Knight: Becoming King of the World

’These guys actually have some surprising potential.’

The Militia, while unable to undergo the same high-intensity training as the new army, was still a vital part of the domain’s security, especially as the population grew larger and more diverse, and the city streets expanded.

With more Militia, the domain’s safety and order would be even more secure.

As the Militia Team’s numbers grew, Philip began selecting and training new personnel.

He started by posting a recruitment notice for the Militia on the public notice board in Westwood Laine, calling for healthy, upstanding men between the ages of eighteen and thirty to sign up.

The notice immediately drew an enthusiastic response from the commoners. Many rushed to sign up, hoping to become a member of the Militia Team.

Those who were too old beat their chests and stamped their feet, cursing that they were born a few years too early. ’If I’d known, I would have reported a younger age when I registered at the Civil Affairs Department!’

Philip subjected the applicants to a rigorous screening process, ultimately selecting four hundred men who met the criteria for the Militia.

He divided the five hundred militiamen he now had into ten squadrons, each with fifty men, managed by a squadron leader.

These squadron leaders were all promoted from the original Militia. They commanded great respect and had a wealth of experience within the team.

They were also experienced in handling the residents’ neighborhood disputes and other trivial matters. With the veterans training the newcomers, the new militiamen would soon be ready to take up their posts in rotation.

For training, Philip stipulated that every three days, the militiamen had to conduct physical conditioning. This included running, lifting stones, carrying logs, and practicing strikes with short spears, Long Swords, and long blades, as well as shield blocking.

On training days, the militiamen were guaranteed one meal with meat!

In addition, Philip also arranged for practical combat drills, allowing the militiamen to hone their adaptability and teamwork in simulated battle scenarios.

As the security forces grew stronger, the gang members, spies, and scouts they would face in the future would also be stronger.

Because the weak ones couldn’t get in anyway.

Thus, the militiamen took their training very seriously. Only by continuously improving their skills could they play a greater role in the domain.

Many of them competed with each other. ’Next time we see an enemy, six strikes a second won’t be my limit!’

Besides, Lord Henry provided them with such good treatment; they couldn’t possibly let him down.

Training in the barracks was in full swing, and the Militia patrols were fervent. Day by day, time passed, and everyone looked forward to a bright future.

One day, after a long day’s work, Henry had just sat down to eat when he received news. He immediately dropped his bowl and chopsticks and rushed to the castle dungeon.

He looked at the half-dead spies and scouts before him, his expression grim and his gaze fierce.

’These bastards, running rampant in my domain, digging for information... They really don’t know what’s good for them. If you’re going to earn this kind of money, you’d better be prepared for interrogation and torture upon capture.’

Selas and Roland had just finished interrogating these spies and scouts, extracting a mountain of information that they had since organized.

This included who sent them, what their objectives were, what information they had gathered, and how long they had been undercover.

Among the masterminds were many expected "old friends," such as Count John, Count Akakarat, and others.

’These people really forget the pain once the wound has healed,’ Henry sneered internally. ’You want to keep an eye on me? Fine. Next time, I’ll bring my army to your doorstep and let you have a good, long look!’

As for the other, unfamiliar nobles and faction leaders, Henry didn’t pay them much mind. This kind of intelligence gathering was normal; if anything, Henry’s reaction was the one that was too extreme.

But there was one name on the list that surprised Henry and left him utterly exasperated: the Prince.

Henry was speechless. He summoned Claude, because Claude had previously told him that when he took over from Tommy, he had mentioned a prior capture operation.

And now, Selas had discovered from the mouths of these new spies that they shared the same superior as the last batch.

Henry laughed, but it was a laugh of pure anger. ’Fine, just fine. I risk my life fighting beyond the border, winning great merits for you, and this is how you repay me?’

A wave of fury surged within him. How could the Prince be so ungrateful as to send spies to monitor him?

’I call you the Prince out of respect. Without that respect, your status is lower than even Boman’s!’

’He’s just the emperor’s offspring, a man without even a fief of his own. For every day he isn’t on that throne, he’s nothing but rootless duckweed!’

Henry took a deep breath, then said to Claude, "Claude, go and investigate the Prince’s recent activities. Find out why he sent spies to watch me."

"Also, probe the other nobles. Have the Minstrels, adventurers, and travelers coordinate with you. See what other schemes and plots they’re cooking up."

Claude nodded in understanding. He, too, felt a sense of dissatisfaction. The Prince’s actions were indeed excessive.

Henry had achieved great military honors for the empire, yet he was still being watched. It was truly unfair. ’If it were the emperor, fine, but you’re just a...’

"My lord, I will get to the bottom of this as soon as possible," Claude said.

Henry waved him away. He sat on a chair in the dungeon, lost in thought.

’The Prince sent spies to watch me. What’s his motive? Did the emperor order it? Or is this his own petty scheme?’

Henry knew that amassing elite soldiers, achieving brilliant military victories, and gaining a high reputation in just a few short years would inevitably arouse fear and suspicion in some people.

But he had always been "loyal and devoted," exhausting himself for the development of the empire and his domain, never harboring any treasonous thoughts.

At this thought, Henry stood up and walked out of the dungeon. This business with the spies and scouts could be a big deal or a small one; there was no need to overthink it.

In the end, whatever came their way, they would deal with it.

Henry returned to his office and quickly skimmed the compiled intelligence report.

First, the intelligence gathered by the spies and scouts primarily focused on Westwood Laine’s military strength, economic situation, and Henry’s personal movements.

’These nobles are so concerned about my domain...’

However, the information they possessed was inaccurate, and some of it was even outdated.

Because Henry had continuously diluted the power of his officials, much of what was once transparent information had become obscured. Coupled with the fact that Henry’s sword was never sheathed, these officials didn’t dare to speak recklessly, making it difficult for spies to dig up anything useful.

Moreover, according to the spies’ and scouts’ statements, they came from various noble families. Some were low-ranking members, while others were capable aides within their houses.

They could be considered capable retainers, the right-hand men of those nobles.

Henry couldn’t help but sigh internally. ’The empire’s nobility is rife with intrigue and backstabbing.’

’If they invested these efforts into developing their fiefs and training their armies, they would surely be much more successful.’

As for the Prince... he most likely sent spies to monitor him to test his ambitions, or perhaps to gather more intelligence on his domain to gain an advantage in future political struggles.

Henry curled his lip. He, at least, had won great merit for the empire. And the Prince? A good-for-nothing who just sits in his command tent.

Westwood Laine was finally at peace. The training for the new army was complete, but the barracks did not fall silent. Instead, they immediately welcomed a new batch of serfs and commoners to begin their own new army training.

Among them were twelve hundred handpicked, able-bodied men with excellent family backgrounds sent by Ratifa, who also brought eight thousand Dinars.

Henry happily accepted it all!

Meanwhile, the newly trained soldiers, neatly uniformed and having received their assignments, were all sent out on patrol to practice their wilderness marching and encampment skills.

And what was the result of all this?

Every merchant caravan coming to trade in Westwood Laine was astonished to find that, at almost every interval along the road, they would see a squad of fully armed soldiers!

Squads of well-equipped Warriors appearing randomly in the wild! The merchants couldn’t tell if this filled them with a sense of security or with heart-pounding dread.