Knight: Becoming King of the World

Chapter 103: Chapter 89: Everyone Profits, Winning Big!

Henry wouldn’t ask if Calvin was crying. ’Wouldn’t that be a little too cruel?’

Henry and Calvin exchanged a courteous hug and returned to the temporary viewing stands.

The Free People cheered wildly. Nobles fighting for their entertainment was a rare spectacle.

As the Wolf Hunting Festival concluded, Henry stood on the temporary stands, gazing down at the nobles and spectators below.

Henry cleared his throat and announced, "This year’s Wolf Hunting Festival has come to a successful end. Together, we have witnessed moments of courage and glory and shared in the joy of victory."

"Let us carry the fond memories of today as we return to Westwood Laine Castle to continue our celebration!"

The nobles responded in agreement, and their Attendants began tidying their masters’ attire, preparing to depart.

The spectators also began packing their blankets and bedrolls, following the merchant caravans’ wagons away from the Forest Hunting Ground. Many of them were still buzzing with excitement, discussing the events of the match.

Henry’s final punch was a particular favorite. Some children were mimicking the move on their parents, only to receive a sound spanking for their efforts.

Riding at the head of the column, Henry turned to Calvin. "Calvin, your strength is astonishing. I’ve fought a Tiger-man before, and your brute force is on par with theirs."

"I’m holding a banquet at the castle tonight to celebrate the tournament’s success. We’ll share a good drink then."

Calvin struggled to keep his expression neutral. "Mighty Baron Henry, I was honored to compete with you."

As for what Henry had said about his brute strength being comparable to a Tiger-man’s? ’I don’t believe it,’ he thought.

’If that’s true, then just how strong is Henry?’

Henry gazed ahead and checked his status panel. He saw that he was only about four thousand experience points away from leveling up again.

’I wonder if there will be some new update after I max out the proficiency of all my skills and fully invest in all the Passive Skills?’

Henry then swiped over to his unit panel and saw he had unlocked a twenty-man Imperial Citizen Cavalry Team and a twenty-man Knight’s Squire Cavalry team.

’Looks like the number of Free People and self-employed farmers in my fief has reached the required threshold.’

’These really are elite troops. Once trained, they’ll be like walking tanks. No pitchfork-wielding peasants trying to stop cavalry here.’

’If I had two battalions of Armored Cavalry,’ Henry thought, ’I’d dare to raise an army of Recruited Soldiers and serfs and go conquer Odoche!’

The nobles and spectators made their way along the winding path toward Westwood Laine Castle.

Upon returning to the castle, Henry immediately instructed Tommy, Ailia, and Orianna to prepare for the banquet. Claude had been working a bit too hard, so Henry decided to let him rest for a few days.

The bells for the banquet echoed over Westwood Laine Castle. The nobles quickly returned to their inns, changed into their Imperial robes, and entered the castle to attend the feast.

The long tables were laden with all manner of delicacies and fine wines, and an enticing aroma filled the air.

Edmund stepped forward and raised his glass. "Mighty Baron Henry, your valiant performance today was a true sight to behold. The power in your fists could rival that of a lion or a brown bear."

Henry smiled in response. "Thank you for the praise, Baron Edmund."

Boras gently swirled the wine in his cup. "Baron Henry, your valor, your grace, and your bearing put the rest of us nobles to shame."

Henry gave a slight nod. "His Great Majesty the Emperor taught his student proper etiquette."

At that moment, the Minstrel Jesmin, who had become an ardent admirer of Henry, stepped forward. Holding an exquisite Lute, he cleared his throat and began to sing a poem he had composed for Henry about the Wolf Hunting Festival:

"Under the Wolf Hunting Festival’s glorious light~ Baron Henry, as valiant as a lion... In the lands of Westwood Laine~ Glory is with him, never to part~ Let us sing his praises, let us cheer his name..."

Although Jesmin’s composition was impromptu, it still earned thunderous applause and cheers from the nobles present, as it was, after all, a song in praise of Henry.

After Henry had decided to organize Minstrels to promote his fief, he had felt the burden on Claude was too great.

So he had simply sought out this Minstrel from Xilonia—Jesmin.

Jesmin was ecstatic to be summoned, viewing it as a special honor, and immediately accepted the assignment. He gathered a group of young Minstrels he knew well and effectively became Henry’s personal hype squad.

They took Jesmin’s songs to every corner of the southeastern grasslands, spreading tales of Henry’s heroic deeds and the prosperity of Westwood Laine to every Free Person and self-employed farmer.

This attracted many poor Free People and self-employed farmers who were struggling to make ends meet. Filled with a glimmer of hope, they flocked to Westwood Laine, seeking to find a new life there.

The banquet ended amidst joy and laughter. The nobles left the great hall, content, and began to disperse for their own activities.

The Knights gathered in groups, strolling through the streets and discussing the affairs of their respective fiefs. Others returned to the inn to rest, preparing to depart for their own lands the next day.

Henry invited the three Barons—Edmund, Boras, and Calvin—to the castle’s study. It was a quiet, private space suitable for discussing more serious topics.

Inside the study, the shelves were lined with recently delivered books and maps, while several oil paintings depicting the Empire’s history hung on the walls.

Henry never used to understand why some people would fill their studies with books they would never read in their entire lives. Now, he got it.

’You can be uncultured, but you have to make others believe you are cultured.’

Henry sat behind a large desk, while the other three Barons were seated in chairs before it.

Henry broke the silence. "Gentlemen, I’ve invited you here to discuss some important matters. The Empire seems to be facing some turmoil at present. We need to be proactive, expand our territories, attract more people, and prepare for war."

The three men exchanged glances. Boras was the most perplexed. ’War? Weren’t the Half-Beastmen already driven farther east?’

’After the Battle of Tianyin, the Half-Beastmen near Danustika fled outright, vanishing deep into the continent.’

Edmund glanced at the other two before speaking in a low voice, "Baron Henry, to what turmoil are you referring? Forgive me for being blunt, but while I did hear that Lizardmen in the desert attacked a Prince, that’s not enough to start a war."

Henry nodded. "True, the Prince didn’t die, so it’s not a major incident... But remnant forces of the Duchy of Kyiv have been discovered in the Northern Region, and the western coastal areas have seen frequent unrest since last year."

Baron Boras then raised another question. "Baron Henry, are you asking us to join your... faction? Forgive me for being blunt, but while you are indeed powerful, we are all Vassals of His Great Majesty the Emperor. What you are suggesting is improper."

Henry shook his head and said to the three of them, "I’ve already made some plans. Your first step will be to declare war on other Knights and annex their titles and territories."

"It’s not about you following my lead. Rather, I will provide you with Mercenaries—at an absolute bargain... Trust me, war is truly not far off. You would simply be acquiring land under the pretext of self-preservation, would you not?"

The three men took a sharp breath, shocked by Henry’s words. ’Henry is willing to rent out his army as Mercenaries?’

’The price would certainly be steep, but soldiers who have survived multiple meat-grinder wars are the definition of elite!’

’Using them to fight Knights who don’t even have castles? Isn’t that like using an Execution Axe to kill a chicken?’

"And if we refuse?"

"You won’t."

Calvin immediately touched his family crest. "I am willing to fight alongside you, mighty Baron Henry!"

Calvin was instantly thrilled. ’I have to hire a few hundred-man companies and experience what it feels like to fight a rich man’s war. I’d do it even if it cost a thousand Dinars!’

Edmund thought for a moment and also chose to join. ’It’s not like we’re rebelling, so what’s the harm? Besides, isn’t declaring war on each other just part of a noble’s daily grind?’

’Nobles bored out of their minds would declare war on each other over a single sheep or a wooden barrel.’

Boras sighed. He could only accept, though he made it clear that he disliked war and had no interest in it.

They then began to discuss detailed strategies and measures, covering everything from the immediate concerns of the Second Prince and Count John to rumors about the distant Emperor and other border regions.

The parties finalized the mercenary agreement. Henry had to guarantee the quality of the soldiers, as well as their weapons and armor.

The employer would be responsible for providing daily food and lodging, with no scrimping allowed. The troops could be used in direct combat but not as cannon fodder. The mercenary contingent also had the right to twenty percent of the spoils of war as a special bonus.

These were the basic requirements for mercenary companies within the Empire, so the three had no objections.

Edmund hired three Skilled Infantry Teams, paying three thousand Dinars for a two-month contract. Calvin hired four Skilled Infantry Teams and one team of Veteran Shooters, paying five thousand two hundred Dinars, also for two months.

’They could recoup that expense by conquering just two knightly fiefs. All they had to do was provide a few hundred serfs for support, and they’d have a powerful army!’

Boras only hired a single Skilled Infantry Team, treating it as a form of "tribute" to Henry.

Once the three satisfied Barons had left, Henry couldn’t help but laugh aloud in his study.

’Edmund and Calvin paying to hire my soldiers solves my barracks’ housing shortage. The mercenary fees will fill the funding gaps for Westwood Laine’s major infrastructure projects.’

’Most importantly, I can just sit back in my castle and earn Overlord Training points!’

’I can get rich off war without drawing the Emperor’s ire. I’m a genius!’

Henry took a sip of black tea to soothe his slightly dry throat.

A noble could declare war on their neighbors for any number of reasons. Records showed this included, but was not limited to, forged inheritance claims, loss of population, spousal infidelity, land disputes, or even a simple mutual dislike between nobles.

This allowed them to declare a war for titles and territory. The victor, provided they spared the losing noble’s life, could then annex their land and usurp their title.

But there was one problem: the Emperor.

If it only happened once every few years, that was fine. The Emperor wouldn’t blame you.

But if you were constantly making trouble, acting like a shit-stirrer around your own fief, destroying local stability and creating large numbers of displaced people and bandits, then the Emperor would come down on you hard.

Such actions might be legal under Imperial law, but they went against the Emperor’s interests. What the Emperor needed was stability!

Now, things were perfect. Edmund and Calvin could annex land without using their own soldiers, and Henry could solve three problems at once.

A win-win! A total victory!