The capital city is mainly repaired and made some improvement after third weeks. The city's size expanded three times, and with the help of the Null Marines (With Admechs), the capital city could hold a large number of citizens, including the rest of the reinforcement.
During this time, William received war supplies from the Crown Prince, and Countess Shaw was more than enough for everyone to feed everyone and provide every needed item for daily activities. In exchange for a fort and city full of natural resources, Countess Shaw kept her promise and sent everything from food to rebuilding materials such as processed woods and skilled workers.
As for the former citizens of Legellan, they are given a choice between staying to becoming the servants of the new regime ruled by William. Most of the regular peasants stayed since the capital city was their home, and following the trend of a new government taking over every few years, this didn't surprise them or took much difficulty to readjust.
The prisoners of war and former military members of the previous government were all given the same choice, just like everyone. As William could guess, most people who held power and position of some authority before attempted to sweet-talk their importance, but Lord Creed saw this miles away and had them exiled or strip their rank, position or power in public. Those who didn't recognize the situation didn't survive a few days later as the lowest of low criminals took advantage and attempted to make a few coins.
Overall, William's new base of operation was going well. Many Null Marines patrol the city and hold themselves as defenders of the mighty Chapter Master. The remaining Imperial guardsmen maintain order beyond the city limit as Lord Creed works tirelessly to stop anyone from reaching the city.
Sisters of Battle, including the medical team work day and night to spread the word of the God-Emperor and even request Admechs to construct a temple for them. This action secures the Imperium's religion and prevents other religions from reaching natives of this world as sisters make sure no temples of other gods stay standing. This didn't make some citizens happy, but after seeing what sisters could do, some fled with what they had, and some changed their religion after being fully convinced, thanks to the nuns on power armor.
Admechs, on the other hand, were most busy and somewhat living in their own world as they followed every instruction from William's decree, which was being supervised by the former Ultramarines. Understanding Admech's ability to harvest natural resources and destroy everything around them, William appointed Sergeant Dioricus of the Ultramarine to oversee the production and construction of the city.
Macragge, the homeworld of the Ultramarines, is known for its government and proud home of the greatest Astartes in the Imperium. But they are also known for their maintenance and preservation of natural beauty while the whole planet produces weapons of war. For this reason, William made sure former Ultramarine maintained his watch on Admechs and brought out codex whenever he wanted, as long as it was not towards William.
The city continues to go through repairs and expand. On the other hand, William coordinates the next threat, which is a civil war between the remaining Legellan nobles. Rana warned him of this, and William was well aware that no nobles of this county would accept him as the new ruler. But one thing these nobles forgot was that Legellan was no more, and William had complete supremacy when it came to war, economic, and geographic position.
As of now, a country known as Legellan is divided among the remaining nobles. No other invaders came with their armies because of fear of uniting entire noble houses to fight back. William is the only one who managed this because he was the one who caused the fall of the entire county, and no nobles wanted to unite against him under someone's flag. In short, William is one of few major players within the Legellan civil war and possibly the only one who actually has the military power to take the entire country for his own.--------------------------
Inside the Capital City Palace, Throne Room,
"So, I have to send one of my champions to maintain my honor?" William said with a question mark on his head while the rest of the group watched a single messenger sent by one of the noble houses with an important message.
"The noble house of the Ironhills sent their challenge of a duel. If you deny this challenge, this will dishonor your name and position, but the rest of the house will stand behind the Ironhills while the lord of the house takes front against you. If you accept, you must send your knight against theirs three days from now." The messenger explains the situation and waits for Lord William's reply, just like everyone else in the main hall. One thing is for sure, William's Space Marines are taking this well as they all voice out and volunteer themselves as William's champion.
"Accept their request and let us handle them, Chapter Master." One of the new Null Marines in terminator armor said with a victorious voice as he placed down his power hammer next to him. These new Null Marines are the ones William summoned and happened to be lieutenant of the first company. Hearing this, others voice their reason to be sent out as new and old Astartes gave good reasons.
"Silence!" William's voice echoed through the entire chamber, and everyone went silent. Every ranking Null Marines turned their attention to William while Lord Creed and other senior officers of the Astra Militarum kept their mouths shut. Their years of experience gave them some advanced insight into keeping their opinion when the situation demands it. As for Sisters and Admechs, they stay in the back to see what Lord Imperator Fratrum's decision will be as they will follow him in this New World.
"Messanger, I will accept this challenge and meet Ironhills outside the city wall. I warn you that if one of them breaks our agreement of duel or attack without good reason, I will accept this as a declaration of war and will attack within my rights. Now, return to your master." William dismissed the messenger and sent them away. After the outsider left the throne room and closed doors, no one dared to speak or make any noise as William's last command still stands.
"Now that messenger is gone with my answer; I need to know who will be the best suitable person for this duel. I know you are eager for some action after a few weeks of peace, but I can't have my entire chapter go rampage like some mindless World Eaters." William's last word made every Null Marines flinch as they didn't want to be compared to the old's traitor marines. It is true that they thirst to fight but still have a sense of self-control and will to deliver the Emperor's judgment to his enemies.
"Chapter Master, who would you deem worthy of taking this challenge?" Veteran Sergeant Sariel, former Blood Angel, spoke patiently as he and others waited. Former Blood Angels indeed cure their two curses and return to their prime as Great Angel's sons, but they still seek real fight and test their new abilities as Blacksouls.
"It is clear to me that I can't send First Company or my honor guards to solve this problem. I need someone who can handle this matter with strength and diplomacy. I will not have this event turn us into barbaric invaders or greedy raiders. We will continue our crusade, but this will be called something else to maintain our name and honor." William explains his reason and thinks to himself as he taps his finger on his forehead. This situation requires careful hands, and sending a fleet of tanks won't solve the problem, unlike the video games he played in his previous life.
"If this is not a crusade, what else would it be? My lord, you must hold a position of power in this world to take us back to our own world." Lord Creed finally said to William and reminded him of his sworn oath he made after returning from the ark ship. The room again filled with side conversations while William went into deep thought. A few seconds later, William finishes his thoughts and lifts his power hammer slightly to make three banging sounds on the floor, regaining everyone's attention.
"Lord Creed, I remember my oath to you all, and I will fulfill that promise, but we need to identify our current goal. To unite this land, we require the people of this land to support us. For this reason, I won't call this civil war a crusade or liberation. This isn't significant enough or worthy enough to call it that. Let us call this 'Peacekeeping.' Yes, we are Peacekeeping." William then stands up from his throne made out of stone and waves his hand to declare his new decree.
"I, Chapter Master of the Blacksouls and Lord Imperator Fratrum, will maintain peace of this land and enforce Emperor's will unto anyone against him. I hear by name these marines to step forward and keep the peace." William then said the names of a few Space Marines to represent him for an upcoming duel between Blacksouls and Ironhills.
--------------------------
Three days later,
"You can't be serious. How can you call that a knight?" Standing in front of 5,000 soldiers, a knight with shiny armor, holding a silver lance and mounting a fully armored warhorse, said aloud while everyone was stunned to describe what they were seeing.
Standing on William's side, an Imperial Knight Warglaive holds position while hundreds of Null Marines stand behind it. After the house Ironhills' army gained passage to the capital city, they expected to see defenders holding a position within the city's walls, but to their surprise, they were outside of the wall with a metal giant in front of them. What's more absurd is that the metal giant is the official opponent of the house Ironhills and will be representing William's side.
"For your information, this is Imperial Knight, and rider is fully pledged knight of the Imperium. The difference is nothing but a different point of view on things." A large man in fancy power armor explains to the Champion of the Ironhills. The champion at first brags his achievement in front of everyone to make himself more confident and regain everyone's faith in him, but once Imperial Knight was appointed as his opponent, his bragging didn't help at all.
"Well, I suppose there is size difference and different weapons to consider. I guess it is in your right to have a different opponent." The Null Marine scratches his chin and signals Imperial Knight to stand down. Seeing this, everyone from Ironhills' side exhaled their breaths as if they had just survived the death itself.
"I will be your opponent. My name is Bolic Firehammer of the Blacksoulsm, formerly member of the Salamanders." Bolic said to the knight and stepped forward, keeping a fair distance between him and the rest of his battle-brothers. The distance between Bolic and the knight is large enough for the knight's warhorse to charge at full speed and for Space Marine to hit with a bolter.
Ironhills' knight, seeing his opponent is now someone with metal armor, once again went on his achievements, including how he led a large group of knights to slay monsters and a Warband of Orcs. This impressed everyone on his side, but no admiration came from William as they weren't impressed with the story. When bragging was done, the knight positioned his infamous magical lance at Bolic and paced his warhorse, which quickly galloped.
Seeing incoming warhorse and fully armored knight, Bolic pulls out his trusty heavy flamer and starts the ignition with a hiss sound. The knight, who spent a massive amount of coins to enchant his armor and weapons, didn't worry about small fire coming out of Bolic's weapon as his armor was enchanted with fire resistance.
Just about when the warhorse reaches the range of the heavy flamer, Bolic aims his weapon at the knight and his warhorse. With a slight pull from the trigger, the former son of the Vulkan unleashes a massive stream of flames with fearsome speed. The flame of the heavy flamer hit the warhorse but believing his armor, the knight didn't change the horse's direction or attempt to stop (It won't help him at this point anyway).
Both warhorse and knight are lost to the flame as Bolic continues to pull the trigger. By the time Bolic stopped his weapon and watched the flame die down, everyone saw who was the victor and loser as there was no trace of a warhorse or knight within the burnt ground. The ground is scorched to the point ground itself turns into lave, and everything glows red.
Bolic turned off his small flame from the heavy flamer as everyone on Ironhills' side remained silent as if they couldn't believe what had just happened. Their champion, who was previously famed for his bravery and strength to fight monsters, vanished into the flames. They knew they had lost, and their life now belonged to William, who is infamous for his tyrannical authority.
"The victor is Lt. Bolic and to Chapter Master William. Drop your weapons and surrender. You had no chance of winning from the beginning." Sariel announced and raised his powersword to take command of Null Marines in case the other side refused to surrender. His expectation of fighting didn't come to fruition as all soldiers and nobles from the Ironhills immediately surrendered to William's forces.
"Yes, we are Peacekeeping," Said William as he returned to his palace as Rana and other senior officers, including Lord Creed, followed behind him.
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