Knight: Becoming King of the World

Ratifa’s gaze was drawn to a building under construction—it was Henry’s new barracks. Workers bustled about, hauling stone and lumber, and the outline of the building was already taking shape.

A wealthy noble capable of maintaining a standing army would station, at most, about three thousand soldiers within their city.

It seemed Henry’s castle garrison was already full, hence the need for new barracks.

In the center of the town was a newly built square, and in the center of the square stood a statue of Henry. The sculpted Henry held a Long Sword, his determined gaze fixed on the distance.

Standing before the statue, Ratifa was struck by an odd feeling.

This direction... Ratifa turned and saw that the tip of the Long Sword was pointing... toward Lukaron?

’It must be my imagination.’

At the edge of Westwood Laine, Ratifa saw rows of Workshops under construction.

Inside the Workshops, artisans were forging all sorts of weapons and equipment, providing support for Henry’s army.

’Does Henry really need such a large quantity of armaments?’

Ratifa was secretly stunned. This Westwood Laine before her was less a rising star of a border fortress and more a massive military camp.

The entire town’s layout and construction revealed a militarized rigor and efficiency in every aspect.

The lives of the subjects also seemed inextricably linked to the military. They were more like a support corps, always ready to be conscripted as new soldiers and bolster Henry’s military strength.

Henry’s strategy was clearly comprehensive. He wasn’t just focused on the current conflict but was also preparing for long-term military expansion.

Westwood Laine’s prosperity and vitality were, in fact, built upon a foundation of military strength. Henry’s ambition was far greater than this; his target might be the entire empire, or even beyond.

Ratifa’s carriage returned to the square, and her gaze once again fell upon Henry’s statue.

The sculpted Henry held his Long Sword, his gaze resolute, as if telling the world that his determination and goals were unshakable.

A complex mix of emotions surged within Ratifa. She admired Henry’s capabilities, but she was also wary of his ambition.

’What I’m about to witness might just be the dawn of a new era.’

What Ratifa saw and heard in Westwood Laine gave her a deeper understanding of Henry’s abilities and ambition.

She recalled the ancestors of the nobility, those nobles who had risen amidst the flames of war.

Relying on their courage and Wisdom, they built their fiefdoms and armies from nothing.

Their stories became legends, passed down through later generations.

And now, Henry was walking that same path. He intended not only to inherit the will of the older generation of nobles but to surpass them.

Most nobles nowadays, sheltered by the legacy of their ancestors, tended to develop their economies first and then funnel the profits back into their military. Henry’s approach was the complete opposite.

It wasn’t that the current nobles were wrong; it was just that Henry’s path would be difficult for most to replicate.

After all, not everyone could find a "kind benefactor" willing to provide the money and labor to help build a castle.

Henry paid little mind to Ratifa’s activities. He wasn’t afraid of others inspecting his domain.

Henry’s decisions were decisive. Once he chose to enter the war in the Northern Lands, he moved like lightning—the strike was over before the thunderclap was even heard.

Warehouse doors were thrown open and shut, bustling with soldiers moving in and out, carrying crate after crate of supplies: weapons, armor, tents, and food.

Claude, Tommy, and Bain personally supervised everything, ensuring that all necessary supplies were accounted for and that each piece of equipment would be a reliable companion to its Warrior.

The reserve of medicinal herbs was something Henry paid special attention to. Treating the wounded was of paramount importance, and herbs were essential for treating wounds and diseases.

Henry could accept retraining new recruits after suffering heavy casualties, but he could not accept large numbers of soldiers dying for lack of medicinal herbs.

He would not allow himself any negligence in this area, so he ordered the Medical Masters to carefully inspect the quality and quantity of every type of herb.

The patrol soldiers within the domain began to return from all directions. Their mission was complete; now it was time to assemble and prepare for the expedition.

The army’s assembly was orderly. Every soldier knew their position and their task.

Their faces were filled with determination and anticipation, for they knew their lord would once again lead them to glory.

Dinars, military merits, spoils of war, or even the heads of their enemies... all these tempting things beckoned to them.

Henry stood on a high platform, looking down upon the assembled army.

This sort of scene had become more and more frequent. Henry remained silent, and the soldiers remained silent as well.

Yet sometimes, silence is more powerful than any rousing declaration.

"Deploy! To the north!"

At Henry’s command, the army began to move slowly, forming neat columns as they advanced toward the Northern Lands.

Henry stood in his chariot, pulled by four horses. His armor glinted in the sun, and his battle-axe was raised high, as if announcing to all that their campaign had begun!

Henry was about to unleash another storm of blood and slaughter!

Ratifa followed alongside Henry’s army, her gaze fixed on the slowly departing troops.

Her heart was filled with shock and awe. ’How could these be new recruits? Every single soldier looked like an elite warrior, rigorously trained and battle-hardened!’

Recalling the speed at which these soldiers had assembled from their various villages sent a chill down her spine.

’This speed of mobilization and command transmission is just too fast!’

’What’s his benchmark? Is Henry comparing himself to the Imperial administration?’

She couldn’t help but swallow. ’If I had an army like this,’ she thought, ’I’d dare to conquer enough land for two more Viscount’s Domains in the Northern Lands!’

And no one would dare to say a word. Instead, they would have to send her money and luxuries to curry favor, bowing and scraping before her.

The combat effectiveness of this army was enough to make any noble invincible on the battlefield. They could gain the upper hand even against experienced veterans.

Ratifa couldn’t help but feel relieved that her and Henry’s domains were so far apart—one in the Northern Lands, the other on the southeastern border.

They had no conflicts of interest. Otherwise, she truly feared her "Heroic Soldiers" would be utterly crushed by his army.

’This is terrifying! According to Henry, a large portion of these are new recruits. But what kind of new recruits have this sort of morale and equipment?’

’Impossible, absolutely impossible!’

Ratifa would rather believe these soldiers were a hidden force Henry had concealed in his domain all along than believe they were new recruits.

Only the serfs and Auxiliary Soldiers serving in logistics fit Ratifa’s concept of imperial new recruits.

Although they too were neatly equipped, they clearly lacked that certain presence.

Yet, even these support personnel displayed an extremely high degree of efficiency and organization.

Envy! So much envy! She was so jealous, drool was practically dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Watching all of this, what Ratifa felt toward Henry’s capabilities was once again... fear?

His ability to train such a powerful army forced her to reassess Henry’s status and influence within the empire.

’Could the Eldest Prince really make a man like Henry submit?’

Ratifa took a deep breath. Her mission, aside from observing and evaluating Henry for the Eldest Prince, was also to find opportunities for her own collaboration with him.

She might even need to stand on the same side as him at some point in the future.

Any intelligent person could see that the empire today was like a towering tree—massive and imposing on the outside, but long since rotten on the inside, its roots withering away.

The surging tides of this era made her feel an unprecedented sense of challenge and opportunity.

Who doesn’t want to advance further? Who wouldn’t risk danger for fame and fortune?

Ratifa Villarreal wanted to see her name become "Duchess Ratifa Villarreal"!

Everyone was fired up about Henry’s expedition, except for Tommy.

He looked at the empty castle and sighed helplessly.