Ryan released her, and the dark elf lay beside him, her impressive figure unmistakable even beneath the thick quilts.
"Master, you should form your own team. You should write letters, inviting people from different countries, places, and even races to become your subordinates," Orica hesitated before saying, "The Lady of the Lake's followers are indeed loyal, but that loyalty may not be directed at you."
"Master, you can't rely too much on Her Grace, the Lady of the Lake. It's true that you are her chosen one, but..." Orica looked hesitant, thinking for a moment before speaking in a soft tone, "Your vassals should be more loyal to you."
"If Master wishes, I am willing to help you with paperwork and such tasks. Duruzi has many ways to ensure the loyalty of subordinates..." Orica's silky black hair spilled over the pillow as she spoke cautiously.
"I think those methods might not be very effective, or not suitable for use in Brittany," Ryan sat up and said, "But I'm willing to let you try. You can help me with some paperwork and give me advice for now. We'll see how it goes."
"Thank you, Master." The dark elf knew she had gained Ryan's preliminary approval. She was about to turn over, pretending everything was settled, but Ryan continued, "So, you must have a request?"
"Yes... Master, please don't throw me away or give me to someone else." Orica covered her head with the blanket, unable to face Ryan.
Throughout her journey, she had endured the greedy and lustful gazes of humans. Many humans looked up to her because she was the maid of the person before them. If she lost her current status, those gazes would turn disdainful and condescending, and those humans would truly come forward wanting to possess her.
With her limited strength, she would then truly be pressed down in a pile of hay, subjected to various acts.
Instead of lying on a soft velvet bed, covered with a golden silk quilt, wearing satin pajamas, and without a care in the world.
"Behave well and stay by my side, I will ensure your safety," Ryan smiled meaningfully, "When discussing others' loyalty, you should first consider whether you yourself are loyal."
To this day, he still harbored doubts about the dark elf's loyalty.
Looking thoughtfully outside, he gestured for Orica to rest, "You go to sleep first, someone is looking for me."
He had felt someone calling him for a while now.
"Okay, Master!" Orica quickly wrapped herself in the blanket.
...
Ryan changed into a simple outfit and left the castle alone. Riding a horse, he headed deep into the Charlon Forest.
Although he didn't understand why those people were calling him at this time, since they had arrived early and were calling him, he should meet them.
Entering the dark forest, Ryan raised his warhammer, the powerful psychic light dispelling the darkness and signaling to the foreigners in the forest.
Ten minutes later, four towering figures in golden armor appeared before Ryan.
They were the Imperial Guards sent by the Emperor to assist Ryan. Each stood three meters tall, clad in golden power armor and pointed helmets, with a tuft of red plume on top of their helmets.
...It seemed they were barbecuing. Ryan found the four men roasting a deer over a fire, one of them skinning, another skewering the meat, and another turning the spit.
Noticing Ryan's arrival, the lead Imperial Guard shouted joyfully, "Welcome! Honored Primordial, you've finally arrived. Since we learned you would be stationed here, we've been waiting for over ten days, and now you're finally here!"
"Stop talking so much, big guy, let our Primordial join our barbecue party!" another Guard called out, "Hurry up, or the meat will burn."
"Coming! Come, Primordial, let's eat and talk!" the lead Guard enthusiastically patted Ryan's shoulder with a force that could kill a normal person, "The little guy's meat is the best among us. By the way, Primordial, did you bring any wine?"
"..." Ryan was speechless and opened his mouth, but it took a while before he could say, "Yes."
"Then what are we waiting for? Wine and barbecue, I haven't had such a feast in years!" the three-meter-tall Guard leader quickly pulled Ryan to sit down.
Thus, the newly appointed Baron Jean joined an unexpected nocturnal barbecue party.
Ten minutes later.
"Cheers!!!" Four military flasks and Ryan's mug clashed together, beer foam splashing everywhere.
"After ten thousand years, I've never been this happy. His Majesty told us he's awakened, and we have a new Primordial!" one of the Guards, sitting on a cut log, took off his helmet, revealing a man's face in his thirties.
Despite the hardships evident on his face, his spirit was high, and he was in good spirits.
So this is why you're barbecuing on my land? Ryan thought, exasperated.
"How did you find this place?" Ryan had to drink deeply and eat heartily, then voiced his doubt.
"The Primordial is quite famous. We 'asked' a few passing nobles and learned the Primordial was heading to assume the barony of Jean, so we waited here in advance," the lead Guard nodded, biting into a large piece of roasted meat, "Don't worry, we dealt with all non-human creatures that saw us, and for humans, we told them we were divine messengers of this world's so-called gods."
"Alright then." Ryan could only accept this situation reluctantly. He took a big gulp of beer and continued, "Then I'll rely on you for help in the coming days."
"We'll guard your castle but won't help you in battles. We'll protect your family and friends but won't hinder your growth," the Guard leader conveyed the Emperor's command, "We'll ensure you can continue your mission without worries. This is His Majesty's order."
"Thank you, everyone. How should I address you?" This was precisely what Ryan wanted. Obviously, the Imperial Guards' strength was close to the highest level in this world, and the Emperor didn't want their presence to hinder his growth.
"You can call me Big Guy, then there's Little Guy, Big Sheep, and Black Glove," the Guard leader said with a smile.
"Uh, may I know your real name?" Ryan thought these were just nicknames.
"My real name? My real name is Pablo-Diego-Jose-Francisco-di-Paula-Juan-Nepomuceno-Maria-de-los-Remedios-Cipriano-de-la-Santisima-Trinidad..."
"Enough, I'll just call you by your nickname!" Ryan quickly interjected.
He had forgotten that Imperial Guards initially only had one name, but with each completed mission, they would be granted a new name as a symbol of honor.
Over time, these Guards would accumulate hundreds of names...
"Actually, we also use nicknames among ourselves; it makes communication easier!" Big Guy handed Ryan a whole roasted deer chop skewered on a wooden stick, "Here, our Primordial, Ryan Mercado."
"Alright then." Ryan let go of his reservations and joined the Guards in their feast.
"I remember it's been many years since we've eaten something so naturally flavorful." Big Guy grabbed a roasted deer leg and started gnawing on it, looking as if he hadn't eaten in a long time. Ryan smiled and asked, "Don't you have this in the palace?"
"We do..." Little Guy replied, "But most of the time, we eat synthetic food. Natural ingredients are available, but mostly canned."
"And compared to guarding His Majesty, what we eat isn't important," Big Guy added.
"Oh, by the way, we've brought something for you this time." Big Sheep suddenly stood up, carrying a large iron box with Black Glove towards Ryan.
"What's this?" Ryan had a premonition and stood up.
"This is a precision-engineered power armor made from the Grey Knights' Aegis, specially crafted by the great sage Belisarius Cawl of the Martian Mechanicum upon His Majesty's orders for you," Black Glove opened the iron box, "Please try it on."
"Alright!"
When the silver full-body precision-engineered power armor was donned, Ryan could feel endless power converging within the armor. His psychic energy drove the numerous functions of this suit of armor, not only generating aegis energy fields to defend against long-range attacks and self-repairing through psychic energy but also awaiting further discovery of its many other features.
In the forest, the Guards and Ryan feasted until dawn.
...
The next morning, Ryan returned to the baronial castle alone.
The Guards had concealed themselves in the shadows. There were many places in the baron's lands where they could hide. Ryan and they agreed that unless they encountered a sufficiently powerful enemy, the Guards would not appear.
What really mattered was Ryan's own growth. This was the main reason the Emperor sent the Imperial Guards to assist Ryan. He hoped Ryan could grow without worries, rather than leaving everything to the Guards.
Moreover, Ryan could vaguely sense that the Imperial Guards had other missions in this world, as the team leader Big Guy mentioned his father was interested in the ancient holy relics of Lusacia.
But for now, that was unrelated to him.
The land inspection decree had been issued. As the tax officer, Gasparton was leading his soldiers to thoroughly inspect the arable land and population of Baron Jean's lands, ensuring every piece of land was taxed. Lops and Alfred also participated in this action.
Ryan sat in the office on the second floor of the castle.
He needed to design his family crest.
Every great noble had their family crest, and now that Ryan was a baron, he needed one for his family.
A true family crest is quite complex. Ryan didn't plan to make it too complicated, but the three essentials of a crest—shield, coronet, and motto—were necessary.
The shield represents the family's symbol, the coronet their status, and the motto their tradition.
Ryan didn't plan to be original, as he already had something to draw from.
So, our new baron began his design, hunched over the desk.
The housekeeper, Emilia, and his personal maid, Orica, stood by, watching his creation.
"Mr. Ryan, are you choosing a red and white shield?" Emilia asked.
"Yes!" Ryan nodded.
The design required a careful choice of colors. A qualified shield typically comprises two colors: metal (gold and silver) and background colors (blue, red, purple, black, green). The colors on the shield must be clear to avoid confusion.
First, a vertical line divided the red and white colors, followed by the image of a book in the center of the shield. A sword pierced the book from top to bottom, with a bright red seal on top of the book.
A baron's coronet was placed at the top of the shield, representing Ryan's baronial status.
"I feel like something is missing." Ryan looked up at Emilia.
"Hmm... Mr. Ryan, why did you choose to have a sword piercing through a book?" Emilia thought for a moment before asking.
"Because knowledge is power," Ryan said with a smile.
"I feel like it's missing something. Many family crests use animals or symbols. Master, I think you should add something else. If it's just this, it might be too simple," Orica also offered her opinion.
After opening up the previous night, the dark elf seemed less aloof and more human.
So Ryan continued working, oblivious to the changes in the room.
A silver skull was placed in the center of the book on the shield.
"Yeah, this is good." Ryan was satisfied with the silver skull.
"Why do you always like to decorate yourself with skulls?" a charming female voice said close to his ear, accompanied by the scent of flowers and grass.
"Because the skull is a symbol of human sanctity!" Ryan said as if it was obvious. He was puzzled why his maids were speaking so closely to him.
He suddenly realized something was amiss.
Lifting his head, the Lady of the Lake was smiling at him, "My lady?!"
"Designing the family crest?" The Lady of the Lake first smiled at Emilia, then glanced coldly at Orica before gesturing for them to leave.
The maids promptly left, with Orica giving the Lady of the Lake a keen look, her eyes flashing with light.
Indeed, this so-called guardian god of the Knight Kingdom was that...
Update! In the coming period, there will be some farming plotlines, which are inevitable. Please be patient.
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