Chapter 101 : Chapter 101

Chapter 101. I Am a Most Loyal Subject

Once the cleanup work on Windrest Plain had reached a temporary conclusion, Eli did not linger on the battlefield. Instead, he returned to Lucerne City ahead of the rest.

The atmosphere inside the city was still somewhat tense, but order had already been restored.

Eli made a simple inspection tour of the city, soothing the frightened citizens and promising that commerce and order would be restored as soon as possible.

He also allocated a sum of money to compensate for damaged homes and to provide pensions for the soldiers.

After handling those matters, he summoned Ron, who was soon to depart for Runestone City to take charge of its defenses.

“As for Runestone City, I have a few suggestions for Knight Ron.”

Ron’s expression immediately turned solemn. “Please speak, Baron.”

“Stability in Runestone City comes first. Purge Sabda’s diehard loyalists, but do not widen the scope too far.

“As for those willing to submit, leave them a way to live. Once the city treasury has been inventoried and recorded, seal up half and store it away to keep Runestone City running.

“The other half... is to be used to reassure the knights under your command.”

Eli gave Ron his instructions in a tone that carried little emotion.

“In short, the most important thing is to let Sir Lucius see that we are only managing the city on his behalf, but...”

“I understand, my lord. When Knight Ron returns to Thorne City with merit to his name, I will also make sure to explain your achievements and contributions.

“I am certain Sir Lucius will not disappoint you...”

Ron instantly understood and was overjoyed. He nodded heavily. “Understood, my lord. I know what to do.”

Once everything had been explained, Eli remained in Lucerne City.

He treated the wounded soldiers, reassured the citizens, and rested in Lucerne for two days.

The exhaustion brought on by the nonstop fighting and painstaking schemes also needed time to settle.

He spent most of that time in a quiet room, occasionally taking walks in the courtyard.

The calm gradually returned to his face, though his gaze seemed deeper than before.

On the morning of the third day, Brandon arrived at the temporary study right on time to report to Eli.

He seemed to be in good spirits, his back straight as a ramrod as he gave a detailed account of Lucerne City’s current condition.

The progress of the city’s defensive repairs, the arrangements for security patrols, the reserves of grain and supplies, the mood of the citizens...

Eli sat in the seat of honor and listened quietly, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingers.

Whenever Brandon touched on something important, Eli would give a slight nod, offer a brief word of praise, or point out some detail that could still be improved.

“For compensation to the wounded, raise the standard by another twenty percent according to Obsidian Territory’s usual practice.”

“The market can reopen partially for now, so the merchants have some ready money to earn, but the patrols must be strengthened to keep anyone from causing trouble amid the chaos.”

Brandon responded as he listened to Eli’s clear, composed instructions, and he could not help but fall into a slight daze.

He looked at the young lord seated before him, calm-faced and sharp-eyed.

Yet somehow, without anyone noticing, he had also acquired the authority of one who stood above others.

In a trance, Brandon seemed to see once more the wastrel young noble from more than half a year ago, back on the training ground of the Marquess’s Residence,

who had still needed flashy feats of archery just to win people over.

How much had changed was not limited to Lord Eli alone. Brandon sighed inwardly. He himself had changed as well, all thanks to Eli.

From an old knight who had been pushed to the margins, he had somehow leaped into becoming the actual ruler managing an entire city, and even...

Subconsciously, he felt that increasingly abundant power within his body.

That mysterious spring water had actually made him feel as though his body was recovering the vitality it had lost.

“Brandon,” Eli said with a faint trace of amusement, interrupting the old knight’s thoughts.

“I heard that not long ago, you found yourself a wife? Quite vigorous for your age.”

Brandon froze. An embarrassed flush, along with a barely noticeable tinge of red, instantly surfaced on his old face.

In the past, he would certainly have joked back with Eli, but now, in Eli’s presence, he found himself growing unconsciously restrained. Rubbing his hands together, he said,

“My lord, please... please do not make fun of me. It is just someone to share a life with...”

Eli smiled and did not continue the subject.

He rose to his feet, walked over to Brandon, raised a hand, and patted the old knight’s still-solid shoulder before heading for the door.

Just as Brandon thought the report was over and bowed slightly in preparation to take his leave,

Eli’s voice drifted back lightly, yet it struck his heart like a warhammer.

“Brandon... if I do not return from this trip to Thorne...

“Then Lucerne City and Obsidian Territory... from now on... I leave them in your care...”

When those words fell, Eli’s figure had already vanished through the doorway, leaving Brandon no chance to respond or ask any questions.

What?!

Brandon stood rooted to the spot, utterly stunned. His pupils dilated, and the color drained from his face in an instant.

What did that sentence from his lord mean... a final entrustment? A test? Or...

He suddenly came back to himself. His heart pounded wildly, and an indescribably complicated emotion surged up within him—shock, dread,

and even more than that, a heavy, burning sense of being trusted absolutely.

Facing the direction in which Eli had departed, he dropped to his knees without hesitation, bowing deeply until his forehead touched the cold floor. He remained there for a long time without rising.

...

After leaving Lucerne City, Eli led the soldiers of Obsidian Territory,

escorting part of the spoils of war and a number of prisoners. After two days of travel, they finally returned to Obsidian Territory Valley.

The towering walls stood at the mouth of the valley, gleaming with a solid earthen-yellow sheen beneath the sunlight.

The soldiers patrolling the battlements spotted the banner of the returning force from afar and burst into cheers.

Everything inside the valley was in good order. The farmland stretched in neat rows, the sound of labor rang out everywhere, and even the wooden sheds in the slave quarters seemed more orderly than before.

Aila had received word in advance and came to greet him at the city gate with several administrators.

Dressed in a simple and elegant gown, she revealed a relieved smile when she saw that Eli had returned safely.

Eli dismounted, walked over to her, gently took her hand, and said in a low voice, “Aila, I am back.”

Aila nodded. The thousand words in her heart became only one sentence. “It is good that you are back.”

That night, inside the lord’s keep,

Eli bathed briefly, washing away the dust of the road.

Aila carefully checked him for any new wounds, and only after confirming that he had suffered nothing more than a few insignificant scrapes did she truly let out a sigh of relief.

The cruelty of war and the uncertainties of the future were, for the moment, shut out from this place, leaving behind nothing but warmth and peace.

The next day, Eli convened the first territorial meeting since his return.

Inside the study, Old John, Leon, Hadi, Wolfgang, Ulu, Wes... and the others were all present.

Eli briefly reported the result of the decisive battle on Windrest Plain, emphasizing the victory and the spoils they had gained.

But as for the specific casualty numbers and the details of the fighting, he passed over them in a few words.

The faces of all the officials were bright with excitement.

Old John stroked his beard and said with emotion, “My lord commands with divine skill. After this battle, the territory ought to enjoy peace for some time.”

Hadi also said, “My lord, if the prisoners and the newly received population can be properly settled, labor within the territory will become even less of a concern...”

For a time, the meeting room was filled with an optimistic atmosphere, most of it praise and hopeful expectations.

Eli listened with a faint smile on his face. After everyone had spoken almost enough, he finally raised a hand slightly and pressed it down, signaling for silence.

“Enough,” he said. “This victory did not come easily. It was the result of everyone’s joint efforts.

“I intend to hold a grand victory celebration in Obsidian Territory to celebrate this triumph.

“It will also let everyone see that diligent effort is bound to be rewarded, and that the future holds even more hope.

“Go and begin the preparations. Make it large in scale, and ensure there is plenty of food and drink.”

The officials all accepted the order. With determination on their faces, they rose and took their leave.

The study quickly fell silent again, leaving only Eli behind.

The faint smile on his face slowly faded, and his mind emptied as he sank into thought.

What he had said to Brandon earlier had been half sincere contingency planning and half deliberate cultivation of loyalty.

Now that Brandon sat in the position of Lord of Lucerne City, he could also be considered a man holding real power.

His own strength was also recovering because of the Moonlight Spring. Planting this seed of loyalty in advance brought only benefits and no harm.

After all, no one could truly guess the thoughts of that Governor in Thorne City.

He drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. The trip to Thorne indeed carried risks.

But after carefully weighing the matter, he judged that the likelihood of Lucius openly turning against him was not high.

After all, he had just rendered meritorious service to the Western Frontier, purged the rebels, and demonstrated abilities and value that far outweighed any trouble he might cause.

The most likely outcome was still a warning, a show of pressure, or an attempt to draw him in...

Sometimes, even if your abilities are lacking, so long as your attitude and loyalty are good enough, those above you will still appreciate you.

But if both your abilities and your loyalty are satisfactory, yet you have no desires at all, then that becomes troublesome...

“I am a loyal servant of the Western Frontier... I am a loyal servant of the Western Frontier!”

Leaning back in his chair, Eli stared at the ceiling, his lips moving slightly as he repeated those words soundlessly.

It was as though he were hypnotizing himself, or perhaps reinforcing some sort of conviction.

He needed himself to believe it. At the very least, he needed Lucius to believe it.

He decided that on this trip to Thorne, he would bring Aila with him. Not only would that demonstrate a certain attitude, it would also give him another trump card.

At the same time, he also thought of the old butler, Sebastian.