Chapter 99: The Hierarchical Structure of the Silver Knights Order

Since planting the red tea trees in Redtree Canyon, more than a month had passed.

During this time, Verlin visited the Blackhide Pork Ranch and the Rhino Camel Beast Ranch almost daily, occasionally going to Qingvine Mountain and Redtree Manor to check on the status of these four species of flora and fauna.

As the future pillars of his territory, he could not afford to neglect them.

If any mishap occurred during cultivation that led to crop failure, he would have nowhere to even shed tears.

A few days ago, a golden-ranked warrior from the Nankuer Trade Association came alone to Prayer Star Lake, took six thousand bottles of Ice Blue Elixir, left eighteen thousand gold coins, and departed.

Verlin envied the spatial equipment the visitor carried.

A single spatial device with only one cubic meter capacity sold for over two hundred thousand gold coins and was often impossible to purchase despite high demand.

"Master, a knight claiming to be from the Kingdom’s Sixteenth Knight Regiment requests an audience," Kyle reported as he entered the study.

"Let him in."

After more than ten minutes and thorough verification, a young knight entered the study, struck his chest, and saluted. "Lord Verlin, I am the financial secretary of the Sixteenth Knight Regiment and also the apprentice of Lord Mademonchi. You may call me Kark."

"Kark, welcome."

Verlin asked Kyle to prepare tea and invited Kark to sit in the adjacent reception room.

"How has Commander Mademonchi been lately?"

Kark replied politely, "My master led the knights last year to support the kingdom’s border and achieved great merit. The military department has promoted the Sixteenth Knight Regiment to a third-tier Silver Knight Regiment, and he is currently busy expanding the regiment’s personnel."

"Please convey my congratulations to Lord Mademonchi."

Verlin was not certain how many Silver Knight Regiments the Kingdom of Ilia had, but he knew their classification.

Silver Knight Regiments were divided into five ranks from lowest to highest: Ados, Loman, St. Clo, Karilan, and the highest, Mika, named after the five most outstanding monarchs of the Kingdom of Ilia.

Though Verlin was unclear about the structures of other Silver Knight Regiments, he was well aware of the true organization of a Mika-ranked Silver Knight Regiment.

A Mika-ranked regiment was led by a Soul-Willed Knight Commander, supported by three Soul-Willed deputy commanders, one hundred golden knights, one thousand silver knights, three thousand bronze knights, five thousand senior knight squires, and a three-hundred-strong corps of all silver-ranked priests.

The Ex family had three Mika-ranked Silver Knight Regiments. The most powerful, under his father Angus, was named the Eagle Knights and was commanded in the name of the Earl of Eagle.

The other two were held by Count Aust of Andusi and Count Ivillios of Hurricane.

Verlin didn’t know how other Mika-ranked regiments managed logistics, but one Soul-Willed deputy commander of the Eagle Knights held a large storage spatial ring that supported the entire regiment’s logistics.

It was impossible to sustain such a regiment solely on territory taxes. As far as Verlin knew, no noble house with such power relied only on territorial taxes to support a Mika-ranked regiment. They usually depended on the profits from their family industries both to fund their troops and to increase the regiment’s loyalty.

Verlin was somewhat puzzled by the Kingdom of Ilia’s taxation system.

Some nobles of count rank or below had to squeeze their territories dry, exploiting their subjects mercilessly to maintain their noble status and family influence. For a barony with a mere twenty thousand population, it was absurd but possible to extract fifty to sixty thousand gold coins annually.

Most counts and higher-ranking nobles imposed moderate or low taxes on their territories, averaging less than five silver coins per subject, because the total tax revenue was less than a tenth of their total income.

It could be said that nobles with prestige and standing did not rely on taxes to survive.

Furthermore, the higher the rank and the stronger the family, the more they needed to maintain appearances and at least seem to treat their subjects well.

"Lord, I have come on behalf of my master and the Sixteenth Knight Regiment to negotiate a transaction with you," Kark said softly, noticing Verlin’s distant gaze.

"Oh, very well." Verlin snapped out of his thoughts and asked, "How much Ice Blue Elixir can you consume annually?"

Kark, unfazed by the question being redirected to him, replied calmly, "Lord Vira, the regiment is currently expanding, but military funding is limited. We can purchase up to two thousand bottles at most."

"But rest assured, once the expansion is complete and funding increases in a few years, we will definitely increase our elixir procurement," Kark added, fearing Verlin might be dissatisfied.

"Kark, I am not upset," Verlin waved his hand. "A trade must be mutually agreeable. Besides, with Lord Mademonchi’s help, I am not so petty."

"The Nankuer Trade Association’s purchase price is three gold coins per bottle. Can you accept that?"

"No problem, we fully accept."

Kark answered immediately and then placed six gold tickets, each worth a thousand, on the table.

"Kyle, prepare two thousand bottles of Ice Blue Elixir."

"Yes, Master."

They talked for another half hour until Kyle returned to report that all the goods were loaded onto the carriage. Kark then submitted his resignation.

Verlin tried to persuade him to stay, but seeing Kark’s insistence, he personally escorted him out of Prayer Star Lake.

As Verlin returned to his study and sat down, Kyle hurried in.

"Master, Lord Belder sent a report: Kazak, the son of Governor Kadro of the province, has arrived in Prayer Star Town and wishes to see you. He is the arrogant noble youth from Redtree Canyon from a month ago."

"No rush. Put him off for now. Tell him I am busy and will see him tomorrow."

"Understood."

…

In a tavern in Prayer Star Town, Kazak’s face darkened upon hearing the message.

"Cousin, this bumpkin is clearly looking down on you, daring to treat you with such disdain," Charles urged after the servant left.

"Shut up," Kazak snapped. "It’s your fault for being blind; otherwise, why would I have ended up in this place?"

"Cousin, you..."

"From now on, shut your mouth. Uncle sent word that forgiveness is impossible. If you can’t get it, prepare to be a pig for life." With that, Kazak ignored Charles and left the room.

Charles sat on the floor, dazed.

"I don’t want to be a pig; I don’t want to be a breeding tool."

"My life is just beginning; I don’t want this, I don’t want this."

The door slammed loudly, awakening Charles, who broke down sobbing on the floor.