Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Setting Out

On the day of the expedition, the streets of Red Tide Territory were bustling with people.

The townspeople gathered spontaneously on both sides of the road to send off the knights and soldiers about to embark.

Louis rode at the forefront, draped in a black and red cloak, with Calvin’s family crest embroidered on his shoulder.

Behind him were the ready and armed knights and soldiers, including eight Elite Knights, twenty-five Official Knights, sixty Apprentice Knights, and two hundred infantrymen.

Everyone was fully armed and prepared.

In the Northern Territory, this was a highly elite force ready to engage in battle at any moment.

This expedition saw Louis taking away more than half of Red Tide Territory’s combat forces.

First, Red Tide Territory was located in a relatively safe southern area of the Northern Territory, so even if they were short-staffed, there wouldn’t be much of a threat.

Second, he had the Daily Intelligence System to learn about dangers in advance and avoid being ambushed and annihilated.

In this case, he must bring enough forces to earn more military exploits.

This would not only solidify Red Tide Territory’s status but also help him establish a foothold among the old nobility of the Northern Territory.

His goal for this campaign was to make a name for Red Tide Territory.

In the midst of the farewell crowd, Weir stood at the front, his eyes full of envy.

As an Apprentice Knight, though he had awakened his Fighting Energy, he was too young and not yet skilled in Knight Skills, so he was left in the territory to continue training.

As Weir watched the imposing knights surround Louis, he was filled with longing.

He also wished to become such a person, able to follow the great Lord into battle.

“Alright, that’s enough of a send-off.” Louis reined in his horse and looked at the townspeople on both sides.

Their faces showed reluctance but even more pride.

Louis raised his voice, “Thank you all for seeing us off,

No matter who the enemies ahead are, we will return victorious!”

After speaking, he pulled the reins and said in a deep voice, “Let’s go!”

Their iron hooves struck the ground, the battle flags waved in the wind, and the mighty force moved out of Red Tide Territory.

The sound of the farewell from the townspeople resonated throughout Red Tide Territory.

……

In the late spring, the wilderness of the Northern Territory still carried a hint of coldness.

The expedition force camped in a lowland area, with the knights gathering to prepare for today’s hunt.

The wild boar beast, a type of rugged magical beast, has coarse but energizing meat.

Louis sat on his horse, watching the charging wild boar beast ahead, and casually instructed, “Be careful, don’t damage too much meat.”

“Leave it to me!”

An Apprentice Knight jumped up, his spear infused with Fighting Energy struck down, but the spearhead bounced off the boar’s tough hide, lacking the strength to pierce through!

“Haha! You need more strength!”

A nearby Official Knight laughed, thrusting his spear downward, breaking the armor with one shot, and blood splattered onto the wasteland.

The boar howled in pain, collapsing on the ground, as the knights quickly moved in to finish the hunt.

Louis had set off early, with plenty of time.

After all, other Lords would likely arrive just on time, and there was no need for him to be conspicuous by arriving early.

So he simply used his Daily Intelligence System to lead the knights on hunts along the way.

The threat of magical beasts was no small matter, but for these elite knights, as long as they weren’t high-tier beasts, they could handle them easily.

So every morning before setting out, they would go on a hunt and return to camp with some spoils.

The knights had long become used to Louis’s seemingly “prophetic” luck.

Every day before departure, the Lord would casually point: “There should be beasts over there today, go check it out.”

And then they would find their prey.

Though they mostly caught lower-level beasts like the wild boar, horned antelope, or iron-feather wolf, the meat was firm and energizing, enough to fill their stomachs and slightly enhance their strength.

Initially, they were a bit surprised, but after many occurrences, they became numb to it.

They simply reasoned: “The Lord is favored by the Dragon Ancestor, and we are just along for the enjoyment.”

They’d start traveling in the morning, head out to hunt at noon, roast meat over a bonfire at night, and sleep well.

This was even more comfortable than training back in the territory.

After several days, the knights increasingly enjoyed this lifestyle.

The bonfire blazed, the wood crackled in the flames, releasing a savory smoke.

Large slabs of magical beast meat dripped fat onto the grill, sizzling and wafting an aroma throughout the camp.

“Smells great! Hurry up!”

An Apprentice Knight swallowed hard, eyes fixed on the roast meat.

The knight turning the meat laughed and scolded: “Why rush? It’ll taste best when it’s cooked properly.”

The surrounding soldiers gathered around, the sound of gulping rising and falling.

They usually only had rye bread and salted fish to eat.

Now they were enjoying fresh roasted meat freely, it was like a dream, even if it was just ordinary game.

“Tonight is a gift from the Dragon Ancestor!” an infantryman exclaimed, raising his wineskin and taking a hearty swig.

Another infantryman concurred, “Haha, going on a campaign with the Lord is more fortunate than training in the territory!”

The atmosphere was completely unlike an expedition, more like a spring outing!

Louis glanced around, seeing the knights relaxed around the bonfire.

Some used knives to cut meat, others set up a pot to simmer magical beast bones for soup, some raised cups in laughter, some snatched whole pieces of meat and feasted.

Who had ever gone on a campaign against bandits so comfortably?

But seeing the soldiers with smiles on their faces, eating contentedly, he eventually shook his head and laughed.

Oh well, a balance of work and rest.

At this moment, a knight hurried over to report to Louis: “Lord, we’ve encountered Baron Jorn’s force on the eastern side; they’re heading this way.”

Louis was slightly taken aback, an image of that round figure immediately popping into his mind.

The chubby fellow who always called him “Boss” with a grin.

Of course, his territory was nearby, and he likely needed to assemble at Snow Eagle City too.

“Oh? What a coincidence.”

He had just sighed when soon, a rush of hoofbeats came from the distance.

“Boss——!!”

Accompanied by a familiar shout, a rotund knight charged over.

Yorn Harvey dismounted excitedly and ran to Louis, his face showing a long-lost thrill.

Louis stared at him for a moment.

Yorn had indeed slimmed down quite a bit.

The once round mass now had an oval contour, still essentially a chubby fellow.

However, in the next second, Yorn’s eyes were drawn to the roasted meat by the bonfire.

He stared intently, his Adam’s apple rolling slightly.

“Gulp.”

The sound of swallowing was particularly clear in the night breeze.

Louis’s mouth twitched slightly, tearing off a piece of roast meat and handing it over: “Uh… care for a bite?”

Yorn nodded furiously, his eyes lighting up.

He immediately grabbed the roast meat, taking a big bite, revealing a face full of happiness.

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