Knight: Becoming King of the World

The soldiers trained in full armor, weapons in hand. Their formations were impeccable, their presence overwhelming. The loyalty shining in their eyes showed they were ready to charge into the fray for Henry at a moment’s notice.

Powerful! That was their first impression.

However, Boman and Fass knew in their hearts that this army alone was likely not enough to utterly crush Count John.

Count John’s power was immense. He commanded countless elite soldiers and strong generals, and his domain had been managed for many years. His foundation was deep and could not be shaken easily.

Fass was the first to praise Henry’s skill, giving him a thumbs-up. "Henry, your ability to train soldiers is truly something else. Just look at them—every man is full of vigor, their presence is overwhelming. I’d wager you couldn’t find more than a handful of armies among all the empire’s nobility that could compare to this one."

It’s just what I’d expect from the undisputed top graduate of your class!

"Your army is so powerful, I’m actually a bit jealous. But..." His tone changed, and a hint of worry crossed his face. "Count John’s forces are not to be underestimated. I’m afraid this army alone won’t be enough to crush him in a single blow."

Henry laughed heartily, as if he had expected this all along.

He said confidently, "Don’t worry, did you really think I wouldn’t have a backup plan? This army is only part of my strength. I have another, identical in size, training, and equipment, already stationed at Ximira Castle."

"What’s more, I have a veteran army of several thousand who have followed me through campaigns far and wide. They’ve fought Half-Beastmen, Lizardmen, and Inferior Horned Beasts. Their combat effectiveness is off the charts."

Boman and Fass were dumbfounded. They stared at Henry, their eyes wide with shock.

’Is he even serious?’ they thought. ’The military budget must be astronomical! The resources and time required to train such elite forces are simply unimaginable.’

’The training must take over a year, at the very least, right? And the cost of food, supplies, and wages... Gods, it’s unbelievable!’

They didn’t think Henry was lying. The sheer confidence in his eyes made them believe him completely.

Besides, they would be heading to Ximira Castle soon enough. The truth of the matter would be revealed then.

Boman and Fass exchanged a glance, a shared shock in their hearts. Henry’s ambition was no empty boast. The power he wielded was far greater than they had ever imagined.

Perhaps, just as the Minstrels of the plains sang in their ballads, Henry would become the Khan of the steppes!

It was still early in the day, so with time to kill, the three men headed to the First Bathhouse of Westwood Laine, which had just been built and opened. It was one of Henry’s own properties.

Using his guests as an excuse, Henry planned to enjoy a comfortable and relaxing time at the bathhouse himself. He had it specially built for his own enjoyment.

There are five standard features of any great city: an arena, an open-air market, a public square, a theater, and a bathhouse.

Westwood Laine was a rising power; how could it possibly lack a bathhouse? It was an essential!

As the three of them stepped inside, an immediate wave of opulence washed over them.

The bathhouse walls were inlaid with exquisite "mosaics," some depicting various mythological stories and hunting scenes in vibrant, lifelike color.

Uniquely shaped tallow chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their soft, bright light illuminating the entire bathhouse as if it were day.

In the center was an enormous marble pool, its water so clear you could see the bottom, with steam rising from its surface.

Soft cushions and exquisite incense burners were arranged around the pool’s edge. A faint, pleasant fragrance of flowers and herbs filled the air, soothing both body and mind.

To one side of the main pool was a smaller massage pool. The water bubbled and rippled, as if whispering a soft melody of relaxation.

This was the great hall, the public bathing area. Henry and the others headed to a private section to properly relax.

Henry was the first to remove his outer garments, revealing a powerful physique. His muscles were lean and well-defined. The sight was enough to make one’s mouth water; you could tell at a glance that the "meat" was tender and of the highest quality.

He slowly stepped into the pool, water splashing gently. Leaning back comfortably against the edge, he closed his eyes and savored the feel of the warm water soothing his body.

Boman and Fass also stripped down and hopped into the pool.

Attendants brought over fruit and wine for Henry and the others to quench their thirst and satisfy their appetites.

Henry let out a long, heartfelt sigh. ’The desert and the Northern Lands are no places for a man to live,’ he thought. ’It’s good to be back in my own fief.’

Of course, if he had a choice, Henry still felt his homeland in the Feikawen region was even more pleasant.

Boman plucked a grape from a nearby platter and tossed it into his mouth. His satisfied expression seemed to say, ’Now this is the life.’

Boman was genuinely a bit envious. His wife had given him a son, and he adored the boy. He wouldn’t say he doted on him, but he at least wanted his child to have a better life.

How long does a man get to live? In the blink of an eye, you’re six feet under.

Fass, meanwhile, picked up a bottle of fine wine and poured a glass for each of them. "Come, a toast to our future!"

The three men touched their glasses together. The liquid swirled, and its tempting aroma prompted them to down it in one gulp. The wine slid down their throats, bringing a pleasant warmth.

After soaking in the hot pool for long enough, they moved on to the massage pool.

HEH HEH, the professional masseurs were incredibly skilled. As they worked from shoulders and neck down to the lower back, Henry and his companions hummed in contentment.

Henry’s personal selection—quality guaranteed.

Originally, Henry hadn’t intended to invent anything or proactively advance any kind of technology.

But now... after this battle was won, Henry was thinking he’d have someone design some more... aesthetically pleasing clothes. Something easy on the eyes.

After several hours of massage, they lay on soft cushions, eating cubes of meat and slices of cake, drinking tea, and enjoying the peaceful post-bath tranquility.

Boman and Fass couldn’t help but sigh. This kind of life was the very definition of luxury.

If their own domains were this pleasant, they’d be happy to stay there until they died of old age.

For the next few days, Henry followed a routine: training the army by day and taking Boman and Fass out on the town by night, which was also a way for him to have a little fun.

During the day, Henry would stand on the training grounds, his powerful voice directing the soldiers through various tactical drills. Boman and Fass observed from the sidelines, occasionally exchanging notes on training and marveling at Henry’s strict but professional methods.

In truth, they were completely baffled. They couldn’t see anything special about Henry’s training methods at all.

After the training sessions, Henry would take Boman and Fass to the city’s taverns to drink heartily and mingle with his subjects.

These past few days had shown Boman and Fass another side of Henry: a man who was not only a renowned commander on the battlefield, but also someone who knew how to enjoy life.

The end of the month arrived quickly, and this batch of troops was nearing the completion of their training.

The soldiers’ movements were more fluid and their formations more precise. The improvement was remarkable, leaving Boman and Fass in awe.

Henry stood on the high platform overlooking the training grounds, gazing at the elite force taking shape before him. These were the soldiers who would win him victory at Odoche.

Henry didn’t bother with pretenses. On the battlefield, there could only be one commander. He gave a direct order to Boman and Fass: take their Private Armies and supply trains and head to Ximira Castle to rendezvous with Bain.

Upon receiving the order, Boman and Fass were a little sad to leave but understood it was a military necessity.

They quickly organized their troops, took stock of their supplies, and prepared to depart.

Boman was actually quite happy about it. He had been wanting to have an eating contest with Bain for a while. He said that competing with a young man like Bain to see who could eat more made him feel young again.

Fass teased from the side, "Boman, don’t underestimate Bain. That guy’s stomach is a bottomless pit. You’d better watch out."

Boman laughed heartily, unconcerned. "What’s there to be afraid of? These old bones haven’t gotten so old that I can’t out-eat some young pup."

On the day of their departure, Henry held a simple farewell ceremony for Boman and Fass.

He clapped them both on the shoulder and said, "Stay vigilant on your way to Ximira Castle. The main army and I will be right behind you. When we arrive, we’ll fight shoulder to shoulder and show this local noble, John, the true power of our Knight Academy."