"I vow to serve you unto death, my lord!"


    In the Tulip Hall, where the knighthood ceremony had already begun, impassioned, exhrating, trembling roars echoed.


    Five Earth Knights who had umted enough military merits held the medals symbolizing the rank of Honored Knights, tears brimming hotly in their eyes. Generations of effort had finally borne fruit in their time, a glory bestowed upon them, a pride like no other.


    It brought to mind the days of old.


    The ancestors of the Tulip Family, too, came frommon stock, and even earlier forebears might have been serfs unknown to any nation. The great-great-grandfather, endowed with divine strength, returned alive from the battlefield and was made an Honored Knight, his title hereditary and indisputable. From there, step by step, the family grew and expanded to be the present day Earl family.


    Being an Honored Knight was a new starting point for noble evolution. Although the road ahead was not without challenges, and they could fall in battle at any time, they now had a clear path—to continue their father''s cause, to pioneer and enterprising.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The five new Honored Knights solemnly performed the standard knight''s oath of allegiance to the Earl, who sat in the ce of honor.


    The Earl serenely epted their fealty.


    Then,


    The knighthood ceremony quickly moved into its true climax. The Earl''s Retainer Knights, holding the Metal Civilization Staff symbolizing power and the Viscount Medal symbolizing glory, stepped into the hall and stood to the side. Another Retainer Knight held Li Weiliam''s sword.


    The Earl stood up from his seat.


    Taking two steps forward, he spoke in a deep voice, "My son, and my follower, Liszt Tulip. I shall repay courage with honor, loyalty with love, and betrayal with vengeance. Let the knight''s glory be witness!"


    Liszt stepped forward, knelt with both knees on the ground following the customary procedure, straightened his body, and calmly looked at the Earl, devoid of any joy or sorrow.


    The Retainer Knight holding the sword gave it to the Earl, who took it smoothly.


    Laying the de of the longsword on Liszt''s left shoulder, he dered solemnly, "In light of your performance on the battlefield, your fearless charge and disregard for life and death, you have achieved magnificent glory and brought considerable military achievements to Coral Ind..."


    The de lifted, shifting to the right shoulder, "Now, I, as Coral Ind''s Earl, name you my Viscount, the Lord of ck Horse Ind, with all authority over ck Horse Ind, to foster knights and ride for me!"


    The sword was passed back to the Retainer Knight, and the Earl picked up the Metal Civilization Staff that symbolized power, and solemnly handed it to Liszt.


    Liszt took the staff with both hands and nted it firmly on the ground.


    ng.


    The metal struck the floor, emitting a dull sound.


    Using the staff to support himself, he stood up and bowed, performing the knight''s oath of allegiance, "I shall manage ck Horse Ind, foster knights, and ride for my lord."


    Li Weiliam nodded slightly, picking up another medal shaped like a shield.


    About the size of an infant''s palm, it was a brass medal with a muted yellow-brass color. The front was engraved with patterns and designs that symbolized the Viscount, resembling a Tulip upon closer inspection. The back was inscribed with "ck Horse Ind" in threepact Serpent Scripts. The craftsmanship was far from exquisite, rather rough to the eye.


    But it was the noble proof of noble status.


    "From now on, you shall walk the earth as a Viscount. Commoners seeing you shall perform a kneeling salute, your peers shall address you by your title. And I, your Lord Li Weiliam Tulip, shall affectionately call you by your name...Liszt Tulip!" The Earl ced the Viscount Medal on the front of his chest.


    At once,


    The nobles gathered in the hall cried out in unison, "Viscount Liszt!"


    Followed by the knights without titles, who bowed reverently and called out, "Viscount, my Lord!"


    Adorned with the Viscount Medal and holding the Metal Civilization Staff, Liszt turned around. Scanning the room with an air of confidence, he affirmed that he had be the fourth Viscount on Coral Ind and the third to receive a titled fief. Thus, the brief yet thrilling ceremony concluded, the due honor had been received.


    Next came the celebration banquet.


    "Liszt, I am proud of you," the Earl approached him, raising his ss, "I hope that in the times toe, you manage ck Horse Ind well, achieve greater glory, and make the Tulip Family known throughout the world because of your name."


    "Father, I will constantly remind myself, to tirelessly strive for glory."


    Levis also approached with a ss in hand, "I hope we brothers continue to fight side by side, striving together for the glory of the Tulip Family."


    "Of course!"


    Following that, his advisor Goltai, came over beaming with joy, lifting his ss high, "To my lord, the glory of the Tulip Family, the ruler of ck Horse Ind, Liszt, I offer the most loyal respects!"


    Marcus and the others hurried over, toasting to Liszt.


    Drinking heartily from the Fresh Flower Brew, tonight Liszt decided to open his arms wide, turning away no one, "I stand with all of you!"


    ...


    "I am proud of you, my boy," Lady Penelope embraced him and offered her grandmotherly blessing as Liszt prepared to depart at dawn.


    "Thank you, grandmother."


    Li Vera also gave him a hug, "Well done, my dear brother, you always bring us surprises."


    Lady Marie and Lidun also came to bid farewell, at least outwardly very enthusiastic, and he responded with a warm smile.


    Then, he listened to his instructions in the Earl''s satisfied smile, "When the envoy from the Courtes to measure ck Horse Ind, I will have Advisor Jacob apany him. This is yournd, from now on, manage it well. If there are difficulties, ask the family for help."


    "I will, father."


    "Get ck Horse Ind in good order soon, and your castle too. I''d like to have a room there."


    "Grandmother, you, Lady Marie, Levis, Li Vera, Lidun, will all have a room in my castle, and are always wee to visit ck Horse Ind."


    The Earl patted Liszt''s shoulder, looking up at his son who was even taller than himself, his smile clear, "Go on then, I know you''re eager for the matters of ck Horse Ind."


    Liszt nodded, mounted thendwalker bird Loki, and prepared to set off.


    Just then Lady Penelope called out, "Oh,d, wait a moment, I have one more potted nt to give to you. A young knight favored by knightly honor, it might bring you good luck." As she spoke, her personal maid struggled to bring over a potted nt nearly half a person tall.


    On the tree hung several purple-red, oval-shaped fruits.


    Liszt was rather helpless about his grandmother''s habit of gifting potted nts, as not every potted nt could nurture an Elf Bug.


    Nevertheless, he smiled and had the retainer knights move the potted nt onto the carriage.


    Then the procession set off, truly walking thend of Coral Ind with the stature of Viscount ck Horse Ind. Now in the entire Coral City, there was no one who did not know the new Viscount had been granted his title, Liszt''s name was no longer passed around as the second son of the Tulip Family, but as Viscount ck Horse Ind.


    Thendwalker bird was very steady beneath him; he could summon the Smoke Mission at will.


    The smoke curled up, forming a long section of Serpent Script. At first nce, it seemed as if the mission was not yetplete, but upon closer inspection, Liszt found that the mission had indeed beenpleted.


    It was just that the rewards were astoundingly generous.


    "Missionpleted, reward one Fig Elf Bug, Smoked Grass Elf Bug, Green Tea Tree Elf Bug, Pea Elf Bug, ckberry Elf Bug each."