I can evolve everything

Chapter 134 Knowledge of the Kingdom

King's Road, truly lives up to its name.

This is the smoothest road in the entire kingdom. The road surface is paved with stone slabs and is wide enough for four carriages to travel side by side.

Along both sides of the road, at regular intervals, a milestone stands, clearly marked with the distance to the next town and the capital.

Unlike the desolation north of Sunset City and the heart of the North, walking along Kingsroad is quite lively.

Farmers are working hard in the fields on both sides of the road, and smoke rises from the chimneys of distant villages.

This made both Raine and Ella, who had just returned from the North, feel somewhat unreal.

"It's hard to imagine that just a few hundred miles to the north of this road, countless monsters are still crashing against the city walls," Ella remarked, watching a little girl chasing butterflies by the roadside.

"It is because of the existence of the Northern Frontier that the heartland of the kingdom south of the North can enjoy this peace," Karen's voice came from ahead. "And our responsibility as knights is to protect this peace, whether on the visible battlefield or in the unseen darkness."

Ryan listened silently, but his mind was preoccupied with another question.

Is this peace real?

He thought of Harold from Ironwood Town, the fallen knight who made a deal with a necromancer to save his granddaughter.

He thought of Baron, the wild knight who carried out justice in his own way.

He also thought of Hughes Bloodhoof, who eventually became a half-lich, the traitor who harbored a deep-seated hatred for the kingdom.

How many unknown shadows are hidden beneath the light of King's Road?

What secrets lie hidden in the shadows of the capital city, the most prosperous and radiant city hailed as the heart of the kingdom?

He didn't know the answer.

But he knew that he was walking step by step toward the capital.

The journey was no longer as arduous as when they were heading north. They could find inns to rest and eat hot food in towns or villages along the way every day.

Ryan no longer had to worry about food, but he still maintained his daily meditation and basic training.

He could clearly sense that the completion date for the evolution of the Blade Piercing the Top in the Misty Corridor was fast approaching. And the evolution of the two-handed greatsword was already nearly halfway complete.

The power within him is steadily and continuously accumulating.

He was like a sharp sword sheathed, quietly waiting for the moment to be drawn again.

As the sun set, it cast long shadows of the three people along King's Road.

The capital city awaited them at the end of this road.

During their long journey along the King's Road, Sir Karen would constantly introduce them to the geography of the kingdom.

This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a systematic teaching program for Ryan and Ella.

He seemed to tacitly agree that once they embarked on this path to the center of power, they would no longer be mere warriors who needed to hone their strength, but rather aspiring knights who had to begin to understand the complex rules of this world.

As they passed a stone bridge, Karen stopped and pointed to the lion statue at the bridgehead: "This bridge is called the Lionheart Bridge. The flowing river beneath it is the mother river of the Kingdom of Orland. It roughly divides the entire kingdom into eastern and western regions."

He paused for a moment, gazing into the distance as if looking at a vast kingdom.

"South of the North, which is the land we stand on, belongs to the core region of the kingdom, the Royal Territory. It is ruled by the King..."

The Stark dynasty directly governs the kingdom. King's Landing, the capital, is situated at the widest mouth of the River Run, the political, economic, and cultural center of the entire kingdom.

Ella listened with curiosity, while Ryan silently memorized the information.

He knew that this basic geographical and political knowledge might be useful in Wangdu.

"With the royal domain at its center, the entire Kingdom of Orland is divided into seven major provinces." Karen's narration was unhurried, like that of a learned history teacher.

"The North we just left, the province of Cold Iron, is the largest and most desolate province. Speaking of which, the Grand Master of the Knights of the North, Roderick Stark, is actually a distant relative of the current king and the royal family's most steadfast ally in the North. In the North, the Knights' orders are above all else."

"And to the west of the royal domain, across the River Run, lies the Westerlands, the Province of Gold. There, the Lannisters rule."

Karen's tone became somewhat subtle when she mentioned the name.

"The Lannister family is known for its wealth; their lands contain some of the kingdom's largest gold mines."

"As rich as a Lannister" is the most widely circulated proverb in the kingdom. Their emblem is a golden, raging lion. The current Duke of the Westerlands, Tywin Lannister, is an extremely shrewd and capable man, and also the current King's Hand. His influence in court even surpasses that of the King himself.

"The Prime Minister?" Ryan repeated the word. "Does he wield much power?"

“Very large.” Karen nodded. “In Orland, the prime minister is appointed by the king and is responsible for handling the vast majority of government affairs. In theory, he is accountable to the king. But if there is a strong prime minister and a relatively weak king, the balance of power can easily tip.”

Raine instantly understood the political maneuvering involved.

This is similar to the history of powerful ministers and weak rulers in his previous life.

Karen continued, "South of the royal territory lies the River Bend, the Province of a Hundred Flowers."

"It is the kingdom's richest granary, with fertile land and a pleasant climate. The rulers are the Tyrell family, who rarely participate directly in military conflicts, but their food and money can influence the course of any war."

"To the east, bordering the Sunset Mountains where our Graystone Town is located, lies the Valley, also known as the High Mountain Province. It is ruled by the Erin family. The Valley is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and its people are brave and skilled in battle. However, the Erin family has always adhered to isolationism and rarely participates in the kingdom's conflicts."

"In addition, there is the Stormlands to the southeast, ruled by House Baratheon; Dorne to the southwest, ruled by House Martell; and the Iron Islands scattered in the eastern seas, ruled by House Greyjoy."

Karen gave a concise overview of the ruling families and basic geopolitical characteristics of the seven provinces.

"These seven great houses, together with the royal Stark family, form the power backbone of the entire kingdom. They are intertwined through marriage, alliances, hatred, and interests, creating a web of power. When you arrive in the capital, you will encounter young knights and nobles from these various houses. It is very important to remember their coats of arms. Because you never know what kind of behemoth stands behind someone you have unintentionally offended."

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