Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence

The territory's bonfire feast was prepared by halflings, whose culinary skills were renowned throughout the continent.

The aroma of their roasted whole lamb was so enticing that it could halt two armies in the midst of battle, compelling them to savor the delicious food before deciding whether to continue the war.

To boost morale for the upcoming battle, Su Li spared no expense tonight, ordering the halflings to roast 100 sheep!

Considering that the soldiers participating in the battle, men and women combined, numbered less than eight hundred, even with the addition of support staff, an average of 8 to 10 soldiers could share a golden-brown roasted whole lamb, allowing everyone to feast to their heart's content.

Even the ogres, with their enormous appetites, patted their bellies, feeling warm and energized from the meal.

And the roasted whole lamb was just the main course for tonight's bonfire feast. More than fifty skilled halflings cooked a vast array of ingredients, emptying a third of the territory's storage warehouse.

In addition to the golden-brown roasted lamb, there were platters of sausages, pancakes, muffins, and baskets upon baskets of bread, totaling more than twenty baskets.

Alongside these staples were baked venison pies, their aroma filling the air.

Of course, there was also no shortage of the territory's special seafood, including pan-fried fish fillets, steamed bass, herb-roasted sunfish, and white wine clams.

Since there was no brewed wine yet, and a major battle was scheduled for tomorrow, the territory brought out 50 barrels of milk, each sweetened with jars of honey.

The lavish feast prepared by the halflings was a rare sight, even within the Empire!

And for the slaves, it was beyond anything they had ever dared to imagine.

Members of the Battle Pilgrimage, while stuffing their mouths with food, exclaimed, "Such delicious food, giving these gold coins to slaves is a sin."

But clearly, the slaves had a completely different perspective.

Eating such a sumptuous meal, the newly recruited peasant mobs and forest bandits were moved to tears. What a miserable life they had led before!

Just for the sake of these delicious meals and good times, they would fight the orcs to the death! They couldn't allow them to destroy the territory.

And their thoughts had no impact on the true masters of the territory. At this moment, the knights, as the territory's privileged class, gathered together, creating a lively atmosphere.

It should be said that wherever halflings were present, the atmosphere would be vibrant and lively.

These halflings loved food, strong drinks, fine tobacco, and gossip that could make the ears of knights and squires burn. They didn't care about saying the wrong thing to strangers, such as discussing the passion and details of their aunt's evening last night.

Although most halflings were country folk, and even those who lived in towns retained a strong rural flavor, a bit of rustic charm was needed at such lively moments to ignite the enthusiastic atmosphere of the night.

Many armed squires and members of the Battle Pilgrimage couldn't bother stuffing more food into their mouths. They grabbed a leg of lamb and squeezed into the crowd around the bonfire, listening with burning chests to the halflings' somewhat crude but vivid descriptions.

The surrounding girls blushed, covering their ears shyly, but secretly opening a crack between their fingers, listening with pounding hearts to everything inside. When the story reached its climax, they became even more bashful, as if they were the protagonists of the story, discovered by others.

Su Li also really wanted to listen. Gossip and watching the fun were innate talents of his people. But as a noble, he certainly couldn't join such a gathering of country folk.

He gathered with the ministers of the territory's cabinet, accompanying Knight Ron and Beckman, and sat on the highest point of the earthen slope, overlooking the lively crowd below.

Ron, as the leader of the Pilgrimage, eagerly said to Su Li: "Respected Pioneer Lord, the prosperity of your territory does not resemble a pioneer territory at all. I think if you were given time to farm and develop, you would surely gain the favor of the Sun Goddess, and your Black Forest Territory would become a pilgrimage site for the entire Sun Goddess Church, a model territory bathed in divine grace."

Su Li said with a smile: "I appreciate your kind words, and I also look forward to realizing all of this as soon as possible."

After speaking, Su Li finally couldn't help but ask a question that had greatly interested him since he first met Ron: "Lord Ron, I would like to know how you became the leader of the Pilgrimage."

This was a Sun Goddess believer who could unleash the strength of a God-Chosen Knight when forced.

But right now, he only possessed the strength of a Trainee Knight.

Ron didn't hide anything, his expression filled with memories, and said: "Actually, I was not originally a believer of the Sun Goddess Violet, but a believer of the Healing Goddess Shalya, who is Violet's sister."

Su Li raised his head in surprise and asked him: "What made you change your faith? As far as I know, the citizens of the Empire rarely change their faith."

"It was a fierce battle that took place in the Norder territory of the Empire. At that time, the Shalya Goddess Temple in the city was struck by a pink lightning bolt, and then a shocking scene occurred. The temple dragged itself through the city streets, using stone tentacles, magic holes, and gargoyles that could spew dimensional flames to attack the Elector's palace. When the city's defense forces gathered to face the mutated temple, the temple gate burst open, pouring out a group of laughing demons as its defense."

"From that moment on, I knew that studying medicine could not save the Empire. So I switched to Violet, using the sword in my hand to sweep away the Empire's internal and external troubles."

"But because of the betrayal of faith, a lot of divine grace was wasted, and I suffered divine backlash, and my strength dropped from God-Chosen Knight to Trainee Knight. At the same time, I was not accepted by Violet, so I can only prove my loyalty and faith to the goddess with more fanatical battles."

Good heavens!

So he really was once a God-Chosen Knight.

Studying medicine cannot save the Empire.

So he was essentially transferred from the Hospital Knight Order to the Templar Knight Order.

He was willing to abandon his strength as a God-Chosen Knight for the future of the Empire and the ideals in his heart.

Su Li respected him and raised his glass of water, saying: "Let me offer Lord Ron a toast with tea."

Ron raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, then laughed heartily and said: "But perhaps the Lord has loved me wrongly. The more I fight, the more confused I become. From the cold Claw Sea in the north to the towering Black Mountains in the south, the vast forests, wide rivers, and rugged passes of the Empire hide all kinds of monsters and enemies, and there are dangers waiting for us inside and out."

"Relying solely on the strength of one person or one god seems to never be enough to cope with so many risks and challenges. The Empire is always in internal and external troubles."

Su Li said with a smile: "But there are always heroes who stand up in times of crisis, aren't there? Although the Empire is always in turmoil, the seemingly crumbling Empire has existed for more than two thousand five hundred years, and it looks like it can continue for another two thousand five hundred years."

Hearing this, Ron finally smiled and said: "Lord, your mentality is admirable. Let's not talk about these heavy topics. Tonight is a lively night, let us enjoy the food and enjoy the scenery! It is this kind of life worth remembering that is the reason we must fight."

"Hahaha, that's right." Su Li turned to look at Phyllis, the quiet Soulander girl sitting by the fire, and said: "Only food and beauty cannot be disappointed. Phyllis, would you perform a dance for everyone?"

Although the daily intelligence suggested that Su Li publicly confessing to Phyllis would gain the greatest help in ascending to the throne.

But Su Li was not like a rookie, rashly rushing up without considering everything.

All his plans were for lying flat, so he could control his lower body, never mess with the relationship between superiors and subordinates, and never let one or two women affect his career.

Even if Sophie and Amelie both had some affection for him, Su Li firmly maintained his principles. Unless he planned to marry a knight family, he would never mess around with the knights under him.

Phyllis was the same. If Su Li could defend the territory and defeat the green skins, then it was only right to have flowers and the girl's sweet kiss when he returned in triumph.

So before the war, he would never confess to Phyllis and take actions that would affect tomorrow's victory.

But not confessing didn't mean that he had no feelings for Phyllis.

For girls, the sweetest thing is this period of ambiguity before confession.

A glance from Su Li could make her extremely shy. Hearing Su Li's words, Phyllis immediately blushed, waving her hands and saying softly: "No, no, my dance is not very good."

Su Li said with a smile: "How could that be? It is well known that the girls of Souland are good at singing and dancing, and are beautiful and moving. If you don't dance today, you may not have the opportunity to dance for us again in the future."

Phyllis's delicate body suddenly tensed up. She bit her cherry lips lightly, restrained her shyness, raised her head to look at Su Li, and said: "Lord, you will definitely return in triumph. According to the customs of our Souland Province, before the army goes out, the girls will dance a dance for the army to pray for the blessings of the gods for the warriors."

"I will dance a 'Song of Souland' for you, may the God of Justice protect you."

After obtaining Su Li's consent, Phyllis lifted her skirt and walked to the bonfire, gracefully bowing slightly to everyone.

Then, her clear and soft voice rang out in the noisy night sky:

"Souland brothers, blow your horns:

Justice hears, she will send troops back.

Souland brothers, go forward bravely,

Fight for justice, never retreat."

As the song entered its climax, Phyllis's dance also began to heat up. Her white skirt fluttered, reflecting the glow of the bonfire, sparkling with bright light.

Soon, the soaring battle song echoed throughout the camp, and everyone stopped talking, looking at it with admiration.

"In the darkness, we are the light,

In despair, we are hope."

Her dance gradually became passionate. With the rise and fall of the melody, her figure was sometimes as gentle as water, and sometimes as sharp as a sword. Every spin was like a whirlwind, driving the atmosphere around her to become more and more enthusiastic.

Everyone's chest was filled with boiling blood, staring wide-eyed at the white figure in front of the bonfire. At this moment, she was so graceful and magnificent!

Su Li was even more excited. Hahaha, good! Good! To feast my soldiers, tomorrow I will defeat the green tide army.

At this moment, with beautiful women singing and dancing, Su Li only felt that he was an ambitious overlord. His eyes were full of the white figure that was as graceful as a startled swan. This peerless face and slender body filled him with a sense of conquest.

Until the banquet was over, everyone still found it difficult to forget Phyllis's stunning dance and peerless figure.

This expedition dance was performed too perfectly. Everyone was determined, the morale of the entire army was as high as a rainbow, and they would never allow evil monsters to tarnish everything that was beautiful in the territory!

Su Li was even more bloodthirsty. After returning to the castle, he vented all the heat aroused by that peerless figure on Hild.

He completely replaced Hild with Phyllis, who was dancing gracefully, and practiced with her with all his strength. This made Hild constantly try to maintain clarity, so as to play the role of comforting Su Li. But the repeated and intense impacts washed over her brain, making her seem to float to the soft clouds, unable to maintain her thoughts at all, and could only lose her clarity again and again in the Lord's hot breath.

Finally, in her high-pitched shouts, the practice finally paid off, she hugged Su Li's body tightly, and her strength returned to the middle-level formal knight again!