Knight: Becoming King of the World

The news that Henry himself was personally leading an army swept across the eastern grasslands like a mighty east wind, stirring up ripples of unrest.

The gold-bordered banner of the Bro Clan flew high at the head of the army, like a dazzling sun glittering brilliantly in the light.

Throughout the entire army of the Bro Clan, this gold-bordered noble banner only appeared where Henry himself was present.

The nobles of the eastern grasslands were immediately consumed by the news. Merchants in the marketplaces put their heads together, discussing the might of Henry’s army and the impact this campaign would have on the region’s balance of power.

Herdsmen gathered before their tents, speculating on the course of the war and its potential consequences.

’Will the price of livestock go up? Should we go sell a batch at Westwood Laine?’

In their manors, the nobles secretly contemplated what opportunities or challenges Henry’s actions would bring to their own interests. The news spread like wildfire, rapidly reaching the Northern Lands and the central part of the empire.

In the Northern Lands, the residents of those cold and desolate territories grew anxious upon hearing the news of Henry’s campaign.

They were the closest to the border battlefields and the ones who had most widely spread tales of Henry’s victories. They had long heard of his army’s formidable reputation, as well as the lord’s own military genius and decisiveness.

The eastern grassland nobles, who had previously remained aloof and unconcerned, now nervously summoned their vassals to discuss countermeasures. They had to guard against the potential spread of war while also plotting how to gain greater advantages from this upheaval.

’Join him, or resist him?’ That was the critical decision. The last great battle between the two blocs of nobles felt as if it had happened only yesterday.

Everyone knew that Henry was the kind of man who could easily set off another chain reaction, triggering a war that would engulf the entire grasslands.

In the central empire, a land of bustling cities and vast fields, the news caused an even greater uproar when it arrived.

The nobles of Amperela, Mizea, Xilonia, Onira, Danustika, and Vostrom—and even those of Feikawen and Poros—all began to pay close attention to Henry’s movements.

They were all time-tested nobles from ancient lineages, and they wondered what the rise of this frontier lord meant for the empire’s equilibrium.

Some worried that Henry’s military campaign would shatter the existing power structure, while others saw an opportunity, believing that cooperation with him could secure them a more advantageous position on the political stage.

Merchants, meanwhile, were rubbing their hands in anticipation. While war brought destruction, the subsequent reconstruction and flourishing trade would also present them with immense commercial opportunities.

Across the central empire, from noble manors to bustling marketplaces, Henry’s name and his army were the talk of the town. The gold-bordered banner of the Bro Clan had become an image that no one could get out of their minds.

No one could have imagined that the young upstart who once had to rally other nobles, jointly propose the Pioneer Bill, and find allies to draw enemy fire just to rebuild his own fief could now cause such a massive stir with a single small move.

In their eyes, the Henry of the past was nothing more than a young lord struggling to survive on the fringes of a political maelstrom. In order to rebuild his fief, he had been forced to scramble everywhere, uniting various powers and riding the momentum of the Pioneer Bill just to barely gain a foothold.

Back then, he was just an insignificant pawn on the political chessboard of the eastern grasslands, making each move with painstaking caution, terrified of being crushed to pieces at the slightest misstep.

But times had changed. The Henry of today commanded an iron army that was well-trained, well-equipped, and had High Morale!

That gold-bordered banner of the Bro Clan had transformed from a mere symbolic emblem into a terrifying totem that struck fear into the hearts of his enemies!

The great nobles who once looked upon him with disdain were now forced to take notice, re-evaluating this once "minor player."

They were beginning to realize that Henry was no longer a pawn to be casually manipulated, but someone who now had a seat at their table.

When Henry arrived at Ximira Castle, the area had already been transformed into a colossal military camp.

As far as the eye could see, a dense forest of tents stretched out like an ocean of soldiers and steel, surrounding Ximira Castle so completely it was impenetrable.

Countless soldiers bustled about the camp. Some sharpened their weapons, some drilled in formation, and others transported supplies. It was a scene of bustling, orderly activity.

The neighing of warhorses, the shouts of soldiers, and the clang of steel composed a rousing war anthem! Tens of thousands of men, all under Henry’s command!

The elite troops and formidable generals who had gathered here were all united under Henry’s banner, awaiting his command.

Their eyes shone with loyalty. This mighty force was like a moving steel fortress, unstoppable and invincible.

Boman and Fass, who had arrived earlier, were speechless. They had originally harbored doubts, worrying whether Henry could truly defeat Count John. ’After all, he’s a Count, and an established one at that.’

However, now that they saw an even more powerful army gathered at Ximira Castle, they were simply numb with shock.

They stared at the spectacular sight before them, their hearts filled with shock and awe.

’How did Henry train these troops? When did he train them? It doesn’t matter anymore. Seeing is believing. The fact is, they’re here.’

For the past few days, Boman and Fass had been feeling a bit down while waiting at Ximira Castle. The usually unflappable Boman even lost his enthusiasm for an eating contest against Bain.