Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 487 It's Time to Make Contact with the Knights of the Flame Sun
"Good!" Su Li snapped out of his shock at the rare armor and immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Such a divine artifact cannot simply be displayed here. Hilde, immediately summon one of the best griffin knights and have him wear it!"

With a smile, Hilde turned to a messenger and ordered, "Summon Orion, the master of the Tiger-Striped Griffin Golden Thunder, to the armory immediately!"

The order was swiftly relayed. Not long after, the heavy doors of the armory were pushed open again, and a figure swaggered in. The newcomer wore the standard chainmail of a Crown Knight officer, but the insignia on his breastplate, symbolizing his rank as vice-commander, seemed polished too brightly, giving it a ostentatious air. His gait wasn't as upright as a traditional knight's; instead, it was somewhat loose and slouching. A blade of grass, picked from who-knows-where, dangled from his lips, and his eyes held a lazy shrewdness that seemed to say, "Good job, as long as the pay's right."

After he came in, he casually raised his chin at Hilde: "Boss, why are you calling me in such a hurry? I'm teaching this newbie how to poke a dead person's knee with a pitchfork, that's a skill."

Then, as if he had just noticed Su Li, he symbolically pounded his breastplate. The movement wasn't exactly standard, but it was extremely fast. "The lord is here too? What good job is it? Let me make it clear, overtime pay is extra." — He acted like a seasoned mercenary, and even though he was wearing the robes of the Knights, his roguishness remained undiminished.

Looking at his appearance, Su Li was not annoyed at all, but instead burst into laughter: "Olayen! I told you, no matter how strict the rules of this Knights are, they can't erase your roguishness. Good, very good!"

He stepped forward, laughing as he bumped Orion's shoulder with his fist: "In the Valley of Memories, you and your War Dogs squad really stole the show! I read that report several times. In that situation, being able to counterattack, destroy the command node, and then stabilize the defensive line wasn't just about brute force!"

Orion immediately put on a smug look and pressed on, "My lord, my lord, could you tell me how the intelligence reports praised me? Did they describe me as heroic and extraordinary?"

Su Li's lips curled up; things might not be entirely as he wished! He simply repeated the description of him in the battle report: "The dwarf brothers over there were almost at their breaking point, and it looked like those skeletons were about to drag the remains of their ancestors to piece together some kind of monster! Then, Orion let out a roar, and with his three monstrous teammates, like four red-hot knives stabbing into butter, he plunged straight into the horde of undead!"

"What kind of formation is that? They're just four lunatics! Orion is riding Golden Thunder, and his teammate is riding that precious horse with flaming hooves, Hephaestus. They don't look like knights at all, they look like bandit leaders! They just keep charging into the places with the most and toughest undead! When they swing that broadsword, it's not swordsmanship at all, it's practically dismantling bones! One strike and they're done for, whether they're Black Knights or Grave Guardians, they'll shred their armor and bones!"

"And those three under your command!" Su Li said with a smile, "That burly man wielding a two-handed axe, I suspect he has green-skinned ancestors! When he spins, he's like a human whirlwind, instantly shrinking all the undead around him, turning them into dust! That silent crossbowman's arrows are terrifyingly tricky, specifically targeting the soul fire in the undead's eye sockets, one arrow per undead, like a roll call! And that eccentric guy, his holy water bottles are more accurate than a dwarf's gunpowder barrel, exploding into a patch of purifying light!"

“Wherever the four of you went, the undead fell like wheat being harvested! The report says you cleared out over a hundred elite undead, but I bet it was more than that! And then you went even crazier, flying right off the griffin, pouncing on that black knight casting spells, and cleaving him in two with a single sword strike! That was awesome!” Su Li slapped Orion’s arm armor hard. “When Constantine told me he was going to promote you to vice-captain, I was the first to agree! Your lively approach to dealing with the undead should be a lesson for the whole legion! It should boost the vitality and energy of the warband, so that we don’t end up looking lifeless and infected by the death legion.”

After being showered with praise by the lord, Orion chuckled, spat out the grass stalk in his mouth, and rubbed his nose without any modesty: "Hehe, you flatter me, my lord. It's just that those skeletons are blind and blocked our path to making money... no, I mean, to carrying out our mission. We brothers are professionals at dismantling them, and we're very skilled at it."

His roguish tone, as if he were a "professional undead bone-crusher," made the dwarf master Gerson next to him snort, but his eyes showed a hint of recognition for the strong.

After all, in the Valley of Memories, Orion and his three warhound squad members had performed exceptionally well, shining brightly on the battlefield. Although he was merely a champion knight, his destructive power was almost comparable to that of a chosen knight!

The strong will always gain everyone's recognition!
"Perfect!" Su Li turned to the side and pointed to the Blazing Flame Plate Armor. "Now, here's an even more professional 'bone-breaking' weapon for you! Put it on and let me see just how fierce your mad dog fighting style can be when paired with this rare armor!"

Orion followed Su Li's gaze, and when he saw the armor flowing with golden-red light, its runes seemingly breathing with life, his nonchalant expression vanished instantly, his eyes sharpening like those of a predator spotting its prey. He could sense the terrifying power contained within the armor, enough to elevate his "bone-breaking" skills to a whole new level.

He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with extreme excitement and greed, as if he were seeing not armor, but a mountain of gold. "Good heavens... this thing... it looks amazing!" He rubbed his hands together and nodded emphatically without hesitation. "I'll take this job! Lord, just you wait and see. Wearing this, from now on, no matter what kind of undead knight or vampire count comes, I'll dismantle them all and burn them for firewood!"

His words still carried a roguish air, but the confidence and eager madness they contained made everyone have no doubt that he could do it.

Orion then walked towards the blazing plate armor, his previous nonchalant demeanor considerably diminished. As he reached out, his fingertips about to touch the flowing runes on the breastplate, the gold and red interwoven metal surface seemed to sense something, humming slightly, and a scorching yet harmless aura emanated from it.

With brief instructions from the dwarf master Gerson and the assistance of two attendants, he put on the clothes one by one.

First came the lining and chainmail, then the leg and arm armor, each part fitting together with a heavy, precise metallic clang. When the final, fierce-looking full-face helmet, adorned with griffin feather reliefs, was placed on his head and fitted seamlessly into the neck armor—

"Keng!"

A deep echo reverberated through the armory.

The man standing there was no longer a roguish mercenary knight.

The armor clung perfectly to his body, its streamlined surface adorned with runes that flickered rhythmically like veins, radiating a constant heat and a faint glow. A golden-red radiance flowed slowly across the metal surface, enveloping him in a subtle yet undeniable aura. The armor's design, already imbued with power and majesty, was now fully activated, bestowing upon the wearer an imposing, mountain-like sense of oppression.

Orion instinctively straightened his back. His slouching posture vanished, replaced by the upright, precise movement befitting a top warrior. He raised his hand, his gaze sweeping across the flowing flame patterns on his arm armor beneath his helmet, then slowly clenched his fist. A deep, harmonious hum emanated from the joints of his armor, a surge of power coursing through the metal to every part of his body.

He turned his head, and the narrow slits on his visor swept over Su Li, Hilde, and Grin. His gaze, transmitted through the gaps, carried an amplified, almost tangible sharpness and coldness, completely washing away any trace of his previous cynicism, leaving only a battle-hardened aura of killing intent.

"How do you feel?" Su Li's voice broke the silence, carrying a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction.

Orion didn't answer immediately. He looked down at his plate-armored hands, then took a sudden step forward—

"Boom!"

His footsteps landed heavily, yet with unusual steadiness. The metal soles of his boots collided with the stone bricks, producing a heart-palpitating thud. An invisible wave of energy emanated from him, carrying a scorching heat.

He finally spoke, his voice coming through the helmet, the original lazy tone filtered out, becoming deep, humming, and metallic, like the echo of some ancient war machine:

"...Power is surging within me." He said succinctly, "It feels like...I could crush the Black Knight's skull with my bare hands."

He twisted his neck, the armor plates rubbing together with a smooth, dangerous creak. He stood there like a war statue suddenly brought to life, ancient, fiery, and born only for destruction. The rare armor did not conceal his true nature; instead, it refined and amplified the most dangerous part of his core—his pure talent for combat and destruction—to its extreme.

The roguishness has vanished, leaving only a chilling aura.

Su Li gazed at Orion, who was encased in blazing plate armor, and slowly nodded, his eyes filled with satisfaction. Orion was now enveloped in a golden-red glow, runes flickering like breath, each step carrying the weight of a mountain and a wave of intense heat. This was the aura of a top-tier army, a power forged by mortal skill, enough to contend with the monsters of the apocalypse.

"Good, very good." Su Li exclaimed, "The aura of this armor is worthy of its grade. With this divine power, my champion knights can even cut down the war mammoths of Norsca." He seemed to see Orion wearing this armor, stirring up a destructive storm among the giant beasts of the northern barbarians—that was the almost mythical power that mortals needed to fight against darkness.

However, the next moment, Su Li changed her tone and said indifferently, "Alright. The effect is good, take it off."

The scorching air inside the armory seemed to freeze instantly.

"--What?!"

A muffled thud came from beneath the visor, a sound of Orion nearly biting his tongue in astonishment. His previous imposing and menacing aura crumbled instantly; he was caught completely off guard by this sudden order.

"No... Lord? Why?" He hurriedly stepped forward, the metal soles of his boots scraping against the ground with a piercing sound. His voice came through his visor, the deep metallic hum now filled with disbelief and urgency. "This... this fits perfectly! I feel like I could plow through the Chaos Wasteland right now! Take it off? Why?!"

He even subconsciously covered his breastplate with his hand, as if it were his own possession, and his actions subtly revealed a bit of his original roguish and possessive nature.

Su Li and Hilder exchanged a glance, a knowing smile flashing in each other's eyes. Hilder nodded slightly, everything understood without a word.

When Su Li looked at Orion again, his face showed an almost innocent surprise, as if he didn't understand why he was so excited: "Why? Vice Commander Orion, I summoned you here to test the armor, to see what kind of power this rare masterpiece made by a legendary craftsman would have on a living person. Now that I have seen the effect with my own eyes, I am very satisfied, so naturally it should be returned to its original place and properly preserved."

He shrugged, speaking matter-of-factly: "Do you think such precious divine armor is going to be given to your Sunfire Knights for free? The cost of this is probably enough to arm half a battalion of your elite troops. Although we both belong to the Sun Goddess camp, even brothers should keep clear accounts."

Orion stood frozen in place, his tall, armored frame resembling a scorching statue instantly frozen in time. Behind the visor of his visor, his eyes were wide open, filled with shock, resentment, and immense despair at falling from the clouds into the abyss.

He now deeply regrets joining the Order of the Church!
If he had known that the Black Forest Territory was so powerful and had such good benefits, he should have joined the secular knights!
Otherwise, given his performance in the Valley of Memories, the lord should have rewarded him with a set of rare rune plate armor!
Right now, even if Su Li wanted to reward someone, it would be to the secular knights and his subordinates. How could he possibly overstep his bounds and reward the church's knightly order?
Orion was speechless, his face beneath the visor flushed crimson. He stammered a few times, his deep, metallic voice tinged with grievance and struggle: "But...but Lord, the Sunfire Knights suffered heavy casualties in this battle. Even if they didn't achieve great merit, they certainly deserve credit for their hard work...This...this appropriate compensation is...it's only fair, isn't it? After all, we shed blood for the Black Forest Territory..."

His voice trailed off as he spoke, as if he himself realized that his words were somewhat untenable. However, the unparalleled power brought by the Blazing Armor was like an addiction that seized him, making it difficult for him to give it up. He even tried to bargain with his battle merits.

"—Olayin!" A cold, crisp rebuke suddenly rang out, like shattering ice, instantly interrupting Olayin's stammering explanation. Beside her, Vice-Captain Freya's icy eyes blazed with fury! She too wore the standard armor of the Sun Knights, but the lines of her armor were longer and sharper, her crisp knight's robe spotless, and the golden sun emblem gleamed brightly on her chest.

Her face was beautiful yet cold as ice, and her icy blue eyes, like two pieces of polar ice, were now sharply fixed on Orion, her gaze filled with undisguised contempt and anger.

"How dare you repay kindness here?" Her voice wasn't loud, but each word was like an ice pick, piercing the air. "It's utterly despicable! It's a stain on our oath!"

She raised her tall neck, her delicate chin facing Orion, as if even glancing at him would be considered dirty.

"And what does 'fighting for the Black Forest Territory' even mean?" Freya's tone suddenly rose, carrying a cold, holy anger. "Olayen, listen to me clearly! The Sunfire Knights are participating in this battle. From the captain to me, and to every ordinary knight, we all know very well—we are doing this to uphold the teachings of the Sun Goddess, to protect the order of the living, and to eradicate the evil of the undead that blasphemes against existence! This is the sacred duty that the goddess has bestowed upon us!"

Her voice echoed through the vast armory, carrying an unquestionable firmness and devotion.

"Not only us, but also our brothers of Eternal Light and Arrow of Light! We wield our swords not for any worldly lord, but for order and light! Even if this place were not Blackwood Territory, but any village on the empire's border shrouded in the shadow of death, we knights would still step forward, even if it meant our deaths!"

"Equating this holy war with profiteering?" Freya's icy blue eyes almost blazed with cold flames, her words like a judgment, "Olayen, have your faith and knightly honor been burned away by this gleaming armor?!"

Under her series of righteous and stern rebukes, Orion's imposing aura, amplified by his blazing armor, seemed to dim somewhat. He froze on the spot, his visor drooping slightly, unable to meet Freya's gaze, which was filled with divine wrath.

Su Li raised his hand at the opportune moment and interrupted Freya's sharp rebuke in a calm tone: "Vice Captain Freya, please calm down for now."

His gaze shifted to the fiery "statue" that seemed somewhat uneasy after Freya's reprimand, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. "While Vice-Commander Orion's words were ill-considered, they were not entirely without merit. The Sunfire Knights fought valiantly and suffered heavy losses in this battle; Blackforest Territory will forever remember this kindness."

He paused, his voice steady and firm, as if after careful consideration: "Great kindness needs no words of thanks, but only a proper response can express my gratitude. How about this..."

Su Li waved his arm and made a generous decision: "This set of 'Blazing Plate Armor' will be given to your Sun Crown Knights! As for which valiant knight will wear it, whether it is decided by Commander Constantine upon his return or by Vice Commander Freya, it is up to you to discuss internally."

Upon hearing this, the armory fell silent instantly.

A genuine look of surprise flashed across Freya's icy face, as if she hadn't expected Su Li to be so generous. She frowned slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent, only giving Orion a sharper look.

And Orion—

A suppressed, almost desperate gasp suddenly came from beneath the visored helmet.

A gift to the Knights of the Sunrise?!

It’s over! It's all over!

If the armor had been a private gift from the lord to him personally, even if he was a church knight, there would still be room for maneuver. But once it became the property of the knightly order… Orion felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

The guild leader Constantine is highly respected, and Freya, that icy woman, doesn't like him. There are so many veteran champion knights with profound experience and outstanding achievements in the guild, and there may even be a large number of battle priests waiting in line! How can he, a vice guild leader who joined halfway and just climbed up the ranks by relying on his "mad dog fighting style" and battle merits, compete with those old guys who have served the goddess for more than ten or even decades?

This rare treasure was about to fall into someone else's hands, like a cooked duck about to fly away. A huge sense of loss and anxiety instantly overwhelmed Orion.

"Wait, wait! My lord!" He could no longer maintain his newly acquired imposing demeanor. He took a sudden step forward, his metal boots clattering on the ground. His voice, even through his visor, was tinged with urgency and a hint of a sob. "This... this... giving it to the Knights is certainly a wonderful thing! Thank you for your generosity, my lord! But... but..."

He hesitated for a long time, his mind racing, trying to find a suitable reason, but he found that his little thoughts were completely exposed under Freya's cold gaze. He couldn't very well say, "Give it to me, I really want it and no one else deserves it," could he?
Seeing his anxious and impatient state, which contrasted sharply with his majestic and sacred armor, Su Li finally broke into a smile and exchanged a knowing glance with Hilde beside her.

Orion was simple-minded and didn't think about why Hilde specifically asked him, the vice-commander of the Sunrise Knights, to try on the armor, even though there weren't many griffin knights in the territory, there were still five or six.

It's because if this kind of rare plate armor could be mass-produced, the territory would definitely sell it to others. And the only force that could afford such rare armor is probably the Sunfire Knights!

The name "Sun Crown Knights" has been used for so long that it's easy for people to forget that they are actually a branch of the Flame Sun Knights.

As the wealthiest knightly order in the old world, even the branch of the Flame Sun Knights, the Sun Crown Knights, were so wealthy that they were the envy of many.

Seeing Orion's anxious, scratching-headed expression, as if he wanted his armor welded to his body, Su Li's eyes flashed with a satisfied smile of complete control. The fish had taken the bait completely. This was exactly the effect he wanted—to let the most valiant warrior of the Sunfire Knights personally experience this unparalleled power, and then to ignite that desire to its fullest extent.

“It seems that Vice Commander Orion truly admires this armor.” Su Li spoke casually, as if discussing an ordinary commodity. “Very well, since the Sunrise Knights have this need, my Black Forest Territory should give priority to supplying it. How about this, if the Knights make a group purchase, considering our camaraderie in fighting side by side, I can give you a discounted price—20% off on all items.”

"20% off?!" Orion practically shouted, his voice distorted by excitement and the mask blocking his view. "Lord, is this for real?! Then I... I'll order one first! This one!" He was afraid that if he spoke too late, he would lose his chance. He pointed to the shimmering, fiery plate armor on his body as if it were already his property.

Su Li smiled warmly, like the fairest businessman: "Of course, since Vice Commander Orion is so generous, how could I be joking? Thank you—32,000 gold crowns."

"How much?!"

The number slammed down on Orion's helmet like a heavy warhammer. His tall frame lurched, he stumbled, and his metal boots scraped against the ground with a screeching sound. From beneath his visor came a clear, sharp gasp that almost choked him.

Thirty-two thousand gold crowns!

The number buzzed in his ears, like a torrent of gold coins instantly engulfing him. Although he was a deputy regimental commander with a generous salary and occasional...extra "income," even if he emptied all his savings over the years and advanced his salary for the next ten years, he still couldn't scrape together a fraction of that amount! It was an astronomical figure that could crush the finances of a small army!

Seeing Orion swaying as if struck by an invisible giant fist, Su Li leisurely added, "Vice Commander, don't think it's expensive! Even at 32000 gold crowns, this is the bottom line price considering that we fight side by side and belong to the same Sun Goddess camp."

"You should know that in Maleburg, I personally sold a Chosen-grade [Plague Dagger], which fetched a high price of 48,000 gold crowns at the auction. Even without considering the inflated bidding price of that dagger at the time, based on a fair market estimate, a Blazing Plate Armor of this quality would not be unreasonable to sell for 40,000 gold crowns. An 80% discount, 32,000, is already a sincere offer."

This comparison was like another heavy blow, leaving Orion utterly speechless. He finally realized the true value of the treasure he was wearing. This was equipment beyond the reach of ordinary knights; it was a truly strategic resource, a foundational piece of equipment capable of influencing an entire power. Perhaps an entire knightly order, a tribe, or a family might only possess such a rare piece of armor.

A barely perceptible tremor flickered across Freya's icy face. Clearly, even for the wealthy Sunfire Knights, this price was not something they could easily afford. Her gaze towards Su Li now held a hint of unease. After all, they knew each other's backgrounds intimately; if Su Li had any intentions, it would be nearly impossible to hide them from her. Initially, she hadn't grasped the significance of Hilde's mention of Orion, but now she fully understood the true purpose behind this man's arrangements today.

Su Li smiled and said, "The two vice-commanders can seriously consider this. If funds are really tight, they can apply to the headquarters. The Holy Great Expedition is about to end, and Grand Master Adelbert Hof Felstal of the Flame Sun Knights will soon be returning to the Knights' headquarters. I believe that if there is a way to strengthen the Knights' power, he will be very willing to provide funding."

Upon hearing Su Li's words, Freya finally perked up. She knew very well that this man's every word and action was not without purpose!

Since he specifically mentioned Grand Master Adelbert Hof Felstal, there must be a deeper meaning behind it.

So she hesitated for a moment, then said decisively, "Okay, I will write a letter to the Grand Master together with Commander Constantine to tell him about this in detail."

Su Li nodded in satisfaction. He had a purpose in mentioning Grand Master Adelbert Hof Felstal.

He has now become a legendary figure, and the position of Grand Prince of the Border Princes is no longer entirely out of reach. However, if he were to become Grand Prince and Elector, he would certainly need the support of a powerful knightly order and the Church.

For example, Middenland has the support of the White Wolf Knights and Yurik, Avalan has the support of the Silver Hammer Knights and the Church of Redmar, and Surland has the support of the Knights of Eternal Light and the Church of Verena.

If the border princely territory were to be established, the most likely supporters would undoubtedly be the Knights of the Flame Sun and the Church of Violet.

So it's time to make some contact with the wealthiest first-class knightly order in the old world!
(End of this chapter)