Knight: Becoming King of the World

Claude nodded to himself upon hearing Countess Ratifa’s words. He knew of Henry’s ambition and ability; the war in the Northern Lands was without a doubt a stage for Henry to display his strength.

’Why should those worthless bastards be the ones to occupy vast tracts of fertile land, with huge populations and mountains of Dinars?’

He was confident that Henry would make a brilliant showing there and win more wealth and land for himself.

Bain and Leon’s eyes lit up. As Henry’s loyal followers, they were always passionate about battle.

For them, the war in the Northern Lands was an opportunity to win more military glory. They couldn’t wait to follow Henry onto the northern battlefields.

However, amidst this atmosphere of anticipation and excitement, only Tommy, off in the corner, let out a resigned sigh.

As the Civil Servant, he would once again have to strive to maintain stability in the domain from the rear. His emotions were a complex mix of trust in Henry and a desire for victory, overshadowed by his anxiety about the heavy burden to come.

’Damn this Lord Offline System!’ Tommy shot a resentful glance at Ratifa, sighed softly, and fell silent.

Ratifa felt a sudden, inexplicable chill. ’Could the southern grasslands in early spring be even colder than the Northern Lands?’

Yes, in Ratifa’s eyes, everything south of the Northern Lands counted as the south.

Ratifa glanced around to ensure that Claude, Bain, and Leon had left. The meeting room door was shut by Tommy, the last to depart quietly. Only then did she adjust her sitting position, making sure her posture was elegant.

"I imagine you’ve heard something of the situation in the Northern Lands."

Ratifa began, "The intensity of the fighting there is on another level. Unlike the border conflicts in the south, the war in the Northern Lands is far more brutal and protracted.

Yes, you heard me right. The Prince lied to the Emperor. The war in the Northern Lands requires far more attention than the Lizardmen."

Henry nodded in understanding.

’It was just as he thought. Battle reports could lie, but the front lines couldn’t. If the war in the Northern Lands were truly such a cakewalk, the front would have been pushed past the border long ago.’

’The Empire only preached martial virtue internally; when it came to foreign powers, it was ravenous for land—even vast tracts of wasteland.’

"The Prince has high hopes for you, Baron Henry. He has heard of your achievements in Westwood Laine and has expressed great interest in both your army and your leadership abilities.

He hopes you can display sufficient strength to prove your worth."

’My worth? My worth is in seeing how many swings it’ll take to cut you down after you take the throne.’

"I understand. I will prepare an elite unit to ensure we can make a difference on the battlefields of the Northern Lands."

Ratifa was satisfied with Henry’s answer. After all, it was she and the Prince who had suggested sending Henry to the Northern Lands.

"Excellent. The Prince awaits your victory. More importantly, he’s watching for the potential you can display, and your loyalty to the Empire. The Northern Lands are a stage right now."

The two exchanged a look, saying nothing more. Everything was understood.

Ratifa stood up, preparing to end the meeting.

"Well then, I won’t take up any more of your time, Baron Henry. I trust you will make the right decision. The war in the Northern Lands won’t wait, and time is of the essence."

Henry also stood up and gave Ratifa a bow.

"Thank you for your trust, Countess Ratifa."

Ratifa nodded slightly, then turned and left.

Ratifa walked out of the meeting room. She decided to go to Westwood Laine herself to witness firsthand how Henry’s ambition and ability had taken root and sprouted in this border town once destroyed by Half-Beastmen.

She strode through the castle’s long corridors, her gait elegant and confident. She wanted to see for herself how Henry had rebuilt this place from its ruins.

Henry was incredibly ambitious; this was the consensus of almost everyone who had met him.

He wasn’t content with being a local noble famed for military glory. He had grander ambitions...

She had heard of his achievements in Westwood Laine and the eastern grasslands, but those were just rumors and intelligence reports. This time, she wanted to see with her own eyes and make her own assessment.

She passed through the castle gates and set out on the road to Westwood Laine.

Ratifa left the castle and embarked on her journey to Westwood Laine.

She sat in a carriage protected by her Personal Guard, observing the passing scenery through a gap in the curtains.

This border town, once destroyed by the Half-Beastmen, was now radiating with new life under Henry’s leadership.

When the carriage slowly rolled into Westwood Laine proper, Ratifa was profoundly stunned by the sight before her.

Along both sides of the streets, newly built houses stood in a neat, orderly arrangement, wisps of cooking smoke curling from their chimneys.

In the market, the calls of merchants hawking their wares rose and fell in a lively chorus. Stalls overflowed with fresh vegetables, fruits, and various kinds of meat.

All of it was a testament to Westwood Laine’s prosperity and vitality.

Make no mistake, Ratifa wasn’t stunned by how prosperous Westwood Laine was. Even if its area and population were five times larger, it still wouldn’t be able to hold a candle to Tiyaer.

Ratifa couldn’t help but marvel. Henry wasn’t just an outstanding military leader; he was also a brilliant administrator.

Moreover, Henry had clearly put considerable effort into the town’s planning. The new wood-and-stone walls were sturdy and tall, obviously built to defend against potential invasions from external foes, be they Half-Beastmen or rival nobles.

On the road earlier, Ratifa had also noticed the fields outside the town walls—vast tracts of newly cultivated farmland where farmers toiled, planting their crops.