The next morning, after last night's dose of inspirational talk, the knights' spirits had noticeably changed.
They no longer simply went through the motions of carrying out their duties. They moved faster, and a spark of fighting spirit had entered their eyes.
Some began checking their equipment on their own initiative, others discussed the situation in the Northern Frontier, and a few even began considering how to fortify the camp.
Although the rosy future Louis had promised seemed so far away.
Having a goal to pursue was still far better than waiting numbly for death.
Of course, Louis knew that a single impassioned speech could not completely change their attitudes.
Without tangible benefits, their morale would soon fade again.
He had to deliver real rewards immediately and show these knights genuine hope.
A bitter wind swept across the frozen river.
The knights looked at the thick ice beneath their feet and exchanged puzzled glances.
"Can we really catch fish here?" someone muttered.
"Our lord said we could. We might as well try." Lambert was the first to raise his iron hammer and smash it hard against the ice.
Quite a few knights secretly laughed to themselves.
Did he really think they could find any old river, break a crack in the ice, and catch fish?
This lord was far too naive.
But none dared defy Louis's orders, so the knights followed his instructions, raised their weapons, and began breaking the ice.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Before long, a narrow crack appeared, and dark, icy river water surged through it.
A large net was slowly lowered into the water. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the crack.
Suddenly, the net's rope pulled taut!
"Pull!"
An instant later, silver flashed as a Northern Crystal Cod was hauled out of the water, thrashing desperately on the ice!
"Heavens, there really are fish!"
"Quick, haul them in! Don't let them get away!"
The knights rushed to join in, wielding the fishing nets excitedly.
They lowered and raised the nets again and again, hauling up silvery Northern Crystal Cod one after another, their scales gleaming brilliantly in the morning light.
They counted twelve in all!
At that moment, a knowledgeable knight cried excitedly, "These are Northern Crystal Cod! A delicacy found only in lands of extreme cold! Their bones can purify your bloodline and increase your strength!"
The knights' breathing immediately quickened at those words.
They understood perfectly what purifying their bloodlines meant. Not only would it immediately increase their strength, it would also raise the limits of their future potential as knights.
Even nobles might only get to eat such a treasure a few times in their entire lives.
If only they could have a sip...
Just as they were lost in their fantasies, Louis's casual voice reached their ears. "Half of these fish are yours. We'll make fish soup with them in a little while."
That brief sentence burst among the knights like a thunderclap.
This was something they had never dared dream of!
When had knights like them, exiled to the Northern Frontier, ever received such a blessing?!
The knights erupted with excitement!
"My lord, do you mean it?!" One knight abruptly raised his head, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"But... these are Northern Crystal Cod! Even those nobles in the south might only get to eat them a few times in their lives!"
"Long live our lord!"
Excitement, shock, and disbelief intertwined, finally turning into a chorus of praise.
Soon, a large pot was set over the campfire. Bubbles rolled through the boiling fish soup, which gave off a rich, savory aroma.
As it simmered, the soup actually turned a faint silvery white. Flecks of light seemed to swirl within it, as though it were a gift from heaven.
Once the soup had developed a rich flavor, it was ladled into bowls and handed to the knights.
"Can we really drink this?" A knight cradled his wooden bowl, his hands trembling slightly-not with fear, but disbelief.
"Enough talk. Drink up!" Louis raised his own bowl and drained it without hesitation.
The soup slid down his throat, and energy swiftly spread from his stomach through his entire body. An invisible current of warmth washed away the impurities in his blood.
Seeing this, the other knights eagerly lifted their wooden bowls and gulped down the fish soup.
The moment the hot liquid passed down their throats, they all froze briefly, as though something inside them had awakened.
An instant later, they all sat cross-legged, closed their eyes in concentration, and swiftly began practicing their breathing techniques. They greedily absorbed the indescribable energy, unwilling to waste even the slightest trace.
Some trembled faintly as they felt their bloodlines being cleansed deep within, an unprecedented sense of lightness spreading throughout their bodies.
Others gritted their teeth, enduring the roiling heat within them, as though their bones and blood were undergoing some kind of transformation.
Silence settled over the camp. Only steady breathing rose and fell, coming together in an invisible resonance.
Suddenly, a startled cry broke the silence.
"My... my body..." A young Apprentice Knight opened his eyes wide, an unusual glimmer appearing deep within his pupils.
Boom!
A faint silver radiance spread from his body. The knights all froze, then their pupils abruptly contracted.
"That's the aura of an Official Knight! He... he's advanced!"
Before those words had even finished, another Apprentice Knight suddenly shuddered. A faint glow spilled from his body as well-he, too, had broken through!
Deathly silence fell, followed by an explosive uproar!
"This is insane! Absolutely insane!"
"They broke through after just one bowl of fish soup?!"
The way the knights looked at Louis changed completely.
Just hours earlier, they had still been wondering what qualified this useless lord, exiled to the Northern Frontier, to lead them.
Were his promises truly reliable? Was the dawn he spoke of nothing more than a fantasy?
But now, all their doubts had turned into boundless admiration.
They had seen with their own eyes how two Apprentice Knights had broken through in such a short time and become Official Knights.
In the southern nobles' domains, such a feat required lengthy training and enormous quantities of resources. Here, it had taken nothing more than a bowl of fish soup.
Even the other knights who had not advanced directly had grown considerably stronger.
It was simply unbelievable, enough to make them wonder whether it was an illusion.
And all of this had come about because Louis had casually pointed out a spot, allowing them to obtain such a precious treasure.
Of course, they knew nothing of the intelligence system's existence. They simply believed Louis had received divine favor!
What they found most incredible, however, was that Lord Louis had generously shared these Northern Crystal Cod with them!
Louis had shared these precious treasures with them so readily, even though nobles themselves could rarely enjoy them!
Every knight was now utterly overwhelmed with gratitude toward Louis. No one questioned the rosy future he had promised the previous night anymore.
All their doubts had been cast aside. Now, only one shared goal remained in their hearts-to unite behind Louis and embrace the wonderful future that belonged to them!
"Long live our lord! Long live Lord Louis!" the knights shouted in unison, their excited voices echoing across the frozen, snow-covered lands of the Northern Frontier.
They could never repay Lord Louis's kindness!
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