The Knight's Journey to the Empire

The "thing" that Master Oliver was referring to was naturally the incident when the royal family of the Kingdom of Midburg wanted to forcibly take back the hereditary fiefdom of the Earl of Katis's family.

The "rumors they were spreading" referred to a rumor about Butler Mark that was widely circulated among the Knights of the Pillars of the Kingdom of Midburg at that time.

Rumor has it that Butler Mark, who was only in the late stage of the upper knight profession at the time, took a potion called "Dragon Bloodline" in order to repay the kindness of Count Frank Curtis and to protect the hereditary fiefdom and heritage of Count Curtis' family that had been passed down for hundreds of years.

This [Dragon Bloodline Potion] is a legendary potion passed down from ancient times. Its preciousness can be seen from this.

Although the recipe of [Dragon Blood Potion] has been lost, it is unknown.

But according to historical rumors, the main ingredient needed to make this [Dragon Blood Potion] is the dragon blood from the heart of a legendary evil dragon.

……

The evil dragon is a supernatural beast of the dragon type whose bloodline is naturally at the top of the world.

As soon as the evil dragon was born, it possessed the powerful strength of a mid-level magical beast, and had various water-attributed bloodline magic.

Evil dragons usually live on the sea or near water. Their special abilities include creating clouds and fog, summoning wind and rain, and stirring up storms.

It is said that twenty years ago, during the super storm that hit the eastern part of the Kingdom of Essex, someone saw a dragon flying in the hurricane.

It is said that the evil dragon has been seen in the misty swamp at the border of the Kingdom of Essex, the Kingdom of Midburg and the Principality of Golia.

But unfortunately, these are just some groundless rumors, and the specific results are unknown.

Moreover, there are indeed few rumors about the evil dragon in the Knight Continent now.

The top-level extraordinary magical beast, the evil dragon, has extremely terrifying talents.

Because as long as they can survive to adulthood, they will basically possess the strength of a super-class magical beast, and a strength that is extremely powerful and invincible at the same level.

Therefore, if a certain evil dragon suddenly wants to practice diligently, it can basically advance to the level of a legendary monster, that is, the level of a legendary beast king.

Therefore, if you want to make the [Dragon Blood Potion], you must first kill a legendary dragon and obtain its dragon heart blood.

As for a legendary evil dragon, one can imagine how powerful the legendary beast king is.

So this also shows how precious and rare the [Dragon Bloodline Potion] is.

……

The [Dragon Bloodline Potion] has only one function, which is to help the upper knight break through to the professional level of the Pillar Knight.

And its side effects are also obvious, which is to overdraw the user's spiritual talent and future potential.

Therefore, not everyone can take the [Dragon Blood Potion]: first, one must cultivate to the upper knight professional level; second, one must have enough potential and talent to overdraw.

Otherwise, he would be blown to death by the powerful energy contained in the [Dragon Bloodline Potion].

But even so, there are many powerful upper knights who flock to it, but cannot achieve their dream.

After all, there are too many upper knights who are stuck at this professional level and are unable to break through until the end of their lives, and ultimately die with regrets.

……

Butler Mark was able to cultivate to the late stage of the upper knight profession at the age of more than 30. Needless to say, his talent and potential are definitely at the top level among humans.

At that time, the treasury of Count Katis's family happened to contain the treasure of [Dragon Blood Potion].

In order to protect the family of Count Katis, Steward Mark took the risk and took the [Dragon Blood Potion] to enhance his strength.

As for the final result!

Of course it was successful!

But the price!

That is, Butler Mark’s cultivation talent and future potential have basically been exhausted.

To say that his future knight training would be twice as effective with half the effort would be an understatement; it would be filled with numerous difficulties and challenges.

All of this was caused by the fact that the royal family of the Kingdom of Midburg wanted to forcefully take back the hereditary fiefdom of the Earl of Katis's family.

That's why Butler Mark said that Master Oliver's question was like rubbing salt into his wounds.

After all, no matter what, Master Oliver was once a member of the royal camp of the Kingdom of Midburg.

Of course, after so many years, Butler Mark has become more open-minded after being promoted to the professional level of Pillar State Knight.

Otherwise, there is no way he would respect Master Oliver as 'Senior'!

Moreover, when Prince Mercristin came to Ganise County and wanted to forcefully join the [Angliss Islands Immigration Plan], even though the other party had a stronger force than his own, Butler Mark would be the first to stand up and oppose it.

But letting go does not mean forgetting, and ignoring does not mean not daring to pay attention!

Anyone who wants to challenge the authority of a powerful knight of a pillar country will definitely not have an easy time.

This was actually an important reason why Prince Mercristian chose to compromise.

Because if it weren't for the purpose of continuing the inheritance of Count Katis's family, Butler Mark really had the reason and strength to turn against him regardless of everything, fight to the end, or even kill him directly.

……

Finally, Butler Mark and Master Oliver stopped talking.

Obviously, they were all somewhat touched or offended by the topic just now.

After their strength recovered a little, the two sat cross-legged on the ice floe and began to absorb the energy of heaven and earth to restore their fighting spirit.

In the battle with the [Nidhogg] just now, they all released various top-level fighting skills, and they had been fighting for such a long time before, so the overall consumption of fighting spirit was indeed quite large.

In order to avoid being affected by the aftermath of the battle, all the ships in the current fleet have been evacuated!

Therefore, on this vast ocean, if they do not have enough fighting spirit to support them, even if they are powerful knights of the Pillar State, they dare not walk around at will.

As time passed, Butler Mark and Master Oliver's fighting spirit had mostly recovered.

So they didn't delay any longer, and with their fighting spirit surging, they chased in the direction where the Second Transport Fleet had left.

So soon, the sea area returned to its former tranquility.

Only the blue blood of the Nidhogg sea monster still floating in the sea can prove that a thrilling top battle took place here.

Of course, hundreds of meters beneath the sea, the super-class monster, the Nidhogg, which is still suppressed by ice and struggling in pain, can also prove this.

But unfortunately, it is the ultimate victim of this battle.

Because this sea area originally belonged to its territory, and Butler Mark and Master Oliver were intruders, or invaders...

But the winner is the king and the loser is the villain!

So in a world where strength is king, who would care about these things!

It's just an animal anyway, it doesn't matter!

……

At this time, the sailing speed of the [Second Transport Ship] has gradually decreased!

Because if it speeds up further, then even with a monocular telescope, we won't be able to see the ship.

Of course, Soran felt that this distance was not 100% safe, but he had to slow down.

Because the fleet’s strongest force—the two Pillar Knights—are still left behind!

Even if these two powerful knights of the Pillar State cannot defeat the [Nidhoggr Sea Monster], they will definitely be able to escape.

So at this moment, it doesn’t matter if we go a little slower.

Moreover, after such a long period of accelerated sailing, the sailors of the fleet were already exhausted.

Therefore, we should also give them some time to rest properly, restore their strength and adjust their condition.

However, it is possible to slow down a bit, but it is absolutely impossible to stop.

After all, if the worst case scenario really happened, then stopping and then setting sail again would undoubtedly be much slower.

Therefore, the [Second Transport Fleet] is now sailing slowly forward at a constant speed.

……

At the stern of the [Second Transport Fleet], Soran was holding a monocular telescope, always observing the situation behind him, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

The manufacturing process of this monocular telescope is quite complicated, so Sauron has only made one pair so far.

And precisely because it is so rare, it is so precious.

Therefore, Soran did not give it away or lend it to anyone, but kept it in his own hands and used it for himself.

The ship behind was still following the fleet from a distance and did not fall behind.

Both sides are maintaining a relative distance: if it speeds up, I also speed up; if it slows down, I also slow down... In short, the two sides cannot get too close.

"Still haven't seen Butler Mark and Master Oliver?" Countess Katis asked softly.

"I didn't see it!" Soran answered directly and clearly.

Then, Soran handed the monocular telescope in his hand to Countess Katis.

Soran had taught her how to use the monocular telescope, so after Countess Katis took it, she looked directly in the direction behind her.

Of course, what Countess Katis saw was exactly the same as what Soran saw: apart from the ship that was still struggling, she saw nothing.

"Alas!" Countess Katis couldn't help but sigh: "Sauron, do you think they will..."

But before she could finish her words, Soran interrupted her: "Don't worry! Helen, that kind of thing will never happen!"

Ordinary people do not understand the mystery of fighting spirit and do not know how powerful the Pillar Knights are, so it is normal for Countess Katis to have such an idea.

"No... I'm just worried..." Countess Katis hesitated and wanted to explain something.

But he was still interrupted by Sauron: "Helen, don't worry! Don't worry, I'm here!"

Countess Katis’s current psychology is actually very easy to understand.

When she was in Ganise City before, she relied on Butler Mark as her ultimate support, and she might even regard Butler Mark as her only life-saving straw, and she had already formed a dependent emotion!

So now that Butler Mark's life or death is unknown and there is no news, she is extremely insecure and it is inevitable that she will have all kinds of emotions.

After all, she is a woman!

Most of them are emotional animals.

……

"Sauron, can I ask you a question?"

After standing in silence for a long time, Countess Katis finally hesitated and spoke again.

“Ask!” Soran was still looking at the sea in the distance, not noticing the change in Countess Katis’s expression.

"Tell me, if I was caught by that [Nidhogg] on that transport ship! Would you risk your life to save me?"

"Huh?" Soran was suddenly stunned when he heard this.

So he turned around and saw Countess Katis looking directly at him with a firm look: "Why do you suddenly ask this, Helen?"

"You don't have to ask the reason! Just tell me the answer!" Countess Katis shook her head slightly and rejected Soran's question.

"So do you want me to answer 'yes' or 'no'?" Soran joked with a smile.

Because he had already vaguely guessed the reason why Countess Katis suddenly asked this question.

“Sauron, please look at my question directly! Don’t avoid it or change the subject!” Countess Katis said solemnly.

She was asking a very crucial question, but Soran's somewhat hip-hop attitude made her feel a little annoyed.

Seeing this, Soran stopped talking nonsense and started to think seriously.

Under the current circumstances, there is only one reason why Countess Katis asked this question: she lacks a sense of security.

First of all, Butler Mark was not around, which made her feel unreliable and insecure.

Secondly, we have now left the familiar County of Garnese, the City of Garnese and Seagull Castle, and will be going to a completely unfamiliar new place in the future.

Finally, she had little experience in war or combat, so she was unable to react to the sudden attack of the Nidhogg monster.

So to sum up, this is why she lacks a sense of security.

Especially when the living environment suddenly changes dramatically, it is extremely stressful for anyone.

What's more, Countess Katis is just an ordinary woman, a widow who has lost her husband for many years.

Therefore, no matter how strong and smart she appears, when her emotions accumulate to a certain critical point, she will inevitably explode due to the influence of these external objects or external environment.

So this was the main reason why she asked this question.

Because Countess Katis wants to find a new support, someone who can give her enough sense of security.

As a suitor of Countess Katis, Soran is powerful, capable, talented and promising, and is undoubtedly one of the important choices for "this person".

So to put it bluntly, this question is actually the same as the questions raised by women in previous lives. It is nothing more than a so-called test for men.