Knight: Becoming King of the World

Henry’s gaze was sharp as a blade. He stared intently into the Mercenary Guild President’s eyes, searching for any hint of deception or concealment.

However, the Mercenary Guild President’s eyes held only confusion and fear, with no trace of cunning or pretense.

Henry sighed softly. ’It seems this Mercenary Guild President really knows nothing about the Mysterious Merchant.’

"Then let me ask you, what did you mean by ’weapons,’ ’military equipment,’ and ’deals’ back at the tavern?"

The Mercenary Guild President blinked and fell silent, an ’ah, so that’s it’ expression crossing his face.

Henry: ???

’What kind of look is that?’

"Speak. If you don’t, I’ll gut you!"

The Mercenary Guild President’s face fell as he watched Henry draw a small knife.

He had struggled his entire life to finally become the Mercenary Guild President. He no longer had to lead teams of Mercenaries, living life on a knife’s edge. He had no desire to die in some nameless alley.

"I’ll talk! I’ll talk! I’ve made contact with a noble in the Northern Lands. I can purchase large quantities of Alien Race armor and weapons. The quality is so-so, but the upside is the sheer volume and low price. It’s enough to arm a massive force."

’A noble from the Northern Lands, Alien Race weapons?’

Henry was rendered a little speechless. ’Well, what do you know. This is actually related to me.’ It was probably from the massive amount of spoils he’d brought back, which the Prince and his faction had divided amongst themselves. Someone must have found a new sales channel and was looking to make a quick buck.

The amount of military equipment Ratifa could buy from him was limited, too. Even the great nobles had their own set of problems.

When Henry remained silent, the Mercenary Guild President assumed he was waiting for more. He quickly continued, "If you’re here to buy my weapons, I can cut you in on a share. We’re all just trying to make money, aren’t we? It can be a win-win for everyone. Why resort to all this fighting and bloodshed?"

Henry sneered. ’Why the hell would I buy that junk?’ But then, a thought occurred to him. He pressed on, "That doesn’t add up. Just arming more men would consume a fortune in food and money. What about training? Could Mercenaries like that actually win a fight? Can you really afford to maintain that large of an army?"

The Mercenary Guild President looked awkward at the question, stammering and not daring to answer.

Henry’s eyes narrowed. He pressed the small knife against the Mercenary Guild President’s neck. "Out with it! Keep stalling, and I’ll finish you."

The Guild President was scared to death. ’Who the hell is this guy? He’s completely savage. Since he overheard our conversation, he must know who I am.’

’He should be after money, or... well, money. Why is he so quick to threaten to kill me? Am I, the great Mercenary Guild President of Luotai, so worthless?’

But he was in a bind and had no choice but to yield.

"I... I was going to let those refugees use the weapons and armor, and then... then I can go suppress the bandits."

Henry’s eyebrow twitched upon hearing this. ’Well, I’ll be damned. Fucking brilliant.’

’No wonder the bandit problem in the empire is getting worse and worse. The more you suppress them, the more there are. It’s an endless cycle. So this is the reason why.’

"Are you the only one playing this game, or is everyone?"

"Everyone’s doing it."

’Right, right, right. So that’s the game, huh? Filling your own pockets with the lives of refugees and the money of nobles?’

Henry’s fingers gently caressed the hilt of his knife, his heart filled with disgust.

The Mercenary Guild President’s scheme was a clear-cut case of using the lives of refugees and the wealth of nobles to line his own pockets.

What was there to say? The man was an absolute animal, sacrificing the innocent for personal gain.

He had the subconscious urge to end the man with a single slash, but after a moment’s thought, he restrained himself.

’What was his status? He was a Border Noble. This mess had nothing to do with him. If it blew up into a real problem, that would be the emperor’s headache.’

The empire belonged to all the nobility, but it belonged to the emperor most of all. If things went south, the emperor would be the first one to panic.

While Henry couldn’t stand such monstrous behavior, it wasn’t worth it for him to do anything too drastic here.

In the end, Henry decided to teach the Mercenary Guild President a lesson. He would chop off one of his hands—his right hand.

Without a hint of hesitation, it took the small knife a mere five or six seconds to sever the Mercenary Guild President’s right hand at the wrist. Blood gushed forth.

Late at night, agonized wails echoed through the small alley. Five people lay bound, their assailant having vanished into the darkness...

The incident caused a minor stir in Lukaron. After all, the victim was a man of some standing, so it naturally drew the attention of the Sheriffs.

They quickly launched an investigation, questioning the tavern servers, examining the scene, and even interrogating nearby residents.

Unfortunately, the crime had occurred too late at night. With no eyewitnesses, and with the Mercenary Guild President unable to describe his attacker’s face, finding the culprit was all but impossible.

Meanwhile, the culprit had long since returned to the garrison’s barracks. No one would think to search there, much less suspect that a Count would personally put on a mask to abduct someone—let alone the Mercenary Guild President.

’He didn’t demand money, nor did he take a life. The man had to be insane, right?’

For his own reasons, the Mercenary Guild President also concealed the details of their conversation. Otherwise, the investigation might have actually led back to Henry.

If that conversation were to be leaked, the Mercenary Guild President’s status and reputation would plummet. He might even be executed by the emperor’s direct order.

He didn’t dare take the risk. He could only silently endure the pain and fear, all the while vowing to himself that he would find that masked man and make him pay!

Henry was eating breakfast, while Bain and Leon acted as if nothing had happened, as if they truly had no part in it.

For men who had seen battle—who had fought Lizardmen, Imperials, and Inferior Horned Beasts—a trivial bit of abduction couldn’t stir the slightest ripple within them.

For the next few days, Henry acted as if nothing had happened, spending his time visiting old classmates and alumni.

He even found time to visit the academy and give a speech to the younger students.

Meanwhile, Lukaron’s Sheriffs were intensifying their investigation. If they failed to solve the case, they would likely be chewed out.

A riot had just broken out in the streets not long ago, and now this vicious incident had occurred. The pressure on them was mounting.

’Seriously, what is going on? This is Lukaron, isn’t it? What kind of madhouse is this becoming?’

They began scrambling for clues, sending out all their men in an attempt to find the mysterious masked assailant.

However, their efforts seemed futile. Henry had been cautious and professional, leaving behind no clues that could be traced.

The case was destined to go cold, eventually forgotten by all.

Perhaps only the Mercenary Guild President and the Sheriffs would continue to dwell on it.

Henry stood before the city gate, his Cavalry lined up neatly behind him in full armor. On either side of the gate, citizens who saw the spectacle spontaneously gathered to see off the departing Count.

’People just love a good spectacle, after all.’

’This departure isn’t just for my own fief, but for the future of the empire... *my* empire.’

He raised an arm, saluting the citizens seeing him off. ’Farewell, everyone! I’m leaving! I’m going back to my fief to raise an army and build my power!’

As Henry’s army slowly began to move out, they passed through the city gates and set upon the road back to his fiefdom.

Riding his horse, Henry periodically glanced back at the empire’s center of power.

Lukaron, this magnificent, fortified city, had witnessed the empire’s glories and declines. Now, it would also bear witness to Henry’s ambition.

’Sooner or later, this impenetrable city will bow at my feet!’

Henry’s army gradually receded, their figures shrinking on the horizon until they finally disappeared from sight.

Henry already had a plan. The first step toward making Lukaron submit was to bring the entire Eastern Steppe to its knees before him.

Once the Eastern Steppe submitted, he would have a stable rear base, lacking neither food nor manpower. He could then use his own elite troops as the main force, with the other nobles’ armies and the Garrison Teams serving as cannon fodder to hold the line.

’The world is vast, and the possibilities are endless!’

Moreover, with a single victory, Henry had already given some of the Eastern Steppe nobles a taste of the rewards. The seeds of rebellion were already sown in their hearts.

Henry only needed to guide them, step by step, and they would all become his men!

And the first to fall under his knife would be John!