Lu Mingfei, become the King of Elden!

Chapter 274 With this sword as proof

Kenneth Hyde stood there, stunned, his mind blank, and it took him several seconds to fully process the meaning behind Lu Mingfei's words.

The relief of surviving the ordeal and the excitement of being recognized instantly intertwined, causing the impoverished descendant of a nobleman to tremble slightly.

He found it.

Yes, Kenneth Hyde was absolutely certain that the silver-armored figure before him was the enlightened ruler he had been searching for and dreaming of in this chaotic and fragmented borderland, someone to whom he could entrust his family territory and his ideals.

He was majestic and powerful, capable of quelling a rebellion at Hyde Fortress in a single day with lightning speed; he was calm and efficient, acting decisively and leaving no room for future trouble.

What's even more remarkable is that he is not a pure worshipper of force. Beneath his seemingly cold exterior lies an understanding of "order," and he is even willing to accept his own inclusive policies, which are considered "naive."

This young nobleman, who harbored ideals but repeatedly encountered setbacks in reality, finally saw a glimmer of hope in the long night, a light that could understand and support his beliefs.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and said to Lu Mingfei's retreating figure:

“I…I understand, my lord. Kenneth Hyde will not fail you! I will prove to you with my actions that order is not just empty talk.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Mingfei slowly turned around, his golden eyes calmly gazing at him.

That gaze was so deep, it seemed to see right through people, and it made Kenneth Hyde's heart, which had just calmed down a little, race again.

However, Kenneth would never have guessed that beneath the calm and dignified exterior of this new lord, a subtle ripple was stirring within his heart.

It could even be said that there is no certainty.

Appointing a manager... it sounds quite convincing, and the lines are certainly imposing, but I've never actually studied this!

Lu Mingfei muttered to himself, his lips twitching slightly beneath his mask.

Being a king? Managing a territory? Allocating power? Kassel College teaches dragon-slaying skills, but it doesn't offer courses like "Introduction to the Governance of the Elden Ring Territory" or "Medieval Noble Relations"!
A jumble of fragmented knowledge flashed uncontrollably through his mind, mostly from history books, fantasy novels, and even scraps from strategy games and movies he had once read out of boredom.

He seemed to have heard of all these terms and concepts, such as "a combination of kindness and severity," "the way of checks and balances," and "knowing people and assigning them to suitable positions," and he even seemed to understand the principles to some extent. But when it came to putting these theories into practice himself, applying them to living people and a real territory, the feeling was completely different.
but……

He tried to find examples to comfort himself.

It seems that many of the founding emperors in history weren't necessarily formally trained officials at the start. Wasn't Liu Bang just a lowly village head before? And Zhu Yuanzhang started as a beggar and monk…

I'm someone who actually fought my way through Stoneville, so I should have some kingly demeanor, right?

He looked at Kenneth Hyde, who was trembling slightly with excitement and awe, and his mind raced.

This guy has ideals, principles, and is even fearless. He dares to argue with me to uphold his beliefs. In chaotic times, such people are either rare gems or stubborn old men who are prone to causing trouble.

Using him is better than using those idiotic noble scions in Stoneville.

Giving him power is tantamount to putting shackles on him, forcing him to be responsible for the actual conditions of this land.

This should be considered a kind of check and balance, right?

Lu Mingfei recalled his previous experiences dealing with all sorts of people, from Sir Hundred Wisdom in the Round Table Hall to the mad magician Seren, and now to the stubborn little nobleman in front of him.

He realized that ruling might be a more complex and protracted battle, requiring not only force but also insight into and manipulation of people's hearts.

Let's do this first.

He finally made a decision.

Practice makes perfect. Let's use Heidegger as a testing ground to see if Kenneth's theory is actually feasible.

If he can govern well, his value will be proven; if he messes it up... then it's not too late to replace him or intervene personally.

Thinking of this, the hesitation in Lu Mingfei's heart gradually disappeared.

He suddenly realized that becoming the King of Elden was not just a path of military conquest, but also a path of continuous learning, adaptation, and the construction of order.

“Very good.” Lu Mingfei nodded, his voice steady and authoritative.
"Now that the dust has settled, a ceremony is indispensable."

He took a step forward, and an invisible aura naturally emanated from him.

“Kenneth Hyde, kneel down.”

Without the slightest hesitation, Kenneth immediately knelt on one knee and lowered his head.

This was the first time he had willingly submitted to this lord whose power and will far exceeded his imagination.

Lu Mingfei once again drew the greatsword of the Lost Knight, a symbol of power and conquest, and held it steadily on Kenneth's shoulder.

In whose name?
At this solemn moment, a thought naturally arose in Lu Mingfei's mind.

The Golden Tree? Although he possessed two Great Runes, was a double-fingered certified person with royal status, and using the name of the Golden Tree would make it easier to win people's hearts, Lu Mingfei resisted it from the bottom of his heart.

storm?

That is an important source of power he currently possesses, and it is part of his fighting style, but not the entirety of his essence.

Dragon Feast?

This path is forbidden and isolated, fraught with uncertain risks, and even less suitable as a pretext for public investiture...

His mind raced.

Lu Mingfei realized that he could not, and was unwilling to, completely depend on any existing, restrictive, and enormous entity. What he represented should transcend these and return to the origin.

Lu Mingfei suddenly remembered what the old knight had once told him.

Live for yourself, live for your ideals and mission.

At this moment, he woke up.

He represents himself—Lu Mingfei.

A faded figure with a modern mindset, possessing multiple strengths, walking across the borderlands, intending to reshape the order of this world.

His authority should stem from his own will, actions, and choices.

Having made up his mind, Lu Mingfei had no more hesitation.

He adjusted his breathing, making his voice more solemn:
"With this sword as proof, in the name of Lu Mingfei—"

He paused slightly.

"You, Kenneth Hyde, are hereby appointed as the rightful administrator of Hyde Fortress, to exercise the authority of rule, and to maintain peace and order in this place."

I urge you to heed my words today, to fulfill your duties, and to uphold the legitimate order you believe in.

The sword gently touched Kenneth's left and right shoulders, completing a simple yet significant investiture ceremony.

"Get up, Kenneth Hyde."

Kenneth Hyde stood up as instructed, feeling the lingering sensation of the sword's edge on his shoulder, yet a surge of emotion welled up within him.

His gaze toward Lu Mingfei was now filled with complex awe.

"My lord, please wait a moment!"

He suddenly remembered something and hurriedly spoke:
"Please come with me back to Hyde Fortress. There is something important that I must present to you."

(End of this chapter)