Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 503 The Growth of the Rhea Church in a Corner of the Griffin Feather Manor

Su Li withdrew his gaze from the busy nuns and landed on their sacred yet practical turquoise robes. A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes, but it quickly deepened. The trade surplus was indeed astonishing, but the true lifeline of the Black Forest Territory always lay in this land and the forces that protected it.

“Fandal,” Sue began, steer the conversation away from the dazzling array of gold coins, “wealth is good, but it can’t fill an empty stomach, nor can it dispel the darkness of the wilderness. I remember last summer, the Holy Pool of Mother Earth was just completed, and the selection of offspring began. Now that autumn has arrived, those seeds carrying hope must be ready for harvest. What is the current state of the Dawn Church nuns? The splendor of their robes is merely a facade; I am more concerned with their actual numbers and strength.”

Fandall's smile grew even brighter and more confident, a joy born from witnessing the extraordinary returns of a long-term investment. He nodded emphatically, his tone brimming with undisguised pride: "Your Excellency! What you have mentioned is precisely our proudest achievement! The Holy Pool of Mother Earth has lived up to expectations; its first batch of nuns successfully completed all their training and trials last month, on the autumnal equinox!"

He raised his voice slightly and announced the exciting number: "Of the first batch of 123 candidate girls, 48 ​​have successfully advanced and officially become novice nuns under Ms. Rhea!"

"Forty-eight people?" Su Li raised an eyebrow. This number far exceeded his initial expectations. "A success rate of nearly forty percent! That's much higher than we initially estimated."

“That’s right, my lord!” Fandral confirmed excitedly, attributing the credit to that crucial ritual. “All of this is thanks to the ‘Dawn Pastoral Ritual’ that you generously approved and fully supported! It was the immense divine grace invoked by that grand ceremony that completely changed the situation!”

He seemed to have returned to that sacred moment, his eyes gleaming with memories: "Do you remember? We spent a fortune and a great deal of manpower to collect those one hundred hideous goblin shaman skulls, one hundred kinds of flowers brimming with life, and one hundred extraordinary seeds imbued with magic. When the ritual began at the sacred pool, the goddess's glory poured down as if it were real, and all the flowers in the entire Rose Stardew Orchard bloomed instantly, the pool water boiled with life energy, and the runes on the Ogan Stone Tablet shone like the morning star!"

"The effects of the ritual far exceeded the records!" Fandral exclaimed in disbelief. "It not only greatly pleased the goddess, bestowing upon her a vast and boundless divine grace, but also directly infused every candidate who participated in the ritual. The spiritual and natural connection that would normally take six months or even longer to solidify was rapidly strengthened and reinforced under the baptism of divine grace. Many girls who were on the verge of elimination broke through their bottlenecks; and those who were already outstanding received enhancements far beyond imagination!"

He concluded, “That’s why we were able to reap these forty-eight ripe fruits. They are not ordinary novice nuns, sir. Thanks to the divine grace of the rites, their average rank stabilized at the high-ranking novice (rank +2) level immediately upon graduation! Nearly ten of them have even directly touched the threshold of becoming full nuns (rank +3), and are already able to reliably cast one or two basic Rhea spells, such as [Glimmer Healing] or [Soil Vitality]!”

Upon hearing this, Su Li's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Forty-eight nuns of high-ranking apprentice level or above—this was practically equivalent to adding half a diocese's worth of grassroots clergy to the territory! They would be immediately dispatched to various villages, farms, and border outposts. The agricultural increases, medical treatment for the wounded and sick, and morale boosts they could bring would be far more valuable than gold coins could be measured in a single coin.

"Excellent! Excellent!" Su Li exclaimed twice, his joy overflowing. "My minister, this investment is more worthwhile than any gold coin trade!"

These forty-eight new nuns, like forty-eight vibrant seeds, will be sown across the vast lands of Black Forest Territory. Together with the wheat ears in the fields, they will become the most solid guarantee for the future prosperity of the territory.

Su Li looked around at the bustling planting scene in Bjorn Bay, and at the green figures shuttling between the machines and the ridges, and suddenly realized, "No wonder there seem to be more nuns here than I remember. It turns out that this new force has joined."

However, despite his relief, his lordly perspective immediately revealed some deeper issues. He turned to Fandral, his brow furrowing slightly: "My minister, forty-eight newly ordained nuns—this is undoubtedly a great success. But for the Blacksin Territory at present, I'm afraid it's still just a drop in the ocean."

"In the past year, we have not been content with our limited territory." Su Li's voice carried the weight and pride of a pioneer. "The bandits and mutated creatures of the Flash Spear Plains have been largely eradicated, and the land there can now stably produce food. More importantly, we have taken Blue Mirror Territory, truly pushing our border to the foot of the Twilight Mountains! This means that our actual controlled territory has expanded by more than two times compared to a year ago! If we include the newly incorporated forests and foothills, it is no exaggeration to say that it is close to three times!"

He paused, then pointed to the crux of the problem: "The expansion of territory means that the number of villages, outposts, and settlements is increasing at an even faster rate. Every newly established settlement longs for the guidance and protection of a Sister of Dawn to ensure a bountiful harvest and social stability. Not to mention those remote corners of our original territory that we were unable to reach in the past."

“And this is only the land.” Su Li’s gaze sharpened. “Don’t forget our population. Under the great power of Saint Dantin of the blazing sun, countless lost souls have been able to return to the right path.”

"Those war gang members who were once misled by the whispers of chaos, refugees who struggled to survive in the forest and eventually became bandits, peasant thugs who could not survive and took desperate measures, and even some heretics whose faith wavered but were not beyond redemption... Under the purification and redemption of Dantin's holy torrent, they laid down their weapons, repented for their sins, and are being absorbed and recruited in batches, becoming legitimate residents and laborers of our territory."

“These new people need to be resettled and new land needs to be cultivated, which will naturally lead to the formation of new villages. They need the comfort and guidance of the Church of Dawn more than anyone else to ensure that they truly integrate into the territory, rather than sliding back into darkness,” Su Li concluded, his gaze turning to Fandral again. “In this light, even with the addition of forty-eight nuns, facing a territory that has almost tripled in size and a continuous influx of people, our clergy force is probably still stretched thin, far from sufficient, isn’t it?”

Upon hearing the lord's concerns, Fandall showed no worry but instead revealed a confident smile. He respectfully replied, "Your Excellency is as astute as ever, and your understanding of the territory is as profound as ever. You are absolutely right. Under normal circumstances, forty-eight nuns are indeed far from enough for the current Black Forest Territory. But please rest assured, the Church and the Council of State have foreseen this and have prepared two countermeasures."

“Firstly, the nurturing of Mother Earth’s Sacred Pool has not stopped.” Fandall extended his thick fingers. “With the successful experience and sufficient funds from last year, we selected more than two hundred candidate girls this spring. They are now diligently practicing by the Sacred Pool, feeling the blessings of the goddess. If all goes well, it is expected that at least eighty new novice nuns will complete their studies by next spring’s planting season and can be immediately sent to various newly cultivated lands and villages to alleviate the urgent shortage of manpower.”

He paused, lowering his voice slightly, but with a hint of pride at making a good deal: "Secondly, we did not rely solely on our own training. Thanks to the substantial financial resources you, Lord, have provided, we have purchased fifty-three well-trained Dawn Nuns with official ranks from Maleburg and its surrounding areas through reliable grey market trading channels!"

Upon hearing this, Su Li's eyes flashed with surprise and intense interest: "Oh? You bought fifty-three at once? Did you empty out the Dawn Sisters of Maleburg? I remember that the Rhea faith is not mainstream within the Empire."

“Your Excellency is wise, that is indeed the case!” Fandall confirmed with a smile. “We have almost completely wiped out the Dawn Sisters of impeccable character circulating in the markets of Maleburg and the surrounding area. This was not too difficult. As you said, Lady Rhea is ultimately an ‘outsider’ goddess of agriculture and nature to many imperial nobles, and not all lords value her faith. Many nuns are not valued in their original territories, and are even ignored. When our merchants came with their heavy golden crowns, those lords and merchant guilds agreed almost without hesitation.”

He offered a timely compliment: "Of course, this is all thanks to the incredibly generous financial support you provide, Lord. Even if other buyers are interested, they simply cannot compete with our Black Forest territory on price."

A satisfied look appeared on Su Li's face. He pressed on, "So, the strength of our Dawn Church is now vastly different from what it used to be?"

“Yes, my lord! It is no exaggeration to say that the Church of Dawn is now stronger than ever before!” Fandall’s tone was full of pride. He explained in detail, “This is primarily due to your strong support all along. The Church not only possesses sacred sites such as the Holy Pool of Mother Earth, but also naturally acquired its own industries in the process of development—we cultivate and sell some extraordinary crops and vegetables, and the operation of Rainbow Silk is also led by the Church. All of these have brought the Church a stable and considerable income.”

“But more importantly,” he said, turning his attention to the vast fields and villages in the distance, “the roots of faith have been deeply planted. In every village and every estate in the Black Forest Territory, Lady Rhea’s faith has taken root in people’s hearts. Those farmers and estate owners understand better than anyone what a Sister of Dawn can bring them—tangible increases in grain production and healthier livestock! Therefore, they are extremely willing to sponsor the church and generously donate, just to have a small sanctuary set up on their estates—perhaps just a stone tablet engraved with Ogan runes, or perhaps a simple but clean little wooden chapel.”

His description painted a picture of an idyllic old-world pastoral scene interwoven with devout faith: "Even in many ordinary villages, villagers would spontaneously pool their resources to hire a nun to reside there permanently. They would work together to build a small mission point, perhaps just a shrine under a large tree at the village entrance, or a miniature altar made of stones. For them, this was not merely about increasing production, but also a spiritual refuge for seeking peace and healing. It was this pervasive, bottom-up demand for faith and financial support that became the most solid foundation for the church's rapid expansion!" Su Li listened, then slowly nodded, a weight lifted from his heart. His gaze swept across the bustling, vibrant fields before him, as if he could see countless tiny lights of faith shining in every corner of the territory, ultimately converging into a powerful force supporting the Black Forest Territory's continued progress. "Very good," he said solemnly. "With the foundation of faith and the support of the people, the Black Forest Territory truly possesses an unshakeable foundation."

Just as Fandral described, countless similar scenes were unfolding across the thriving lands of Hessian Territory. The "Griffin Feather Estate," situated on the edge of Bjorn Bay, was a prime example.

The owner of this manor is the elite knight Albert Hoffmann. He is not an old nobleman of the Black Forest Territory, but a "loyal subject" who resolutely followed Young Master Su Li and traveled thousands of miles from the distant Purple Thorn Fortress.

Back then, he was just an apprentice knight with an uncertain future, his strength not outstanding among his peers. Yet, with an almost gambling intuition, he firmly believed that the young Master Su Li possessed an incredible opportunity that could help a knight break through his limits. In order to secure a spot as a follower, he even gritted his teeth and gave a bottle of fine wine from Tarabheim, which he had treasured for many years and had never been willing to drink (in the Old World, this was an extremely valuable possession for an apprentice knight who was not wealthy), to Connor Hohensolton, who was in charge of recruiting soldiers at the time.

As it turned out, Albert's seemingly risky gamble became the wisest decision of his life. After arriving in Black Forest Territory, under Lord Su Li's command, he underwent countless trials of blood and fire, his strength advancing rapidly in actual combat. Even more enviable was that during a fierce siege battle, he truly felt the generous and scorching divine grace of the Sun Goddess, not only fully recovering from his injuries but also breaking through his strength bottleneck, advancing to a powerful elite knight, and even vaguely touching the threshold of the awe-inspiring Champion Knight.

Recently, apart from very important political affairs, he has put aside all his affairs and handed them over to his butler, while he devotes himself to serving the goddess in order to seek his own path to victory.

Of course, if his pursuit didn't go smoothly, he also considered saving up a large sum of money to seek guidance from the lord. After all, champion-level opportunities, while rare, wouldn't be difficult for the lord to obtain. It's just that the lord would need to decide which elite knight to grant this opportunity to.

Accompanying his strength and military achievements were the lord's generous rewards. Money, fame, and the wealthy manor before him were all natural rewards. Knight Albert firmly believed this and attributed all his success to the guidance of Lord Su Li. Therefore, he responded to all the lord's decrees with unconditional, almost blind, trust and obedience.

Under his meticulous management and wholehearted dedication (referring to his blind obedience to everything Su Li said and his fervent response to every call from Su Li), "Griffin Feather Manor" presents a prosperous scene that blends imperial style with the fantasy characteristics of the Black Forest Territory:

At the heart of the estate is a main mansion built of sturdy stone. It is not a luxurious palace, but rather solid and imposing, clearly possessing military defensive features. Its roof is covered with dark red tiles, and wisps of smoke rise from its chimney. Beside the mansion stands a small prayer room enshrining the emblem of the Holy Sun Goddess, a testament to the owner's faith.

The farm's fields were meticulously planned. The vast wheat fields had just been harvested, with golden stubble still remaining on the ground, while the adjacent furrows had been turned over again, revealing fertile black soil. Dozens of farmers were busy in the fields, sowing carefully selected winter wheat seeds. Several row seeders, pulled by rams and ingeniously designed by halflings, were working efficiently with a rhythmic clanging sound.

Most striking is a meticulously maintained garden on one side of the manor, with an Emerald Pool at its center. This is the territory's most famous and widespread magical irrigation system. The pool's water has an unusual, vibrant emerald green color, not from algae growth, but from the emerald gems taken from the Gem Pool, giving it an air of pulsating life energy.

The farm's livestock are occasionally drawn to drink from this water, and the nuns also use it to bless the fields. Some rough but devout offerings are laid out beside the pool, clearly spontaneously made by the farmers.

The irrigation system reflects the dwarven pragmatism: sturdy dwarven cast-iron pipes and precise sluice gates efficiently deliver water from nearby streams to every field that needs nourishment, complementing the mystical energy of the Emerald Pool.

At this moment, the threshing floor of the manor is piled high with sheaves of wheat harvested this year, like small mountains (with a tiny fraction of them being the steel wheat that strengthens the body), and the air is filled with the fragrance of grain and hay. In the livestock pens, the cattle and sheep are plump and healthy. And the preparations for autumn planting are nearing completion, awaiting only the planting of the last batch of seeds.

A nun named Dawn, dressed in a light green robe, was patrolling the fields. She would sometimes squat down to check the soil moisture and sometimes give the farmers some advice. Her presence made everyone feel at ease and encouraged.

Knight Albert himself was not dressed in a magnificent formal suit, but rather in a leather hunting outfit that allowed him to move around easily, with a long sword at his waist. He was listening to the manor's steward, an elderly man with gray hair but a vigorous spirit, who was holding an account book and giving a meticulous report.

"Master, as you instructed, we have successfully purchased a live Lightscale Fish from the Fishermen's Guild at Blue Mirror Lake." The butler's voice carried a hint of barely suppressed excitement. "We paid a considerable price for it, but it was absolutely worth it! We specially invited a champion-level druid master from within the territory—who is also a high priest of the Church of Dawn—to examine it. The master confirmed that the psionic energy contained in the Emerald Pool of our manor is sufficient to sustain this rare creature."

He paused, then explained in detail, “Although the environment isn’t ideal for it to reproduce naturally, it will lay eggs periodically. The Druid Master said that as long as our family’s offspring eat the adult Lightscale Fish in batches, leaving the pond empty, under suitable conditions of water ripples, climate, and especially abundant psionic energy in the pond, it’s possible to catalyze one of the eggs to hatch into a fry and grow successfully. In this way, the innate talents of our Hoffman family’s descendants can be guaranteed!”

Upon hearing this, Knight Albert's eyes blazed with fervor. This meant his family possessed a cornerstone for generations to come, and their social standing would not easily decline. "Excellent! Excellent!" he exclaimed in a low voice. "This means that at least one of my sons and grandsons, in each generation, will be able to securely reach the rank of apprentice knight or higher with this!" For a newly emerging knightly family, this was an invaluable treasure.

The butler continued his report, his tone reassuring and gratified: "Furthermore, our family's sponsored and nurtured distant niece, Alma, has now been promoted to a junior full nun in the Church of Dawn. The Church has agreed that, barring any major unforeseen circumstances or requisition, she will remain at our Griffin Feather Manor for the next few decades, responsible for spreading the Goddess's grace and guiding agricultural production and rural healthcare." The resident presence of a full nun brings implicit benefits far exceeding monetary value.

“There is more good news, sir.” The butler’s smile deepened. “The several grafted amethyst grape vines that we won the bid for from the Lord’s Household Department at great expense have survived and begun to spread! Thanks to the vigorous and wild vitality brought by the summer ‘Tal’, they have survived the most difficult adaptation period and are now growing well.”

He pointed to a newly cultivated, meticulously tended plot of land on the edge of the estate: "Although it's only about an acre this year, we expect to expand to five acres next year, and even more than ten acres the year after! Even if the grapes we cultivate can't compare to the finest ones in Lord Lord's Emerald Garden, they'll still be enough to produce the best wines. Conservatively speaking, this alone could bring the estate dozens or even hundreds of gold crowns in net profit each year!"

The old steward closed the ledger and gave a proud summary: "My lord, please take a look—our manor now possesses Lightscale Fish to improve bloodlines, produces Steel Wheat to strengthen physiques, and cultivates Moonlight Cabbage and Amethyst Grapes to exchange for enormous wealth. In the future, our manor's annual income may even be enough to shock and envy a poor kingdom knight (a true nobleman with a knighthood and fief)!"

“Moreover,” he emphasized, pointing to the noticeably higher and reinforced wooden walls surrounding the manor, gleaming with the luster of greyish-white stone, “we heeded the Lord’s call and coated all the walls with a thick layer of Stone-Skin Pumpkin Mud. Now, their defenses rival the stone walls of many cities! Ordinary goblin warbands or beastman skirmishers wouldn’t be able to budge them an inch. Griffin Feather Manor is safe and sound, and will surely be able to continue peacefully farming and managing its affairs under the Lord’s protection for a long time to come!”

As Sir Albert listened to his steward's report, his gaze swept over his prosperous and stable manor, a smile of immense satisfaction and unwavering resolve spreading across his face. All of this stemmed from his wise investment in that bottle of Tarabéheim wine years ago, and his unwavering, almost blind, following and trust in Lord Su Li. His Griffin Feather Manor was just one small microcosm of the countless Black Forest territories that had benefited and grown stronger under Su Li's rule.

(End of this chapter)