Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

“Otus currently only has ten Heavenly Rank experts, four of whom are princes and grand dukes with their own territories, and they are only subject to orders. The other three are stationed in the north, south, and west respectively. Apart from your father, who is guarding the emperor, the only other options are the president and vice president of the Imperial Military Academy. Who do you think will be sent?”

Haifulian lifted her skirt and sat down on the muddy ground next to Liuxia without any hesitation, saying, "I heard that the thirteenth princess was collecting materials to break through to the Heavenly Rank, and she should soon have a Heavenly Rank expert by her side. Aren't you afraid of sending that person over?"

"Male or female?" Ryuu raised an eyebrow at Haifulian, her tone not a question but a counter-question.

“A woman, a female knight,” Hefren replied, glancing at Ryusha, then laughed as if suddenly realizing something. “You weren’t hoping she’d come, were you, you little pervert?”

Ryusha couldn't help but roll her eyes: "You're talking about Gerberi. Hetia said she's Tipalotura's personal guard and won't leave her easily. But you, what? Don't you want to see me become a nobleman?"

"No, not at all." Heflian's tone was very relaxed, but she fell silent after saying that. She secretly glanced at Ryuka beside her. The boy was still lost in thought on the simple map on the ground, occasionally marking some symbols that she couldn't understand.

"Hey...who are you planning to marry?"

"Cough cough cough! What?"

Hafulen's sudden question made Ryuka exclaim, "Marriage? What marriage? We're still at war! Is marriage something we should be talking about?! No! Why would she suddenly ask such a question?" Ryuka turned to look at Hafulen, who was resting her chin on her hand, elbows on her lap, looking at her calmly and talking to herself.

"You're sixteen, aren't you? An orphan from a common hunter family, right? After becoming a nobleman, marriage will probably be something you have to consider." Heflian spoke calmly, explaining methodically as if she were giving a lesson to a child.

"Your abilities are evident throughout Otus, and becoming the lord of Sochi is practically a foregone conclusion. The only question is how much territory you will actually control. You already know that a portion of the land surrounding the Sochi Plain will likely be given to you..."

Liu Xia frowned as she watched Haifulian mutter to herself while counting on her fingers: "Of course I know that, but what does it have to do with marriage?"

Haifulian gave him a look as if he were an idiot: "What do you think will happen if a young man who started from scratch without getting married becomes a powerful and influential lord? Countless forces will want to form an alliance with you through marriage to strengthen their own camps. And your choice will be noticed even by the emperor, influencing his opinion of you."

“I’m only sixteen. What if I refuse?” Ryuga frowned. He felt that Haifulian’s statement was a bit too much.

“If they all refuse, it means you’re hard to control.” Heflian shrugged. “To the nobles, you’re an ally or an adversary, but to the emperor, you’re a subject. A subject without weaknesses is unqualified. If you don’t choose, someone else will likely choose for you.”

"Choose for me? You mean, bestow a marriage upon me?"

Ryuka's lips twitched.

Chapter 23 The Troubles of an Arranged Marriage

Ryūsha had never considered this question. He was thinking about how to keep Clovis occupied on the battlefield and how to develop his territory after being granted it, never imagining he might face marriage. Although he initially thought it was outrageous when Hafren first brought it up, upon reflection, what she said seemed to make some sense, but…

"I'm only sixteen years old!!!"

"You live a little too much in your own world~" Heflian looked at Ryuka and smiled helplessly. She saw Ryuka frowning in dissatisfaction and didn't understand why she made such a comment, so she quickly explained.

"Whenever you do anything, it's like you're playing an emotionless shell. When governing the territory, you're a competent and understanding ruler; when fighting, you set aside your emotions and think like a commander; when it comes to politics and intrigue, you force yourself to rack your brains like a strategist. It seems like only when you're having a good time with us do you truly be yourself, making you seem like a vibrant young man after all..."

Heflian smiled faintly, as if all the absurd things that had happened between her and Ryuka were just a distant memory. At this moment, she was no longer speaking to Ryuka as a carefree female knight, but as an older sister who had grown up in the elite circles of the capital, having a heart-to-heart talk with him. "You sing, you and I, plum blossoms in the sky, your forest in the air, is it gone..."

"But you must understand, no matter how capable you are, in the eyes of the big shots in the capital, you are just a teenager who has risen to fame temporarily. A sixteen-year-old child with no family backing, but whose talent and abilities are astonishingly high..."

Like a priceless jewel without an owner, even if you're currently on Tipalotura's side, is this relationship truly secure in the eyes of others? Those who are uneasy will remain uneasy, like the emperor. And many will be eager to win you over and bribe you. Only by forming a family alliance through marriage can you be seen as someone trustworthy and recognized by others…

Sometimes, strength and weakness, right and wrong, are not important; it is one's stance that matters. Ryuu understood what Heflian meant, especially considering that she was only sixteen years old. Although she was of marriageable age, as a noble, she was not considered an adult until she was twenty. In other words, if she were to marry into a certain family, she would be at a legal disadvantage, essentially finding herself a group of elders and potential 'guardians'.

You have to understand that people in this world are different from us. Sixteen is still a very innocent age. Commoners often skip prenatal education, so it's normal for adults to be ignorant. Even noble young masters at this age are still subject to the discipline of their families. There are some who are mature in their thinking, but not many.

As a transmigrator from an era of information overload, I've been exposed to far more knowledge and ideas than they have since childhood. Coupled with the fact that I have to rely on myself for everything after transmigrating, I naturally develop a protagonist's mentality, seeing myself as a unique individual rather than a 'child'. But in the eyes of those who don't understand me, I might just be a lucky person with incredible luck, extraordinary talent in magic and martial arts, or some divine gift.

A 'lucky one' waiting to be won over and controlled, and then destroyed if they fail to obtain him...

Ryuu felt melancholy. A year ago, he and Kania had envisioned marrying Hetia to gain noble status. Now it seemed the young couple had oversimplified the matter. Especially with the turbulent events of the past year, which had prematurely exposed him to the world. Noble status was now a certainty, but the issue of marriage had become more complicated. Hetia was also a fallen noblewoman who had lost her family; a marriage alliance with her was hardly reassuring to others.

Besides, Ryuka doesn't like being forced to make life decisions, especially since he's not short of women right now. He has a bunch of female confidantes and slave subordinates, but none of them are suitable for political marriage... right?

Liu Xia suddenly looked at Haifulian with a strange expression. In terms of background, she was a noble lady, and her father was a close attendant general of the emperor. On the political spectrum, she was arguably the purest person. If one were to marry her, not only would one have a powerful patron, but in the emperor's eyes, she would also be considered extremely loyal.

"You didn't ask this question to say..."

Heflian turned her head away from Liuxia's gaze. Although she didn't speak, the expression in her eyes completely betrayed her thoughts.

"I didn't say anything~ I'm just telling you the current situation. His Majesty might bestow a daughter of a prince or a member of a collateral branch of the royal family upon you to control you. Just like my father and mother... Didn't I tell you? Although my mother doesn't have the surname Otus or the right of inheritance, she is still a member of a collateral branch of Otus, which is why my father was able to become His Majesty's confidant. Even those at the Heavenly Rank are sometimes not in control of their own destiny. Based on my family experience, I'm kindly reminding you."

While it made sense, it sounded like she was being arrogant. When talking about her parents, Hafren seemed somewhat melancholic. Perhaps in her view, it was this political marriage that bound the Alvarez family, turning them into loyal dogs of the empire without territory or real power. That's why Hafren had previously taken such risks and acted so aggressively, wanting to establish herself through her own efforts, only to end up with a tragic fate involving Ryūka.

Ryuga looked at Heflian's profile, unsure what to say. The sudden arrogance of the female knight left him somewhat bewildered. Her momentary dejection made him wonder if it was because of her own family affairs or because he had just exposed her little scheme.

Perhaps in her view, Ryuka's pointed revelation was a form of rejection.

Marriage... For Ryuga, Hafulen was just one of many girls he had met, neither the first nor the most special. But for Hafulen, the few months she spent with Ryuga were the most unforgettable experience of her life.

No, it's not just her. I guess the other girls would feel the same way. If it were Kania, it would be fine, but if Ryuka were to be married off to some parachuted-in woman by the emperor and have her taken away as his wife, everyone would probably feel a bit uncomfortable. Heflian thought to herself, feeling only agitated.

……

"An arranged marriage... it's not that I can't accept it, but who will Father choose? Does he already have a choice in mind? But based on what I know, would that young man accept such a thing?"

Inside the Capricorn Palace, Tipalotura relaxed her tired body on a soft sofa, gently tapping her head.

Several rooms away, in Melanie's guest room, the great mage, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty, looked at the letter his grandfather had sent. After reading the stern rebukes inside, he coldly froze the letter into ice shards and then crushed them.

"A marriage alliance, huh..."

……

"With the goddess as our witness, the husband may kiss his wife now!!! Sister Luminova! Stop drinking!"

"What does it matter? This is a wedding venue! *burp*"

In the church in Linhu Town, an orange-haired nun shyly announced the union of a couple. Amid cheers from the crowd and whistles from a white-haired nun, the simply dressed bride tossed her bouquet to a blank-faced girl in the audience.

"Teacher Atina, I hope you find your happiness soon too!"

Atina stared blankly at the bouquet in her hand, the demonic sword in her mind grumbling incessantly, while a little witch who had taken a break from her busy schedule to join in the fun laughed and nudged her with her shoulder.

"The bride's bouquet brings good luck in love, right, Atina?"

Kania's purple eyes shone brightly, and the blessing in her gaze was entirely genuine.

……

"After we finish this battle and go back, you should propose to Mary, right?"

"It's bad luck to say such things on the battlefield. Did you do it on purpose?"

In the opposite military camp from Ryusha and Hefren, Luca was receiving treatment from a mage for his sword wounds while complaining about his comrades' teasing.

At that moment, Hethia lifted the tent flap from the outside, followed by Megan, who was fully armed, and asked Luca and the others:

Where is your young lady?

"They've gone to the trenches ahead, Miss Tartu. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"The enemy is making a move. You should get ready as well."

After giving a warning to Hefren's personal guards, Hetia turned and walked forward with Megan. According to Luca and the others, Hefren had probably gone ahead to find Ryūsha.

Megan followed behind her, smiling as she commented on the casual conversation she had just overheard: "Marriage, there are indeed such rumors on the battlefield, but it's not something to talk about at this time. I don't think it's a misfortune, but dying in this kind of situation would certainly make the story seem sad."

On the battlefield where lives are lost, beautiful hopes are always too easily shattered. It wasn't just Luca; perhaps many young soldiers, when facing death, would hope for the chance to take that step they never had the courage to take before.

Getting married... In order to ensure that more people on my side can survive, I need to work even harder.

With that thought in mind, the two female knights hurried toward the observation post at the front, wanting to quickly inform Ryusha of the movements of Clovis's army.

Chapter 24 Strategic Withdrawal

"Krovi and his men have made a move? Taking over the north wasn't enough, are they still not giving up?" (The rest of the text appears to be nonsensical and unrelated.)

Upon receiving Hetia's report, Ryukyu finally rose from the trenches and controlled an eagle as a familiar, flying towards Clovis's army formation.

Hetia looked at Hafren, who was with Ryūka. Hafren seemed a little uncomfortable, but her clothes were still neat. Hetia couldn't help but ask:

"What were you two whispering about, or did you do something naughty?"

"It's nothing," Hefren muttered, then checked her weapons and armor, awaiting Ryūka's reconnaissance results.

The familiars controlled by the witch's abilities have a greater range and effect than those of ordinary mages. An eagle flew across the neutral zone between the two armies, looking down from high above. At this distance, it was difficult for the opposing mage to detect them. Through a direct visual connection with her familiar, Ryuka saw a scene different from the previous days.

The enemy knights and infantry were intermingled, spreading outwards from their camps with large gaps between them, stretching their numbers across the vast plain. Some knights even abandoned their large warhorses, charging out alongside the infantry. Some troops had already quietly circled around to the left and right flanks of the battlefield, advancing cautiously along the slight slopes of the terrain, thus avoiding the magic lances.

Not only that, they also incorporated ranged mages into the attack force, and each knight, in addition to longswords, carried heavy crossbows that ordinary soldiers couldn't move. Judging from their movements, although they were still somewhat inexperienced, they had managed to train some of the knights and infantry in tactical maneuvers such as crawling forward within just a few days. While this seemed somewhat out of place with their medieval equipment, Ryuka could feel immense pressure from it.

"The enemy isn't stupid after all. They know that against our new weapons and trench warfare, the old formation-based charges are ineffective. It seems that during the ceasefire these past few days, they not only devised a countermeasure, but also conducted tactical training and deployed heavy crossbows... Hmm? What's that?"

While Ryuka shared what she had seen with Hetia and the others, the several knights were pondering how to deal with the enemies who were spreading out and gradually surrounding them, several times their number. However, Ryuka noticed a group of enemies with unusual equipment.

These enemies were all quite tall, very similar to the northern barbarians described. They were taking off their fur armor and, with the help of a group of laborers, putting on heavy black armor.

The heavy armor looked very similar to that of the Frost Iron Knights led by Olivia, both made of frost iron from the North. However, this metal was extremely heavy, far beyond the capacity of ordinary people to carry. Olivia's knights could carry it because Olivia had secretly channeled her own magic into the magic array within the frost iron armor. Before the frost iron armor was forged into a magic cannon, Anyaberg carefully studied the magical runes on it and concluded that they were far too complex.

After all, it was a magical secret technique originating from a Celestial Sage, so it was normal that Anyaberg couldn't fully understand it. For this reason, she specially kept a complete set of Frost Iron Armor to study slowly. Once she could figure out the principles behind it, perhaps she could also create heavy armor powered by magical crystals.

But what Ryūka saw was that his opponents were moving much faster. The laborers were filling the armor of these burly men with pieces of magical crystal, and Ryūka finally recognized something familiar…

The magical weapons Hayden had shown him before, from the Chamber of Commerce, included a knight's magical armor with a similar concept! However, what he saw now was much heavier, a temporary addition of heavy protection to the original concept, sacrificing the knight's agility, and attaching heavy frost iron plates to the outside of the original magical armor!

"This is a real headache. Ordinary magic lances can't penetrate frost iron armor at all. Even a Grand Master can only attack through the gaps, or use sonic aura like Hefren's or the shockwaves of an explosion to cause damage... There are a dozen or twenty heavily armored knights on the other side..."

The only weapon capable of harming these ten heavily armored warriors is likely a magic cannon. However, accurately hitting a moving warrior with a cumbersome magic cannon on the battlefield is no easier than shooting a mosquito with an arrow. Furthermore, the enemy will undoubtedly have the ten heavily armored warriors scattered throughout their ranks; once they break through to close range, their ordinary soldiers will become easy prey. After all, these are just ordinary people relying on magic lances for damage, easily slaughtered by any knight.

Ryuga looked at the strongest man among them, who was two meters wide and two meters long, making the magic armor look like normal armor on him. With the magic crystal as a power source, he could even lift a large shield made of frost iron.

"Damn it, this shield dog is a humanoid tank! I don't have any armor-piercing rounds!"

It seems the Chamber of Commerce has bet on Clovis more than on me, bringing out their most treasured weapon technologies. In this world of knights and magic, they clearly value the development of elite forces more than my own ideas for popularizing weapons.

Compared to Ryukyu, who was on high alert, Clovis's side also maintained a tense atmosphere. It wasn't the tension of facing war, but rather Hudson arguing with Clovis about something.

"Your Highness! Why did you give that batch of magical equipment to those barbarians from Weston! It would have been most suitable for us to use it!"

Hudson was somewhat annoyed. These magical equipment were custom-made by the Payne family from the Merchant Guild, and he wanted to wear them himself to make a name for himself. However, Clovis gave the equipment to Weston Oliveira, that savage bear!

“He is more suitable than you. With the blessing of shamanic secrets, he can hold his own against Traur for several rounds. In addition, he will be unmatched below the Heavenly Rank of Magic Heavy Armor. The barbarians’ attack style is also very open and relies mainly on brute force. Their strong physique can still exert combat power even when carrying an incredible weight. Even if you wear that heavy armor, even if you are not afraid of the enemy’s attacks, your attack power will be greatly reduced.”

“But, Your Highness… Clovis!”

Hudson's sinister eyes were filled with rage, and he even called out his nephew's name. Clovis, however, remained calm and ruthless, saying to him:

"News has come from the capital that Father has ordered our recall. Although the investiture from the other side is still on its way, Fourth Prince Elias will probably use a magic crystal to announce the ceasefire order directly on the battlefield. We have already failed. But guess why I'm launching this attack?"

Upon hearing the Emperor's order, Hudson felt all his strength drain away; he had likely only just received the news and was unaware of it beforehand. This meant their southward expansion would end in the northern part of Sochi, and Clovis's problem remained completely incomprehensible to him.

Why?

“An experiment,” Clovis said calmly. “Uncle Hudson, as you can see, the nature of the war has changed…”

"It's not just war; the empire is rife with hedonism and corruption. Nobles are complacent with the glory of their centuries-old families, neglecting their own ambitions. Their once-proud martial arts and magic are gradually being replaced by magical technology, yet they remain accustomed to their old way of life, valuing their own territories above all else. Even the Papacy is preoccupied with its struggle against the imperial power, clinging to outdated beliefs, while ignoring another rising force—the Merchant Guild Alliance..."

Clovis spoke slowly and deliberately, his eyes fixed on his uncle's. Beneath that unassuming exterior lay a terrifying power…

"Merchants and Chambers of Commerce? They're just a group of merchants with vested interests. All their trade still depends on the whims of the local lords."

Hudson looked on with disdain; he couldn't understand why his nephew and brother were so wary of a group of businessmen, while Clovis scoffed.

"Then I'd like to ask, when you went to buy their magical weapons, were they begging you to buy them because they were begging you, or were you begging them because they were begging you?"

"Of course they were the ones begging..."

Hudson's contemptuous laughter abruptly ceased. He suddenly realized that when the Chamber of Commerce requested funding, they were indeed beholden to the Payne family. But when he was eager to acquire equipment amidst the tension of the war, the other party was not so accommodating.

Either production can't keep up and you need it urgently, so you have to pay extra, or they say they're having trouble with your customized requests and you still have to pay extra.

It's not just about money... In order to obtain the intelligence, magic crystal balls, and magic armor they possess, the Payne family is gradually relinquishing its privileges in its territory, making it easier for the merchant guild to conduct various trade transactions within its domain.

"The Payne family has been cautious enough, but Uncle Ellen is still somewhat wary of the Merchant Guild. Many lords have even entrusted their entire family trade to the Merchant Guild, keeping female slaves provided by the guild, drinking wines imported from foreign lands, and spending their days simply collecting taxes. Even some bishops are stroking the religious artifacts they've presented, declaring that free trade is a right bestowed upon everyone by the goddess..."

They are merchants, nomadic, selling goods in one territory while often producing or procuring them in another. Even if we pressure their representatives here, we won't get what we want. Furthermore, they control the trade routes between the territories; the guards at some passes may not know their own lords, but they certainly know their caravan leaders. Compared to those foolish lords, the young Liuxia opposite us is far more astute.”

"What does this mean?" Hudson asked in confusion. He didn't know why Clovis had talked so much about 'experiments in war,' but he felt that his nephew was becoming more and more of a stranger. Perhaps this was the reason why his brother, Earl Ellen, the head of the Payne family, fully supported him.

"I heard that the Chamber of Commerce also wanted to cooperate with him to acquire the magic technology he possessed. His demand was that the Chamber of Commerce establish a magic workshop in Linhu Town, which would counter what I just mentioned. But clearly, the Chamber of Commerce prefers to use us to eliminate those with such nascent ideas, while minimizing their own conflicts. In case of future needs, they can re-establish contact by offering concessions..."

Clovis squinted and put the Chamber of Commerce Union and Ryukyu together, finally circling back to the previous topic.

"This young man named Liu Xia, his ideas changed the nature of war. And the Merchant Guild Alliance is slowly changing the entire continent. Not just in Otus, but across the continent, more and more people no longer believe in royal authority or the teachings of goddesses; money has become their only pursuit, from peddlers to soldiers. What I'm thinking about is how to deal with these changes, and that requires 'experimentation'..."

Clovis's gaze seemed to pierce through the battlefield from which he could no longer gain any more benefits. He watched as the barbarian warriors donned their magical armor, preparing to cooperate with Clovis's newly developed tactics to counter Liuxia's new battlefield rules.

This was Clovis's reason for insisting on fighting one last time: he wanted to seize this final opportunity to clash with Ryukyu and see if his ideas could counter the opponent's upgraded war. Otherwise, once other factions had adopted the upgraded tactics, Clovis would be left with no choice but to deploy untested strategies on the battlefield.

Furthermore, he wanted the whole world to see his ability and courage to handle the successive changes. Especially... his father, the emperor, who didn't like him...

"Let's start the war."

With Clovis's order, tens of thousands of troops began their attack on Ryukyu's positions.

After the knights and infantry crawled close, under the cover of the mages' fireballs and ice spikes, they charged forward. Their dispersed formation effectively reduced casualties from the magic lances and magic bombs. Every so often, the knights would crouch down and fire their heavy crossbows at any Linhu soldiers who dared to peek out. These poor lads, bombarded by crossbow bolts and mages, dared not show themselves again, and could only watch helplessly as the enemy closed in.