Chapter 1047: Chapter 456: Year-End Meeting (Part 2)
"I don’t agree. It’s easy to take Sharp-Top Palace, but how are we going to hold it? How are we going to deal with the undead’s counterattack?" Armand also disagreed. The Holy Grail Knight said, "Olivier, I’ll give you five hundred men—fifty knights, a hundred sergeants, four hundred peasants. Can you hold Sharp-Top Palace for five days?"
Olivier thought for a moment, then shook his head, somewhat discouraged: "At most, we can last two days."
"So...you still want to attack Sharp-Top Palace now." Lops also asked.
"Of course, how will we know unless we try? I think the vampires probably don’t have the strength to retaliate. Didn’t that self-proclaimed Duke of Musillon, the Black Knight, retreat after confronting Duke Lorne for ten days? Maybe he’s busy licking his wounds inside Musillon?" Olivier persisted: "We just need to hold out through this winter until the weather warms."
"I also think attacking Sharp-Top Palace is feasible," Teresa said. The female sorcerer, dressed today in an ice-blue, translucent swallow-sleeved dignified split gown, had powerful mana during winter and was eager to show it. Feeling overshadowed by Veronica in this war, she added, "Laine, what do you think?"
"..." Veronica’s expression was calm. She had performed well in this war, and the power of her Light Magic Riding had caught everyone’s attention. Under such circumstances, she didn’t need to show off, and winter wasn’t her mana’s strongest season.
Pressure came to Laine’s side as Surya glanced at her husband, the Lady Knight remaining silent.
The Countess’s influence had been infiltrating Laine’s circle constantly, but Surya never made decisions in front of her husband as long as Laine didn’t speak. She knew clearly who was the master of the house.
Laine considered for a while and finally spoke.
"It’s crucial to be cautious about attacking Musillon. Once we attack Sharp-Top Palace, it means going into full-scale war with Musillon, and we currently don’t have the strength to confront that Black Knight." Laine ultimately shook his head, rejecting the proposal: "At least not now."
A territory is not better for being larger or more numerous. Attacking Sharp-Top Palace now is easy, but holding it afterward is very difficult. This back-and-forth tug-of-war will consume huge energy. Laine has just finished fighting Kemler, and his territory and people need rest.
No one in the territory could match Laine’s prestige. Nobody dared to question his decision, so this issue was also laid to rest.
"The plan for the coming year mainly focuses on recuperation, training, reorganizing the army, and expanding the army size by two hundred," Laine revealed his plans: "Train and then strengthen."
"Yes!" Hex nodded and noted it down.
"Recruit enough orphans and talented peasant children, send them to the dwarves to cultivate skills as craftsmen and blacksmiths, engineers. We want to establish a small academy, and you’ve seen the power of dwarf weapons. If used well, they’ll make the kingdom’s future tremendously beneficial!"
"Understood!" Kasenberg acknowledged.
"Finally, regarding the annual review..." The main event came at last. Under everyone’s expectant gaze, Laine distributed the year-end awards.
"Grant Baron Hex Devon the title of Kingdom Knights!"
"Grant Olivier the title of Fearless and a set of Dwarf Rune Plate Armor!"
"Award Lucian two hundred Gold Crowns as encouragement!"
...
The generous year-end rewards made everyone smile broadly. It indeed had prospects following the Count.
After everyone received their generous rewards, Laine said with a smile, "Lastly, we must especially thank someone. This person was born from the grassroots and, at the first moment I issued the Edict of Virtue, led his people to pledge allegiance to me..."
Everyone’s gaze shifted to Bertrand, seated at the last seat. The Green Arrow’s forehead was sweating, and he quickly stood up.
Lord is a special title in Brittania, awarded to those with high contributions in certain matters. After receiving the title, one is generally referred to as a Knight, enjoying a high social status. Others call them "sir." This is the highest-level reward a peasant can receive, although the title does not pass down and only brings one close to nobility without truly entering the knightly nobility.
Even with the qualification to attend the year-end meeting, Bertrand was only seated as a companion in the last seat, nervous and hardly daring to speak. Yet he was the object of envy and jealousy for all the peasants in the Count’s Domain.
"In the battle at La-Mesnil Abbey, he used the black arrow to kill Kemler, playing a crucial role in the course and outcome of the campaign," Laine continued: "Therefore, I confer upon you the title of Lord. This is your reward for your war achievements. However, at this year-end meeting, I have something else to give you."
A woodland starfire recurve bow was brought in by an attendant, and Bertrand, upon seeing it, knew what fierce competition it would bring on the market. Made from branches from the Aisloron Forest, the bow’s body had green leaves and vines wrapped around it. The Hunting God’s blessing adorned the bow, and the golden carvings of the Power of Starfire flowed with illusionary light.
"This is a custom gift I ordered from the Wood Elf, the woodland starfire recurve bow," Laine handed the bow to Bertrand: "This is your reward, Lady above, may you continue to repay my award with honor and loyalty!"
"Yes! My Count, Bertrand will not disappoint your trust!" Bertrand knelt to receive the bow, his shoulder trembling violently, showing his overwhelming excitement.
Indeed, being a serf and a noble, a warhorse and a knight, Brittania has been this way for a thousand years. Bertrand himself understands best what becoming a Knight signifies.
"Don’t get too happy too soon; I have a task for you here," Laine said with a smile, patting Bertrand’s shoulder: "Duke Hagen of Jisoleox needs a troop to assist the dwarves in clearing the rebel peasants and bandit gangs in the Gray Mountain Range. The mountainous terrain isn’t suitable for knights leading troops, so I thought of you, Bertrand. You might have to spend the Winter Festival in the military camp this year."
"Certainly won’t disappoint the Count!" Bertrand said loudly: "Please instruct me, Count!"
"Hmm, select three hundred men from the Charon Forest Patrol Battalion, and I’ll give you two hundred Long Halberdiers and Ugoer Bow Cavalry to form a battalion. You’ll be the Battalion Commander. Remember, King Belgar is the Commander. In mountain warfare, see more, learn more, question more, express less opinion, follow the guidance of King Belgar."
"Yes!"
After the meeting dispersed, Laine approached Teresa and Veronica. The female sorcerer was visibly upset that Laine did not agree with her, and she hummed as she stood up to leave. Laine grabbed her, slightly amused, "What’s the matter, dear Teresa? Why are you ignoring me?"
"Anyway, whether I’m with you or not doesn’t matter to you now. You don’t listen to what I say, so why should I stay after the meeting is over?" The female sorcerer gave Laine no good face, clearly still resentful about his earlier disagreement.
"Ha~ Are you done arguing? If so, I want to go back to sleep now. With this ghostly weather, all I want to do is hide in a warm blanket, read, and enjoy a hot drink," Veronica yawned, the Jialan Witch taking Laine’s arm: "Laine, do you want to come over? We can chat, make dinner together, and at night you’ll have a beautiful woman to accompany you~"
"Alright, don’t tease, Veronica." Laine patted Veronica and then turned to Teresa: "I heard you had issues with the construction of your Wizard Tower?"
"Just some minor problems." Teresa wasn’t truly upset with Laine. The female sorcerer was just throwing a small tantrum, looking for some acknowledgment from Laine: "Do you want to take a look?"
"Let’s go, Veronica. We’ll go see what trouble Teresa ran into."
"Ah~ That little princess...fine, fine."
