Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 7 Changes in the sky
"Since you happen to have some free time, I wonder... if I have the honor of asking you to give me some pointers on my swordsmanship?" He deliberately used "point out" instead of "teach," lowering his posture but making his intentions clear—this was a sign of respect for the strong, and also an initiative to win over this pillar of the territory!
A faint, yet undeniably present, hint of approval flashed across Wilstone's usually calm and composed eyes.

This young master not only broke through the bottleneck, but more importantly, he has a keen political sense and a proactive attitude of showing goodwill.

He naturally understood Kruse's intentions.

“Young Master, you flatter me.” Wilstone bowed slightly, a rare, almost imperceptible, gentle smile on his face. “It is my honor to serve you. Please—”

He gestured for Kruse to continue practicing, his posture humble yet exuding the air of a master.

Without any hesitation, he immediately assumed the role of mentor.

In the open space, bathed in the morning light, the newly recruited apprentice knights began to diligently practice basic sword techniques. Meanwhile, the noble silver knight stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing, occasionally offering pointers, precisely pointing out the awkwardness in Kruze's movements, the deviation in the angle of force, and the subtleties in the coordination between his fighting spirit and sword techniques.

His guidance was concise yet insightful, hitting the nail on the head and greatly benefiting Kruse.

This harmonious and powerful scene, as hopeful as the rising sun, was witnessed by another pair of eyes in the shadows of the castle's second floor. A storm raged within them!

Old steward Buffet habitually got up early and was standing by his window, intending to check on the territory in the early morning.

His gaze inadvertently swept across the training field, and he happened to see Wilstone bowing to Kruse in congratulations, followed by the scene of Kruse taking the initiative to ask for advice, and Wilstone gladly giving him pointers!
Buffet's wrinkled old face instantly lost all color!
His withered fingers gripped the cold window frame tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and his body trembled slightly uncontrollably!
"Apprentice Knight... He really broke through! How is this possible?!" After the initial shock came a deeper fear. "And Wilstone... He... He actually accepted it so easily?! And even personally guided him?!"

Buffel was horrified, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him from head to toe, and the bone-chilling cold instantly seeped into his marrow!
He understood better than anyone what this seemingly simple "pointing out sword techniques" meant!
In Lion's Tooth Territory, although Lord Reyes was away most of the year, all the affairs, agricultural matters, accounts, and servants within the territory were indeed managed by Buffel, the steward, who was like the "uncrowned king" of the territory's internal affairs.

However, in matters of vital importance such as military affairs and force, it has always been Wilstone's absolute domain!

The training of the territory's militia, the management of its armory, its defense arrangements, and even its external military deterrence are all firmly in the hands of this unassuming Silver Knight!
Wilstone is the true "sword" and "shield" of Lion's Tooth!
Buffett was able to maintain his position as steward solely because of Lord Reyes's trust and his familiarity with internal affairs.

He and Wilstone maintained a delicate balance, each keeping to themselves and not interfering with the other.

However, Kruse's breakthrough, especially the public and succession-like connection he has quickly established with Wilstone, has completely disrupted this balance!

what does this mean?
This means that Kruze the Lion, the rightful heir, not only gained the legal right of succession, but also, at the most crucial level of power, directly gained the recognition and support of the territory's highest military representative—the Silver Knight Wilstone!
This means that Kruse instantly gained a military backing that could crush all of Buffel's internal affairs power!

Wilstone's decision to take sides was like adding an unshakeable weight to the scales of power in Lion's Tooth Territory for Kruse's side!

Buffel felt a sudden dizziness, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

Looking at the two figures teaching and learning in the sunlight, he seemed to see his own hard-earned position and... certain secrets hidden deep in the accounts, exposed to the glaring sunlight, on the verge of collapse!
“The world has changed…” Bapir muttered to himself, his hands loosening their grip on the window frame in a daze, his eyes filled with unprecedented panic and bewilderment. For him, the morning in Lion Fang Territory was already the approach of winter.

The simple breakfast ended in silence.

Kruse put down his wooden spoon and, without any preamble, fixed his gaze directly on the butler, Buffet, who was standing to the side, his voice carrying an unquestionable tone:
"Butler Buffet, has the location for the new farmland been chosen? Are the serfs we've summoned ready and waiting?"

Butler Buffet immediately bowed deeply, his posture more respectful than ever before, even with a hint of barely perceptible tension: "Young Master, everything is ready. The location has been scouted, and the necessary serfs and tools have been assembled. We await your command and can begin construction at any time."

Kruse was slightly surprised by his efficiency, but simply nodded calmly: "Very good. Go now."

The group soon arrived at the reclamation area chosen by Buffel—a wasteland located on the western edge of Lion's Tooth Territory.

Upon arrival, Kruse's gaze swept across the area, and his brows furrowed deeply.

He dismounted and strode to the center of the wasteland.

The ground beneath our feet was a sickly grayish-yellow, its surface hard and compacted, with cracks crisscrossing like the patterns on a tortoise shell.

Sparse, half-withered weeds stubbornly sprouted from the cracks, making the desolation even more pronounced. The air was filled with the dry, dusty smell.

"Is this the place?" Kruse's voice was low and clearly displeased.

The location here isn't exactly remote, but the soil is far more barren than he expected!

Looking around, there is almost no trace of fertile soil.

Butler Buffet quickly stepped forward and cautiously explained, “Young Master, please forgive me. To be honest, most of the arable land around Lion's Fang Territory is like this. The soil is barren and difficult to cultivate.” He paused, his tone tinged with helplessness, “This… is one of the reasons why Earl Nocamp granted you such a vast territory. This place… has limited potential.”

Kruze suddenly realized why his father's knightly territory was so large, comparable to a small baronial territory.

Butler Buffet sighed helplessly. This was the reason why, over the years, he had always subtly dissuaded the lord from his occasional ideas of expansion.

(End of this chapter)