The Empire's armies needed large numbers of mid- and low-ranking officers. With the establishment of the regulations, all officers needed credentials from a Knight Academy. The Imperial Knight Academy in Imperial Capital Province had long been controlled by the Empire's old noble families, and the vast majority of nobles had never gained any influence within that academy.
This meant that when the Imperial Legions needed officers, those nobles had no way to use the back door of the Imperial Knight Academy. Their only remaining option was the Northern Kingdom Knight Academy, the second institution recognized by the Empire as qualified for the role.
At the same time, after Count Clayton had thoroughly secured control over the Imperial Second Legion within the Council of Elders, the Northern Kingdom Knight Academy became especially important.
The officers of the Imperial Second Legion would graduate from the Northern Kingdom Knight Academy.
At least, that was how it was supposed to look on paper.
Rhino Horn Mountain. Passing merchant caravans delivered letters from the southern nobles to Ryan.
"These nobles don't want to send their knights to the Northern Kingdom Knight Academy for training and earn the qualifications of outstanding students, yet they want to go through me and directly give their family knights the status of Northern Kingdom Knight Academy graduates?"
Ryan laughed after reading them, but he also recalled what had happened in Imperial Capital regarding military merit.
"Among the officers of the Imperial Legions, some earned their positions on the southern battlefield. The rest need to become military officers through 'connections.' Other than needing the status of Northern Kingdom Knight Academy students, these people most likely have never even been on a battlefield. Otherwise, it wouldn't be this troublesome."
"These people can be called... noble members who steal military merit."
With that