Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 515 The sheer size of the arsenal and preparations for military expansion
Gilles' voice did not stop. He opened his arms as if to embrace the souls of the entire expeditionary force. His gaze swept over all the soldiers who had been tested by blood and fire, and his tone became even more impassioned and surging:
"However, my lord, my lords! The heroes created by this sacred expedition are far more than just these three! The goddess's grace is like rain and dew, showering upon every loyal warrior who fought bravely! In the baptism of blood and fire, in the clash of faith and steel, more than a dozen champions have emerged!"

He rattled off, with remarkable speed and conviction, the names and deeds of those equally illustrious individuals:

“We have Otto the Skullhunter, who was the first to scale the walls of Grudog during the final siege. In the narrow space of the battlements, he faced the combined attack of six Black Orc guards alone, fighting a bloody battle, and finally planted the Black Forest's battle flag atop that sinful fortress!”

“We have ‘Anvil’ Gerhard, the silent giant who, against the Nurgle Legion, held a precarious stone bridge for an hour, smashing the pustular armor of countless Chaos warriors with his terrifying two-handed warhammer. The corpses piled up almost to the level of the bridge railing, yet he did not retreat an inch, until reinforcements arrived, at which point he was almost drowned in blood and flesh!”

"We have 'Swifthawk' Eleanor, a rare heroine who leads our light cavalry. With her unparalleled mobility and accurate archery, she has repeatedly torn apart the Greenskins' rear supply lines. In a crucial pursuit, she personally shot and killed the fleeing Beastman overseer, ensuring a perfect victory!"

"We also have 'Night Watch' Walter, who led a small squad to hold out for three days and three nights in the plague-stricken dwarven underground fortress, repelling countless attacks from mutated monsters and Skaven, protecting vital water sources and the wounded, until the army cleared the road!"

"Furthermore, there is 'Dawn of Light' Friedrich. When Grand Master Constantine guided the divine fire to purify the source of the plague, this young priest used his meager but pure divine power as a bridge to stabilize the raging holy flames and avoid possible backlash. Although he was severely injured, he played a crucial role in the final purification!"

Gilles' voice grew louder and louder, each name and each story drawing heartfelt admiration and thunderous applause. These stories may not have had the decisive strategic significance of the first three, but they were all the ultimate embodiment of ordinary people's courage and faith, and each was full of legendary color that stirred people's blood.

“Such examples are too numerous to mention!” Gilles concluded, his face flushed with excitement and pride. “A total of seventeen! Including Bartorem, Kaslan, Heinrich from before, as well as several other veteran champions who also made breakthroughs during this expedition and are already pillars of the legion, our army has added a total of seventeen knights who have received the goddess's blessing and whose strength is firmly established at the champion level!”

This number sent a collective gasp through everyone, followed by an even more fervent cheer! Seventeen Champion Knights! What an immense boost in power! Any electoral nation acquiring so many Champion-level forces at once would be enough to shake the entire world!

“Without a doubt!” Gilles’ voice boomed above the cheers, filled with unparalleled piety and certainty. “This sacred expedition, conducted in the name of our Lord Violet the Sun Goddess, has won the goddess’s unparalleled favor and blessings! Her glory shines upon the army of Black Forest like never before! This is not merely a material harvest, but a victory of faith, a magnificent manifestation of divine grace!”

"Our army has been tempered in blood and fire, its equipment has been updated, and more importantly, so many pillars of strength have emerged! The strength of our territory has achieved an unprecedented and qualitative leap because of this expedition!"

Lord Su Li abruptly stood up, raising his wine glass high, his eyes gleaming with excitement and ambition. The entire banquet hall fell silent instantly, everyone turning to look at their lord.

"Did you hear that?!" Su Li's voice boomed like a bell, echoing throughout the hall. "These are the warriors of Black Forest Territory! This is the brilliance bestowed upon us by the Goddess of the Sun! Seventeen newly crowned champions! What a glorious achievement! This proves that our path has been approved by the gods! This proves that the rise of Black Forest Territory is unstoppable!"

His gaze swept over every general, every champion knight, and every minister.

"For all the heroic souls who fought to the death!"

"For all the victorious warriors!"

"For the boundless grace of the Goddess of the Sun!"

"For the glorious future of the Black Forest!"

"cheers!"

"Cheers!!!" The deafening cheers nearly lifted the dome of the Forbidden City. The wine was downed in one gulp, and cheers, applause, and the pounding of shields blended together, bringing the banquet to its zenith. Everyone firmly believed that a more powerful Blackforest Territory had already laid a solid foundation in this glorious victory.

The revelry of the feast continued late into the night, with stories of fine wine and glorious deeds intertwined amidst the firelight and laughter. Su Li also drank with the crowd, his face flushed with a pleasant buzz, his eyes less sharp than usual, but filled with a touch of boldness.

As the last group of drunken knights were helped away by their attendants, the Forbidden City finally fell silent. Su Li's steps were slightly unsteady, but as he walked toward the inner fortress, he waved to the equally intoxicated treasury steward, Vandall, and the prime minister, Oliver.

"Wait..." His voice was slightly hoarse from drinking, but it remained clear at its core. He gestured for a personal attendant to come forward and whispered a few instructions.

A servant quickly brought over a silver platter covered with deep purple velvet. Su Li lifted the velvet cloth, revealing a fist-sized, nearly perfect fruit. Its skin was a strange golden-orange color, as if it contained solidified sunlight inside. Its surface was as smooth as jade, radiating extremely faint yet pure energy fluctuations. Just being near it was enough to invigorate one's spirit, and even the smell of alcohol in one's mouth seemed to dissipate.

"Stardew Orange..." The seasoned Fandral couldn't help but exclaim softly, a hint of awe flashing in his eyes. Even the usually composed Oliver's breathing quickened slightly. This was the most premium extraordinary resource in the Black Forest Territory, produced only in a few secret gardens directly under the lord's control and blessed by the goddess. Its annual yield was extremely limited, and its value far exceeded its weight in gold. Not only did it possess the ultimate taste in the mortal realm, but it also had powerful purifying effects, capable of dispelling toxins, clearing negative states, and greatly enhancing attention and concentration in a short period of time.

Su Li picked up a small silver knife and precisely sliced ​​into the orange peel. The moment the blade made its cut, an indescribable, refreshing aroma burst forth, like the first rays of sunlight piercing through the clouds after rain, carrying a sacred life force that instantly dispelled the lingering smell of alcohol and fatigue. The golden-orange, juicy pulp was revealed, as if shimmering with light within it.

Su Li first took a petal and put it in his mouth, closing his eyes slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing. When he opened his eyes again, all the haze and intoxication had disappeared, replaced by a clarity that was sharper and deeper than usual, as if it could pierce through all the fog.

He deftly cut the remaining orange in half and handed it to Oliver and Fandral. "Eat it. What follows will require a clear head."

Without the slightest hesitation, the two respectfully accepted the gift and carefully consumed this incomparably precious offering. The fruit melted in their mouths, and a complex sensation—cool, sweet, yet warm and comforting—instantly swept over them, like the purest holy water cleansing their souls and bodies. The post-drinking haze, fatigue, and restlessness influenced by the feast's atmosphere were instantly swept away. Their minds became incredibly calm and clear, their thoughts processing at a speed far exceeding their usual pace, each idea as thoroughly refined as if polished.

Vandall felt that the previously somewhat complicated accounts and figures were now crystal clear in his mind, down to the smallest detail. Oliver, on the other hand, felt that all the myriad issues concerning population resettlement and resource allocation had instantly become clear in their structure and priorities.

"Let's go." Su Li's voice returned to its usual calm and authority, as if the drunkenness from before had never existed.

The three walked through the silent palace corridors, where guards silently saluted and opened the heavy iron gates leading to the inner fortress. Unlike the tranquility outside, the closer they got to the treasury area, the more pronounced the busy and tense atmosphere became. Even though it was late at night, the fortress's annex building containing the treasury was still brightly lit, with the clatter of abacus beads, the rustling of scribes, and the low-voiced calls of the administrators all blending together.

The air was filled with the metallic smell of newly counted gold coins, the dusty smell of old parchment scrolls, and a faint, lingering scent of grease and saltpeter emanating from newly delivered trophy armor.

The enormous storeroom was a breathtaking sight. Chests of open gold and silver coins gleamed alluringly under the glow of magic lamps and candlelight, almost blinding. Bundles of fine swords, spears, and armor were neatly stacked in one corner, awaiting inspection by the armory officer to be branded with the territory's mark. Bags of unpolished gems, various exotic gold and silver artifacts, and luxurious silks and spices from southern lands filled several other areas. Dozens of scribes and administrators bustled about among the mountains of supplies, their faces showing a mixture of weariness and excitement.

Chief Steward Vandal immediately plunged into the bustling scene. He quickly took a thick list from a chief scribe and, while keeping pace with Su Li, reported the core data of the preliminary statistics in a low but clear voice:
"My lord, a preliminary inventory shows that the value of precious metal currency alone exceeds 20,000 gold crowns! This doesn't even include the priceless gems, works of art, and rare materials. As for weaponry, there are over 2,000 sets of armor of various types, in good working order and ready for immediate use by our army, and over 5,000 high-quality weapons! This is enough to arm two full-strength infantry corps with some to spare! In addition, there are over 800 packhorses and draft horses, and a large amount of grain supplies..."

Su Li listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over the vast wealth, but his face showed little joy. He knew all too well that behind these cold, hard numbers lay the casualties of nearly half the expeditionary force. Every gold coin was soaked in blood.

He turned to Chancellor Oliver, whose face also bore joy, but whose brow held a deep, unyielding worry.

“Oliver, you heard it all.” Su Li spoke slowly, his voice echoing under the vault’s dome. “The wealth is astonishing, but the price is equally enormous. Gilles reported to me that on this expedition, our army suffered more than two thousand casualties, including the dead, wounded, and missing. Many of them were experienced veterans and low-ranking officers.”

Oliver nodded heavily. “Yes, my lord. It was a heavy price to pay. But…” He paused, his tone becoming complex, “Commander Constantine, during the expedition, not only fulfilled his military duties but also greatly promoted the spread of the goddess’s faith. He spread the teachings of the Sun Goddess in the recaptured villages, in the strongholds along the way, and even among the prisoners of war. Many border residents who had lost their lords, whose homes had been destroyed, free people, and even some minor nobles, converted to the faith after witnessing the bravery of our army and the miracles performed by the goddess.” “More importantly,” Oliver lowered his voice, “a large number of armed squires, wandering knights, and wandering knights who had lost their masters in the war, as well as those seeking merit and a place to call home, chose to join our ranks and swear allegiance to you and the goddess. According to the list jointly submitted by Commander Constantine and Lord Gilles, this number even slightly exceeds the losses we suffered on this expedition.”

A glint flashed in Su Li's eyes. This might also be part of the "divine reward" that Patriarch Rong En mentioned—the replenishment of the population, the expansion of faith, and the potential enhancement of military power.

“In other words,” Su Li pondered, “although we lost a large number of experienced warriors, we brought back even more new blood eager for land, status, and glory.”

“Indeed, my lord,” Oliver affirmed, but his worry deepened. “However, this also presents a tremendous challenge. These newcomers, especially the knights and their squires, crave a place to settle down, a estate and stipend commensurate with their status and prowess. They are drawn here by victory and faith, but if the Blackwood cannot properly accommodate them, cannot meet their expectations for the future…”

The old prime minister didn't continue, but his meaning was crystal clear. These powerful, armed warriors, fresh from the crucible of war, would quickly transform from an asset into a huge threat if they weren't properly rewarded. They might leave in discontent, seeking refuge with other lords, or even become a source of unrest within the territory.

Su Li remained silent for a moment, then shifted his gaze from the mountain of treasure to Fandall, the treasury steward, and asked the most crucial question:
“Fandar, tell me the truth. Of all these glorious spoils before us, after deducting the compensation for the fallen soldiers, the rewards for those who have rendered meritorious service, and the compensation for equipment damage, how much will be left? Does our treasury have enough funds to support the large-scale expansion of the territory's army and to provide these new warriors with the treatment and resettlement they deserve?”

Instantly, all eyes were fixed on the lean steward. His answer would directly determine whether Black Forest Territory could truly digest the fruits of this victory and transform the potential crisis into a force for takeoff.

Fandall pushed up his glasses, quickly tapped a few numbers on the list with his quill pen, and showed a complex expression on his face that was both excited and extremely pained.

“My lord,” he took a deep breath, his voice carrying the precision of a calculator, “after deducting all the necessary and enormous expenses, we… will still have a very considerable surplus. Supporting military expansion is absolutely feasible. However, this means that our savings from the past few years, as well as most of the profits from this expedition, will be reinvested, like pouring water into a thirsty sponge. We can build a stronger army, but the treasury… will probably become quite ‘slender’ again in the next year or two.”

Upon hearing this, Su Li smiled helplessly.

“Slim?” His gaze seemed to pierce through the walls of the vault, glimpsing the future of the Black Forest Territory. “Then let it be slim. Gold locked in chests will never become land, armies, or loyalty.”

“Oliver, Vandal,” his voice became firm and powerful, “begin to formulate a plan. I want to see a larger and better-equipped Blacksene Legion take shape in the shortest possible time. As for those new warriors… tell them that the Blacksene Territory will not betray their choice. Their merits and loyalty will surely earn them the land and glory they deserve!”

Since a plan needs to be formulated, Fandral naturally needs to first demonstrate the wealth of the treasury district under his management. This is also the reason why Su Li specifically brought Oliver along.

“My lord, Lord Oliver, please follow me.” Fandall’s voice remained clear amidst the noise of the vault district. “Let me show you the true wealth and heritage of the Blacksin Territory.”

Instead of heading towards the hall piled high with gold and silver coins and miscellaneous spoils, he led the two to a much heavier door deep within the vault, forged from black metal and engraved with intricate holy symbols. Four heavily armored guards, their auras as heavy as mountains, silently saluted, then together pushed open the enormous door that required at least two people to budge.

The scene behind the door was completely different from the warehouse outside, which was filled with "money".

The air here is colder and drier, carrying the scent of steel, polish, and a faint, almost imperceptible aura of runic energy. The first thing that catches the eye is not a mountain of equipment, but rather weapon racks and armor racks arranged with the meticulous care of a temple.

Most striking is a solitary stone platform in the very center of the hall. On the platform, a spear over three meters long stands upright, its tip pointing directly at the dome. Its shaft possesses a strange, dark golden texture, resembling both wood and metal, entwined with reliefs of everlasting silver-leafed bauhinia vines. The spearhead gleams with a cold, icy light, and a faint, visible golden glow flows along the blade. Simply gazing upon it evokes a powerful, awe-inspiring force of order and protection.

"【The Oath Spear】" Fandall's voice was filled with utmost reverence, "Now it is the symbol of our territory, the equipment bound to the Lord's soul, and is inextricably linked to the fate of our entire territory. As long as it remains in our Purplethorn Fortress, the entire Blackwood Territory will be under the protection of the Green Knights."

Even the Iron Chancellor Oliver approached the spear with a look of reverence, bowing slightly in respect.

Legendary weapons, like legendary knights, are symbols and guardians of a territory!
Su Li was already very familiar with this weapon, after all, he had taken it to the battlefield many times.

So his gaze swept across the area and landed on the weapon rack to his left, where a menacing warhammer lay silently. Its head resembled a rugged black metal mountain, and its striking surface was inlaid with a ring of strange, molten metal that radiated a faint, skin-tingling vibrational energy—it was a Chosen-class [Citybreaker], seized from Drake's treasury.

Beside it stood a battle axe of a completely different style. A pale blue halo flowed across its broad, crescent-shaped blade, while the deep, dark mountain patterns on the axe face and the bronze wooden handle exuded absolute stability and precision. Su Li recognized it as the gift from the dwarven king—the [Rockbreaker's Axe]. The tearing and stabilizing runes constantly adorning its blade made it a perfect symbol of friendship and slaughter.

In addition, there were nearly twenty powerful weapons lying there, including warhammers, axes, and halberds. Each one exuded a unique and powerful energy fluctuation, and they were all perfect treasures. Even if they could not freely change size like the Chosen Ones, they still had unparalleled power.

Fandral then led them into the next armored compartment, where the first thing they saw was the powerful Chosen-class armor, the Griffin Armor. This armor, crafted for Su Li by the territory, possessed an extremely strong amplification ability for bloodlines. Wearing it was like gaining the Soul of Burning Steel! It greatly enhanced the wearer's strength and stamina, making them unstoppable in a charge! It also possessed many other abilities such as Lightning Reaction and Blazing Blood Counterattack.

Beside the imposing and heavy Griffin Armor stood a brand-new suit of armor, burning with holy light. The heat and majesty emanating from it even caused the surrounding air to distort slightly.

This suit of armor is entirely a noble, molten gold, its material not ordinary iron, but rather a fusion of pure sun gold and blessed volcanic core iron. Every inch of the armor plate radiates a warm and dazzling light. Its design is majestic and solemn, with strong and sacred lines. The shoulder armor is sculpted into the form of a blazing sunbird poised for flight, the details of its feathers lifelike, its edges sharp as knives. At the center of the breastplate is a huge, crimson spherical gem, like a miniature sun, constantly radiating light and heat, its interior seemingly filled with liquid holy flames that burn eternally.

The entire suit of armor was engraved with countless intricate runes of blazing sun emblems and hymns of praise. These runes were not inanimate objects, but rather seemed to whisper and chant as the light shifted. It emanated not a cold, murderous aura, but a vast, sacred pressure that purified all evil. Standing before it, one could clearly feel the terrifying heat contained within and its absolute restraint over dark forces.

This is the fourth set of God-Chosen Armor that the territory has created since last year: the [Gilded Holy Armor]!
The territory has a total of four sets of God-chosen armor. The other two sets are worn by Hilde and Durmst respectively, to greatly enhance their combat and defensive capabilities.

Beyond these four treasures stood six identical sets of plate armor, each still radiating powerful energy. They were entirely dark red, like cooled lava, with golden patterns along the edges resembling burning flames. While not as adaptable to the size of a chosen general as their chosen armor, their standardized design was perfectly suited for large-scale use by an entire legion. These six sets of [Blazing Plate Armor] were specifically crafted for the most powerful knightly orders within the territory, significantly enhancing their survivability and combat capabilities.

These chosen equipment pieces are few in number, about twenty or so, but each one is priceless and a strategic resource for the territory.

Beyond these two top-tier warehouses lies an even larger, standard-issue armory.

The scene here is even more striking. Rows upon rows of armor racks stretch as far as the eye can see, like a silent steel forest. The hundreds of suits of armor at the forefront are exquisitely crafted, with delicate bauhinia or sun emblems embossed on the breastplates. The metal surfaces are so shiny they reflect light, and runes seem to flow beneath the surface—"Rare-grade plate armor. Issued to captains, standard-bearers, and distinguished veterans of various knightly orders."

Following them were even more numerous, solidly crafted, and comprehensively protective plate and chainmail armor—"Perfect-grade standard armor. Equipment for main knights and elite infantry."

Even more numerous were neatly stacked, gleaming, high-quality scale armor, studded leather armor, and chainmail, along with an equal number of longswords, spears, battle axes, and shields… They were densely packed, stretching deep into the shadows of the warehouse, enough to arm several legions! The air was thick with the smell of leather, steel, and rust-preventing oil, so heavy it was almost suffocating.

"My lord, the reserves here, plus what we've captured this time, are enough for us to build a large, well-equipped army in a short time!" Fandall's tone was filled with pride: "As long as you order conscription and expansion, the armory district can provide ample equipment!"

(End of this chapter)