Luke’s voice echoed within the command tent.
"The spoils from this battle are varied and imnse. To ensure fairness, we will distribute them according to the rules agreed upon before the war."
He signaled for the Quartermaster to distribute the thick parchnt lists to every Lord present.
The parchnts felt heavy in their hands, densely packed with itemized spoils of war.
Grain, fodder, standard-issue Armor, Long Swords, arrows... These conventional supplies were listed first, but the sheer volu was enough to make many of the minor lords’ breath catch in their throats.
The captured grain alone was enough to sustain an army of five thousand for an entire year.
What followed, however, drew a series of sharp, staggered gasps from within the tent.
One hundred and twenty bottles of Fire Elent Purification Liquid, five large chests of Magic Crystal Powder, three hundred Enchantnt Base Material Fla Steel Ingots...
Forty-seven Dried Fire Salamander Hearts, a small bag of Wind Elent Crystals, twelve complete Two-legged Flying Dragon hides...
Three chests of Star Silver Ore, approximately five tons of Obsidian Ore, one chest of unpolished Fla Garnets...
Every single item represented an astonishing fortune, enough to allow any territory’s strength to skyrocket in a short amount of ti.
The Lords’ eyes scanned up and down the lists, their minds calculating how much they might receive.
"The distribution rules are as follows."
Luke’s voice rang out again, pulling everyone’s attention back to him.
"As Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Army and its greatest power, I claim ten percent of the spoils."
No one objected.
The deterrent power of a Tier Five Domain Knight was, in itself, priceless.
It was precisely because Luke was present that the Allied Army could hold its ground against the elites of the Fiery Sun Kingdom.
He had earned that ten percent as a matter of course.
"Of the remaining ninety percent, sixty percent will be allocated based on an assessnt of the number of troops each lord contributed and the overall strength of their armies."
A low murmur of discussion imdiately filled the tent.
The powerful Lords, like Count Barton and Count Remon, wore self-assured smiles.
As for the weaker, minor Lords, though sowhat disappointed, they understood this was the prevailing Law of the Continent.
"The final thirty percent,"
Luke paused, his sharp gaze sweeping across the entire assembly.
"Will be distributed according to military rit. Every contribution has been precisely recorded and calculated by the quartermaster’s office and the Scribes."
Those words put everyone on the edge of their seats.
This final thirty percent was the real wild card, the ladder for a Warrior to win honor and fortune.
At a signal from Luke, the Quartermaster stepped forward and began to announce the military rit statistics and distribution results.
He began by reading from the Lord with the least rit, and as nas and percentages were called out one by one, the atmosphere in the tent grew tense.
"The Viscount of Lindong City: contributed two hundred troops of Knight Level or higher, achieving great gains. For his total military rit, he shall receive two-point-five percent of the total supplies."
"Count Remon of Iron Pine Territory: his Knight Order fought valiantly. His subordinate, Rodney, fought in the Close Combat field to a draw. His territory’s army was responsible for the left flank, a considerable contribution. For his total military rit, he shall receive seven percent of the total supplies."
Count Remon nodded slightly, his expression calm. This result was within his expectations.
"Count Barton of Giant Stone: led the Giant Beast Legion as the vanguard, routing the enemy’s infantry line. His territory’s army was responsible for the front line. For his total military rit, he shall receive seven-point-five percent of the total supplies."
"HAHAHA!"
Count Barton roared with laughter, his huge, fan-like hands slapping the table with a series of loud THUDS.
"That’s fair enough!"
Finally, the Quartermaster read the last na.
His voice faltered for a mont, as if he himself were shocked by the result.
He cleared his throat and read in a strange tone.
"Baron Raylo of Black Stone Territory."
The tent fell silent in an instant. All eyes focused on Raylo.
The Quartermaster took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising in pitch.
"Baron Raylo personally fought in the aerial battle, defeated the Angel of Death in a duel between champions, and greatly boosted our army’s morale. His flying units conducted effective reconnaissance and acted as the main force in routing the enemy’s Pegasus Legion, an outstanding military achievent. His Giant Beast units inflicted devastating casualties on the main battlefield. His Black Stone Territory infantry fought with ferocious courage, fearing no death..."
With every sentence the Quartermaster read, the expressions on the faces of the Lords in the tent shifted.
They had heard bits and pieces of these achievents, but to have them listed so clearly one by one, their sheer weight was still staggering.
"...Most critically,"
The Quartermaster continued to read.
"In the decisive battle, Baron Raylo, with extraordinary courage and cunning, captured the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s Crown Prince, Karachi, alive—the single greatest contribution to this campaign’s decisive victory!"
"Furthermore, Baron Raylo assisted Commander-in-Chief Luke in slaying the enemy commander, ’Blood Lion’ Aston..."
Everyone was sowhat stunned. They hadn’t expected Raylo to have played a part in Luke’s slaying of ’Blood Lion’ Aston.
"In summary, after joint verification by the military tribunal and Lord Luke, Baron Raylo, for his indisputable military rit, is awarded the highest possible share of the rit-based distribution. Combined with his share from troop contribution, he will receive a grand total of... fifteen percent of all spoils from this campaign!"
Fifteen percent!
That number struck everyone’s heart like a heavy hamr.
The entire tent fell deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone seed to have been hit by a Petrification Technique, staring blankly at Raylo, then at the expressionless Luke, their eyes filled with utter disbelief.
Fifteen percent!
What did that even an?
It ant that of all the Lords present, Raylo’s share of the spoils was, without a doubt, the largest!
It was even a full five percentage points more than Luke’s, the Tier Five Domain Knight and Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Army!
"My heavens..."
Count Barton’s mouth hung open wide enough to fit a fist. He looked at Raylo, then back at his own seven-point-five percent share. The smug look on his face had completely vanished, replaced by a complex expression mixing shock, envy, and a hint of absurdity.
’This kid... he just hit the jackpot in one go, didn’t he?’
Count Remon also lost his usual composure, his hand, holding a wine cup, freezing in mid-air.
He had long predicted that Raylo would be the biggest dark horse, but he couldn’t help but be astonished now that the result was out.
After a brief silence, the tent erupted with a buzzing clamor of discussion.
Jealous glares, envious gazes, and probing looks all shot toward Raylo.
Facing it all, Raylo remained seated, raised his cup in a distant toast to Luke on the main seat, and then drained it in one gulp.
He had earned this honor.
"Enough."
Luke’s steady voice cut through all the noise.
He looked at Raylo, his eyes filled with appreciation.
"rit is rit. Raylo’s achievents are laid bare for all to see. Does anyone object?"
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