Chapter 80: The City Hall Banquet (Part 2)

Facing the envious and jealous gazes of all the men present, Ryan appeared to ponder for a moment, then shook his head slightly. He wrapped his arm around Veronica and smiled, saying, "I already have my partner, Ms. Aneda. I have a date with her tomorrow night, so I must regretfully decline."

"That's truly... very unfortunate~" Aneda giggled coquettishly. "Whenever you wish, Mr. Ryan, the Pleasure Guild will always welcome you. I'd love to see what makes the northern warriors different from the southern men."

The men in the hall thought Ryan was sensible for refusing, while others thought he was out of his mind. Rejecting an invitation from the Pleasure Guild president herself? Such an opportunity that many men would pay dearly for?

After making rounds and greeting everyone, Schultz took Ryan to a secluded spot, signaling that he wanted a private conversation. Seeing this, Veronica took her apprentice to wait elsewhere.

On a quiet balcony.

"I can't believe you actually refused Aneda's invitation," said the Grand Duke of Marienburg, smiling beside Ryan with a mysterious glint in his eyes. "But I'm not surprised. You understand, we all detest such people. Promoting hedonism is always repugnant, but with half the council infatuated with her, I can't say much."

"She always has a stench about her, very much like..." Ryan made a symbol in the air, "a follower of that."

"Are you certain?" Schultz's eyes widened slightly.

"You know what I am, and you know I am most sensitive to that kind of presence," Ryan spread his hands.

"Then I must ask, what is your mission here? Inquisition? Ecclesiarchy? Defence Force? Navy? Or Astartes? Judging by your emblem, you should be Astartes?"

"Just because I am His son," Ryan answered softly.

Schultz jolted as if electrocuted, his pupils dilating to their maximum. The Grand Duke of Marienburg scrutinized Ryan closely for a long time before shaking his head frantically. "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!!!"

"Nothing is impossible," Ryan extended his hand, and a golden double-headed eagle mark appeared in the center of his palm, the most powerful identification left by the Emperor.

Seeing the mark imbued with endless power, Schultz had no more doubts. If not for the Emperor's will, Ryan wouldn't be here. So Schultz cautiously asked, "Then which one are you…"

"None of them."

"Impossible, there are only twenty Primarchs!"

"He can't make new ones?"

Schultz's astonishment grew, the Grand Duke's forehead sweating. Finally, he extended his hand and discreetly showed a "twenty-one."

Ryan nodded in confirmation.

"I understand. Great son of the God, do whatever you need to do. I will provide support," Schultz's face showed near-manic fanaticism and worship. The Grand Duke looked at Ryan as if wanting to devour him. "Rest assured, the Upper House is under my control."

"For the Emperor! For Holy Terra!"

"For Father!"

Fifteen minutes later, the secret discussion ended, and Ryan and Schultz emerged smiling, shaking hands. "Ryan, there are many other enjoyable things here. Go ahead and explore. I have other matters to attend to."

"Alright." Ryan bid farewell to the Grand Duke and went to find Veronica talking to a tall Witch Hunter. Seeing Ryan, Veronica smiled and walked over to take his arm. "Ryan, Vice President Jacob is here."

The approaching figure was nearly two meters tall, dressed in a long cloak and wide-brimmed hat, his scarred face muscular and intimidating. The Witch Hunter greeted Ryan. "Hello, Ryan. I've come here tracking Belt as well."

Jacob was an old veteran Witch Hunter, having been around long before Belt. In recent years, he had taken fewer assignments.

"Is the situation that serious?" Ryan's expression turned grave, seeing the Vice President of the Witch Hunter Guild appear. He signaled for everyone to move to a small room.

Large banquets often had many small rooms for various uses, including business discussions. However, after trying several rooms, they found each had a "Do Not Disturb" sign, accompanied by strange sounds from inside.

In the end, the group found a corner of the banquet hall. Jacob sat down and began to eat and drink without restraint, high-quality wine disappearing like juice in his hands.

Many nobles and merchants frowned at Jacob's behavior, but seeing Ryan and his companion talking to him, they said nothing. Besides, the master Witch Hunter exuded an aura of blood and danger, making him seem unapproachable.

Banquets were a medium. The nobles and merchants of the world's largest trade center needed a reason to gather, and before long, new trade partners and deals worth hundreds or thousands of gold coins would emerge from whispered conversations.

Ryan brought over red wine and filled Veronica and her apprentice's glasses. Catherine's face was full of excitement, thrilled to be part of such a large banquet. Veronica quietly adjusted her dress, signaling her apprentice not to lose composure. She remained silent, observing Ryan and Jacob's conversation, looking like a beautiful vase but with intelligent eyes constantly evaluating her surroundings.

This was interesting to Ryan. He recalled how Theresa always sought to assert herself at banquets, while Veronica chose to remain silent, reaping more rewards afterward. He suddenly understood Theresa's behavior on the journey. Competing with a background-less but exceptional witch like Veronica was indeed stressful, enough to alter Theresa's behavior.

The group exchanged information.

"I have crucial information for you, Ryan. During Belt's defection, he seems to have changed his faith," Jacob's hoarse voice said. "We all know he initially worshipped the Plague Lord."

"But I have signs suggesting Belt switched faiths. He now worships the Blood God. I don't know why he changed, but this could be good news… or bad news for us."

"It's good news!" Ryan stroked his chin. "This means Belt incurred the Plague Lord's wrath. At least one force won't aid him."

Yes, the Chaos Gods were not as united as many believed. In fact, their infighting was eternal. Their invasions of the material world were more like side amusements. In the Chaos Realm, the demons fought endless battles. The four gods hated each other and would wage total war over the smallest territories or excuses. Because demons don't truly die, the battles never end.

Only rarely would the Chaos Gods temporarily unite to send small forces to the material world, such as the birth of an Everchosen or attempts to eradicate Chaos's power sources. Even then, the gods focused primarily on internal strife.

(Even under these circumstances, the world's intelligent beings struggle to survive.)

Jacob drank heavily and ate voraciously. The Vice President of the Witch Hunters came from Kislev, the northernmost country almost bordering the Chaos Wastes. Every Chaos invasion hit Kislev first, but they rebuilt each time, united under the bear god Ursun, fighting chaos tirelessly.

"I asked the Lady, and she told me Belt is in Marienburg, in the place closest to Chaos," Ryan frowned. The Lady of the Lake's prophecy was useful but vague. He sought the seasoned Witch Hunter's advice. Jacob was over a century old, his experience far surpassing Ryan's.

The old hunter wiped his mouth, gravy splattering. Many noble ladies lifted their skirts instinctively, but Ryan remained still, signaling Jacob to continue.

"As you said, Belt should still be in Marienburg. Our intel confirms that." Jacob's age showed as he spoke, occasionally letting food spill from his mouth. "A Witch Hunter used entrail divination to pinpoint his location, but paid a heavy price."

Divination required equivalent exchange, especially dangerous when predicting chaos entities. Many seers and diviners were blinded or corrupted.

"Currently, three places are most suspicious. First, the arena. Marienburg's arena is huge and houses many gladiators and strange creatures. Belt, a Blood God worshipper, could easily hide there," Jacob coughed and listed the first possibility.

"Second, Marienburg is densely populated and crowded, but it has countless interconnected underground tunnels. Some say there are vast underground settlements and even dark elves. Belt might be hiding there."

"Finally... that woman seems off," Jacob looked up. Ryan followed his gaze to Aneda, the Pleasure Guild president, chatting with several nobles.

"I'll investigate the arena and the Pleasure Guild with Veronica. Jacob, please handle the underground tunnels," Ryan divided the tasks. His identity suited high society, while the Witch Hunters dealt better with commoners and guilds.

"Alright, I'll search for Belt with my men." Jacob hesitated, then whispered, "Hurry, Ryan. I understand you're delayed by the war, but... some Witch Hunters are acting strangely..."

"I understand." Ryan sensed an increasing shadow looming over the continent.

Jacob left. Such grand banquets did not welcome blood-scented Witch Hunters. Ryan sat thinking, but an unexpected guest interrupted him. "Oh! Mr. Ryan! What a stroke of luck to see you here!"

It was Oliver, the merchant who had previously traveled with them!

The Imperial merchant was adorned with as much jewelry as possible, making Veronica smirk.

"Hello, Mr. Oliver. Has everything gone smoothly?" Ryan smiled.

"Smoothly? I lost my cargo and my guards died, but at least I kept my life! Hahaha!" Oliver flaunted his magic ring and big belly. "Who is this?"

"I am Veronica Bernadotte from the Garland Council, Ryan's partner. Hello, Mr. Oliver, this is my apprentice." Seeing Ryan's old acquaintance, Veronica smiled sweetly, exuding elegance.

"Oh, hello, hello!" Oliver wondered why

 Ryan had a new companion.

However, this witch was nothing like the previous haughty sorceress. She was charming, respectful, and her sweet appearance was very likable.

Oliver sat and chatted with Ryan. The rising star had many advantages. Oliver was a big merchant in Nord but a small fry in Marienburg. He was only invited because the Grand Duke knew he had history with Ryan.

Throughout the conversation, Veronica remained silent, smiling while holding Ryan's arm. Oliver thought she was just a pretty vase, a temporary companion for Ryan.

With this thought, Oliver's tone and attitude towards Veronica grew dismissive. Veronica noticed but remained smiling. Her apprentice, however, glared at Oliver.

"By the way, Mr. Ryan, did you meet President Aneda earlier? What a beauty, right? She's known as the Rose of Marienburg, the Flower of the Empire!" The topic quickly shifted. Oliver, thinking Veronica was just a vase, teased Ryan. "That was an invitation from Aneda Krausner, priceless! And you turned it down?"

"Why must I accept?" Ryan swirled his wine, the red liquid dancing in the glass. "I have my partner, and I'm not interested in such revelry."

"Oh, you're missing out! Ryan, objectively speaking, how beautiful is President Aneda? Rationally and objectively~" Oliver felt pained by Ryan's refusal. He saw Aneda's invitation as a no-risk reward and couldn't understand Ryan's rejection.

"I admit, President Aneda is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, bar none... uh!" Ryan was speaking calmly when his Grail Mark suddenly burned with searing pain.

Then a furious voice echoed in Ryan's mind. "Ryan, my champion, I'll give you one more chance. Who is the most beautiful woman you've ever seen?"

WTF???

Twenty-one? Non-existent!

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