Knight: Becoming King of the World

"My Lord, have all the supplies arrived?"

Henry looked up, set down his pen, and glanced over the ledger Claude had handed him. He smiled. "Oh? It seems the Third Prince keeps his word. He’s a trustworthy man."

The supplies the Third Prince had promised—200,000 pounds of potato flour, 200,000 pounds of pearl rice flour, five thousand spears, one thousand Imperial Valan battle blades, one thousand Imperial One-Handed Swords, five hundred Traveling Horses, one hundred sets of light lamellar horse armor, and two thousand serfs—had all arrived at Westwood Laine and been delivered into Henry’s hands. The deliveries had come in seven separate batches, handled by various merchants disguised as trade caravans.

The Third Prince was incredibly trustworthy. He said he would deliver, and he truly did!

The Third Prince’s generosity and integrity left Henry with an even better impression of the young Prince. The arrival of these supplies would undoubtedly bolster Westwood Laine’s military reserves and economic foundation.

Henry was now wealthy beyond measure; he had everything he could possibly want.

"Distribute this batch of armaments directly to the new recruits in training. Store the grain in the warehouses for emergencies. Keep the horses and horse armor safe. As for the serfs, assign them to the various farms. They can’t farm right now anyway, so have them build houses and repair roads."

The potato and pearl rice flour could be used as military rations or as reserve food stores, ensuring the domain would not suffer from famine.

When it came to food, the more, the better. A full granary puts the mind at ease.

"Yes, My Lord," Claude replied respectfully, then hurried off to carry out Henry’s orders.

Just then, a visitor arrived at Westwood Laine. Carlos, the Mercenary Guild President from Vostrom, had come in person, which surprised Henry somewhat.

He had expected Carlos to send a representative to take charge of the troops, or that he would simply dispatch the soldiers to Vostrom to report for duty.

Carlos wore a suit of exquisite leather armor with an ornately decorated Long Sword hanging at his waist. He walked with a steady gait, exuding an aura that demanded respect.

Henry received Carlos in the castle’s great hall. Their meeting was formal and courteous.

Henry wore his imperial robe, a symbol of his authority, with the crest of the Bro Clan embroidered on the collar and cuffs.

"President Carlos, welcome."

Carlos said with admiration, "Baron, your domain is truly prosperous."

Carlos was astonished by Westwood Laine’s development. It was hard to believe this was a settlement that had been rebuilt just two years after its fief had been destroyed.

Henry smiled humbly. "I’ve only done what I ought to. The prosperity of the domain is thanks to the hard work of its people."

After they both sat down, the formal discussion began. Carlos stated his purpose: he wished to personally inspect the training results of this batch of new recruits.

Henry wasn’t displeased. ’A quality check, of course.’

"I understand. I’ll arrange for you to watch their drills. I’m confident their performance will not disappoint you."

Over the next few days, Carlos visited the barracks and observed the new recruits’ training. He was shocked by their performance. Their movements were synchronized, and their morale was High.

’These are rookies?!’

In Carlos’s memory, new recruits were supposed to be a disorderly mess. It took officers cracking whips and screaming profanities just to get them to form a straight line.

They would hold their weapons like brooms or hoes, heads bowed, cowering. They couldn’t stand straight or walk with any haste.

As Carlos watched the new recruits before him with their High Morale, he was amazed by Henry’s capabilities.

’Are these freshly trained soldiers? How can their training be this effective?’

"Baron, your soldiers are exceptional."

After watching the drills, Carlos gave Lord Henry a thumbs-up. "I’m sure they’ll bring you a substantial income from commission fees."

Henry smiled and said, "You can take them with you tomorrow."

The next day, ten New Recruit Teams completed their training. There was a spark in their eyes.

At that very moment, the first snow of the year began to fall on the eastern grasslands, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Snowflakes drifted down from the sky, blanketing every corner of Westwood Laine.

The self-employed farmers and tenant farmers gazed at the world draped in white. Even the biting cold wind, which usually stung their faces, felt a little gentler.

"Soldiers! You have completed your training and become true Warriors.

Today, we welcome the first snow of the year, which is a good omen. It signals that we will have a bountiful winter and that new hope will dawn upon our domain."

The new recruits cheered. In their hearts, Henry was a towering figure, someone whose will no one was allowed to defy. To receive his praise and recognition was their highest honor.

Henry continued, "Next, you will leave this place. You will leave Westwood Laine to fight elsewhere.

But no matter where you are, you are soldiers of Westwood Laine. You are the Warriors under my command."

The new recruits nodded earnestly. As the snow continued to fall, they stood in formation, ready to receive their first combat mission.

Their eyes were filled with anticipation, a sight that pleased Carlos even more.

’An army like this could fulfill at least ten to twenty bandit-suppression contracts a month.’

’The bandit problem in the central and western parts of the empire is getting worse and worse. Those robbers and brigands are sprouting like weeds, one wave after another.’

’The contracts are piling up. There’s no end to the killing, simply no end.’

"Baron, I’ll take them with me now. I will provide their rations and expenses for the journey. As of now, our agreement is officially in effect."

"Good. I hope you won’t let my soldiers become cannon fodder."

Carlos quickly waved his calloused hands and said nervously, "Of course not."

Carlos felt a knot of tension at Henry’s words. To him, it was a clear warning: if his soldiers suffered excessive casualties, Henry would make him pay a price, no matter how high the commission.

Ten imperial New Recruit Teams, having just completed their "Overlord Training," followed Carlos and left the barracks.

Henry went up to the castle walls. Watching the army depart against the snowy landscape, he felt a surprising pang of reluctance.

’What’s wrong with me? Am I getting old?’ Henry chuckled to himself, discovering that his emotions had become richer lately.

He now felt reluctant to let these new recruits leave after only a month of training, and even found himself worrying about their food, clothing, and general welfare.

’Could it be that he was already old?’

The snow continued to fall, and the figures of more than a thousand new recruits gradually faded from view. Though they had trained for only a month, their loyalty had deeply moved him, even if that loyalty stemmed from the "Overlord Training."

Henry sighed. He turned, descended the wall, and returned to his study. He picked up a pen, dipped it in ink, and began to write a letter, every word suffused with concern for his soldiers.

’President Carlos,

I expect you to ensure my soldiers receive the treatment they deserve. They are my pride. Make sure they have adequate food and equipment so they can maintain peak condition while on missions.

I wish you all the best.

Henry Bro.’

After finishing the letter, Henry sealed the envelope and summoned a member of his Personal Guard, ordering him to catch up and deliver the letter to Carlos.

The rest was up to fate.

Ailia entered the study, walking softly, carrying a plate of freshly baked lemon cake.

She saw Henry sitting at his desk with a lonely expression, so she gently set down the plate and walked up behind him.

"My lord, you seem tired," Ailia said softly. Her hands began to gently massage Henry’s head and shoulders, helping him relax.

Henry looked up at Ailia’s concerned eyes, took her hand, and smiled. "Thank you, Ailia. I was just wondering if these new recruits will be able to adapt to the coming battles."

Ailia felt the warmth of Henry’s palm and a smile bloomed on her face unconsciously. "I have faith in your training," she said. "They will surely become excellent soldiers."

Henry nodded. Ailia was right. They would have to fight sooner or later. They needed to fight, to prove themselves, and to hone their skills for surviving on the battlefield.

"Ailia, you always know how to help me relax," Henry said softly.

Ailia picked up a piece of lemon cake and offered it to Henry. "Try some of the cake I just made."

Henry took the cake and bit into it. It was delicious.

The two of them sat in the study while the snow continued to fall outside.

The late, heavy snow fell for two consecutive days, and the drifts grew deeper and deeper.

A major cleanup began in the urban area of Westwood Laine. Soldiers and the Free People worked together to clear the snow, uncovering the streets for pedestrians and cargo carts.

Some held shovels, others pushed carts, all working hard to clear the snow. Despite the freezing weather, no one complained.

Henry, Claude, and Tommy sat around the fireplace in the study, planning for the upcoming New Year’s Festival.

This time, Henry wanted to host a grand New Year’s Festival and invite all the nobles from the southeastern grasslands.

They hadn’t held a New Year’s celebration last year, making up for it with the Wolf Hunting Festival instead.

Now, Westwood Laine’s population was much larger, and many of its people came from the central regions of the empire, such as Xilonia. Therefore, this year’s celebration was a must.

Those who came would be considered friends. As for those who didn’t... well, he’d be taking notes.

"My Lord, we have sent out the invitations according to the list. All the nobles of the southeastern grasslands have been invited, with no one left out," Claude reported to Henry.

Henry nodded. "Very good, Claude. At this celebration, we will display the prosperity and power of Westwood Laine. We will let all the nobles know just how strong we are."

Claude replied respectfully, "Yes, My Lord. We need to arrange the entertainment and the banquet schedule for the New Year’s Festival now. All that’s left is to await the arrival of the nobles."

Time waits for no one. Henry needed to make sure all the surrounding nobles knew who the real power in the region was now.

Who was the one in charge!