Luitpold's excellent diplomatic skills. In just a few years since his ascension, this young Emperor not only secured his position but also gradually consolidated the Empire's power through a series of diplomatic maneuvers and military victories.

Francois thought of the aging Knight King Richard of Brittania, sighing inwardly.

Richard is not as capable as Carl Franz, and this is already recognized across the Old World. It is said that Richard intends to have his distant grandnephew, the Duke of Connet, Lorne-Rio Cornwall, succeed the Knight's Throne. However, because of Mogiana's serious injury, this matter has been put on hold, and in Francois's view, Richard still clings to power, unwilling to relinquish the throne.

"For honor, I cannot refuse this challenge." Laine accepted the glove, the face of the Lake Fairy Chosen Champion still bearing a faint smile: "However, our duel must have meaning; after all, we are fellow humans, aren't we?"

"Laine speaks well-founded words." Emperor Carl Franz nodded and smiled as his attendant quickly brought forth two bolts of velvet fabric: "This is fabric from the famous Tailor Shop of Lady Egger in Brunswick, which I will award to the victor."

Now, this is a gift for my precious daughter, Francois thought.

"Then, if you'll excuse me, Your Majesty Franz, and Boris." Seeing the reward, the Holy Grail Knight showed a smile, following the Champion Knight of the Griffin Knight Order out of the hotel's main door.

The Toscan Prince-Elector and Duke Avey, Umberto Corleone, approached the Emperor, holding a glass of red wine. The bearded Prince-Elector lowered his voice and said, "Is this your arrangement?"

"Why not? We must know how strong he is, right?" Carl Franz shrugged: "Twenty-nine years old, a Count, Holy Grail Knight Commander, Divine Chosen Champion, the exiler of a Great Demon... Shall we go and watch the duel?"

"Thud!!!"

Before he finished speaking, a loud noise was heard outside the hotel, like the sound of a blunt object smashing something.

Carl Franz and Umberto's expressions changed.

Everyone at the banquet instinctively turned their gaze to the hotel's entrance.

The knight from across the mountain, Count Laine Macado, re-entered the banquet hall from the hotel's entrance with a smile. He was dragging the leg of the Champion Knight of the Griffin Knight Order, Rog, whose armor scraped against the ground, producing a harsh metallic sound.

The Champion Knight of the Griffin Knight Order was unconscious, his eyes rolled back, mouth expelling stomach content, but he seemed not to be in life-threatening danger. The Emperor's attendant quickly dragged this disgraceful figure back out of the banquet hall.

"I knew it would turn out like this," Boris Prince-Elector gloated. Seeing the Emperor's Champion Knight defeated with one strike, Boris felt delighted.

Initially, it was our White Wolf Knights; now it's your turn.

The Lake Fairy's Chosen Champion took the fabric and, holding a glass goblet, approached the Emperor: "Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty. Let's continue."

"Alright." Carl Franz's face remained cheerful, as if nothing had happened.

Inside, however, the Emperor was raging. The Griffin Knight Order serves the Emperor personally; while they might not match the Empire's top-tier knights, they aren't far behind. The Champion Knight Rog, aged thirty-five, was of Legendary Middle-tier strength, yet Laine had defeated him in a single strike.

What has my Empire missed out on?

Outwardly, the Emperor still appeared calm. He first introduced Laine: "There's no need to introduce Boris, but here, Lake Lady's Chosen Champion, is Toscan Prince-Elector and Duke Avey, Lord Umberto Corleone. Avey Territory is the Empire's major agricultural province and the second wealthiest region after Rick Territory. Lord Umberto is currently the only Prince-Elector to have participated in the Great Holy War. He has cast his vote for my grandfather, my father, and, years ago, for me."

"Hello, Lord Umberto." Laine knew the bearded Prince-Elector before him had unfathomable strength and was an important political ally of Carl Franz. He expressed adequate respect: "It is an honor to meet you."

"Great strength, young man." Umberto patted Laine on the shoulder: "I look forward to seeing more impressive performances from you." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Then, another Prince-Elector, looking somewhat affluent and worried, with a thin, long mustache, was introduced to Laine by the Emperor. Carl Franz warmly introduced: "This is the Wolfen Prince-Elector and Grand Duke of Oster, Vamil von Rukov. The Oster Territory is filled with forests and mountains. Since taking office, Lord Vamil has spent his life fighting against the Dark Creatures of the forests and mountains; he is a formidable general and a guardian of the Empire's northern border."

"I have long heard of your name, Laine Macado." Oster's west borders the Nord Kingdom, and the east borders Kislev, so Vamil naturally knew of Laine: "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Lord Vamil." Laine nodded in greeting. Oster is the Empire's most remote region, and to this day, it has not fully recovered from the devastation of the Great Holy War. Each Prince-Elector has tirelessly battled the Northern Barbarians and the Dark Creatures in the forests and mountains for decades on end.

"This is Baron Oleg von Rukov of Wolfen, heir to the Wolfen Prince-Elector," Carl Franz continued. "An outstanding general."

This was a young man in his twenties, wearing a hat with a sable brim. He was dressed in clothing bearing the red bull family crest, with a robust and proud build. He extended his hand to Laine: "Hello, Lord Laine Macado. Your strength has left a lasting impression on me."

"Hello, Lord Oleg." Laine shook hands with him: "I think our disdain for Chaos will always surpass any minor differences between us. Chaos scum is destined for destruction, I'm certain."

"I am certain too." Oleg nodded, for some reason finding an immediate affinity with Laine. The two soon found a place to talk privately.

"You have a courageous child in Oleg." The Emperor said to Prince-Elector Vamil: "But many of his ideas are quite bold. The Empire has tried to deeply penetrate the Northern Wasteland to destroy Barbarian Tribes, but whenever we've gone too deep, the losses have been severe, even to the point of no return."

"Oleg is a brave child. He found a mentor for himself, a White Wolf Knight who was heavily drunk in Wolfenburg. Although I initially disagreed, this Paladin's strength far surpasses expectations. If not for his intervention, we would have been utterly defeated in the Battle of Wolf Castle."

"That only shows Oleg's own excellence, qualifying him to be taken on as an apprentice. The Emperor nodded.

"Speaking of which, concerning the recent invasion by Casvan, my liege, what do you plan to do?" The Emperor's voice was filled with pride and confidence: "Watch and see."