Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 544 - 322: Tree of Life

New Habsburg.

Old Leonard wore a brand new silk shirt, gripping a whip, standing at the castle gate.

He was loudly scolding the farmer soldiers transporting supplies: "Move faster, the Marquis has granted you the grace to return home, far from the brutal battlefield, and he has given you land and rewards, you’re not here to dawdle!"

"All supplies must be accounted for before sunset, tomorrow morning they’ll be escorted to Gaza, without any delay!"

Beside him, the Grain Transport Officer of Imperial Knight origin teased: "Alright, old Leonard, you don’t need to wield that ornamental whip, my boys may not be the smartest but they’ll never be lazy."

Leonard snorted, reluctantly putting away his whip.

He was actually a warm-hearted person. If someone made a mistake, he’d wave the whip and spit could spray all over their face, but he’d never really hit anyone.

"I am personally commissioned by the Marquis, his most trusted castle steward, bearing his esteemed surname, to supervise his subjects, which is my rightful responsibility and duty."

The Grain Transport Officer laughed: "Old Leonard, you always say you’re the Marquis’ most trusted subject, then why weren’t you allowed to accompany the army on the campaign in Egypt?"

Old Leonard sneered: "Even a lowly farmer soldier may accompany the Marquis on the campaign, while Knight Andreas, managing affairs in Hebron, must stay behind the scenes. Does this imply Knight Andreas is less trusted by the Marquis than a farmer soldier?"

The Grain Transport Officer was speechless and laughed: "Old Leonard, you’re so old yet still so sharp-tongued."

Old Leonard proudly snorted: "My tongue is indeed sharp, but I didn’t earn the Marquis’ trust through flattery. I have also mobilized my steed and followed the Marquis into battle."

"Hahaha, but I heard your steed is an old, lame pack horse, by the time you reached the battlefield, the enemies had already been cleared by the Marquis?"

Leonard’s sun-darkened face showed no embarrassment, but rather a proud expression: "Ha, do these old bones of mine still have what it takes to fight on the battlefield? Don’t I know this myself? But did I hesitate when charging forward? Doesn’t this prove my loyalty to the Marquis, knowing it’s death yet still advancing boldly?"

A series of rhetorical questions left the Grain Transport Officer with no words, muttering: "You lucky old dog."

"Of course, I am the Marquis’ most loyal old dog!"

Having said that, he raised his voice and shouted: "All tax inspectors, keep your eyes wide open and watch those passing caravans for any hidden possessions. As the Marquis’ most loyal subject, I will not allow a single copper coin in tax to slip by under my watch."

He then swung his whip, approaching another gate designated for merchants and pilgrims.

He tirelessly repeated: "The Marquis treats every pilgrim and merchant entering his territory with lenience, but remember the laws of Transjordan, the Circuit Court judges will not show mercy just because you’re outsiders."

"I especially want to remind everyone, do not try to break off a branch of the Holy Tree. See those bodies hanging from the pillars? It’s not our doing; the branches of the Holy Wood personally put them up."

"Leonard."

A somewhat familiar female voice sounded behind him.

Old Leonard hurriedly turned around, and upon recognizing Chelina, he immediately revealed a warm smile, as if even the wrinkles on his cheeks smoothed out: "Miss Chelina, what brings you here?"

Chelina was a bit unaccustomed to Leonard’s enthusiasm, she stepped back expressionlessly and said: "The Marquis has ordered to immediately close the passage to the Tree of Life pilgrimage, all pilgrims inside need to be cleared out."

Leonard paused and inquired: "Is there an enemy attack?"

"No, it’s just that the Tree of Life is about to go through another rapid growth phase, maybe something new will happen."

Chelina spoke while gazing up at the huge canopy overshadowing the skies — compared to their previous parting, the Tree of Life hadn’t visibly changed. After entering the maturity stage earlier, its rapid growth had already regionally halted.

No one knows what phenomena will occur when Osiris’ Broken Staff merges with the Tree of Life.

Not even Losa knows.

After all, the system instructions say: by merging Osiris’ Broken Staff, the Tree of Life can enter maturity earlier — but the problem is, the parent tree of the Tree of Life has already entered the maturity stage.

Mature and mature again — it couldn’t possibly directly advance to old age, right?

...

Meanwhile, in the Governor’s Mansion at Damietta, Losa was listening to his subordinates’ reports.

The resistance forces within Damietta City had basically been cleared. Only the estates, fortresses, and various small villages outside the city remained. These small forces, like grass on a wall, when pressured by his dispatched armies, usually wouldn’t put up much resistance before being taken down.

Taking down Damietta City, the Damietta Province could almost be declared under Losa’s control.

"How are the preparations for the coronation going?"

Losa casually asked.

He planned to be crowned Duke of Lower Egypt at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Damietta City, although it was a bit rushed and hadn’t gone through Baldwin IV or the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem’s coronation, making the legitimacy somewhat lacking.

But after all, becoming a Duke was Losa’s best way to quickly enhance his power in the short term.

Even if Damietta gets retaken by the heretics and the Crusaders’ southward expedition fails, he can’t say this Crusader campaign yielded no gains.

As for being crowned King of Egypt, at least capturing either Alexandria or Cairo must be on the agenda first.

Jeanne smiled: "Everything is going smoothly, the Coptic Bishop is very willing to crown you at Saint Mark’s Church."

"Chelina should be back soon, right?"

At this moment, Losa’s ear

The Tree of Life is about to reach maturity, capable of accommodating one entity to revive in full state within the Tree after death.

This entity...

Losa thought for a moment.

Originally, he wanted to immediately place himself inside, but upon further thinking, it seemed each time they faced a strong enemy, the most dangerous place was Jeanne, with her Holy Body being willing to ignite everything into Holy Flame alongside herself, which was quite terrifying.

If they could be resurrected on the spot, Losa wouldn’t need to think twice, just directly

After all, even

...

At this moment, Losa’s ear

The Tree of Life is about to reach maturity, capable of accommodating one entity to revive in full state within the Tree after death.

This entity...

Losa thought for a moment.

Originally, he wanted to immediately place himself inside, but upon further thinking, it seemed each time they faced a strong enemy, the most dangerous place was Jeanne, with her Holy Body being willing to ignite everything into Holy Flame alongside herself, which was quite terrifying.

If they could be resurrected on the spot, Losa wouldn’t need to think twice, just directly

After all, even

...