"Your Majesty! Lord Xiluo, Lord Dorian, Lord Doges, and Lord Melano truly are pillars of the nation!"
A noble looked at the King and declared loudly.
The King froze.
But he still nodded, smiling as he said:
"Indeed, they truly are pillars of the nation."
Pillars of the nation, my ass!
Those three idiots actually joined forces with that dragon!
If not for those three idiots, I would have obtained dragon blood and regained my health long ago. It was all those three idiots' fault!
I am the foundation of this entire nation! If my body gives out, all of Gerlo will be finished too. Do you three idiots understand that or not?
Pillars of the nation? Pah! They're a whole pot of rat droppings!
The King kept his expression composed while inwardly cursing them out.
"The four lords devoted themselves to protecting the entire Gerlo Kingdom, but the soldiers and Heroes under their command suffered terrible casualties... Your Majesty!"
As one noble spoke, he grew increasingly emotional and shouted, startling the King into a shudder as he said:
"Wh-what is it?"
"Your Majesty! As the King of Gerlo and the father of all your subjects, you must never let our soldiers and Heroes shed both blood and tears!"
"Exactly! Your Majesty! The four lords suffered considerable casualties resisting the enemy.
Yet out of consideration for the nation, they have refrained from counterattacking.
They have received no spoils whatsoever!
They don't even have enough money left to pay compensation.
As the ruler of a nation, surely you can understand their circumstances, Your Majesty?"
"Your Majesty! We hope you will pay compensation on behalf of these four pillars of the nation. Only then can we console the wounded and fallen Heroes and soldiers!"
"Not just console them! They must be rewarded