[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence":3,"chapter-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-500":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Warlord: Starting with Daily Intelligence",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2338963,4572,"Chapter 500: Caterny","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-500",500,"\u003Cp>“Lords and ladies, be silent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murmurs in the hall never ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The King’s expression remained unchanged, but a cold glint had already surfaced in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the Royal Major Domus stepped forward and rebuked the nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that rebuke, the nobles finally came to their senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one making the decision here is the Griffin King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, whether the Crackstone Family deserves to be granted the title of Count is none of their business—it affects not one bit of their interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, all the nobles wisely fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Crackstone, bring forth your family’s heir to receive the King’s formal enfeoffment!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Major Domus!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crackstone Duke wasted no time; he immediately waved to the rear, and a young man of twenty-eight or twenty-nine stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, this is Caterny Crackstone, my fifth grandson. Upon learning of Your Majesty’s grace, I immediately summoned him to the capital!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For among all my grandsons, he is the most composed. I believe that after arriving in the Southern Region, he will help stabilize the kingdom’s southern frontier and ease Your Majesty’s burdens!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the young man stepped forward, the Crackstone Duke immediately introduced him to the Griffin King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man was quick-witted; as soon as the Crackstone Duke finished speaking, he bowed deeply, “Caterny greets His Most Revered Majesty Griffin VII, the Great King Henryk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The King nodded in satisfaction. “Since Lord Crackstone has chosen his candidate, let the enfeoffment ceremony for this Count begin at once!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Royal Major Domus then began reciting the oath of fealty, asking Caterny whether he pledged loyalty to the Griffin King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Caterny gave his affirmative answer, the enfeoffment was complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the Griffin King rose again, just as he had done for Gervas, and personally fastened the Count’s insignia upon Caterny, granting him a sword and banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank Your Majesty for this grace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though born into a Duke’s family, receiving the title of Count was clearly a stroke of fortune for Caterny—he hadn’t stopped smiling since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After respectfully thanking the King, he retreated back into the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the evening’s official business was finished; what followed was the ball and feast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon the Major Domus’s announcement, the ball commenced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, two men became the center of attention, as most nobles converged upon them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was, naturally, the chief hero of the year; the other was Caterny of the Crackstone Family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Caterny had done nothing noteworthy and was not particularly famous before, his background as a Duke’s scion, combined with his new Count title, was more than enough to draw many eager suitors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the ball began, a large crowd gathered around Caterny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, those surrounding Caterny were almost entirely noble lords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, around Gervas, the majority were noble ladies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, a few bold noble ladies had also approached Gervas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for such a clear divide was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Caterny had the backing of the Crackstone Duke’s family, he was far too old—no one needed to think twice to know he was married, and likely had several children already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, those who gathered near him were noble lords, seeking advantage and connection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gervas was a newly elevated young Count—such a prospect naturally stirred the hearts of noble ladies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Gervas’s handsomeness utterly overshadowed Caterny’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, noble ladies flocked to Gervas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, though Gervas responded politely to every noble lady, whenever any hinted at the possibility of deeper “intimacy,” he feigned ignorance and gave no reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the banquet lasted late into the night, leaving Gervas more exhausted than after a battlefield campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just look at the dense cluster of lipstick marks on his neck as he walked out of the banquet hall—how terrifying they were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These kisses were the “gifts” left by noble ladies as they reluctantly bade him farewell at the end of the evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it not been for Duke Hernand covering for him, Gervas doubted he would have escaped at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Count Gervas, do you find me an inconvenience, interrupting your good fortune? Shall I step away first?” Duke Hernand asked with a teasing grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Duke Hernand, stop teasing me! I came to you of my own accord just now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duke Hernand was greatly pleased. “Excellent. A young man with such restraint is truly rare these days!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When my birthday celebration comes, I’ll send you an invitation—don’t forget to make time to attend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Grace, to receive your personal invitation, I would never miss it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crackstone Duke patted Gervas’s shoulder approvingly. “The carriage has arrived—get in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, Gervas followed Duke Hernand onto the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as he was about to enter the cabin, Gervas suddenly felt someone watching him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his head—and met the gaze head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was none other than Caterny of the Crackstone Family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gervas’s look, Caterny sneered, his face filled with contempt, and let out a cold snort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gervas paused, then paid it no mind, stepping straight into the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caterny? Best he never trouble me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he did, Gervas wouldn’t hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, there was no need to waste time on such a man—half an hour of Qi cultivation would be far more valuable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Caterny, what are you staring at?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandfather, nothing. I just saw that damned little noble you mentioned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crackstone Duke nodded. “Don’t underestimate that boy—he has real talent. He may even surpass most noble scions of great houses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become the top hero of the Northern Campaign!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the troops he trained are no ordinary lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Grandfather, I understand,” Caterny replied respectfully on the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But inwardly, he paid it no mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When had a mere little noble ever been worthy of comparison to us, the scions of great families?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially not me—Caterny—who stands among the best of our kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crackstone Duke, unaware of his grandson’s thoughts, assumed he had taken the warning to heart and changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Caterny, don’t go home yet. Go to Prince Two’s estate first. Prince Two just sent word—he’s prepared gifts to celebrate your enfeoffment as Count, to help you better develop your domain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Grandfather!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caterny then took his leave from his grandfather and hurried toward Prince Two’s estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Two did not reside within the Royal Palace—it was protocol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once a prince came of age, even if not yet enfeoffed, he was required to leave the palace and live elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for the Crown Prince, no prince was exempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, though Prince Two didn’t live in the palace, his estate stood just one wall away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Caterny arrived at Prince Two’s estate.\u003C\u002Fp>",1102,"2026-06-20T22:44:02.688Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e67087bfc0a36d3b7a56ecfd98de7a1efa3de76464c1e9c66d4e9f726629357d","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-501","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-499",521,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-cover.jpg"]