Knight: Becoming King of the World

He and John were mortal enemies. Besides, the truce was ending soon—just enough time for Henry to train two batches of soldiers.

Making an example of John was both logical and reasonable. It wouldn’t draw too much attention either.

One Count fighting another—what could be more normal?

’The land under the sun is finite. You’re a Count, and so am I. There can only be one top dog in any given place!’

’Perfect!’

Henry rode at a gallop, no longer paying any mind to the passing scenery or the local delicacies in the cities he passed.

He was eager to get home, with only one thought on his mind: to return to Westwood Laine Castle, pour in all his Overlord Training points, and forge an invincible iron army—strong in both quality and numbers.

He barely stopped along the way.

The few breaks he took were only to give the horses water and feed, ensuring they had the stamina to press on.

’Time is money, and efficiency is life.’ He had to return to his domain as soon as possible to begin his plans.

These vast plains and fertile lands would be where Henry planted the seeds of his ambition, which would then take root, sprout, and flourish.

The grueling pace made Ailia and the other non-combatants miserable.

They followed Henry’s column, and while they weren’t fighters, this forced march was still a tremendous ordeal for them.

However, when they recalled their days in the Northern Lands, this hardship seemed like nothing at all.

In the Northern Lands, they had endured far harsher environments and more difficult challenges. They had faced brutal weather back then, making their current situation feel a hundred times less miserable and difficult.

Compared to that time, this march was grueling but at least not dangerous.

’That’s just how people are. Your baseline for suffering gets lower and lower, while your tolerance grows stronger and stronger.’

Henry had no intention of provoking John right now, so he didn’t choose a direct route. Instead, after passing Danustika, he entered the eastern grasslands from the direction of Housen Fulger.

This route was a detour, but it allowed them to avoid entering John’s sphere of influence directly, thereby reducing the risk of unnecessary conflict.

Danustika was an important transportation hub and, in theory, one of the gateways to the eastern grasslands.

If one considered the eastern grasslands a single entity, controlling Danustika would turn the empire’s heartland into a free-range pasture for the horses of the plains.

Henry’s column stopped there briefly to replenish necessary supplies.

After departing from Danustika, Henry’s column entered the eastern grasslands from the direction of Housen Fulger.

The vast grasslands were a carpet of green, dotted with herds of cattle and sheep. Under the boundless sky, one could occasionally see the tents and cooking smoke of nomads—a far cry from the oppressive heat of the desert.

Henry stood atop his horse, gazing out at the vast land, only sitting down after Leon persuaded him to.

Along the way, Henry’s column encountered several nomadic herders and tribes outside the empire’s control, much like the Bedouins of the desert.

The grasslands were simply too vast, while the settled areas of cities, castles, and villages were too small. The expansive buffer zones between the lands of various nobles served as the living space for these nomadic tribes.

They expressed friendliness and welcome at Henry’s arrival. Not that they dared to be anything but friendly; every rider in Henry’s column looked like a hardened killer.

When Henry made a casual offer to take them under his wing, the tribes resisted, but he paid it no mind.

The people of these tribes believed their cattle, sheep, and horses were their own and the grasslands belonged to no one. Why should they pay taxes to someone for no reason?

’Just wait. In the future, these people will either pay me taxes or be exterminated. Where’s the justice in that? On my land, *I* am the justice.’

Claude, having already returned to Westwood Laine Castle, had transitioned seamlessly into his duties. He was now working hand-in-hand with Tommy to govern Henry’s Earl’s Domain.

The two had a clear division of labor and worked together in perfect harmony.

Technically, Claude was still Henry’s Minister of State Affairs, so working closely with Tommy, the Governor, was well within his job description.

’The first rule of a political career: be proactive. Don’t wait for orders before you act.’

Claude, an experienced helmsman, took charge of the existing territories, including Westwood Laine Castle and Ximira Castle, steadily guiding the daily operations of the domain.

Tommy had already established a functioning administration with a corps of Civil Servants, so all Claude had to do was follow the established procedures.

Under his overall management, the affairs of the castles ran in an orderly fashion—from the rotation of soldiers on guard duty and the management of granary inventories to the education of noble scions and the preservation and innovation of artisan crafts.

Claude couldn’t sit still. His long time at Henry’s side had given him a bit of a soldier’s disposition. He often went out into the fields himself, discussing crop growth and planting problems with the farmers. By understanding their needs and difficulties, he could promptly allocate resources to ensure a bountiful harvest.

Freed from his duties at Westwood Laine Castle and Ximira Castle, Tommy now focused all his energy on the large-scale construction projects in the newly developed frontier lands.

This major expansion project was not densely concentrated. While it might have seemed haphazard, it was in fact guided by a profound strategic vision, leaving ample room for future growth.

Like a passionate architect full of hope for the future, Tommy meticulously planned each new facility.

This was a crucial accomplishment, and it was extremely important to him. He was a Governor now, but that didn’t guarantee he would remain one in the future.