Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Blood Stone
After dealing with the issues brought by 1,500 slaves, the development of Red Tide Territory was smoother than expected.
New houses sprang up continuously within a month, and barren fields were rapidly cultivated.
There was finally hope on people’s faces, and the barren and desolate land was becoming a real domain.
Louis sat in the office, nodding in satisfaction as he looked at the territorial intelligence compiled by Bradley.
Very good, the foundation has been laid, it’s time to do something more important.
It’s time to proceed to the next step of the plan.
Louis picked up the Blood Stone brought from the Southeast Province, a deep red crystal with a strange luster on its surface, as if flowing with blood.
This is a special magic ore that can test whether a person has the aptitude to become a Bloodline Knight.
Only those with knight lineage can cause it to react.
Louis cut his fingertip with a dagger, and the blood slowly dripped onto the stone.
The next second, the Blood Stone vibrated slightly, emitting a dark red glow.
This indicated that Louis had the qualification to become a Bloodline Knight.
Of course, this stone can only test the qualification to become a knight, not assess the strength of the talent.
But Louis wasn’t worried about that because he had the Daily Intelligence System.
If there are children with strong talent, the system will eventually notify him, and he can focus on nurturing them then.
So, how many children in Red Tide Territory have the talent to become knights?
Louis planned to use this stone to select children from Red Tide Territory and find those with the potential.
To cultivate true Bloodline Knights belonging to him and Red Tide Territory.
They are not knights dispatched by clans, but loyal knights selected, trained, and shaped by him personally.
Louis’s knights should be fervent followers.
They should trust him completely, follow him, and be loyal to him.
Not just allegiance, but seeing him as a true leader, even as faith itself.
......
Over two hundred children gathered in the plaza of Red Tide Territory, mostly under the age of fifteen.
The air was filled with an inexplicable excitement, and each child held their breath, eagerly anticipating something, their heartbeats quietly accelerating with that anticipation.
Their eyes were locked onto Louis, standing at the center of the plaza.
He wore a black cloak and bore the Calvin Clan emblem on his chest.
Like the sun hanging high in the sky, warm and dazzling.
Seeing Louis, every child felt a surge of strong admiration.
Most of them were children of drifters and natives, their parents rescued by Louis from near starvation.
And through the teachings of their teachers and parents, they held immense respect and admiration for Louis.
In their hearts, Louis was akin to the Sun.
"Today, I will select some children to become knights." The Sun spoke.
As soon as the words fell, the plaza instantly fell into a commotion.
"Becoming a knight, does that mean riding a horse and wielding a sword?"
"Could I protect Red Tide Territory like Lord Louis?"
"Can I... become a knight?"
The children chatted noisily, their eyes filled with surprise and excitement.
These children came from the lower classes, and they were too young to understand what the word ’knight’ meant.
Their understanding was simple and direct.
A knight is the closest warrior to the great Lord, his guard, a figure of strength and nobility in everyone’s eyes.
To become a knight meant standing beside the Sun, in the most prestigious place.
"Quiet, one at a time."
The testing officially began, with knights and teachers directing the children to queue up, ensuring each child stepped forward in order.
Louis stood on the high platform of the plaza, with the Blood Stone on the table before him.
The stone’s surface shimmered with a strange light, its deep red glow seemed to be pulsing, capturing every child’s attention.
The children stepped forward one by one, following Louis’s instructions, gently cutting a small slit on their finger to let blood fall on the Blood Stone.
As the test began, all the children were animated, eagerly hoping for a miracle.
However, as most of the children’s blood dripped down, the Blood Stone merely remained unchanged, showing no response.
As time passed, the children’s expressions began to turn disappointed, and the atmosphere gradually dimmed.
Louis felt a tinge of disappointment too, but he showed no sign of frustration.
Such filtering was inevitable; only a very few could possess the knight’s talent.
A little girl walked up and gently let her blood fall onto the stone.
Suddenly—
The Blood Stone faintly glowed, then gently quivered, emitting a dark red brilliance.
In that instant, everyone held their breath, their eyes wide open.
"It’s her! She’s the future knight!" the children whispered excitedly.
The little girl stood there, dazedly looking at the Blood Stone, seemingly not fully understanding what had just happened.
Her eyes glittered with confusion and excitement, her legs slightly trembling, unable to comprehend the miracle before her.
Louis gently patted her shoulder and asked, "What’s your name?"
The little girl seemed startled, stammering, "I... I’m Lilia..."
"Congratulations, Lilia," Louis said, looking at her, "You are the first knight cultivated by Red Tide Territory."
Upon hearing this, the girl’s legs weakened, almost unable to support herself, tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
She stood there in shock, unable to believe she could actually become a knight.
All the children in the plaza watched her, whispering amongst themselves, their hearts full of envy.
Listening to the envious words of her peers, Lilia finally stood proudly upright.
Though her legs were still somewhat weak, the excitement in her heart made her feel as if she were flying.
"I... I will become an outstanding knight and protect Red Tide Territory!" Lilia promised Louis.
Hearing the little girl’s naive words, Louis smiled, "I look forward to that day."
With Lilia successfully passing the test of the Blood Stone, the atmosphere in the plaza became even more enthusiastic.
Children are always blindly confident, believing they are the chosen one in a hundred and that they will be selected as knights.
However, reality is always harsh.
Nearly half of the children had already been tested, yet only three had shown the potential to become Bloodline Knights.
And among the crowd, there was a smaller child, his eyes glimmering with anticipation yet shadowed with a bit of fear.
He hoped to become a knight, yet feared he might lack the talent.
He wished to become a knight, to stand by Lord Louis’s side, to repay the Lord’s kindness.
His name was Weir.