In the vast wilderness.

A group formed by over ten Winged Cavalry and Varangian Guard is advancing slowly.

They are new recruits recently transferred from Jorgelisburg and need to serve at Eira Port.

"We're about to fight a tough battle. The Saracens won't just let Eira Port be taken back by us, they will surely counterattack."

"What, you're scared?"

"How could I be! We are the Winged Cavalry, victorious in every battle."

The Varangian Guard leading the pack horses showed a disdainful expression: "Ha, as if we're not victorious in every battle, besides, all our Axe Guard units have been incorporated into the Count's Imperial Guard, do you have such honor?"

They displayed proud expressions on their faces.

"Ha, you are just the Lord's infantry guard. If a real battle happens, the Lord will surely lead us in the charge, at that time, we will be the guards beside the Lord."

"What's that noise?"

Ahead, a series of booming sounds rang out.

A Winged Cavalry scouting ahead stood on a high ground, gazing into the distance, where a burning pillar of flame crossed the ground like a plow.

He slightly opened his mouth.

"Heavenly Father above, what is that?"

...

Losa let out a light cough, and two wisps of black smoke emanated from his nostrils.

In the desert, his newly acquired "Breath of the Giant Dragon" ability traced a ring of fire, causing the distant steeds to restlessly stir due to the commotion.

The flames gradually extinguished.

Losa noticed that the sand on the ground exhibited a certain degree of crystallization.

The high temperature of this Dragon Breath was evident.

"Hans, you mentioned that the fused creature can spit out Dragon Breath again after just a short pause?"

Having witnessed the power of the Dragon Breath up close, Hans shuddered with fear: "That's right, My Lord, if Kurs weren't here, I fear I would have been turned to ash."

Losa rubbed his slightly swollen mouth, after just one Dragon Breath he felt almost at his limit.

Jeanne speculated: "It's most likely because of the giant material from that fused creature, the troll material grants it formidable life force, the giant material gives it almost inexhaustible physical strength—a perfect combination."

She paused slightly and humorously said: "My Lord is becoming more dragon-like as time goes on, when you can achieve Dragon Transformation, you must let me ride."

Losa was too lazy to entertain her and asked Prajna, "What do you think of the power?"

"It's okay, but lacks penetration and doesn't have the Holy Spear's ability to lock onto enemies or deal higher damage to dark creatures."

Prajna paused slightly and added, "The advantage is a broad attack range, if used during two armies clashing, the ground would be littered with souls."

Losa sighed lightly: "In Eastern terms, is this called having harmed harmony?"

"Yes."

Furinji, chewing on a chocolate stick with her mouth full, said, "Ehh, My Lord, you wouldn't leave such a powerful weapon unused, right?"

"Of course not."

Losa looked at her with an expression as if she was foolish, touched her head and said: "Either my enemies die, or my soldiers die—I definitely choose them dying."

...

"My Lord!"

From afar, the sound of horse hooves drew closer, as the Winged Cavalry quickly rode towards the group.

They shouted excitedly, "My Lord, I didn't expect to meet you here."

"Was the commotion earlier from you and your advisory group testing a new magic?"

"Please allow us to escort you back."

Losa looked at their familiar young faces, most of whom were acquaintances, some were soldiers who had achieved merit, others were Jorgelisburg's garrison.

"I'm glad to meet you, my most loyal Winged Cavalry, I am very happy to return to Eira Port under your escort."

A Winged Cavalry reminded him: "My Lord, your infantry guard is also behind."

Thus, the number of the party increased several times.

Jeanne urged "Grapes" and ran to the front of the group: "My Lord, everyone supports you so much."

Losa shook his head and said, "That's not my doing."

Soldiers transferred by the system have consistent loyalty.

"Don't belittle yourself, My Lord, loyalty doesn't mean support, I can sense they genuinely love you."

Jeanne swiftly reached out and patted Losa's shoulder: "No matter which era, you can be considered a wise ruler."

Losa couldn't help but laugh: "Jeanne, you also know how to give compliments now, but I am indeed standing on the shoulders of giants, somewhat better than some feudal monarchs."

He dared not say about others, but he felt that he was definitely stronger than the insignia of emblematic ranks that had probably already passed away at this time.

Losa looked back at the Winged Cavalry and Varangian Guard marching proudly behind him: "They love me, and I love them too, I always believe that they are my greatest asset, so long as I have them, even if I lose all my territories, I still have a chance to rise again."

Jeanne raised an eyebrow: "Just them?"

Losa chuckled lightly: "You all are more important."

For a ruler, loyalty is certainly crucial.

The Gulams betrayed their master and destroyed the Saman Dynasty, the overlord of Central Asia (approximately in Northern Persia).

The Empire's Imperial Guard even spawned the so-called "Imperial Guard Inheritance Law," where the guards could manipulate the Emperor's succession or even commit regicide.

The Varangian Guard chose people from Northern Europe's Russians and Normans for a large part to prevent the original guards from colluding with internal power-wielders in rebellion.

Human hearts are unpredictable; so-called loyalty often can hardly withstand tests.

Thus, Winged Cavalry, Varangian Guard, veteran soldiers retaining their posts, and Imperial Knights form a military force that can offer unreserved allegiance to the monarch.

Losa believes that any monarch in the world would salivate at this prospect.

Upon returning to Eira Port at the first opportunity.

Model, stationed there, sought an audience with Losa: "Sir, a Cilician Armenian mountain chieftain hopes to be employed by you. He has one hundred light cavalry and three hundred lightly armored infantry. I believe this would be a great addition to our forces."

"Isn't Silesia a vassal of Bohemia and Poland?"

Losa felt a bit perplexed; what relation could it have with the Armenian mountain dwellers?

"Sir, it's Cilicia."

Losa suddenly understood that it's the area north of Cyprus and Antioch, the shores of Asia Minor, now under the control of Armenians and Turkic people.

In this era, pronunciations are too similar, and many places have the same name.

For example, there is a Tripoli in the Holy Land and also one in North Africa.

Losa might later build a Losa Castle, and if the rest of Europe has any places called Losa, they could also build a Losa Castle.

Even worse, the same place name can have different names in different languages; the Franks call Dahab Philorn.

The Turkic people will eventually call Constantinople Constantinople or Istanbul.

"Is this Armenian chieftain the leader of this group of mercenaries? How much commission do they want?"

Model said: "Five hundred Suludes gold coins, and if you provide food and lodging, they will serve you for a month."

"No, that's too expensive. Tell their leader that as light infantry with a relatively low attrition rate, their asking price is too high. Kurs, this sort of thing should be your expertise; I'll leave it to you."

Losa felt somewhat uneasy: "Don't press the price too low, I'm afraid they will half-heartedly fulfill their duties."

Kurs bowed politely: "Leave it to me, rest assured."

...

In the afternoon.

In the port.

On the training ships, sailors were busily working the sails under the captain's command, practicing boarding battles.

Losa's first merchant fleet had already been organized with Mueller's support.

To be precise, Mueller's original fleet was consolidated by Losa with funds.

They will embark from Eira Port following Mueller's original trade routes, heading to the Ethiopian Gogjam, then passing through Aden Bay, heading to Gujarat in India.

Along the way, conducting trade with goods like wine, gold, ivory, slaves, precious metals, fabrics, and porcelain.

It could be said to be the triangle trade of the Middle Ages, yielding great profits.

The sailors on the training ships were specifically trained to deal with pirates.

Captain Hog and his Ghost Ship needed to cruise near Aden Bay, cleansing pirates.

They weren't able to undertake escort duties, quite the contrary, Captain Hog could, if he blackmailed a pirate ship just after it pillaged, equivalent to a cycle of triangle trade.

Mueller remarked with some sentiment: "Sir, you have no idea just how wealthy the Ethiopians truly are. Their royal tent is moving to Gogjam, and it's said there are fifty thousand donkeys pulling the carts, with countless craftsmen, officials, clergy, Imperial Guard, and lions."

Losa smiled: "That's quite a spectacle."

Baldwin IV and Ayyubid Saladin were relatively frugal monarchs; their traveling spectacles were already grand enough in Losa's view.

Yet, it pales compared to the Ethiopian King.

"Sir, Ethiopians don't have a capital city; they migrate their royal tent once every ten years or longer. Events like this are rarely seen."

Mueller paused slightly, then proceeded: "Sir, may I have the audacity to present a request to you?"

"The Eastern trade belongs to the Saracens, and everywhere here is filled with fleets flying the Holy Fire Banner, so I fear I'm unable to raise your Double-headed Eagle Banner."

"That doesn't matter. These things aren't important."

Losa expressed understanding.

Crusaders have only Eira Port in Oriental ports; this sea is extremely unfamiliar to Christians aside from those of the Coptic Church.

Land routes are slightly better; it's said that Venice and Genoa's caravans frequently visited Tarsus of Sassanid Persia.

"Mueller, have you heard of the Song people?"

"Of course, several years ago, there were Song people on special large ships who crossed the Sea of Storms and docked at Eira Port, but since then, no more Song people have arrived by ship; they prefer the land route."

Losa gazed towards the distant calm sea: "Storms, pirates, sea beasts, are all hindrances to long-distance trade."

Even Captain Hog claimed to have encountered several intimidating presences he dared not provoke; the world's seas are riskier than the land.

"Mueller, this world is vast, larger than you can imagine. Do you know there are two continents in the furthest western parts of Europe?"

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