Chapter 301: Impeaching the Emperor

"I rise?" Sinuoli frowned.

"Of course, the golden words of the Ancestor Chosen are the best of blessings in the Mortal World," Grom laughed.

"Valana?" Sinuoli chose a common adaptation of Valaya, "May the Ancestor Goddess bless her."

"Valana-Gnuotier, that sounds really good!" Grom naturally had no objections; Gnuotier was thought to be the daughter of Grom, as Dwarf surnames are formed by adding a suffix after the father's name.

"Your Majesties, there is the latest news!" The brothers had just raised their wine cups and hadn't even had a chance to moisten their throats before they were interrupted by a clerk who had hurried over.

"The first batch of military funds from Marienburg has just arrived; the Merchant Council hopes you will dispatch troops as soon as possible!"

"Good! The Chaos spawn in the north are much better to fight than Green Mushrooms! When do we set off? My Warhammer is already starving and impatient!"

Grom slammed his beer mug down. After receiving the news, he had strongly supported his brother's plan for vengeance and had brought a team to return early to rendezvous and prepare to assist. Settling a Grudge, eliminating Chaos, and then harvesting a large amount of gold—there was no plan more perfect than killing three birds with one stone.

"No need to rush, my brother," Sinuoli grinned, "When your purse falls, wouldn't you try to pick it back up?"

"Purse?" Grom muttered, "You mean? But wasn't that thrown away voluntarily?" He reacted; as the lord of a city, he could understand Sinuoli's metaphor.

"Uh, the hand that threw the purse away went mad and wouldn't listen to reason."

"Hand? Doesn't that pig count as a brain?"

"Forget it, the metaphor is inappropriate, but there's no rush for now!" Sinuoli shook his head.

The speed at which Humans passed messages was a bit slower than he had imagined; the Griffin had left such a deep impression on him that he had assumed Humans possessed an air force. As a symbol, this powerful and noble beast was revered in the Empire of Man only second to the holy hammer of Sigmar.

Yet, even though Humans had been attempting artificial domestication in recent years with the help of Jade Wizards, only the wealthiest and most powerful Imperial nobles had the opportunity to ride a Griffin. The vast majority of information was still transmitted by riders on horseback.

The two brothers walked out together; every face in the Drazkrad Clan was brimming with a happy glow. For one clan to produce three Dwarf Kings was a grand occasion not seen since the era of the Ancestor Gods.

"Urgent report!"

Another messenger ran over; he saw Grom and exchanged a look of inquiry with Sinuoli.

"Speak, there are no outsiders here."

"The Elector Count of Reikland, William, has convened the Elector Council and is going to impeach Dieter IV!" The messenger's news was short but explosive.

"I knew it, he wouldn't be able to help himself!" Sinuoli muttered. "Prepare to march, immediately! Go help our friends in Marienburg!" He raised his voice and roared.

The order from the King of the Southlands was implemented instantly; in the time it took to eat a meal, an elite force of several hundred Dwarfs had assembled.

The clansmen were all eager for battle, but Sinuoli did not seem in a hurry to leave the fortress; he led the team in a half-circle through the central hall before departing. Through his deliberate actions, every resident of the Everpeak caught a glimpse of the army's splendor.

"In these few years, the kings of the Old World haven't been idle either. We have jointly rectified the Earth Vein Network; from here to Weifengbao is under our control. If we force-march, the fastest..."

"No rush, let's walk slowly," Sinuoli pacified his elder brother.

"My King, why are we in a hurry to set off, but not in a hurry to march?" Gotrek, who was carrying the military banner, slowed his pace a little to walk side-by-side with Sinuoli's anvil.

"War is a means to serve politics. Every clansman's life is precious; it is best if we can avoid bloodshed. The hard battles are still to come!" Sinuoli smiled. He looked into the distance toward Black Fire Pass, calculating how long it would take for the news of his troop deployment to reach the Elector Counts.

In the rebuilt city of Nuln, everything was within Sinuoli's expectations. The news of his troop deployment was like the final straw that broke the camel's back, completely igniting the fury of the Electors.

The family of Dieter IV had held the throne for three generations, over fifty years; the family's influence was vast and deeply intertwined. Therefore, after William III proposed the impeachment, many holders of electoral power were watching from the sidelines; they wanted to know if Marienburg could truly raise enough power to protect itself to support independence.

"We cannot wait any longer! If those profit-seeking fellows are allowed to recover, the Empire will lose her most brilliant pearl!" In the largest tavern in the city, William slapped the table.

"You're right, old man of the south! That stupid pig must be brought down." A gruff voice chimed in; the speaker was wearing a white wolf fur coat, and it was clear he was the Elector Count of Middenland.

Middenland was the most powerful province in the north of the Empire, influencing the surrounding regions. At the same time, it was also the center of faith for the Ulric Cult of the White Wolf God; the Great Temple of Ulric and its Holy Fire were here.

"But why should we elect you to succeed, and not me, the Prince of Carroburg, Guardian of the Drakwald Forest, Leopold of the Beilderhofen Family?"

William III looked at the fellow sitting across from him; the Fury of the Winter Wolf pulsed in his veins. The Ulric Cult was one of the oldest faiths in the Empire, second only to the Sigmar Cult in power and influence.

"The problem of Marienburg is hard to solve with fury and a Warhammer alone; what we want is not a land of ruins." William III weighed his words, but unfortunately, the other Electors were not so easily persuaded.

Soon, two more Electors joined the competition. If a successor could not be found, or if the successor could not successfully change the status quo, then what was the point of this impeachment?

"I, as the Elector Count of Reikland, Prince of Altdorf, and Count of the West, promise that if I cannot recover Marienburg, I will automatically abdicate!" After a long debate, William played his trump card.

"There has to be a time limit!" After a brief silence, the Elector Count of Middenland said.

"One year!"

"I agree!"

"The Sigmar Cult agrees!"

"Talabecland agrees!"

Having received the guarantee, one hand after another was raised; those in power could all see that this matter was exceptionally urgent.

"Fine, let's hope we don't have to gather here again in a year; making the trip is quite a hassle." Seeing that the votes had exceeded half, Leopold shrugged his shoulders.

After reaching a consensus, the Electors filed out one by one, and surrounded by guards in various uniforms, they headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

"I am very sorry to tell you that you have been impeached. And I, William III, will serve as the Emperor of the Empire, and bring back Marienburg!"