The reason was straightforward—
Not because of his own power,
Not even just because he was the fifth son of the Snow Wolf family,
But because...
He was the youngest of Andre Augustus's nephews! His birth represented the newest bond between the Augustus and Windsor bloodlines!
That uncle of his who controlled the Northern Marches, whose blade was as sharp as Frostguard itself—Andre—probably had a soft spot for this young nephew. Maybe he even saw in him the hopes he couldn't place in his own children?
"Yes, Lord Grant!" The ten Frostguard Knights rose as one, moving like well-oiled war machines, their silver armor ringing with sharp metallic sounds.
They stood straight as arrows, their eyes calm but alert. Deep in those gazes lay respect for Grant's position—representing Lord Andre's overwhelming authority—along with a hint of judgment and the natural protective instinct toward this "youngest heir of both Windsor and Augustus bloodlines."
This loyalty came from bloodline and family duty, not from respect for his personal abilities.
The cold air turned Grant's breath to mist.
So what if his talent was the weakest? So what if he showed the least promise among his brothers?
Through this sixteen-year-old body flowed the two most noble bloodlines in all the Northern Marches—the frost wolf heritage of "Windsor" and the raven legacy of "Augustus"!
This bloodline alone, especially combined with the weight that being the "youngest" might carry in Uncle Andre's eyes, was undeniable power!
The sight of these ten Silver Knights kneeling and their respectful attention afterward burned deeper into Grant's mind than any words could—the world had changed, and he was no longer that talentless youngest son who just tried to survive in the shadows.
His bloodline and uncle's protection gave him a starting position and honor far beyond what his own strength deserved, but they also placed crushing expectations on his young shoulders.
This overwhelming pressure even briefly drowned out the thunderous excitement from the newly awakened "system" in his mind.
"Did Uncle send you?" Grant's eyes swept over the ten knights standing like iron statues, finally focusing on their leader. His tone carried genuine curiosity. This deep concern from Uncle Andre touched his heart.
At this, the lead knight stepped forward again, his movements sharp and controlled. He placed his hand on his chest plate, steel and leather making soft scraping sounds. His voice was low and respectful: "Reporting, young master. The Legion Commander ordered us to hold position here until you arrived to take command.
His lordship's direct orders—from the moment you enter Kalan Territory, I, Martin Thorne, and my entire squad serve as your sword and shield, at your complete disposal! Military orders are absolute—we swear to follow you unto death!" His words rang out with conviction, showing absolute loyalty to Andre and clear allegiance to Grant.
"Martin Thorne..." Grant repeated the name quietly, as if etching it into memory. This name represented his uncle's first gift of real power—a weighty trust.
The instant Martin finished speaking, Grant's eyes widened slightly! Not from shock at the knight's declaration, but because lines of cold, precise text suddenly appeared in his vision, burned directly into his consciousness:
[New loyal unit detected: Silver Knight - Martin Thorne]
[Loading unit data...]
Name: Martin Thorne
Rank: Silver Knight (Peak)
Class: Frost Knight (Note: Elite Frostguard specialization, mastering ice combat and extreme weather warfare)
Loyalty: 85 (Stable, based on Andre Augustus's absolute authority and knightly honor)
This strange but clear "interface" information instantly erased Grant's last doubts. He could see Martin's exact power level and confirmed that solid 85-point loyalty—not blind devotion to him personally, but rooted in Uncle Andre's commands and knightly oaths.
This was exactly what Grant needed most: a capable leader he could trust with critical tasks without worrying about betrayal in the near future!
Grant looked at Martin, who still held his kneeling position, and slowly smiled. This wasn't his previous hesitant or polite expression, but one full of understanding and decisive confidence.
"Excellent!" Grant's voice suddenly strengthened, carrying the edge of a young lord first tasting real authority. "Martin Thorne!"
"Sir!" Martin responded deeply, head bowed.
"Starting today!" Grant's voice cut through the air, echoing clearly in the somewhat empty courtyard, making all the Bronze Knights and servants hold their breath. "I name you Chief Guardian of Crestfall Castle, with complete responsibility for all defenses of Kalan Territory's main fortress—Crestfall Castle and its surrounding town!
Troop assignments, patrol schedules, defensive positions, militia training—all under your authority! I ask only one thing: make this place unbreachable!"
He emphasized "complete responsibility," granting Martin enormous trust and power.
Martin suddenly looked up, barely contained excitement flashing across his weathered, determined face, while fiercer flames blazed in his deep-set eyes!
Chief Guardian! Defending the castle and town! This was incredible trust! It meant he, Martin, wasn't just temporarily stationed foreign troops, but had officially joined this young lord's inner circle!
"I am honored by my lord's faith!" Martin's voice shook slightly with excitement yet grew louder and more resolute. "Martin Thorne! I swear to defend Crestfall Castle with my life! While the castle stands, I stand—if the castle falls, I fall! I pledge my life to your service!"
He slammed his fist against his cold chest plate, producing a deep metallic clang! This was the Frostguard Knights' most sacred loyalty ritual. The nine knights behind him joined in a unified low roar like rolling thunder: "We pledge our lives to our lord!"
Martin's passionate oath still echoed in the cold air, that burning loyalty in his promise like an invisible fire lit in the courtyard.
Almost the instant his words ended—
"Clang!"
A mechanical sound cold as a steel nail driven into frozen iron pierced Grant's ears without warning! It carried no emotion yet precisely carved new information into Grant's mind:
[Loyalty increase confirmed!]
Martin Thorne Loyalty: 90
90!
This number hit like a sudden hammer blow, slamming into Grant's heart, its impact drowning out all other sounds!
One moment, Martin's oath full of power and passion flowed through his heart like warm fire; the next second, the system's ice-cold notification brought a clear, undeniable fact: this oath was real! It came from the soul! Its weight had reached an incredible ninety points!
The oath and cold numbers achieved perfect harmony—burning emotion precisely measured by logic!
Grant's gaze locked onto the Silver Knight kneeling before him. Martin's upright, dignified posture, those eyes burning with blazing faith—at this moment they became incredibly sharp and vivid in Grant's sight.
Just moments ago, he was merely powerful military support sent by his uncle with decent loyalty. But now, this cold "90 points" seemed to wrap him in invisible armor—armor forged from absolute trust and devotion!
An indescribable pride and excitement, like long-suppressed lava, instantly surged and boiled violently in Grant's chest! This was no longer just data—this was his first time witnessing, personally experiencing how precisely this "system" captured the real changes in human hearts! It wasn't just a measurement, but a tool for understanding the very essence of loyalty!
That thing called "system" instantly transformed in his mind from a mysterious, incomprehensible "tool" into a cold cornerstone capable of supporting his ambitions!
"Foundation... a true foundation! And my first one at that!"
Grant's thoughts raced. Unstable ground? Uncertain future? Those doubts lurking in his heart were now lifted up and crushed by this solid foundation stone named "Martin Thorne" marked with "90 loyalty"!
His recent decision to entrust the entire territorial core—Crestfall Castle and its town—completely to Martin, this first risky move in desperate times... at this moment, the significance of this decision was infinitely magnified!
It was no longer just helpless delegation based on his uncle's authority, but strategic deployment verified and empowered with confidence by this precise insight!