Chapter 35 35: cutting ties

------------------------- If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know. Leave a comment; support is always appreciated. I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see. ------------------------------- Jahrdrung-5th,2488 IC "I'm a damn genius... two thousand crowns for a single day of work... so much gold, just for some worthless blue pigments that, in terms of cost, don't even add up to a single crown," I said, staring at the chests filled with golden coins. "This is by far the best money-making trick I've ever pulled... I just have to be careful with the sulfuric acid... and I'll be able to build an absurd fortune... just by selling pigment." Now I just need to break down the process into separate steps. Produce the components individually in large quantities and assemble them based on demand. Because if I flood the market with too much blue... I'll saturate it. And if I saturate it, profit drops. I have to keep it under control. I could probably convince a dwarf to help improve the lab. Scale it up. Automate some of the work with simple mechanisms... and stop relying solely on my own hands. But the secret... the secret dies with me. I won't teach this to anyone. I won't take on apprentices. I won't share formulas. No thanks. Then they run off... and become competition. As long as I keep it secret, I'll never have rivals. Especially because most alchemists barely know how to work with vinegar and salt crystals... and wouldn't touch strong acids with a ten-foot pole. So... with just my personal knowledge... I'm at least a hundred years ahead of all of them. I began to stretch. "I'll have to synthesize about four kilograms of pigment, a liter of acid, and...," I murmured, talking to myself as usual. That's when I heard the bell. I'd rigged it in my study—an improvised system for distant alerts. That way, the guards and servants wouldn't have to hear me rambling like a madman. I pulled the rope to ring the bell on the other side. It didn't take long for a guard to appear, peeking through the door with a serious expression. "My lord... a knight and men-at-arms, bearing the banners of Margrave von Mackesen, arrived recently and request an audience," he said, lowering his head. 'So finally...' I thought, my eyes drifting toward the arquebus. 'I figured this would take longer... but it seems I'll have to sever ties with the Margrave sooner than expected. Still, I must be careful of the consequences. Terrible consequences.' "Let the knight in. If he wishes to speak with me, I'll gladly receive him within my walls. I want a strong guard presence during this meeting. I don't want our guest to feel we're treating him with disdain," I said with a smile. As soon as the guard left, I began loading my arquebus. You never know when a conversation might escalate into something you can't control. Once loaded, I placed the weapon beside my chair. Only the barrel's tip was visible, adorned with dwarven engravings. The guards didn't take long. They entered silently, taking position in the corners of the room, standing firm and motionless. Only then did I allow myself to wait. Then I heard it. The echo of steel scraping down the hall. A heavy suit of armor moving forward with purpose. At last, I saw him. A knight of the Margrave. We locked eyes. He removed his helmet. I pointed to the chair across from me. He sat in silence. And for several minutes, we exchanged nothing but long stares. Finally... the knight spoke. "Blessings of Sigmar, young Albrecht," said the knight. "Did your lord not teach you how to properly address a noble with titles... knight?" I said, locking my gaze on him. "My mistake... Baron von Reinsfeld," he replied, clearly annoyed. "Blessings of Sigmar, then, knight," I greeted at last. Again, silence. I watched his jaw tense; he was grinding his teeth. "The Margrave has tasked me with escorting you back to Helmgart. Your education must continue. The regency of your fief shall be entrusted to me until you are deemed of age by the Margrave. I therefore ask that you accompany the men waiting below and return with me to Helmgart," the knight said. "No," I replied curtly. "Excuse me?... This is an order from your guardian and protector, Margrave Reinhart von Mackesen. You cannot refuse," he snapped back. "My answer remains no. From what I understand, for someone to be my protector, they must have me under their control... which is clearly not the case. So if that's all, I kindly ask that you leave my lands. I have no interest whatsoever in a regent," I said, offering a slight, sarcastic smile. "Enough!" the knight shouted, standing and reaching for his sword. My guards did the same. "By order of the Margrave, I will take you back to Helmgart, and if any of you"—he said, glaring at my men—"dare to interfere, your families will be executed when I rule in the Margrave's name." My guards didn't hesitate. None moved or flinched. They held their ground, menacingly staring back at the knight. "Your intimidation doesn't seem to be working," I said with a small smirk. The knight drew his sword. "Fine, I can deal with these peasants," he growled furiously. I turned my head slightly, as if trying to look behind him. "So this is your rabid dog... Margrave von Mackesen," I said. The knight's eyes widened and he instinctively turned to look behind him... there was nothing. I took the moment. Grabbed my arquebus. When he turned back to me, the barrel was already aimed directly at his chest. He exhaled sharply at the sight of the weapon. "You know? With this dwarven-made gun, I killed a Bretonnian Grail Knight. Two shots: one in the chest, one in the head... how many do you think you can take?" I said with a laugh, watching his reaction. His eyes started darting around, searching for a way out. "No, no, no... drop the sword on the floor, please," I said, still aiming at him. My guards surrounded him. The knight clenched his jaw and threw the sword down. "I demand to be treated as a prisoner, according to my rank," he said angrily. My guards quickly grabbed his arms. One of them fetched a rope. In seconds, he was tied up. "And what rank would that be? From where I stand, it looks like a bandit has gotten hold of the Margrave's banners and is pretending to be one of his men. A bandit... trying to abduct a noble," I said, looking at him with contempt. "You know very well who I serve! You've seen me at the banquets," the knight said. "I don't recall... All I see is a bandit. And I'll make sure the Margrave is informed of what happened here: that a stranger tried to imprison me, and even kill me. That an investigation should be conducted. That the fate of the real knights and men-at-arms whose uniforms were stolen be discovered. And of course, I'll inform the Elector Count of Reikland... since the Margrave would never attempt to seize lands directly under the Count's authority, would he?" I said calmly. "You damn honorless bastard! The Margrave won't stay silent after this humiliation," the knight roared. "No, he won't. But what happened here is so disgraceful... that if you truly are who you claim to be, the Margrave will try to cover up the scandal," I said with a shrug. "Well then... until your identity is confirmed... throw him into the darkest, dampest cell you can find!" I ordered, turning to my guards. "This won't end like this! This won't end like this! You'll pay for this!" the knight screamed as he was dragged off to the dungeons, kicking like a pig before the slaughter. "You. Go outside and alert the city watch that there are bandits at the gates, posing as the Margrave's men. Have everyone gather in the village and surround them. I want no deaths... force them to surrender. And when they do... straight to the dungeons," I ordered, not even looking at the guard, who ran off without a word. I took a deep breath and made my way to the laboratory. From the tower, I had a clear view of everything. There were about twenty men-at-arms, flying the Margrave's banners. They sat calmly on horseback—some chatting, others simply waiting for their knight to return so they could head back to Helmgart. None seemed nervous. The castle gate opened and the guard stepped out, walking casually. He didn't raise any suspicion. No one moved a finger. They kept waiting. Minutes passed... A large group of my guards began climbing up from the village, blocking the only descent that connected to the road. There were far more of them than the Margrave's men could ever face. My men approached slowly, closing the circle without violence. The horsemen didn't react. I think they believed it was a drill, an exercise. The confusion worked in our favor. By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late. I saw them lose control of their horses. Some dismounted willingly. Others were forced off onto the hard ground. "Good... that went well. I've bought myself some time..." I murmured, exhaling while looking over my desk. "Until the Margrave learns what happened, I need to inform the Elector Count about the conflict... frame it as an attempt to annex lands directly governed by the Emperor through a regency. I suppose the Emperor will give the Margrave a stern warning... Good, I'll secure my position by gathering support from the local Cult of Sigmar... and from Shallya's temple, to certify me as physically and mentally sound." I turned, grabbed paper, ink, and quill, and began writing. "Emperor... titles... titles... titles..." I muttered as I wrote. It is with great misfortune that I must inform Your Majesty of a possible attempt to annex my lands by Margrave Reinhart von Mackensen.My alarm arises from the fact that members of his personal guard attempted to take me prisoner within my own halls, apparently with the aim of imposing a regency over the lands entrusted to me for their protection and development.Such actions, if misinterpreted, could jeopardize the stability of overland trade to Marienburg, as well as stir tensions among regions under Your direct sovereign authority.Therefore, this humble servant respectfully requests Your intervention and guidance to prevent unnecessary Imperial bloodshed.Sincerely,Baron Albrecht von Reinsfeld I sealed it with my house ring and immediately called for a man-at-arms. "Take it straight to Altdorf. Fresh horse," I said without looking up. The man nodded and left at full gallop. And as for the Margrave... I had to buy myself more time. My letter to the Emperor would take days, maybe weeks. I needed to delay von Mackensen's wrath. So I prepared another letter. Dear Margrave von Mackensen,It is with misfortune that I bring troubling news.I fear that a group of your men was ambushed by bandits en route to Reinsfeld. Upon arrival, and in my presence, they attempted to take me hostage to impose a regency—something entirely nonsensical, considering both the Cult of Sigmar and the local Cult of Shallya have formally certified that I am in full possession of my physical and mental faculties.These individuals are currently held in my dungeons, awaiting an escort to reclaim them. I trust that a thorough investigation will reveal they were criminals impersonating your men, and that those responsible will be punished according to Imperial law.Sincerely,Baron Albrecht von Reinsfeld I folded the letter carefully and placed it on the desk. "No... not yet... I'll wait a few days before sending it..." I murmured as I sealed the wax. "The more time I buy, the better." "Well... I suppose it's time to put my pigment sales income to use... with two thousand crowns a week, that's eight thousand a month. After paying the architect, I can afford to recruit a considerable force of soldiers. Maybe I can't compete with the Margrave—he's got several regiments paid by the Empire under his command—but as long as I can outmatch his personal guard, everything should be fine. And with a bit of luck, we'll still be... good neighbors," I said with a smile. "Nothing that can't be solved with a marriage to some distant cousin or aunt... so long as she doesn't get in my way." ------------------------- If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know. Leave a comment; support is always appreciated. I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see. -------------------------------