Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence

Chapter 822: Chapter 93: The Sensual Baptism and Arrival of Many Allied Guests (Part 3)

The Hesse Territory began preparations almost three months in advance for this grand festival.

Yet even so, the territory still underestimated the grandeur of the official arrival of this festival day, incomparable to any rehearsal.

Especially in the Festival Square, the crowded scene was unprecedented in rehearsals.

Fortunately, Provincial Affairs Council Governor Oliver indeed had the talent for governance, having anticipated this crowded spectacle early.

While Su Li was still undergoing baptism, he had already arranged for the knights to enter the square in advance, with no less than 24 members of the Corona Knight Order dressed in Vibranium Rune Armor, wielding shimmering long halberds guarding around the statue of the Sun Goddess in the middle of the square.

Then, over 300 high-level Directly Affiliated Attendants formed ranks at the bridgehead of Bauhinia Palace, arranging in two lines stretching to the middle of the square, opening a path for the lord and priests to hold the ceremony in the square.

Tens of thousands of knights, servants, church followers, and spectators from all directions were distributed on the east and west sides by the City Guard Army.

Banners fluttered over the square, colorful flags waving, enthusiasm permeated this festive square from the rising sun, with minstrels singing praises amidst the crowd, and priests from the Sun Goddess Church distributing gifts to the residents, including the church’s doctrinal books, honey candies, and enchanted cheeses from Hesse Territory, and even the extraordinary Moonlight Alfalfa.

Children naturally welcomed the candies, while the finely decorated souvenirs and gift bags containing the Moonlight Alfalfa brought unexpected joy to the visiting knights from afar.

This territory is truly generous! Most knights have never seen such high-grade extraordinary grass, typically only found in noble estates.

In the Hesse Territory, as long as a visitor proved themselves to be a noble knight, they could receive a gift bag containing extraordinary grass and a festival badge.

Countless people rejoiced, knowing that these precious souvenirs would be eagerly purchased and collected by nobles and knights upon return to Marle Castle. Therefore, even if they didn’t use them themselves, selling them back home would yield a handsome profit.

This was also a gesture of thanks from Hesse Territory for their participation in the Radiant Competition Festival. Of course, the value of these gifts had already been earned back by Su Li through their gambling and expenses.

It’s safe to say that during this Radiant Competition Festival, the average spending by each visiting knight in the territory was no less than five Golden Crowns. The knights who traveled such long distances were among the elite, exceptionally wealthy, and ordinary people lacked the means to simply hear about a distant border event and travel thousands of miles with servants, aides, or even guards to attend.

While the square was lively, Bauhinia Palace was equally spirited.

Such a grand event naturally welcomed one ally after another, with Su Li personally bringing Hilude to greet his esteemed guests here.

The first introduced was a powerful dwarven Divine Chosen.

Oliver stood beside Su Li, warmly introducing, "This is Bierga Iron Oath, the diplomatic ambassador of the Gray Mountain Dwarf Kingdom, and the younger brother to Dwarf King Kadlin Iron Oath."

Bierga was a typical hearty dwarf, with a rough and resonant voice, shaking his large beard, clenching his right hand, and striking his left chest thrice with metal armor on his knuckles, issuing deep sounds: "Hahaha, at last, we meet, proud Bauhinia Knight. You are a friend to all dwarves, and your friendship is one we shall never forget. I have brought dwarven wine to make your celebration even livelier. I have stayed in your territory for two days, and everything is great, except the wine that tastes like goblin urine here."

Su Li similarly held his right hand with five fingers together, drawing from the forehead to the chest, then extending his palm angled forward by 15 degrees (similar to the ancient Roman salute or more known as Heir’s Salute). It was the most classical of imperial etiquette, typically used in lordly meetings, significant alliance treaties, or reunions of blood relatives unseen for a century.

As dwarves pound their chests thrice to symbolize "pledging by the heart’s blood to the Ancestral Furnace, with no lies at this moment."

On ordinary days, Su Li barely used this ritual. Yet each church indeed had its symbols, like the Redema Church’s classic v-shaped gesture.

Today’s festivity undoubtedly will benefit Su Li in enhancing relations with allies and friends.

After greeting Bierga the lord, Su Li then smiled and said, "Welcome, Lord Bierga, and please convey my gratitude to Prince Kadlin. Humans and dwarves will always watch each other’s backs. In my palace, there’s some Giant Brew, after the celebration ends, I invite your lordship to drink to satisfaction."

"Haha, good, good! I shall accompany you in joyous revelry, honor belongs to Hesse Territory and to the mountains!"

After Bierga left, the next to enter was Su Li’s old friend, the chieftain of the Gray Rock Clan, Gesen Greyrock.

Their greeting was much more relaxed and amiable, with Su Li happily clasping Gesen’s heavy right hand, saying: "Welcome, my old friend. May today’s celebration bring you joy as well."

"Haha, my friend, you hold a celebration, and I must support you. I’m looking forward to drinking till no return tonight."

Gesen left, and next was the chieftain of the Redbeard Clan, it was also the first time Su Li met the chieftain Dorok Redbeard.