Chapter 405: As Long as He Can Contribute to the Kingdom, That Is Enough!

"So that's how it is! No wonder they possess such power."

"But what a pity. If this spring could last longer, perhaps Viscount Gervas could have cultivated even more formidable soldiers!"

After hearing Gervas's account, the Legion Commander seemed to harbor no doubts, and in the end, he even felt regret on Gervas's behalf.

"Yes, Your Excellency the Commander, I thought the same at the time. If only I had been given another year or two, perhaps I could have transformed Storm Territory into a prosperous domain."

"It would no longer be threatened by the aliens and demonic beasts of the Death Forest and the Chaotic Wasteland," Gervas sighed.

The Legion Commander nodded, then glanced at Duke Lieshi beside him.

Duke Hernand naturally understood the meaning, as the two had agreed on this beforehand.

"Viscount Gervas, let me introduce you. This is Duke Lieshi, and this is Duke Hernand!"

"And Duke Hernand has a question he wishes to ask you."

"Greetings to both Dukes. Duke Hernand, if you have any questions, please ask freely. If I am able to answer, I will certainly do so truthfully!"

Gervas looked at Duke Hernand. This duke had a solemn countenance, exuding an aura of authority that commanded respect without needing to raise his voice.

However, his face was actually more pleasant to look at than Duke Lieshi's standing nearby.

In Gervas's view, Duke Lieshi's face bore the typical appearance of an old fox: a hooked nose and triangular eyes.

Moreover, if Gervas remembered correctly, the missing wizard in the underground cave upstream of Swan Lake had apparently disappeared after heading toward the Lieshi family!

Although few noble families were without their dirty secrets.

But Gervas held such black-eating-black schemes in very low regard.

Of course, Gervas could guarantee that he was not making this comparison merely because Catherine was the granddaughter of the Duke Hernand standing before him...

Duke Hernand narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the young noble before him.

What did he mean by "if I am able to answer, I will certainly do so truthfully"?

Then what if he could not answer?

This was the first time since Duke Hernand became a duke that he had encountered a minor noble playing word games with him like this.

"Viscount Gervas, my question is simple. I merely wish to ask: where did you obtain your 'Windbreaker'?"

"Hmm? Windbreaker? What Windbreaker?" Gervas looked utterly confused. He truly did not know the answer to this question!

Duke Hernand and the Legion Commander were taken aback.

Seeing that Gervas did not seem to be feigning ignorance, the Legion Commander said, "Gervas, the Windbreaker is the weapon you used during the day to slay the Wild Wolf Knights, the one capable of firing massive arrows!"

"And this Windbreaker is a weapon unique to the Hernand family. Currently, within the Kingdom, only the Hernand family and Your Majesty's Royal Navy possess it!"

Good heavens! Gervas exclaimed "Good heavens!"

What Windbreaker? Wasn't it just a bed crossbow?

Was it really necessary to give it such a pretentious-sounding name?

"So that's the weapon!" Gervas could not show any disdain on his face. "My lord Duke, I did not know that weapon was originally called the Windbreaker. I referred to it as a bed crossbow!"

"Bed crossbow?" Duke Hernand and the others clearly could not understand the meaning of "bed crossbow."

Gervas did not explain. "As for the origin of my bed crossbow, it begins with a band of pirates..."

Immediately, Gervas recounted how he had annihilated the pirates who had wandered to the coast of Storm Territory, and how he discovered the 'Windbreaker' aboard their pirate ship.

Finally, he told the story of how, by chance, the craftsmen in his territory had researched and replicated the bed crossbow.

Duke Hernand and the Legion Commander suddenly understood. "So the Windbreaker was obtained through replication!"

"Duke Hernand, I was previously unaware that this was a product of the Hernand family. Please forgive me, Duke Hernand!" Gervas adopted a posture of admitting his fault.

Duke Hernand shook his head. "Our Hernand family did indeed have a warship go missing in the past. We never expected it would eventually end up in your hands!"

"However, your ability to obtain the Windbreaker and improve upon it to create a bed crossbow usable on land is also your luck. It is the favor of the God of Glory!"

"Therefore, you need not worry. My Hernand family is not unreasonable!"

"As long as Viscount Gervas ensures that the manufacturing technique of the Windbreaker... the bed crossbow, is not leaked in the future, that will suffice!"

"Yes, my lord Duke. I will strictly keep the manufacturing technique of the bed crossbow confidential!" Gervas solemnly agreed once more.

Afterwards, the Legion Commander offered some words of encouragement to the group, and then let them depart.

After Gervas left, the Legion Commander turned his gaze toward Duke Hernand and Duke Lieshi.

"Both Dukes, what do you think?"

"Your Excellency, what do you mean?"

"Both Dukes, do you think that Mil truly has the ability to devise strategies in critical moments and turn the tide, just as reported previously?"

Light flickered in the eyes of Duke Lieshi and Duke Hernand.

"It seems the answer is obvious! Perhaps the merit of Baron Mil also belongs to Gervas," Duke Hernand spoke.

Although Duke Lieshi remained silent, he clearly agreed with this assessment.

The Legion Commander nodded. "The expression and emotions Mil displayed when facing us earlier were not at all those of someone capable of planning and executing strategies in a crisis."

"On the contrary, Viscount Gervas displayed a composure I have never seen in any other minor noble!"

Pausing for a moment, the Legion Commander exclaimed in wonder, "Strange things happen every year, but there are especially many this year. What do you think Viscount Gervas is aiming for?"

"Although he has the most heads, he chose to hide. If he is also the one devising the strategies, combining the two, he will become the next rising star of the Kingdom!"

"For any other noble, this would be an opportunity they would dream of obtaining, yet he seems afraid of others knowing about him!"

Duke Hernand and Duke Lieshi nodded; they truly could not figure it out.

And this was how cognition determined one's vision.

As natives of this world, they had no knowledge of the existence of a "Golden Finger."

Therefore, in their cognition, for a noble to transcend their class, they needed sufficient fame and prestige.

But in Gervas's cognition, it was to hide until he became a god!

"Regardless, as long as Gervas can contribute to the Kingdom, that is enough!" Duke Hernand suddenly spoke up at this moment.

The President nodded upon hearing this.

Indeed, Gervas is a noble of the Griffin Kingdom; that alone is sufficient.

Afterwards, Duke Hernande and others ceased discussing matters concerning Gervas and others, and instead began deliberating the upcoming war plans.

Once the war plans were finalized, Duke Lieshi returned to his own tent.

However, he dispatched a subordinate to summon a collateral descendant of the family, namely Solite.

As a collateral descendant, Solite felt both excited and apprehensive upon learning that Duke Lieshi had personally summoned him.

"Solite greets my lord the Duke; I wonder what orders my lord the Duke has for this humble one!"

"Solite, is it? Nothing much, I simply wish to ask you about that Viscount Gervas!"