Just as Count Casite Hillfin was planning to mediate, Luo Yan gently threw out the explanation he had already prepared.

"Mr. Todwen, you misunderstand. It's not that I'm reluctant to invest resources into the noble cause of the adventurer guild. In fact, quite the opposite. As long as it benefits the Empire, even without any gain, the Colin family will proceed without hesitation."

"Then—" Seeing a turnaround, Todwen quickly spoke up, but Luo Yan didn't give him time to finish his sentence.

"Compared to the adventurer guild, I was inspired by you and thought of a better idea."

"Oh?" Julian Corps Commander raised his eyebrows, curiously asked, "I'm all ears."

He was different from Casite.

As a member of the Officer Faction, he had no interest in the adventurer guild. The only path for imperial men was to join the military. Only those money-grabbing "riffraff" would become adventurers, exchanging the power granted by Saint Sis for money.

No matter how adventurers viewed themselves, at least that's how he saw them!

Luo Yan nodded slightly towards him, then continued.

"I heard Marshal Aber mention earlier that the Empire currently has many young people eager to achieve great things, yet they find it difficult to get opportunities; and Duke Valencia similarly lamented that despite the ambitions of the Empire's noble children, they lack avenues to showcase their talents. It's not that I look down on the adventurer profession, just that... if all these aspiring individuals became adventurers, it would be somewhat beneath their abilities."

Casite coughed lightly and said.

"Your Highness, I beg to differ. You may not be aware, having just returned to the Empire, but the adventurer guild today is very different from five hundred years ago."

Unaware?

But I know it all too well!

Luo Yan nodded slightly, looking at Casite, he said.

"Mr. Hillfin, I understand your point. The adventurer guild is a child of the Church Court, and I fully recognize this. However... I'm speaking to the thoughts of the vast majority here. Even if the Holy Light is equal for everyone, we must acknowledge that some children are closer, and some are farther away. I greatly respect Mr. Todwen as an adventurer, but please do not take offense; this is what I have observed after coming to the Holy City."

Casite fell silent.

Indeed, it was the truth.

He would never let his own children become adventurers, and even less so would the other nobles present... Only the nobles from remote areas would send their disinherited children to become mercenaries or adventurers, to gamble on an unrealistic chance.

Todwen smiled wryly and nodded, saying.

"It's all right... Prince Colin, I understand that you are speaking the truth, and I also believe you have no personal bias against me. Let's set this topic aside for now and talk about the idea you mentioned."

Perhaps—

The timing he chose was poor.

After all, this was the Valencia family's manor, where everyone stood apart from the adventurer guild.

He did not blame Prince Colin for his polite rejection.

Upon calming down and reflecting, Prince Colin had actually given him considerable respect. In contrast, Julian Corps Commander was barely holding back his laughter.

Luo Yan smiled and nodded, then continued along the line Todwen had offered.

"As I mentioned earlier, since everyone sees the promising future of the Gana Continent, and the Empire's young people are precisely seeking opportunities for adventure, why don't we establish an organization that better fits the identity of these brave youths—perhaps, a knight order in the name of Saint Sis!"

This statement was like throwing a stone into a calm lake, immediately creating ripples upon ripples.

Marshal Laco fell into deep thought, Duke Valencia's expression flickered with uncertainty, while the Regent King Granville, standing beside him, carefully observed the Duke's expression.

Knight Order—

Laco's first thought was the Royal Knight Order.

Although it was originally composed of nobles, over time, the knight order had long been filled by the Empire's "new nobles."

The reason was simple: the Imperial Nobles did not like cultivating martial arts, especially charging with a riding spear, things the barbarians of Ryan Kingdom would fool around with.

By contrast, they preferred elegantly waving a magic wand, bringing down death on the enemy's head from several kilometers away.

Moreover, the conditions at the front lines were too harsh, and the Empire's teleportation technology was not as advanced as that of Hell; wanting to perform on the front lines required over a month of sea travel, and there was the risk of their souls not returning if they died on the Demon God's territory.

Over time, the Empire's knight orders were mostly controlled by the Officer Faction, and even the Church Court had difficulty intervening.

Thinking of this, Laco's lips curled slightly in an almost imperceptible smile.

Indeed, he was not mistaken—

Colin was on their side.

But just as he was about to speak, Duke Valencia spoke first, observing Colin with an analytical gaze.

"Knight Order? Your Highness, this is indeed... an unexpected proposal. May I ask how this knight order you envisage differs from the Empire's existing knight orders, such as the Royal Knight Order?"

As if anticipating such a question, Luo Yan smiled faintly and continued.

"The difference is... the knight order I'm speaking of isn't purely a military organization, but rather a quasi-national organization with its own territory and laws, existing to fulfill the holy duty of expanding territory for the Empire!"

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