Lord: I can see loyalty.

Author Tian Ciliu's latest work, "Lord: I Can See Loyalty," is exclusively released for the first time!

Three days after Jimmy received the letter from the White Horse family in the North.

Vio has also begun preparations for his journey to the North.

The first point, and the most important point.

Personnel heading to the North.

As the main character of this trip, Jimmy was naturally a must.

Vio himself, along with the three great knights Gina and Alec, could make a good impression. He was considering whether to bring more knights with him.

Although he was very confident in his level three of the Sand Breathing Technique, he knew very little about the White Horse Clan, and who knew what preparations they had made.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Vio decided to bring along his Uncle Valentine, who was a standard magician.

The second question is not about the trip itself, but rather, who should temporarily manage the Southern and Western Territories after Vio leaves.

However, Vio didn't think about this for long before finding the answer.

While Vio was away in the North, the South was served by Xavier, the leader of the militia.

Meanwhile, the Western Frontier was naturally taken over by Sir Marcus, who already had experience in ruling and was currently the vice-commander of the Whale Knights.

As for why the Southern Territory wasn't represented by Ansqui, the theoretically higher-ranking vice-commander of the Azure Peak Knights, the reason is quite simple.

Xavier has been out of the front lines for quite some time now, and his current task is more about helping Vio manage the militia and affairs in the city of Portol.

Ansquie was always fighting on the front lines. Most importantly, as a pure "military general," he was naturally not good at handling complicated internal affairs.

Vio certainly didn't want to return to the South and be faced with a desk piled high with paperwork.

……

Three days before departure, in the council chamber of the Earl's Castle.

A detailed map of the North lay spread out on the long table. Vio sat in the main seat, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.

Jimmy sat on the left, Gina stood behind him, and Alec sat on the right, with Greatsword leaning against the back of his chair.

Cohen and Vance were also there; the Brotherhood's intelligence network had already extended into the North.

"Let's talk about manpower first," Vio began. "I can't take too many people with me to the North. Too many people will make us a bigger target and attract attention."

"But it can't be too little either," Alec said. "The fact that the White Horse family went to the trouble of sending a letter here shows they're confident they can deal with us. For a middling family to dare demand people from our territory like this..."

Vio nodded. "So I plan to take the three of you great knights with me, plus Uncle Valentine, making a total of five people."

"Five people?" Jimmy asked, somewhat surprised. "Your Excellency, isn't that too few?"

"That's quite a lot." Vio smiled. "Four great knights and one mage—you won't find another team like that in the entire country of Rovia."

"And..." he looked at Cohen, "the Brotherhood has already gone to the North and will be there to meet us from the shadows."

Cohen nodded. "Vance and I will be with you; intelligence and routes are all prepared."

"What about the affairs of the South and West?" Alec asked.

"Leave the southern border to Xavier," Vio said. "He's been handling internal affairs for years and knows it far better than I, the Earl, do."

"He knows everything about the militia's daily training and the administration of Portor City. Ansquie is in charge of the Knights' defense; the two of them working together will be fine."

"What about the western border?"

"Marcus." Vio looked at Alec. "He is the current vice-commander of the Giant Whale Knights and an old nobleman from the West. He knows that land better than anyone else."

"Besides, he has experience managing the Western Territory. I feel very reassured having him temporarily acting as interim manager."

Alec nodded, offering no objection.

"Then it's settled." Vio stood up. "Next, let's talk about the Hakuba family."

Jimmy took a deep breath and continued the conversation.

"The White Horse family, the family of the 'White Horse Knights,' shares the same lineage as the Golden Saddle Horse family, a prominent clan."

"Their ancestor was an illegitimate son of the Golden Saddle Horse family, who was given the title of 'White Horse Knight' and allocated a territory in the North. For hundreds of years, the White Horse family has remained mediocre, producing neither great figures nor completely declining."

"With average financial resources and average military strength, they belong to a middle-class family in the noble circles of the North."

He paused, then continued, "But in recent years, they have begun to expand their army. They have been acquiring warhorses on a large scale, training cavalry, and even forming marriage alliances with several middle-ranking families in the North. Clearly, they want to take advantage of these two internal conflicts to join the ranks of the great families."

"Cohen has already found out the basics," Vio said. "Tell me about your story with them."

Jimmy was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"When I was young, I was the second son in my family."

"The eldest son inherits the family business, and the second son has to either become a knight or a priest. I didn't want to be a priest, so I went to the Knight Academy in the capital."

His gaze fell on the window, deliberately avoiding the gaze of the crowd.

"Back then, I had a friend named Luke. He was the son of a wealthy merchant in the White Horse family's territory, and he also had dreams; he didn't want to spend his whole life guarding the family shop."

"We shared the same goal and decided to leave the North together to do business in the South. That's why I fled the Knight Academy."

"Luke..." Vio repeated.

"That's right, it was Luke." Jimmy's voice was somewhat bitter. "Later, something happened, and we encountered bandits in the Black Forest area, almost dying there."

"Lord Odom happened to be passing by and saved us. He took us back to the South, gave us a meal, and then... you know what happened next."

Vio did not answer.

Of course he remembered Luke. The guard who tried to kill him and escape after his father's death, the traitor whom Jimmy executed himself.

"Is Luke also a member of the Whitehorse family?" he asked.

"Not really." Jimmy shook his head. "Strictly speaking, he is a resident of the Hakuba family's territory, but his father is a wealthy merchant with close ties to the Hakuba family. Our departure together would be seen as a betrayal by the Hakuba family, which is why they haven't contacted me until now."

Vio nodded, understanding the situation.

"The White Horse family is looking for you now for two reasons: first, because you have become a Grand Knight, and second, because they need manpower."

"They want to expand their army and join the ranks of the major families, so they need to have some strong and capable members. Your return will be perfect for them to show off."

Jimmy's face turned pale: "I don't know how..."

"I know," Vio interrupted him with a laugh, "I didn't tell you to go back and join them."

Jimmy took a deep breath and nodded slowly.

"I see."

……

The night before departure, outside the north gate of Portol.

The moonlight shone on the ground, making it barely visible.

A medium-sized carriage was parked there, the horses grazing quietly on the grass at their feet. Faint magic ore patterns were carved on the carriage, gleaming with a dark purple light under the moonlight.

Old Patton and Ryan were conducting final checks when Valentine stood before the horses, leaning on his cane, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his old eyes.

Outside the city gates, Xavier, Ansquie, Marcus, and the captains of the Azure Peak Knights and the Whale Knights all came to see them off.

"Your Excellency," Xavier stepped forward and knelt on one knee, "you can rest assured about the situation in the South."

Vio helped him up. "I'm not worried at all. Thank you for your hard work during this time."

"Of course."

Ansquie stepped forward and clasped his hands in a deep fist salute. "Your Excellency, the Azure Peak Knights are ready at any time. If you require support, just send a letter, and we will head north immediately!"

Vio patted him on the shoulder. "Train your troops well, war is about to break out. Wait for me to come back."

Marcus stood to the side, hesitant to speak. Vio looked at him and smiled.

Loyalty: 80%

Over this period of time, Marcus's loyalty has become quite high.

"The affairs of the West are entrusted to you, Marcus."

Marcus knelt on one knee.

"I will certainly live up to the Earl's expectations!"

Vio helped him up, turned around, and looked at the four people behind him.

Jimmy, Gina, Alec, Valentine—plus himself, five people in total: four great knights and one magician.

Cohen and Vance, though not traveling with them, will be part of the Brotherhood's journey to the North through other means.

"Set off."

Six people boarded the carriage, and the medium-sized carriage slowly drove away from the city of Portol.

The moonlight cast long shadows of cars on the ground.

From the carriage, one can see the people seeing them off gradually shrinking until only a few blurry shadows remain.

Vio looked out the window from inside the car, gazing northwards.

Feeling this final peace.

……

Early autumn in the North.

The carriage did not travel at full speed, but slowly made its way north along the route. After three days, it finally entered the final checkpoint, the Black Forest area.

Vio peeked out, gazing at the first city in the North in the distance, his brow furrowing slightly.

The weather in the North is much colder than in the South.

Although it was only early autumn, the wind already carried a biting chill, making one's cheeks sting.

The sky was overcast, with low-hanging dark clouds that seemed ready to press down at any moment. On the distant hills, the trees had already begun to shed their leaves, their bare branches swaying in the wind, exuding a desolate atmosphere.

"That's how it is in the North." Jimmy followed the Earl's gaze. "Summers are short, winters are long, and it's windy for most of the year. Although it's a city in the southern continent, so it's not cold, the wind is very strong."

Vio nodded without saying anything.

The carriage stopped in a remote village that had been completely infiltrated by the Brotherhood.

Cohen had arranged for a group of men to be waiting at the checkpoint—several ponies native to the North, known for their endurance and suitability for long journeys.

The six men changed the horses in the medium-sized carriage and then headed north towards the capital.

Along the way, they saw many nobles and wealthy merchants fleeing from disaster.

One carriage after another came from the direction of the capital, fleeing to cities in the south or countries further north.

The car was piled high with luggage, including gold and silver jewelry, silks and satins, and some people were even dragging their families along, crying and sobbing.

Occasionally, one could see a few knights in armor escorting their lord, their expressions hurried.

"They're all fleeing," Jimmy said in a low voice.

"It would be strange if they didn't flee," Alec said calmly. "The capital is besieged, the rebels are powerful, who would want to stay there and wait to die?"

Vio didn't speak, he just watched the fleeing crowd.

The truly noble nobles didn't see a single carriage—not because they weren't afraid, but because they had already fled.

"That so-called 'King of the North,'" Jimmy suddenly spoke up, "what is he waiting for instead of immediately attacking the city?"

"He'll attack after most of the city's inhabitants have fled," Alec said. "The more nobles and wealthy merchants escape, the less resistance he'll face during the siege. One less mouth to feed, one less sword to defend the city—why not?"

"In other words, he deliberately gave these people time to escape."

Jimmy looked puzzled. "Isn't he afraid that after those people run away, they'll seek refuge with other families?"

"What's he afraid of?" Alec sneered. "Where can those minor nobles run off to? Their territories and businesses are all in the North. Where can they go? Even if they do run, won't they obediently return and pledge allegiance once Cedric becomes king?"

Jimmy didn't reply.

Vio remained silent, simply gazing ahead. At the end of the road, the outline of the royal capital loomed in and out of sight.

……

The Jade City, the capital of the royal capital, inside the Jade Palace.

King Albert sat at his desk, a quill pen in his hand, and a piece of parchment spread out in front of him. He had only written a few words on the parchment before he could write no more.

He looked up at the gray sky outside the window, his eyes filled with exhaustion.

In just a few months, the young king had aged considerably, with sunken eyes, prominent cheekbones, and a stubble of unruly hair.

Although Vio didn't look much better when he saw him six months ago, he at least had the air of a young king.

"Your Majesty." Harold pushed open the door and entered, holding a secret letter in his hand.

Albert didn't turn around. "Speak."

"The troop strength has been counted. The capital's garrison is 3,000, and with the private soldiers hastily gathered by various families, we barely have 5,000. But yesterday, another group of nobles deserted, taking several hundred people with them."

Albert frowned. "Anything else?"

"The Golden Saddle Horse family has replied again," Harold said calmly, "but it's the same old story: they need to 'discuss further'."

Albert sneered and tossed the quill onto the table. "I knew it."

"There's one more thing," Harold's tone turned serious. "Something's happened in the Southern Reach."

Albert whirled around. "What's going on?"

"The King of the North has blocked the roads to the South, and our messengers had to take a long detour, which is why the letter was only delivered yesterday."

Harold paused. "Judging by the timeline, the Earl of the Southern Border should not have received the letter yet."

Albert fell silent.

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and unconsciously tapped the armrests with his fingers, making a monotonous sound.

"Your Majesty," Harold asked tentatively, "do you think the Earl of the South will come? No, or rather, will the Earl of the South even receive the letter?"

Albert opened his eyes, turned to look out the window, and after a long while, he spoke, his voice hoarse.

"I don't know."

Outside the window, the sky was a hazy gray.

No matter when or where, ( ) will always be your most loyal reading companion.