Being a knight is not easy

Chapter 330 Rewarding Meritorious Service 2
The soldiers, wearing the Guardian Medal on their chests, were all arrogant and haughty.

They stood tall, their eyes filled with pride.

The medals gleamed in the sunlight, as if they were symbols of their status, making them stand out in front of others.

The surrounding crowd cast envious and respectful glances, and the children looked at the soldiers with admiration, which made the soldiers who received medals even more proud.

"Next up is the Second Class Merit..." Robin's voice rang out again, and the entire square fell silent instantly.

The soldiers became even more focused, and those who were expected to receive a second-class merit clenched their fists with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

The crowd craned their necks, eager to see which soldiers would receive this higher level of military merit.

The atmosphere became even more tense and expectant, as if the air itself had frozen, and everyone was waiting for Robin to read out the names of the soldiers who were about to receive second-class merit awards.

The awarding of a second-class merit is the same as that of a third-class merit.

A solemn sense of ceremony permeated the air, and every step proceeded in an orderly manner.

The soldiers stood in neat rows, their eyes filled with anticipation and tension, knowing full well the significance behind the medal.

However, the officers who were awarded the medal were at least Grand Knights, and Ironjaw and Andisu were also among those awarded the medal.

The great knights marched with steady steps, their armor gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, each step seemingly carrying immense weight.

Iron Jaw and Andy Sue both looked very serious. They took each award ceremony seriously, solemnly pinning the medals on the soldiers' chests, their actions seemingly conveying a silent power.

This move also greatly boosted the morale of soldiers who came from slave backgrounds.

For these soldiers who came from slave backgrounds, this was the greatest recognition they could receive. They had struggled at the bottom of society, and now they had earned the honor they deserved through their bravery, which made them feel incredibly proud and excited.

"Every recipient of the First Class Merit is a hero of the territory. I, the Baron, hereby swear that as long as I live, the families of heroes who receive the First Class Merit will enjoy the same treatment as soldiers." Robin's voice was calm and firm, and his words echoed in the square like a resounding bell.

This is a solemn promise, a reward for the heroes who have made great sacrifices for the territory.

As the soldier who had received a first-class merit entered the venue, the onlookers couldn't help but gasp.

The scene was truly heartbreaking, because every one of these soldiers who received the First-Class Merit Award was missing an arm or a leg; very few of them were whole.

Some of them walked with difficulty, leaning on crutches; others sat in wheelchairs, being slowly pushed into the arena by their companions.

Their faces bore resolute expressions, and despite their physical disabilities, their eyes were filled with pride.

There were even a few children who served as representatives, their innocent faces bearing a solemnity beyond their years.

“Your fathers are all wonderful.” Robin looked at the children with deep respect.

The fathers of these children paid the ultimate price for the sake of their territory and for the peace of everyone.

These children, though their father is gone, their heroic deeds will be remembered forever.

Robin stepped forward, gently patted the children's heads, then took the First Class Medal from the maid and solemnly handed it to the children.

The children received the medals and clutched them tightly in their hands, as if they were holding their fathers' glory. The surrounding crowd, witnessing this scene, had tears welling in their eyes.

They were moved by the soldiers' bravery and fearlessness, and warmed by Robin's promise.

In this world full of war and danger, these heroes composed a magnificent hymn with their lives, and Robin gave them the highest respect and reward in his own way.

As for the Special Merit, Robin hasn't been assigned one yet, because only Robin in the entire territory deserves it.

He played an irreplaceable role in the development of his territory, the victory in war, and the decision-making in various affairs.

After the medal-awarding ceremony, the soldiers' morale reached its peak, and their loyalty to the Wilke family also reached its highest level.

The soldiers who received the medals were filled with gratitude and respect for Robin and the Wilke family.

They knew that their honor was closely related to the support and recognition of their family, and this feeling translated into a strong fighting will and loyalty to their family.

Back at camp, they excitedly showed each other their medals and talked about every detail of the awarding ceremony. Their enthusiasm also infected the soldiers around them who had not participated in the awarding.

Late at night, the soldiers who had been awarded medals that day broke through one after another. The power brought by the Power Fruit enhanced their own strength, which in turn greatly improved the strength of their territories.

From that day on, Wilke's number of knights exceeded two thousand, and his number of grand knights exceeded one hundred.

This is a remarkable number; in the past, it was rare for Wilke Territory to have so many powerful warriors.

Inspired by the awarding ceremony, these knights trained even harder, and their competitive spirit among themselves intensified.

Every soldier longs to continue to distinguish themselves in future battles and bring glory to their family and territory.

The great knights became role models for the soldiers, guiding the young soldiers on the training grounds and imparting their combat experience and skills to them.

Their presence is not merely a symbol of military power, but also a pillar of spirit, inspiring more soldiers to strive for higher goals.

The number of legendary knights has reached eleven, a strength sufficient to crush the current Knights Guild.

In contrast, the Knights Guild has suffered heavy losses in previous wars, resulting in a sharp decline in the number of legendary knights, and its current strength is far inferior to that of Wilke Territory.

This is also why Alina is so eager. She has witnessed the rise of Wilk territory and knows that if the Knights Guild wants to regain its former glory, it must rely on the power of Robin and Wilk territory.

If Robin could join the Knights Guild, with his leadership skills and the powerful military strength of Wilke Territory, perhaps the Knights Guild could be saved from its current decline.

Alina stood in a corner of Wilkeburg, watching the soldiers' energetic training, and her desire for Robin to join the Knights Guild grew stronger.

In the castle's dining room, Robin dined with Viscount Wilke and his wife.

The restaurant was brightly lit by candlelight, and the tables were laden with exquisite food, emitting an enticing aroma. However, Robin's mind wasn't entirely on the food.

"Son, what are your plans?" Viscount Wilke asked, glancing at Robin seemingly casually as he cut the meat on his plate.

Robin looked at him in confusion: "What plans? Father, what are you talking about?"

(End of this chapter)