Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 532 The Demise of the Earldom and the Dignity Su Li Gave to the Electoral Council
Queen Mosa's vicious and precise taunts, like poisoned ice picks, pierced the most unbearable and hidden corner of the hooded man's heart.

The air in the tower seemed to freeze at his sudden outburst of anger. The invisible pressure made Queen Mosa instinctively take a half step back, a hint of wariness flashing in her single eye.

“Shut up…you filthy alien bitch…” A deep, menacing voice came from under the hood, each word seemingly carrying shards of ice. It was no longer the calm calculation of before, but a naked, almost overflowing chill and hatred that had been completely stripped away from its disguise.

This hatred was not directed at Mosa, but was poured out entirely and without reservation on that distant figure—Su Li!
"What do you know..." His voice trembled slightly with extreme anger, "That's mine! It should have been mine! My power! My ladder of strength! And yet... it was defiled and stolen by some bastard from the borderlands who appeared out of nowhere!"

He suddenly raised his head, and the hood that had been covering his face finally slipped down, revealing his true face underneath.

It was Joachim, the lord of Maleiburg!

This legendary powerhouse had a resolute face, with features as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe, exuding the majesty of someone who had long held a high position and the vicissitudes of battle.

His hair was dark brown and meticulously combed, but a few strands of gray from hard work and years were already faintly visible at his temples.

What is most striking are his eyes—deep as an ancient well, yet now burning with a dark flame that seems to come from the abyss, a tangible resentment and murderous intent brewing after being humiliated and having his "treasure" taken away.

His lips were habitually pursed, forming a cold, hard line that revealed his stubborn, ruthless, and vindictive nature.

Everything unfolded exactly as Queen Mosa had predicted, yet it was far more distorted than she had imagined.

When Joachim returned from that crucial "holy expedition," his power and prestige had reached new heights. It was then that he heard the news of Lady Bayonetta's "disappearance" during the parliamentary struggle.

At that moment, he felt nothing, and even... a secret sense of ecstasy.

As Mosa said, Bayonetta had long lost her novelty for him. Her stunning beauty, in the eyes of a powerful man like Joachim, who was obsessed with strength and authority, was nothing special after a while.

What he truly craved was a higher realm, greater power, and absolute rule that would make Maleburg and even the entire border princely territory grovel at his feet!
Bayonetta's "disappearance" provided him with a perfect excuse, a sharp blade to wield against the city council that he had long been fed up with! He immediately used this as grounds to accuse the council of inadequate protection, and even implied that some council members were involved in the "kidnapping," thus launching a frenzied purge of the council factions.

During that period, Maleburg was plunged into a real bloodbath.

Loyal officials and wealthy merchants were dragged from their homes at night, their blood splattering the streets; their entire families were accused of "colluding with foreign enemies" and "blaspheming the city lord," their property was confiscated, and their members were either executed or exiled.

The city lord's mansion abused its power to forcibly levy heavy taxes, cut off the trade routes of the council-affiliated merchant caravans, and even condoned and instructed bandits to rob their caravans.

They controlled the city's announcers and parts of the temples, spreading rumors about the council members' "corruption," "incompetence," and "betrayal," blaming all of the city's problems on the council's obstruction.

Supporters of both sides—the city's defense forces and the chamber of commerce guards and mercenaries—engaged in several large-scale clashes on the streets, resulting in heavy casualties and widespread panic throughout the city.

The parliamentary faction was not without its own strength. Having cultivated deep roots in Maleiburg for many years, they possessed substantial financial resources, a complex and intricate network of connections, and had secretly amassed a large number of loyal followers and powerful bodyguards. For a time, the two sides were evenly matched, with neither gaining the upper hand, and Maleiburg's political situation descended into a quagmire of stalemate and internal strife.

However, just as Joachim was feeling somewhat troubled and even began to consider whether to launch a more costly offensive, an external force approached him.

This mysterious and powerful force provided him with a wealth of crucial intelligence and tangible support—including elite assassins, scarce magical resources, and even detailed information about the weaknesses and secrets of the core members of the Council.

With this unexpected aid, Joachim instantly broke the balance, gained an overwhelming advantage, and drove the parliamentarians to the brink of defeat.

Among this massive amount of information, one piece of news, like a venomous snake, burrowed into Joachim's heart, completely igniting his long-suppressed greed for power and his jealousy of Su Li—

That was information about Bayonetta's exact whereabouts! And... the astonishing secret about the "Moonlight" power, a treasure of the world, and the bloodline of the Priestess of the Moon, which lay dormant within her!

Only then did Joachim realize the true value of the treasure he had once possessed! He recalled the occasional strangeness Bayonetta had shown; those details he had overlooked now became sharp blades piercing his heart. He hadn't lost a beautiful plaything, but rather missed a key that could unlock the door to supreme power!
And this key has now fallen into Su Li's hands, and it seems that he has already "developed" and used it!
The regret and rage over being fooled, stolen from, and missing out on supreme power instantly consumed Joachim's reason. His hatred for Su Li reached an unprecedented level. This was no longer merely due to the obstruction of a political opponent, but stemmed from the deepest struggle and humiliation concerning his own path to power!

He stared intently into the distance, as if he could see through the fog and pinpoint Su Li's figure on the battlefield, the resentment in his eyes almost tangible. Queen Mosa's taunts, though harsh, were all true.

He is now like a dragon whose scales have been stolen. All his scheming and forbearance ultimately point to one goal—to take back Bayonetta, to reclaim the power that rightfully belongs to him, and... to make Su Li pay the most painful price for his "theft"!
Queen Mosa's enormous single eye stared at Joachim's face, which was filled with undisguised greed and hatred, and she coldly asked, "So, Your Excellency, what do you intend to do now? Just stand here and watch your 'treasure' be seized by someone else, and continue to endure it like a rat in a gutter?"

Joachim took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging anger, and a calculating glint reappeared in his eyes: "What's the rush? That force has already promised to provide me with a set of legendary weapons and armor, and even to send legendary knights and assassins to assist me at crucial moments."

He paused, his tone carrying a suppressed anticipation: "But all of this still requires time to prepare. The allocation of supplies and the deployment of personnel cannot be rushed. So, we need to be patient. Moreover, before that, I also need your Mudcrown Castle to use its ability to move through the swamp to secretly transport some... 'special' supplies in for me. The swamp territory route is no longer safe enough."

"Ha," Queen Mosa let out an undisguised sneer, her single eye full of mockery, "What mysterious force... playing tricks. Aren't they just those shady bureaucrats in the Electoral Council? Using you to deal with Su Li in order to maintain their corrupt order."

Joachim looked at the swamp queen, who was relatively "weak" in appearance but had Litanel under her thumb, and had to admit that her wisdom was indeed far superior to that of ordinary monsters, and that she could see through the true nature of the alliance at a glance.

But that's all. He thought to himself, compared to the true power players vying for dominance at the top of the empire, her vision was ultimately limited by this swamp, only able to see the level of Maleiburg and the Electoral Council.

"You think it's just those greedy bureaucrats?" Joachim shook his head, a hint of pity in his voice for the Queen's "shortsightedness." "Those parasites sucking blood from the border princely territories might be able to produce a golden crown and mobilize some mercenaries. But legendary weapons? Legendary armor? And legendary powerhouses that can be deployed at any time?"

His voice carried a hint of awe that he himself was unaware of: "I, Joachim, have been stationed in Maleiburg for so many years, and I don't have a single truly legendary piece of equipment under my command! How could such a feat be undertaken by those bureaucrats on their own? Behind this must be a truly important figure in the Electoral Council, or at least the instruction of a certain Elector!"

His gaze returned to the imposing army of the Black Forest Territory in the distance, his eyes becoming incredibly deep and solemn: "The Black Forest Territory's rise has been too rapid, and Su Li's potential and strength are terrifying. If he truly manages to annex the entire Swamp Territory without any hindrance and integrate the northern resources, what will be next? Maleburg? And then the entire border princely territory?"

“The appearance of such a powerful and uncontrollable behemoth on the Imperial border is something the bigwigs of Terra absolutely do not want to see.” Joachim’s voice deepened, carrying a coldness that revealed his understanding of the higher-ups’ intentions. “For the Empire, the best state for border princely territories is to remain ‘divided’ and ‘weak,’ serving as a buffer zone and a source of resources for the Empire. Su Li and his Black Forest Territory have already threatened this fundamental principle. Therefore, they must be restricted, or even… strangled, before they truly gain power.”

“And I,” Joachim’s lips curled into a cold smile, “am the best person they chose to enforce this ‘restriction.’ We each get what we need.”

Queen Mosa paused for a moment, the sarcasm in her single eye lessening slightly. Although she loathed Joachim, she had to admit that his analysis touched upon aspects she hadn't considered deeply. The power games within the empire were far grander and darker than the tribal struggles in the swamps.

"So, all we can do now is wait?" she finally asked, her tone much calmer.

“Yes, wait and be prepared.” Joachim pulled his hood up, hiding his face in shadow again. “Have your Mudcrown Fortress evacuate. There’s a Shadow Swamp north of Maleburg; go there first. Be ready to receive my ‘gift.’ When everything is ready, it will be time for us to take back everything from Blacksene Territory, from Suli…”

His figure slowly disappeared into the shadows of the tower, leaving only his last chilling words lingering in the air:

"What belongs to me, I will take back with my own hands. And those who stand in my way... will pay the price."

Listening to Joachim's scheming and hate-filled plan, Queen Mosa's enormous, single eye, instead of being persuaded, gleamed with an even more dangerous and greedy light. She stepped forward, the hem of her nun's robe sweeping across the moss-covered stone slab, her voice carrying an undeniable force, interrupting Joachim's final harsh words:

"Your price? Hmph, Joachim, don't forget our agreement!" Her voice sharpened, taking on the hoarse quality unique to aliens. "If we really win, Su Li... that man, must be handed over to me!"

Joachim's brow furrowed sharply beneath his hood, clearly not expecting her to emphasize the condition again at this moment, and in such a forceful tone.

Queen Mosa gave him no chance to interrupt, her single eye gleaming with shrewdness and ambition: "Think about it, his terrifying intelligence gathering and strategic planning abilities, combined with the elusive nature of my Mudcrown Fortress! If we combine—no, if he is used by me—I will be able to easily spy on, divide, and annex the Femir tribes scattered throughout the swamps of the world! Unifying the entire swamp-dwelling demon race and restoring the glory of the ancient 'Mia' will no longer be an unattainable dream!"

Her voice rose slightly with excitement, but then her tone took on a more naked, even physiological, quality. Her enormous, single eye narrowed slightly, as if examining a priceless treasure.
"And...didn't you notice, Joachim?" Her gaze seemed to pierce through the hood, sweeping over him with a barely perceptible hint of contempt. "Su Li, this man...his strength isn't just in his army and luck. His innate talent for cultivation, the...vigorous, seemingly limitless life force and potential within him, is simply astonishing!"

She stretched out her slender, claw-like fingers and lightly traced them in the air, as if drawing a perfect blueprint: "That good-for-nothing Litanel only managed to reach that level by relying on the grace of his benevolent father and my guidance. As for Su Li... he did it all on his own! And you, Joachim, although you are a legend, in terms of a man's ability, you are far inferior to him."

This merciless comparison struck Joachim like a whip, making it hard for him to breathe.

Queen Mosa's single eye refocused, filled with an unwavering greed: "But Su Li is different! I can 'smell' the untapped potential within him! Hand him over to me... given time, I can 'nurture' him into the most perfect... 'seed'!"

Her voice carried a chilling fervor:

“A man as powerful as him…is enough to nurture a new and stronger race for me, for our Swamp Demon race! This is far more valuable than a legendary weapon or a set of legendary armor! So remember your promise, Joachim. Suli is mine! My man!”

An eerie silence fell over the tower. Joachim's face, hidden beneath his hood, was so dark it seemed to drip water. He had not only been belittled to his face by Queen Mosa, but also sensed a different, unsettling threat from her frenzied and possessive words. This swamp queen's ambition far exceeded his expectations.

What she wanted was not just survival or revenge, but something much grander and more blasphemous—the "evolution" of her race, and Su Li became the key "tool" to achieve all of this in her eyes.

The foundation of this cooperation seems to be more fragile than imagined, rife with mutual exploitation and ulterior motives.

Joachim's figure vanished silently into the darkness of the tower, like a venomous snake disappearing into the shadows. Shortly after his departure, the entire Mudcrown Castle emitted a low, eerie hum, and the massive complex began to slowly sink, as if swallowed by an invisible maw, ultimately disappearing completely beneath the churning mud and mist, as if it had never existed.

Meanwhile, the army of Hessen, having achieved a decisive victory, did not slacken in the slightest. With morale soaring, they seized the momentum of their crushing defeat of the enemy's main force and began a comprehensive clearing and search of the remaining areas of the Green Moss Swamp.

The soldiers formed small squads and cautiously ventured deep into the previously inaccessible heart of the swamp, eliminating scattered resistance strongholds and searching for any possible hidden enemies or secrets, determined to completely eradicate the foundations of the swamp territory's rule in one fell swoop.

In the heart of the battlefield, beside the enormous headless corpse belonging to Nagoritanel, Hilder had reverted from her divine form and returned to her human form, standing alongside Su Li before the massive severed head.

The head was so gruesome and striking. It resembled a small hill, over ten meters in diameter, its skin a sickly color, a mixture of dark green and deathly gray, covered with cysts and festering wounds that constantly oozed yellowish pus.

The enormous demonic eye at the very center of the forehead, once covered in a yellowish-green glow, was now completely dim, resembling a rotten giant fruit, yet still retaining an unsettling shape. On either side of what was once the human head, there were two slightly smaller, but equally distorted, non-human eyes, now devoid of all life.

On the top of the skull, several short, twisted horns, resembling rotting tree branches, even grew out—a striking sign of having deeply accepted the "gifts" of Nurgle. A pungent, dizzying stench of decay emanated from the head like a tangible barrier.

However, faced with this horrifying object that would make an ordinary person vomit and faint, Su Li showed no disgust or fear whatsoever. Instead, his eyes shone with undisguised joy. He carefully examined the enormous and hideous head, as if admiring a priceless treasure.

"That's great...that's really great!" Su Li's voice was filled with a sense of relief and joy. He turned to Hilde beside him and said with confidence, "With this, Hilde, all our previous military operations will be given the most perfect and irrefutable legitimacy!"

He pointed to all the undeniable chaotic and corrupting features on the head—the twisted horns, the multiplied demonic eyes, the festering, pus-filled skin, and the pure, filthy aura of Nurgle.

“In the laws and values ​​of the Empire, attacking or annexing the territory of a legitimate nobleman without the Empire’s permission is a serious crime, considered tyranny and rebellion, enough to attract the intervention and trial of the Electoral Council or even the Emperor himself.” Su Li analyzed calmly, a confident smile playing on his lips. “But!”

His tone suddenly became more serious: "All of this is predicated on the fact that the nobleman himself remains 'legitimate' and continues to be loyal to the Empire and humanity!"

“And a ‘noble’ who openly accepts the power of the Chaos God, whose body and soul have undergone such obvious and profound distortions, becoming a chaotic demon-like being…” Su Li’s gaze fell on the severed head again, his tone resolute, “He is no longer protected by imperial law! On the contrary, eliminating him and purifying the land he has polluted is the sacred responsibility and obligation that every citizen of the empire, especially powerful lords, cannot shirk!”

Upon hearing this, Hilde immediately understood Su Li's meaning, and a hint of understanding and agreement appeared on her usually cold face: "What you say is absolutely right, my lord. According to the Imperial Law of Purity and Loyalty and the common doctrines of the major righteous churches, anyone who colludes with Chaos and undergoes irreversible mutation will automatically lose all their legal status and rights. Eliminating such beings is not only not a crime, but also a service to the Empire. This head is the most direct and irrefutable ironclad proof that Litanel betrayed humanity and sided with Chaos!"

“That’s right!” Su Li nodded, his gaze sharp. “With it, those bureaucrats in the Electoral Council who tried to attack us by accusing us of ‘undermining the noble tradition’ will be completely speechless! We can even turn around and question them: Why did they allow such an obvious Chaos Corruptor to hold the title of Earl for so long without anyone noticing? What responsibility should their corrupt evaluation system bear?”

He took a deep breath, as if he could already see the enormous advantage that holding this trump card would bring in future political games.

"In this war, we not only won land and resources, but more importantly, we won political legitimacy and the moral high ground," Su Li concluded, his tone filled with the composure of someone in complete control. "Keep this 'medal' safe. Prepare to send it to Maleburg; it will be our Hessian Territory's most powerful weapon in dealing with any internal accusations from the Empire."

In Su Li's eyes, this foul-smelling, chaotic head was no longer a filthy trophy, but a sacred certificate that washed away all criticism and laid the legitimate foundation for the Northern Territory's hegemony.

Su Li stared at the hideous head, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, and a slightly mocking smile appeared on his lips.

“Just imagine,” he said to Hilde in a lighthearted tone, “what a sight it will be when we carefully pack this ‘gift’ and send it to Maleburg, to those important figures in the Electoral Council.”

He seemed to have already seen that scene, his tone filled with undisguised mischief.

“Just last year, their examiners confidently determined that Litanel was a ‘qualified’ and ‘powerful’ border count, while I, along with my Blacksin territory, didn’t even deserve the lowest rank of Kingdom Knight.”

His finger hovered over the rotting head.

"And now, the 'qualified' earl in their eyes has become like this, a complete Nurgle's chosen one. And the 'unqualified' pioneer knight they deemed has not only razed his territory, but also presented the evidence directly to their faces."

Su Li chuckled softly and shook her head.

"This will probably embarrass them a lot. I'm even looking forward to seeing how they'll explain themselves. According to Imperial law and Church creed, eliminating such a prominent Chaos Corruptor is not only not a fault, but a merit. They might even have to give us a commendation order if they have no choice."

He turned to Hilde, his tone regaining the composure of a decision-maker, but the hint of a smile in his eyes still lingered.

"Take good care of this head. Use lime and spices to make it look 'respectable.' After all, it is proof of the innocence of our Blacksene territory and a... grand gift for Maleburg. Make sure that every member of the Electoral Council can clearly 'appreciate' the outstanding achievement they assessed last year."

(End of this chapter)