Throne of the North.

Chapter 802 The Initial Establishment of the Knight Academy (Part 5)
The impact of the changes to the imperial army has been significant in the long run.

Brand and his two hundred men had just left the Flying Wing Canyon and entered the Danube Province when the size of their group began to grow steadily, eventually reaching nearly a thousand men by the time they entered the Volga Province.

A group of at least one thousand, including apprentice knights, slowly entered the province of Calais.

Here Brand also met the legendary woman that Lane had mentioned, a woman whose appearance seemed ageless, with fair skin, radiant complexion, and heroic spirit. The only flaws were her ears and her long, pale blonde hair, which seemed to belong to no ordinary person.

Brand sensed a faint threat from Heather, the other party's name. Even though the other party had concealed her legendary power well, he could still feel this powerful aura emanating from her.

The two legends faced off a hundred meters apart on the road, and only after a moment did they introduce themselves to each other.

"So many people, are they all students from the Northern Knights Academy?"

Heather looked at the carriages behind Brand with displeasure in her eyes.

"Not entirely. There are also some from noble families who are going to the capital to show their fathers the changes in the capital."

"Let them go back."

Heather spoke, her voice like a dragon's might resounding throughout the entire massive procession. All the nobles in the carriages were thrown out, landing awkwardly on the ground, looking at the stunning woman riding on the warhorse with a mixture of anger and fear.

"I have no interest in dealing with the filth of the nobility. My purpose in going to the capital is to ask the emperor whether the army of Chixue Province should be incorporated into the Imperial Army."

Every region has its own customs, and the army of the Blazing Snow Province had long been in the hands of this half-elf human woman.

Brand glanced at the nobles, said nothing, and simply asked:

"Even if the emperor reorganizes the imperial army, Lady Heather's power should remain unchanged, right?"

Heather looked at Brand as if he were an idiot and asked:
"I've always heard that Baron Ryan is the most outstanding nobleman in the empire in the last decade. How could you be so stupid?"

Brand took a deep breath but did not pull the hilt of his sword out.

"It seems that the little baron is also an exaggerated nobleman of honor."

With a whoosh, the longsword in Brand's hand roared like a stag, and the two hundred knight academy students behind him also drew their weapons, watching the incredibly beautiful woman with nervousness.

Heather ignored the longswords and walked to the front of the group before speaking:
"The Emperor's decision to bring forth the Imperial First Legion is not a big deal; it has been under consideration for decades. He is merely inheriting his father's legacy. However, he wants students from the Knight Academy to become officers in the army. Who can guarantee that the students of the Imperial Knight Academy are truly outstanding?"

Are they qualified to lead soldiers in war?

"Are they capable of leading an army to victory in war?"

"Or is it that a group of noble children went to the battlefield to pave the way for their own bloodline's glory and honor, using the deaths of soldiers to advance their own merits?"

After saying that, Heather turned and glanced at Brand.

“Little boy, didn’t your baron win many wars? Why don’t you understand anything about war?”

Brand raised his head, his eyes shining with determination.

"The Northern army doesn't need to think about these things; the army only needs to obey Lord Ryan's orders to achieve victory."

Heather thought for a moment, then sneered and turned back.

"A bunch of fools who encountered an excellent commander and participated in a lucky war."

Brand didn't agree with this assessment, but since he wasn't exactly a commander in the war, he didn't bother to refute it.

Calais Province.

The group stopped in the territory of Earl Clayton, the dragon city that was always bustling with activity. Earl Clayton received the two legends, Brand and Heather.

"Ms. Heather."

Brand was somewhat surprised to see Earl Clayton bow to the half-elf woman; aristocratic etiquette was formal and solemn, and quite elaborate.

"Years have passed, and you've grown up so much."

Heather nodded in response, and Brand then realized that this woman's age was probably not simple.

"I heard that you support the emperor's will?"

Heather inquired, revealing her curiosity. The title of Earl of Clayton, and the power and prestige that came with it, were worthy of her attention.

"Yes, Ms. Heather, this was a plan that was already established when His Majesty Columbus III was alive. We defeated the orcs and the Dawn Church. Now is the best time to transition military power, and the Empire will not face any major threats as a result."

“Columbus III, the little guy is thinking quite a lot. At this time, those minor nobles are no match for your conspiracy.”

Heather remained aloof, and Brand realized that the numbers he had been guessing in his head probably needed to go through another cycle.

Lord Clayton replied with a smile:
"This is not a conspiracy, but a greater change for the empire. We have long seen through the wars of the past century. Slaves and cannon fodder are of no use in war. Only elite warriors can bring victory."

Heather wholeheartedly agreed, but the two were on different sides at the moment.

"There's nothing between us to say."

Heather's ally is not Lord Clayton, who is currently on the Emperor's side.

After she left, Earl Clayton regained his composure as an elder and nodded to Brand.

“Ryan is really lucky. I’ve always thought that knights need a bit of talent, but you’ve really broadened my horizons.”

"Back then, it took me over twenty years to become a legend, but you only need a few years."

"Ryan too, he has such an enviable talent."

"I think His Excellency Heather's attitude towards you isn't very good, is it?"

Brand blinked and nodded, agreeing.

Do you know how old she is?

"She has elven blood, and elves, like dragons, are long-lived beings, once standing at the pinnacle of the extraordinary. Lady Heather is nearly five hundred years old. She achieved her legendary status a hundred years ago during the blasphemous era of the Empire, and she was also one of the Empire's allies at that time."

"what?"

Brand finally lost his composure, his mouth agape in disbelief.

"You can not see her as a human, but as an elven princess, with pale golden hair and long silver elven hair, both bathed in the magic of nature. Elves or half-elves like her never age."

“She was once half a teacher to Lord Rice of the Empire. Later, after the Empire became powerful, she became the commander of the fortress in the Blazing Snow Province. People like her don’t like human environments; they prefer nature.” After saying this, Clayton chuckled.

"It seems that this lady is more human than elven after all. She actually left the Blazing Snow Province for the sake of the soldiers there."

After glancing at Brand, Earl Clayton explained:
"Unlike your purpose in bringing the Northern Knights Academy here, Ms. Heather's idea is actually very simple. She does not reject the emperor's decree to reform the army, but she doubts the quality of the noble officers who are about to join her army and help her manage it."

"Perhaps it's because of the elven bloodline. You must understand that because elves are long-lived, their population is much smaller than that of humans. Therefore, every member of their race is very precious. Many wars between humans and elves in history were often caused by humans trafficking elven people."

"His Excellency Heather cherishes the soldiers of the Blazing Snow Province and naturally does not want anyone to kill them for no reason."

"You should have less contact with her. Over the years, the nobles of the empire have studied Ryan's wars extensively. Even I, as his father, have to marvel at the number of people Ryan sacrificed to achieve victory in those wars."

"Lady Heather is disgusted by this kind of victory."

"Your lord already has a great reputation in the south."

Lord Clayton pointed out that in the current situation of the empire, where there are many nobles but little land, who would not pay attention to the rapid expansion of a pioneering baron in just a few years?
Many frustrated young nobles in the South probably fantasized about achieving great things like Ryan, and planting the flag of glory on some land in the world.

"Lord Ryan sent me to the south not for these reasons."

Brand did not deny Earl Clayton's words, but he believed that the arrangements made by these southern nobles could not threaten Ryan. Only someone like him could truly feel that Ryan's rise was not something that ordinary nobles could stop.

The same goes for legends.

“I know, he already told me in his letter. I didn’t expect him to create the Northern Knight Academy so quietly. But I’m sorry, the Clayton family is too deeply tied to the South. Before I obtain the command of the next legion of the Empire, I cannot easily send people to the Northern Knight Academy, even if Ryan is my child.”

"The reason why Lady Heather left just now is also because there is no conflict between the Clayton family and the Ryan family. However, I cannot offer you much help now, because it is no longer just Ryan's business."

"The nobles of the North want to interfere in the future of the Empire's army. To be honest, I don't want Ryan to get entangled with the other provinces in the North."

“I never told Ryan that several provinces in the North represent trouble, such as that Lady Heather, Lord Harald the Lionheart of Twilight Province, and the Marquis of Hot Springs in Hot Springs Province…”

The empire is centered on the capital city. The further away a place is from the capital, unless it is a family territory, the more stories there are. The reason for being far away from the center of political power often means that they have deep conflicts with certain people and things in the center.

"But don't worry, Ryan sent you, a legend, south, which means he has considered these issues as well."

"I will arrange for Kaz and Ivar to go to the capital with you. You only need to complete the communication with the Imperial Knight Academy that Ryan asked you to do. They will take care of the other nobles' affairs for you."

After saying this, Earl Clayton also sighed deeply.

"The political storm in the capital city is terrifying right now. Why would Ryan think of stepping into it at this time? The war is over. He only needs time to become stronger in the Frozen Territory. Why should he try to expand his influence so quickly?"

Brand did not answer the question, but he was aware that Lord Ryan had been worried about the news he had received from the orcs, the so-called calamity deep in the North.

However, he couldn't say anything without confirmation.

After all, this involves a key word: time. The calamity in the North could be this day or many years from now.

Two of the Earl of Clayton's second and third sons joined the group. The two legends, Brand and Heather, were the apparent leaders. However, even though the group was reduced in size, it still numbered six or seven hundred people. Many of them began to contact their family's allies in the south as soon as they entered the Imperial Province.

Those nobles who were kicked out of the group by Lady Heather have probably already appeared in the noble castles of their families' southern allies.

Thus, the moment Brand stepped into the imperial capital with Ryan's banner, the heart of the empire, which had been a place of constant conflict between nobles and the emperor, welcomed the third interest group within the empire.

The nobles of the North.

For this, His Majesty Emperor Columbus IV was furious for half an hour in his palace!

"These damn guys!"

His Majesty the Emperor was very angry inside the palace.

He had achieved a brief victory in his political struggle with the nobles of Grand Duke Freming and began to wield considerable power. However, before he could even rejoice for a few days, the voices of the nobles in the North began to pound in his head.

He had already won this political struggle, but at this very moment, this group of people came along to tell him that it wasn't that simple.

“Your Majesty, this is normal. Your plan has led the nobles to relinquish their armies, but it will inevitably harm the interests of the nobles on the periphery of the empire.”

"Even if it weren't for the Southern Dawn Church still threatening your rule, the nobles in the south would be dissatisfied."

In the palace, Grand Duke Meyers and some marquises and earls were present; they were now the emperor's mindless supporters.

“But this is a plan that Father decided long ago, and it is beneficial to the empire.”

"That's for sure, but the emergence of new rules will inevitably damage some of the old interests. That's why your father delayed it for decades, until now, when you finally implemented it."

Grand Duke Meyers offered this advice, genuinely and sincerely imparting profound experience to the new emperor as a ruler.

“If something is beneficial to all nobles, then it will be implemented the day it is proposed. All the decrees that are delayed represent different interests involved.”

Volvo thus calmed down. As an emperor with extremely high political talent, he naturally understood the reasoning behind Archduke Meyers' words, and he was able to listen to them.

"But what's going on with the Northern Knight Academy? I just ordered the changes to the Imperial Knight Academy, and the Northern Knight Academy appeared. Ryan, Ryan certainly wasn't built in a short time. They planned this all along. Why is Ryan going against my orders?"

The emperor was quite satisfied with the 'settlement' following his first victory in the political struggle, particularly regarding the Imperial Knight Academy. However, the events in the North troubled him, as if his decree still failed to demonstrate the emperor's authority.

It's like... a stain.

What angered him even more was that, no matter how you looked at it, Baron Ryan should have been a loyal follower of the emperor, but this time it was he who proposed the exchange between the academies.

This is a questioning of the emperor's decrees!
This led Volvo to suspect that Ryan might have some shady dealings with Archduke Fleming.

Although he was reluctant to speak up for Baron Ryan, Grand Duke Meyers still sighed and said:
"Your Majesty, this is actually the best outcome."

"The nobles of the Northern Lands are dissatisfied with your decrees because of the interests of their territories. Therefore, they came to the capital city under the guise of exchanging ideas with the Knight Academy under Baron Ryan. If they had not done so, their dissatisfaction would probably have been even more direct."

"As for the exchanges with the Knight Academy."

“Baron Ryan already stated in his letter to you that he has no connection with Grand Duke Fleming and the others. After all, his father, Earl Clayton, still supports you. The Northern Knight Academy was built less than a month ago, which is a coincidence. Moreover, how could the knight students of the academy possibly compare to the students of the Imperial Knight Academy in just one month?”

"Indeed."

The emperor nodded in approval, no longer bothered by the trouble this matter had caused him, and focused on considering the political conflicts that the arrival of the entire northern nobility would cause.

"Students from the Imperial Knight Academy, they can win, right?"

(End of this chapter)