The Western campaign had barely unfolded when it became mired in a strange stalemate.

  The various countries surrounding the Barbarian Highlands have sent out envoys, and in these few days, the imperial capital has received several batches. The intentions of these people are mostly the same, all requesting that the imperial army not take action, because their countries all have merchants in Oufu City. Some small countries have even recognized Oufu City as a new independent country. Even if the military advocates for war, this huge diplomatic pressure has caused the Emperor to order the western troops not to make any rash moves. At the same time, Oufu City has also very kindly returned all the goods that were looted in the previous period, and the people and many nobles have begun to have anti-war sentiments. It seems that Cedros' methods are indeed effective.

  On the other hand, strange military news came back from the west. A huge undead monster appeared in the wilderness, and Naggsar's officer led all the mages in the army to eliminate it, but they were completely defeated. The court was shocked by such a huge loss before the war even started. The military said that the officer of the Ernie family was too eager for merit, which led to this result, while the Ernie family blamed General Sanders for poor command, especially the prime minister's grief over his son's death made him strongly advocate for changing the commander. The military naturally could not agree easily, and almost every day's court politics became a place for both sides to quarrel.

  The Magic Academy seems relatively calm. Bishop Ronis has rarely expressed his political views this time, and he advised the Emperor to retreat. He seemed dissatisfied with Naggsar's officer, who was recommended last time, so he did not appoint the Prime Minister's son or accept the candidates provided by the military ministers, but instead prepared to appoint an unknown ordinary monk to succeed the deceased Naggsar officer in command of the remaining priests in the army. This is a method that does not favor anyone, which is consistent with Bishop Ronis' consistent style, and the ministers can only accept it obediently. As for why such a person was chosen, it is said that this monk's faith is sincere, and he has been praying for the dead for many years, so he can gain the respect of Bishop Ronis.

  At this extraordinary time, the selection competition of the Holy Knights was still held. And precisely because it is a time when the struggle for power is intense, the significance of this competition is naturally not ordinary.

  Although the generals of the empire had control over the army, they never dared to act recklessly. What made these powerful generals not dare to act recklessly was the empire's most core military force, the Holy Knights, who were directly under the command of the Emperor and the Church. Although there were less than a thousand members in total, each member possessed the combat power of a high-level swordsman, and dozens of magicians and priests inside were almost all top-notch elites in the empire. This enormous combat power could make armies of tens of thousands of people tremble with fear. With their high mobility and combat power, they could penetrate and slaughter ordinary armies more smoothly than a hot knife cutting through butter.

  The Order of the Sacred Knights can only act under the joint command of His Imperial Majesty and the Archbishop, so there are few opportunities to send them into battle. However, its status in the Empire is transcendent, and the squad leaders will be delegated to take charge of important tasks in the army for training purposes. This is a shortcut for the Erni family to enter the military.

  The selection of such an important unit is, of course, extremely strict. Every year, thousands of knights from all over the country come to participate, but only a dozen or so people who meet the requirements are selected from among them. The most crucial thing is that the examiners are Roland, the leader of the Holy Knights' Regiment, and Ronis, the bishop. Although Roland is a military man, his strictness, impartiality, and personal cultivation have been perfectly combined in him, making him famous. He and Bishop Ronis, who appears conservative and old-fashioned to others, together guarantee that the empire's core strength is not affected by political forces. No matter what faction or force you belong to, if you want to join the Holy Knights' Regiment, you must pass the test with your own abilities, honestly and without any tricks.

  The selection took place on the first day with a multitude of preliminary assessments, including horsemanship, marksmanship, chivalry etiquette, and faith. Over a thousand candidates were eliminated in these rigorous tests like sand washed away by water, leaving only around a hundred elite survivors. These survivors then competed for the last dozen or so spots in the martial tournament on the second day. The champion would receive the sacred emblem of the Knights' Order personally bestowed by His Imperial Majesty, which was the greatest honor and capital for advancement that any knight could hope to attain. Typically, champions had the opportunity to become a small team leader within the order, commanding dozens of members equivalent to a thousand-man battalion.

  Every year, the martial arts competition has become a grand festival in the capital. Several outdoor martial arts arenas were surrounded by tall temporary stands to meet the needs of the audience, and even the emperor came to watch the final match.

  The people in the square can no longer be described with just a few words, as if all the people of the kingdom have gathered here. Whether they are nobles or commoners, they are all enthusiastically discussing the upcoming martial arts tournament. The betting odds have also been released. Based on the past performance and professional evaluation of each participant, everyone has their own odds, allowing supporters to express their enthusiasm with money.

  The biggest favorite at the starting line is a contestant named Rodhart. This knight named Rodhart has passed all the tests on the first day, and his scores are excellent in every aspect. According to the eyes of several veterans, his skills and demeanor are also the best among all contestants. So he became the most popular candidate for the championship.

  Although the odds have dropped to less than 1:1, people are still placing bets to show their support for him. The cumulative amount of money placed on him has exceeded the threshold of one thousand gold coins, expressing a huge degree of support.

  No matter how great the enthusiasm or the amount, the bettors have investigated the knight's origin and experience. It is said that this fine horse was born in the Knights' School of Erasia, a place known for producing heroes and generals, which adds nobility to his bloodline. Moreover, rumors circulating among young nobles say that he single-handedly rescued the daughter of Duke Mlak from a group of giant-eared monsters, which is a testament to his bravery. Although he doesn't have an illustrious family background, nor did he become a vassal of Duke Mlak after rescuing his daughter, the duke's only reward was helping him register for this tournament, and some people even detected a rural accent from near Eli in his speech. However, his humble origin combined with his heroic experience and current achievements has given him an aura of "a hero rising from obscurity," which perfectly meets the psychological needs of ordinary people. The integrity of Bishop Ronis and the strictness of Colonel Roland have always guaranteed the fairness of this tournament. Therefore, his astonishing bet to become the first commoner champion is even more astonishing - unlike the glittering gold and silver coins bet by the wealthy, his bets are made up of a mountain of copper coins accumulated from the small change of ordinary people. Just looking at it makes one feel the momentum.

  Betting is about to end. The last bettor walked up to the betting table and solemnly placed three silver coins in the square marked 'Rodhart', which was a rare big hand. This was a girl dressed in a floral long dress with bare shoulders, revealing her shoulders and half of her chest, making the men around her drool. Her originally lovely face had some extra makeup on it. It couldn't be blamed, this was probably an extension of work habits and professional ethics, Miss Xuan, a young lady, was a well-known red card girl in the largest brothel in the capital city.

  "Hey, beautiful lady, the odds have dropped to six-to-one, why are you still betting on this knight named Rodhart?" the clerk taking bets asked loudly.

  "Because I like him." The beautiful prostitute twisted her slender waist. "He's handsome, has style and grandeur, born in poverty but relies on his own efforts to struggle, this is the real hero. Compared to those aristocrats who rely on their family background and connections, he's far superior. Pfft!" She spat out a mouthful of saliva with great momentum, a casual gesture that refined ladies from good families could never learn.

  Her speech immediately triggered applause from the surrounding crowd.

  Having gained everyone's support, the prostitute was somewhat delighted. She cast a flirtatious glance at the wooden board with names written on it, as if that were her intended person. With her slender hand supporting her face, she said with some melancholy: "I wonder when he will come looking for me."

  "Well said! I'll put that down as a vote for the young lady's pure feelings." The staff member shouted loudly, picking up his pen to make a solemn record. "Let's wish our hero lives up to expectations and we all win some drinking money. And let's also wish this young lady wealth and beauty, may she get what she desires."

  This performance won the applause of all the men around. "Are you going to give this hero a free ride?" "Heroes are usually young and tender, so you're lucky, remember to work harder." "When I come to you, it's also free, I'm also a young man with aspirations..."

  Amidst the applause, the prostitute walked off the stage with her head held high, meeting the gaze of the crowd. As she passed by a young man who was smiling at her with his arms crossed, she playfully pinched his arm. The young man laughed and patted her on the head in an encouraging manner. She continued to walk into the crowd with a flourish.

  His hands still had the smell of the prostitute's perfume, and there were also some lewd comments around him. Asa felt like he was back in the taverns of his hometown. Now all he had to do was wait for all the formalities to be completed before heading west, and today he took this last opportunity to watch Rodhart's match.

  Asa went to Roderick Hart's resting room, wanting to see how the hero who gathered public expectations was prepared now. If nothing unexpected happens, Roderick should indeed get the championship. He looked at yesterday's various tests and competitions, only to find that his friend seemed to be born for being a knight.

  It's not possible that he was born this way, his outstanding performance is due to the knight dream he has been obsessed with since childhood. When a person dedicates their life completely to one dream, the effort they put in and the achievements they gain are incomparable to those who rely on 'hard work' or 'struggle'.

  The key is that he is no longer the child who indulged in dreams, and spiritual maturity and stability are a person's greatest wealth and strength. A calm temperament and determination can bring out a person's abilities, and in Asa's eyes, Rodhart is already quite strong now.

  The competitors' rest room was set up in a hotel on the outskirts of the square, and soldiers were stationed around it to ensure that they could rest well.Ordinary people are not allowed to enter, but one of the long recognized that it was the monk who was highly valued by the bishop, so he immediately let him pass and politely asked if he wanted to pray for the warriors.

  Rodhart's room was the innermost on the top floor. Asa went upstairs and just saw someone enter Rodhart's room, while several guard-like men stood outside with a fierce look of vigilance. Several curious contestants wanted to go over and take a look, but were immediately shouted away by these guards.

  This is not a place where anyone can enter at will. And these participating knights are not people who can be scolded at will either. Asa felt very curious. He looked around and walked to the end of the corridor, then climbed out of the window when no one was paying attention, grasped the outer wall and slipped into the gap between the roof and the top floor in a few moves. The hotel's grade is quite high, and it's not old, so the wooden boards on the top floor are very solid, and people climbing up don't make any noise. Like a gecko, he quietly climbed to the room above Rodhart's, looking through a gap between the wooden boards at the situation below.

  A stout middle-aged man with a majestic appearance sat carelessly on the chair, without any elegance but at least with great momentum. He looked at Rodhart standing beside him with his hands hanging down, with equally imposing eyes. This was the person he had met in the Magic Academy a few days ago, the current Prime Minister.

  "Those who think they can succeed with just their own brain and ability are merely young and foolish. A truly wise person is one who knows the times and adapts to them." The Prime Minister, though seated, looked down at Rodhart standing beside him with a condescending gaze. "I can see that you're a wise man. A true wise man."

  "Thank you for the compliment, Your Excellency." Rodhart seemed very respectful.

  "I believe you can understand what I'm saying, so I'll be straightforward with you. This championship is useless to you. Only those who truly have power will find it useful. Even if you receive the emperor's award and gain the support of the people, without a strong backing or background, do you think someone from a poor family like yours, without any noble blood flowing through your veins, can really rise to prominence in this ever-changing imperial court? The struggle for political power within the court is more brutal than you can imagine. You, with no background, are just a small pawn that will be pushed around by the tides of politics. If we, those who truly hold power, become displeased or if the situation demands it, we can still turn you back into an ordinary citizen, or even have your head roll." The prime minister told this country bumpkin the severity of the matter with a suitable degree of dignity.

  Rodhart was silent. Asa thought this wasn't an exaggeration, things seemed to be that way indeed.

  The prime minister's tone slowed down, showing a more magnanimous side. "I can see that you are a very talented person. But a person's talent is useless if they cannot prove their loyalty and ability over time, regardless of which faction they join. I am also in need of personnel at this moment, as long as you slowly prove your talent and loyalty to me, there will definitely be a day when you truly stand out. Did you understand what I said?"

  Lord Roderick remained silent, Asa couldn't see his face but saw the uneasy glint in the Prime Minister's eyes behind his composed expression.

  After a pause, Rodhart replied in a flat but certain tone: "I understand."

  "Very well." The prime minister showed a very satisfied expression and tone. "You listen carefully, now there is an opportunity to show your talent and loyalty. That is to give up this useless championship title for you. Your opponent in the final will be a knight named Sijiangke. He is the favorite of this conference, the hot favorite to win the championship, most importantly, he has the noble blood of the Erni family flowing through his body, he is my nephew. Do you understand what I mean?"

  "I understand."

  "The venue of the final match is on that big stage in the center. The third plank on the left side of the stage is a bit loose, and as soon as someone steps on it, it will sink slightly. Do you know what I mean?"

  "I know."

  "When the time comes, there won't be a lack of skilled onlookers, and Roland, the captain, is even the Empire's number one swordsman. Since we're putting on a show, it can't be helped if everyone gets hurt a bit, but with so many priests around, it shouldn't be too serious. You know?"

  "The one who knows." The hero who represented the people's dreams is now as tame as a little lamb in front of the majestic prime minister.

  "Good, very good." The prime minister was very satisfied with the young man's understanding and sense of occasion. He took out a small pouch from his bosom and tossed it onto the table, making a heavy clinking sound. "Here are fifty gold coins. After this matter is settled, I will give you even more. And these small amounts are just the beginning. A young man like you who understands the times, knows what's beneficial and harmful, and can get things done is someone I appreciate very much. I can tell you that as long as you do a good job, your future prospects will not disappoint you. As long as you don't disappoint me now." The prime minister stood up, nodded his head, and walked out the door with an air of majesty.

  The door closed, and Rodhart still stood there motionless. After a while, he walked to the table, picked up the purse left by the prime minister, weighed it in his hand, seemingly satisfied with a sigh, took out a shiny gold coin, held it in his hand, and flicked it with his thumb, making a pleasant sound.

  Asa crawled out of the attic and back into the corridor, heading towards Rodhart's room. However, when he reached the door, he scratched his head, realizing that this matter was originally Rodhart's own, so what he did was naturally his business, and turned around to leave the hotel again.

  A Sa suddenly remembered the prostitute he had met earlier and couldn't help but feel sorry for the three silver coins he had spent on her. Her money, even if it wasn't earned with blood and sweat, was at least earned with hard work.