Inside the tent, everyone watched the vampire baron who had appeared. Fedmond's face showed disgust, Gerald looked puzzled, Morgiana was eager to kill him immediately, and Teresa maintained an expression of aloofness and indifference.
The group held their weapons silently, directing their gaze towards Ryan.
"Do you think I would be willing to trust you?" Ryan sneered. "Why would I believe a vampire? You want to surrender to me? Do you even think you have the right to surrender?"
The vampire baron lowered his head, adopting a respectful stance. "I have four reasons to surrender to you. Please hear me out, Lord Ryan Macador. If you are not satisfied after listening, you can kill me immediately."
"What if I don't want to listen?" Ryan drawled. "The vampires of the von Carstein family are inherently treacherous and deceitful. What you say might all be lies."
"I swear on the blood of Vlad von Carstein that everything I say is true," the vampire baron, Hal Harris, watched as Ryan drew the Vengeance Goddess. The sword's blade burned with a silver flame, releasing immense energy.
A single strike could take Hal Harris's life, and he doubted if he could revive.
A vampire's life is eternal, and they can revive repeatedly, but not without a significant cost. If they encounter particularly powerful enemies or weapons, even the undead cannot revive.
Only Vlad von Carstein can rely on the Carstein Ring to resurrect infinitely. Hence, during the Vampire Wars, the Empire despaired when facing Vlad, who could revive no matter how many times he was killed.
Eventually, Archbishop Wilhelm III discovered the secret of Vlad's infinite revival. He hired the strongest thief from the slums to infiltrate the vampire camp and steal Vlad's ring. Without considering the consequences of losing the ring, the first vampire count, Vlad, perished and has been dead for centuries.
"Manfred said the same thing," Ryan sneered.
Hal Harris's face changed slightly. He cursed Manfred, the traitor, in his heart. He had considered joining Manfred but quickly dismissed the idea. Firstly, he wasn't a direct bloodline of Manfred. Secondly, Manfred might send him to his death at any time.
"The feeling of betrayal is like breathing."
— The last vampire count, Manfred von Carstein
"I will tell you everything," Hal Harris said softly. "I believe you want to know what happened at Richard Castle while you were fighting the Tzeentch Demon Army, don't you?"
The atmosphere in the tent shifted. Ryan frowned, thinking for a moment before sheathing the Vengeance Goddess. "Alright, let's hear it."
"First, you are powerful, Lord Ryan. Even the undead respect the strong," Hal Harris's hoarse voice carried an inexplicable tone. "Secondly, Chaos is our common enemy. I cannot tolerate our leader bowing to Chaos. The war between the undead and humans is one thing, but Chaos seeks to destroy everything."
Hal Harris suddenly laughed and whispered, "Third, I can tell you everything I know, including the battle at Richard Castle, Mashubad's secret origins, the Lich King Arkhan's orders, and the deal between Mashubad and the Tzeentch Great Demon, including the demon's goals."
After hearing this, Ryan shook his head coldly, "If that's all, you still face death. I have already sent rangers to scout the north. Arkhan's plans are nothing but attempts to revive the Lord of the Dead. I'm not interested in Mashubad's origins; he's been a scourge on Bretonnia for too long. It's time to deal with him."
"Hurry and tell me the fourth reason, or I will act now!"
Hal Harris knew Ryan wasn't bluffing and hurriedly said, "The fourth reason is I stole the Duke's crown from Mousillon Castle! If you accept my surrender, I will give it to you!"
The vampire baron's words left everyone in the tent speechless.
This von Carstein vampire baron was such a traitor?!
He had even planned his retreat?!
"I don't even know how to evaluate your actions," Ryan said, exchanging a glance with Morgiana.
The Lake Witch nodded, indicating she could verify the authenticity.
"Alright, you have convinced me," Ryan finally nodded reluctantly. He wasn't someone who didn't understand compromise. "Now, tell me, what do you want? A vampire? After betraying your master, what do you want from the Lady's chosen champion?"
"Freedom!"
"Deal."
The vampire baron glanced around the tent, hesitating, then signaled Ryan with his eyes.
"Speak up. Is the von Carstein family planning another conspiracy?" Ryan glared sharply at the vampire baron. "I have no secrets to hide."
Although rebuffed, Hal Harris sighed in relief seeing Ryan finally agree. The vampire began recounting the events at Richard Castle.
Even with mental preparation, Ryan and the others were shocked by the facts revealed.
The astounding news came one after another.
"The northern chivalric army was nearly wiped out? Only Count Carad and Duke Hagen managed to break through with over nine hundred knights and less than three thousand Imperial soldiers? Apart from that, only about a hundred knights escaped north?"
"Lorne was severely wounded and rescued by his griffon, whereabouts unknown?"
"Duke Aldred and Duke Fulkard were turned into vampires?"
Everyone in the tent was stunned into silence. Fedmond's mouth hung open for a long time without saying a word, and Gerald instinctively looked around, his thoughts scattered, wanting to consult François.
"By the Lady!" Morgiana's face turned ashen, her fury evident. "No wonder there's been no news from Richard Castle. This is what happened?!"
The amount of information was overwhelming. Even Ryan took a while to digest it, pacing in the tent with a troubled expression. "Damn it! If that's the case, Mashubad could march north through Lyonnais to attack Coronne directly?"
"Fedmond! Gerald!" Ryan made a swift decision, issuing orders immediately. "Check the state of the Grail Knights and Kingdom Knights. The defeat of the northern chivalric army must not be leaked! If there are any rumors, they must be eliminated immediately!"
"Yes!" Fedmond and Gerald stood up, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"I'll go check on the sergeants' camp," Teresa said, standing up. The sorceress had never seen such a big scene and wisely chose to leave.
With only Morgiana and Ryan left in the tent, the Lake Witch's face alternated between pale and flushed. The northern chivalric army's massive loss made her furious. Clutching the Holy Grail of Potions, her hand turned white, "Speak up, tell us everything you know about the collusion between the Tzeentch Great Demon and Mashubad!"
"On that day, the refugees taken in by the northern chivalric army led by Lorne rioted," Hal Harris, still bound by Morgiana's life magic, continued without trying to escape. "I noticed that the refugee group had already been corrupted by Chaos. From that moment, I suspected Mashubad had made a deal with Chaos."
"I then overheard a conversation between Mashubad and the Tzeentch Great Demon!" Hal Harris's face showed hatred. "He truly yielded to the Chaos Demon Army. His actions have crossed the line for even a vampire! I couldn't serve him any longer; I must destroy this traitor!"
"But you couldn't, so you thought of Ryan?" Morgiana's green eyes filled with killing intent. She stomped her foot in frustration, itching to kill the traitorous vampire.
She barely suppressed her anger.
The vampire had a point. For now, Chaos was their common enemy. "What about the relic?"
"The Tzeentch Great Demon's goal is to collect relics," Hal Harris turned away, revealing the truth he overheard. "It's an order from the Chaos Gods. The Lord of Fate seeks the Duke's crown of Mousillon and the spears of the founding twelve Grail Knights!"
"Relics? The Duke's crown! The spears?" Ryan realized something, quickly turning to Morgiana. "Damn it! If the vampire is telling the truth, then Duke Silfroa of Artois's Boar Spear is already in the hands of the Tzeentch Great Demon!"
After Silfroa was defeated, his spear was kept in the Spire Palace. During the hasty retreat, the two Kingdom Knights guarding the spear died, and the relic was buried in the ruins.
Due to the urgent retreat and the Tzeentch Demon Army's strength, Ryan only learned about the spear's loss after retreating to the Chalon Forest camp.
"Each relic enhances the Tzeentch Great Demon's power," Hal Harris warned coldly. "When it collects the eighth relic, no one here will be able to oppose it."
"The Duke of Lyonnais's spear and the Duke of Montfort's spear are already in the Tzeentch Great Demon's possession. It now has three relics. Lorne's Lion Spear is still with Mashubad, who refuses to hand it over to the demon, thinking it belongs to him." The vampire baron seemed detached, as if recounting something irrelevant to him. "But Mashubad's hesitation is only a matter of time. He is already corrupted."
"Belongs to him? Spoils of war?" Ryan asked.
"No, not spoils of war." Hal Harris suddenly lifted his head. "Inheritance! Mashubad believes he has the rightful inheritance of everything Lorne owns, including his duke title, his regent title, and naturally, his Lion Spear."
"Inheritance?" Ryan finally lost his composure, the Lady's chosen champion realizing a possibility. "You mean
!?"
Mashubad's original family crest, his strikingly handsome face, and his hatred for this country.
"Yes, that's what I wanted to tell you," Hal Harris nodded heavily, his expression complex with hatred, amusement, and a trace of unidentifiable excitement. "Mashubad is Lorne's illegitimate son!"
"The child was born in the vacation villa of the Duke of Conne, the offspring of Lorne and a laundress named Agnès. When the child grew up, Lorne's father, Louis the Just, discovered the bastard and ordered Lorne to drive the child out. Lorne and Louis had a fierce argument, with both sides accusing each other. Louis believed Lorne had disgraced the Lady's teachings, while Lorne opposed abandoning the child."
"In the end, Duke Louis won. The child was abandoned in the wilderness. The laundress died of illness within two years, cursing Lorne's unfaithfulness until her last breath."
"The Lich King Arkhan witnessed everything and took in the child, naming him Mashubad," Hal Harris sneered. "Arkhan planned to use him to overthrow Bretonnia. I've told you everything, Lord Ryan. Do you believe my sincerity now? The evidence of Mashubad being Lorne's illegitimate son is undeniable."
"Damn it! I'll excommunicate Lorne!" Morgiana was beside herself with rage. She couldn't imagine that one of the Lady's champions, Lorne, had fathered such a bastard, who not only sought to overthrow the knightly kingdom but almost sacrificed Morgiana to Nagash!
"Go on, Mr. Hal Harris," Ryan gestured for Morgiana to calm down, his attitude slightly changing. "Please continue, Mr. Hal Harris. What else do you know?"
"The spear of Landuin, the Light of the Unmarred Lake, lies in his tomb," Hal Harris's expression grew serious and crazed. "You don't have much time."
"We must stop the Tzeentch Great Demon from obtaining it!"
...I am the dividing line of familial strife...
After sealing the vampire baron and leaving the tent, Morgiana was still fuming. Feeling the cold night wind, she turned to Ryan, "How much truth do you think the vampire told?"
"Most of it," Ryan nodded. "At least most of it matches our speculations and various signs. The rest is irrelevant. The key point now is we must stop Chaos from obtaining all twelve relics!"
"We have no troops available now," Morgiana was also very anxious. "François and Berchmond's reinforcements are on the way, but the north is too weakened to mobilize troops. Palaon and Carcassonne must guard the borders. The Empire is too far; they won't arrive in time."
"No, there's still one more reinforcement," Ryan shook his head sharply, his blue eyes swirling with psychic energy. "In this country, we have one more army that can help us..."
Before Morgiana could ask about the reinforcements, the young Sun Knight, Juan, came running from afar, "Lord Ryan! Lady Morgiana!"
"Count Carad and the Imperial army have arrived at the Grismori River bank and are preparing to cross the river to join us!"
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