Chapter 168: The Founding of the Knights of the Round Table
After Noah woke up, he headed back toward Rome City.
Knowing the true nature of the Huns, Noah felt he needed to change his overall strategy.
He could fly up and eliminate Velber right now, but he decided to wait a little longer. He wanted to see what Manaka Sajyou's pledge of loyalty actually consisted of. Once the simulation of the second volume ended, he would choose a pledge for himself before deciding on Velber's time of death.
He could afford to wait on that front.
Instead, Noah was now quite interested in the new internal structure and future national strategy he had proposed during today's third simulation, which was based on the patterns of the Umbral Star.
So, as he returned to Rome City, he notified Morgan, Scáthach, Vivian, Kay, Merlin, White, and Artoria.
For Noah's current territory, these individuals, along with Noah and Mary, constituted the highest level of leadership.
Among them, Merlin and Morgan were Noah's advisors. Generally, the two would not appear together, but for important matters, they could manage. Morgan could tolerate Merlin for a short time, and Merlin, knowing the situation, would keep a low profile—staying out of sight and merely listening unless he had a specific objection.
Artoria and Scáthach were the individuals Noah had originally selected as the first and second seats of the Knights of the Round Table. However, since he planned to change the internal structure, Noah intended to entrust Britain to Artoria and leave the management of Pictavia and Hibernia to Scáthach.
Vivian was the captain of the Maid Squad. Although the squad only had two members at the moment—Vivian and Guinevere, whom Vivian had brought in—Noah planned to expand the Maid Squad's roster in the future.
Kay was the leader of the Enforcement Knights. In the future, Noah planned to let him manage the territory of Rome.
White was an independent knight who reported directly to Noah. He didn't plan to station her anywhere; she was currently responsible for guarding Noah's treasury and would continue to do so. This made it convenient for Noah to mobilize her whenever something came up.
With this, the current high-level leadership was formed.
These people gathered in Rome City. Seeing everyone present, they knew Noah must have something important to announce.
Once they arrived and entered Noah's room, they saw that he had arrived early and was standing with his back to them, facing a completed world map.
"You're all here. Take a seat."
At Noah's word, they sat around the table in the room.
Although Noah didn't specify a seating order, Morgan and Artoria naturally took the front-most seats on either side, followed by Scáthach, and finally Kay.
Merlin had arrived as well, but he remained hidden in the shadows rather than sitting with the others. White stood by the door like a sentinel.
After Vivian and Guinevere brought tea and snacks to the table and Guinevere departed, Noah finally turned around. He pressed his hands onto the table and looked at the others.
"I have been thinking a lot lately. As I mentioned before, our future strategy is to push eastward from our current positions in Britain and Rome until we return to Britain to forge a Grand Crown of the King of the World—one that no one in this world has ever created before."
"Saying that much is enough for the commoners, the knights, and the officials. But for you all, I believe I should go into more detail."
Noah didn't intend to beat around the bush. He maintained a certain level of trust in everyone present, even Merlin; otherwise, he wouldn't have called him here today.
"I have carefully considered our current internal structure. It was fine when we were only in Britain, but after integrating Rome, our original structure has begun to show signs of confusion."
"Therefore, starting today, I intend to officially finalize our future upper-level structure. Even after we become the masters of this world, we will continue to use this system."
"First, there is me..."
Noah tapped the center of the alchemy writing tablet next to the map, marking a dot to represent himself. Then, he moved his hand outward.
"Next are the advisors. If you consider me the core of our collective whole, then the advisors are my auxiliary core. I will consult the advisors whenever I encounter a problem, though the final decision remains with me. Any objections?"
Hearing Noah's words, Merlin remained silent, while Morgan nodded immediately.
In addition to being an advisor, she would also become Noah's queen, so she naturally had no objections.
The likes of Kay, Artoria, Vivian, and White were not advisors themselves. Upon hearing that advisors only had the power to suggest and not to decide, they had no issues with Noah's strategy either. Scáthach briefly considered the specifics before giving a slight nod.
As for the only opinion...
"...This model is fine; it's actually quite excellent. However, if we are to hold such meetings in the future, I believe 'Advisor' should be a singular dedicated position. Advisors should not hold concurrent roles in other departments. This would allow them to function as an auxiliary core to the greatest possible extent."
"For beings like us who are not limited by lifespans, there is no need to hold multiple positions," Scáthach said, before glancing at Morgan. "Of course, as for her, how you arrange things is up to you."
Almost everyone present took it as a given that Morgan would be one of the queens.
Given Morgan's capabilities, even if they had thoughts on how Noah arranged her roles, they wouldn't voice them here. Thus, Scáthach's words were pointedly directed at Merlin.
This made Morgan's face flush slightly.
Noah waited a moment. After confirming that neither Morgan nor Merlin had any objections, he nodded.
"Then it is settled—"
He accepted the suggestion and continued, drawing another circle outward with his alchemy pen.
"Beyond the advisors is the main point I want to propose this time—the Knights of the Round Table."
"In my vision, if we successfully forge the Grand Crown of the King of the World and I am crowned as the King of the World, the situation will be different from now. Various regions will certainly require independent personnel for management. The circle formed by these administrators shall be known as the Knights of the Round Table, with me serving as the leader."
"In the future, the Knights of the Round Table will become the true upper management of this world. Do you have any objections or thoughts on this?"