The King's Secret Mission

Henry and the other three left together, and for the first time, Henry saw what Captain Knight Glenn looked like. Tall, imposing, handsome, and dashing.

As expected, everyone who came out of our Royal Knight Academy was exceptional!

"Knight Henry, I am Knight Glenn Taylor. I had heard Boman mention you long ago. Your archery is excellent—you took down a Three-Headed Boar."

Henry laughed heartily and said that he was still young, without the experience Glenn and the others possessed. It had merely been luck.

"Henry, how is the reconstruction of your fief going? I bought a batch of serfs and rebuilt the village. Fas is quite wealthy. Not only did he rebuild the village, he even planted two orchards."

Henry waved his hand and said his situation was about the same. More or less. He had merely finished building one village.

Henry had not lied. At Baron Pedro's Trade Guild's astonishing "Audoh speed," it would take at least another two months to finish the castle. At present, it only had the beginnings of a structure.

While the four of them were chatting, a well-equipped officer approached Henry. He wore chainmail beneath a surcoat, and Henry did not recognize the emblem on his body at all.

"Knight Henry, I am the Champion Banner Knight of Count Sebastian's household. I will be arranging your army's encampment."

Henry nodded in surprise and said, "Could you arrange my camp near theirs?"

Henry showed the officer the respect he deserved. To become a Banner Knight, one had to have participated in more than ten battles involving a hundred men.

A Champion Banner Knight, meanwhile, was the winner of the Arena Tournament among Banner Knights and was qualified to display his own banner on his lance and surcoat.

The Champion Banner Knight glanced at Boman and the other two, then readily agreed. There was no need to offend three nobles with real power over such a trivial matter.

Only those who had been on a real battlefield knew that individual martial prowess had limits. It was best not to provoke nobles with fiefs and armies.

"Henry, we'll wait for you at the Opera House. Once you've settled things, come over. Bring your Knight Attendant and maid—don't lose face."

"All right." Yet Henry thought, Bain? That brat will definitely gorge himself. What dignity could there possibly be?

Henry took Claude and the others, who had been waiting outside City Hall, out through the Gatehouse and led the troops to the stretch of land filled with tents.

"Knight Henry, your troops are quite good."

"Oh? Most of them are New Recruits."

The Champion Banner Knight shook his head and said seriously, "New Recruits without shields, Cotton Armor, or leather caps differ from serfs only in that they wield swords. Those are regular Infantry."

Henry nodded without explaining further.

"Here will do, Knight Henry. I will take my leave first."

The task of setting up camp was left to Claude and Philip. As a noble, anything his subordinates could handle should naturally be handled by his subordinates.

Henry removed his chainmail and, with Ailiya's help, put his Imperial Robe over his Cotton Armor.

Henry declared that once he became rich, he would definitely commission silk pajamas made from the same material as an Imperial Robe! He always felt that cloth-and-cotton pajamas were utterly awful.

Bain also removed his armor, leaving only a layer of chainmail.

"Bain, Ailiya, come with me to the Opera House."

"Yes, Master."

Henry brought the two of them back into the city. Following the main road, they soon found the Opera House. Big cities were always like this—the most profitable businesses could all be found along the main roads.

Along the way, Henry noticed that the streets were outrageously bustling and prosperous, with people hurrying back and forth.

War brought a shadow, but it also brought greater wealth. These merchants were like sharks that had smelled blood, constantly dumping grain and military equipment into the east.

This was false prosperity.

Henry's Imperial Robe proved his identity, and the doorman did not dare stop him.

"I am looking for Knights Boman, Fas, and Glenn."

After entering the Opera House, Henry found the private room where Boman and the others were under the guidance of an attendant.

"Ha ha, Henry, you were a little slow."

"I changed clothes. It's not as if you didn't see me—I was wearing armor just now."

Laughing and chatting, they made room for Henry. This was a large private room, stocked with all sorts of wine, fruit, and snacks. Glenn was treating them, since Boman and Fas were poor now.

Fas noticed Bain and asked, "Is this your Retainer? He's a fine young man."

"He studied at the Royal Knight Academy with me for two and a half years. He is now a qualified Warrior. Of course, your Retainer is even more outstanding. He looks like a seasoned veteran."

After three years at the Royal Knight Academy, Henry had long since integrated into the circles of high society. He disliked all this roundabout behavior, but these useless formalities always made people feel at ease.

Those who had no use for social etiquette detested it, while those who needed it knew it by heart.

After Henry took his seat, the actors onstage happened to begin performing a tedious opera. Yet while everyone else watched it with great enthusiasm, Henry could only watch it "attentively" as well.

Bain and Ailiya watched very seriously. They had never seen anything like this before, and Henry had never gone to the Opera House while he was in the Capital.

After the opera had gone on for a while, Boman asked, "Henry, you and Glenn each take thirty percent this time. Fas and I take twenty percent each. Naturally, the exact division will depend on who contributes the most in battle. What do you think?"

Henry nodded. "Of course. That is reasonable. The problem is that Earl Sebastian has not yet decided whom he will send to hunt."

"More importantly, if Earl Sebastian does not assign us to the task, we will have to prepare more supplies ourselves. We do not have any spare money now, do we?"

At that moment, Glenn cleared his throat and said, "Knight Henry, Earl Sebastian and I are distant relatives."

Damn! You should have said you had that connection earlier!

Glenn noticed Henry's look and explained, "I cannot bring it up myself. Boman needs to be the one to request the mission."

Henry slapped away Bain's wandering hand, picked up a grape, and said, "Then I have no problem with it. As long as it is an officially assigned mission, we can save a great deal of money! My soldiers only get meat three times a month, and those New Recruits only get it once."

"No problem. All of that falls within the Earl's authority. We will not lose out."

Only at this moment did the four of them truly form an alliance. Before this, it had merely been talk.

Gained favor with male nobles. Experience +22

As for the Earl using his authority to pull strings for a relative, that was a trivial matter. It was merely a small indulgence of power.

After the opera ended, the four left together. On the way back to camp, Henry considered how much he could earn, while also wondering what those Half-Orcs actually looked like.

"Henry, what are you thinking about? Don't tell me you're scared? Hahaha."

Bain instinctively gripped his Knight Sword, but Henry stopped him and said, "I'm not afraid. I was only wondering what those Half-Orcs look like. Seeing is believing. I have never seen them with my own eyes—the illustrations in the academy textbooks were all artistically embellished."

Boman's expression immediately turned solemn. "Centaurs are born Cavalry. Once Minotaurs put on armor, they become meat grinders. Tiger-men's battle cries greatly damage morale. Goatmen, Gnolls, and the like are equivalent to our serfs.

"They are like the weeds on these grasslands. The cattle and sheep eat them this year, but after another year passes, the weeds grow back."

Glenn nodded and explained, "Henry, allow me to call you by your name. Hunting these Half-Orcs can bring enormous profit, but only if we win.

"Those Minotaurs are practically mountains of flesh. They can even overturn our Cavalry directly. If one's lance skills are even slightly lacking, it will become a massacre for us."

"The men I brought are qualified Heavy Cavalry, not mere showpieces. Don't worry."

Glenn nodded reassuringly. "Among the two hundred serfs I brought, forty can use Iron-tipped Crossbows. With our Cavalry added in, we can fight."

Just then, an officer rode up and handed Glenn a military report.

Glenn quickly opened it, skimmed it, then passed it to the other three.

"The mission has been assigned to us. We leave tomorrow after collecting the Military Provisions."

"Good. I will wait for your news."

By then, Claude and Philip had finished setting up the camp. The large tent flying the Bro Family Banner was Henry's resting place.

The four parted ways for the time being. Henry returned to his camp, wanting a drink of water.

The moment Bain entered the tent, he impatiently asked, "Master, are we going to fight Orcs?"

Henry corrected him. "Our enemies are Half-Orcs. The Empire across the sea is the one fighting Orcs."

Bain had no interest in thinking about the difference between Orcs and Half-Orcs. He muttered, "Sigh, I just changed Warhorses. I heard Knight Glenn say some Half-Orcs are incredibly strong. They had better not get my precious Warhorse killed."

Bain only cared about his horse!

Henry snorted with laughter and teased, "Since you are so reluctant to part with your Warhorse, why not let it ride you instead?

"Then you can be responsible for charging, while the Warhorse braces the lance. It will surely catch the Half-Orcs off guard."

Bain hurriedly waved his hands. This was not something one could say lightly. Who could carry a Warhorse into a charge?

"I'd better ride it. At worst, I can go back to riding the Travel Horse."

Henry pursed his lips slightly. Bain still had the temperament of a child. Wasn't he simply afraid Henry would not buy him another Warhorse if this one died? What a clumsy act.

No, this little beggar had been protected too well by him. How would he ever stand on his own in the future? He had to learn how treacherous people could be.

"There's nothing wrong with a Travel Horse."

"Master! A Warhorse is a second life! Only with a Warhorse can I count as your Retainer!"

"Hahaha!"

Ailiya could not say much about Henry's childish amusement. She merely silently made Henry's temporary bed.

Oriana entered and asked Henry, "Master, may I serve Badan Roasted Chicken, Danustica-style dates, Cream Bread, Smoked Meat, and Meat Soup for your dinner?"

Of the sixteen wagons used for transport, one was specially loaded with armor and horse armor for the Heavy Cavalry. Another was devoted entirely to Henry's personal belongings, including the Cook's tools.

Claude had to ensure that Henry could eat a delicious meal. That was a noble's dignity.

Besides, Henry was already buried in debt. Claude felt that one meal would not make any difference. If a noble had to save on food to maintain his finances, then that noble might as well go into exile.

"Of course. Add just a little seasoning to the roasted chicken, and put a little salt in the Meat Soup."

"Yes, Master."

Henry sent Bain off to help prepare the food. He himself went outside, made a brief round of the camp, then returned to the tent and took out paper and pen to write a letter.

This was the secret mission given to him by his great Liege Lord, the King of the Calradia Empire, who was at the height of his power.

The King needed someone trustworthy to observe the martial virtue of the border nobles. If some had fallen into decay, the King would find a way to reclaim their Fiefs and grant them anew. He was also to report on Earl Sebastian's situation.

'My great Liege Lord, ruler of the Calradia Empire and master of the Calradia Continent, greetings. I am your most loyal, bravest, and most trusted Knight of real power, Henry Burley.

Earl Sebastian Thor Sauer places great importance on the security of Autongard. Your city is like a beacon, illuminating the grasslands where the trade routes have dwindled.

The military preparedness of the other nobles is average. Many of their fiefs were only recently destroyed, and their military strength has suffered severely. For the time being, it is impossible to determine whether your other vassals still possess the martial courage of nobles.

The Earl intends to conduct a probing hunt and reconnaissance. This is a wise choice. Knight Boman Mone, Knight Fas Dakos, Knight Glenn Taylor, and I will form a joint army to conduct a retaliatory hunt.

Dean, we were all once your students. This mission will be completed successfully.

May you live long, shine upon Calradia, and protect your students and vassals.

On this day of this year, Lord of West Lyme, Knight Henry Burley.'

After finishing the letter, Henry carefully sealed it. He summoned Claude, handed him his noble crest, and instructed him to take two Soldiers to the Imperial Office and send it out immediately.

After completing all this, he stretched and loosened his muscles.

Henry needed to write as truthfully as possible, because he did not believe he was the only person the King trusted—or rather, he did not believe he was trusted at all.

The King must have issued secret missions to others as well. As for how many people had received such missions, there was no way to guess.

In any case, unless the King was insane, he could not possibly issue secret missions to every border noble.

Suddenly, a commotion came from outside. Frowning, Henry walked out of the tent and saw a group of Soldiers gathered together, apparently arguing about something.

"What are you making noise about!"

"Lord."

Henry pointed at one Cavalryman and asked, "You. What happened?"

"We've never seen those monsters before. We..."

The Soldiers were nervous and uneasy about the coming battle. Henry could understand that. Half-Orcs were true Foreign Races. Only his New Recruits, who had undergone "special training" through the Total War panel, would not be afraid.

No, they might still be afraid. But their loyalty to Henry was enough to make them dare raise their swords against Half-Orcs.

"What are you doing? Are you afraid of battle?" Philip rushed over, his face full of anger.

He was breaking out in a cold sweat. He had personally trained these nervous and uneasy Soldiers.

He feared Henry would question his ability! This was far too unfair!