Chapter 75: The Path of Kings

“The princess’ reply?”

Nolan and Anna both halted their discussion, their gazes falling in unison on the brown paper package in Little Donnie’s hands.

A faint stir of anticipation rose in Nolan’s chest. The reply had come so quickly. It seemed that the grand princess in the capital was as decisive as ever.

He took the package from Little Donnie. It was not heavy, but he could feel that aside from the letter, there was also a small, hard object inside. Instead of opening it immediately, he nodded first. “Well done, Little Donnie. You handled this task excellently.”

Praised by his lord, Little Donnie beamed with pride, scratching his head as he chuckled. “Not at all, not at all. It’s an honor to serve you, my lord!”

“You and your glib tongue,” Anna said with a smile.

“Go get some rest. Have the kitchen prepare something good for you,” Nolan said, waving him off.

“Yes, sir!” Little Donnie responded loudly, snapping into a proper knight’s salute before bounding out of the room in high spirits.

Silence returned to the office.

Anna rose and walked over to Nolan, her eyes fixed curiously on the package. There was anticipation in her gaze, because she knew that the contents of this letter would directly determine their future.

Nolan took a slow breath and carefully tore open the seal. Inside was a neatly folded letter and a silver brooch wrapped in silk. He picked up the brooch first. It was shaped like a blooming iris, exquisitely crafted, with a tiny purple gemstone set at its center. Nolan recognized it at a glance as the royal emblem of the Elfin Kingdom.

“This is the grand princess’ personal token,” he said softly, turning it in his fingers.

A flicker of surprise passed through Anna’s eyes. As a tavern owner in Rosenberg, she was familiar with the subtleties of noble dealings. A personal item often signified permission and trust. Sending such a private token instead of an official seal made the meaning unmistakable. It meant that Princess Flina, in her personal capacity, acknowledged Nolan’s actions and was willing to support him. Yet it was not a formal royal decree, more a private alliance.

It granted Nolan the legitimacy he needed while leaving the royal family ample room to maneuver. If he failed, they could easily deny any connection.

This princess is a clever one, Anna thought.

Nolan set down the brooch and unfolded the letter.

The handwriting was as he had expected, elegant yet firm, carrying an air of authority. The letter itself was not long, but it was dense with meaning.

Flina first expressed, in her personal capacity, high praise and approval for Nolan’s elimination of Baron Haus, whom she described as a “parasite upon the kingdom.” She called Nolan a true guardian of the realm and commended his courage in stepping forward during a time of crisis.

She then touched upon the complex situation in the capital, hinting at the threat posed by Archduke Demont and other entrenched noble factions. She conveyed her determination to change this state of affairs and subtly expressed her expectation and support for reformist forces like Nolan, who had risen from the grassroots.

Toward the end, she stated that due to “immature timing,” the royal family could not yet offer any official title or open support. However, she promised to use her influence within the noble council to stall any military action by Archduke Demont for as long as possible.

Finally, she expressed her hope that Nolan would hold Coldsteel City firmly, becoming a “blade thrust into the heart” of Demont Province, forming a north-south pincer with the royalist faction in the capital.

The entire letter was flawlessly worded, offering support and drawing him in while leaving no tangible liability behind.

“Whew…” Nolan let out a long breath after finishing.

It worked. This was exactly the outcome he had hoped for.

With this letter and the brooch, he now effectively held the mandate to “act against traitors in the name of the crown.” Though unofficial, it was politically sufficient.

He handed the letter to Anna. After reading it carefully, she voiced her concern.

“We’ve successfully entered the game,” she said, frowning slightly. “But if Archduke Demont changes his stance and sides with the royal family, could we be discarded as a bargaining chip? On paper, we’re not in the same league as him.”

“It’s not that simple,” Nolan replied, leaning back in his chair and tapping his fingers lightly on the desk. “He’s spent years consolidating power in his territory, even going so far as to exploit it recklessly and trade with the Undead Empire. He’s already committed fully and has no way back. If he were to panic over a small force like us and suddenly switch sides, do you think the crown and the royalists would trust someone so fickle?”

“Then his next move…”

“War is inevitable. We may now have legal standing, but among nobles, vendettas are not forbidden, especially when tied to family honor or blood ties. After all, we killed his son.” Nolan stood and walked toward the map.

“But a large-scale offensive won’t come immediately,” Anna said, stepping behind him as she considered the possibilities.

“Exactly. The first wave will likely come from nearby cities, the territories of his vassals.”

“As long as he hasn’t decided to completely break with the royal family, he’ll have to think carefully before launching a full assault on Coldsteel City.”

“This letter has bought us the most precious thing: time. In the end, though, it still comes down to strength.”

“The next battle is critical. We’ve barely secured our footing. A victory will lay the foundation for everything that follows. More importantly, we must demonstrate enough strength to convince the princess and the royalists that we can exert real pressure on Archduke Demont. Otherwise, their so-called investment will quickly turn into condemnation.”

“Investment?” Anna tilted her head at the unfamiliar term.

“…It means they’re betting on whether we can succeed,” Nolan said, somewhat sheepishly.

“I see. The princess is hedging both sides with no cost, a guaranteed profit,” she said, nodding before glancing at him. “And she’s left our lord rather dazzled.”

“As a political player, that’s understandable. And I’m perfectly clear-headed, so don’t worry,” Nolan replied, sensing Anna’s faint dissatisfaction with the princess. “Have the news announced to the entire city, then summon Hank and the others. The next arrangements are crucial.”

While waiting for Anna to gather the officers, Nolan opened his system panel.

He noticed that beneath the lines for [Total Level] and [Power Tier], the text describing his [BOSS Template] had changed.

The original line, 【BOSS Template Trait Activated: Lord’s Authority】, was now followed by an additional note: 【Recognition from the royal heir has preliminarily established the legitimacy of your territory.】

【BOSS Template Trait Enhanced: Path of Kings】

【Path of Kings: Your leadership has been acknowledged at a higher level. Your commands carry greater authority. All units under your command gain +1 Morale when executing your orders, with a minimum of 0, and training efficiency is increased by 25%.】

Morale +1.

This was an unexpected delight.

In game terms, this was an incredibly powerful attribute. Morale capped at three levels and directly influenced battlefield performance. High morale meant soldiers fought more fiercely and were less likely to rout. In evenly matched battles, morale often determined victory or defeat.

The minimum of zero meant that even in mixed-race forces, divisions would not collapse into disunity or low morale due to internal friction.

The 25% boost to training efficiency was equally valuable. Time was his greatest shortage, and although the increase seemed modest, its cumulative effect would be significant.

“So… this boss template can evolve?”

Nolan’s heart pounded.

He had always assumed it was fixed. Now it seemed that as his status rose and he gained broader recognition, the template would unlock more powerful traits.

From a “lord” acknowledged by the system to a “leader” recognized by the royal family, the template had already strengthened.

If one day he became a duke, or even something greater…

What kind of terrifying form would this template take?

Nolan felt as though an entirely new world, filled with limitless possibilities, was slowly unfolding before him.

He tightened his grip on the iris brooch.

It seemed he had made the right gamble.