Pioneer Lord: I Have Conquering System

Seeing the Lord’s curious expression, Si Kai calmly took a sip of hot tea. With a look of recollection, he spoke two words laden with emotion: "Sharp and capable."

His tone was filled with admiration, as well as some other, indefinable emotion.

Levi sucked in a sharp breath.

His mind inexplicably conjured the image of a brawny, bearded warrior in a dress. ’For a woman to be described as ’sharp and capable’... you can just imagine what that implies.’

"Haha."

The Lord gave a hearty laugh and deftly changed the subject. "So, what month is Fulina planning to march south?"

"Around March."

Normally, the timing of a military deployment would be a military secret, but this Lord was one of them. There was nothing to hide.

"Winter came early this year, so it’ll probably last longer than usual. It will likely still be snowing heavily in March, right?" Levi asked, puzzled.

He had assumed Fulina would choose to mobilize in the spring, when everything began to thaw. By that time, the wheat planted at High Cliff Castle would have ripened, allowing them to harvest the grain before marching south. It seemed that was no longer the plan.

"My Lord, you’re from the south, so you might not understand." Si Kai gave a cryptic smile. "The Northern People are much more resistant to the cold than southerners. Choosing a time that is still frigid, but not yet unbearable, is actually to our advantage."

Levi slapped his forehead. He hadn’t considered that at all.

It was true. The Northern People, born and raised in the frigid Northern Territory, were indeed far more resistant to cold than southerners.

The realization reminded the Lord that he still had much to learn. After all, small details like this could often decide the difference between success and failure.

"To be honest, I’ve never understood how Fulina plans to march south into the Southern Territory. After all, the Royal Court stands between us and them. Our King Debei surely wouldn’t just stand by and watch two of his Dukes go to war."

Levi stated his opinion, tapping his fingers on the table.

When he had brought Liya north from the Southern Territory, their route had taken them past Debei Royal City, but he had skirted around it in his haste.

"That matter is actually one of the reasons I’m here." Si Kai first produced an invitation from within his tunic. "My Lord, this is an invitation to a banquet hosted by Fujero."

Only then did he continue his explanation. "His merits in dealing with those Wilderness People were sufficient for Duke Fulina to enfeoff him as the Baron of Maple Leaf Lake. As a new noble, he is holding a grand celebration."

"Most of the nobles in the Northern Territory have been invited. It will be a rare opportunity for networking and making new acquaintances."

"Duke Fulina also plans to use this opportunity to discuss the invasion routes ahead of time."

Levi nodded and took the invitation.

He wasn’t surprised. Though Fujero came from a merchant family, he was undeniably capable. Furthermore, Fulina was a Feudal Lord who valued ambition and initiative.

One only needed an accomplishment great enough to silence any naysayers to be logically granted a title.

He just hadn’t expected the Legion Commander of the Thorn Corps to invite him personally.

"Old Si, look at you! That Fujero fellow has already become a noble with his own fief, and you’re still just a Knight. You really need to step up your game."

"You have to know, opportunities like this don’t come along every day. If you don’t grab it, you might not get another chance."

Levi said, shaking his head as he began to playfully rib Si Kai.

"Ahem, I’ll do my best, my Lord," Si Kai replied, his face a mask of embarrassment.

Though he had once led a thousand soldiers to fend off an attack by the Wilderness People, that achievement alone wasn’t enough to earn him a noble title.

Hearing the Lord’s words now, Si Kai’s resolve hardened.

As a Knight, he had his own small estate, with dozens of commoners farming his modest plot of land and tending his cattle and sheep.

He maintained about ten private guards, and for this southern campaign, he was prepared to bet everything he owned.

...

「A few days later」

A caravan departed from High Cliff Castle, braving wind and snow to enter Bailiu City.

Seeing the gates of Bailiu City once more, Levi couldn’t help but feel a surge of nostalgia.

It seemed like only yesterday that he had arrived in the Northern Territory with Liya, facing an uncertain future. It seemed like only yesterday that he had captured the iron mine with a few dozen Beastman Barbarians. And it still seemed like only yesterday that he had defeated the Giant Dragon Corps and subdued the Silver Dragon.

All those yesterdays had stacked up, and now, the world had completely changed.

Now, he was a militarily powerful Pioneer Noble, his name renowned throughout the Northern Territory. A single stomp of his foot could make the entire Wilderness tremble.

He was no longer the little nobody who worked as a Mercenary and scraped by in fighting pits.

It gave him a feeling akin to the sentiment: *With no one to help me chase the clouds, I reached the summit by treading the snows alone.*

One look at his caravan was enough. Dozens of Beastman Personal Guards and about ten Centaurs flanked the procession, acting as escorts. They were impeccably equipped, their movements sharp and coordinated, their gazes cold and hard. Anyone could tell at a glance they were battle-hardened veterans—the elite of the elite.

And all of them were guarding was a single, plain-looking carriage at the center of the formation.

The small merchant caravans lining up at the city gate scrambled to part, clearing a path. They were terrified of provoking these fearsome warriors, lest they become outlets for their aggression with no hope of recourse.

The lazy expressions of the Guards at the gate vanished, replaced by a mixture of vigilance and awe. A reception like this meant one thing, and only a complete idiot wouldn’t know that someone important had arrived.

With Si Kai and Miriel leading the way, no opportunistic city guards were foolish enough to try and stage a shakedown.

...

Mier and his sister, visiting a metropolis for the first time in their lives, were completely mesmerized by the endless streams of people, the dazzling goods for sale, and the bustling prosperity. They looked for all the world like a pair of country bumpkins.

In the end, their exceedingly generous Lord gave them each a Gold Coin for pocket money and sent them off to explore on their own.

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