Knight: Becoming King of the World

Henry shook his head and turned around, his gaze falling upon Ailia. She was holding a tray with steaming hot tea.

He took the tea, and the warmth in his hands improved his mood considerably.

"Ailia, we’re getting ready to leave."

After speaking gently to her, Henry turned to his Attendants, his expression souring.

Bain and the other Attendants, along with Claude and a few other officers, stood a short distance away with varying expressions.

Bain and the other Attendants wore amused expressions, while Claude had a strained look on his face as if trying to suppress a smile, which just made you want to punch him.

"What is it? Are you all finished with your tasks?"

Hearing the less-than-friendly tone in Henry’s voice, the men quickly wiped the expressions from their faces. ’It’s one thing to have a laugh at the lord’s expense, but when he gets angry, you’re the one who suffers.’

Bain was the first to speak. "My lord, do you really intend to go to those places? The rumors about spatial rifts sound like tales told by old crones in back alleys."

Bain had no desire to go. The concept of a spatial rift made him deeply uncomfortable and stripped him of any sense of security.

He could accept the existence of Half-Beastmen and Lizardmen, but he couldn’t accept that enemies could suddenly appear anywhere in Caladia from some unknown place.

Tsk. ’It’s just too bizarre.’

Claude chimed in, "That’s right, my lord. Those places don’t sound welcoming. Why should we take such a risk?"

If Claude had his way, they would beat a hasty retreat, trade everything they could to the Prince for cash, and leave the Northern Lands immediately to go home and enjoy the good life.

’What are we even doing in this godforsaken, frozen wasteland?’

Henry waved his hand, somewhat exasperated, cutting off their objections. "Alright, our objective this time isn’t to engage in high-intensity combat. I just want to take a look. After all, it could be a spatial rift. I’ve never seen one before."

’Who could pass up the chance to see a tear in the fabric of space?’

Henry paused, then continued, "If the enemy numbers are too great, or if they’re too strong, I promise I will order an immediate retreat."

Henry was going to satisfy his curiosity, not to dice with death. The detailed search and reconnaissance were matters for the Prince to worry about.

With that, Henry took a deep breath and announced loudly, "All troops, move out! To the next location!"

At Henry’s command, the ever-ready soldiers moved swiftly, preparing to advance toward the special zones Henry had marked.

This mission would likely be fraught with unknown dangers, but Henry’s curiosity compelled him to investigate.

Theoretically, as long as he remained vigilant, there shouldn’t be any major problems.

Led by Henry, the column passed through the border garrison and advanced toward the designated zones.

The sky here seemed gloomier than elsewhere, and an oppressive atmosphere permeated the air.

Henry signaled for the troops to halt, carefully observing the surroundings.

According to intelligence, there were several spots in this region where Inferior Horned Beasts frequently appeared. He decided to start his reconnaissance there.

Besides, this area wasn’t too far from the border. After scouting, it would be convenient to swing by the border garrison to restock on military supplies.

"Bain, Leon, take a detachment and scout the snowy hills to the east.

Claude, you and Selas will take a group to the southern canyon. Everyone else, with me. We’re heading into the dense western forest."

The soldiers split up as Henry instructed and began their reconnaissance missions.

Henry led a squad of elite soldiers and cautiously entered the forest. The trees here were exceptionally tall, their dense branches and leaves laden with thick snow, blocking out almost all sunlight.

’It’s amazing how tenacious these trees are,’ he thought. ’To think such a dense forest can exist in this environment.’

They had no choice but to hack away at the dead branches blocking their path with their swords, advancing slowly.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, Henry sensed a strange energy fluctuation. He stopped, closed his eyes, and tried to perceive the source of this energy.

Henry felt a deep chill, but it wasn’t from the snow and wind. He couldn’t quite describe this cold... ’A scorching cold?’

After a moment, Henry opened his eyes and pointed. "That way. I can feel it. It’s over there."

Hearing Henry’s words, Roland and the soldiers at his side couldn’t help but swallow hard. Their hearts pounded, and their palms began to sweat.

Although they were all veterans of many battles, they felt an indescribable fear in the face of such an unknown, mysterious power.

’This is terrifying.’ They had thought it was just a routine reconnaissance mission, but now they were actually encountering the spatial rift Henry had spoken of.

Something that only existed in tales told by old men no one listened to was now appearing right before their eyes?!

An unprecedented tension gripped them all. ’Is there really such a thing as mysterious powers? Do spatial rifts actually exist?’

The soldiers murmured to themselves, their eyes filled with bewilderment.

Roland, as one of Henry’s Attendants and a former Independent Noble, felt just as anxious as the others, but he knew this was no time to show fear.

He had to remain calm and set an example for the soldiers. Besides, this was a golden opportunity to prove himself to Henry. ’Heh heh heh...’

"Everyone, stay calm! We’re with our lord. Nothing will happen."