Chapter 50: A Tale of Firebirds and Turkeys

The scouts leading the massive army seemed to have spotted Draxel and his group.

In contrast to smaller units that proceeded with stealth and caution, the scouting of a large force simply involved clearing the way ahead. After all, no one dared provoke the so-called “terrorists” supporting them.

“Who’s hiding over there? Come out now, or we’ll start shooting arrows.” 

Unable to tell if the figures in the distance were friends or foes, the scout opted for a bluff.

Draxel, gradually revealed himself with a defiant look, exuding ease and confidence, “Ease up, brother, we’re allies. I believe you’ve heard of Uxkhal’s new lord, Count Draxel.”

“Oh, you mean the Firebird Knight who recently distinguished himself in the vanguard and secured a victory a while ago?”

“To hell with that, it’s Flame Knight! You nitwit, can’t even get your intel right and pretending to be a scout.”

[Evaluation: Current reputation at 180, honor at 12, titled “Flame Knight”. No need to get upset, my lord. Maybe your reputation and honor aren’t quite there yet, but ‘Firebird Knight’ does have a nice ring to it.]

This scout had been part of the crowd in Uxkhal during the earlier unrest and had witnessed the Count’s confrontation with his brother, thus he somewhat remembered Draxel’s features. After scrutinizing the Count and piecing together his statements, the scout concluded this man was indeed Draxel.

“My apologies, noble Count Draxel, I’ll be more careful in the future. Please, allow me to escort you. King Harlaus X is here, he has been looking for you.”

“Alright, kid, lead the way. Safiya, Xiao Nan, follow me.”

Xiao Nan nodded respectfully, leading the remaining tavern-employed cavalry to follow suit. Safiya, still hung up on that song and the flirtatious exchanges between him and Profit Empress Ronnie, was visibly displeased, sulking as she lagged behind.

At this moment, one of the scouts yelled back to the troops, “No worries, they’re with us. They’re the Turkey Knights… ugh, no! The Flame Knight, Lord of Uxkhal, Count Draxel’s forces!”

Draxel’s complexion turned a shade of stormy blue, wishing he could give the foolish scout a solid punch. Between firebirds and turkeys, it seemed he just couldn’t escape being likened to poultry.

“Hey, you, what’s your name?” Draxel snapped.

“Count Draxel, I’m Sherman Benjamin. The brothers in the troop call me Benjamin.”

“Great, from now on, you’re Xiao Ming. Being a scout really undersells your talents. Which unit are you with?”

“I serve directly under King Harlaus’s command, recently assigned as a scout. Is there an issue?”

“Not at all, I’ll ask King Harlaus to transfer you to my unit. I plan to make good use of you, Xiao Ming.”

Xiao Ming, taken aback by Draxel’s words, looked puzzled.

“My lord, we’ve only just met. Why do you hold me in such high regard?”

“Anyone who confuses turkeys, firebirds, and flames must have some other remarkable skills, otherwise, they wouldn’t cross paths with me. From now on, you’re with me.”

Draxel’s somewhat absurd explanation did sink in for Xiao Ming, not for anything else but for that phrase, possessing a unique skill

The grand troops of the Kingdom of Swadia, upon seeing them approach, respectfully nodded toward the Count. They cleared a path for him, guiding him slowly toward where King Harlaus X was located.

This was Draxel’s second encounter with the king, their previous meeting having taken place in Uxkhal.

He understood that before the king, he needed to be utterly serious, leaving no room for his usual nonchalant attitude. At this moment, he began to compose himself.

Soon, they approached the king. Draxel dismounted and knelt on one knee, stating, “Your Majesty, King Harlaus X of Swadia, greetings. I am your faithful servant, Draxel.”

The king, with a smile, signaled for him to stand and spoke, “Ah, I’ve been informed of your victory against the enemy forces, including the defeat of Noyan Tulu from the Khergit Khanate. You’ve also supported Count Haringoth and his forces as part of the vanguard, achieving commendable feats. You’ve become quite the topic of discussion lately.”

“Your Majesty, these accomplishments are not mine alone. I aim to continue my efforts and contribute further to Swadia.”

“Excellent. Then, this letter here, purporting your desire to join the Khergit Khanate, must be a fake,” the king remarked, producing the letter from within his garments.

Recalling the situation, Draxel immediately clarified, “Your Majesty, you are a wise sovereign. The letter is indeed false. This is a deceit crafted by the enemy, the Valkyrie Tianyan of the Khergit Khanate.”

“Ha, indeed, you are a talent, sought after by other kingdoms for your service,” King Harlaus remarked, his words laden with implication.

Confronted by this deeply strategic monarch, seasoned in the intricacies of kingdom and nobility for decades, Draxel found himself at a loss for words at that moment.

All of Draxel’s actions were under the keen observation of the king, who knew deep down that Draxel had not yet harbored any second thoughts about his loyalty. Considering the Kingdom of Swadia’s significantly superior strength compared to the Khergit Khanate, it was evident that if Draxel had intentions of betrayal, he wouldn’t have inflicted such heavy losses on the enemy forces.

“Ease your worries, Draxel. I trust in your loyalty. If you had any thoughts of defection, you wouldn’t be here with merely a handful of followers. The journey back from enemy lands must have been challenging, wasn’t it? You’ve emerged victorious in two significant battles. Speak freely, what reward do you desire?”

“Your Majesty, I honestly seek no rewards. The main credit for the vanguard’s victory belongs to Count Haringoth. As for Noyan Tulu, defending the town of Uxkhal under my rule was my duty. However, I noticed your scout here. This lad seems quite clever.”

With a shift in the conversation, Draxel then turned to glance at Xiao Ming, who was on standby nearby.

King Harlaus’s gaze also shifted towards Xiao Ming, reflecting for a moment before responding, “Oh, I didn’t realize your preferences leaned towards men, Draxel. Well, your personal tastes are your affair. As widely acknowledged, I am a magnanimous king, these scouts are now under your command.”

“No, no, Your Majesty, you’ve misunderstood. I harbor no such inclinations…”

“It matters not whether you do or don’t. They are yours now,” the king declared with a mischievous grin, dismissing any further discussion with a wave of his hand.

[System Notification: You have acquired 3 Swadian Knights (Tier 5), including the sought-after Xiao Ming.]

Draxel was ecstatic. These were indeed elite Swadian Knights. It appeared Xiao Ming possessed commendable skills, even Xiao Nan might not match him in fighting prowess.