The fleet advanced through the waves, the blood beneath the sea diluting as it reflected the last rays of the sunset.
The Mirage Dragon Battle had left many of the Holy Empire's ships severely damaged, with hulls dented and cracked.
The deck of the large sailing ship was littered with debris and bloodstains, casting a bleak and desolate scene.
Peach's magic had only restored the Blue Whale, but the fleet possessed hundreds of ships, all of which still required crew members to repair.
The howling sea wind whipped the imperial flags, emblazoned with the Holy Empire's insignia, causing them to flutter violently.
Most of the crew were exhausted, some repairing ships, others tending to wounds, and others silently gazing into the distance, their eyes filled with sorrow.
Though the battle had been won, they deeply understood the horror of the sea monsters.
Many young people, once fired up by Ogulas' passionate speeches, now had their fervor replaced with clarity as they began to think of home.
A young man named Freddy longed for his frail grandmother. Though Freddy had survived, his companions had been killed by the shark-like sea monsters, and he had lost an arm. Dragged down by such injuries, continuing to fight would only lead to certain death.
Few could gain fame in war; most were ordinary people like Freddy and his hometown companions, whose bones might scatter across the sea.
"Grandma, I'm sorry."
The young man dragged his broken body, his eyes reddening as he stared at the vast ocean, feeling utterly alone.
The distant sky darkened, the twilight casting a golden hue over the water.
Seagulls circled above, their cries echoing. The waves crashed against the ship's hull, producing a heavy, rhythmic sound.
With the defeat of the Mirage Dragon, the illusions ahead also vanished.
Though the Holy Empire's fleet had only faced the vanguard of the Azure Dragon Court, they had still lost many soldiers.
Had it not been for Leon's intervention, the losses would have been even greater.
Yet the high-ranking knights did not view Leon's actions as heroic; they believed his strength should have been reserved for the true war ahead.
To them, expending such effort to save mere guards seemed meaningless.
Thus, while Leon was celebrated by the navy, the high-ranking knights looked on with disdain.
Still, those who had contributed or sacrificed in the battle would be rewarded.
Clerks from the navy recorded the battle report, which was then reviewed by Commander-in-Chief Tina.
Leon's rank was raised from lieutenant to lieutenant commander, making him the only noble lieutenant to be promoted in this battle.
Normally, such a promotion would take at least a month to process, but with Earl Holbert aboard the Blue Whale, the cumbersome procedures were bypassed, creating an opportunity for rapid advancement to encourage others and assure them of recognition for their efforts.
Inside the captain's quarters, besides the three earls, there were two vice-admirals and three rear admirals.
The rear admirals had already tallied the losses: five ships sunk, thirty-four dead, two hundred ninety-seven severely injured, and one thousand six hundred fifty-four lightly wounded.
While these numbers were not dire for an expeditionary force of one hundred thousand, the question of how to handle the two hundred ninety-seven severely injured became a problem.
"Treat them like slaves and use them as bait."
Earl Yar Frank stated this without hesitation, seeing no difficulty in the decision and puzzled by Holbert's hesitation.
Tina and Rear Admiral Cheryl Haus frowned, disapproving of this approach.
It would signal to ordinary soldiers that injury might lead to abandonment, reducing their fate to that of slaves.
"I disagree," said Earl Sam Isaacson, stroking his gemstone ring.
Yar Frank turned to Sam and replied coldly, "The failure to resupply on the Golden Isles means our current provisions are already insufficient. Reducing our burden is our responsibility to the army."
"That's true," Sam said slowly, "but I do not approve of treating them like slaves. However, I agree we must prioritize the army's interests by conserving supplies."
"What do you suggest?" Yar Frank asked.
"Promise them that their names will be recorded, and upon their death, they will be honored as glorious officers. Their families will receive substantial compensation. Let them volunteer to become bait, distinguishing them from slaves and ensuring they feel gratitude toward the Holy Empire rather than abandonment."
Sam's suggestion left all present, except Vice-Admiral Mathilde, with unpleasant expressions.
They saw through the upper echelon's intentions. Soldiers who died in battle were already entitled to honor and compensation for their families. Using such promises to lure the injured into sacrificing themselves was simply the harsh reality of war.
Tina glanced at Holbert, the ultimate decision-maker aboard the Blue Whale.
She also knew Holbert was not a compassionate man; compassion would not have carried him to his current position.
"Forgive my candor, noble earls," Cheryl said in her hoarse voice, "with only a few hundred severely injured, our clerics can heal their wounds and allow them to continue fighting. If we sacrifice two hundred in one battle, facing the Azure Dragon Court will mean countless more battles. Abandoning our companions will only leave us isolated and vulnerable."
"You are mistaken, Cheryl," said Vice-Admiral Mathilde. "His Majesty has prepared for a protracted war, with reinforcements arriving steadily through the new trade route. At most, we will have resupply in three months, but we must endure until then. We are not abandoning our comrades; we are preserving the able-bodied."
Cheryl, though only a rear admiral, was the eldest in the room and spoke with authority.
"Call Leon here," Holbert said calmly.
"Yes, sir!" A officer left to fetch Leon.
"Though Leon is talented, he is only a lieutenant commander and has no place in such a meeting," Cheryl remarked.
Yar Frank and Sam agreed with Cheryl but hesitated to contradict Holbert, as they sought to recruit Leon for their own interests.
They knew Leon was tied to Ogulas, but even the emperor's man could be swayed with sufficient incentive.
"His performance in this battle is undeniable," Holbert said. "I think his reward was too meager and might discourage young talent."
"Do you wish to promote him further?" Tina asked curiously.
Holbert shook his head. "I want to give him an opportunity."
Leon soon arrived at the "Supreme Decision Chamber."
Pretending he still could not see, he skipped formalities and greeted Holbert simply.
"Good evening, Your Lordship."
Holbert nodded slightly. "Leon, your performance in this battle was outstanding, rivaling that of a Five-Star Glory Knight. Do you have any grievances about your promotion to lieutenant commander?"
"No."
Leon replied honestly, for he had not come seeking glory or advancement. Even without recognition, he could return to his life as a viscount.
"Serving the empire is my duty. I would have fought regardless of promotion."
Leon's nonchalance surprised the room. To Holbert, however, Leon's confidence stemmed from his assurance of inheriting the Moria dukedom.
Holbert would not allow that, for Leon as Moria's heir would never succeed him. Leon's military achievements were the best path, giving him options beyond relying on his family.
Holbert also hoped Leon would follow in his footsteps and marry Peach, living a happy life.
"Even if you seek nothing, the empire cannot neglect its young talent. I offer you two choices: join the Rose Knights or lead two hundred ninety-seven men to form your own knightly order."
Yar Frank and Sam frowned at Holbert's words, displeased by his attempt to bring Leon under his wing.
"This is not the way," Yar Frank said. "With Leon's ties to the emperor, he should join my Flame Knights."
"An exploratory order would suit him better," Sam countered.
"Your suggestions are noted," Holbert said, "but Leon's decision will be his own."
The Pioneer Knights, though formed by the collective response of multiple counties and not an elite force under Earl Sam Isaacson's direct command, were now officially under his name and the only military force he could present.
Facing the olive branches extended by the three earls, Leon naturally chose Earl Hall's offer.
"I wish to establish my own knightly order," Leon replied.
His response caught everyone present off guard.
After all, the treatment of these three knightly orders was far superior to that of ordinary officers.
Whether it was food, equipment, or medical care, the members of the knightly orders were always prioritized.
Tina, Cheryl, and Medea belonged to the Rose Knights, Earl Hall's elite force, and they couldn't understand why Leon would refuse Earl Hall's proposal and instead want to build his own knightly order.
The new knightly order wouldn't have such privileges.
Moreover, those two hundred men were all severely injured.
"I must tell you, those 297 men are soldiers who were gravely injured in this campaign. They may have courage, but they were not so fortunate. Even with healing magic, their severed limbs cannot be regenerated. They will only be a burden to you," Earl Hall said.
"It doesn't matter. I'll take care of them. I understand the suffering of the disabled all too well," Leon said with a smile, pointing to his own eyes.
Earl Hall narrowed his eyes, unsure what Leon was thinking. There were at least three decent options available, yet Leon chose the worst one.
These injured men, as members of his knightly order, would not only fail to assist him but would also become a hindrance.
This guy clearly had no intention of achieving any merit.
Leon, on the other hand, was thinking about how to avoid being sent to the front lines. His purpose for coming to the Court of the Azure Dragon was to find Catherine and recover his lost memories. Initially, he had planned to apply for the position of Cheryl's caretaker, overseeing nobles like Parker, but that seemed unnecessary now. With over two hundred injured men under his care, he had more than enough reason to avoid the front lines.
Additionally, his heroic performance in the dragon campaign ensured that no one would think he was avoiding battle out of cowardice. Possessing his own injured knightly order gave him considerable flexibility.
"Leon Moria, you have a bright future ahead of you. You are different from those disabled men. Though you may be blind, you are still a prodigy of heaven, while they are merely ordinary soldiers. Think carefully," Earl Yar Frank urged. "Join the Flame Knights, and you'll be able to fully utilize your abilities."
"Yes, in fact, we intended to abandon these men. You shouldn't ruin your future for their sake," Earl Sam Isaacson added, walking over to Leon and patting his shoulder. "Come to the Pioneer Knights. If you wish to lead a group, I can give you a force of 200 elite knights."
Tina and Medea, among other naval officers, couldn't help but feel envious. The three earls clearly held him in high regard, and he was only 18 years old, with a promising future ahead.
"Thank you for your kindness, but I still wish to establish my own knightly order. I don't want to abandon anyone," Leon said, using a noble excuse to decline the earls' offers.
Tina and Cheryl exchanged a glance, suddenly feeling that Leon was indeed the hero the rumors made him out to be.
"Compassion is admirable, but this is war," Earl Yar Frank said. His family had never been one for mercy, seeing it as a sign of weakness. Still, he enjoyed the company of compassionate people, so he chose his words carefully.
"Yes, Lieutenant Leon, if you had realized this earlier, you might not have been sent to the High Tribunal," Earl Sam Isaacson added.
Leon merely smiled faintly and said nothing, but his actions left a deep impression on Cheryl and the others.
Having endured countless wars, they had long since lost the compassion that once filled their hearts. Leon's display of such a virtue was truly rare.
"Very well, you may leave," Earl Hall waved his hand dismissively.
Leon bid farewell to the high-ranking officials and left the captain's quarters.
The next day, Leon was granted three large sailing ships. Including the sailors and crew, there were 300 people in total. Originally, there were 297 injured men, but only 250 arrived. Forty-seven had not survived the night and were thrown overboard to prevent the spread of disease.
Among these 250 was the young man named Freddy, who had lost an arm.
Leon officially left the Blue Whale and boarded the sailing ship to meet his new knightly order members.
On the *Gale*, the atmosphere was grim. No one had expected to become disabled and then be assigned to a new knightly order.
Perhaps this knightly order was merely intended for suicidal charges or as bait.
Many had already lost hope for their futures, having witnessed their comrades die horribly the night before.
Leon's arrival, however, gave them some surprise.
His reputation had spread throughout the fleet, and even the lowest-ranking sailors knew of him—Leon Moria, the rising star of the Empire.
"Milord Leon, Leon Moria," someone said.
Freddy's dim eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope. He remembered his grandmother's words at the pier, how her comments had led to their mockery by others, and how Leon had been the only one to help her up.
He didn't expect Leon to save him, but perhaps, if Leon was there, he could entrust him with the letter he had written to his grandmother.
Freddy had no friends left; all of his had died. He didn't know if the others would survive, but after witnessing Leon's awe-inspiring feat of slaying the giant squid, Freddy felt that Lord Leon Moria would surely survive.
"Milord Leon, why are you here?"
"Is it so that you'll lead us to our deaths?"
The injured men murmured among themselves.
They had learned from the veterans that this war was no ordinary one. If it were on the Southern Continent, they might have been sent home with honors, their injuries allowing them to retire gloriously. But this was the Forbidden Sea, where even the fish were inedible, and every bit of supplies was precious. They couldn't afford to waste anything. To send them back, they'd need a knightly order, but they weren't high-ranking officials like Lady Phia, the high priestess. They had no right to return.
Their fate was either to return victorious with the army or die at sea.
So, even after being assigned to a new knightly order, and seeing that they were all injured, they naturally assumed this was a disposable force, a death squad.
Nina Owen covered her nose, the stench of the injured men unbearable. They were all men, and with their injuries, no one had bothered to give them a wash. The smell was naturally foul.
Though the maid was extremely beautiful, her actions undeniably hurt the already fragile morale of the soldiers.
The attention that had initially been on her quickly shifted away.
They were like beggars in the presence of a noble lady, instinctively avoiding eye contact.
Leon's sense of smell was far more acute than Nina's, yet he showed no sign of disgust.
When he saw them, he truly understood the cruelty of war, especially a war involving the supernatural.
"Nina, lower your hand," Leon said coldly.
Though unwilling, Nina Owen removed her hand from her nose, a small act that made Freddy and the others feel a hint of respect.
"Everyone, good morning. I am Leon Moria, the captain of this knightly order. I've just decided on a name for it—Dawn."
Leon stood before them, his tone gentle. "Dawn Knights, welcome."
The blond young noble seemed to radiate light under the sun's caress.
Freddy stared, transfixed, as did the other soldiers.
But they knew that even with the name *Dawn Knights*, their grim reality wouldn't change.
On the *Gale*, there was barely enough food and medicine. They might not even survive long enough to see the front lines, likely dying of starvation or illness first.
Just that morning, they had yet to receive their meager rations.
While the Blue Whale had a military cafeteria, the provisions on other ships were limited.
First, the nobles, knights, and officers ate, followed by the healthy soldiers and crew. Only then would the injured receive their share.
Leon had learned of this in advance, so even though he didn't need food himself, he had Nina Owen bring enough bread.
Nina Owen distributed two soft loaves of bread and a bottle of milk to each person. Though she disliked doing such tasks, it was her master's command.
She found herself becoming more and more like a nauseatingly good person.
When would the Evil God ever act like an actual Evil God and do something shocking? She yearned for some excitement.
As she handed out the "charity," Nina Owen silently prayed.
The soldiers, upon receiving the bread and milk, revealed expressions of delight. Except for the first few days of the voyage when rations had been decent, their breakfasts had been a single dry biscuit and a cup of water.
Especially when they saw the luxurious addition of a slice of ham in the bread, many of the soldiers were moved to tears.
"Delicious, so delicious," someone said.
"Thank you, Lord Leon Moria," others echoed.
But there were still people who chose to set aside their bread and milk, enduring their hunger to continue listening to Li En speak.
They felt it was impolite to eat in front of their superior, especially since he was a noble from the Moriya family.
Nobles, after all, were particular about etiquette.
"Don't mind me. You can eat while listening to me speak. I'm blind and can't see what you're doing," Li En said calmly.
Only then did the soldiers put aside their hesitations, pull out the bread from their pockets, and begin to eat.
Freddie was thinking that after Li En finished his speech, he would ask for his help in keeping the letters. A noble with such noble character as Li En Moriya would surely help him send the letters back.
Nina Owen finally finished distributing the bread and stood reluctantly by Li En's side. As the Duke of Jiles, she had never served so many commoners before.
Indeed, Nina Owen felt that handing out bread was already a form of service.
Knowing that Li En had already regained his sight, Nina Owen forced out a smile.
"Great master, the task you assigned is done."
Li En nodded slightly and continued with his speech.
"I know many of you may feel abandoned, and in fact, that's the truth. Any veteran knows that in times of war, the wounded are often the first to be discarded when supplies are scarce."
Upon hearing Li En's words, many people stopped eating. Although they knew this was the truth, being confronted with it so bluntly still made it hard to accept.
"Are you here to give us our last meal?"
Young Freddie gathered his courage and asked, his eyes red.
"Has the Empire really abandoned us?"
Li En looked at Freddie and thought of the boy who had hidden on the dock.
He had been swayed by Augustus's words, deceived his family, and joined the army alone, just like Parker, full of passion and determination.
But unlike Parker, Freddie was not so lucky. Parker was not only a Three-Star Glory Knight but also had Li En as his brother.
This young man, on the other hand, had lost an arm, and his face no longer held the vigor it once had.
Li En did not answer Freddie's question. Instead, he asked, "What's in your hand?"
"It's... it's a letter."
Freddie bit his lip and pulled out the letter, handing it to Li En. "I originally planned to give it to you after your speech, but since you asked, I'll give it to you now. I hope you can take this letter back and give it to my grandmother. She lives on District 2, Street 32."
Seeing Freddie's bold action, many soldiers also quietly reached into their pockets and pulled out their own letters.
"If Lord Li En is willing to help, can you also send mine? My wife lives on District 7, Street 65."
"Lord Li En, and mine. My mother lives on District 5, Street 90."
"Lord Li En, mine too."
Li En received a total of 97 letters. Just as everyone was expecting him to agree, Li En hesitated for a moment and tore all the letters to shreds.
"Lord Li En!"
The guards couldn't believe it. Li En had actually torn up the letters, which were their last wishes.
Even if he didn't want to help them, did he have to do it right in front of them?
Young Freddie was so distraught he almost cried, but Li En's next words shocked everyone.
Li En had not intended to save these people because their injuries were the best excuse for him to avoid going to the front lines.
That was until he saw these letters.
For some reason, they reminded him of his past life and made him think of home.
If it were his past self, he would have been just as helpless on the battlefield, for he was just an ordinary person, and the life of an ordinary person was so fragile.
"I now only want to ask you: do you want to live on, or do you want to die here?"
Li En asked solemnly.
"To live... to live on."
As one soldier spoke up, more and more of the wounded expressed their desire to survive.
"So, to live on, how much are you willing to pay?"
Li En continued.
"Pay? What else can we give?"
They asked in confusion.
At this moment, Nina Owen finally felt that things were no longer boring. Her eyes gleamed as she watched these insignificant humans who could be manipulated by Li En.
She realized they would become the new followers of the Evil God.
Almost without hesitation, Nina Owen pulled all the wounded into the dream world.
As expected, because of their severe injuries, they had already been excluded from the realm of mental protection, so they could be dragged into the dream world.
And Li En voluntarily entered the dream world.
In the dream, Li En's words would not be overheard by others.
The soldiers did not notice they were dreaming because the environment around them remained unchanged.
"Give up your identity as humans and become my blood servants."
The blood tribe could transform humans into their descendants or blood servants.
Li En did not want to have so many descendants, so he offered them the option of becoming blood servants.
Although he had mastered more advanced healing magic and could completely restore their severed limbs and health, this could not change the fact that they were still ordinary humans. On the battlefield, they would still face death.
But as blood servants, they would be given strength—improved speed, strength, and agility—and possess some self-healing ability. Even if it wasn't as powerful as that of a vampire, it would still be enough to survive against low-level sea monsters.
"What? Lord Li En, what are you saying?"
The soldiers thought Li En was joking.
Li En drew Enzo and handed it to Nina Owen, asking her to demonstrate.
Nina Owen excitedly took Enzo, her face flushed. "Really? Master."
Li En's mouth twitched. "Don't think about anything strange. Cut."
"I understand, master."
Nina Owen quickly and neatly cut off one of Li En's arms with Enzo.
Amid the soldiers' terrified screams, the arm regrew.
Li En moved his new arm slightly and said to the stunned guards, "This is how I will heal you. Of course, I won't force you to become my blood servants. I'm just giving you an opportunity."
"I'm willing!"
A soldier whose lower body had been severed raised his hand without hesitation.
As he volunteered, more and more people raised their hands. "I will too!!"
As long as they could live, even if they had to give up their human identity, what did it matter?
Moreover, they would be following Li En Moriya, the Empire's new noble.
With the ability to regenerate and possess extraordinary strength, they could truly survive on the battlefield. Almost no one would refuse such temptation.
Li En took out a dagger and cut his palm.
Nina Owen immediately stepped forward and used a special container to collect the precious blood.
Every injured soldier received a drop, including young Freddie.
Blood servants were like incomplete vampires. The downside was they could never advance like vampires and could only be defeated by true vampires.
But there was an advantage: they retained their ability to reproduce and have descendants, though their children would also be marked as blood servants.
In other words, once they became blood servants, their descendants would forever remain blood servants.
And Li En, as the one who transformed them, would be their only master.
If Li En died, these blood servants would also die with him.
So, their fates were essentially bound to Li En's, leaving them no choice but absolute loyalty.
Of course, Li En had not thought so far. He simply wanted to give them a chance to be reborn.
Nina Owen led all those who had received the blood out of the dream world.
They swallowed the blood and completed their transformation.
Even without Li En's reminder, they knew they had to keep this a secret.
Otherwise, Li En would most likely be sent to the Inquisition Court again.
As Li En's blood was absorbed into their bodies, they felt a surge of new power, healing their wounds and restoring their bodies. The soldiers experienced the joy of regrowing limbs and gaining new strength.
"My... my arm! It's back, and it's even stronger than before!"
"My leg! It's back!"
"Look at my hand! It's back!"
The crowd erupted in excited cheers.
They hugged each other, tears of joy streaming down their faces, and then knelt before Li En, swearing their allegiance.
Li En's blood servants quickly grew from over 90 people to 300, including the sailors and crew on the ship.
After all, he couldn't have unnecessary elements on the ship. Everyone had listened to his speech and voluntarily chosen to join.
Following this, Li En decided to stay on the Galley. Although the environment was far inferior to the Blue Whale, he did not want to be monitored by Count Holbach. It was more comfortable to stay on his own turf.
Paula had also wanted to follow Li En but was stopped by her father, Count Holbach.
This was why Paula had initially sneaked onto the Blue Whale without her father's knowledge.
After being discovered, she lost much of her freedom.
“Polytheia, I know you can heal those wounded soldiers and help Leon form a completely healthy knight squadron, but I hope you don’t do that. This is his own choice, and your magic is needed for something more important—building a teleportation gate that only humans can freely pass through. Can you do it?”
Earl Hall looked at Polytheia.
Although he didn’t want his daughter to get involved in the war, since she had come, there were some things she could do that he had no choice but to entrust to her.
Because, besides being a father, he was also the leader of the army.
He had to take responsibility for this vast army, for the war.
Polytheia nodded slightly, “Father, I can do it, but I must stay by Leon’s side.”
Earl Hall frowned. Though he didn’t know why his daughter insisted on staying by Leon’s side, he trusted that Polytheia had her own reasons. It wasn’t possible that she was just being foolishly in love.
This might have something to do with the fact that Polytheia, despite losing control on Golden Island, was still able to return alive with Leon.
Could Leon possess the ability to resolve the issue of the witch’s loss of control?
If that were true, then Polytheia would have to marry Leon.
“Alright, if you can build the teleportation gate within three days, you may go to Leon.”
Earl Hall compromised.
After the Mirage Dragon Battle, the human legion occupied these floating islands.
The islands weren’t very large, but if combined, they could be used by humans to build a temporary base for ships to dock and rest.
The Blue Whale was filled with many talents, including 20 magical architects whose main task was to build magic towers after the army captured strategic locations. But now, Earl Hall decided to activate them early, letting them first integrate these floating islands into a single island, so Polytheia could set up the teleportation gate here and turn this place into a naval base for attacking the Azure Dragon Court.
“Alright, Father.”
Polytheia nodded in agreement. She would research and create a teleportation gate exclusive to humans in the shortest time possible.
During this time, she couldn’t go to find Leon.
Flame Demon Kruse could help her deliver blood to Leon on time.
After Fiya left, Polytheia took on the responsibility of feeding Leon alone.
She didn’t mind Leon drinking the blood of others; she just felt that her blood, which contained magic, was more beneficial for Leon’s body.
The news that Leon had refused the invitations of the three earls soon spread throughout the Holy Empire’s fleet.
When the people from the three major knight orders learned that Leon had refused the earls’ invitations, chose to establish the Dawn Knight Squadron on his own, and absorbed all the seriously injured soldiers into it, they revealed expressions of disbelief.
This also became the hottest topic on the Blue Whale.
“Does Leon Moria have a problem with his brain?”
“Who knows? He’s not staying in the knight order either. I heard he killed a mermaid and was marked. Taking those cripples with him to die is probably a contribution to the empire.”
“Hah, I thought he was smart, but he’s actually a fool.”
The knights discussed in the officers’ dining hall. They only felt sorry for the beautiful maid by Leon’s side, who would have to follow him to his death.
Because Leon and Polytheia had grown so close recently, it had already caused a lot of dissatisfaction among the knights.
Polytheia was already the dream woman of most men in the empire. Even in Earl Hall’s direct subordinate unit, the Rose Knight Squadron, there were many who secretly loved Polytheia.
Polytheia’s attitude toward Leon made them jealous to the point of rage.
Moreover, Leon’s fame in the Mirage Dragon Battle had even surpassed Tina, who had defeated the Mirage Dragon, which made them even more displeased.
When they heard that he had refused to join the three major knight orders, their displeasure reached its peak.
The three major knight orders were something others would do anything to join, yet he had the audacity to refuse.
When they heard that he had actually formed a new knight squadron, with members mostly being the old, weak, and sick, the knights couldn’t sit still anymore. They had to gather together to mock this man who had great talent but seemed to have a bad head on his shoulders.
“Let’s make a bet. I bet he won’t live past the Carnival.”
The Holy Empire’s Carnival was on January 1st every year, which was also equivalent to the empire’s New Year.
“You’re too conservative. Let’s not even talk about the Carnival—he won’t even make it to November.”
“Hahaha, let’s drink, drink.”
“But aren’t we not supposed to drink alcohol before the battle?”
“Don’t be foolish. That rule is for ordinary people. We knights can drink as much as we want.”
Just as everyone was happily preparing to open champagne and celebrate Leon Moria’s self-destruction early, a four-star knight rushed into the officers’ dining hall.
“Have you guys heard?”
“Heard what?”
Everyone looked at the four-star knight in surprise.
“Those two hundred soldiers have all been healed.”
The four-star knight casually found a seat, picked up a cup of water, and drank it down.
“Healed? You mean Leon Moria asked a priest to help treat those ordinary soldiers?”
The knights asked curiously. They really wanted to know which priest dared to go against the archbishop’s opposition and help Leon Moria.
“No, there were no priests. It was Leon himself.”
“Himself? How is that possible?”
“You’ve forgotten that he’s a Silver Believer, haven’t you? He himself has mastered advanced healing magic.”
An officer reminded them.
“No, not that kind of healing magic. Even advanced healing magic can only restore the body’s condition, not regenerate severed limbs.”
The four-star knight explained. He didn’t believe the rumors at first either, until he went to the Galleon to see for himself. Those soldiers who had lost arms and legs were now training perfectly fine.
Moreover, their physiques had clearly improved compared to before.
“Regrowing limbs? How is that possible? Did the Archbishop himself help?”
—
