Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 120 Say hello

Rezal appeared somewhat nervous, yet also subtly expectant, wondering what kind of noble lady he would encounter.

Only Elena remained oblivious, treating it merely as a novel family trip.

"Let's go!" Reyes gave the order, and the caravan slowly started, leaving Lion Fang Territory and heading towards Campino City along the main road.

The sound of horses' hooves was crisp, and the wheels of the carriages rumbled.

Reyes gazed ahead, his eyes gleaming with ambition and anticipation.

The investiture ceremony marked the Reyes family's formal entry onto the county stage, and the ensuing aristocratic interactions would be another important cornerstone for the family's future.

He believed that, with his own strength, the potential shown by his territory, and the excellence of his children, Lion's Tooth would surely secure a place in the noble lineage of Campnor County.

The carriage swayed slightly, and the fields and forests outside the window rushed past.

Kruse leaned back on the soft cushions, his gaze seemingly fixed on the scenery, but actually unfocused, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, while he was already cursing under his breath.

This damn system, the timing of issuing tasks is so tricky!

Just now, that familiar notification tone rang in his mind without warning:

【Ding! 】

[Triggering Beginner Quest 9: Form an Army]

[Mission Description: As a baron, besides land and population, a sufficiently powerful army is also essential. Please assemble a regular army of at least one hundred men.]

[Quest Reward: The Elf King's Cloak]

If he were still in Lion Fang Territory, this task would not be difficult at all.

Although the knightly squires that his father Reyes brought back were elite, their numbers were small and they could serve as the backbone of the officers.

He could immediately order the remaining Knights of Wilston to quickly build a hundred-man force, using these elite knights as the core and selecting the best from the local militia and able-bodied men.

Equipment and training may take time, but getting the right number of people together to meet the system's "setup" requirements shouldn't be a problem.

Furthermore, if he is short-handed within his territory, he can even turn his attention to Cooper's refugee camp.

Since the Wild Dog Market was turned upside down and almost wiped out by the war between the dragons and the rebels, the originally small Kubo Camp took the opportunity to absorb a large number of refugees, and it is said that the population has already exceeded a thousand.

There are plenty of young and middle-aged people there who yearn for a stable life and are willing to exchange their labor or even force for protection.

With a little land or salary, recruiting a hundred or so people is not difficult.

But right now, we're on the road!
As he left the center of power in the territory and headed towards Campino!
He can't just turn back now, can he?

The investiture ceremony was of paramount importance, concerning the family's reputation and future influence within the county; it could not be missed. Furthermore, it was impossible to precisely direct Wilstone to complete such specific recruitment work from such a distance; many details required his personal attention, especially sensitive matters involving recruiting from refugee camps.

"They really know how to pick their timing..." Kruze thought to himself, a sense of powerlessness washing over him.

It feels like having a piece of fatty meat hanging in front of you, but being unable to eat it immediately because your hands and feet are tied.

The quest reward, "The Elf King's Cloak," also made him extremely eager. The prefix "Elf King" alone was enough to indicate its extraordinary nature.

Considering the various magical effects of the "Elven King's Monocle"—perceiving magic, enhancing affinity, and even resisting eerie fog—this cloak must also possess unimaginable abilities.

Perhaps it can provide strong defense? Or conceal one's whereabouts?
Either way, it would be a huge boost for Kruse, who is currently weak and on the verge of a storm.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Impatience wouldn't solve the problem.

"It seems I can only wait until the awarding ceremony is over, then immediately return to my territory and deal with this matter as soon as possible," Kruze decided in his mind.

Fortunately, the awarding ceremony, along with necessary social engagements, would only delay things by a few days at most.

During this period, he might be able to conceive of the army's composition, equipment sources, and training syllabus in advance.

He turned his gaze back to the window, his eyes regaining their composure, but a hint of barely perceptible urgency lurked deep within them.

Besides the glory and networking of the trip to Campino, there is now another reason why I must return as soon as possible.

The Lion Fang Territory needs to be armed as soon as possible, and this hundred-man army will be the first step.

The convoy was halfway through its journey when the dust rising in the distance indicated that another group was traveling with them.

Soon, two familiar flags came into view—the banners of Wolf Hair and Wild Boar.

It seems they were also traveling to Campino to witness the medal-awarding ceremony.

In the Wild Boar Territory's ranks, the young Lista Knight saw the Lion Fang Territory's banner from afar, especially the striking lion fang emblem, and smiled, waving in greeting.

Seeing this, Kruse leaned out of the slightly swaying carriage and instructed his attendant, Aidin, "Aidin, go and sit with the coachman." Then, he nimbly dismounted, gracefully mounted the horse Aidin had brought, and with a gentle spur, rode to the side of the group, riding alongside Lista, and responded to his greeting with a smile.

“Baron Reyes.” Westin, the lord of the Boar Territory and the Boar Knight, rode up to Reyes’s carriage and bowed respectfully in greeting.

His eldest son, Schumeer, followed closely behind his father, bowing with the same meticulous manners, while also subtly tugging at Lista, who seemed somewhat casual, to signal him to be mindful of etiquette.

"Greetings, Lord Baron Reyes!" they said in unison.

Reyes peeked out of the carriage window, a warm yet dignified smile on his face. He waved his hand and said, “Sir Westin, and a few young men, there’s no need for such formalities. We, Lion Fang Territory, Wild Boar Territory, and Wolf Fur Territory, are neighbors, have been friends for generations, and are considered family. There’s no need for such politeness.”

He abruptly changed the subject, raising his voice slightly, and his gaze pointedly fell on the somewhat out-of-place group not far away—the Wolf-Haired Cauldron's group—and he declared loudly:
"Wolf-hair Knight, Lord Haynes, don't you agree?"

His voice carried clearly throughout the surrounding area, immediately drawing everyone's attention to the Wolf Hair Tribe's team.

Knight Haynes of Wolfhair Territory, who was originally planning to pretend not to see it and avoid dealing with the rising Reyes, turned ashen-faced when he was directly called out.

If he were to ignore this under the watchful eyes of everyone, it would be a great breach of etiquette and would also make him appear cowardly.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and, with some reluctance, slowly spurred his horse to approach.

Behind him followed his retinue and offspring, among them Bran, who had once publicly insulted Kruse.

　Please continue reading during this period so I can get it published as soon as possible. If the readership doesn't reach the original standard, even getting it published at 300,000 words is a bit uncertain. Thank you all for your help.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)