Chapter 362 Wishing Your Excellency a Triumphant Return

The pre-dawn hours were the darkest time of the day.

However, Flower Town was ablaze with lights.

Torches flickered, and the crystal-clear lights from the castle created a particularly lively atmosphere.

"Thomas, hurry up with your tasks. The master is already washing up, and the ironed undergarments need to be presented before four o'clock."

"Has Hiddleston been fed and given water, Tom? Don't forget, the master instructed us to give Hiddleston a bath and brush his fur."

"Mrs. Mossen, have the maids finished screening the dried milk powder? We need to pack it and load it onto the carriages as soon as possible."

"Barton, quickly feed all the horses for the expedition. We must not delay the departure time of the team."

Housekeeper Carter kept moving back and forth between the castle and the apple orchard, directing the servants to prepare for the upcoming expedition.

By the time Lister had finished washing and entered the dining room, Marcus, Parris, and others were already seated, waiting for breakfast.

As he sat in the main seat, a footman immediately laid out a napkin.

He greeted everyone with a smile, "Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, sir!"

The breakfast was exceptionally sumptuous, and under the illumination of the crystal lights and candles, the dishes were splendid, comparable to a festival banquet, including quite a bit of magical beast meat.

Cutting a steak and sipping some milk tea, Lister said, "This is our last meal in the castle. For the next while, I need everyone to quickly enter a state of war. Iron Horse Island is a four-day voyage from Coral Island, round trip is eight days, plus the island landing operations, this expedition will take at least half a month before we can return. Are you all prepared?"

"Sir, we are always ravenous to head to the battlefield. A knight's mission is to be born for the battlefield!" Marcus had been excited for days.

He had participated in wars and, as an elite Earth Knight, had a few experiences with expedition orders, but without any significant achievements. However, he was a commoner who was extremely enthusiastic about the nobility, almost dreaming of gaining battle merits on the battlefield to ascend to nobility. Now, the opportunity was right before his eyes.

"Always looking forward to returning to the battlefield to prove myself!" Charles Trapp's eyes were filled with passion, "I am no longer young, these next few years are my last chance!"

Lister's classmate, Rick Track, said, "Although this is my first time going to war, my life's goal since childhood has only been war!"

Griffin Haystack smiled broadly, "S-sir, Griffin h-has always wanted to go to the battlefield to c-cut down enemies!"

David BigYellowTeeth, who had recently joined, looked serious, "I never thought I would have such a lucky opportunity. Flower Town is truly a place favored by the glory of knighthood! I will definitely win honor for you, sir!"

Following Marcus, the other knights also expressed their zeal.

Only Parris kept her head down, eating and drinking, without any expression. She was not a knight and had no pursuit of nobility.

Hearing the fervent aspirations of his followers, Lister also felt a surge of enthusiasm. He quickly finished his breakfast, wiped his mouth, and stood up.

Both those who had eaten and those who hadn't put down their knives and forks and stood up.

Lister looked around, intending to say something to boost morale, but after thinking about it, he found all the usual phrases too trite. Moreover, during his time at Tulip Castle, watching the count throw his weight around while he flattered him, he knew too well that such scenes were too frequent and had lost their inspirational significance.

And without any need for further encouragement, the knights were already sufficiently motivated.

So, he simply said in a deep voice, "Depart!"

He then turned and left the dining room, took up his Red Blood Sword, and strode out of the castle. Outside, the sky was still dark, with torches lining both sides of Tom Hiddleston Avenue, illuminating the path ahead.

A squire knight led over the Black Dragon horse, and he mounted it directly.

The other knights, along with Parris, also got on their horses. With two carriages carrying supplies and Hiddleston following, the preparations were complete.

Town officials and castle servants stood on both sides of Tom Hiddleston Avenue, paying their respects. More town residents had also woken up early, waiting along the main road, watching the strong knight squad adorned in steel armor with envious and admiring eyes. No one made a sound, yet the atmosphere was electric with excitement.

Liszt didn’t utter any formal words.

Lightly kicking the belly of his Black Dragon, he led the squad forward slowly.

Behind him, Gort shouted loudly: “May the glory of knighthood shine upon you, Lord, and bring you back victorious!”

Others followed suit: “May the glory of knighthood shine upon you, Lord, and bring you back victorious.”

Their voices gradually merged into a wave that grew louder and louder.

Resounding through all of Flower Town.

“May the glory of knighthood shine upon you, Lord, and bring you back victorious!”

The silver knights, amidst the enormous cheers, rode their warhorses faster and faster, disappearing at the end of the dew-covered road in no time.

The cheering crowd only dispersed when the knights were out of sight, at the officials' urging. Those who needed to sleep returned to their beds, and those who had work to prepare resumed their duties. Although the Lord and his knights had set out, the officials remained behind, and the serfs still had to work.

Soon.

The once-bustling castle slowly returned to silence, save for a few crystal lamps whose light pierced the pre-dawn darkness.

Housekeeper Carter stood on the now-quiet Tom Hiddleston Avenue, gazing down the dark road for a long moment without turning away.

Mrs. Mossen approached: “Mr. Carter, breakfast is ready, everyone is waiting for you.”

“Hmm, alright.”

“Are you feeling nervous?”

“No, I’m excited.” Carter smiled, “Though I’m not a knight, there’s no need to worry about Lord’s prowess. And Hiddleston, that’s a truly magical creature... Mrs. Mossen, I’ve seen so much of the glory of knighthood in Flower Town. Some people are born nobles.”

Mrs. Mossen nodded: “Lord is one of them.”

“You know I didn’t work in Tulip Castle before. I rarely saw Lord until the Count assigned me to be his housekeeper. When I shared my first glass of wine with Lord in the study, I knew he was a noble born to greatness.”

Carter recalled the time when he first came to Flower Town, when he had to calculate daily if there was enough food in the castle.

Then Liszt assured me that everything would turn out fine.

His tone was neither discouraged nor anxious, calm as if there was nothing to worry about. And indeed, since then, Flower Town developed rapidly and never had to worry about food again.

Quite the opposite.

What Carter worried about more was how to change the menu daily to satisfy Lord’s appetite. The castle’s recipes were so varied that it was a bit dazzling.

“Let us send our blessings to Lord and his followers.” Carter sat down and said.

The servants seated around the table quickly sat up straight, mimicking Mr. Carter by placing their hands over their hearts and loudly proclaiming: “May the glory of knighthood shine upon you, Lord, and bring you back victorious.”