"Yes, Your Majesty."
Losa stood up, and with his Winged Cavalry, made his way to the viewing platform.
Along the way, he glanced at Guy, whose face was full of unwillingness, and smiled as he extended his hand to pat Guy's shoulder: "Although you lost, your courage is comndable. I'm looking forward to you making contributions on the battlefield in the future."
Guy was taken aback.
In an instant, a trace of feeling overwheld erged in his heart.
All the Knights who served under Losa knew that being patted on the shoulder by Losa was a sign of recognition by the Count, and it was definitely a proud mont.
Amidst everyone's attention, Losa arrived behind Baldwin IV.
Belian, sowhat excited, stepped back two steps and whispered: "My Lord, you've arrived."
Losa also lowered his voice, smiling: "Who made His Majesty summon to fulfill my duty."
A grand Knights' tournant thus ca to an end.
Many spectators were enthusiastically discussing today's duel with their companions.
The Witch officially stepping onto the stage in the Holy Land made many of the nobility feel as if a major change was about to happen.
Escorting Baldwin IV back to the Royal Palace.
The Monarch and his subjects faced each other.
"Lady Prajna."
"Lady Furinjira."
"Lady Jeanne."
Baldwin IV smiled while greeting them.
When it ca to Chelina, his expression paused, a feeling arose, "Another one seed to appear."
Wearing a black coat, Chelina removed her hood revealing a pair of fluffy beast ears: "Your Majesty, you can simply call Chelina."
Baldwin IV's face showed a hint of surprise, but quickly he regained composure.
With a smile, he said to Chelina: "It's an honor to et you, the beautiful Lady Chelina."
He did not inquire about Chelina's background, as he wasn't particularly curious about the Extraordinary World.
"Sir Losa, all of Jerusalem is praising your achievents; what do you think now?"
Losa helplessly replied: "As long as you don't accuse of inciting war, I'll be content."
Baldwin IV sighed lightly: "Indeed there are such voices in Jerusalem, you should be grateful that war did not erupt."
He paused, then inquired: "I heard you t Safudin in Sinai?"
Losa sighed lightly: "Yes, this newly appointed Governor of Egypt brought two thousand Mamluk Cavalry to give a sizable display of force."
"This is the current danger in the Holy Land, narrow territory and few people. Without the help of the Crusaders from Europe, it will inevitably fall under the siege of the Heretics."
Losa nodded: "Exactly, the Kingdom's size, even if the Antioch Duchy still existed, combined, is less than Egypt. This is a disparity in hard power."
Baldwin IV nodded: "Fortunately, Saladin cannot yet unite his forces into a single fist, but we all know, sooner or later he will solve internal issues and reignite war with us."
Losa replied "Hmm": "This is also the consensus I reached with Adil, but clearly not now. So I'm very eager to expand my territory and increase my military strength."
Baldwin IV sighed lightly: "I know your thoughts, but ti waits for no one, and expansion has its limits."
"You wish to establish border districts, I won't oppose, but you must know that once Saladin resolves his dostic turmoil, he will certainly wage war again, then you, like Reynard, will beco guilty of inciting war."
Losa furrowed his brow.
Was Reynard guilty of inciting war? Certainly, but if anything, only as a catalyst.
As long as Saladin wishes to reclaim the Holy Land, there is no possibility of compromise between both sides.
After all, Saladin's lineage isn't royal enough; he needs the imnse prestige of reclaiming the Holy Land to suppress dostic resistance.
This is the only possible way for the Ayyubid Dynasty to maintain stability and not imdiately crumble upon his death.
Earnestly, Losa said: "Your Majesty, the last war already proved that unless the Holy Land falls, the Crusading armies of the Kings can hardly arrive in a short ti."
"So whether to sit by idly or seize the opportunity to expand our strength while the enemy is unstable, I believe it's hardly a choice."
Baldwin IV couldn't help but laugh: "You are right. I've agreed to the establishnt of border districts, but currently, I can only offer you border district status, not an actual title."
Seeing Losa's disappointnt, he chuckled: "Why, do you value vanity so much?"
Losa replied helplessly: "This is not vanity. I plan to recruit citizens, how can border district status be the sa as the treatnt of a regular Earl's Domain?"
Baldwin IV sighed: "It's unavoidable, your rapid rise in rank has stirred the envy, jealousy of too many people. I must consider these factors."
Losa collected his disappointed emotions and nodded: "I understand."
He paused, then asked: "Your Majesty, how is your health lately?"
Baldwin IV laughed: "There's no longer much concern, Urding no longer needs to be by my side every day."
He glanced at Losa with a teasing look: "You should return; I originally wanted to challenge you with card skills, but clearly Miss Furin is feeling quite bored."
...
Leaving the King's sleeping chambers.
Nishaya waited outside.
Losa smilingly said: "Miss Nishaya, I haven't had the chance to greet you."
Nishaya nervously replied: "It's alright, Mr. Losa."
She hesitated slightly, then hurriedly said: "In the future, if you have any Extraordinary materials to sell, you can co to ."
Losa nodded: "Understood."
"Also, I must thank you again for saving my life."
"No need for gratitude, Anna and I are friends."
Losa pondered, then said: "By the way, Miss Nishaya, I need information about Dragon Species habitats, preferably in the Levant Region, as I cannot leave my domain too far."
"How many do you need?"
"Seven."
Nishaya furrowed her brow: "The Levant Region may have more than these, but once they fall into slumber, they beco hard to trace."
"No problem, we'll get as many as we can."
Awakening the Dragon Bloodline soon is also very crucial.
Saladin's summoning of Casters in Damascus has exerted considerable pressure on the Kingdom, which likely explains the Clergy's tacit permission for the Witch Nishaya to beco Baldwin IV's Court Advisor.
However, Nishaya is clearly unfit.
Though she is a gifted Witch, she has barely left the apprentice stage, and truly speaking, Losa thinks she might not even be his match.
…
The recruitnt of citizens encountered no obstacles.
Soon.
In front of several of Losa's industries, especially the printing press workshops, long lines queued for registration.
A Lord's reputation, whether generous or stingy, could be learned with just a query.
Losa's reputation among the Heretic elite was notorious, but among the common folk, it was decidedly excellent.
In terms of treatnt for his own citizens, in Jerusalem, even if not first or second, it definitely ranks near the top.
The existence of Crusader countries actually extracts European Countries' resources in disguise.
But in these tis, these resources are what European Countries are happy to see utilized.
Now in the height of the Middle Ages, nobility practices primogeniture, so regions' common folk practice ultimogeniture, so practice primogeniture.
But absolutely none continue equitable distribution inheritance.
Because the lands passed down are generally decreasing, and if divided evenly, it would truly not sustain even one family.
Coupled with drought, locust plagues, floods, and other factors.
Many common folk and Landless Knights have beco wanderers, seen as unstable factors by European Countries.
Therefore, the Kingdom of Jerusalem absorbing resources from the Holy Land is welcod by European Countries, as these "resources" are all unstable factors.
But the Holy Land is prosperous due to comrce, yet surrounded by Heretics, with shrinking territory, unable to accommodate so many citizens?
Thus, Losa recruiting citizens in Jerusalem is beneficial to all parties; even so nobility who dislike Losa wouldn't hinder him in this matter.
At dusk.
When Baldwin IV invited Losa to the palace for a conversation.
The number of registrants had reached an astonishing one thousand!
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