Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 437 The Arrogant Councilor and the Bitter Tower of the First Cavalry Regiment
Vigo Malcolm's resolute face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, the veins on the back of his hands gripping the armrest bulging, his knuckles making a slight cracking sound. He felt that the authority he had carefully constructed, his supreme position as Speaker in Maleiburg, had been utterly trampled upon by Su Li's casual remark! This was no longer a provocation, but a blatant humiliation! A surge of violent rage rushed to his head, almost bursting through the dam of reason.

The frost on Mrs. Bayonetta's face melted instantly, as if exposed to the blazing sun. A radiant smile, captivating and with an indescribable ease, bloomed on her lips, like fireworks suddenly bursting in the night sky, illuminating the entire oppressive hall. This smile was so genuine, so bright, even carrying a hint of girlish mischief, a stark contrast to her previous perfect yet aloof demeanor.

Lady Bayonetta felt as if she had suddenly seen a ray of light in boundless darkness. Su Li's domineering attitude and disregard for rules, while initially alarming, now became the most powerful hammer blow against the Council's siege of the Iron Curtain! The pressure on her instantly lessened, and the previously fierce conflict between the Council and the City Lord's Mansion was effectively split in half by Su Li!
She clearly felt that the heavy, suffocating clouds hanging over the City Lord's Mansion had been brutally torn open by Su Li, this "evil dragon"! The council's siege against her instantly faltered and fell into chaos due to the intervention of Su Li, a more forceful and uncontrollable variable. Speaker Vigo's current rage and loss of composure were the best proof of this!

The pressure was relieved like never before. Bayonetta even felt a sense of relief tinged with the satisfaction of revenge. Her gaze towards Su Li held a new complexity, beyond the previous wariness and the unsettling heat that had gripped her. Women, after all, are often drawn to strength and have a special fondness for those who alleviate their stress.

This young lord… his ambition seemed far beyond her imagination, and his methods were far beyond the comprehension of those old foxes in the council who manipulated power. He was like a meteorite thrown into stagnant water, not caring whether the splash was a ripple or a tsunami, only whether he could hit his desired target.

However, not all members of parliament were keenly aware of the subtle changes in the situation. Some senior members of parliament, whose families had been rooted in Maleburg for generations or even longer, although they also had a sense of apprehension towards Su Li’s power, had a deeper and more stubborn emotion: a kind of pride and contempt that came from blood and tradition and was almost etched into their bones.

Su Li's strength? The military might of the Black Forest Territory? In their eyes, it was nothing more than thorns growing wildly in the border wilderness—prickly, but ultimately unworthy of respect. They had lived for generations in this southern pearl of the empire, bathed in the glow of civilization and wealth. Their ancestors may have been pioneers, but they had long since washed away their earthy past with golden crowns and marriage alliances, integrating themselves into the empire's true aristocratic class. And this Su Li before them? Just a country bumpkin without a title, without an ancient family crest, who had risen through the ranks by sheer luck in the wilderness! A complete upstart!
Lydia Crawford, the business arbitrator who had previously attacked the city lord's mansion with "professionalism" and "efficiency," now elegantly sipped her red wine, a faint, pitying sneer playing on her lips.

The way she looked at Su Li was as if she were admiring a rough, unappealing trophy from a remote tribe. She gently swirled her wine glass and spoke sarcastically, "Oh, you mentioned Baron von Kleist? He's of noble blood from an electoral family. He's probably not as pragmatic as us, willing to dine with lowly commoners!"

Her voice was soft, but in the deliberately created silence, it was enough for the nearby councilors to hear clearly, eliciting a few suppressed, approving chuckles.

Immediately, someone below started to jeer, asking, "Speaking of which, this is worth discussing. I say, Bauhinia Knight, you've already taken the main seat, how come you didn't even pass the noble assessment?"

"Yes, yes. Whose problem is this, really?"

At this moment, Edmund van der Linde, an elderly councilor with gray hair and an ancient family crest on his chest, made no attempt to hide his disdain. He covered his nose with a handkerchief, as if the air was filled not with the aroma of delicacies and fine wines, but with the "coarse" smell of battlefields and wilderness emanating from Su Li.

He didn't look at Su Li, but instead spoke slowly to the silver plate in front of him, in a tone that seemed to be talking to himself but was actually clearly audible: "Etiquette... is the cornerstone of civilization. Some people, even if they sit on golden chairs and wear fine silks and satins, cannot hide the... uncouthness in their bones. They can't even distinguish the most basic hierarchy, so how can they talk about governing a region? If they can't pass the noble examination, it seems that their governance ability is lacking! This is not a blessing for the common people of the territory."

He sighed and shook his head, as if heartbroken that some precious tradition had been defiled. The "rough and ready" tone and the emphasis on "hierarchy" in his words were like poisoned daggers, pointing directly at Su Li's overstepping of authority.

Although these discussions and gestures were deliberately kept quiet, their condescending disdain and undisguised sense of superiority permeated the luxurious atmosphere of the banquet hall like an invisible fog. They exchanged unspoken contempt with their eyes and concealed their inner rejection with elegant movements. In their eyes, Su Li's power was barbaric and temporary, while his lack of aristocratic status and so-called "culture" were his fatal flaws that he could never overcome.

No matter how strong he was, he was nothing more than a restless "local tyrant" on the edge of the imperial power map, someone who needed to be wary of, used, and, when necessary, tamed or eliminated, and certainly not an equal being who could stand on equal footing with them, the nobles who basked in the glory of the empire and represented "true civilization".

Mrs. Bayonetta witnessed everything, her radiant smile undiminished. She knew these councilors all too well; they were like peacocks in gilded cages, forever holding their necks high, flaunting their nobility with their magnificent tail feathers and ancient lineage, oblivious to the tigers outside the cage with claws capable of tearing everything apart. Su Li's "rudeness" and "overstepping" were precisely the most direct trampling of their hypocrisy and arrogance, filling her with a twisted sense of pleasure.

Su Li himself seemed completely oblivious to the gazes cast upon him, a mixture of fear and disdain. He calmly picked up the pure silver knife before him; his movements, while not particularly elegant, possessed a fluid precision and power honed through countless battles. He cut off a piece of tender, juicy roasted poultry, placed it in his mouth, and chewed slowly, as if savoring the "taste" of Maleburg.

His gaze calmly swept over the whispering, disdainful members of parliament, a faint, playful smile even playing at the corners of his lips. His eyes didn't seem to be looking at a group of high-ranking nobles, but rather at a flock of birds preening their feathers before a ferocious beast, carrying an almost pitying…interest.

This utter, nonchalant disregard is more lethal than any angry retaliation. It silently proclaims: your arrogance, your lineage, your proud "civilization" are nothing but a bubble to burst, a worthless decoration on a dinner table, before the absolute power I possess that can crush your entire parliament.

In fact, all of this seemed somewhat ridiculous to Su Li. The nobles from the old world, with their inherent arrogance, still held the powerful new lord in contempt and looked down on him, considering him a country bumpkin.

This is a style unique to the Empire, something Su Li, a young man born under the red flag, would never care about. He truly doesn't feel inferior because of his humble origins in etiquette or noble rank. On the contrary, his strength is his greatest backing; the Black Forest Territory is powerful enough to dominate all directions!
Especially as his power and status increased, each time he arrived in Maleiburg, the city presented him with a completely different appearance.

When Su Li first arrived at Malesburg, he was undoubtedly filled with awe and wonder. At that time, his status was humble, and all he saw was the grandeur of Malesburg and the imposing guards. The entire city seemed like an unshakeable behemoth looming over him, and he could only look up in awe at its wealth. Lady Bayonetta was someone he could only covet in his heart; even catching a glimpse of her was a luxury and a pipe dream.

When he arrived in Malesburg the second time, he was completely unaware of the situation. At that time, he had access to some of Malesburg's powerful figures, but he clearly couldn't see the big picture. What he saw was shocking corruption, and an overwhelming amount of wealth, resources, and magnificent buildings.

With this third arrival in Maleiburg, he was able to look the entire city in the eye and see clearly the fierce internal struggle hidden beneath Maleiburg's calm exterior!

So his purpose in coming here this time is to establish his authority. He doesn't expect all commissioners and senators to accept him, but as long as some of them can adapt in advance, he will be able to look down on everything and rule the city when he comes here for the fourth time!
So Su Li was indifferent to the mockery of the councilors. She calmly put down her knife and fork and slowly wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"Governing a territory?" Su Li's voice was not loud, but it clearly drowned out all the whispers in the banquet hall. "I only know that the armor that can keep soldiers alive on the battlefield is the best armor. Only a place where farmers can have enough to eat, artisans can have work, and merchants can make money safely deserves to talk about 'well-being'."

"As for how Maleiburg will be governed in the future... that depends on who it will belong to, and... what kind of rules it needs to guarantee its well-being. However, in my opinion at present, the existence of a parliament is clearly somewhat superfluous."

“A power usually only needs one voice, wouldn’t you say, Mrs. Bayonetta?”

Bayonetta's smile was as bright as the sun, and she immediately said, "Lord Su Li is absolutely right! For example, when our City Lord's Mansion receives the Black Forest Territory, there is really no need for the Council to interfere."

"If so many of you councilors can't even reach a consensus, what are you going to talk about here? Why don't you go back first, think about your demands, and come back tomorrow!"

This is practically an open invitation to leave!

Vigo Malcolm snorted coldly, and after the guards entered the living room, with his back to Lady Bayonetta, he said coldly, "Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. Madam, if you want to take risks, don't end up getting burned!"

After saying this, he turned and left, and a large number of councilors stood up and followed him.

After leaving the room, Senator Finn, who was surrounding him, said impatiently, "Speaker, are we just going to let this go like this? What about the face we've lost?"

“That’s right, I really can’t stand it, being bullied and lorded over by a country bumpkin!” someone immediately chimed in.

"That's right, we should teach him a lesson!"

Vigo Malcolm calmly stated, "This Su Li clearly came prepared; to be precise, he has ill intentions! From the moment he entered the city to demonstrate, he has been intentionally targeting our entire Maleburg elite class. Was he slapping the Electoral Council's ass? He was clearly slapping our faces!"

“Beyond the truth, Bayonetta wants to collude with him, but I don’t think she’ll come out on top. Instead, she might be taken advantage of! So we’re not in a hurry. Even if we don’t intervene, the two sides will start fighting first.”

Lydia Crawford complimented, "The Speaker is right. This tactic of retreating to advance is brilliant. It is full of noble wisdom and composure. Sometimes, being patient and not fighting for short-term gains allows one to sit back and watch the tigers fight. This is something those impetuous peasants will never learn."

But some were still dissatisfied: "So we're just going to put up with this? Just stand by and watch? What will others think of us! What about the face we lose?" "Stop thinking about winning, winning, winning!" Vigo Malcolm said with a cold smile: "Fighting for face is the most foolish thing to do. Su Li is an outsider. To intervene and influence the situation in Maleburg, he must act aggressively and decisively to break through. But we are the locals. As long as we stay put and use a few tricks, we can reap the benefits! Let him win the first round, give him a victory he can't afford to lose!"

"I want to see if this powerful dragon can suppress this local tyrant, the city lord!"

"Besides, we're not just going to stand by and watch. We can speed things up! What about Smith? I heard he got a treasure last time."

Senator Finn scoffed and said, "He didn't come out; he's inside fawning over that country bumpkin. He wants to continue the mithril armor deal, so he has to suck up to this country bumpkin."

Vigo Malcolm's eyes flashed coldly, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he calmly said, "This is a good thing! His effeminate nature makes him easy to manipulate. He'll be perfect for helping us complete our next plan. Bring him to see me after he leaves the city lord's mansion!"

While the council was secretly discussing the matter, in the reception room, Su Li finally let go of her fighting stance and began to meet with her relatives and friends.

Dean Hector rose from the long table, walked to Su Li's side, and said, "I know you have your own ambitions, but you've been far too outspoken today. Those members of parliament who have suffered losses won't let this go easily. They're like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows; they're sure to have some dark and despicable schemes up their sleeves."

As the bishop of the Church of the Sun Goddess in Maleburg and the abbot of the Cathedral of Eternal Flame, he would naturally be invited to the city's prestigious banquets. However, as a member of the church, he also had his own interests.

He could see Su Li's ambition for Maleburg. If the Black Forest Territory could occupy Maleburg, his political situation would be similar to that of the Sun Knights, greatly assisting the missionary work of the Church of the Goddess of the Sun.

The current lord of Maleiburg, Joachim von Gorge, is a member of the Church of Redma, and is naturally hostile to the Church of the Sun Goddess based on its doctrines. Clearly, it is not as desirable as the Sun Goddess's chosen ones occupying the city.

He could also see that Su Li was ambitiously challenging the former city lord, like a newly grown lion challenging the authority of an old lion king.

However, he thought it was all too hasty. In his opinion, Su Li should at least develop for a period of time first, and only challenge Maleburg after he has gained absolute strength.

Su Li was rather easygoing about his suggestion, smiling as he said, "Dean Hector makes a good point. But as I said, the Council is too powerful. If I don't show sincerity, I'm afraid Lady Bayonetta might not ally with me."

The corruption of Senator Smith alone provides a glimpse into the power of the Maleburg legislature.

If Su Li doesn't join forces with the City Lord's Mansion, it will be extremely difficult to deal with such a large council.

The current situation in Maleburg is also in his favor, as the council is ambitiously trying to take control of the entire city and abolish the position of city lord.

If Su Li were to choose the weakest among them and join forces with them, extending a helping hand, Lady Bayonetta would surely seize the opportunity. A person about to drown will instinctively grasp at anything that can help them survive, even a straw. Moreover, Su Li has shown such great sincerity.

Dean Hector turned to look at Bayonetta, his face grim, and said, "Be careful of this woman. Countless men in Maleburg have their eyes on her, but so far no one has been able to gain any advantage from her. If you deal with her, be careful not to get taken advantage of."

A confident smile appeared on Su Li's face as he met Lady Bayonetta's gaze. The most crucial reason for choosing to ally with her was his certainty that he could completely control her.

The parliament is riddled with factions, each with its own agenda and intertwined interests, making it extremely difficult to defeat them one by one or suppress them as a whole. Bayonetta, however, is different. She is currently isolated and helpless, with the city lord she relies on far away on a campaign. No matter how clever and resourceful she is, her schemes are futile against Su Li's superior intelligence. The power of an intelligence system targeting a single objective far surpasses that against a group of cunning foxes.

The key to maximizing the value of this intelligence system lies in choosing the right partners to maximize profits. Bayonetta is currently the most suitable and easily controlled pawn.

Lady Bayonetta approached gracefully, a polite smile on her face. She stopped beside Su Li and looked calmly at Bishop Hector.

Bishop Hector immediately raised his wine glass, bowed slightly, and said, "I see that Her Highness the Chosen War Saintess of the Goddess of the Sun has arrived. I'll go and talk to her about war matters for a while, so I'll have to keep you company for now."

After he left, Bayonetta turned to look at Su Li, keeping a perfect distance and speaking softly so that only the two of them could hear: "Lord Su Li, tonight's 'welcome ceremony' was truly impressive."

Her words carried a hint of sarcasm, clearly indicating that she still harbored resentment over Su Li having taken a mythical treasure from her, and the conflict tonight had only exacerbated the unpleasant atmosphere.

Fortunately, she remained calm: "However, putting aside those pointless disputes, there is a more practical opportunity right now that may be worth our attention."

Su Li tilted her head slightly, signaling her to continue.

Bayonetta lowered her voice, speaking steadily and clearly: "Reliable news from the front lines indicates that the Holy Great Expedition... is nearing its end. The Imperial Allied Forces have routed the main force of the monsters at Ocaso, and the remaining tribes are fleeing north; it's only a matter of time before they are wiped out. The main force of the expeditionary force... will soon be returning home."

She paused, observing Su Li's reaction. Seeing that his expression remained unchanged, she continued, "This means that a huge amount of spoils—weapons and armor seized from Mount Oka and the dwarven ruins, precious metals and rare materials plundered from various places, and even captured alien slaves… will all be transported back to the rear. As is customary, Maleburg, as an important hub for the distribution of supplies and a rear base, will receive and process a considerable portion of them."

Her gaze sharpened further: "The City Lord's Mansion can ensure that these spoils of war...flow into the furnaces and workshops of Black Forest Territory with priority and efficiency. They will become the raw materials you desperately need."

She put forward her real core proposal: "In exchange, Maleburg... or rather, the City Lord's Mansion, needs Black Forest Territory to provide a batch of truly excellent equipment. Not the kind of inferior 'superior' equipment that the Council previously purchased, but the star armor and weapons that your warriors are equipped with, equipment that can truly save their lives on the battlefield. The quantity... must be enough to arm a force capable of stabilizing the situation."

Her proposal was blunt and direct: use the massive amount of "loot" that the Great Expedition was about to deliver, which needed to be processed, as payment in exchange for top-tier weapons and equipment that the Black Forest Territory could immediately form into a fighting force.

This was a deal based on the urgent needs and complementary strengths of both parties. She needed Su Li's equipment to consolidate her precarious position and prepare for the power reshuffle that would follow the return of the city lord; Su Li, on the other hand, would gain access to immeasurable amounts of cheap raw materials to further strengthen his war machine.

Su Li didn't answer immediately. His fingers tapped lightly on the back of the chair, making a barely audible tapping sound. He scrutinized Bayonetta with a smile and asked, "So the defeat of the Third Legion... wasn't an unfortunate accident, was it? Smith doesn't understand military affairs, so he can't see it. But to ambush an army of tens of thousands and completely encircle them is no easy feat. Even I, who have fought dozens of battles and am skilled at luring the enemy deep into my territory, have never accomplished such a feat."

"Has the political infighting in Maleburg deteriorated to this extent? There are almost no bottom lines."

"Or perhaps the pressure on the City Lord's Mansion has reached a point where it must fully arm itself and weaken the enemy?"

If things continue to escalate like this, the city lord's mansion might have to impose martial law on the council! The First Cavalry Regiment of Maleburg is deployed! The Bitter Tower is activated!

(End of this chapter)