Pioneer Lord: I Have Conquering System

The banner was personally designed by Levi. After Baisitina, who was skilled with needlework, created the first version, the women of the Feder Tribe embroidered several more to have on hand.

The materials were common—just simple strips of cloth cut and sewn together. However, in an era where beasts like lions and tigers were common symbols, the graphic design for High Cliff Castle was definitely considered high-class.

「...」

Rows of wooden walls enclosed the camp. The entrance was blocked by barricades, and an Affairs Officer was already waiting at the gate. As soon as he saw the Lord, he hurried over to greet him.

"Baron, please follow me. Lady Fulina instructed me to bring you to her," the Affairs Officer said with a smile.

Levi gave a slight nod.

Although this Affairs Officer held a mid-level position in the legion, anyone who wasn’t a noble would show proper respect to a legitimate one.

Even a Knight like Si Kai only possessed the title of Knight and a knight’s fief.

It might seem like Barons were a dime a dozen and not worth much, but it was nearly impossible for a commoner to obtain a noble title.

Even the illegitimate children of nobles had to start as a Knight’s Attendant. Then, they had to perform meritorious deeds to be granted the title of Knight. Finally, only if they achieved some extraordinary merit would they be ennobled and granted a noble’s fief of their own.

Levi had been able to obtain the title of Baron of Exploration only because his predecessor had also been a Baron, albeit one who had fallen on hard times and lost his lands. After spending several years earning a name for himself in the arena, he eventually caught the eye of the Old Duke of the South.

The Duke had then granted him a Pioneer Order, allowing him to establish his own territory once more.

Simply put, for a commoner in this world to become a noble was a feat as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

The only ways to advance in station were to have outstanding Talent in Combat Qi or Magic and be noticed by a powerful figure, or to join the army and accumulate military merit bit by bit to climb the ranks.

If one managed to rise to the rank of Legion Commander or higher, they might be enfeoffed as a Viscount or Baron by the lord they served.

In short, as a Baron, not even a Duke like Fulina could force Levi to do anything. In theory, they were both nobles; there was merely a difference in rank within the same social class.

But if he didn’t have a noble title and was just a Legion Commander or something similar, Fulina probably wouldn’t even give him the time of day.

Rows of tents dotted the camp, and soldiers patrolled in an orderly fashion.

Finally, led by the Affairs Officer, they took a winding path and stopped in front of a very plain wooden house.

The house was obviously newly built. It was spacious and sturdy but had no extra decorations, save for a plaque above the door carved with a "Sword-Bearing Eagle" to signify its purpose.

The Lord had come on an empty stomach. In his view, so-called meetings were just an excuse to get a free meal and drink, listen to a bunch of people spout useless nonsense, and finally watch Fulina make the ultimate decision by herself.

After all, things at High Cliff Castle were more or less the same.

But the moment he pushed the door open and walked in, a thick wave of hot air and sweat hit him in the face. Levi, who had been a little hungry, instantly lost his appetite.

A large table with a huge map on it sat in the center of the spacious wooden house. The dozen or so chairs around it were mostly full, occupied by all sorts of people.

The meeting hadn’t officially started, and Fulina had clearly not arrived yet.

The twelve high-ranking captains of the Thorn Corps were in a boisterous discussion, exchanging their ideas. The way these mid to High Level officers boasted was no better than common thugs and scoundrels. The raucous room was filled with their voices, and the Lord felt as if a hundred mosquitoes were buzzing in his ear, a sound that grated on his nerves.

Si Kai was already sitting inside. After some rest, his complexion was clearly much better. He smiled and gave Levi a nod when he saw him.

The Lord glanced around and found that Si Kai was the only person he knew. He was also one of only two people not participating in the discussion, so Levi plopped down in the empty seat beside him.

"I thought you’d need a few days’ rest before you could attend a meeting. Your face was as pale as a Warrior who’d fought for ten days and nights in a Harpies’ nest."

"My Lord, I just ran out of Combat Qi..." Even though Si Kai was long accustomed to the Lord’s improper nature, he almost coughed up a mouthful of blood at the comment. ’Rank has its privileges, and he has the stronger fists...’ he thought, resigning himself to a helpless explanation.

"Tsk, your Combat Qi doesn’t last very long then, does it? Used up in just a few moves. Why don’t you consider joining my Holy Light Sect?"

Si Kai turned his head away and remained silent. ’Good grief,’ he thought, ’This guy just started practicing the Glowing Holy Word Treasure Manual and he’s already recruiting for the Holy Light Church.’

’If the people who practice the Holy Word Treasure Manual were half as zealous as this Lord, how could the Holy Light Church not grow and prosper?’

Before long, however, Si Kai couldn’t hold his tongue and took the initiative to strike up a conversation. "My Lord, who designed that banner of yours?"

The main reason was that he didn’t know anyone else in the wooden house; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been sitting there in silence before the Lord arrived.

He had always been the Knight Commander of the Guard Team, leading an independent Cavalry Team that was dispatched solely by Fulina. They were a completely different faction from the legion stationed in the military camp—worlds apart.

"Heh, isn’t it especially imposing and majestic?"