Chapter 200: Unexpected Allegiance

Tangmu ran into Luoning on his way to the Inner Castle.

"My Lord, your subordinate has brought back all the horses you purchased in Muma City."

Luoning nodded. "You've worked hard. Inform Chahar later and leave the rest for him to handle. I thought I saw the two knights, Luogena and Kelami, on the tower just now; why have they followed you to Swamp Town?"

"Your subordinate was just about to report this to you."

Tangmu said, "When I went to the horse farm to retrieve the horses, Luogena saw that I was the only Professional Knight in the group, so he brought Kelami along to escort me back. At the same time, they wanted to take the opportunity to visit Swamp Town for some leisure."

He added, "Although Knights Luogena and Kelami do enjoy traveling, I feel they must have other reasons for visiting you."

Luoning thought about it, but couldn't come up with anything specific; perhaps the two of them really were just here to visit Swamp Town for fun.

"Let's go, let's go meet them together."

If it were anyone else coming to visit, Luoning generally wouldn't go out to greet them.

However, he had a very good impression of both Luogena and Kelami, and since he had also received much care from Viscount Mawen, it was only reasonable to go out and welcome them.

"Long time no see, Luogena, Kelami."

Luoning walked out of the castle with a smile, greeting them warmly.

"Long time no see, Lord Viscount!"

In fact, it wasn't just Luogena and Kelami who had come; Luoning also saw eight or nine unfamiliar faces, and judging by their attire, they looked more like Attendant Knights.

Luogena then introduced them: "This is Geladuo Ha te er; his father is Knight Suoli, captain of the Ironhoof Castle Fourth Knight Squad."

Luoning had met Knight Suoli at the banquet in Muma City; the man had the strength of a peak Bronze-level, just one step away from becoming a Silver Knight.

Besides that, he had also danced a few dances with Zhenni Ha te er, and back then, Viscount Mawen had even asked Luoning what he thought of that girl.

"Welcome to Swamp Town, Knight Geladuo."

Luoning smiled and reached out to shake the other man's hand, then looked at the nine strangers behind the three of them. "And these are?"

Luogena said with a smile, "Those are the attendants and servants accompanying us."

Luoning nodded slightly, though he felt a bit surprised inside.

Not only did they bring this stranger, Geladuo, but they also brought attendants and servants to Swamp Town—were they planning to stay here long-term?

Luogena seemed to sense Luoning's confusion; he exchanged glances with Kelami and Geladuo, and the three of them knelt on one knee in unison.

This sudden scene startled Luoning. "What is this?"

"Lord Luoning, please allow us to follow you, to become your knights, to fight for your glory, and to fight for your territory!"

This...

Luoning had always considered himself to have an active mind, but faced with such a scene, he couldn't help but be stunned.

He had just been guessing whether these people were here with some request from Viscount Mawen, but he never expected that these three had come to pledge their service to him.

Not only was he astonished, but even Tangmu, who had accompanied them the whole way, was shocked.

Luogena, a scion of the Ironhoof Castle viscount family, a young Advanced Knight, would actually choose to follow Luoning?

In a daze, Tangmu realized that Lord Luoning was now the master of the Wubei Territory, with a much broader future ahead, and his status was not something the master of Shanlin Town could compare to.

"You all... get up first."

Luoning did not immediately agree, but walked forward and helped the three of them up one by one.

Luogena and the others were a bit surprised; shouldn't the other party be saying something like "I accept your allegiance" at a time like this?

What was the meaning of helping them up—was he refusing?

"Come, let's go into the castle and talk."

Luoning invited the three of them into the castle. "I need to understand your thoughts, and at the same time, before you follow me, you also need to know a little more about me."

Luogena and the others were different from his other followers.

The knights under Luoning's command were either those who had surrendered or knights promoted from commoners, and they didn't have particularly complex backgrounds.

But Luogena and the others had families behind them; even if they pledged loyalty to Luoning and put Luoning's interests first, they would not completely sever ties with their own families.

Therefore, there were some conventional things that would have to change here with Luoning, and he had to let them understand that first.

The group arrived in the living room, and the servants served drinks and fruit to the lord and his guests.

Luoning took the opportunity to learn about the situation of the three.

Luogenna Tieti, 21 years old, Advanced Knight, second son of Viscount Mawen;

Kelami Sinuo, 21 years old, Intermediate Knight, eldest daughter of Baron Talun, Luogena's fiancée; it was said the two were about to be married;

Geladuo Ha te er, 17 years old, Primary Knight, second son of Sir Suoli.

Although all three came from noble families, none of them had the right to inherit family titles or property.

After all, they were either second sons or daughters, and according to inheritance rules, it wouldn't fall to them.

So their fates were already determined: either stay in the family to help manage affairs, or take some resources and go out to follow other lords to seek advancement in status and property.

Luogena and the others chose the latter.

The Wubei Territory, an emerging territory, and Lord Luoning, who had great potential—this was a very suitable object of allegiance.

This was their intention, and perhaps the families behind them had this intention as well.

Agree, or refuse?

Actually, Luoning had never thought of refusing.

When he was still the Baron of Shanlin Town, having a dozen or so Professional Knights under his command seemed enough.

But he was now the Viscount of the Wubei Territory; the territory would surely develop in the future, and not only would the population grow, but the wealth would also increase.

There is a saying: "If the neighbor stores grain, I store guns; the neighbor is my granary." This saying implies that the neighbor's military strength is insufficient.

If Luoning wanted to maintain the stability of his territory and protect its wealth, he needed more Professional Knights or Magicians.

After all, Transcendental beings were the symbol of power in this world.

But waiting for the commoners to awaken their transcendental abilities on their own, and then waiting for them to advance from Primary to Intermediate and Advanced, would take many years; the speed was too slow.

Under these circumstances, accepting the allegiance of outside Transcendental is an unavoidable choice.

Luogena, Kelami, and Geladuo are all excellent talents; Luoning has no reason to refuse.

"I can accept your following."

After understanding all of this, Luoning gave the answer the other party expected, but his tone then shifted: "However, there are two points I must tell you in advance."

The three of Luogena listened attentively, "Please speak."

"First, since you have chosen to follow me, I hope you can obey my arrangements and execute my orders unwaveringly."

"This is what a follower should do."

Luogena said: "Please do not doubt our sincerity!"

"The interests of the lord are above all else," Kelami also echoed.

Geladuo's courage seemed a bit smaller, but he also followed suit: "Everything will be as you arrange, my lord."

Being loyal to a lord and obeying the lord's arrangements is the duty of a Professional Knight.

Since the three of Luogena chose to follow someone, they were already prepared to listen to orders.

Luoning nodded, "The second point, and also the more important one. If you follow me, I will improve your treatment and elevate your status, but at least for the next ten or twenty years, I will not easily grant you territory."

Luoning does not yet intend to create several Baron Territories within his own Wubei Territory.

How the Wubei Territory develops, how the population is moved, and how the land is utilized must be decided by him.

Once followers are enfeoffed as landed nobles, according to the Kingdom's laws, he would need to consult with these vassal lords to implement any policies within those territories.

Although these vassals would basically respond to his decrees, this undoubtedly brings the possibility of complications to the implementation of his policies.

For Along time to come, what he needs to do is concentrate his strength to accomplish great things.

"If you can accept this point, then I will accept your following."

Luoning looked at the three, "You have time to consider." (End of chapter)