Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 534 The Shocking Maleburg and Su Li's Powerful Methods
The grand military parade was like a storm sweeping across the plains, and its deterrent effect was immediate. After Su Li made that highly conquest-oriented declaration from the mountaintop, the war machine of the Black Forest Territory did not stop for a moment, and immediately and seamlessly switched from the "military parade mode" of displaying military power to the "occupation mode" of actual control.

The day after the parade, the blockade and taxation operation, personally supervised by Hilde and specifically planned by Marshal Orstein, was fully launched.

The elite Hessian infantry and cavalry, in large battalions, quickly moved in and took control of all known major passes and trade routes on the western slopes of the Cloud Crown Mountains that were passable by carts and horses.

At these key locations, watchtowers and checkpoints, rapidly constructed from massive logs and rammed earth, sprang up, their prominent Blacksene flags fluttering in the wind.

Soldiers clad in dark, studded leather armor or gleaming plate armor stood guard, their eyes alert, exuding the vigor and unquestionable authority of a newly victorious army.

At the same time, the "Hessen Customs Decree," personally signed by Lord Su Li, was copied in large quantities and posted next to every newly established tax post, and read aloud by literate officers to all passing merchants.

The core content of the law is concise and forceful:
"From this day forward, all goods, caravans, and personnel traveling through the Cloud Crown Mountains and the Golden Plains to the east and south of Maleburg must pay transit duties to the Hessian Territory and be subject to inspection and registration by Hessian tax officials. This is a necessary measure for the Hessian Territory to exercise its sovereignty over its legitimate territory. Any resistance, tax evasion, or concealment will be considered a provocation against the Hessian Territory, resulting in the confiscation of goods, the detention of persons, and, in serious cases, prosecution as spies!"

The tax bureau operates efficiently and ruthlessly. The tax collectors of the Hessian Territory are mostly retired, literate veterans or rigorously trained clerks. As followers of the Sun Goddess, they are usually literate and even possess tactical and strategic thinking skills. Carrying abacuses and thick ledgers, and escorted by armed soldiers, they meticulously inspect every caravan attempting to pass through.

"Stop! Submit for inspection!" The cold command was the first thing the caravan heard as it approached.

The types and quantities of goods were counted one by one, their value was assessed, and then the amount payable was calculated based on a newly prepared tax form.

Gold and silver coins jingled as they fell into the wrought-iron wooden chest, in exchange for a travel permit stamped with the seal of the Hesse tax collector. Without this permit, no caravan could leave Maleiburg to trade in the vast border princely territories.

At first, some caravans tried to protest, haggle, and even invoke the names of a merchant guild leader or nobleman from Maleburg. But all they received in response were the soldiers' colder gazes and their swords already half-drawn, and the tax collectors' emotionless repetition: "This is the law of Hessian territory, and there is no room for doubt. Pay your taxes, or return the way you came."

Some smuggling teams belonging to the former nobles of Maleburg, who attempted to force their way through checkpoints or take secluded paths, were quickly caught up by the patrol cavalry of the Hessian Territory.

The consequences were dire—the goods were confiscated on the spot, the people were shackled and taken away, and those who resisted fell directly to crossbow bolts and spears. After several bloody demonstrations of authority, no one dared to challenge these newly established rules again.

The effects of this blockade and taxation system were immediate.

First, it brought extremely stable and substantial fiscal revenue to the Hessian Territory. As a trade hub of the border princely territory, Maleburg's eastward and southward trade routes were one of its economic lifelines, and now the valves of this lifeline were firmly controlled by the Hessian Territory. The daily inflow of customs duties into the Hessian Territory's treasury was an astonishing figure, greatly supporting the territory's post-war reconstruction, military maintenance, and future expansion.

Secondly, this had a huge political and psychological impact on Maleiburg.

When wagons laden with goods lined up at the east gate of the city, unable to unload or leave due to the lack of a pass from Hessian territory; when prices within the city began to fluctuate due to a sharp decline in imports from the east; when the nobles and merchants of Maleburg discovered that they could no longer freely obtain raw materials such as timber, ore, and grain from Hessian territory and even further east—panic and anger began to spread within Maleburg.

The banner of the Black Forest Territory was no longer just a symbol on a distant mountain peak, but had transformed into tangible checkpoints, tax collectors, and cold laws, like a noose that was gradually tightening around the neck of Maleburg.

Controlling the passages to the east and south, while not completely isolating Maleburg (the Black Mountain Pass to the north and the complex political power zone to the west still exist), was enough to make this prosperous city feel the pain and unprecedented strategic pressure.

Standing atop a newly established watchtower at the forefront of the checkpoint, Hilde coldly gazed at the city on the distant horizon, its outline still magnificent, but which, in her eyes, revealed a state of distress.

She said to Orstein beside her, "Marshal, the noose has been put. Now, it depends on whether the lord of Maleiburg chooses to sit down and talk or chooses to struggle."

Erstein crossed his arms, his granite-like face expressionless: "No matter which path he chooses, the final outcome is already predetermined. This land can only have one voice."

The blockade is now a foregone conclusion. The Hesse government, with steel and law, has transformed the military force displayed at the parade into continuous economic and strategic pressure.

The power structure of the border princely territories is undergoing an irreversible shift due to the combined effects of silent taxation and tangible warfare.

Just as the passes of the Hessian Territory locked the eastern and southern gates of Maleburg like iron clamps, and the nobles and merchants in the city were overwhelmed with worries and complaints due to the obstruction of trade routes, an even more direct and insulting storm descended without warning over this already tense city.

On a peaceful afternoon, the sun was shining, but an unusual figure appeared on the eastern horizon of Malesburg.

First came a dazzling golden light, like a shooting star streaking across the sky, approaching at an astonishing speed. It was the legendary Saint Lily Knight, Hilder, riding a magnificent griffin, her golden armor gleaming in the sunlight, like a war angel from mythology. However, in stark contrast to her divine presence was a terrifying sight behind her!

It was a specially made, exceptionally sturdy, enormous wagon, pulled by more than thirty of the most magnificent armored warhorses. A huge Blacksene banner covered the wagon, but the outline of the small hill that rose above it, along with the faint scent of preservatives and death emanating from it, sent chills down the spines of everyone who saw it.

The battle banner was casually torn open by a wisp of battle aura from Hilde, revealing the "cargo" beneath it—the massive, still grotesque head of the swamp lord Litanel, which had been treated! Its skin was an unnatural grayish-white, and its single, wide-open eye seemed to be filled with endless resentment. Just by being there, it brought a visual sense of oppression, like that of a prehistoric behemoth.

On either side and behind this terrifying head-cart were a whole squad (twelve) of Blackwood knights riding half-griffins. These flightless behemoths were clad in heavy horse armor, their sharp eyes on their eagle heads scanning the distance ahead, their thick lion claws stomping the ground with a dull thud, and their deep, threatening roars made the air near the East Gate almost freeze.

The death mission proceeded directly toward the east gate of Maleiburg.

"Stop...stop! Halt!" The captain of the city gate guards, steeling himself, led a squad of soldiers forward to block their path. His voice trembled with fear, and his spear shook slightly. Faced with the massive severed head and the terrifying aura of the half-griffin knight, the so-called discipline of the city guards seemed utterly powerless.

Hilde didn't even speak. A half-griffin knight captain beside her spurred his mount forward, his masked head turning towards the guard captain. A cold voice came through the gap: "This is Lord Suli of Blackforest, presenting a 'small gift' to the Electoral Council—the head of the Swamp Tyrant Litanel. Make way!"

"Without...without the Governor's order, such a...such a huge object is not allowed to enter the city!" The garrison captain tried to uphold his insignificant duty, even though his legs were starting to go weak.

"Get out of the way." The half-griffin knight captain's voice was flat, yet carried an undeniable resolve.

"It's my duty, no..."

"Roar--!"

Before the garrison captain could finish speaking, the half-griffin in front of him seemed to be enraged by the other party's hesitation, and suddenly let out a deafening roar, sending a stench through the air! At the same time, the knight captain slightly lowered the extra-long lance in his hand, the tip of the lance gleaming coldly, pointing directly at the city gate.

This is no longer negotiation; it's an ultimatum.

The defending soldiers retreated in terror, their formation instantly crumbling.

"Attack." Hilde's cool voice came from the air, as if she were issuing a perfectly ordinary command.

The next moment, hell descended upon the city gates.

The twelve and a half griffins charged simultaneously! Although they could not fly, the speed and power they unleashed on the ground were terrifying! Like twelve heavy chariots, they crashed into the not-yet-fully-closed city gates and the terrified defenders with an aura of crushing everything in their path!
"Boom!" Splinters flew everywhere, and the bolts twisted! Soldiers attempting to close the city gates were sent flying backward, bolts and all, by the immense impact. The defenders blocking the way were easily knocked over and trampled like scarecrows! The sounds of cracking bones, screams, and the roars of half-griffins filled the air!
The half-griffin knights of the Black Forest Territory didn't even use their main weapons. Relying solely on the impact of their mounts and the tearing of their claws and teeth, they easily tore through the fragile city defenses and stormed into Maleburg like a hot knife through butter!

Upon entering the city, the procession made no stop, dragging the massive wagon carrying the terrifying head along the central avenue towards the Electoral Council's residence. The sounds of hooves, wheels, the galloping of half-griffins, and the terrified screams of residents from the buildings on either side blended into a concerto of violent intrusion.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of countless horrified people, the procession arrived at the mansion square. The knight driving the head-cart abruptly severed the lasso connecting the horses, using the momentum to cause the massive cart to violently swerve, slamming Litanel's head, which was over ten meters tall, onto the front of the mansion's main gate!
"boom!"

A dull, massive impact resounded like a death knell across the granite plaza in front of the official residence.

Litanel's twisted head, frozen with the last vestiges of shock, anger, and resentment before death, crashed heavily onto the front of the mansion like a discarded battering ram, creating a jarring contrast with the solemn gate. Filthy blood and preservative salt splattered across the polished stone slabs, leaving a trail of filth.

Hilder's griffin circled in mid-air, her icy gaze sweeping over the chaotic guards and the clerks who rushed out of the residence at the sound of the commotion. Her clear and powerful voice resounded like a proclamation throughout the forecourt of imperial power:
"This is a small gift presented by Lord Su Li, the Lord of Black Forest, to the Council of Electors!"

"The swamp tyrant Litanel, who repeatedly violated the borders, ravaged the land, and even colluded with alien monsters, desecrating human territory, has now been slain. His head is here to demonstrate the Black Forest Territory's determination to defend the righteous and eliminate traitors, and to prove the demise of our old and stubborn enemy!"

"I hope that the esteemed members of the council will accept this!"

Leaving behind the mountain-sized head and a deathly silence of terror, the Black Forest army set off again, ignoring the city that had erupted in chaos behind them. Following the route they had come from, they rode away under the distant, timid gazes of the city's garrison that had rushed to the scene.

The whole city was shaken!

The news spread like wildfire, instantly igniting every corner of Maleburg.

Commoners whispered among themselves in the streets and alleys, their voices a mixture of fear and a secret thrill, as they discussed the legendary knight's charisma and his demonic head.

Merchants and guild leaders wore solemn expressions; they understood better than the common people what this meant—the Black Forest Territory not only possessed a powerful military, but its style of doing things was also...unrestrained! This was no opponent that could be dealt with using gold coins and traditional rules.

The aristocratic circles, especially those powerful figures closely connected to the Electoral Council, felt a chill run down their spines. This was no longer a simple demonstration; it was a blatant slap in the face, a public trampling on the authority of the imperial bureaucracy! Su Li and his Black Forest Territory, through this most primitive and bloody method, declared that they did not play by the rules and possessed sufficient military force to support their actions.
-
At the same time, this thunderous news naturally struck the still-panic-ridden office of the Noble Assessment Committee immediately.

"boom!"

The chairman of the committee, the obese Baron von Kleist, actually sprang up from his large, high-backed chair this time, his bulky body knocking over the coffee table beside him, shattering expensive porcelain cups, but he seemed oblivious. His face was no longer deathly pale, but rather a corpse-like bluish-gray, his fat twitching uncontrollably.

“He…he threw…threw it at the gates of the council residence?!” His voice was shrill, like a rooster being strangled, filled with incredulous horror. “Hilde…that legendary knight himself…came with a griffin…”

Helmut, the commissioner responsible for reviewing promotion applications in the Hessian Territory, had completely lost his usual cold demeanor, replaced by a deep-seated fear. He could barely stand by leaning against the wall, his lips trembling as he muttered, "A madman... a complete madman... how dare he... how dare he insult the Electors' Council like this..."

"An insult? This is a declaration of war! It's stepping on the face of the council to tell the whole city that Su Li has the ability to kill Litanel, and he has the ability to not care about us... us..." Another committee member's voice trembled, and he couldn't say the rest, but everyone understood—with the other side possessing such military power and decisiveness, they, these bureaucrats who relied on the authority of the empire to act arrogantly, were simply like a paper fortress.

“It’s over…it’s really over this time…” Baron von Kleist slumped down, collapsing into his chair like a lump of mud, his eyes vacant. “Before, we could say it was a procedural issue, but now…now Litanel’s head is right at the door! What will the council members think? They’ll think we’ve forced a potential ally who can slay powerful enemies on the border and has the loyalty of legendary knights to turn against us! That we’ve created such a terrible enemy for the Empire for that ridiculous bribe!”

It wasn't that the other side was incapable of bribery, but rather that they utterly disdained it! They possessed sufficient ability and merit, and according to the rules, they should have been promoted smoothly, yet they were forcefully blocked. Now, they have used the most direct method to flaunt their "merit" (Litanell's head) in front of Parliament, while simultaneously exposing their dereliction of duty and folly to the naked light of day.

"The files... are the files really gone forever?" Von Kleist looked at Helmut with a sob in his voice, clinging to the last glimmer of hope.

Helmut shook his head sadly, his face drained of all color: "Chairman... I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's too late. And even if we retrieve it now, what good will it do? That head... it's already been delivered!"

A deathly silence fell over the office, broken only by heavy, desperate breathing. Outside the window, the sky over Maleburg seemed still clear, but each of them felt as if a heavy mountain range called "Blacksem Territory" was bearing down on them and on the entire city of Maleburg with irresistible force.

With his bloodied head, Su Li not only declared the end of his old enemy but also revealed his sharp fangs to all those with ulterior motives. The chess game in Maleburg was utterly shattered by this heavy blow that landed outside the chessboard.

Almost at the same time that dull thud echoed across the square, on the towering terrace of the Maleburg Lord's Mansion, a figure suddenly stepped forward, gripping the cold railing tightly with both hands.

Lord Joachim, a powerful figure known for his iron fist and ambition, had lost all his usual composure and calculation. Instead, his face wore a complex expression of rage, horror, and a barely perceptible hint of humiliation. Looking down from his vantage point, he clearly saw everything unfolding before the Elector's residence—the mountain of grotesque severed heads, the Black Forest troops who had marched away with disregard for the city's defenses, and the surrounding crowd, panicked like a swarm of disturbed ants, yet too afraid to approach.

“They…how dare they…” Joachim’s voice was low, with a tremor he himself was unaware of. He had not been unaware of the strength of the Black Forest Territory, but when this force smashed directly into his city gates and the gates of the Imperial Residence in such a brutal and undisguised manner, the overwhelming sense of oppression far exceeded his expectations.

Only by facing it in person can you truly feel how powerful the other party really is.

It wasn't just the brute force of dozens of warhorses dragging a massive object, nor merely the crushing ferocity of a half-griffin's charge; it was a deep-seated, unbridled confidence and decisiveness! They didn't even bother with any diplomatic rhetoric, directly announcing their existence and their attitude towards the old order in the most brutal way.

Joachim's gaze was fixed on the severed head belonging to Litanel. He had once had close ties with this man and knew all too well how troublesome and terrifying he was. Yet, this very ally, whom he had relied on so much, had now had his head tossed to his doorstep like trash by Su Li. This was not only a slap in the face to the Electoral Council, but also a demonstration to Joachim—look, your old friend, I can cut him down with a flick of my wrist!
A chill ran down his spine. He realized how laughable and fragile his previous plan, in alliance with the bureaucrats of the Electoral Council, to secretly hinder and suppress Su Li, appeared in the face of the absolute force and decisive action displayed by the other party. The other party simply didn't care about the rules of the game they had set.

In stark contrast to the somber atmosphere on the terrace of the city lord's mansion, in a secluded room of the city council, several core bureaucrats, after a brief moment of deathly silence, all revealed an almost morbid, relieved expression on their faces.

"They...they're gone?" a gaunt councilor asked tentatively, as if he couldn't believe that the menacing team had really left.

"They're gone! They're really gone! They just left Litanel's head behind and left!" Another obese senator wiped the cold sweat from his brow, let out a long sigh of relief, and even forced a grim smile. "They...they didn't lay a hand on us!"

Fear still lingered, but beneath that fear lay a twisted sense of relief. The Black Forest's earth-shattering attack had indeed terrified them, but more importantly, it had struck squarely at the gates of the Elector's residence, amounting to a resounding slap in the face to Lord Joachim, who had been relying on imperial authority and constantly squeezing their power!

Previously, they had been suffocated by Joachim's imperial backing, almost reduced to puppets. Now, Su Li's forceful entry, almost barbaric, broke the deadlock. A force more powerful and unconventional than Joachim had emerged, clearly standing in opposition to Joachim and the Electoral Council!
“Brilliant… truly brilliant…” Speaker Vigo murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness. “Joachim is probably in a real bind now. His proud city defenses are practically useless against the Black Forest Territory, and his secret allies have been openly humiliated… I wonder how much energy he has left to deal with us?”

Another person added sinisterly, "And don't forget the 'gift' we gave Su Li... Lady Bayonetta, Joachim should already know she's in the Black Forest Territory, right? He's probably furious."

Sending Joachim's wife, renowned for her beauty and strong personality, to Su Li was a risky move intended to sow discord and create trouble for Joachim. Now, it seems the move has been even more effective than they anticipated. Su Li's domineering nature, coupled with the resentment of having his wife stolen (regardless of the truth, that's how Joachim and outsiders perceive it), has pushed these two most powerful lords of the North into a life-or-death struggle.

These bureaucrats, who were originally struggling to survive in the cracks, have gained a little breathing space as a result, and can even look forward to snatching chestnuts from the fire in the upcoming fierce competition.

“Let them fight it out,” the first Vigo Speaker said in a low voice, a hint of cunning on his face. “The fiercer they fight, the safer we… will be, and the more opportunities we will have.”

Inside the secret room, the group exchanged glances and nodded knowingly. Outside the window, the enormous head still exuded an unsettling aura, but in the eyes of these seasoned politicians, it had transformed from a symbol of terror into a pawn capable of... stirring up the political landscape. The "gift" from the Hessian Territory was beginning to ferment and create a complex and dangerous chemical reaction within the power arena of Maleiburg.

(End of this chapter)