"I haven't been to Couronne in many years," mused Brenner, a bounty hunter with Saint-level strength, as he gazed at the city walls of Couronne. The magnificent city, marked by the clear influence of High Elven architecture, was adorned with the flags of all the Bretonnian duchies, though the lion banner of the Bretonnian kingdom was the most prominent. The city was bustling with life.
"Think of it as a vacation. I invited you here; my brother Ryan is about to be crowned. Take this as a chance to enjoy yourself, see the sights," Angron, clad in ancient bronze full-body rune armor, cheerfully clapped Brenner on the shoulder. "Don't look so serious; maybe you need to hit a tavern and have a drink?"
"No, I'm just not used to it," Brenner replied, still somewhat haunted by the memory of his recent adventure with Angron in the underground palaces of Estalia's Tobaro duchy.
Brenner and Angron had ventured deep into the underground ruins of Tobaro, a place filled with the remnants of the ancient human kingdom of "Titus" and High Elf colonies, teeming with treasures but also rife with dangers. For about five hundred years, every adventurer who had entered the underground palaces of Tobaro had vanished without a trace—no bodies, no signs, nothing. Despite increasingly lucrative rewards, no one dared to take on the task.
It wasn't until Brenner was half-coerced into accepting the mission that the underground palace was explored again. Faced with the temptation of 10,000 gold marks and a legendary artifact, Brenner reluctantly agreed. He sought out Angron, proposing they team up for the task. They agreed to split the 10,000 gold marks equally, with the Dwarf artifact going to whoever needed it more. If both needed it, Brenner would compensate Angron further.
Angron agreed, not for the reward but because he loved the thrill of adventure.
The two formed a small team and descended into the depths of the Tobaro duchy.
It wasn't until they were deep inside the palace that Brenner fully realized how fortunate he was to have Angron as a partner.
This man was incredibly strong.
With Angron's protection, Brenner was free to unleash his full potential, knowing that any attack would be intercepted and crushed by Angron.
As expected, the Tobaro underground palace had fallen to ruin, overrun by Chaos cultists and Skaven.
In the face of thousands of Chaos cultists and Skaven, Angron and Brenner worked in perfect sync—Angron took on the role of tank and soldier, while Brenner used his unparalleled marksmanship to take down key targets like Chaos leaders, Skaven warlords, and Grey Seers. Together, they fought dozens of battles in the underground palace, ultimately destroying the Skaven undercity and Chaos altars.
In the final battle, the Skaven made a desperate move, summoning a Skaven Verminlord to turn the tide.
But the Verminlord, summoned at the cost of several Grey Seers, took one look at Angron and fled in terror, causing the Skaven army to collapse. The two completed their mission and uncovered a shocking truth: the Prince of Tobaro was a deeply corrupted Chaos worshipper!
Naturally, this news reached the Temple of the War Goddess Myrmidia in Magritta. Enzo Moretti, the Grand Master of the Knights of Myrmidia, led a large group of knights to bring the Prince of Tobaro to justice, executing him by fire. Over a hundred corrupted nobles were captured, and the entire city was purged.
Brenner received 5,000 gold marks and was gifted the "Myrmidia's Judgment," a two-handed rune sword personally blessed by the War Goddess Myrmidia. He also found five custom-made warpstone bullets in the Skaven's underground base, each capable of blowing the head off a Stormvermin ogre with a single shot. Brenner carefully stored them for future use.
Angron also received 5,000 gold marks and was gifted the "Griffon's Roar," an eight-shot rune musket crafted by the Dwarven artisans of Tilea, which roared like a Griffon when fired and could pierce the armor of Chaos champions.
Both were satisfied with their spoils and agreed to team up again. Angron then invited Brenner to Couronne to attend Ryan's coronation. After their successful venture, Brenner agreed, feeling he deserved a break.
"Not used to it? A mercenary not used to cities?" Angron looked at Brenner incredulously. "That doesn't sound like a mercenary. Don't tell me you prefer sleeping in the wilderness or underground."
"No," Brenner shook his head, his round helmet bearing the golden sun emblem of Myrmidia. "I'm not used to Bretonnia. This country never needs mercenaries. I can rarely find work here, so I seldom come to Couronne—only occasionally to accept commissions in Carcassonne."
"I've taken commissions in Carcassonne. I ate so much mutton I got sick of it," Angron laughed, patting his stomach. "A whole week of nothing but mutton. I couldn't stand the taste for over half a year after that."
"That's why I rarely come to Couronne," Brenner nodded. "I'm glad you understand."
The two entered the city, which was on high alert. Angron's massive frame drew wary, hostile glances from the guards, who suspected he might be a barbarian. However, Angron had a pass signed and sealed by Ryan and Sulia. After careful inspection, the guards found no issues and, after a routine warning, allowed them to pass.
"So, you and Duke Ryan are actually brothers? That's hard to believe," Brenner remarked as they walked through the city. "I mean, it's hard to imagine your father being unknown. You never seem to talk about him."
"My father?" Angron sneered at the mention, waving dismissively as if swatting away something filthy. "My father was an idiot, a complete fool, a disgusting man."
"Uh, this may be a bit personal, but could you tell me more?" Brenner asked, taken aback by Angron's harsh words.
"In my early years, I was a gladiator—a fighter in the bloody arenas, forced to entertain others," Angron began, his voice heavy with old wounds. "That was many years ago. Later, I broke free from that life, leading my fellow gladiators out to form a mercenary band called the Warhounds."
"The Warhounds... I've never heard of them. With your skills, something must have happened, right?" Brenner, knowing Angron's near-demigod strength, quickly deduced the situation.
"Yes, I was young and overconfident, taking on a mission that was nearly impossible," Angron admitted. "We went up against enemies far beyond our capability. I knew we might lose, but I had no regrets."
"Then, my father forcefully took me away, making me watch as my brothers and sisters were slaughtered by the enemy. The Warhounds were wiped out, and I was left alone." Angron sighed, his face etched with deep sorrow. "I don't want to say more. That's how it is now; I just want to be a landowner and occasionally go on adventures."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Brenner said, though he wanted to know more, he respected Angron's wish to drop the subject.
"Hey! Lord Angron! Hello there!" Before Angron could respond, the raspy, emotion-filled voice of Blackheart Rep echoed through the streets of Couronne. The mercenary leader, followed by a tall, thin knight and several retainers, enthusiastically approached. "I knew you'd be here!"
Blackheart Rep had spent some time in Ryan's territory, so he was somewhat familiar with Angron. Although Angron couldn't quite remember Rep's name, he recognized him as one of his brother's subordinates and nodded. "Hello, uh..."
"Littbird, Captain of the Bretonnian Independent Regiment, though you can call me Blackheart Rep like everyone else," Rep said, noticing Angron's hesitation and reintroducing himself. "This is Durant, my close ally and partner."
After exchanging pleasantries, Rep learned that Angron had come to attend Ryan's coronation and eagerly suggested they go together, as he also needed to report to Ryan and share recent news and discoveries.
Angron had no objections; he was eager to see his nephew. Brenner, who had originally planned to explore the city, decided it could wait and agreed to join them. The group made their way to the palace.
As they walked through the bustling streets of Couronne, every shop was open, offering various discounts to attract customers. The opera house was in full swing, with a line of noble carriages outside. On the streets, minstrels and performers entertained passersby, while every household hung banners and ribbons, ready to celebrate the moment when the new king would be crowned.
Following behind Blackheart Rep was the tall, thin Durant, who felt a twinge of unease.
Blackheart Rep had returned to the Border Princes around last November, loudly proclaiming, "Surprised, aren't you? Littbird is back! Return what you took from me and give back what you owe!"
At first, the Border Princes scoffed at Rep's bravado, considering it a joke. Blackheart Rep had thrived in the Border Princes by relying on two things: a cavalry unit of 200-300 armored knights and a battle-hardened mercenary band that followed his every command.
Both had been nearly wiped out during Tamurkhan's invasion. While Blackheart Rep was indeed formidable,
rebuilding his forces would take at least five to six years, if not longer.
The common folk of the Border Princes, however, welcomed Blackheart Rep's return. After all, he was one of the few warlords who had offered significant resistance during Tamurkhan's invasion. Hearing of his return, the war-weary and chaos-stricken commoners flocked to his banner.
Then came the surprise: Blackheart Rep hadn't returned alone. He brought with him a well-equipped Bretonnian veteran company and held the exclusive franchise for goods from Couronne.
For the Border Princes, where resources were scarce and the land not particularly fertile, Blackheart Rep's newfound power was overwhelming and irresistible. He quickly established the "Principality of Brissac" north of Seagate. He now commanded over 3,000 swords, making him one of the larger warlords in the region.
Worse yet, Blackheart Rep could receive a steady stream of support from Couronne. His city provided a new market for Bretonnian goods, and the dukes began to take note of his importance. One after another, support forces arrived at Seagate.
Durant had initially been one of Blackheart Rep's fiercest rivals, and the two had clashed several times, even engaging in direct combat once. However, Durant soon realized that Rep's support was inexhaustible, and Bretonnian knights had even begun to appear in his ranks!
How could he fight that?
If you can't beat them, join them!
After negotiations and overtures, Durant eventually became one of Blackheart Rep's closest allies and loyal partners. His army and forces were absorbed into Rep's command, completing their alliance.
Arriving in Bretonnia, Durant realized just how wise his decision had been. Blackheart Rep indeed had powerful connections!
With Angron's pass, the group made their way into Couronne Palace. The veteran soldier and ranger knight Raymond, who led the way, naturally recognized Angron and saluted him. "Lord Angron, you've finally arrived!"
"Hey, when's Ryan's coronation scheduled?" Angron asked, giving Raymond a hearty pat on the shoulder, clearly in good spirits.
"The day after tomorrow morning!" Raymond replied loudly.
"Great, lead the way," Angron nodded.
As they entered the east wing of the main keep, a small figure in a silk dress came running out from the hall, shouting, "Uncle Angron!"
It was Devonhill! The little boy had seen Angron coming through the window and excitedly dashed downstairs, followed closely by the head maid, Sylvia. "Young master, wait, don't rush!"
"Uncle Angron!" Devonhill ran up to Angron, who scooped up his nephew with one hand. "My dear nephew, Uncle's back! Haha~ Do you want a present?"
"I want a present, but I want Uncle more!" Little Devonhill waved his tiny fists. "Where did Uncle Angron go?"
"Haha~ How about a kiss~" Angron kissed his nephew on the cheek. "Uncle Angron brought you a whole box of Araby chocolate and the best Estalian cheese. Do you like that?"
"I like it~" Devonhill's adorable antics made Angron practically melt. He lifted his nephew onto his hand and asked Sylvia, "Where's Ryan?"
"The Duke and Duchess are both upstairs," Sylvia replied, bowing. "Allow me to show you the way."
"Good!"
———I am the line for a good uncle———
In 2511, the autumn of Couronne Palace, the Day of the Lady of the Lake.
The coronation ceremony for the new King of Knights was officially held at Couronne Palace.
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