"Forget it..." Laine thought, only I can withstand your punches.

The resurrected Angerong was extremely weak, with neither power armor nor a power axe, and the disappearance of the Butcher's Nail also affected his combat effectiveness. According to what his brother said, his current strength was only about fifty percent of his peak. Give him two or three years, he could recover to seventy or eighty percent, but there was no way to get back the power armor and the power axe.

A month is neither particularly long nor short, and there would still be some effect if they made the most of their training. However, what made Laine a bit unhappy was that his two knights were not skilled in training armies. Lops and Olivier were Wanderer Knights by background and did not excel in training recruits.

It's acceptable, Laine turned around and said to the last person standing in the crowd: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Hex."

A young knight with bright eyes and defined brows stood among the crowd, a fine scar running from his left eye to the tip of his right nose, giving his face a somewhat fierce appearance.

This Ranger Knight was newly ennobled by Laine, coming from the Duchy of Le Anglong in Brittania. He was the second son of the Heis family, sent to the Imperial Capital Brunswick's Army Academy due to issues with inheritance rights.

When the knight returned after completing his education, his family's territory had already been destroyed by the Beastmen, and countless populations, including his family, had turned to dust. His meeting with the King delivered a devastating blow: since the family failed to defend its own territory, its title had been revoked.

Knowing he couldn't restore his territory, Hex took up his family's emblem, becoming a Ranger Knight again. Hearing that Laine, a Holy Grail Knight, had available allocations, he came to Baron Gene's Domain to recommend himself.

Hex was excellent in martial arts, adept in training troops and arranging formations. His years of study in the empire honed his skills in infantry training and tactical command. After evaluation, Laine quickly took a liking to him, and Hex immediately pledged his loyalty to this newly minted Holy Grail Knight.

"Alright, my Baron." This Ranger Knight's face was somber, rarely smiling. Upon hearing Laine's orders, he merely indicated his compliance.

The Knightly War was about to begin, and Laine had many tasks ahead. After arranging for Olivier and Hex to accompany him on the campaign, and leaving Lops and Angerong to hold the fort, Laine called for his Steward Kasenberg: "Is there enough grain in the warehouse for forty days for the army?"

Participating in the Knightly War, lords must supply their troops with provisions independently—this is customary. Each year, the lord is required to serve the King for forty days. Thus, the troops the lord brings must provide for forty days' worth of provisions on their own to fight for the King at no cost. If it exceeds this period, the King must then provide wages and supplies for the lord.

"If you plan to follow Baron Gene's Domain's standards for dispatch, then it is barely enough." Kasenberg mentally calculated a number: "It might be a bit tight, but we just need to cut down on some unnecessary expenses..."

"I'll contact the merchants to procure more grain." Laine nodded: "We can't just watch the granary empty out."

"That's the best course of action, my Baron." Kasenberg felt that was indeed the best decision, admiring the Baron's impressive ability in internal affairs.

Then Laine summoned Gaspardon, instructing his Tax Officer to prepare for tax collection, and reminded him to ensure that church personnel and soldiers accompany him during collections. Violent resistance from peasants against taxation was not unheard of.

This situation was serious everywhere, especially for Road Tax Officers, a truly high-risk job. It's said that road tax officers who survive two years are considered "long-lived individuals."

After making the arrangements, Laine received news that Merchant Oliver had come to visit with his people, so he immediately said: "Bring Mr. Oliver in."

The portly Imperial Merchant walked in with a smile, immediately bowing respectfully upon seeing Laine: "Good morning, my Baron."

"Hello, Mr. Oliver, I happen to have something I need to discuss with you." Laine stood up to show his enthusiasm and then gestured for Oliver to sit in a plush chair: "How are the developments on land reclamation and town expansion going?"

"This is also what I wanted to report to you, my Baron. We have already expanded the town along the city walls to a third of its planned scale. The newly reclaimed large tracts of land have attracted significant interest, including even... Elves." Oliver hesitated for a moment but still mentioned it.

"Elves?" Laine was intrigued.

"Yes, from Saint Lorenzo, or as you call it here, the Aisloron Forest's Wood Elves. They seem to seek stable trade partners and wish to establish observation posts." Oliver continued: "However, they refuse to negotiate with us, stating that they won't communicate with despicable, deceitful humans, and will only speak with a Holy Grail Knight."

"Why didn't you bring them to see me?"

"They...are unwilling to approach places with many people. When they found out the Holy Grail Knight wasn't here, they said they'd return in a few months." Oliver said in exasperation: "No matter how much I tried to persuade them, they refused to listen. I even told them to wait here while I fetched the Baron, they suspected I was bringing the army, so..." Oliver spread his hands: "They just disappeared."

"Alright then, a cautious bunch indeed. Wait for the next time. I suspect the Sharp Ears didn't even plan to negotiate everything in one go; they were just testing the waters this visit." Laine laughed.

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