- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 203
On the training ground, the evening sun gradually descended, casting its golden glow. As they watched Neil Morton leave, the three men still couldn’t calm the storm of thoughts in their hearts.
“Canaan Academy… Could it be the same academy from the Empire?”
“Glup!”
Chesir instinctively spoke, his lips dry and parched.
“It should be,” Michael murmured, still unable to fully steady his mind. “Within the Empire, no other academy dares to use the name ‘Canaan.'”
Michael muttered to himself, his thoughts still in disarray. He had been pondering the identity of the mysterious figure before him, but he hadn’t expected to be hit with such a bombshell—Neil Morton wasn’t just a Sky Knight; he was also an instructor at the Empire’s top academy.
Canaan Academy was the highest-ranked knight academy in the Empire, gathering the most talented individuals from across the Empire, and even from many of its vassal kingdoms and duchies.
It was said that even those who broke through to Great Knight before the age of twenty might not have the qualifications to enter Canaan Academy. To become a student there was an incredible achievement.
He never imagined that this mysterious person in Eagle Territory, who was already a Sky Knight, was also a lecturer at Canaan Academy.
“This…”
Upon hearing Michael’s words, Chesir found himself at a loss for words.
“Let’s go,” Michael said, forcing himself to regain his composure as he glanced back toward the horizon, his voice calm but with a slight tremor. He hadn’t expected to be this shaken by what he had learned.
He had thought that everything he had seen so far in Eagle Territory was already beyond belief. But now, he realized that he had underestimated Young Master Thor.
Even a lecturer from Canaan Academy was staying in Eagle Territory, which added a mysterious layer to everything.
The image of the awkward, taciturn young man from his memories faded, replaced by the confident, resolute figure standing before him now.
Michael’s face slowly softened into a smile.
The other two remained stunned, still processing what they had just learned. They were so caught up in their shock that they barely paid attention as they wandered around afterward.
Time slowly passed.
A week had gone by before they knew it.
This week had been relatively calm, with nothing significant occurring.
The construction of Eagle Territory continued, and the expansion of the Eagle Trading Guild was progressing smoothly.
With the situation gradually stabilizing, the time for harvest had arrived. By the end of the month, it was expected that the trading guild’s profits would increase again, reaching new heights.
Of course, Thor hadn’t forgotten what might happen next. During this time, he had been preparing for how to handle the situation.
But, as he prepared, news from the northern front had already spread like wildfire throughout the Tulip Kingdom.
The Beast King had fallen, and the Orcs were retreating in full force.
This news was nothing short of a bombshell.
It was unprecedented.
For centuries—no, ever since the founding of the Tulip Kingdom—the threat from the northern Orcs had always loomed. The Kingdom had poured vast amounts of resources into the northern borders every year to deal with this looming danger.
The fall of many powerful individuals had been a common occurrence.
Even during the recent Orc conflicts, more than twenty counts had perished, most of them court counts.
But this was only a skirmish. If the Orc War broke out, it was not unheard of for even a Marquis to fall.
Or, perhaps, it was even a likely outcome.
During the last Orc War, the Tulip Kingdom had mobilized nearly all of its forces.
While the end result had seen the Kingdom expand its northern province, the losses were so devastating that the memory of it was still fresh today.
A Saint Knight had been grievously injured. In addition, three Marquises, ten Sky Knights, and over thirty Counts had perished, and the number of fallen knights was staggering.
But now they were hearing that the Beast King had fallen, the Orcs had completely retreated, and the northern borders were expanding even further.
At this moment, the Tulip Kingdom’s military presence in the north had spread over a thousand miles beyond the original border.
And that was just the current situation.
With the two northern knight orders continuing to expand, the range of expansion could easily surpass two thousand or even three thousand miles.
Even if it was just one thousand miles, the vastness of that land was enough to make the nobles’ breath quicken.
When this news swept through the capital and various provinces, the nobles couldn’t sit still.
The three great Dukes remained calm, unaffected by the news. To them, the northern province’s gains were far less significant than those of the external battlefields, so they weren’t particularly concerned—unless they were dealing with a less promising heir.
But the lesser nobles, particularly those outside the three great Dukes’ circles, were completely different.
Even powerful Marquises found it difficult to stay composed.
The expansive northern province might soon give rise to a new Marquis family. Even if that didn’t happen, it would easily support dozens of new Count families.
For a Marquis family, this was an extraordinary opportunity.
And for Count families, the implications were even greater.
The news had also spread to many of the court nobles in the capital.
Before long, large numbers of nobles began to take action.
And it wasn’t just the capital. The news was quickly spreading to other provinces, and the nobles there were soon stirred into action as well.
At first, many couldn’t believe it. But once they confirmed the details, they were swept up in excitement.
Pat City.
At this moment, the Frostmoon Province was one of the first to receive the news.
Three days ago, massive amounts of supplies began to be mobilized, and the market in Pat City saw an immediate surge in prices.
With the expansion of the northern province, the restrictions that once existed due to Marquis Lehman’s influence were now gone.
Opening up new lands would undoubtedly require a huge amount of resources, and the best option was to procure supplies locally.
During this time, the Asad family had undoubtedly made a considerable profit.
The Asad Count had been smiling non-stop.
Of course, it wasn’t just Pat City that had mobilized. Every noble in the Frostmoon Province, upon hearing the news, began to take action.
Even the Dresserosa family, which had stood for three hundred years, was now in motion.
Despite having divided much of its territory, the Dresserosa family was still large enough that many of its members remained involved in family affairs.
Normally, the heirs of these individuals would be placed in various family businesses to further the family’s wealth and influence.
But now, the Dresserosa family had other possibilities in mind.
“Have you heard? The Count said that Dresserosa’s fledgling knights will have a chance. If they meet the necessary conditions, they’ll be able to become Expansion Knights and venture into the north for development.”
“To the north? Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m sure! Lord Moss himself told me.”
“Heh, this is an opportunity for Expansion Knights. You know Young Master Thor, right? It hasn’t even been two years since he became an Expansion Knight, and I heard he’s already a Baron now.”
“I know! When Young Master Thor came back last time, he even mentioned it. He really became a Baron?”
“Of course he did. Why would I lie about something like that?”
A flurry of conversations filled the halls of Dresserosa Castle.
Even the young knights of the Dresserosa family couldn’t remain calm.
But amidst this growing excitement, Count Engel soon delivered even more specific news.
He indeed offered everyone a chance.
However, it was a single opportunity—only those who were Great Knights before the age of forty, or those with comparable strength at the same level, would receive family support to become Expansion Knights.
Anyone else who wished to become an Expansion Knight would only receive a support of fifty gold coins from the family, and the rest would have to be earned through their own efforts. In theory, it was not much different from being a wanderer.
At the same time, Count Engel began to explain the risks involved in the northern expansion.
The moment this news spread, many hearts instantly chilled.
Of course, aside from those who were disheartened, there were still plenty who remained resolute, continuing to harbor ambitions.
Morris was one such person.
The moment he had seen Thor, his heart had already been stirred. Now, with his father offering them an opportunity, Morris gritted his teeth and decided to give it a try.
Inside the study, his figure entered cautiously.
“You’ve arrived?”
Count Engel put down the book in his hand and looked at his son.
“Father!”
Morris instinctively spoke, but midway through, he faltered, unsure of how to continue.
“If you have something on your mind, just do it,” Count Engel said. “I will re-invest you as a knight.”
“Additionally, I will offer you support: ten official knights and five thousand gold coins.”
Seeing his son hesitate, Count Engel chuckled softly, then spoke slowly.
“Thank you, Father.”
Morris bowed slightly, his heart filled with surprise.
Though this support wasn’t as generous as Thor’s, it was certainly substantial.
Especially considering that as the family’s guardian knight, he had no right to become an Expansion Knight. His father not only gave him the chance, but also offered substantial backing.
“Go ahead.”
“If you have any doubts, consult your brother.”
“The north is not like Frostmoon Province—its dangers are far greater.”
Count Engel nodded before slowly adding, “Understood, Father.”
Morris bowed respectfully.
“Good, then. Go find Charles and have him give you the second spot in the third row of counter four. I hope that when I see you next, you can bring back good news like Thor did.”
Count Engel waved his hand, his voice soft.
“Yes!”
Morris bowed again and quickly withdrew.
Moments later, someone else entered the room.
In the following days, more and more individuals decided to become Expansion Knights.
A significant number of people left Dresserosa Castle for the north.
However, Count Engel did not mind this at all.
After all, this was an opportunity, and if they seized it, the Dresserosa family could rise to a whole new level.
Even if they became a Marquis, the rewards would be considerable.
Count Engel would not stop them; in fact, he would try his best to assist them.
Naturally, the support he offered varied depending on the individual’s circumstances. For his son Morris, already a Great Knight, the support was more generous.
For others, the support would be less.
Some received more than ten official knights and dozens of squire knights; others got only one or two official knights, or sometimes, nothing at all.
This bustling activity continued for nearly half a month before gradually subsiding.
In the end, seven people from Dresserosa Castle decided to become Expansion Knights.
Among them were three Great Knights and four official knights.
These seven left in succession.
Some headed toward the northern provinces, while others made their way to the northern frontier.
Count Engel did not intervene in their decisions.
Everyone had their own path to follow.
Once they left Dresserosa Castle, it meant that the fledgling eagles had begun to spread their wings. What happened next, the eagle could no longer control.
The cold moonlight gradually spread across the land.
At this moment, if one were to look down from above the entire Tulip Kingdom, they would see numerous knight formations heading north.
A great number of noble heirs were on the move.
Among them were not a few of the more powerful noble heirs.
And it wasn’t just the Tulip Kingdom.
From the high skies, one could also see the same phenomenon in the Violet Gold Kingdom and the Blazing Kingdom.
The Tulip Kingdom’s northern expansion had surpassed a thousand miles, and the expansion of the other two kingdoms was equally significant.
Especially the Violet Gold Kingdom—though their movements were slower, their territorial expansion had already exceeded that of the Tulip Kingdom.
This widespread expansion had drawn not only the noble heirs of the Tulip Kingdom, but also those from the other two kingdoms.
At this moment, the three northern kingdoms seemed to be migrating as one.
A vast influx of people, and a massive northward expansion of knightly orders, could only mean one thing: the northern region would soon experience even more intense upheaval.
(End of Chapter)