Jiang Jie walked too far from the main gate and simply climbed over the city wall.
The guards responsible for the city's defenses saw Jiang Jie, but ignored him—everyone knew that Jiang Jie would never harm Lordaeron.
Crossing the empty road, Jiang Jie arrived at the square in front of the palace.
The crowd was too dense; no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get in.
Fortunately, someone recognized Jiang Jie and quickly shouted for people to make way for him.
The investiture ceremony had now reached its most crucial moment. Everyone else had been ennobled; dozens received the title of "Knight of the Kingdom," a dozen received the title of "Lord," and two others, due to their outstanding achievements, were made "Barons" and granted a sizable fiefdom in Tirisfal Glades.
Hillsbrad Foothills, having not suffered significant damage from the undead Undead Plague, still retains its lands to the old nobles who were granted fiefdoms. In Eastern and Western Plaguelands were severely affected by the Undead Plague, making it virtually impossible for them to resume production or even become habitable within three to five years. Therefore, no one is willing to go to those two places, and Her Majesty the Queen is unlikely to grant them fiefdoms there.
This was her first batch of investitures after becoming queen, so of course she had to choose the best fiefdoms to bestow upon them, so as not to disappoint her people.
At this very moment, it was time to bestow titles upon Jiang Jie and the Fenris People's Army.
Earl Lawrence quickly withdrew, Calia stood up to personally conduct the investiture ceremony for Jiang Jie and the others.
Prior to this, Earl Lawrence had already made public the Alliance Expedition's expedition to the Kalimdor and the achievements it had made, which caused cheers. Everyone knew that on another distant continent, the Alliance Expedition had expanded its territory, eliminated Archimonde, and made great contributions and sacrifices for the safety of this world.
" The Alliance Expedition will be stationed permanently on the Kalimdor. A new city, ' Theramore,' is under construction and will be jointly governed by the Alliance nations of Lordaeron, Dalaran, Ironforge, Kul Tiras, Gilneas, Stormwind City, Quel'Thalas, and others. Lady Jaina has been appointed Lord of Theramore by the Alliance and granted the rights of a baron and below."
Queen Calia stood up and announced the resolutions of yesterday's meeting with several other national leaders. She then glanced at Jiang Jie, her clear voice, amplified by magic, resonating throughout the palace and square. "But Earl Nicholas and the Fenris People's Army have returned. Their contributions to Lordaeron deserve the richest reward!"
At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on the Fenris People's Army, especially on Jiang Jie.
At this moment, everyone in Lordaeron knew that Earl Nicholas would receive unprecedented glory, his rise to power surpassing that of anyone since Emperor Thoradin established the human empire.
Men were envious, and women were infatuated. If it weren't for the person in Stratholme and the one speaking now, they would definitely be willing to have a deep conversation with Jiang Jie at a distance of -20 centimeters.
"The tragedy of Southshore seems like it was just yesterday. It was only through the valiant fighting of Earl Nicholas and his Fenris People's Army that the Scourge was repelled, Southshore, the southernmost gateway to Lordaeron, and the entire Hillsbrad Foothills, were saved."
Princess Calia said with deep sorrow, "For this, they paid the price with 13 young lives."
A silence fell, and tears filled the eyes of every member of the Fenris People's Army.
From the Battle of Greymane Wall to the expedition to Kalimdor, and then to the defense of Southshore three days ago, in less than half a year, the Fenris People's Army, which numbered exactly one hundred, has now been reduced to almost half its original strength.
This was a very tragic sacrifice. The death of each brother saddened them, and the name of each brother is forever etched in their hearts. Even as time passes, they will never forget.
Yesterday, they personally buried all their brothers, and the cries of grief from the victims' families still echo in our ears. A new cemetery has been built on Wolf Island, which will be the cemetery for the Fenris People's Army, where all the victims will be buried, for the living to remember and pay their respects.
I wonder how many years from now, when they no longer fight, how many people will still be alive to sweep the graves of the dead.
Jiang Jie was also very sad, because he had personally taught each of his disciples and really didn't want them to go to the battlefield or see them sacrifice themselves.
But this was a time of war, and he couldn't hide everyone away. They also needed to fight and make achievements. Young people had this drive, and he couldn't suppress it.
If you can die, I can die, so why can't they?
Perhaps having witnessed too much death, his heart had hardened.
"All members of the Fenris People's Army will be granted the title of 'Knight of the Kingdom,' and Ivan Coleman and Sven Hobson will be granted the title of 'Sir,' each receiving a fief in their respective hometowns," Calia announced. " Darion Mograine will be granted the title of 'Baron,' and at Darion's request, he will receive a small island in the Fenris Isles as his fief."
baron!
This is an extraordinary title, the highest title conferred since the devastation of Scourge Plague and plagues, aside from Uther the Lightbringer, Marquis Lawrence, and Jiang Jie; to this day, only a handful of people have received it.
Of those individuals, apart from one who was a powerful adventurer leader, the others all held high positions, either being recently active political figures or generals in the army.
Now, Darion has also become a baron.
In an instant, all eyes were on Darion, filled with envy.
Among them, there was a pair of special eyes.
Darion seemed stunned. Instead of immediately kneeling down to express his gratitude and swearing eternal loyalty to the Kingdom of Lordaeron and the House of Menethil, he looked at Jiang Jie standing beside him.
Jiang Jie glanced back at him, showing his approval, Darion was overjoyed.
He hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Old Mograine, who was standing next to Earl Lawrence, closest to Queen Calia.
He already knew about his Renault's death, and even knew the inside story. He knew very well how heartbroken his father would be. He only hoped that his own knighthood would ease his father's grief.
Then, he saw his father's eyes.
He saw that his usually stern father had actually smiled and nodded gently, just like before.
Darion was overjoyed.
A voice pulled him back from his elation; it was Princess Calia's voice.
"Finally, in the name of the Queen of Lordaeron, I bestow upon Nicholas Jiang the title of Marquis and appoint him Highlord of Lordamere, with the fief of Lake Lordamere!" Princess Calia announced.
Marquis! Highlord of Lordamere!
This is an absolutely unimaginable reward, an unprecedented honor.
Lake Lordamere is much larger than the Lordaeron, roughly one-fifth the size of Tirisfal Glades, and even larger than Andorhal or Caer Darrow.
In other words, Jiang Jie has now acquired nearly half of the fiefdom that the Barov Family had cultivated over a thousand years.
Marquis!
This means that, even in terms of rank, Jiang Jie is already at the forefront of the entire Kingdom of Lordaeron. The only one with a higher rank than him is Uther the Lightbringer, and even Marquis Lawrence was only recently conferred the title.
What an honor this is!
This is practically the pinnacle of glory in the Kingdom of Lordaeron; the only title that can be bestowed above this is "Duke."
Of course, many people privately believe that there is actually another title, namely, a prince...
Her Majesty the Queen's favor towards the Marquis Nicholas is so grand, could the rumor be true?
Some nobles were thinking: Her Majesty the Queen is the only one left in the House Menethil; Lordaeron has no heir. Moreover, Her Majesty is already 26 years old; it's time for her to start a family and continue the royal bloodline.
Lordaeron needs an heir, which means it needs a prince, and the most suitable candidate seems to be Marquis Nicholas. It's just a matter of what the one in Stratholme thinks...
The investiture ceremony passed amidst laughter, and the crowd dispersed at the request of the security forces, but in the King's Hall, a more important meeting was taking place.