Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 541 Su Li's Daughter and the Second Treasure of the Suland Province
After Duke Bohemond and his entourage departed, a brief silence fell over the banquet hall of the Forbidden City. Su Li sat alone in the main seat, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the gilded armrest. His mind was repeatedly weighing the bait thrown out by the Empire and the red lines drawn, as well as the breathtaking power struggle within the Empire's high command revealed by Grand Master Adelbert.

Time passed slowly, but the "special person" he was waiting for still hadn't appeared. Su Li frowned slightly, looked up at the high-ranking steward, Hilde, who was standing to the side, and asked with a hint of doubt, "Hilde, has anyone... come to see me?"

A rare, slightly mysterious smile appeared on Hilde's handsome and beautiful face. She gently shook her head and replied, "My lord, no outsider has sent a message requesting an audience."

She paused, looking at Su Li's slightly tired and thoughtful expression, and added gently, "However, Duke Bohemond specifically reminded you before he left that you should rest. Perhaps... when you return to your bedchamber and get some rest, you will naturally understand?"

Her hint was quite subtle and not explicitly stated, but the barely perceptible smile in her eyes stirred something within Su Li.

At this moment, Su Li's thoughts were still mostly occupied by the strategic choices for the future of the territory, and he did not delve into the deeper meaning of Hilde's words. He only felt that he needed a quiet environment to continue thinking. He rubbed his temples, stood up, and said to Hilde, "Well, today has indeed taken its toll. Come with me to the bedroom and help me relax. I need to lie down and rest early."

"Yes, my lord," Hilde replied respectfully, her smile deepening.

The two walked through the silent and magnificent castle corridors and arrived at the heavy oak door of the lord's bedroom. As always, it was quiet at the door, and the guards on duty saluted Su Li silently.

Su Li didn't think much of it and, as usual, reached out and pushed open the door.

However, the moment the door opened, the scene before him froze him in place, overwhelmed by a wave of surprise and astonishment.

In his lavishly furnished and personal bedroom, the fireplace flickered, casting a warm glow. And right beside his large four-poster bed sat a woman's figure!

This was already surprising enough, because his bedroom was heavily guarded, especially by his lion-mastiff named "Golden Tooth," who was exceptionally fierce, had a keen sense of smell, and was hostile to any stranger who entered his territory, roaring and attacking at the slightest disturbance. But at this moment, Golden Tooth was unusually quiet!
Su Li's gaze instinctively searched for the fierce dog, and then his eyes widened suddenly.

His massive, calf-sized lion-mastiff, Golden Tooth, a beast that no one dared approach except him and Hilder who fed it, was now lying docilely on the carpet, its limbs outstretched. Even more unbelievable, perched atop its broad, muscular back—a back capable of crushing armor—was a little girl who looked about two years old!

The little girl wore a soft pink dress, had smooth silver hair, and her bright, sparkling eyes were curiously looking towards the doorway on her exquisitely beautiful face. One of her little hands was tugging at the thick, long hair behind Gold Tooth's neck, while the other hand gently patted its back, making indistinct, pleasant babbling sounds.

Gold Tooth, the infamous vicious dog of the territory, showed no resistance or aggression whatsoever. Instead, he comfortably squinted his eyes, emitting a low, almost fawning purr from his throat. He even turned his head ingratiatingly and carefully licked the little girl's dangling ankle with his rough tongue.

This scene completely shocked Su Li. Gold Tooth was notorious for its loyalty and xenophobia; even its close female courtiers would growl and bare their teeth if they tried to approach it, aside from him and Hilde. What was wrong with this little girl? How could she make Gold Tooth so unusually docile and affectionate?
His gaze shifted from the incredible scene to the woman sitting by the bed.

The warm firelight illuminated her profile, outlining a soft and familiar silhouette. She wore a magnificent deep purple velvet gown, the hem adorned with delicate silver embroidery, a far cry from the image of her in her simple maid's dress that she remembered. The passage of time had not diminished her beauty; rather, it had added a mature charm, making her figure even more full and alluring, and her eyes held a gentle and composed air born of experience.

"Avril Lavigne?!"

Su Li could hardly believe her eyes and cried out the name in a trembling voice.

The woman before him was none other than Avril! The first woman to truly connect with and accept him after he transmigrated to this strange world, his former personal maid. During his darkest times—when he was most destitute, his future uncertain, and he might even be expelled from the Fortress of the Bauhinia—it was this woman who soothed his anxiety and pressure, and alleviated his loneliness with her warm embrace and selfless devotion. In his most difficult moments, she had even silently packed her bags, ready to abandon the comfortable life in the castle at any time and follow him onto the unknown, potentially perilous road of exile.

Later, to accompany Phyllis to her new post in the province of Suland, and also to strengthen the bond between Su Li and Phyllis, she reluctantly left the Black Forest Territory. Unexpectedly, tonight she would suddenly appear in his bedroom in this way!
Hearing his call, Avril on the bed raised her head, a gentle yet playful smile blooming on her face, her eyes glistening with tears of joy and longing.

She nodded gently, her voice as soft as ever, yet with a touch more composure: "It is I, Your Excellency. That 'special person' is me. Don't blame the Duke and Steward Hilde; I specifically asked them to let me... give you a surprise."

Overwhelmed by joy and excitement, Su Li instantly broke through all his defenses and thoughts. Almost instinctively, he strode forward and pulled the gentle woman beside the bed into his arms. His arms encircled her still slender waist, feeling the familiar softness and warmth he remembered. The faint, familiar fragrance lingered around his nose, and he suddenly understood the profound meaning behind Duke Bohemond's words, "Get some rest," and Hilde's mysterious smile.

However, the ecstasy of this reunion lasted only a moment. Su Li suddenly remembered something, her body stiffened slightly, and her gaze turned sharply to the little girl on the carpet beside her, still riding on Jin Ya's back, staring at them curiously with her big, dark eyes.

An unbelievable thought flashed through his mind like lightning, making his heart pound and his voice tremble with disbelief: "She...she is...?"

Avril was held tightly in his arms. She looked up at the mixture of shock, expectation, and disbelief in his eyes, nodded gently but firmly, and a maternal smile spread across her lips as she softly confirmed, "Yes, my lord. She is Princess Phyllis and your child, our daughter, Jianjia."

She turned her head slightly and gently guided the little girl, "Jianjia, quickly, call him Father."

The little girl, Jianjia, seemed a bit shy. Her tiny hands unconsciously tugged at the long hair of her gold tooth, her lips slightly pouting. Her large, clear eyes studied Su Li's face for a moment, as if trying to confirm something. Just as Su Li was about to hold his breath, she suddenly grinned, revealing a few pearly white baby teeth, and uttered a soft, indistinct sound:

"Father...kiss...father...hug me..."

Her pronunciation was still unclear, with the ambiguity typical of a young child, but the word "father" was pronounced exceptionally clearly and naturally, as if she had been repeatedly taught and instructed in her ear countless times when she was just learning to speak.

That one word, "Father," was like the softest yet most powerful feather, instantly touching the most tender string in Su Li's heart. A surge of immense excitement and the joy of becoming a father for the first time flowed through his body like a warm current. He almost carefully, almost reverently, released Avril, slowly crouched down, and opened his arms to the little girl. His voice was softer than ever before, even carrying a barely perceptible sob: "Jianjia... my little Jianjia... come, let Father hug you."

Little Jianjia looked at the tall man before her, who exuded an unfamiliar yet instinctively familiar aura. A hint of timidity and hesitation appeared on her small face, and she subconsciously shrank into the warm fur of the man with the golden teeth. The man with the golden teeth seemed to sense his little master's emotions and let out a low, comforting whimper.

However, the connection between bloodlines is so wondrous. After a brief hesitation, Xiao Jianjia looked into Su Li's expectant and gentle eyes, and finally timidly and slowly let go of the little hand that was tugging at the dog's fur, stretching out her fair and tender arms, as white as lotus roots, toward Su Li.

Su Li's heart fluttered, and he could no longer resist gently and firmly pulling the small, soft bundle into his arms. The little girl smelled of milk and sunshine, her petite, warm body nestled against his broad chest, and an indescribable emotion, a mixture of responsibility, protectiveness, and boundless tenderness, instantly filled his heart.

This was the first time he had ever seen and held his daughter in his arms. This tangible sense of blood connection was far more profound and moving than any sense of satisfaction brought by power or conquest.

He held his daughter as if she were the most precious treasure in the world, and slowly sat down on the edge of the bed. Little Jianjia was initially a little stiff, but soon the warmth and security of her father's embrace relaxed her. She rested her little head on Su Li's shoulder, her tiny hand unconsciously playing with the patterns on his collar. A warm silence flowed in the bedroom, the firelight from the fireplace casting long shadows of the family of four on the wall.

After a while, Su Li finally recovered from the overwhelming happiness. He looked down at his daughter, who was gradually relaxing in his arms and even beginning to curiously examine his stubble, then looked up at Avril beside him, who was smiling and watching him, and asked the question that had been bothering him:
“Avril, what’s going on? Why did you suddenly bring Jianjia here? Aren’t you Phyllis’s high-ranking steward now? That’s a very important position in the province of Suland, second only to the emperor. Now that you’re gone, Phyllis… can she handle things on her own?”

He was well aware of the predicament facing the province of Suland, and that Phyllis had a heavy burden on her shoulders. As her most trusted steward and close companion, Avril's departure at this crucial moment would undoubtedly deprive Phyllis of an important ally.

Hearing Su Li's concerned inquiry, Avril's gentle smile deepened. She subtly adjusted her posture, leaning more comfortably against Su Li's side, but her gaze remained fixed on little Jianjia, who was curiously tugging at her father's buttons. Her tone was soothing and comforting as she spoke:
“My lord, there is no need to worry too much about His Highness. The situation is much better than before.” She began to explain, “Your previous donation of 200,000 gold crowns was like sending charcoal in snowy weather, relieving Suland’s urgent needs and allowing His Highness to initiate the most crucial reconstruction projects and stabilize his base.”

“More importantly,” Avril’s eyes gleamed with pride, “Duke Bohemond’s glorious victory in the Holy Great Expedition at Mount Oka is far more significant than a military triumph. These successive victories, especially the resounding triumph against the forces of Chaos, have greatly boosted morale in Suland and deterred some restless elements within the country. As you know, in this era, victory itself is the most powerful motivator and the most effective stabilizer.”

She looked at Su Li, her tone becoming increasingly resolute: "Your Highness not only brought the funds and food needed for recovery, but also such a morale-boosting victory. Those voices that were originally restless and questioning her abilities have naturally quieted down considerably. Now, Your Highness's authority in the province is much more stable than when I left. Although she is still busy and under great pressure, at least she is no longer fighting alone and surrounded by enemies."

After explaining Sorrento's situation, Avril's expression turned slightly serious. She carefully took out an item from a long, narrow box wrapped in mithril wire and velvet that she carried with her.

It was not ordinary gold or silver jewelry, but an ancient scroll. The scroll's shaft was made of a kind of warm, jade-like white wood, with pale blue crystals inlaid at both ends, exuding a tranquil and pure aura. The scroll itself, tanned from some unknown material, had an ancient, pale gold color. It was blank, yet faintly glowed, as if containing boundless wisdom and the power of law.

Avril held the scroll with both hands and solemnly presented it to Su Li.

"My lord, besides bringing Jianjia to see you, His Highness the Prince has entrusted me with a very important matter, which I must personally deliver to you."

She took a deep breath and revealed the scroll's origin and name:
"This is one of the ten national treasures passed down through generations in the province of Suland. It is a gift from the ancient deity, the goddess of learning and justice, Verena, and is called the [Verena's Scroll of Truth]."

She further explained, her voice filled with awe: “This is a priceless treasure guarded by the Scroll Knights. His Highness negotiated with them many times before finally bringing it under his control. According to the Church, it cannot be written on by mortal pen and ink. Only those whom the Church deems worthy, possessing sufficient wisdom and power, and whose hearts are filled with a yearning for ‘order’ and ‘truth’, can use their own spiritual power and will as a guide to manifest the ‘answer’ or ‘contract terms’ they need on it. Based on our experience, it’s not that complicated. Basically, the Chosen One Verena can inscribe the contract on the statue of the goddess.”

"However, a God-chosen person can only inscribe one contract. Once this contract is formed, it will be personally judged by Her Majesty the Goddess of Justice, Verena, and neither party can break the contract. If one party wants to break the contract, either party must die, or both parties must come to the Temple of Truth in the province of Surand, with the Grand Master of the Scroll Knights as witness, to pray to the goddess and make sacrifices, in order to break the contract."

Avril's gaze was fixed intently on Su Li: "His Highness said that this contract was preserved in Suland for hundreds of years until the last invasion by Geba, which destroyed both parties to the contract, and only then did the contract disappear. His Highness believes that it might be of some help to you—whether it's for devising complex strategies, formulating unbreakable alliances, or even... establishing 'rules' that must be followed for certain specific objectives. It represents a 'force of order' that transcends ordinary contracts."

She gently placed the scroll in Su Li's hand, feeling its warm and mysterious touch, and whispered, "Your Highness believes that you may encounter many problems on your future path that cannot be solved by force alone. This [Truth Scroll] may open up new possibilities for you at crucial moments. She says... knowledge, law, and order are sometimes more powerful than swords and can solve problems more fundamentally."

Entrusting such a precious treasure to Su Li was not only Phyllis's unwavering trust in him, but also contained her profound expectations—that Su Li could find a more lasting and stable way to rule and break the deadlock beyond force. This support from a beloved ally from afar carried far greater weight than any gold coins or army.

As Su Li listened to Avril's account, his gaze fell on the scroll in his hand, which emitted a tranquil and mysterious light, called the "Verena's Truth Contract Scroll." Shock spread through his heart like ripples.

This is the second national treasure of Surland that Phyllis has delivered to him!
The first item, the [Legion Compass], now rests quietly in the core secret chamber of Blackwood Castle, playing an unparalleled role each season. With the changing seasons, it adjusts the flow of the ley lines, bringing a continuous stream of benefits to the Blackwood Territory—whether it's the [Forging Resonance] that allows metallic and fiery winds to penetrate deep into the mines, enhancing the magical tempering of metals and increasing smelting efficiency.

"The [Solid State], which solidifies the territory's earth winds, makes buildings more robust, and reduces construction costs, maintenance, and construction cycles, greatly accelerates the territory's development. He has already planned to adjust the ley lines to [Breath of Harvest] this coming spring to ensure maximum food production in both newly occupied territories and existing lands, alleviating the pressure from population growth."

And now, this second supreme treasure, the [Scroll of Truth], has also traversed countless mountains and rivers to reach his hands. The power of this treasure is even more direct, and even more… terrifying. An absolute contract witnessed by the goddess herself, one that cannot be violated! Its strategic value is simply immeasurable.

His fingers gently brushed across the smooth surface of the scroll, feeling the power of order it contained, which seemed to govern all things in the world. Countless ideas for its applications flashed through his mind in an instant.

Use it to form a contract with a dragon? For example, the crimson dragon Morkana, who, despite fighting alongside you, remains unruly at heart? Or find a way to restrain the red dragon Drake, who hides in the Twilight Mountains? This would undoubtedly grant you an incomparably powerful aerial combat force and a deeper control over the power of dragons.

But he suppressed the thought as soon as it arose. It felt... somewhat wasteful. Using such powerful forces of order to restrain a wild beast seemed like a waste of resources. It was more like a tactical application than a strategic investment.

His thinking began to extend to a grander scale. Perhaps he should use it to forge a truly far-reaching strategic alliance? For example, to facilitate a formal and unbreakable alliance between the Church of the Goddess of the Sun and the Church of the Goddess of Learning Justice, Verena? This would greatly enhance his voice and influence within the empire's religious sphere, and might even reshape the religious landscape in certain regions.

This idea is clearly more substantial. But upon closer examination, it seems somewhat... too idealistic. The union of the two churches involves too many complex doctrines, interests, and internal factions; it cannot be completely resolved by a single contract, and may even arouse vigilance and united resistance from other churches.

"We must be cautious..." Su Li murmured to himself. This was tantamount to imposing an "absolute rule" that could be enforced on reality. If used well, it could solve a major threat and lay the foundation for a century-long dynasty; if used poorly, or if the target value was insufficient, it would be a huge waste of this precious gift. At the very least, it should be a strategic contract that could determine the affiliation of a province or forge a permanent peace alliance with the electoral family, only then would it be worthy of using this treasure.

He needs time, and a more calm analysis of the current situation and future threats, before he can make the wisest decision.

Avril watched Su Li deep in thought, a knowing smile on her face, and said softly, "As for how to use this [Truth Scroll], Her Highness the Prince said that she believes your wisdom is best able to unlock its true value, and she will not interfere with any of your decisions."

As she spoke, she took out another letter sealed with sealing wax from her bosom; the wax was marked with Princess Phyllis's unicorn emblem. Avril's expression softened further and became more solemn:
"My lord, this is the most important message that His Highness instructed me to come here in person to convey to you."

She handed the letter to Su Li, gazing into his eyes as she relayed it clearly and firmly, word by word:
"His Highness asked me to tell you: whatever choice you ultimately make, whether you accept the Empire's conditions for a temporary truce or choose another, more difficult path... she and the entire province of Suland will stand firmly and unreservedly on your side."

These words, like a stabilizing force and the warmest harbor, instantly soothed all the anxiety and uncertainty in Su Li's heart caused by weighing the pros and cons.

Phyllis did not use her daughter or the treasure to exert influence, nor did she try to guide him to choose the option most beneficial to Sorland. Instead, she offered unconditional trust and support. This affection and oath of alliance, which transcended political calculations, was more powerful than any treasure or lobbyist.

(End of this chapter)