Knight: Becoming King of the World

Chapter 125: Chapter 104: Powerful Equipment, Marching on the Odoche Region

As he donned the armor, Henry’s frame seemed to swell, and every simple movement pulsed with power. It was as if the suit was a part of his body, with no discomfort or hindrance whatsoever.

Every piece of the armor had been meticulously crafted, perfectly conforming to the contours of Henry’s body.

From the helm to the cuirass, from vambraces to pauldrons, and on to the gauntlets, tassets, greaves, and sabatons—each piece gleamed with a cold metallic luster, a testament to its extraordinary craftsmanship and power.

Once Henry had fastened the final piece of armor, he stood there, massive battle-ax in hand, radiating an awe-inspiring aura.

His very presence was a deterrent, a symbol of power!

The onlooking soldiers involuntarily retreated a few steps, feeling an unprecedented, oppressive presence.

In their eyes, Henry’s tall figure became immense, like an insurmountable mountain peak.

Bain and Claude exchanged a look, their eyes filled with awe and adoration.

’Count John? What a joke! If Henry told them to rebel right now, to reignite the Imperial Elector wars that had vanished for a century, they wouldn’t feel the slightest fear!’

As long as Henry lived, any part of this land could become Westwood Laine.

"Alright, stop staring. Get back to your duties. Don’t crowd around here."

Henry dispersed the crowd of onlookers and, still clad in his armor, walked alone to the skull mound.

’Is this magic? I really can’t feel the weight, but it’s definitely there... This is just insane.’

Henry walked slowly toward the skull mound, each step seeming to leave a deep imprint on the earth...

After several days of forced marching, the Grassland Warriors returned to Westwood Laine with their exhausted captives.

The captives had suffered immense hardship along the way. A shortage of food and water, combined with the exhaustion of the long trek, meant that many collapsed, ultimately dying on the road.

At least thirty percent of the captives never saw the walls of Westwood Laine alive. Their bodies were left behind on the prairie, becoming food for wild beasts.

When news of the three mercenary corps’ defeat reached Westwood Laine, the entire domain erupted.

The people cheered, celebrating Henry’s victory. The Free People were grateful they could continue to eat their fill, while the self-employed and tenant farmers were relieved they could continue to work their land under low taxes.

They spontaneously organized celebrations in the taverns to express their gratitude to Henry.

People performed grassland dances and shared food and beer. The whole of Westwood Laine was immersed in a joyous atmosphere.

While directing soldiers to maintain order, Tommy flipped through the ledgers and discovered an unexpected windfall: a massive amount of tax revenue.

Henry’s low-tax policy had allowed these people, who had only immigrated half a year ago, to save a bit of money. And this wild celebration had brought all their Gold Coins out into the open!

This tax revenue not only funded the ongoing construction and maintenance of the keep, but also provided sustainable support for the "redistribution" policy Henry had proposed.

The day after the celebration, Tommy followed Henry’s orders. He had some of the self-employed and tenant farmers go to the silver mine to help ten soldiers act as overseers. They organized the exhausted captives and sent them to the mines.

Though exhausted, the captives began their arduous labor at the point of the soldiers’ swords. Tommy had arranged for just enough food and water to keep them from starving, ensuring the laborers could survive the harsh conditions.

At the same time, Tommy also conscripted two hundred serfs. He then provided the Grassland Warriors with the rations and water they would need for their return journey to the Salt Stone Mountain Range.

Having completed their task of escorting the captives, the Grassland Warriors prepared to return to their camp.

Tommy had prepared ample supplies for them, ensuring they would not suffer from hunger or thirst on the long journey back.

When the two troops of Grassland Warriors returned to camp with the serfs, Henry saw an unexpected visitor.

It was Bogdan, the official from the Imperial Office in Westwood Laine.

"Mighty and invincible Baron Henry, I bring you a letter from the First Prince, as well as intelligence on the movements in the Odoche region that I have gathered through my channels."

Henry’s gaze lingered on Bogdan for a moment before he motioned for him to follow him into his tent.

Inside the tent, Henry sat on a wooden chair. Bogdan stood respectfully before him, pulling a sealed letter from within his coat and presenting it to Henry.

Bogdan glanced at Henry, but quickly lowered his head. The nobleman’s presence was growing more powerful, making it impossible for him to meet his gaze.

Henry took the letter, carefully broke the seal, and read its contents. As he read, his furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

In the letter, the First Prince expressed his apologies to Henry and informed him of the current situation.

The First Prince was in the Northern Lands, locked in fierce combat with Ogres and the armies of the Kyivan Rus’ Duchy. Consequently, he could not send troops to support Henry directly.

However, he had already used diplomatic channels to contact another Count and over a dozen Viscounts in the grasslands. Through them, he planned to isolate the Odoche region, cutting off Count John’s supply lines and external contacts.

Additionally, the First Prince provided eight thousand Dinars in war funds, hoping Henry could use these resources to shatter the Second Prince’s plot and fend off Count John’s attack.

The letter was filled, between the lines, with the First Prince’s high expectations for Henry.

Henry placed the letter on the table and looked at Bogdan. "Please inform the First Prince that I appreciate his gesture. This funding and strategic support are helpful, I suppose."

Bogdan understood the subtext in Henry’s words and explained, "His Highness the Prince understands your situation. He knows you are a leader capable of holding your own. It is likely the fighting in the Northern Lands that prevents him from sparing any real strength."

Bogdan didn’t know the contents of the First Prince’s letter, but based on the information he had gathered, he could deduce the general situation.

Bogdan cleared his throat and began to report the intelligence he had gathered. He spoke at a moderate pace, ensuring Henry could clearly understand every detail.

"My Lord Baron, there has been frequent activity in the Odoche region recently.

From what I’ve gathered, Count John is mustering his private army, including Heavy Lance Cavalry, archers, and his elite Dahar. They appear to be preparing for a large-scale operation."

Henry nodded, gesturing for Bogdan to continue.

’Now this is what matters,’ Henry thought. ’Far more practical than the First Prince’s so-called help.’

"I’ve also spotted mercenaries from other regions. They are well-equipped and well-trained—clearly no ordinary mercenary company. They might be reinforcements sent by the Second Prince. My intelligence suggests they could be troops from the Lake Rat Mercenary Clan," Bogdan added.

Henry’s fingers drummed lightly on the table. The Lake Rat Mercenary Corps had always been active along the western coast, suppressing the oft-rebellious Mountain Barbarians. As a result, they had maintained a respectable level of combat prowess.

"Furthermore, new checkpoints have been established at several key crossroads in the Odoche region. They are closely monitoring all personnel and supplies passing through. I believe they are preparing for the coming war."

"Very good, Bogdan. Your intelligence is quite useful."

Henry summoned Claude, wrote a letter, and handed it to Bogdan. "When you return to Westwood Laine, give this letter to Tommy. He will see to your reward. If you learn anything more, you can come to me at any time."

Bogdan bowed slightly in a gesture of respect.

His goal was to hitch his wagon to Henry’s rising star. He had no chance of advancement within the complex, corrupt bureaucracy of the Imperial Office. His future wealth and status now depended entirely on Henry’s favor.

"By the way, were there any letters from the central Empire?"

Bogdan thought for a moment, then shook his head. He couldn’t recall anything of the sort.

After Bogdan had left the tent, Henry said to Claude, "Tomorrow, we march on the Odoche region!"