Chapter 126: By Order Of The Crown

Spring had been kind to Althoff, although Raymond suspected the thousands of people working from sunrise until sunset deserved considerably more credit than the weather.

Beyond the city, green fields stretched across land that had once struggled to support weeds, while irrigation channels carried water between newly cultivated plots.

Wagons moved steadily along the roads, transporting timber, stone, grain, and goods destined for the Central Market.

The Beast Processing Complex had begun sending regular shipments of cured leather, prepared bone, and other valuable materials to merchant companies.

Meanwhile, construction crews continued raising houses, workshops, warehouses, and public facilities across the expanding districts.

Althoff was growing so quickly that streets completed only weeks earlier already looked established.

The population had reached six thousand, nine hundred and twelve.

Raymond examined the latest registry report while eating breakfast in his study, with Lily standing nearby and carefully arranging his morning correspondence.

The figure represented an extraordinary increase from the twelve hundred inhabitants who had greeted him when he first arrived.

More importantly, the Administration was handling most of that growth without requiring his personal intervention.

Alaric had already approved additional registry personnel. Harlan’s Department was matching qualified farmers with available cultivation blocks.

Ysabel was overseeing new commercial leases, while Mara’s construction schedules accounted for the growing demand for housing.

The Watch had expanded patrol coverage into the newest residential streets, and Corvin was monitoring food inventories against projected consumption.

Raymond turned another page before remarking, "Apparently, the city has learned to function without asking me where every nail should go."

Lily looked up from the correspondence and smiled. "Isn’t that what you wanted, Young Master?"

"It is," Raymond admitted, taking another bite of breakfast. "Although I was beginning to enjoy being consulted about extremely important matters, such as where someone should put a chicken coop."

Lily giggled before handing him a letter from the Construction Department. "Master Lucan says the next section of the Administrative District will be ready for inspection soon. And Mistress Marianne asked me to remind you about the Household accounts."

Raymond accepted the letter and glanced at the girl. "Anything else on my schedule?"

Lily checked the small notebook she had begun carrying to keep track of his appointments. "Captain-General Boris is expecting you at the training grounds this morning, Young Master. And Chief Administrator Alaric said he would send the revised housing figures before supper."

Raymond nodded approvingly. "Good. At least someone in this castle knows where I’m supposed to be."

Lily smiled proudly. "Mistress Marianne says that’s why you need someone watching you, Young Master."

Raymond stared at her.

Somewhere in the castle, his Head Maid was apparently becoming far too comfortable.

After breakfast, Raymond traveled to the military training grounds outside the busiest residential districts.

The sound of shouted commands reached him before the grounds came into view, accompanied by the rhythmic pounding of boots and the clash of practice weapons.

Hundreds of soldiers occupied different sections of the enormous training field, each group following a carefully organized program.

Boris met him near the entrance, wearing his usual military uniform and carrying a collection of training reports.

"Good morning, my Lord," Boris greeted him with a respectful salute. "Commander Cassian is conducting formation exercises. The others are overseeing their respective units."

Raymond nodded toward the field. "Then let’s see what they’ve accomplished."

Cassian stood upon a raised observation platform, watching several infantry formations maneuver across marked ground.

Under his direction, soldiers advanced in disciplined ranks before separating into smaller groups and reforming around simulated enemy positions.

Officers carried orders between units, while reserve formations waited for instructions rather than rushing forward independently.

"The men are learning to maintain formation when the situation changes," Boris explained as they approached. "Previously, most could fight adequately in straightforward engagements. Coordinating several units under pressure was another matter."

Raymond watched a formation withdraw while another advanced to cover it.

"And Cassian has been correcting that?" Raymond asked.

"Relentlessly, my Lord," Boris answered, allowing himself a small smile. "The soldiers have begun complaining that actual enemies might be less demanding."

Farther across the grounds, Bram supervised heavy infantry training. Soldiers carrying reinforced shields advanced together against opponents armed with blunted weapons, maintaining their line despite repeated impacts.

Whenever someone broke formation, Bram ordered the entire group to repeat the exercise.

Raymond watched one particularly unfortunate soldier stumble backward.

"Does Bram ever let them rest?" Raymond asked, watching the Gold Rank Knight order another advance.

Boris glanced toward the enormous warrior. "He does, my Lord. Usually after they’ve stopped making mistakes."

"How generous of him," Raymond remarked with a faint smile.

Beyond the heavy infantry grounds, Silas directed reconnaissance training through a wooded section of the surrounding terrain. His scouts practiced concealed movement, observation, signaling, and coordinated withdrawal.

Unlike the heavily armored soldiers training under Bram, these men carried lighter equipment and focused on speed and awareness.

Jonathan, meanwhile, maintained the Household Knights’ separate training program, ensuring that the elite warriors responsible for Raymond’s personal security remained prepared for their duties.

Together, the different commanders were transforming Althoff’s armed forces into something considerably more sophisticated than a collection of soldiers defending a desperate settlement.

Raymond observed another exercise before turning toward Boris.

"How do we compare with our neighbors?" Raymond asked, watching the soldiers reform their ranks.

Boris hesitated, considering his answer carefully. "Against ordinary minor noble households, our elite forces alone would be formidable, my Lord. Three Gold Rank Knights, eighteen Silver Rank Knights, and thirty-five Bronze Rank Knights represent considerable strength. And that is before accounting for our conventional troops."

Raymond looked toward Cassian, who was correcting an officer’s positioning.

"That’s going to make people nervous," Raymond observed.

"It already has, I suspect," Boris replied. "Merchants talk, my Lord. Soldiers talk even more. Eventually, neighboring lords will want to know why Althoff possesses forces they cannot easily match."

Raymond sighed. "And here I was hoping everyone would remain interested in our excellent vegetables."

Boris chuckled, but his expression soon became serious again.

"Strength attracts attention, my Lord. We should be prepared for that," Boris warned.

Raymond understood the warning. Unfortunately, understanding a problem did not make it disappear.

By late morning, he had finished inspecting the training grounds and was returning toward the city when he decided to stop at a familiar rise overlooking Althoff. He had visited the same area months earlier, when the first outlines of the city’s planned districts were beginning to take shape.

The view had changed dramatically.

The Historical Core remained recognizable, but the surrounding landscape had transformed into a network of broad roads, residential streets, workshops, warehouses, markets, and construction sites.

Smoke rose from working furnaces in the Industrial District, while wagons moved between the Warehouse District and the Central Market.

Beyond the buildings, agricultural fields spread across the surrounding countryside.

Raymond stood quietly for several moments before activating the Lord’s Eye.

A translucent map appeared before him, visible only to his eyes.

The expanded territory stretched across fifteen hundred square kilometers, although significant portions remained obscured where surveyors had yet to explore.

Confirmed roads connected mapped resource sites, agricultural districts, and surrounding settlements.

Population concentrations clustered around Althoff City, while smaller groups appeared near developing agricultural zones.

The construction overlays continued spreading outward, and the trade routes were busier than ever.

Raymond studied the map with satisfaction.

The city was nowhere near complete. Large sections of the Master Development Blueprint remained unfinished, and entire regions of his territory still required surveying. Nevertheless, the Althoff he had inherited was becoming increasingly difficult to recognize.

"Not bad," Raymond murmured, folding his arms.

Then movement along the southern road caught his attention.

A group of mounted riders was approaching the city. They were not traveling with merchant wagons, and their disciplined formation immediately distinguished them from ordinary visitors.

Their horses carried matching equipment, while the riders wore polished armor beneath traveling cloaks.

At their head fluttered a banner bearing the royal insignia of Solaria.

Raymond’s expression changed.

"Oh, wonderful," he muttered. "Someone important has finally come to ask where all my money came from."

He dismissed the Lord’s Eye and turned toward the city.

By the time Raymond returned to the castle, the riders had entered Althoff under escort from the Watch. Their leader had presented official credentials and requested a formal audience with Baron Raymond von Althoff.

Raymond received the delegation in the castle’s audience chamber, accompanied by Alaric and Jonathan. The royal messenger was a dignified man in his forties, wearing a dark ceremonial cloak fastened with the Crown’s insignia.

He stepped forward and bowed.

"Baron Raymond von Althoff," the messenger announced, "I am Sir Aldren Valcrest, appointed representative of the Royal Chancellery. I bring an official decree issued under the authority of the Crown of Solaria."

Raymond returned the greeting with appropriate formality.

"Welcome to Althoff, Sir Valcrest. I trust your journey was comfortable," Raymond replied.

"The roads were considerably better than our records suggested, my Lord," Aldren replied, allowing a brief smile. "In fact, much of what we have observed differs from those records."

Raymond maintained his expression.

That sounded suspiciously like the beginning of an investigation.

Aldren withdrew a parchment bearing an elaborate royal seal.

"The Crown has received reports concerning the extraordinary development of your territory," he continued. "These include substantial population growth, the successful settlement of displaced subjects, restoration of agricultural production, increased commercial activity, improvements to territorial administration, and the protection of the region against significant Beast threats."

Alaric stood a little straighter while Raymond remained silent.

"These developments have been examined through regional reports and independent commercial records," Aldren explained. "His Majesty has therefore determined that House Althoff’s contributions warrant formal recognition."

The messenger broke the seal and unfolded the parchment.

Then he began reading.

"By authority of the Crown of Solaria, in recognition of services rendered to the realm, the restoration and development of the lands entrusted to House Althoff, the protection and settlement of its subjects, and the growing strategic importance of its holdings, Baron Raymond von Althoff is hereby elevated to the dignity of Count, with the honors, privileges, and obligations belonging to that rank."

For a moment, Raymond heard nothing else.

Count.

Months earlier, when House Althoff underwent its evolution, the Infinite Clan Treasury System had already displayed those very words.

[ Noble Rank: Count ]

He had possessed that rank within the System ever since, while the outside world continued recognizing him as a Baron.

Now the Crown had finally caught up.

"Congratulations, Count Raymond," Aldren declared, bowing once more. "Your elevation takes effect under the royal seal."

Alaric looked genuinely stunned before bowing deeply.

"My Lord, this is an extraordinary honor," the Chief Administrator said, his voice filled with excitement.

Raymond recovered enough to acknowledge the messenger.

"House Althoff is grateful for His Majesty’s recognition," Raymond replied with a dignified nod.

Aldren nodded, although his expression suggested the announcement was not quite finished.

"Your elevation also requires formal registration of your expanded holdings, review of the obligations attached to your new dignity, and confirmation of your territorial military responsibilities," he explained. "Further instructions concerning your appearance before the appropriate royal authority will follow."

Raymond’s smile stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Of course.

A promotion.

With paperwork.

And considerably more dangerous politics.

Outside the castle, Althoff continued its daily business, unaware that its lord had just received one of the most significant honors in the kingdom’s noble hierarchy.

Raymond glanced toward the windows, beyond which the growing city stretched beneath the spring sunlight.

Being ignored had been rather convenient.

Unfortunately, House Althoff had finally become important enough that Solaria was looking back.