Knight: Becoming King of the World

Moreover, the emperor had always held nobles from the Knight Academy in high regard. A capable noble like Henry was an absolute treasure.

Nothing bad ever happened to him, and every good thing fell into his lap!

Therefore, these nobles believed there was no harm in getting acquainted with Henry ahead of time.

They came with smiles and various gifts, all trying to make a good impression on Henry.

As this was all rather sudden, the gifts they had on hand weren’t as valuable as they would have liked. Simple enough to fix. They’d just have someone send another, better gift later.

After all, you can’t go wrong with being overly generous.

They discussed Henry’s military exploits and heaped praise on his valor, while also making sure to mention their own family’s honor and power, hoping to pique his interest.

Henry remained polite as the nobles tried to cozy up to him. Their intentions were obvious, but it was always better to have one more friend than one more enemy.

He was no longer the same man who was dirt-poor, who used to lie in bed tossing and turning with nothing better to do than wonder who he could rob.

Now, he was quite wealthy, with more than enough money in his coffers.

Henry listened patiently to their chatter, nodding from time to time in agreement.

Meanwhile, men from several Legions and the emperor’s Supervisory Army were counting the Inferior Horned Beast heads Henry had brought back.

The count was completed with great speed, as it was for a great victory—one achieved by Henry himself.

Once the number of Inferior Horned Beast heads was confirmed, the glad tidings were immediately dispatched to Lukaron, the imperial capital.

One could only imagine the uproar this news would cause in Lukaron.

Henry’s victory was not just his personal glory; it was a glory for the entire empire, and for every noble who had graduated from the Knight Academy.

The banquet that evening was exceptionally lively. Unlike the court banquets of the past, everything here seemed to have adopted the local customs. The usual elegance and refinement were gone, replaced by the hearty sight of people eating and drinking with gusto.

The nobles sat around bonfires, feasting on fine food and wine. Laughter and conversation rose and fell, and the atmosphere was fervent.

The soldiers were also in their tents, warming themselves by the fire, eating hot roasted meat, and drinking beer, feeling perfectly content.

It was, by all accounts, a perfect banquet. Everyone was overjoyed.

However, for the Crown Prince, the banquet was less than satisfactory.

He noticed that Ratifa seemed particularly interested in Henry. She spent the entire evening chatting with him, which left the Prince feeling rather sullen.

He repeatedly tried to "pass by," "casually," or "accidentally" join their conversation, but Ratifa and Henry’s interaction seemed to form an impenetrable little circle.

It left the Crown Prince’s heart in knots.

The Crown Prince’s mood soured as he recalled the nightmares Henry had caused him lately. As the wine slid down his throat, a baseless sense of grievance washed over him.

His mood growing heavier and fearing he might lose his composure, the Crown Prince simply downed the rest of his wine, made an excuse about having matters to attend to, and departed the banquet early.

’I can’t afford to mess with him, so can’t I at least hide from him? Hmph!’

The Crown Prince’s departure didn’t bring the festivities to an early close. On the contrary, it made the atmosphere even more relaxed.

Without the Crown Prince’s solemn presence, the nobles let loose and began to enjoy the evening with even greater freedom.

They laughed boisterously, toasted one another, and some even began to sing and dance, no different from the common folk in a tavern.

These nobles, normally so high and mighty, were now showing their truest, most relaxed selves at this banquet in the border camp.

They had been fighting for nearly half a year. Far from home, in the ice and snow... the soldiers were tired, and so were they.

Henry, too, was swept up in the atmosphere. Bursts of laughter frequently erupted from his conversation with Ratifa.

Henry’s humor and wisdom fascinated Ratifa. She couldn’t imagine how this young man before her had so many endless stories to tell.

Meanwhile, Ratifa’s own intelligence and insight impressed Henry, and she helped clear up many of his own minor questions.

Their conversation became a beautiful scene at the banquet, much to the utter dismay of the other nobles!

’Damn it! The young and beautiful Countess is being snatched away!’

’Damn it all! Now there’s no chance to introduce the women of my family to Henry!’

The banquet deepened Henry’s relationship with the other nobles and further solidified his image in the hearts of the Imperial Legion’s soldiers.

As the night deepened and the boisterous banquet wound down, Henry, supported by Bain and Leon, slowly made his way back to his troops’ encampment.

Pushed to drink all night, Henry had naturally taken on an entire table by himself! He drank wine like it was water—it was a terrifying sight.

The sheer quantity of alcohol finally took its toll. The intoxicating effect made him stumble slightly, but a satisfied smile remained on his face.

Full of food and drink... BURP.

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. The moon shone with exceptional brilliance in a night sky dotted with stars against a deep blue canvas. Henry looked up, taking a deep breath of the cool night air in an attempt to clear his head.

Bain and Leon supported Henry, chatting quietly and asking him about the amusing events of the evening’s banquet.

Just as they were about to reach their encampment, Henry’s gaze was drawn to a solitary figure. He rubbed his eyes, uncertain if the alcohol was playing tricks on them.

But there was indeed a figure standing silently on the open ground.

"Bain, Leon, look over there. Is that the Crown Prince?" Henry asked, pointing.

Bain and Leon followed his finger. Sure enough, the figure was the Crown Prince. He was standing there all alone, his back to them, gazing up at the night sky as if lost in thought.

"It really is the Crown Prince. What’s he doing out here?" Leon said, puzzled.

"Probably admiring the moon," Bain guessed. "After all, a night like this is perfect for quiet appreciation."

Henry gave a thumbs-up to the Crown Prince’s back. His estimation of the Prince rose another notch.

In an empire rife with intense power struggles, it was truly rare for the Crown Prince to maintain such class.

He hadn’t chosen to continue vying with Henry at the banquet, but had instead opted to seek solace alone in the tranquility of the night.

"As expected of the Crown Prince. He has class," Henry murmured, then gestured for Bain and Leon to keep moving.

They didn’t disturb the Crown Prince’s peace, returning silently to their own encampment.

Meanwhile, our Crown Prince... Two streams of tears were flowing uncontrollably down his face.

’Second Brother, you useless fool!’

’Third Brother, you useless fool!’

After venting his emotions, the Crown Prince had no choice but to face reality and get back to work. Henry, on the other hand, was sleeping soundly, and sweet dreams they were.

News of Henry’s military exploits spread like wildfire throughout the empire. The report of his victory was sent by express courier; there was no need for secrecy, for a victory like this was something every citizen of the empire could be proud of.

Just like the Battle of Zhiluo and the Battle of Tianyin before it, Henry’s name once again caused a sensation. His victory was more than just a military one—it was a massive boost to the empire’s morale.

In every corner of the empire, people were discussing Henry’s heroic deeds.

In taverns, in marketplaces, and even at the banquets of the nobility, Henry’s name was the most talked-about topic.

His victory was quickly adapted into ballads by Minstrels, immortalized in murals by enterprising painters, and turned into plays performed on the streets by clever playwrights.

’This was a golden opportunity to cash in, and you had to be quick or you’d miss out!’

Henry’s fame, much like his battle record, spread swiftly to every corner of the empire.

Unfortunately, the war with the Lizardmen was a... complicated matter. This victory couldn’t be so easily converted into political capital.

If the empire had also achieved a noteworthy victory on the Lizardmen front, he would undoubtedly have become the ace commander in the fight against the three Alien Races, hailed as the "Light of the Empire."

The situation on the desert front was less than ideal, which meant Henry’s military talents weren’t being fully utilized, and this in turn affected his prospects for a promotion in rank.

On the empire’s political stage, military victories were often inextricably linked to promotions in noble rank.

Everyone was speculating on what change, if any, would be made to Henry’s title this time.

Would he be promoted for his outstanding performance in the battle against the Inferior Horned Beasts?