Overlord Phase 2 Activated!

The three of them went to the Betting Redemption Office together and each collected 1,500 Denars.

That was right. They had all bet on Earl John's second son becoming champion, and they had placed the maximum wager in every round, betting a total of 600 Denars. The implications were obvious.

If they had not known the inside story, they would never have dared to wager so much!

Fortunately, this was the Noble Exclusive Passage. If the commoners who had lost money saw this, they would definitely cry foul! It was absolutely rigged!

In theory, an Arena Tournament could make a commoner rich overnight, but the more likely outcome was losing everything. So, do not gamble.

Henry and the other two exchanged glances, thinking that students from the Royal Knight Academy truly knew when to bend and when to stand tall.

Boman flashed a healthy smile. "How about you two talk first? I'll go congratulate Earl John."

Fas and Henry looked at each other. "All right. We'll go one at a time."

It was best not to discuss this kind of transaction openly, because it was disrespectful to nobles. You could trade your honor for wealth, and others could look down on you after learning about it, but it could not be said to your face.

That was noble dignity.

The three returned to the Earl's Mansion. Boman was the first to seek out Earl John, while Henry and Fas waited in the guest courtyard.

Before long, Boman returned carrying a bag that clinked loudly.

"Well, I've offered my congratulations. You two can go now." After saying that, Boman returned to his room.

Fas looked at Henry. "Then I'll go first?"

"All right. Knight Fas, please go ahead."

Soon, Fas returned just like Boman, carrying a bag.

The two did not chat much. Henry headed over to Earl John to collect his winnings.

Henry did not know what sort of deal Earl John had made with Boman and Fas. He only cared whether he would receive what was promised to him.

Soon, Henry met Earl John, who was beaming with delight.

After saluting Earl John, Henry said, "Earl John, I have completed your request."

Earl John burst into laughter, clearly very satisfied with Henry's performance. "Knight Henry, you made quite a profit this time, didn't you?"

"1,500 Denars."

Earl John smiled. "Good, Knight Henry. The 600 Denars do not count as money borrowed from me. These 1,500 Denars are entirely yours."

Henry breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Earl John had lent him that money. If the earl had not said so, he would have had to pay it back.

Earl John tapped the table. "Knight Henry, you do not need to worry about Pedro. By the time your fortress is finished, the affairs on my end should have been handed over as well. At that point, he will disappear as though he had never existed in this world."

Earl John paused, then asked, "Knight Henry, I have actually always been curious. Your appetite is so large—can you really swallow it all? Can you sustain a fortress on the same scale as my Earl's Mansion?"

Henry frowned. What did Earl John mean by that?

"How about this, Henry? Perhaps we are... friends now? The royal decree activating the Pioneer Act should reach the Imperial Office here very soon, probably this afternoon.

Once my second son becomes a Pioneer Noble, I hope you can lend him a hand. Nothing else is required—just help him out whenever he is in danger."

After much thought, Earl John decided that he still could not cooperate with those greedy viscounts and barons. The gains would not outweigh the losses. It had to be a Knight Noble.

"Very well. That is a perfectly reasonable request. But I hope your second son does not block my path of expansion."

"Of course. I will tell him."

The two talked for a long time and even had lunch together.

After returning to the guest room, Henry thought it over carefully before saying to Bain, "Pack up our things. We're leaving today."

"Yes, my lord. Then what are you going to do?"

Henry patted the money pouch in his arms and smiled. "I'm going to buy you a warhorse."

Henry went to the Horse Market. After presenting his noble crest, he carefully selected a fine horse. Commoners were not qualified to purchase warhorses or any armor.

The horse was tall and powerful, its coat as soft and smooth as silk, its eyes bright with intelligence and spirit.

"My lord, this warhorse only costs sixty-five Denars. It is a fine warhorse from the Southern Desert."

Henry stroked the warhorse in satisfaction. "Fine. Sixty-five Denars, but you must include a set of Half Barding."

The horse trader hurriedly shook his head, saying awkwardly, "No, no, my lord. Please do not make things difficult for me. A set of Half Barding costs more than thirty Denars."

"How about this? I'll give you eighty Denars."

"This... all right, my lord. We have a deal."

Henry paid with satisfaction and led the horse back to the Earl's Mansion. Bain was thrilled when he saw the beautiful warhorse.

"My lord, is this warhorse really for me?" Bain caressed it as though he were touching money.

"Of course. Look at the bundle on the saddle. There is another surprise inside."

Bain opened the bundle and found a set of Half Barding!

"My lord, am I qualified to become a Heavy Cavalryman now?"

"Of course you are qualified. But you must first go to the battlefield. How can you become Heavy Cavalry without seeing blood?"

Bain was so moved that he could not put it into words. A warhorse and Half Barding were equipment that only Imperial Heavy Cavalry were qualified to possess, yet he was merely a knight's retainer.

Suddenly, a commotion rose outside. The noisy clamor was enough to make anyone restless.

Henry opened the door and heard that all the nobles whose fiefs had been destroyed were packing their luggage and preparing to leave.

"Boman, what is going on?"

"Henry, the Pioneer Act has officially been activated. The Imperial Office in Audoh has already posted the announcement. There are also Letters from the King for us vassals whose fiefs were destroyed. They are all at the Imperial Office."

Henry immediately set out for the Imperial Office.

"I am Knight Henry. I am here to collect the King's Letter."

"Yes, my lord. Right away."

Before long, Henry received the King's Letter. However, he did not intend to read it there. Instead, he turned to examine the key points of the posted Pioneer Act.

Pioneer Noble eligibility: Independent Nobles bordering the Border Line, second sons of Independent Nobles anywhere within the Empire, law-abiding urban freemen, law-abiding farmers, and mercenaries registered with the Royal Capital Mercenary Guild.

"My fief is West Lyme. I wish to apply to become a Pioneer Noble."

The staff at the Imperial Office quickly prepared the documents and identification for Henry.

After returning to the Earl's Mansion, Henry examined the envelope the King had sent him. It was bulging, as though it contained something else.

Upon opening it, he found a sponsorship fee of one hundred Denars in addition to the Letter. The Letter itself was mostly official rhetoric, saying things like how the Foreign Races were beasts and how his Liege Lord expressed regret.

"Hm?"

Henry carefully felt around and found another Letter inside. He opened it and read it closely. The more he read, the more alarmed he became. His Liege Lord was no ordinary man—he had ambitions.

That evening, after bidding farewell to Earl John, Henry left Audoh with Bain on horseback. Following the Official Road marked on the map, they set out for West Lyme. From that moment on, it was a race against time to claim land.

Two days later, Henry arrived at loyal West Lyme. Though the place was still in ruins, construction sites bustling with activity had brought life back to it.

Philip, who was on patrol, immediately spotted Henry and rode over.

"My lord."

Henry nodded and asked, "Has the Barracks been completed? Is that cluster of buildings the Barracks?"

Philip nodded. "It was completed yesterday. It is a garrison barracks for five hundred men, thirty meters from the fortress walls. The stables and training grounds are still under construction and may need another four or five days."

"Right, what about the Subsidiary Village? That is also crucial. It needs to be built first."

Philip smiled. "My lord, you should ask Claude and Tommy about that. I am responsible for military patrols."

Henry let out a breath. Thinking about it, he was right. Why was he asking Philip?

"Have the two of them come see me. Go call them."

"As you command."

Before long, Claude and Tommy hurried over.

"My lord."

Henry waved a hand and asked, "Has the Subsidiary Village been built? Have the Temporary Houses for our people been completed?"

Tommy saluted and reported, "My lord, the temporary housing was completed the day before yesterday. Your lordship will not lose the dignity you deserve. The Subsidiary Village is about to begin construction, roughly... now?"

"How many serfs did you buy?"

Claude said, "Six hundred, my lord. That number of serfs is sufficient for the time being. If we wage a Pioneering War, these serfs can serve as suitable Conscript Militia and Transport Teams."

Henry nodded and asked Claude, "What are they doing now?"

"My lord, most of them have gone to cut down trees. The Construction Team does not handle such work, and the building materials they brought are limited in quantity.

"I sent two hundred people to reclaim farmland. Autumn is almost here. If we have enough time, we can plant potatoes brought from overseas. They are highly adaptable, come in many varieties, can be grown year-round, and will be enough to feed the serfs.

"We can also plant some wheat. If we sow it around the middle to late part of next month, it will ripen around the middle to late part of June next year. With spring and autumn crop rotation, West Lyme will recover within a year."

Tommy nodded. "It is just a pity that our conditions here are limited. I have heard that Pearl Rice can even be grown in winter in the Empire's south and along the Western Coast."

At that moment, Henry stared straight ahead. He did not hear Tommy and Claude's rambling at all, because just seconds earlier, the Overlord Panel had automatically appeared before his eyes.

Tutorial Quest

Quest: Rebuild Village

Requirement: Population of at least 300, with corresponding basic housing

Quest Status: Completed. Overlord Phase 2 has been activated.

The next second, the Overlord Panel before Henry suddenly split into two categories. One was the previous Personal Attribute Panel, while the other was the Overlord Total War Panel.

Open the Overlord Total War Panel.

Henry was somewhat excited. This time, he would see what his Overlord Total War Panel looked like!

Leader: Henry

Affiliated Faction: Calradia Empire

Leader Title: Independent landed Knight Noble, Pioneer Noble

Court Members: Steward Claude, Chamberlain Tommy, Heavy Cavalry Captain Philip

Fief Capital: West Lyme Fortress (Unfinished)

Capital Buildings: lv1. Small Fortress Garrison Camp (50/500), lv1. Fortress Subsidiary Village (Population 600+)

Upgradeable New Buildings: lv1. Tavern, lv1. Blacksmith Shop, lv1. Open-Air Market, Workshop, lv2. Medium Fortress Garrison Camp, lv2. Fortress Subsidiary Town

Current Construction Queue: lv1. Stone Walls, lv1. Gatehouse, lv1. Moat, lv1. Drawbridge, lv1. Tower, lv1. Arrow Tower, lv1. Stables, lv1. Training Grounds

Army: Imperial Heavy Cavalry ×20, Veteran Shielded Crossbowmen ×10, Veteran Spearmen ×10, Veteran Skirmishers ×10

Finances: -19,899 Denars (Debt)

Overlord Training Points: 10 (Initial Reward)

(Methods of acquisition: Leader campaign victories, increased Leader reputation, comprehensive territorial development, etc.)

Recruitable and Trainable Soldiers: 120-man Imperial New Recruit Squad (Cost: 1 Overlord Training Point, Training Duration: 1 month)

120-man Imperial New Recruit Squad

Level: lv1

Type: Melee / Light Infantry

Description: A New Recruit unit made up of bankrupt urban residents, landless farmers, or serfs. They usually enlist carrying sickles, short sickles, and pitchforks. These weapons can hook cavalrymen and pull them from their horses, though this has yet to be tested and confirmed.

The Imperial New Recruits have almost no protection, wearing only cloth and linen clothes. Some have their own leather boots and leather caps, but these cannot withstand enemy blades.

After one month of training, they can master basic combat skills, proficiently form ranks and formations, and turn left or right.

They undergo special training, possess High Morale, and are sufficiently loyal to their Leader. If you can provide them with shields and swords, they may continue improving on the battlefield into Imperial Infantry.

Henry nodded in satisfaction. The other functions of this Total War Panel did not matter much, but the recruitable and trainable soldiers were the true priority.

Personnel and equipment had to be supplied by himself, but that was nothing. What did it matter? The Empire lacked nothing less than people! Equipment was a trivial matter as well.

The most important thing was loyalty! There had been a saying before Henry crossed over: loyalty that was not absolute was absolute disloyalty! Henry could accept weak troops and low combat power, but when it came to loyalty, nothing was more important!

And one month of training was not long at all. If he trained them slowly himself, it would take roughly a month just to make these New Recruits dare step onto the battlefield without fleeing.

But the most important trait of soldiers trained by the Total War Panel was loyalty!

One month... no big deal!

The news of the Pioneer Act had only just reached Audoh. Before the Empire launched its full-scale counteroffensive, there would be at least another twenty days.

The job of fighting the Foreign Races to the death on the front lines should still be left to the Imperial Standing Army Legion and those suckers who dreamed of becoming nobles in one stroke. In Henry's eyes, they were his good friends who would draw enemy fire.