Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 545 Ascension to Legendary Knight and One of the Nine Electors of the Empire

"Roar--!"

A roar, as if suppressed for too long and finally released, burst from Bradley's mouth. It was not a cry of pain, but a long, joyful howl of breaking free from restraints and leaping to a higher level of life! The boundless battle aura mixed with the pure light of order burst forth from his body as if it were a tangible substance, and behind him, it faintly condensed into the majestic phantom of a goddess holding scales and a sword!
The legendary barrier has been breached in this moment!

Bradley, the knight who had worked diligently and under immense pressure as acting commander, finally stepped into the realm of legend under the combined divine grace of the two goddesses and driven by the extreme emotion of a turning point in his own beliefs and the fate of the Knights Order! He officially became the rightful commander of the Knights of Eternal Light, a true legendary knight!

The divine grace lasted for a moment before receding slowly like the tide. The light of the Spear of Heaven returned to its usual gentleness, but everyone knew that some things had changed forever.

The covenant is complete, divine grace surges, and salvation arrives!

Grand Master Adelbert looked at Bradley beside him, whose aura had completely changed, radiating a sharp yet stable pressure. The last trace of doubt in his eyes finally dissipated, replaced by a sense of awe and relief at witnessing a miracle. He reached out and patted Bradley's shoulder heavily, his voice booming: "Good! Kid! That's more like it! From now on, lead your men and do a good job!"

Bradley felt the surging power within him and the clarity that followed the dissipation of the curse deep within his soul. He turned to Adelbert and bowed solemnly once more, but this time, his back was ramrod straight, filled with the confidence of a legendary powerhouse: "I will not fail the Grand Master's guarantee today! I will not fail the high expectations of the two goddesses!"

Thus, a crucial link in Su Li's plan was successfully completed without consuming the [Truth Scroll]! The Knights of Eternal Light were freed from the curse, their leader was promoted to Legendary, and their morale and loyalty reached their peak; the Knights of the Flame Sun demonstrated their prowess, gaining solid allies and the praise of the Church; and the alliance between the two Churches was recognized and strengthened by divine grace.

The birth of a legendary figure signifies far more than just a leap in personal power. In the old world, fraught with peril and surrounded by dark forces, each legend is like a giant torch suddenly ignited in the endless night. Their brilliance and heat cannot be ignored, inevitably causing subtle shifts and reassessments in the power landscape of the entire continent.

Bradley's promotion in Flashspear City caused far more attention and uproar than the birth of an ordinary legend.

The reason is simple—this newly lit "legendary torch" does not appear in isolation in the wasteland or in some ancient castle, but is closely clustered around the Black Forest Territory, a land that has already gathered too much light!

Including the newly joined Bradley, this region in the northern part of the border princely territory, which was originally regarded as a place on the edge of civilization and a chaotic place, has now gathered a total of four legendary figures!
Saint Lily Knight Hilde, the peerless sword of the Black Forest Territory, whose legendary fame has spread far and wide with each battle.

Grand Master Adelbert of the Flaming Sun Knights, a Fiery Knight of the Church of the Sun, is renowned for his power and prestige in the southern part of the empire, and few in the world dare to challenge his strength.

Duke Bohemond, commander of the entire Holy Expeditionary Force of the Empire, is considered the pillar of the empire's southern region.

Now, we have added Bradley, the Grand Master of the Knights of Eternal Light, a newly born legend who carries the Light of Order recognized by the Goddess of Justice.

What sent chills down the spines of all those in power in the old world was that these four legends, though belonging to different factions (Black Forest Territory, the Church of the Blazing Sun, and the Church of the Goddess of Justice), were now standing on the same side with unmistakable clarity, jointly protecting, or rather, closely surrounding, the same person—Count Su Li Bauhinia of Black Forest Territory!

Although Adelbert and Bradley were not nominally Su Li's direct vassals, it was clear to everyone that the two Grand Masters of the Knights had personally participated in and facilitated the far-reaching Sacred Guarantee Pact; they were strategically closely aligned with Su Li; their knightly orders operated in concert with the Blacksin Territory's army, sharing profits... When the horns of war sounded again, and when the interests of the Blacksin Territory were challenged, who could believe that these two legendary Grand Masters would remain uninvolved? They would inevitably side with, support, and even directly fight for Su Li in various forms and to varying degrees!

One legend can govern a region, two legends can ensure the safety of a province, but four legends... this is already a terrifying force capable of shaking the borders of the empire and even affecting the balance of power among the electors! This is no longer a simple relationship between lords and allies; an unprecedentedly powerful group, centered on Su Li and spanning secular territories and the two major southern churches, is rapidly taking shape!
The news spread like wildfire throughout the Old World, accompanied by all sorts of exaggerated rumors.

In Terra, the imperial capital, the officials of the Electoral Council, holding the official reply they had just received from Su Li regarding his request for electoral seats, and upon hearing the news that another legend had been added to the Black Forest Territory, displayed a complex mix of expressions—fear and solemnity. Su Li's bargaining chip had already increased significantly even before he had personally set foot on Terra soil.

In the northern territory of Middenland, the Elector known as the "Tyrant," Graf von Kazabagh, upon hearing the news, reportedly smashed his most beloved mead goblet in fury, his roar echoing throughout the Wolf Temple. He sensed the rapidly growing threat of the emerging power in the south.

Deep within the sanctuaries of the major churches, bishops and popes re-examined the situation of the Southern Church Alliance. The combination of the blazing sun and the goddess of justice, coupled with such powerful secular military support, had already shattered the balance of religious power that had been maintained within the empire for many years.

In the taverns and caravan stations, bards sang tales of Su Li, the "King of Black Forest," and the four legendary figures surrounding him, filling the air with fear and curiosity, awe and longing. Ordinary people and lower-ranking nobles might not understand the complex political maneuvering, but they knew that a new, undeniable, and immense power had already established itself in the northern part of the border princely territory.

Bradley's promotion was like a boulder thrown into an already turbulent lake. It not only completely changed the fate of the Knights of Eternal Light and solidified the alliance between the Sun and the Goddess of Justice, but also, with an undeniable and powerful stance, proclaimed the strength of the Black Forest Territory to the entire Old World, thus setting the stage for Su Li's upcoming struggle for the highest power in the Empire.

Never before has the gaze of the old world been so focused on this land, once considered a barbaric wilderness. Everyone realized that any disturbance here could, in the future, escalate into a storm that would engulf the entire empire.

In the city lord's mansion of Maleiburg, Lord Joachim locked himself in his study. Outside the window lay the city, still bustling, but now shrouded in shadow in his eyes. News of the Flashspear City ceremony, Bradley's ascension to legendary status, and Su Li's formal request for electoral seats from the council struck him like a series of heavy hammer blows.

He was no longer angry, but rather filled with a deep-seated fear and coldness.

“Four legends…four!” Joachim roared in a low voice, his fingers digging deeply into his palms. “What merit does Su Li possess?! A piece of trash who was ostracized by the Bauhinia family like a stray dog ​​just a few years ago, how could he possibly gather such power?!”

But what chilled him to the bone was Su Li's demand for electoral seats.

“An elector…he actually wants to be an elector…” Joachim paced anxiously in the room, his face pale. “Absolutely not! We can’t let him succeed!”

He stopped abruptly, looked at the map of the border princely territory hanging on the wall, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Black Forest Territory, his voice carrying an almost desperate ferocity:

“Killing a count in a border princely territory and killing an elector of the Imperial Electoral College are completely different concepts! The former might just be a border conflict, a feud between nobles, at most triggering some diplomatic disputes and local wars. But the latter... that is challenging the entire imperial legal system, that is making an enemy of the entire Electoral College! It is a heinous crime that could trigger a full-scale civil war and shake the very foundation of the nation!”

He knew full well that once Su Li donned the crown of elector, his status and position would undergo a qualitative change. He would no longer be a "local issue" under the imperial order, but a part of the core of imperial power. At that time, any military action against Su Li would be seen as a challenge to the highest authority of the empire, and Joachim would no longer have any chance to regain control of the eastern trade routes by force, and might even provoke joint intervention from the imperial central government and other electors.

“We must stop him…at all costs…” Joachim’s eyes flashed with a cold light. He had to contact the high-ranking members of the Electors’ Council to stop this.

Shortly after he roared, in Terra, the heart of the Empire, in the magnificent council hall that symbolized supreme power and whose dome was painted with the epics of the gods and the history of the Empire, a meeting that would determine the future of the Empire for centuries to come was being held in an unprecedentedly solemn atmosphere.

The empire had not experienced such a significant shift in the power structure in far too long. The last time new secular electoral seats were formally recognized and established could be traced back to the turbulent times of a thousand years ago. Su Li's demand was like a boulder thrown into a stagnant pool, stirring up a monstrous wave.

At this moment, the figures representing the highest power of the empire were almost all gathered in the hall, a rare occurrence.

Regarding secular electors:
Princess Phyllis, the Elector of the Grand Prince's Domain, personally attended the event. Her silver hair cascaded down her back, her posture was upright, and her face was calm yet held a firm gaze, making her stance self-evident.

The Elector of the Grand Prince's Domain, Wiesen, was not present in person, but his fearsome guardian, the "Rose of the Cemetery," Elsbeth von Drakens, sat as his plenipotentiary representative. Clad in black armor, her demeanor was as cold and aloof as the frost of a cemetery; her infamous reputation was on par with that of the Patriarch of the Imperial Church and the Marshal of the Hunters. The "Tyrant" of the Grand Prince's Domain, Graf von Kazabagh, known for his bravery and volatile temper, was also present. He was a burly man with eyes as cold as the northern winds, making no attempt to conceal his hostility towards southern issues.

Elector Bogislav von Kotke, Commander of the Northern Fleet and Elector of the Nord Territory, sat relatively far back, much like the map of their territory, situated on the edge of the Empire's borders. He was a ruddy-faced, robust man with a walrus-like build, wearing a captain's hat inlaid with a huge sapphire, his eyes possessing a sharpness born from years of scrutinizing nautical charts and a hint of the ruggedness of the sea breeze. He represented the power and interests of the northern coastline. At this moment, he was engaged in a boisterous conversation with Tyrant Graf, making no attempt to conceal his disdain for the effeminate men of the south.

The Elector of Ostermark did not attend in person. He was uninterested in the internal political struggles of the Empire; such meetings were usually attended in his place by his diplomatic envoy, Valdemar Brunt. This was a solemn, lean but robust old man with faint scars on his face from battles with wild beasts or creatures of chaos. His eyes, like those of a hawk guarding the border, were silent and vigilant, representing the resilience and sacrifice of the Empire's northeastern frontier.

Elector Albrecht von Tallabek, Elector of Tallabek, Prince of the Golden Harvest, and Governor-General of the Inland Rivers, was a kind-faced, portly middle-aged nobleman dressed in an elegant but conservative silk robe, with a jeweled ring symbolizing abundance on his finger. His eyes were shrewd, constantly weighing interests; he was the guardian and representative of the empire's "granary." In contrast to Ostermark, his position dictated that he pay close attention to the internal relationships and balance of the empire, thus he personally attended every Electoral Council meeting. At this moment, he stood beside Princess Phyllis, earnestly discussing potential cooperation, especially in the area of ​​grain trade.

Hermann von West, Elector of the Grand Princely Domain, was already seated, and as always, he sat beside the tyrant Graf.

Compared to Graf, the burly and explosive "tyrant" of the northern neighboring Middenland, Elector Herman appeared more lean and slender.

He was about fifty years old. Time had etched deep lines on his angular face, but it had not diminished the sharp, hawk-like light in his eyes. His hair was dark chestnut brown, with graying temples, and he combed it neatly back, without a single stroke.

He wasn't wearing an overly ornate dress, but rather a dark gray, well-tailored military-style dress uniform. His shoulder straps and chest were adorned with only a few simple medals symbolizing the highest honors of West Highlands. He exuded an aura of seasoned veterans, calm and reserved, yet subtly sharp.

As one of the most important electors in the North, Westerland and Middenland have historically fought together against countless threats from the forests, mountains, and even the Chaos Wastes further north, forging what is known as an unbreakable Northern Alliance.

Logically speaking, on such a major issue involving the rise of southern powers and potentially disrupting the traditional balance of power, Elector Hermann should have stood together with his hot-tempered neighbor—a tacit understanding that had been unspoken for centuries.

However, at this moment, Elector Hermann sat upright in his seat, his back straight, his hands resting on his knees, his eyes lowered, as if gazing at the faint light from the dome reflected on the smooth tabletop.

His usually decisive and resolute face was now shrouded in an inscrutable gloom, his brows slightly furrowed, revealing his inner struggle and weighing of options.

The reason is none other than the seemingly insignificant yet crucial element that has determined the fate of Westbrook for a thousand years—the Ghost Vine.

Ever since the glorious land of their ancestors was defiled by the fallen vampire Earl Merovingian and his undead army, turning it into a cursed land of death, the people of West Province retreated to the highlands and began a tragic struggle that lasted for over 1,600 years. With their flesh and blood and their will, relying on the West River, and with the ghost vines cultivated and laid by generation after generation, they built a swamp and forest defense line known as the "Black Wall," firmly keeping the undead out of the highlands.

This defensive line is the cornerstone of Westerland's survival. And the Ghost Vine, especially the extraordinary variety—the Dark Green Ghost Vine—which can more effectively attract and devour the undead and accelerate swampification, is the hope for maintaining this cornerstone and even launching a counterattack.

However, cultivating the Ghost Vine is extremely difficult, especially the Dark Green Ghost Vine, which has almost demanding requirements for its growing environment and cultivation techniques. Even with all its efforts, West Territory could barely maintain the defenses as needed.

Now, an unexpected variable has emerged—Count Su Li of the Black Forest Territory. Not only does he possess the legendary purple spirit field that can greatly accelerate plant growth, but he has also shown a strong interest in and willingness to cooperate on the Ghost Vine project. He has already cultivated a large-scale, enhanced version of the Dark Green Ghost Vine! In recent years, he has been continuously transporting thousands of Ghost Vines to the West Highlands.

In the future, they have pledged to provide more ghost vines to the province of West to help build and expand their border wall.

This was an irresistible temptation for Elector Herman and the entire Westerlands. It meant that their "Black Wall," which they had defended for millennia, could become even stronger, and might even shift from defense to a strategic counter-offensive, gradually purifying and reclaiming that cursed ancestral land!
On one side is the tradition and political stance of the Northern Alliance that has lasted for thousands of years; on the other side are the core interests and millennia-old dreams concerning the survival of the territory and the long-cherished aspirations of the nation.

Elector Herman was engaged in a fierce internal struggle. He could feel the burning, questioning gaze of Elector Graf from Middenland beside him, a gaze filled with vigilance and hostility towards the expansion of southern powers (especially the Sun Church associated with Su Li). According to tradition, he should have unhesitatingly expressed his opposition at this moment.

but……

He could almost see the sprawling, ominous land of death beneath West Highlands; he could almost hear the weary yet resolute whispers of soldiers at the border outposts as they faced the endless onslaught of the undead; and he could almost feel the burning blood in his chest, a bloodline passed down for generations, determined to reclaim their homeland.

Elector Hermann von West felt as if his heart was being torn apart by two immense forces. On one side was the burning gaze of his millennia-old ally, filled with questioning and discontent, a gaze that carried the blood oath and trust for jointly resisting the northern threat; on the other side was the continuous stream of vibrant, dark green ghost vines being transported from the Black Forest Territory, along with the fervent hope of reclaiming his homeland and washing away a thousand years of shame.

His fingers unconsciously clenched under the table, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure. Ultimately, his deep longing for the consolidation of the "Black Wall" and the possible restoration of Plantagenet's former territory overwhelmed his insistence on the traditional alliance. He avoided Graf's almost fiery gaze and remained silent, but his attitude was already ambiguous.

At the far end of the long table, everyone's gaze frequently drifted to the empty throne, the symbol of the empire's highest power. Seated beside the Emperor was his high-ranking chief attendant, and also the Imperial Chancellor—Otto von Hefberg. This powerful and influential elder statesman, around seventy years old, had meticulously combed hair, a lean face, and eyes as deep as an ancient well. He wore a simple dark ceremonial robe, the only adornment being the golden emblem on his chest, symbolizing the Imperial Chancellor's power.

He placed his hands folded in front of him, his posture calm and composed, as if the very pivot of the empire's daily operations rested on his shoulders.

The emperor's prolonged absence and rumors of illness made the attitude and influence of the prime minister, who effectively handled imperial affairs, particularly crucial at this moment. He calmly stated that the emperor was concerned about the matter and trusted the wisdom of the council, but no one knew his personal inclinations.

The seat at the very back of the long table belonging to the [Steel Territory] was somewhat unusual. Seated at the head of the table was Elector Alberich Claudius Love, a mere thirteen-year-old boy. He had inherited his family's signature dark hair and pale skin, and his oversized, ornate robes embroidered with the black eagle emblem of the Steel Territory made him appear even smaller.

Although he tried to straighten his back and imitate the dignified sitting posture of his father in his memory, his still childish face and a pair of dark green eyes that occasionally revealed unease and confusion exposed his true age and inner helplessness.

He was known as the "Grand Duke of the South" and the "King of Stonecastle," but these prestigious titles now seemed somewhat heavy for him and his province.

The one who truly represented the will of the Steele domain was a lady sitting a step behind him—his mother, Anna von Steele, who was also the Lord Keeper of the Seals and Regent of the domain. She was about thirty-five years old, with a beautiful face but an undisguised weariness and worry. Her dark hair was meticulously styled in a bun, and she wore a deep purple velvet dress that symbolized authority. Her eyes were sharp and calm, like a calculating butler, always guarding her son's precarious right to succession.

At this most solemn council of electors in the empire in recent years, the demands of the Steele territory bore the stark realism characteristic of its young ruler. Since Elector Alberich was still a minor, power was effectively held by his mother, Anna von Steele, as regent and Grand Master of the Seals. The Steele territory's position was not based on millennia-old traditional alliances or abstract loyalty to imperial legitimacy, but entirely on its own imminent survival crisis—last year's devastating undead invasion had severely weakened its border defenses, particularly crippling the military strength of its allies, the Church of Mor and the Church of Salya.

Therefore, Lady Anna's strategy for the Steel Territory was clear and pragmatic: they viewed their electoral votes as valuable political capital that urgently needed to be converted. They did not outright oppose Su Li's promotion, but rather saw it as a window of opportunity to secure the greatest possible benefit for the Steel Territory.

Their core demand is for tangible assistance that can enhance their ability to combat the undead threat—whether it's direct military support, relics or special resources specifically designed to purify the undead, or a large sum of money to help them rebuild damaged fortresses and armies.

In Lady Anna's shrewd calculations, the plight of the Steel Territory itself became their greatest bargaining chip. They cleverly exploited the Empire's sympathy and shared concern for border stability, clearly outlining the price to pay for supporting either side. Any force seeking their vote, whether an ally of Su Li or an enemy opposing him, had to first offer concrete commitments and support.

(End of this chapter)