HTLCCBFT Chapter 200

Has The Lord’s Career Chart Been Filled Today? – Chapter 200

Oliver spent most of the day chopping trees.

It wasn’t until everyone was bathed in the golden glow of dusk that he, fully immersed in his task, belatedly realized how quickly time had flown. He discreetly tucked the cheese he’d just taken out back into his game backpack.

Without the cat god—his “walking power bank”—by his side, he could only rely on cheese to restore his stamina bar.

After a full day of chopping, having completely regained his former proficiency, his efficiency was astonishingly high, and his energy depletion was equally rapid.

His fourth stamina bar was roughly at 10%.

Being a prudent blond lord, he decided: chop three more trees, leave about 3% stamina, then head back with the others.

Once a plan was set, he executed it with determination and cheerfulness—that was just how Oliver operated.

However, starkly contrasting his cheerful mood were the knights stationed not far away, standing as still as wooden sculptures.

These high-ranking knights, who had been treated with utmost respect in every way since returning to Oliver’s side, were undoubtedly determined to fight tooth and nail for the young master they held in the highest regard.

Unlike the fierce enemies they had once sworn to battle to the death, their current opponents were merely a pack of desperate bandits… yet they showed no signs of underestimating them.

This time, they carried the expectations of their most noble young master.

They carried out their duties day and night, rushing back the moment they were done.

Even the most image-conscious knights couldn’t access proper water sources in the wilderness; only after hurriedly returning to Gregor could they immediately change, bathe, and report to the young lord.

—Otherwise, even if they were threatened with death by the sword, they would never willingly appear before their elegant and beautiful master in a disheveled, unsightly state.

But what did they witness?

Unaware that several groups of peasant women had been equally shocked just half a day earlier, they watched from afar, feeling their blood boil with rising fury.

Though they had heard from Noel that the young lord was blessed with divine favor, and that the powerful, compassionate God, for some unknown reason, often subjected the young lord to harsh trials…

By the time they arrived in Gregor, they had missed the sight of the young lord personally wielding a hoe to till the land, having only seen him cheerfully harvesting ripe corn and sunflowers in the fields.

At that level, they might frown but could still tolerate it.

But now—

Loyel took a deep breath, barely suppressing his rage that threatened to burst from his eyes, and rode forward expressionlessly.

Just as Oliver was about to start on the third tree, Fosse reminded him softly, “Your Highness.”

The gray-haired butler said gently, “Loyel and the others have returned.”

“Oh!”

Hearing that the knights he had been concerned about had finally returned, Oliver immediately forgot about chopping more trees.

His eyes lit up instantly, and as he turned, he saw the group of knights clad in light armor, mounted on tall steeds, their postures proud and increasingly imposing.

“My loyal warriors.”

Oliver quickly counted, confirming that every face from the departing group was present and none seemed to have suffered serious injuries. A warm and brilliant smile spread across his face: “Thanks to the great cat god, I can see you all return safely.”

Upon hearing that his master cared most about their safety rather than the mission’s outcome, Loyel’s heart—already tormented by the earlier scene—ached even more sharply.

His kind and gentle young master…

“You,” he struggled to suppress the urge to question Fosse, replying in the most humble voice, “Thanks to the great cat god, you remain as radiant as when we departed, Your Highness.”

In Oliver’s eyes, this tall and sturdy yet always taciturn handsome vice-knight commander appeared as calm and composed as ever.

Completely unaware of the burning fury beneath the icy surface, he cheerfully said, “Having endured wind and dew outdoors for over half a month, the conditions must have been exceptionally harsh. My confidence in you is as firm as your loyalty to me. Therefore, I am not in a hurry to hear about your gains from this journey. Instead, I shall first issue orders to my important subordinates—allow yourselves a good night’s rest. Tomorrow evening, at the banquet held in your honor, you may recount your splendid experiences to me in detail.”

“It is our utmost honor to serve you, Your Highness. Please allow me to express boundless gratitude for your generosity and trust.”

This represented great recognition and reward from His Highness, and the knights naturally would not decline.

Even with lingering shadows from the earlier scene in their hearts, they couldn’t help but curve their lips slightly, bowing respectfully while maintaining dignified expressions of joy and pride.

Loyel only needed to quickly exchange a glance with his deputy, who immediately understood his meaning.

The disciplined, well-trained knights asked no further questions and followed the deputy back to the castle, following His Highness’s instructions to first dine, then return to their rooms to wash and rest.

Oliver also lost the impulse to take out his axe and continue cutting the final planned tree in front of Loyel, instead signaling Fosse and the others to return to the castle with him.

Loyel intentionally lingered behind His Highness, intending to question Fosse—this former knight commander who in his mind had always been most devoted to protecting the young lord’s interests and honor—about what could have possibly made him stand by and watch His Highness perform such crude labor fit only for slaves.

But Oliver inadvertently disrupted his plan.

Or rather, never gave him the opportunity.

Seeing that Loyel hadn’t led the other knights back but chose to remain, he assumed the vice-knight commander had urgent confidential matters to report.

So he slightly raised his arm, summoning him to his side.

He smiled faintly: “My dear Loyel, come to me.”

For a knight, being invited to ride alongside his master represented immense honor.

Without hesitation, Loyel urged his horse forward, murmuring: “Yes, Your Highness.”

“You endured fatigue and chose to stay—you must be eager to share your story with me, right?” Oliver said with a sparkling smile: “Speak quickly, my wise and considerate vice-knight commander. I truly cannot wait any longer.”

This was clearly not Loyel’s actual purpose for remaining.

But faced with those beautiful eyes filled with anticipation, the vice-knight commander—never particularly eloquent and somewhat rigid—found himself completely powerless to resist.

His heart wrestled between “telling the truth” and “following His Grace’s lead,” but ultimately, he steeled himself and risked potentially disappointing the Duke by revealing his true reason for staying: “…My deepest apologies, Your Grace. Although this journey did have its interesting moments, my true reason for remaining was to ask Mr. Fosse some questions.”

“Hmm?”

Oliver blinked slightly in surprise.

He felt even more affection for this honest bear of a man who, instead of flattering his superior with agreeable responses, earnestly spoke words that were highly likely to cause offense.

No wonder.

According to Fosse, Loyel’s abilities and qualifications were actually superior to Noel’s, yet due to certain “personality traits,” he had always remained as the deputy knight captain.

Loyel held no resentment toward this arrangement and, when Noel was present, would absolutely follow the other’s directives.

In managing the knights, he could also take charge independently whenever needed, and had always held considerable prestige among the knights.

Noel knew perfectly well, and without any doubt, that rather than calling Loyel the deputy knight captain, it would be more accurate to say the Duke Knight Order had two knight captains.

This was also why Fosse had chosen to leave Loyel behind when forced to decide between taking one of them and leaving the other in the royal capital to preserve the Duke’s important combat strength.

Their individual combat abilities were evenly matched—the younger Noel was more adaptable and flexible, while the older Loyel was more pressure-resistant, steady and reliable.

Oliver had always been curious about this deputy knight captain whose bear-like, strikingly tall stature, sharply defined facial features, and crisp, cold lines made him the epitome of a handsome tough guy—and who had even provoked the cat god into such childish height-increasing antics.

But Loyel rarely approached him proactively. As the commander responsible for training guards, his appearances in the castle were far less frequent than those of Noel, who served as the sheriff.

As for Oliver, he couldn’t very well summon the man for questioning under the cat god’s watchful gaze, which was why he had never satisfied his curiosity.

Now seemed a good opportunity.

A glint of mischief flashed in the Duke’s eyes, but his face displayed a saintly, beautiful smile as he kindly said, “I see. Well, may I also hear those questions you wish to ask Fosse?”

Loyel: “……”

The tall, robust deputy knight captain found himself in an even more difficult position.

But this time, he didn’t hesitate long before again choosing to speak the truth: “I intended to question Mr. Fosse. It is utterly unbearable that he would make Your Grace personally perform such rough, menial tasks.”

What surprised Loyel was that, upon hearing his words, Fosse remained expressionless, while the young Duke’s smile seemed to deepen.

“Then you’ve wronged my loyal, good butler, dear Fosse.”

Oliver chuckled lightly: “All of this is a trial from the great cat god. Only the most deeply favored believers are qualified to receive the divine power’s blessing and touch such precious divine artifacts, correct?”

Before the frowning Loyel could speak again, the golden-haired lord with dazzling beauty abruptly changed the subject.

His smile carried a hint of mystery and cunning as he whispered in a volume only audible to Fosse and Loyel, who stood closest: “It’s only natural for you to harbor doubts, as that explanation was meant for outsiders. For you, my most trusted confidants, I’m certainly willing to be more transparent.”

With an air of nonchalance, he revealed the truth he had repeatedly hinted at and indirectly implied to Fosse—but never laid bare so completely until this moment: “In fact, that generous God has been exceedingly responsive to my requests, bestowing divine artifacts, divine power, and blessings, tirelessly working to fulfill my wishes without ever demanding anything in return. He couldn’t be more gentle or considerate.”

Compared to Loyel, who couldn’t conceal his astonishment, Fosse—already mentally prepared—only paused briefly before accepting it gladly. This thoroughly clarified the doubts they had harbored before.

Bathed in the lingering glow of the sunset, the loyal butler could clearly see: as the young lord recounted all this, the happiness and tenderness in his eyes seemed on the verge of overflowing.

“All along, it has actually been me—this scheming deceiver—willingly acting in His name. One could even say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.”

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