Knight: Becoming King of the World

This was what most of them suspected. But as long as Henry remained here, no one would sleep well until they knew his intentions for certain.

This was for the best. Count Akakarat had no desire to see his beautiful city ravaged by the flames of war.

Once Gareth and the minister confirmed that Henry truly wasn’t marching on Akakarat City, they nodded repeatedly. "Indeed. Our lord Count has always been dedicated to protecting his lands and his people."

"Then our goals are one and the same. If Count Akakarat is willing, he can join us in fighting our common enemy."

Gareth and the minister exchanged a look; they knew this was a momentous decision.

"We will relay your words to the Count. I am certain he will give it serious consideration."

This wasn’t something they could agree to on the Count’s behalf. Knowing the Count, he would likely not join the fight himself. At most, he might offer Henry some grain and horses.

Henry didn’t press them to join the war. He stood up and said, "Very good. I hope we can be allies, not enemies."

Gareth and the minister also rose. They gave Henry a respectful bow and then left the tent.

After leaving Henry’s tent, Gareth and the minister did not return directly to Akakarat City. Instead, they lingered in the army camp, wanting to get a better look at Henry’s forces.

The soldiers didn’t stop them. On the contrary, they seemed eager to display their strength.

The two men walked around the camp, observing Henry’s soldiers. They noticed that the soldiers’ faces showed no trace of fear; every action revealed their thirst for the coming battle.

Gareth said in a low voice, "Look at their gear. These soldiers are exceptionally well-equipped. Their armor and weapons are even better than our Count’s regulars."

The minister nodded. Though not as knowledgeable about military hardware as the Attendant, he still had a discerning eye.

"There’s no fear in their eyes. An army like this must possess incredible fighting strength."

They also observed the armies of the nobles who had come to support Henry. The quality of their equipment and training varied, but they were numerous.

Despite coming from different domains, their faces likewise showed no fear of the fight ahead.

The minister mused for a moment before guessing, "It must be because they believe Baron Henry can lead them to victory."

They continued their observation of the camp. Between what they saw up close and their estimations from the city walls, they calculated that Henry’s army numbered at least ten to thirteen thousand men.

The number was staggering.

Gareth was aghast. "It’s a sea of black, stretching as far as the eye can see, enough to blot out the sky. How can a mere Baron command such influence and solidarity?"

The minister shook his head, equally mystified as to how Henry had managed it. But it had to be a result of Henry’s personal charisma and his renowned battlefield prowess.

"We must report this to the Count. He needs to know Henry’s true strength."

Gareth nodded. They left the camp, mounted their horses, and galloped toward Akakarat City.

Back in the city, they went straight to the castle and gave the Count a detailed report of everything they had seen and heard in Henry’s army camp.

Count Akakarat’s brow furrowed as he listened. "Ten to thirteen thousand men? That’s almost half the number of battle-ready soldiers I can mobilize."

"Yes, my lord. And Baron Henry’s troops are well-equipped and have High Morale."

The Count fell silent for a moment. "It seems Henry’s influence is far greater than I imagined," he said. "He not only gathers such a large army but also inspires them to be so loyal and courageous."

"Then, my lord, what should we do?" Gareth asked.

The Count rose, walked to the window, and gazed into the distance. After a moment of silence, he said, "We must proceed with caution. Henry’s army is formidable. If we become his enemy, we could suffer devastating losses.

But if we ally with him, we will likewise be dragged into more wars. And don’t forget how... unique his status is.

Boman and Fass have been stirring up trouble recently, too. Those two are never up to any good..."

"I will send another envoy to Henry to express our goodwill. Prepare some gifts as a show of our sincerity."

Gareth and the minister nodded. It was a wise decision; with an army as powerful as Henry’s, making an enemy of him would be foolish.

The Count’s envoys had barely left when Edmund and Calvin arrived at Henry’s tent.

"Baron Henry, we noticed the envoys from the city. What was the purpose of their visit?"

Henry set down the map in his hands and smiled at them. "Count Akakarat bears us no ill will. He merely wished to confirm our intentions. You can rest easy; he won’t oppose us."

The two men nodded. Then Edmund raised a question that had been on his mind. "On your march here, why didn’t you deal with the lands of those Knights who failed to attend the New Year’s festival?"

Henry pursed his lips and explained, "War is not merely a contest of force, but a game of strategy.

Edmund, our men are a finite resource. Those Knights and their armies are with the Alliance Army. Destroying their fiefs would only waste our time and disperse our forces.

I need to concentrate my strength on the main enemy, not squander it on minor skirmishes."

Henry paused before continuing, "Besides, if we kill these nobles in the war, won’t their fiefs become spoils for us to distribute as we see fit?"

Edmund and Calvin lowered their heads in thought and realized Henry was right. If they won this war, all the land in the southeastern grasslands would be theirs to command.

Then, nobles like Count John and Count Akakarat would all have to bow their heads before them.

Edmund sighed. ’It was my own rigid thinking that kept me from seeing it,’ he thought. He was always focused on conquering a territory, then governing and consolidating it. He’d never considered simply eliminating all the nobles in an area and then slowly carving up the spoils.

"Your wisdom and strategy are truly admirable. We are honored to fight by your side."

Henry nodded. "Our goal is the same: victory. As long as we remain united, nothing is impossible."

Edmund and Calvin left Henry’s tent, their resolve even stronger than when they had arrived.

Following Henry meant they would feast.

Meanwhile, within the Alliance Army of the Anti-Henry Alliance currently marching toward Akakarat, a sense of anxiety and anger was spreading.

They couldn’t understand what the nobles who had joined Henry were thinking. In their eyes, those fools had been blinded by the prospect of immediate gain, unable to see the underlying threat Henry represented.

"They can tag along with Henry now and get some land and Dinars, but what happens later?" a Baron in the alliance fumed from atop his horse.

"Once that butcher Henry gets even stronger, won’t he just gobble up their lands?"

"It’s utter foolishness!" another Baron added.

"They’ve forgotten all about Henry’s ambition and power for the sake of a few paltry gains. Don’t they realize that once Henry’s army becomes unstoppable, they won’t be able to protect their own lands and people?"

"We have to find a way to make those nobles see Henry for who he truly is."

An older Baron suggested, "We can’t let Henry continue to use them. We can send envoys to lay out the threat he poses. We can tell them that if Henry succeeds, they will lose everything."

"Damn it, we have to kill this butcher! How does an executioner like him have so much charisma? What is he planning?! Does he think the grasslands belong to him now?"