Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 405 A Legendary Opportunity
After each great battle, the knights who survived always gained strength through divine blessing. Su Li had already become accustomed to this.

The only problem is that the casualties this time were too severe. He lost nearly half of his nearly 1,000 elite knights, which may even affect his imperial assessment at the end of the year.

In a border princely territory, a qualified baron cannot be without at least 1000 elite knights.

Regarding this issue, Hilde gave Su Li some good news: "In addition, my lord, in our war with Blue Mirror Territory, we have captured nearly a thousand elite knights, and the total number of prisoners exceeds 3000."

"The Mad Marquis has already sent envoys to our territory to negotiate the ransom for his black lynxes. The ransom has been negotiated at 38000 gold crowns."

"Of the remaining knights, we will carefully select some promising knights and those willing to pledge allegiance to us to make up for the losses in this battle."

Unfortunately, there weren't many Sunfire Church knights in the Blue Mirror Territory's army.

After all, with the war between the two territories, most of the followers of the Church of the Sun Goddess had moved to the Black Forest Territory, so it was unlikely that they could replenish their ranks by capturing prisoners.

Su Li thought for a moment and said, "Let's deal with all these prisoners. We're not in a hurry to replenish our troops in our territory. We can take this opportunity to improve our finances and increase the equipment rate of the Vibranium Rune Armor."

His lack of urgency stemmed primarily from the fact that the Holy Land of the Church of the Sun Goddess in the Black Forest Territory was nearing completion.

That would be one of the most important holy sites of the Church of the Sun Goddess in the border princely territory, which would inevitably attract a large number of the goddess's followers to migrate south and enter the Black Forest territory.

Most of the goddess's priests are skilled knights who are good at fighting and have high martial arts skills. When the time comes, we can just recruit troops from the believers and priests.

He wanted to gradually get his territory back on track, with the army being recruited primarily from the people of his territory, rather than relying on slaves for manpower.

If suitable slaves become available in the future, they can all be thrown into the Blacksteel Knights of Atonement. This way, Su Li won't have to pay maintenance fees, and he can also earn wealth for himself.

Speaking of this, which is also the reason why Hilde is most excited, she continued, "We have gained a lot of population in this battle. According to our search of the documents in Blue Mirror Fortress, the entire Blue Mirror Territory, from the Twilight Mountains in the west to the Coldwind Canyon in the east, from the Frostfang Mountains in the north to the Sandshade Forest in the south, has a total population of more than 13000. Among them, Mirror Lake Town below Blue Mirror Fortress has a population of more than 5000, but this town suffered heavy losses in this battle."

"The flooded lake destroyed a large number of buildings in the town, and hundreds or thousands of citizens were swept to the bottom of the lake. Although we are doing our best to rescue them, we estimate that we will lose eight or nine tenths of our population."

Therefore, Baron Grant deserves to die!
He would stop at nothing to win, and by using Mann's berserk magic by the lake, he was bound to bring terrible disaster and countless deaths and injuries.

However, this was somewhat of a good thing for Su Li, as it greatly reduced the cost of ruling this territory. Grant's flooding of the lake, a perverse act, had angered both heaven and man, and he instantly lost the support of the people.

The common people of Mirrorlake Town harbored deep resentment towards him (after all, almost every household had suffered because of the flood he had caused), making it difficult for them to become remnants of the previous dynasty and rebel against the rule of Hessian territory to avenge Baron Grant.

However, revolutionaries and rebels are ever-present; in this dark and desperate world, they are as omnipresent as the Chaos cultists, destined to be slowly crushed. All the lords share the same attitude towards them: as long as they can't cause any trouble, that's enough.

Before the war, Blue Mirror Territory had a population of over 13000. After this battle, Su Li conservatively estimated that there would still be 8000 to 9000 people left, possibly even close to 10000. The main reason for Su Li's optimistic estimate was that the conquerors were followers of the Goddess of the Sun.

The glorious values ​​of this church's faith ensured that after victory in war, there would be no widespread killing and plunder, but rather that civilization would be brought to this territory.

The population decline in Blue Mirror Territory is mainly due to Baron Grant's tyrannical rule, forced conscription, and the exodus of refugees. However, it's estimated that not many people will flee; after all, a border princely territory is not like the interior of the empire, and things might be even worse outside if one leaves this territory. It's better to observe and see what the conquering army of Blacksem Territory is like.

Once they've had some contact, Su Li believes they'll settle down quickly.

An increase of 10000 people would significantly boost the strength of the Black Forest Territory.

Since Su Li arrived in the border princely territory, he has worked tirelessly day and night, spending more than a year to increase the population to over 10000.

If this battle were to increase the population by another 10000, the strength of the Black Forest Territory would increase dramatically. Even if most of them were farmers, they could still provide Su Li with nearly 5000 gold crowns worth of tax revenue per year.

In addition to population growth, increasing weaponry and equipment is also of paramount importance!
Hilde continued, "The weapons and armor we captured in this battle are piled up like mountains. In the Blue Mirror Fortress's vault, we also found more than 4000 pounds of rare metals such as vibranium, star iron, hard gold dust, and silver steel. Since the followers of Mannan are not skilled in forging, these precious metals have all become ours."

"We expect that once the dwarves have melted down all the metals and armor, we will have more than 240 pieces of vibranium rune armor!"

240 pieces of Vibranium Rune Armor! Su Li was very satisfied with this number. He remembered clearly when he inspected the vault area before the battle that he had a total of 136 sets of Vibranium Rune Armor.

The opportunities at Blue Mirror Lake certainly can't compare to those in Black Forest Territory, but they can still provide dozens of sets of vibranium armor. If the dwarves' caravan returns and the agreement between Su Li and the Dwarven Kingdom is realized, Su Li's number of vibranium rune armor sets will exceed 300 sets!

It is no exaggeration to say that 300 knights wearing vibranium rune armor could easily defeat 3000 ordinary elite knights.

Without this strength, Su Li would have had no chance of winning this decisive battle against the Green Knight.

If these 300 knights were all riding griffins, they could move freely and easily amidst the sea of ​​tens of thousands of undead. Ordinary skeletons and zombies would be no match for their charge.

At that time, Su Li would be able to replicate the Emperor's feat at Black Volcano Pass. Back then, the main Imperial army was already at a disadvantage against the Greenskins. The Emperor himself led 500 Imperial Guards in a charge, the light of Emperor Ridmar shining upon him, and 500 longswords gleaming with divine grace. They charged and shattered the Greenskin's formation. With Emperor Ridmar's personal intervention, the Emperor's martial arts surged, and he swiftly killed the Greenskin warlord who had previously been overwhelming him, thus securing victory.

At that time, Su Li can lead 300 half-griffin knights to launch a fierce attack. To be honest, even legendary dragons would have to avoid its sharp edge.

The wealth accumulated by Blue Mirror Territory over the years has now all flowed into Su Li's pocket, so Su Li is very interested in his wealth. He then asked, "Are there any remaining treasures in Blue Mirror Territory's treasury that haven't been dealt with yet?"

“Yes, my lord,” Hilde replied. “There are also a large number of deep-sea specialties and lake bottom relics inside.”

"For example, the treasure map of Butcher Pirate Captain Butcher Long Table."

Butcher Pirate - Butcher Long Zhuo?

Su Li asked in surprise, "Are there pirates among the dwarf butchers?"

Orstein nodded and said, "Yes. And Butcher Lonzo is one of the four most powerful pirate emperors on the sea. His famous saying is, 'Even if I come to Grandine's hall, I'll still shoot you, you bastard!'"

"He was one of the most respected pirates, though that respect might be akin to that for a barrel of gunpowder. No other sailor would be willing to venture to Lonzo's land of adventure—the place where he pursued the most fearsome monsters of the ocean on his voyages in search of a glorious death."

"Long Drake (named for his exceptional height among the dwarves) was once a navigator at Baraka Seagate. He never considered pursuing an adventurous life. As captain of the Beer Barrel, he delivered the finest beer to thirsty dwarves wherever the ship docked. 'Slow and steady' was his motto, earning him a reputation as a reliable captain. Until a storm drove the Beer Barrel to the sea cliffs of the Border Princes' Territory. The crew's escape was entirely due to Long Drake's quick thinking. However, they were forced to abandon their beloved ship, which had run aground, letting their precious cargo drift into the waves. For Long Drake, this was an unbearable disgrace. He and his companions swore a butcher's oath and began to seek what kind of end they would have."

"His first act was a furious blast into the fortress of pirate lord Capitano Cisicco C. After hearing rumors about this wicked tyrant, Drow believed this would be his chance for a glorious death. Unfortunately, it wasn't. His actions earned him a fortress he could call home, Cisicco's parrot (which he named Little One because it liked to say 'a little gold'), Cisicco's ship, and enough loot to turn it into a vessel that a dwarf could proudly sail. The beautiful Friga is now a testament to dwarven engineering, its prow highly recognizable—forged in the shape of a beautiful dwarven maiden. It can also be used as a ram."

"The Butcher Pirates earned a reputation as skilled warriors and joined the mercenary ranks of the border princely domain. They excelled at capturing wage chests used to pay rival mercenaries, breaking through wage lines formed by elite soldiers with a barrage of frenzied pistol shots and insults. They were richly paid for this, proving that Lon Draco hadn't lost his business acumen. But in reality, their mercenary work was merely to ensure they had a sufficient supply of rum and gunpowder. Their true focus, the cause that would send the beautiful Frigg to every corner of the world, was fighting sea monsters."

"Long Draco has yet to encounter a monster he cannot defeat. The beautiful Friga bears the scars of a battle with a Leviathan, while shards of the scaled sea dragon Myvori flutter beneath the ship's iconic flasks and crossed pistols. Such victories are hard-won. Draco lost an arm to the lurking Sinfil, a leg to the sea dragon Smart, and an eye to a wager (a long story). Draco's doom spared him, but he was content to know that many crew members had earned glory in his service, and that other butchers seeking death at sea would take their place."

"The pirate captains who occasionally drank with Lon Draco described a darkness creeping over him. Draco would still drink, sing ship's songs, and boast of his recent victories amidst the applause of his men. But as night fell, a melancholy would settle in his heart. He would sit at the table, rubbing the arc of his grappling hook, gazing at the sea. Draco knew he couldn't hunt like this forever. But how long did he have left before he lost the ability to die a glorious death?"

"Sensing the coming of all this, he hid all the treasures he had accumulated over the years somewhere in the border prince's territory. And this treasure map should be one of the keys to finding the treasure." "This is the treasure of a legendary dwarven butcher pirate; it's unimaginable how much wealth he had."

Hilde nodded and said, "It's fortunate that Grant didn't find Lon Draco as a mercenary, otherwise this battle would have been much more difficult for us."

Su Li was relatively optimistic, even if Grant found Long Zhuo, he might not be able to afford the huge cost of hiring them.

That's a legendary butcher pirate. How much would it cost to hire them? I'd say at least 100,000 gold crowns.

Such a large sum of money is something that ordinary territories simply cannot afford.

Of course, this also means that the treasure of this legendary butcher will be extremely valuable.

Su Li said with a smile, "It seems that there are some good things in Baron Grant's vault. It's just that he hasn't had time to cash them out yet."

Hilde nodded, then said cheerfully, "We also found some items related to the Knights of the Sunfire in their vault area."

The Sunfire Knights? This immediately caught Su Li's attention, as they were one of the three most powerful knight orders under the command of the Goddess of the Sun.

Su Li asked curiously, "How did the followers of Mannan get involved with the Sunfire Knights?"

“This is where Svenum Island comes in,” Hilde explained calmly. “It’s an island located on the west coast of the border princely territory, occupied by members of the Flame Sun Knights. Many of the local sea people fear and discriminate against the knights from the south, claiming that they are worse than many Norscans in terms of cruelty and corruption.”

"On that island, there is a fortress controlled by a knightly order, where battle rituals to honor Khonorne are said to be held. Large numbers of wolf-skin wolves roam the nearby rocky hillsides, trading furs with merchants from the south."

"The followers of Mannan believed that these knights had been corrupted by demons, so they considered the recapture of the land a holy war."

Huh? There's such a thing?

Su Li suddenly realized that Baron Grant and Blue Mirror Territory's hostility and blockade of Black Forest Territory might not only be a geopolitical conflict, but also involved a religious conflict between the sailors and the knights.

This explains why Baron Grant, instead of waging war over his many territories, chose to confront Su Li.

After all, Su Li was a quasi-god chosen by the Goddess of the Sun, and his territory contained a branch of the Flame Sun Knights.

From the sailors' perspective, if the Black Forest Territory isn't dealt with, these cruel knights will surely corrupt their lands.

Su Li pondered for a moment and asked, "Does the Flame Sun Knights have many fortresses in the central sea?"

Hilde and Orstein exchanged a glance and shook their heads. Orstein said, "The Flame Sun Knights have many branches, but most of them are in the northern part of the Central Sea, and they don't occupy many island fortresses."

"But judging from what we found in Blue Mirror Lake, it was almost inevitable that the Knights of the Flame Sun on Svenum Island would be corrupted."

“I’ve heard rumors within the church that they keep trolls as pets, and that these pets have been abused and killed many times, only to be reborn.”

"Grand Master Adelbert of the Flame Sun Knights has sent several knights to investigate this matter, but it seems there are still no results."

After saying that, Hilde said, "My lord, perhaps we can send a knight to investigate this matter. This would significantly increase our influence within the Knights of the Flame Sun."

"You mean send Grand Master Constantine?" Su Li asked.

For something this crucial, Pafreya is definitely not enough.

Hilde nodded and said, "After Grand Master Constantine returns from the Great Expedition, he will most likely be promoted to a Chosen Knight. According to the rules of the Knights, he will return to the Cathedral of Eternal Flame to receive a blessing, thus gaining a higher status within the Knights of the Flame."

"If you aspire to unify the border princely territories, or even ascend to the throne, support from the Church is indispensable, and the Church of the Goddess of the Sun is your best choice. Therefore, increasing your influence within the Church, so that it grows daily as your strength increases, is essential."

"The status and strength of the Flame Sun Knights make them the best target for your efforts."

Upon hearing this, Su Li nodded slightly. The Flame Sun Knights were a very special knightly order, and their influence within the empire was enormous.

To join the Knights of the Flaming Sun, petitioners must be of noble birth, but the branch leaders are clearly more interested in the applicant's character and qualities than in status and lineage. Petitioners must demonstrate their intelligence and thirst for knowledge, showcasing interests beyond war, such as talent in art, philosophy, engineering, or politics. They must also be wealthy enough to pay for the forging of armor and weapons, and to provide their own warhorse. Any remaining wealth will be donated to the order's treasury to benefit every comrade within the order. An exception to this selection process is that knights whose lineage can be traced directly back to one of the original sixty founders are considered worthy of a place in the inner circle, even if their families have fallen on hard times.

Before becoming novice monks, most newcomers first participate in combat as reserve cavalry, learning the skills of ranged warfare. Once accepted by the Order, all novice monks must carefully balance their time between intensive studies, combat training, and learning about the world outside the Order. New members are expected to travel throughout the Old World for one year and one day, emulating Violet's heroic deeds when she was a mortal.

During this period, novice monks must face nine tests covering knowledge, creativity, loyalty to Violet, and weapon skills. Few pass on their first attempt, and Violet's priests patiently explain that a true knight must learn from failure. Upon successful completion of the tests, the novice monk is formally knighted by an inner-circle knight.

The knights of the Flame Sun Knights are uniformly clad in black armor adorned with polished gold. Their banners, horse armor, shields, and breastplates are all imprinted with stylized golden sun disks, symbolizing their allegiance to Violet in the sun-drenched southern part of the empire. The inner circle members of the order are selected from the wealthiest families, their exalted status reflected in their armor inlaid with gold, jet, and diamonds.

The Knights of the Flame Sun pride themselves on their wide-ranging talents and ingenuity displayed on the battlefield. Before any battle begins, they study the enemy's deployment, the terrain, and any unusual circumstances. Only then do they determine the most suitable weapons and tactics for the current situation. This may require improvisation or improvisation, such as suddenly switching weapons in battle or using mirror shields that can blind the enemy.

Su Li might not care about the basic Flame Knights, but at the branch leader level, their branch leaders possess talents such as [War Leader] and [Unshakable].

It also possesses skills such as [Remote Control], [Leadership], and [Charisma].

To be fair, a commander who has a favorable view of the Hessian territory would be of great help to the cause and influence of the Hessian territory.

After all, if Su Li wanted to gain the full support of the Church of the Goddess of the Sun, he needed someone within the church.

Otherwise, there would be so many territories in the entire border princely territory and even the southern part of the empire that worship the Goddess of the Sun, including many electors.

Why did the Church of the Goddess of the Sun choose to support Su Li in becoming the emperor of the empire?

So Su Li considered it for a moment and replied to Hilde, "Then I will talk to Commander Constantine about this matter in detail after he returns."

Perhaps these two issues—the legendary butcher pirate's fleet treasure and the crisis on Svenum Island—can be resolved together.

The remaining wealth was not something Su Li could sort out in the short term. Baron Grant had already sold off the assets that could be quickly converted into cash, and Su Li had no way to quickly transform the rest into direct wealth.

He then had Oliver, the head of the provincial council, directly oversee the area, distancing himself from the spoils of war in the Hessian Territory and appeasing the newly conquered lands.

The head of the provincial council is his prime minister and chief minister, so he is very adept at doing this kind of thing.

(End of this chapter)