The Old Man in Yellow Loses Two Matches in a Row
To facilitate measurement and comparison, each portion of food eaten by the Old Man in Yellow and the Wolf King was approximately the same size.
The Old Man in Yellow did not maintain the dining etiquette of the Terra nobles, but instead followed the local custom and adopted the same way as Russ, directly picking up the scalding hot food with his hands, putting it into his mouth, and swallowing it in large gulps.
The Wolf King, along with his two wolf brothers, devoured the food like a whirlwind.
Nimrod keenly noticed that the Emperor was not using his powerful Psionic Energy to aid in digestion.
The Old Man in Yellow noticed that Leman Russ disliked Psionic Energy, so he didn't use them and relied solely on physical appetite to compete.
In this respect, the Wolf King raised in the Fenris culture have an absolute advantage in terms of their evolved digestive system.
The Old Man in Yellow is doomed to lose!
The Primarch then compared its own reaction to the wolf Leman Russ's tearing and swallowing of meat.
[Well, if I were to participate in a "big eater competition," I wouldn't be a match for the Wolf King either; he's like a bottomless pit.]
Only by ascending to the rank of "Baron of Corruption" Distortion the rules of the duel can victory be achieved, but whether this can be concealed and gain Leman Russ's approval remains to be seen.
While he was pondering, Nimrod had already eaten his fill. Ignoring the Wolf King's wild and provocative gaze, he put down his fork and waited for the fight to end.
A hint of disdain flashed in Leman Russ's eyes as he shifted his gaze from Nimrod to the man who claimed to be his father.
Nimrod noticed that the Old Man in Yellow's eating speed gradually slowed down, and his abdomen bulged slightly.
A moment later, the Old Man in Yellow finished his pork chop and said frankly.
"I lost."
The Wolf King swallowed the meat chop in his mouth and laughed loudly.
"Hahaha, your appetites are far smaller than your words."
Nimrod looked at the Wolf King, who had won and earned the title of "Big Eater," and spoke with a sense of confidence.
"So, the second challenge is the drinking challenge."
"Liquor tolerance is the measure of a man's worth; whoever drinks the most fine wine is the stronger one."
A bronze drinking horn was placed on the table in front of Nimrod, and Leman Russ bared his sharp fangs.
"Fenris' mead is not for sipping, but for drinking."
The Primarch didn't want to drink it, but a Thought Impulse flashed in his mind.
"Nimrod, when in Rome, do as the locals do, drink up!"
Urged on by the Old Man in Yellow, Nimrod reluctantly picked up the bronze drinking horn and drank the liquid inside in one gulp.
The liquor burned his mouth the moment it entered his mouth, then slid down his throat and finally settled in his stomach.
Its taste is like a mixture of engine oil and acid; if an ordinary person drank it, they would surely die on the spot.
The Primarch remained calm. His superhuman physique allowed him to adapt quickly, and the burning sensation in his stomach subsided rapidly, replaced by a warm feeling that spread from his abdomen throughout his body.
At the same time, Nimrod felt a slight melting sensation within his body; he knew that the "Briber's" potion was being partially digested.
[Forcedly cooperating with the Old Man in Yellow to drink Fenris's disgusting mead was also Bribery to him.]
After all, if it were my choice, I would never drink this mead.
Both are strong spirits, but Las-Vault is much better than mead; it doesn't have that disgusting oily or sour taste.
Nimrod once again ignored the Wolf King's provocative gaze, put down the bronze drinking horn, and then turned his attention to the two people fighting.
They kept bringing the bronze drinking horn to their mouths and tilting their heads back to drink.
The Primarch keenly sensed that, just like before, the Old Man in Yellow was not using his powerful Psionic Energy.
Compared to the already accustomed Leman Russ, the Old Man in Yellow's throat trembled slightly, but after drinking three cups, he adapted to Fenris's strongest mead.
The Wolf King still held the advantage in the drinking contest, the Old Man in Yellow drank at an increasingly slower pace.
Finally, the Old Man in Yellow placed the bronze drinking horn on the table and waved to the fur-clad servant, signaling him not to pour any more wine.
He gave a barely perceptible wry smile and spoke frankly.
I lost again.
Leman Russ tilted his head back and poured the wine from the bronze horn into his mouth, then looked at the Emperor.
Even the warriors of Fenris cannot drink as much as you.
"You've earned my respect; you're a real man."
"But you still lost. Nobody can hold their liquor like me."
Nimrod looked at the smug Wolf King and acknowledged his ability to drink heavily without getting drunk, a skill honed through years of heavy drinking. Unless the rules Distortion, he himself could not surpass Leman Russ's drinking capacity.
As he pondered, the Wolf King rose from his throne.
"Now, it's time for the final challenge, a contest between warriors. I will defeat you in a battle of brute force."
Leman Russ spoke confidently to the Emperor, then glanced at Nimrod with disdain.
"Use the methods of admirable, valiant Warrior, not despicable witchcraft."
As the Emperor rose, golden light flashed in his eyes. He used Sympathetic Magic to deduce the future countless times.
He got the result he wanted and also bore the consequences; even he showed a hint of Affliction in his eyes.
The Affliction subsided randomly; he had long been accustomed to it, having simulated the future and made plans countless times throughout his long life.
"I'll send your brother Nimrod to replace me. Do you agree?"
In the countless simulations conducted by the Emperor, Nimrod always won against Leman Russ in armed confrontations.
Sending him to fight in his place would kill two birds with one stone.
He could both win the challenge and bring Leman Russ into the Imperium, and also earn Nimrod the Wolf King's respect.
The Emperor, through observing a series of Leman Russ's actions, confirmed that he was a Warrior.
Nimrod would earn his respect by winning battles.
As for Nimrod's dissatisfaction with Leman Russ, the Emperor believed that he would consider the bigger picture and that he would appease him by using his favorite rare and exotic items to dispel his displeasure.
Nimrod was surprised that the Old Man in Yellow would actually ask him to fight in his place. Although he disdained the Wolf King's contempt for witchcraft yet his trust in Shaman, which was a hypocritical attitude of double standards towards Psionic Energy, he had no interest in fighting the Wolf King.
Even victory won't wake someone who's pretending to be asleep.
Nimrod knew he couldn't refuse the Old Man in Yellow's request, but he wouldn't let himself be manipulated.
A duel is fine, but it must be done in your own way.
Nimrod did not speak. Leman Russ stepped in front of him, clenching his fists and making a cracking sound.
I accept.
"Nimrod, let's have a fight. I will defeat you!"
"Your laughable witchcraft is nothing but a hollow joke in the face of true force."
Nimrod's dark eyes flashed. "You're Fenris's Wolf King, aren't you?"
"Certainly!"
"Fighting is boring. Wolves are the hunters of nature. How about we have a hunting duel?"
Leman Russ was taken aback. Nimrod had actually issued a hunting challenge to him. He didn't have the air of a hunter at all. How could he possibly beat him in the hunt?
If it were a fight, he might have a chance of winning, but in a contest of hunting, he would be handing victory over to himself.
"Of course, what do you want to hunt?"
"Choose whatever you want, I will defeat you."
"Kraken, whoever hunts the largest Kraken is the winner."
Nimrod had already made up his mind, and he spoke directly.
"Good."
The Wolf King once hunted down the largest Kraken in Fenris — the King of Gorgons. In his view, he had the advantage in both hunting ability and familiarity with the environment and prey.
Nimrod is doomed to defeat!
"I have won, Kraken you hunted is mine too."
"As long as you can win," Leman Russ said confidently, "But I will definitely be the one to win."