Chapter 308 - 228: A Double Blessing
This would be a revolution that would shake the entire empire. The fates of countless people would be altered as a result.
’It seems I must keep a close eye on Henry’s movements, no matter what.’
For this wasn’t some baseless speculation or a wild flight of fancy on her part.
Many people had probably forgotten that it was Henry who had spearheaded the Pioneer Bill! And that Pioneer Bill was still in effect!
’If Henry had been planning something since back then... HISS... that’s terrifying.’
In the border camp of the Northern Lands, Henry was busy handling daily military affairs.
He stood before a map, discussing defensive strategies and training plans with his subordinates, completely immersed in the fine details of his military duties.
In fact, he was one of the last people in the border camp to learn of the Emperor’s reward and arrangements for him. His intelligence network had always been a paltry affair—just a few scattered agents, better than nothing but not by much.
He had little else to do but wait for the bounty from the First Prince and the payment for his "Mercenaries" unit, after which he planned to pack up and head home.
A Chaos invasion? Spatial rifts? ’What does that have to do with me? I’m not the Emperor.’ He had only come here to gain experience and make some quick cash for his military fund.
For now, all was quiet and peaceful. Henry, along with his attendant and officers, pointed at various spots on the map, while the soldiers relished a rare opportunity to huddle in their tents and enjoy the warmth.
The board games in the taverns were too monotonous, so Henry had introduced pastimes like playing cards, which had now spread from Westwood Laine to the surrounding regions.
As for mahjong... that could wait. ’Gotta release these things in waves, hehe.’
Suddenly, a messenger spurred his horse and charged into the camp, bearing an imperial edict.
Henry set down his command baton and, with a hint of confusion, accepted the scroll from the messenger’s hand.
’So soon? Was the messenger just that fast, or are my information channels that slow? I thought it would take another four or five days.’
He felt a knot of anxiety, unsure if this summons from the Emperor boded well or ill.
After all, the Emperor was a man of mystery, what with the Mysterious Merchant of Lukaron, his enigmatic Imperial Guard, and more.
When Henry unrolled the scroll and read its contents, he was completely stunned.
The edict declared that he was to be made a Count and would receive an unusually lavish reward.
He reread every word on the edict, searching between the lines for any possible mistake or misunderstanding, but it was all real, all irrefutable.
Henry’s heart pounded with shock. He had never imagined he would be granted such immense resources.
The title of Count didn’t mean much to him; he put more faith in the reputation one built with supplies and soldiers.
’Hiss... Two million Dinars, one hundred thousand serfs, advanced weapons and armor, and the entire southeastern grassland border as territory to develop...’
The scale, value, impact, and significance of these rewards far exceeded his expectations, leaving him somewhat at a loss.
He couldn’t help but ask himself, ’Is this reasonable? Is this right? Has the Emperor gone mad? Isn’t this just putting a target on my back?’
On the surface, it gave him a safe space to develop at his own pace, but in reality, it was a blaring alarm for every noble east of Lukaron.
Beware of Henry!
Henry scratched his head. A reward of this magnitude was extremely rare in the empire’s history, an honor beyond the reach of even the most distinguished nobles.
’Why would the Emperor give me such a lavish reward? Just because I’m his student? The Emperor has thousands of students!’
’There must be a deeper motive, a more profound calculation at play here! The Emperor is ruthless and full of schemes; there’s no way he’s just a nice guy. It’s absolutely impossible.’
Henry thought back on his performance on the battlefield, his contributions to the empire, and the role he had played in the Pioneer Bill...
Suddenly, Henry’s eyes flew open, shocked by his own audacity.
’The Emperor wants to rebel? Yes, the Emperor himself wants to start a rebellion!’
’The Emperor wants me to build up my strength, then smash this sclerotic empire to pieces, rebuild it from the ground up, and breathe new life into it.’
Henry didn’t know if he was overthinking things, but based on the Emperor’s actions over the past few years, he had every reason to make such a daring speculation.
’So audacious, Headmaster. Is this your true mettle? You could even lose the throne.’
With the arrival of the Emperor’s documents and summons at the border camp, the atmosphere immediately grew lively.
Henry, the newly minted Count, decided to host a banquet to celebrate the glorious occasion.
It was customary, and Henry was happy to oblige. After all, life is about finding reasons to celebrate. He took the lead and footed the bill, ensuring the banquet’s scale and atmosphere would reflect his newfound status and wealth.
News of the banquet spread like wildfire throughout the border camp. The nobles all sent their congratulations, having their gifts delivered directly to Westwood Laine to demonstrate their sincerity and acknowledge Henry’s new position.
This was no joke; he was a powerful figure to cozy up to now, and their sincerity was guaranteed.
These gifts were more than just material objects; they were political overtures. Everyone wanted to secure their own position at a time when the power structure was about to shift.
Henry’s rise was terrifyingly fast. No one knew if he would one day make the grasslands his own and establish a Khanate.
At the banquet, Ratifa and Henry finalized their business deal.
After Henry’s audience with the Emperor in the capital, he would train a unit of capable soldiers for her.
Henry naturally agreed. They had already arranged this, and besides, Ratifa was paying him. She was even proactively letting Henry’s troops enter Tiyaer as a sort of undercover force for her to support.
It was too good a deal to refuse.
The First Prince also sent his blessings via messenger. On the one hand, he was surprised, even jealous, of Henry’s promotion.
’The young man’s rise was too smooth, his power too great. Damn it, shouldn’t I be the one with the life-of-a-winner script?’
On the other hand, he breathed a sigh of relief. The man who was a constant source of pressure for him was finally leaving!
The First Prince expressed his sincere congratulations to Henry, hoping he would continue to contribute to the empire from Westwood Laine.
Henry just smiled. ’The First Prince is an interesting one. He’s just scared of me sticking around. What’s wrong? Feeling pressured by the kid from next door?’
Henry sat at the head of the table, accepting toasts and congratulations from the crowd. A smile was fixed on his face, but his mind was already pondering the path ahead.
Being made a Count and receiving such lavish rewards meant he would have to shoulder greater responsibility. Whatever the Emperor’s true intentions were, he was all in!
[Battle Summary
Battle Rating: Snowfield Skirmish
Battle Difficulty: Medium
Personal Evaluation: Inferior Horned Beast Buster
Overall Evaluation: Epic Victory
Battle Reward: 20 Overlord Training Points]
[Battle Summary
Battle Rating: Snowfield Basin Assault
Battle Difficulty: Hard
Personal Evaluation: Inferior Horned Beast Butcher
Overall Evaluation: Epic Victory
Battle Reward: 41 Overlord Training Points]
!!!
The wine cup in Henry’s hand froze. He desperately suppressed a wave of indescribable joy.
He wanted to roar with laughter, but there were too many people around. Laughing so loudly would make him look like a madman, and it wouldn’t suit his image.
’Would I really laugh my head off over a mere countship?’
Henry took a deep breath, his face flushing. The summaries for the two long-awaited battles had finally been calculated. And the rewards were so generous he was left speechless.
’What a great day. Good things really do come in pairs!’
His "Overlord Training Points" had shot up to ninety-eight. ’My goodness, have I ever been this flush with resources?’
In other words, if he so desired, he could have ninety-eight squads of fearless infantry in a month! With the right equipment, he could raise a powerful army that would make the entire grasslands tremble!
That would be over ten thousand loyal Warriors who would fight to the death and never retreat! Who would dare to stand against such a force?
The nobles sensed Henry’s sudden surge of excitement. One after another, they offered him toasts, attempting to save face.
After all, who was to blame for the last time, when Henry alone drank them all under the table?