Thanks, Lord... (Please Vote!!! Favorite!!!)

Hant stood at the gates of the military camp with the other three Apprentice Knights, watching Claire's carriage gradually disappear into the distance.

"Nick, go pick up Dean's head," Hant ordered.

Though confused, Nick still brought over Dean's head, which Claire had shot. It had already shriveled into a dried skull, covered by only a thin layer of skin.

Hant took it directly, showing no disgust at the bloodstains. He tied the head up with a rope again, then hurled it upward with all his strength.

Dean's head was once again hung above the entrance to the military camp.

"Captain... what are you..." Nick asked in shock.

Hant licked his lips. "To remind myself."

As he spoke, Hant looked up at the suspended head again. He now knew how Dean had died, and he also knew how he himself had become the new Knight Captain.

Someone had just called him the lord's dog. They were right. He wanted to be the lord's dog now. At least dogs got meat to eat, didn't they? But if one became the lord's enemy, the result would be like that hanging head.

Some people couldn't even become dogs if they wanted to. Heh.

"Captain..." Nick looked at Hant. "What should we do next?"

The other two Apprentice Knights looked at the empty camp, their hearts feeling hollow as well. A camp that had once housed more than fifty knights was now left with only the four of them. They could not help feeling lonely.

Hant shouted, "Now! Mount your horses! Go spread the new rule that the lord just announced! Before tonight, every youth of suitable age in the barony must know about it! Under the lord's leadership, the Knight Squad of Griffin Barony will surely become famous throughout the world!"

Hearing their captain's impassioned words, the blood of the three knights began to boil as well. They immediately sprang into action, found their Warhorses, and mounted up!

As they spurred their horses, four plumes of dust rolled up outside the camp gates, and they raced off in four different directions!

In a village north of Nafu City, Melly's family of four was having dinner at home. A faint candle burned, illuminating their small house.

Villagers did not have Magic Lamps like those in noble households, which could light up an entire house. They could only rely on dim candlelight.

"Melly, this is the candy I bought for you after selling grain in the city today."

Kellan opened his hand and handed the brown sugar in his palm to Melly.

Melly's lively eyes filled with excitement. She took the brown sugar and began licking it. "Thank you, Big Brother! I love Big Brother the most!" But as she licked it, she could not help thinking of the Big Brother who had given her rainbow candy a few days ago. That rainbow candy must have been tastier and sweeter than this brown sugar.

But Melly quickly shook her head hard. The brown sugar Big Brother bought for Melly is the sweetest. Big Brother is the best! Even though Mother wouldn't buy it for Melly before, Mother gave Big Brother the money, so Mother is wonderful too!

Seeing his little sister happily licking the brown sugar, Kellan smiled with delight. But he soon seemed to think of something, and his mood turned downcast.

The woman gave Kellan a worried look, then glanced at her husband, hoping he would say something.

The man sighed. His fan-sized palm patted Kellan's shoulder heavily as he comforted him, "It's all right. Once our family saves enough grain next year and the viscount recruits knights again, you'll definitely become an outstanding knight!"

The woman immediately added, "That's right, that's right. The viscount has exempted so many taxes. By next year, we'll surely have plenty of grain and money left over. Then, Kellan, you can go to Nafu City and become a knight."

Light and shadow flickered in Kellan's eyes. After a while, he forced out a smile. "All right. It's fine. Let's eat."

But he knew full well that even with so many taxes waived, a child from an ordinary farming family had no hope of becoming a knight. During training, one could not survive on wheat bread alone. They also needed special potions and large amounts of meat to have any hope of cultivating battle aura and advancing into an Apprentice Knight.

Moreover, knights were not recruited every year. In most territories, recruiting once every ten years was already considered good. By the time another ten years passed, he would no longer be at the best age to become a knight. The Knight Squad would not want him.

Of course, if they sold everything they owned, he could still become a knight. But then his family might go hungry after every meal. The pride in his bones would not allow him to do such a thing.

Melly licked the sugar in her hand and looked up at her brother. For some reason, she sensed a trace of disappointment from Kellan that did not match the expression on his face at all.

"Big Brother..." Melly stretched out her little hand and held Kellan's thumb.

Kellan's attention was drawn to her. Smiling, he asked, "Is the brown sugar tasty?"

Melly gripped Kellan's hand even tighter. Her other hand curled into a fist in an encouraging gesture as she said firmly, "Big Brother, keep it up!"

Kellan froze. Whenever he practiced swordsmanship with a wooden sword in the front yard, Melly had always encouraged him like this. But why did it make him want to cry so badly now?

Tears welled up in Kellan's eyes, but he quickly squeezed them shut and held them back. He kept rubbing Melly's little head, unable to say anything.

Seeing their son lower his head, the couple felt terrible too. Ever since he was young, Kellan's only wish had been to become a real knight. Now that he had finally found an opportunity, he had to give it up because of his family. As his parents, their hearts felt painfully blocked.

"Father, I'll go harvest wheat with you tomorrow morning." Kellan's voice seemed choked.

The man froze. "Isn't that when you exercise and practice swordsmanship? You don't need to go. I can manage alone. Come help me after you finish training."

Kellan shook his head and looked up at his parents. Only then did they see that his eyes had turned red.

"I won't practice anymore. Being a knight isn't all that great anyway."

The couple's eyes widened. They looked at each other. They both knew that becoming a knight had been Kellan's dream since childhood. Was he really giving up just like that?

Kellan had truly come to terms with it. When he had met that Big Brother before, he had said that he wanted to become a knight to protect his family and make sure they all had enough to eat. Now that the viscount had reduced so many taxes, they should have no problem filling their stomachs in the future. So it did not matter whether he became a knight or not.

Besides, a profession like knighthood was not something a child from an ordinary family like his should dream about. People should do the work suited to their family's station and not aim too high.

The couple looked at each other, opening their mouths as if to say something, but they did not know what words of comfort they could offer.

"Let's eat. Remember to call me when you go harvest wheat tomorrow," Kellan said with a smile.

"All right..." the man replied slowly.

"Mm." Kellan nodded and chewed the dark bread in his hand with force, saying nothing.

Bang!

A loud sound came from the front door. A boy about Kellan's age stood there with his hands braced on his knees, panting heavily, his face filled with excitement.

"Big Brother Ike, why are you here?" Kellan quickly stood and went over.

Ike was a boy his age from the same village. Since Ike was one year older, Kellan had always called him Big Brother.

"Hah, huff!" Ike was still panting heavily, but he said excitedly, "Good... news! Good news, Kellan!"

"What is it?" Kellan looked confused. Even when taxes had been waived last time, Ike had not been this excited.

"This is different from last time!" Ike grabbed Kellan's hand. "The viscount has changed a rule. We don't have to pay to train at the military camp! It's all free!"

Kellan's mouth fell open in shock. He hurriedly asked, "Really?!"

"Really! Come with me and see for yourself. A knight personally rode to our village! How could it be fake?" As he spoke, Ike pulled Kellan outside by the hand.

"Uncle Gary, Aunt Jessica, Kellan and I are going to take a look. We'll be back soon!"

Kellan also cast a longing look toward his parents. The couple immediately waved them off, telling the two boys to hurry.

After Kellan left, the home, though missing one person, became far more cheerful than before. Smiles spread across the couple's faces. Though Melly did not know exactly what had happened, the happy atmosphere made her eat with even more enthusiasm.

"The viscount really is a good man," the man said with feeling. He knew that his son's wish could finally come true.

The woman immediately agreed. "The viscount is the best noble I've ever seen. When I go to church to pray next week, I'll definitely ask the Lord to bless him with health and safety!"

At the mention of this, the man and woman immediately clasped their hands together. "Thank the Lord for granting us food!"

Melly copied them from the side. "Thank the Lord for granting us food!"

Then she secretly opened one eye to look at her parents. Seeing that they were still praying, she softly muttered, "Lord, if you can let me eat candy every day, then you'll be the best Lord!"