Unlike the political struggles in the eastern kingdoms, the battles here are brutally bloody. Nothing like the unspoken rules the six noble houses of the continent follow to avoid outright destruction.

  Here, people will stop at nothing to seize power.

  Assassinations, raids, arson, entire families wiped out...

  Alliances, deals, betrayals, backstabbing...

  Henwell feels it’s more like gang warfare, raw, naked fights over profit.

  Sure, nobles in other countries use these dirty tactics too, but at least they keep it behind closed doors.

  Here? They fight openly, in broad daylight, right on the streets.

  It’s downright uncivilized!

  That said, the contest for lordship in Tule City isn’t without limits.

  For example, rge-scale civilian casualties are off-limits, and battles within the city walls are forbidden.

  Who sets these rules?

  Of course, the Western Federation.

  And with the Holy Spirit Church’s cathedral right in the city, their knights and guards, along with the Federation’s envoys, maintain order.

  Anyone who breaks the rules faces the combined wrath of these two powerful forces.

  Over centuries of conflict, there have always been reckless families who refuse to listen.

  Dozens of cns have been wiped out for breaking the rules.

  During the lordship contests, the Holy Spirit Church and Western Federation send elite forces.

  Usually led by a professional ranked Hope of the Rising Sun, sometimes an Iron Knight.

  Other times, specialists or even high-level spellcasters have been deployed.

  The st time a rule-breaking family was destroyed was over fifty years ago.

  A powerful cn nearly crushed all others single-handedly.

  Then, in a reckless move to eliminate rivals completely, they attacked families who had already taken refuge inside Tule City.

  Retreating to Tule City during these struggles means defeat—but also protection.

  Ignoring both the Church and Federation warnings, this cn brazenly entered the city to kill.

  Three days ter, an Iron Knight and a senior Warlock, leading over three hundred troops, wiped that cn out overnight—leaving no bloodline behind.

  Since then, no cn has dared cause such chaos during the st three lordship competitions.

  The excitement comes from the fact that when the families compete for the lordship, they pour vast fortunes into hiring anyone useful.

  It’s a mercenary and ranger’s paradise. Every time, they rake in huge profits.

  And mercenaries and rangers don’t py by the rules. While they can’t enter the city to sughter, they’re free to carry out all kinds of subtle assassinations.

  Despite the Holy Spirit Church and Federation’s warnings, many civilians still get caught in the crossfire during these contests.

  A few thousand deaths are considered normal, especially among the residents outside Tule City.

  This creates a situation where nd in Tule City is scarce and expensive, with sky-high prices for property and housing.

  While Henwell and his group stay outside the city, they part ways with the Mountain Antelope Trade Caravan.

  Also leaving the main group are Conrad and five knights from Peace Haven.

  They take all the captured warhorses and over 200,000 gold coins.

  Among Conrad’s five knights is a member of the intelligence service.

  They pn to settle in Tule City, relying on the massive treasure hidden by the Bck Ring Riders to build their own power base.

  Now that the lordship contest is over, there’s a development period of over ten years.

  This gives Conrad and his team a solid runway to grow.

  With money, manpower, and weapons, it won’t be hard to make a mark in this free-spirited territory.

  Once Henwell returns to Peace Haven, he’ll send more people over.

  But the main effort will be Conrad and his team managing things here.

  Having fought alongside Henwell all this way, the Peace Haven knights have grown significantly stronger.

  Though Conrad isn’t a Grand Knight yet, he’s no longer a novice Battle Knight. He’s gained a solid footing.

  This pce will become Henwell’s intelligence rey point for the Western Federation.

  As they move deeper into the Federation, more operatives will be pnted here.

  Meanwhile, Henwell has reached a preliminary cooperation agreement with Tony of the Mountain Antelope Trade Caravan.

  In six months, the caravan will escort a rge shipment of quality military supplies.

  This will be the st major supply delivery for Henwell’s operatives in the far west.

  Any more would risk drawing the Western Federation’s attention, which would be too costly.

  Henwell only wants his intelligence station to be self-sufficient, not to spark a rebellion.

  He’s confident that the carefully selected talents he’s sent will quickly establish themselves and steadily grow stronger.

  After bidding farewell to Conrad, Henwell and his group enter Tule City.

  The guards at the city gate eye the dusty but well-equipped knights warily.

  But when they spot the ptinum cross emblem on Henwell’s cloak, their nerves instantly fre.

  One guard rushes forward, bowing nervously as he asks, “Are you knights of the Church, sirs?”

  Henwell simply nods, pointing to the cross badge hanging on his chest. “Is there any doubt? Does anyone dare impersonate Church knights?”

  The gate guard has seen Holy Spirit Church knights before—wearing simir badges, though none as ornate as Henwell’s.

  No question: this must be a higher-ranking Church knight.

  Holy Spirit Church knights enjoy various privileges inside the city.

  Even the ruling family and the lord himself show them respect.

  That’s because the Church wields immense power here.

  Henwell and his group receive a respectful welcome into the city.

  The gate guard personally escorts them inside and quickly sends word to the Church.

  As they enter, townsfolk stop and lower their heads, recognizing the emblem on Henwell’s cloak.

  Some devout citizens even kneel in reverence.

  Henwell senses just how deeply the Holy Spirit Church influences this pce.

  It makes sense. Under the Church’s protection, the people have been spared the disasters that strike every twenty years.

  Seeking both spiritual and physical refuge, the citizens naturally hold the Church in high regard.

  While Henwell observes the scene, a squad of silver-armored knights approaches.

  At their head is a middle-aged man dressed as a bishop, who eyes Henwell curiously.

  “Who are you? Why do you impersonate Holy Spirit Church knights?” he asks.

  Hearing this, the guard nearly falls to his knees.

  This is bad. These must be impostors!

  Before the guard can ponder how anyone could be so bold, Orak pulls out an elegant metal tube and retrieves a scroll.

  “I am Orak, a knight of the Kingdom of Vorry,” he announces. “Invited by Archbishop Atwood of the Church, I have come to the Western Regions to study. This is the proof he granted me.”