Leylo took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain his composure.
Now was not the time for excitement. He had to continue his act, playing the part of the discarded scion—the second son with a bleak and ruined future.
The corridors remained cavernously empty, echoing only with the sound of his slightly hurried footsteps. He made his way toward the barracks of the Clan's Knights.
The air there was thick with the scent of damp earth and the pungent smell of weapon-grade oil. In a far corner of the training grounds, a tall knight with a resolute face was working himself into a lather. Sweat soaked his short brown hair, streaming down the sharp, chiseled contours of his cheeks.
It was Ed. The "wallowing" Grand Knight from the system's intelligence.
Ed ceased his movements. Seeing the visitor, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by his usual stoicism as he bowed slightly. "Young Master Leylo."
His voice was low and powerful, carrying the crisp efficiency characteristic of a career soldier.
"Knight Ed."
Leylo stood his ground, his eyes locked onto the other man's. "I am no longer a 'Young Master'."
He gave the Reclamation Order in his hand a light shake. "I am now the Pioneer Lord of Blackstone Manor."
Ed's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly; clearly, the rumors of the failed ritual had already reached his ears. Yet, he asked no questions, remaining silent as he waited for Leylo to continue.
"His Grace has been 'generous' enough," Leylo said, his voice laced with irony, "to grant me two Grand Knights and twenty knights to serve as the foundation of my reclamation force."
Leylo's tone carried a trace of self-deprecation. "I am in need of a Captain of the Guard. Knight Ed, are you willing to accompany me to Blackstone Manor?"
Ed's head snapped up, a light of sheer disbelief flashing in his eyes.
To Blackstone Manor? He knew exactly what that place represented.
But... Captain of the Guard?
For a man like him, who had languished as a mere squad leader for nearly a decade, this was undoubtedly a massive temptation—a chance to break free from his stagnant reality.
"The environment at Blackstone Manor is harsh, and the future is uncertain," Leylo continued, his voice flat and steady. "Following me, you will likely endure much hardship, and perhaps even..."
He left the sentence unfinished, but the implication was crystal clear.
Ed remained silent for a moment.
To go to Blackstone Manor was exile. But staying here—was that not simply another form of imprisonment?
"My Lord."
Ed's voice was as decisive as a cleaving blade. He changed his form of address, dropping to one knee with his right hand pressed against his chest. "Ed Fawn is ready to serve you!"
The weight on Leylo's heart finally lifted. Soon after, the other assigned Grand Knight and the twenty knights were assembled and ready.
The other Grand Knight was named Bolin. Older and somewhat stout, he carried an air of indolence and worldly cynicism. The look he gave Leylo was far from respectful; it was the perfunctory indifference of a man simply going through the motions.
The rest of the knights looked equally numb. Clearly, they were filled with resentment at being sent to a godforsaken hole like Blackstone Manor.
Leylo paid them no mind. It was only human nature, after all.
"Captain Ed, take the men to inventory the supplies and prepare for departure. Knight Bolin, you will assist him," Leylo issued his first command.
Ed obeyed immediately and set off. Bolin gave a sluggish grunt of assent before sauntering after him.
Leylo, meanwhile, made the excuse that he needed to prepare some "personal items" alone. He quietly slipped away from the barracks, heading toward the east of Thunder Dragon City through the pouring rain.
Outside the East Gate, three hundred paces to the south.
The rain had washed the roads into a muddy quagmire. Following the system's prompts, Leylo quickly located the abandoned thatched shack.
The hut was teetering on the verge of collapse, its door long gone. Sure enough, in front of the shack sat a broken water vat, half-buried in the mud, its mouth filled with turbid rainwater.
Leylo glanced left and right, confirming he was alone.
He rolled up his soaked sleeves and shoved the vat aside. Soon, after fumbling around underneath, his hands pulled out something hard, wrapped tightly in oilcloth.
The bundle wasn't large, but it was heavy.
Unwrapping the sodden oilcloth, he found several heavy pouches inside.
One thousand seven hundred Gold Dragons!
For someone like him, who had been "cast out with nothing," this money was undoubtedly a godsend. That hapless Captain Kree likely never imagined in his wildest dreams that the fortune he had so painstakingly embezzled and hidden would fall so easily into the hands of a "failure" like Leylo.
After carefully concealing the gold coins, Leylo beat a swift retreat.
At the East Gate of Thunder Dragon City.
A small procession slowly drifted out of the city gates amidst the drizzling rain. There were two carriages loaded with basic supplies, surrounded by some twenty knights with Leylo and Ed leading the way. High atop the East Gate's tower, his elder brother Elliot stood hidden beneath a black cloak, watching Leylo's silhouette until it vanished completely.
The sky remained somber.
Though the rain had ceased, the heavy clouds hung oppressively low. The north wind swirled with the pungent scent of wild grass from the plains, unceremoniously biting at the men's necks.
The procession moved at a sluggish pace. The horses provided by the Duke's manor were far from elite, and the packhorses hauling the supplies were little more than stumbling nags. Most of the knights were sullen and silent; the occasional whispers that broke the quiet were filled with complaints and uncertainty about the future.
Ed, however, proved himself worthy of the system's appraisal as a Grand Knight of "formidable strength and unyielding integrity." Since becoming the Captain of the Guard, he had carried out his duties with meticulous precision—planning the march, selecting campsites, positioning sentries, and overseeing the supplies. He even managed to soothe the fraying nerves of the knights, handling every detail with impeccable order.
这一段是主角开始展现"掌控力"的时刻,他没有按照常理出牌,而是直奔情报中的变异银龙.博林的质疑和艾德的服从形成了鲜明的对比.
Translation
Under Ed's discipline and personal example, though the team's morale remained low, they avoided any major chaos, and their marching discipline was maintained remarkably well.
During the journey, Leylo received several refreshed pieces of intelligence from the system. Most were trifles—scandals from the Thunder Dragon City nobility, reports of minor ore veins discovered in distant lands, or news of merchant caravans being ambushed. For his current situation, they offered little help.
Ten days later, the procession finally reached the borders of Blackstone Manor.
In stark contrast to the lush, verdant landscapes of the south, the land before them appeared barren and desolate.
"My Lord, ahead should be the only large settlement in Blackstone Manor—Blackstone Town."
Ed rode up to Leylo's side, pointing toward a faint black speck on the distant horizon. "Shall we enter the town directly, or set up camp outside its walls?"
According to custom, upon the arrival of a new lord, one should first visit the main town to announce their arrival and establish their rule. Hearing the name "Blackstone Town," many of the knights showed a glimmer of anticipation in their eyes. After days of marching through the wilderness, they were desperate for a place that could offer shelter from the wind and a bowl of hot soup.
Leylo pulled on the reins, but his gaze was not fixed on Blackstone Town. Instead, he looked toward the undulating, desolate mountain range to the east.
His response was brief and decisive, catching everyone off guard.
"We are not going to Blackstone Town."
"Not going to the town?"
Bolin's voice rose several decibels, laced with clear confusion and dissatisfaction. "My Lord, then where are we going? In the middle of this godforsaken wilderness..."
"We are heading east."
Leylo pointed toward the eastern mountain range. "We will scout the mountains in the eastern part of the territory and find a suitable location to establish a temporary camp."
This decision immediately incited a wave of unrest. The knights huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, their faces masks of confusion and resistance. They were to forgo a functional town and instead set up camp in the mountains, a place that looked even more godforsaken than where they stood?
"My Lord, this..."
"Execute the order, Knights!"
Leylo made his final decision in a tone that brooked no argument.