Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 548 Su Li's Extremely Enjoyable Noble Life
When the official messenger from the Electoral Council of Terra rode swiftly to post the proclamation bearing the seal of the Imperial Chancellor, confirming the addition of an electoral seat held by the secular Church of the Sun in the squares of the Empire's major cities, it was as if a boulder capable of triggering a tsunami had been thrown into the tranquil lake of Imperial politics, which had remained calm for decades.

The entire empire was in an uproar!
The news spread like wildfire, reaching astonishing speed from the courts of Terra to the most remote village taverns, from the prosperous trading cities of the south to the harsh military frontiers of the north; everyone was talking about this earth-shattering change.

The major churches reacted most strongly, causing what could be described as an earthquake in the realm of faith.

The Church of the Goddess of the Sun was naturally filled with ecstasy and ambition!
For the Church of the Sun Goddess, this is undoubtedly one of the most glorious victories since its founding! From a local faith relegated to a corner of the southern border, it has risen to become one of the most powerful players at the highest power table of the empire, something that countless priests and believers have dreamed of for hundreds of years.

The bells of the great Sun Temples tolled day and night. Believers spontaneously organized grand processions, singing hymns to the goddess Violet, praising her light finally illuminating the heart of the empire. Priests, their voices fervent and eyes moist, preached this victory as a testament to the goddess's power and Earl Suli's devotion, a harbinger that the Path of the Sun would surely illuminate the Old World.

However, beneath the euphoria lay a rapidly growing ambition for power and unprecedented pressure. The church leadership knew they were now at the forefront of a crisis; how to effectively utilize their hard-won right to vote, how to maintain their foothold in the complex imperial politics, and how to deal with the hostility of other churches would be enormous challenges. But regardless, the door to the pinnacle of imperial power had been opened for them.

As the state religion of the empire, the Church of Redma felt a blatant provocation and the pain of its power being divided. The archbishops roared within the Redma Cathedral, denouncing it as "the defilement of the sacred electoral system with dirty money and heretical fruits." They could not accept that a "new," "southern," "female-deified" church could stand on equal footing with the Sigmar sect, which had a thousand-year history and symbolized imperial unity and human glory.

However, their resistance was merely verbal, as the rise of the Church of the Sun Goddess was not achieved overnight. In the empire's religious landscape, the radiance of Violet the Sun Goddess was no longer a newly arrived spark, but a stable torch that had burned for thousands of years, and her church's influence had long been deeply rooted in the empire's intricate political and religious network.

In fact, the Church of the Sun Goddess has long held a place in the Electoral Council—a religious electoral vote belonging to the church itself—due to its long history, broad base of believers, and irreplaceable role in the fight against darkness. This vote, traditionally held by the archbishops of the Church of the Sun, has long wielded considerable influence on major issues involving faith, morality, and even some imperial policies.

Therefore, this newly added secular electoral vote, held by Su Li Zijinghua as Earl of Heisen Territory, is seen by many calm observers and seasoned politicians in the empire as less a subversion of the old order and more a belated but reasonable adjustment and formal confirmation of the balance of power within the empire.

While Su Li's acquisition of a secular electoral seat is undoubtedly significant in symbolism, in essence, it resembles an official recognition and appeasement by the imperial system of this "dark horse" who had already entered the arena and demonstrated astonishing strength. The question now is no longer about questioning his qualifications, but rather how he and the Lieyang Church behind him will use these dual electoral rights to place their pieces in the empire's game.

In contrast to the Imperial State Religion, which places greater emphasis on maintaining the unity of the Empire, the Church of Yurik is far more contemptuous and hostile.

The followers of Yurik, the god of the white wolf, reacted more directly and violently. They revered strength and despised the "refinement" and "scheming" of the south. In their view, the Church of the Blazing Sun, which had gained its seats through "bribery" rather than "merit," was a cowardly and shameless act. Many Yurik priests publicly swore before the altar of the wolf god that they would never recognize this "elected by fruit."

Elector Graf's defeat was seen as a great humiliation, and the shadow of war grew ever heavier in the north.

The feelings of other mainstream churches were far more complex. On the one hand, they were equally uncomfortable with the "usurpation" of the Lieyang Church, worried that it would disrupt the existing balance of faith. But on the other hand, the success of the Lieyang Church also opened a dangerous door of imagination for them—if the Lieyang Church could do it, could they too? Especially after seeing the irresistible allure of the [Consecrated Wisteria Tree Pods], some more pragmatic churches or those facing difficulties couldn't help but begin to re-evaluate their relationship with the Lieyang Church and even the Black Forest Territory.

On the other hand, the reactions from the North and South clearly outlined the deepening rifts within the empire.

In stark contrast to the anger in the north, the south of the empire—including the province of Suland, the territory of Wiesen (although the public reaction was different despite Elsbeth's abstention), the territory of Stir, and even parts of the border princely territories further south—generally welcomed the news.

The southern nobility and merchant class viewed this as a major victory, breaking the north's long-standing control of the parliament and gaining more say in the political arena. Su Li's rise and the ascension of the Lieyang Church were seen as signs of the overall increase in southern power. Many southern lords began to seriously consider strengthening ties with the Black Forest Territory, whether for the legendary longevity pod or to gain an advantage in the impending upheaval.

Merchants, on the other hand, saw endless business opportunities. A new trade route connecting Blacksene Territory to the heart of the Empire seemed to have opened, and the expansion of the Sun Church's influence also meant new markets. Although Elector Herman of Wester Territory had experienced a painful struggle during the vote, when the news reached his territory, most of the nobles and common people who longed to reclaim their homeland cheered, believing it to be an excellent opportunity to use the power of Blacksene Territory's Ghost Vine to drive out the Beastmen.

In the North, however, the scene was quite different. Midden, Nord, and Auster were shrouded in a climate of betrayal and humiliation. In the taverns, warriors drank heavily of ale, cursing "southern schemers" and "cowards who buy votes with fruit." The Elector of Graf's defeat, far from diminishing his prestige, had instead fueled a shared sense of righteous indignation in the North.

The drums of war faintly beat along the northern border. Conscription orders became more frequent, forges worked day and night to forge weapons and armor, and the White Wolf Knights and Nord raiding cavalry conducted increasingly more frequent drills. They were preparing for war, not only to defend against Chaos and Beastmen, but also to prepare for a potential conflict with the south. In the eyes of the northerners, the soul of the Empire was being corrupted by the money and cunning of the south; only battleaxes and blood could defend ancient honor and tradition.

For the vast majority of ordinary citizens in the empire, the increase or decrease of electoral seats was a distant and complex matter. They mostly treated it as a topic of conversation over tea, marveling at the methods of the border Count Su Li and the good fortune of the Lieyang Church.

"Have you heard? There's an earl in the south who used a magical wisteria fruit to buy himself and the goddess an Electoral title!"

"Really? What kind of fruit is so powerful?"

"They say eating it can add decades to your life! No wonder all those important people are scrambling to get it..."

The name Su Li and the legend of the "Blessed Wisteria Tree" spread at an unprecedented speed through the lower levels of the empire, shrouded in mystery and legend.

The news of an additional elector, especially one held by the newly formed church, was like a massive wedge driven deep into the already fractured political and social structure of the empire. It accelerated the north-south divide, disrupted the religious landscape, and redefined the balance of power.

The old world order is violently shaken, and a new era full of unknowns, opportunities, and dangers has officially begun with Terra's decisive blow. Everyone can feel the ground beneath their feet shifting; a storm that will sweep across the entire empire is already brewing.

Just as the entire empire was in turmoil because of him, the north-south divide was intensifying, and the major churches were wavering, at the center of this storm, the newly crowned Earl of Suli Bauhinia, who held dual electoral power, was like an outsider, enjoying an unprecedentedly comfortable life in his expanded and luxuriously decorated Hessenberg, located in the heart of the northern province of the unified border princely territory.

In Su Li's imagination, becoming a high-ranking noble, especially a lord who controls a vast territory, would inevitably mean endless political affairs, scheming diplomacy, suffocating financial and food pressures, and the constant need to guard against open and covert attacks. What a grueling and exhausting job that would be!

However, it wasn't until he had truly secured his position in this northern territory and streamlined the power structure that Su Li suddenly realized a simple truth:

Being a nobleman can be so awesome!

The pressure to survive? The formidable external enemies, potential imperial intervention, and internal strife that once plagued him have all vanished. The North is unified, its army strong and well-equipped; surrounding powers either submit or fear him, and his status as an elector provides further protection. The immense pressure to survive has transformed into a sense of ease that transcends the rules.

Financial and food pressures? With control of the trade routes to Maleburg, gold coins flowed into the treasury daily; the newly conquered fertile lands and settled populations began to produce stable output; the engineering of his dwarven allies and the agricultural productivity-enhancing technologies brought by the Church of Dawn kept the granaries overflowing. He no longer needed to worry about the next quarter's military pay or the rations for his subjects.

Tedious administrative affairs? A highly efficient administrative system, personally built by him and primarily staffed by the provincial council and high-ranking attendants, was already in full swing. Routine matters were handled by loyal and capable officials, with only the most important decisions being reported to him. Orstein was in charge of the military, Hilde held sway over all sides, and the administrators, under the iron-fisted leadership of Chancellor Oliver, each performed their duties. He, the Supreme Lord, had become the most "idle" person.

Thus, Su Li's pace of life suddenly slowed down and slid into an extreme enjoyment that even he himself had not anticipated. He was engaged in high-intensity knight training every day—only, the "battlefield" of his training had shifted from the swamp littered with corpses to his bedroom and courtyard, which were covered with velvet and scented with precious spices.

The "nightly revelry" that once required restraint has now become a basic necessity. He even often indulges in "daytime debauchery" with carefully selected beautiful female courtiers from different races and regions in the bright sunshine of the afternoon, in his private bath, flower-scented courtyard, or in a gallery adorned with murals, discussing the mysteries of life and the pleasures of body and soul.

Those figures, some aloof, some passionate, some alluring, formed the most enchanting scenery on his path of cultivation. The powerful physique and vigorous energy of his red dragon bloodline allowed him to manage this extravagant life that was unimaginable to ordinary people, and he regarded it as a unique way of cultivating his will (perhaps) and bringing joy to his mind and body.

This completely "lying flat" state did not isolate him from the world; on the contrary, it brought him a variety of powerful opportunities.

When he was no longer preoccupied with trivial matters and his mind was able to relax and settle down, his daily intelligence system revealed to him all kinds of important information.

Every morning, as he wakes up from the warm and soft embrace of his beloved, the daily intelligence system is successfully activated.

As his sphere of influence expanded and his status rose, the quality and scope of the intelligence provided by the system also increased accordingly.

[On the eastern side of the Cloudcrown Mountains, within the former ruins of the Swamp Territory, 300 meters underground, 3 Imperial Miles east of Ravenbeak Peak, lies a high-purity adamantite vein, its reserves assessed as 'extremely rich'. The foolish Emirs of the Swamp Territory have been unable to exploit it in the past; now it is time to send your team of dwarven engineers to reshape the terrain, drain the swamp's polluted waters, and mine this colossal vein.]

In the Baron's Domain of Champagne, a newly surrendered province of Oka Mountain, lies a frustrated young officer—Casper Wrath. Born into a declining knightly family, he currently serves as a low-ranking commander at the Baron's border outpost. His use of small-scale elite flanking maneuvers, infiltration, sabotage, and psychological warfare contradicts the traditional knightly approach of direct combat, leading to repeated suppression from superiors and ostracism from colleagues, who perceive him as "lacking chivalry" and "acting slyly." However, Casper is not lacking in courage; rather, he possesses an unconventional understanding of warfare. He is meticulous in his thinking, adept at utilizing the environment and intelligence, and possesses exceptional tactical creativity and a talent for independently commanding small-scale special operations. If he finds a wise lord who trusts him, provides resources, and offers him combat missions and training tailored to his strengths, his military talents will be fully unleashed. He will undoubtedly transcend mortal limits, reach the realm of divine selection, and become an indispensable, invisible blade in the lord's hands, protecting the territory from the shadows.

[Due to recent trade route blockades and internal decision-making errors, the Maleburg "Golden Harvest" Merchant Guild is on the verge of financial collapse. Its largest asset—the "Tears of Amber" auction house in the west of the city and three adjacent warehouses of valuable goods—is about to be mortgaged at a low price. The guild owner is eager to cash out and estimates the acquisition can be completed for only 40% of the market value. The warehouses contain a large quantity of rare goods, artworks, and ancient relics of unknown origin from the Empire and Arabia. This presents a significant business opportunity to gain control of one of Maleburg's core commercial hubs at minimal cost. The auction house itself is a high-quality and stable source of revenue, and the warehouses likely contain undervalued treasures. Immediately appoint a reliable business representative, either anonymously or as a third party, to negotiate and swiftly complete the acquisition.]

The feeling of having opportunities automatically delivered to your door without leaving home is so exhilarating it's addictive.

In Maleburg alone, Su Li's almost "passive" gains were enough to make any veteran elector envious.

Through a few seemingly casual intelligence reports and the subsequent orders, a mountain of five thousand catties of vibranium, this top-grade precious metal, was transported to the armory of the Black Forest Territory. This was enough to forge nearly 50 sets of standard-issue, rare-grade armor, the Blazing Plate Armor, perfectly equipping the powerful Half-Griffin Knights.

In addition, more than 100,000 exquisitely crafted gold crowns were smoothly transferred into Su Li's already abundant treasury through various intelligence sources, becoming another solid foundation for territory construction and military expansion.

The two large trading companies, located in prime locations and generating substantial daily profits, had their land deeds and ownership certificates secretly changed hands, becoming the tentacles and stable source of revenue for the Hessian Territory to penetrate the economic network of Maleburg.

What's even more astonishing are those top-tier equipment items that are extremely rare and hard to come by.

The Skullcrusher, a divinely chosen warhammer imbued with terrifying power and wreathed in eternally pale flames, is said to be the relic of a dragon-slaying warrior. It had been wandering in the lower city of Maleburg for many years, and due to its excessive weight and ferocity, no one could wield it. Finally, through "friendly" negotiations by the representative sent by Su Li, it changed hands for a symbolic payment of a small amount of gold coins.

Two divinely chosen amulets, each with different effects, yet both radiating chilling energy fluctuations. One, [Sun's Protection], was a sacred relic circulating within the Sun Church, offered as a "symbol of friendship"; the other, [Whispers of the Shadows], was discovered in a corner of the newly acquired "Amber Tears" auction house's warehouse, among a pile of junk appraised as "inferior ancient artifacts," and was acquired for a mere few silver coins. Its true concealment and aura-masking abilities were enough to drive any master assassin mad.

Any single one of these acquisitions could become a family heirloom passed down for hundreds of years, or spark a bloody battle for its possession.

However, for Su Li, this was merely his "daily routine," where he would sit on the throne in Heisenburg, sip fine wine, listen to reports, nod occasionally, and move his lips, easily taking it all into his possession.

With intelligence in hand, power is in hand.

You can sit at home and treasure will fall from the sky.

The feeling of treating the entire empire and even the Old World as one's own backyard and treasure trove, taking whatever one wants, is simply too exhilarating.

After finishing his intelligence work in the morning, he might go to the private training ground behind the castle in the afternoon to spar with Hilde and feel the pressure from a legendary powerhouse to hone his skills; or he could go to the Sun Sanctuary to discuss doctrines or tactics with the chosen ones of the Sun Church and enjoy the nourishment of the Sun God's power on his body and mind; or he could simply lie under the increasingly lush Blessed Wisteria tree in the garden, smelling its refreshing fragrance and taking a short rest.

In the evening, enjoy a dinner prepared by the best chefs in the territory, with ingredients mostly local produce or delicacies brought by caravans from various places.

At night, unless there is a special banquet (which he often declines), he will continue his knightly training or study some interesting knowledge or blueprints provided by the system (such as a new rotor design sketch for a dwarf helicopter, or some kind of magical seed, a strange and wonderful natural spirit), and then hand them over to the relevant departments for research and implementation.

As for farming and development?
It was more like an embellishment and a display of achievements in his leisurely life. He only needed to put forward an idea, such as "I want to build an underground mushroom farm near the Pale Cavern," or "Could we make use of the Blackwater Vortex's water resources?" and a professional team would naturally conduct feasibility studies, planning and design, and organize construction. Occasionally, when he was in the mood, he would ride Ariria or ride Deathclaw to "inspect" the various construction sites, watching the originally barren or chaotic land gradually transform into fertile fields, workshops, and prosperous towns under his blueprint and the efforts of his subordinates. His heart would be filled with the satisfaction of being a creator and ruler.

This kind of life: pressure? Non-existent. Worries? Almost none. All that exists is the ultimate comfort of steadily increasing strength, ever-growing prosperity in one's territory, and opportunities coming knocking on one's doorstep.

“So, the taste of power is not just about having the power of life and death,” Su Li would sometimes lie on the deck chair on the balcony, sip the wine brought by the elves, and gaze at the picturesque mountains and rivers in the distance, thinking contentedly, “It is also the freedom and comfort of leaving all the complicated and trivial matters to others, and only needing to grasp the direction and enjoy the results.”

He finally understood why historically ambitious and brilliant monarchs, after achieving great success, often began to pursue longevity and pleasure. When worldly power and enjoyment reach their peak, and there is no urgent pressure to survive, pursuing a higher level of life and more extreme pleasure becomes a natural thing to do.

Of course, Su Li was not completely immersed in this. He also knew that the storm in the empire had not subsided, the hostility from the north remained, and a wider world still awaited exploration. But this "leisure" was precisely for accumulating strength, so that when necessary, he could deal with all challenges with a more composed and overwhelming attitude.

He now enjoys this state of "leaving without a trace, concealing his achievements and fame." Let the outside world be shocked, quarrel, and prepare for war over his rise; he only needs to continue cultivating his fields, practicing his conduct, seizing opportunities, and sitting comfortably in his own territory.

After all, being a nobleman is so simple, boring, yet incredibly enjoyable.

(End of this chapter)