FL - Chapter 49: The Barbecue Feast

By the time Louis rode back to the territory with the spoils of the hunt, the sky was already dimming.

The battle he'd just fought still had his blood running hot. And today's good news was only piling higher.

Upon returning to his residence, he received word of his father Duke Calvin's second shipment of support.

"My lord, your father has replied." Bradley respectfully handed the letter to Louis.

Louis tore open the seal and began reading rapidly.

Duke Calvin was providing him with six Elite Knights, twenty Formal Knights, and sixty Apprentice Knights.

This nearly doubled his military strength in a single stroke.

Beyond the knights, the letter also mentioned three alchemy apprentices. The number was small, but it was enough to help him build a stable Mana Marrow extraction process.

And what delighted him most was that his father had approved his proposal on Mana Marrow mining and processing.

He had even agreed to let Crimson Tide Territory handle all the work for the project, with the family responsible only for sales.

This guaranteed Louis's autonomy over the project.

In effect, Louis would sell finished Mana Marrow products to House Calvin, and the family would distribute them outward.

The letter's final line carried a reminder: *"You are, and always will be, a member of House Calvin."*

It wasn't stated outright, but the implied threat made Louis's chest tighten slightly.

He understood. It was a warning that he'd been having a few too many clever ideas.

Louis set the letter down and stretched, his mood lifting. "Truly, double happiness in a single day."

...

Inside the banquet tent, the atmosphere was electric.

Louis sat at the head seat, a plate of golden-roasted Ice-Armored Bear meat set before him.

For this barbecue feast, Louis had not invited the common settlers.

Ice-Armored Bear meat was simply too precious. This banquet was intended primarily for the knights.

Alongside Louis and his original knights, the guests included the newly arrived knights from the family and the eight knight cadets.

It served both as a celebration of the successful hunt and as a welcome feast for the newly arrived knights.

Plate after plate of roasted meat was carried to the tables, rich aromas trailing in their wake.

Every cut of Ice-Armored Bear meat was seared to perfection. Lightly charred on the surface, tender and juicy within.

"One portion per person," the old steward Bradley directed from the side.

Servants moved briskly, distributing the meat to every knight.

The mood in the banquet hall ignited at once. The newly arrived knights, especially, hadn't yet had time to adjust to the freezing desolation of this land.

They'd never imagined that upon arriving at Crimson Tide Territory, they would be feasting on such priceless delicacies.

"This is Ice-Armored Bear meat. It nourishes the body and strengthens Battle Aura," Bradley explained specifically to the new knights.

"Th-This is Ice-Armored Bear meat?" A young knight's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.

The value of Ice-Armored Bear meat needed no explanation. In the south, only the rarest handful of nobles ever had the chance to taste magical beast meat of this caliber.

"They're actually giving us Ice-Armored Bear meat. This is beyond extravagant." The new knights stared in open wonder.

"I eat ordinary magical beast meat maybe once or twice a year at most. I never thought I'd get to taste something this rare on my very first day."

Another young knight muttered, "In the south, even the great nobles only get high-grade magical beast meat at their most important banquets. Meat this good? Ordinary knights would not even dare touch it."

"Is this what it's like in the Northlands?" one new knight asked in a hushed voice.

A veteran knight beside him overheard and casually dropped a humblebrag: "Honestly, even here, this top-tier magical beast meat isn't common. But ordinary magical beast meat. We get that about once a month. Don't make a big deal out of it."

The new knights were stunned all over again. *Ordinary magical beast meat once a month!*

*What kind of generous lord is this?!*

"Looks like I've come to the right place," the new knights thought to themselves.

When they'd first been dispatched to the Northlands, they'd harbored a fair amount of resentment. They'd assumed they were being sent to suffer. They hadn't expected they'd been sent to enjoy themselves instead.

Their grievances vanished, replaced by unwavering loyalty to their generous lord, Louis.

Louis stood at the center of the hall and raised his cup. "Everyone, you've worked hard. Today's feast is not only to celebrate our victory. It is also to celebrate the many new members who have joined our ranks.

Every person's effort is indispensable. From the hunting grounds to the battlefield, we will face many hardships together. And we will share the fruits of victory together.

All of you, remember this. As long as I have a single bite to eat, every one of you will have one, too."

The knights raised their cups in a roar that shook the tent. "Long live the Lord! Long live the Lord!"

In their eyes shone nothing but deep admiration and gratitude for Louis.

...

Weir was also at the feast, seated among a group of knights, his face flushed with excitement.

To be a member of the Crimson Tide Knight Order filled him with indescribable pride.

The banquet was at its peak. Everyone had just finished singing the lord's praises, and now came the most anticipated segment of all. The eating.

Weir carefully picked up his knife and fork and slipped a piece of roasted Ice-Armored Bear meat into his mouth.

The meat was charred at the edge, tender within, bursting with juices.

The instant it touched his tongue, a wave of searing warmth bloomed from his stomach and surged rapidly through his limbs.

Weir's eyes flew open wide. He could feel his blood and vitality igniting, a surge of power he'd never known flooding through him.

He quickly set down his utensils, sat cross-legged, and began cycling his Breathing Art to guide the warm current through his body.

That warmth flowed through his meridians, and he could feel with perfect clarity his body growing stronger, his blood and qi growing denser, his very bones feeling as though they were being reforged.

Moments later, his vitality finally broke through the threshold.

He had broken through! Mid-tier Apprentice Knight!

Barnes, Weir's instructor, was seated nearby. He saw what had happened and his eyes went round with shock.

He stared at Weir and couldn't stop himself from murmuring, "Didn't Weir just break through to Apprentice Knight yesterday? His talent... it's actually this monstrous?"

Weir's breakthrough drew the attention of those around him. But he wasn't the only one.

Across the banquet, knight after knight began to feel a violent surge of vitality within them. The surge of energy was so intense that one by one, they were forced to sit cross-legged and cycle their Breathing Arts.

The noise and chatter died away. In their place came the deep, rhythmic breathing of every knight. The entire banquet hall fell into an almost eerie silence.

A subtle atmosphere filled the air. Every person was wholly focused on guiding the power coursing through them, their bodies continuously strengthening.

A few minutes later, a sudden eruption of cheers shattered the silence.

Multiple knights had broken through!

The knights congratulated one another. And, of course, did not forget to sing the praises of their lord's generosity.

"Following Lord Calvin, we never go hungry, never go cold, and we even get precious magical beast meat to eat. True loyalty!"

"The Lord's kindness can never be repaid. Not in a lifetime!"

"To follow you, my lord, is our greatest honor."

Even Louis sighed inwardly. The feast had exceeded his expectations.