At noon in the Redstone Desert, the sunlight shines on the sand like molten gold, and the air is so hot it distorts your vision.
The Sentinel Legion's troops were marching slowly along the trade route. The soldiers wore breathable linen uniforms, and the sweat on their foreheads slid down their cheeks, evaporating instantly on the sand.
At this moment, the vanguard cavalry suddenly reined in their horses and raised their signal flags—a cavalry force of about a hundred men had appeared behind the distant sand dunes and was slowly approaching the legion.
"Halt! Form a defensive line!" Sir Colin dismounted and ordered the soldiers to prepare.
Soon, the legion soldiers formed a loose defensive line, while the cavalry rode forward, maintaining a distance of about a hundred paces from the unfamiliar cavalry.
Colin picked up his monoculars and saw what the other side looked like: they were dressed in a mix of animal skins and coarse cloth, with scimitars and bows and arrows hanging from their saddles, looking like a group that traveled through the desert year-round.
"We are ' The Free Men '! We mean no harm!" A rider stepped forward from the opposing group, raising his hands and shouting, his voice carrying far across the desert. "Our leader, Ivanko, wishes to see Sir Colin, commander of the Sentinel Legion!"
Colin exchanged a glance with his adjutant, signaling the cavalry battalion to remain vigilant, and then called out to the rider, "I am Colin. If your leader has anything to say, please come forward."
The rider turned his horse back into the group, and a moment later, a small group of ten people escorted a middle-aged man over.
The middle-aged man was tall with a thick beard. Not only his face, but other exposed parts of his body were also covered in abundant body hair, making him look like an orc, but his human features were also very obvious.
The man had sharp, eagle-like eyes and a jewel-encrusted scimitar at his waist. Colin immediately recognized him as Ivanko, the leader of The Free Men.
Ivanko approached Colin, nodded slightly, and said respectfully but not humbly, "Respected Sir Colin, I have long admired your name. I am Ivanko, the leader of The Free Men. I have come to discuss with you a matter of great importance concerning the future of our tribe—we are willing to submit to the Kingdom of Aldor, but we have one request: we hope to obtain a dukedom officially recognized by the Crystal Radiance Royal Capital."
Colin was a little surprised. He paused for a moment before saying, "This isn't the place to talk. Come with me to the tent."
After entering the newly erected tent, Colin sent for several high-ranking officers to join him in entertaining Ivanko.
The leader of the Free Men took a sip of cool water and slowly explained why he was there: "Sir, you may not know this, but a long time ago, an Aldor lord named Paul Greiman sent someone to contact us, hoping that the Free Men could help his army fight against the orcs. However, at that time we still had doubts about the strength of his army, and the Free Men were used to being unrestrained, so we refused him."
"But not long after, the great Crystal Radiance Royal Capital sent envoys representing the centuries-old Aldo Royal Family. Faced with such ancient and glorious rulers, we wanderers in the desert instinctively felt awe. The envoys offered that if the Free Men pledged allegiance to the Aldo Royal Family, they would not only receive abundant wealth but also a formal title. We did not refuse as we had with Glaeman, but said we would consider it carefully. Ah, you cannot understand our feelings at that time; the recognition of an ancient royal family carried far more weight than an invitation from a lord."
Colin nodded, seemingly agreeing with what the other person said. Crystal Radiance had already informed him about the matter of recruiting The Free Men, but nothing came of it afterward, and he thought it had failed.
Ivanko's gaze turned serious. "But what truly solidified our resolve was the Sentinel Legion's advance. For the past two months, you've marched eastward from the Duchy of Roland, conquering or surrendering the resisting oasis city-states, and even wiping out the remnants of the orcs left behind by Abar. This overwhelming momentum has thoroughly shocked us. We know that the revival of the Aldor Kingdom is a foregone conclusion, and only by following such a force can the Free Men gain a foothold in the desert and no longer be oppressed by the orcs or Gabella."
He opened his eyes wide and looked at Sir Colin, his tone very sincere: "Therefore, on behalf of all the Free Men, I request to submit to the Kingdom of Aldor. We are willing to send troops to assist the Legion in fighting against Gabella, and we are also willing to guard the desert trade routes. We only hope that the King can formally confer upon me the title of Duke, so that the Free Men can have a legitimate status. This is not only my request, but also the expectation of all the Free Men."
Colin paused for a moment, his mind racing: " The Free Men are familiar with the desert terrain and skilled in cavalry warfare. If they were to truly submit, it would undoubtedly strengthen Sentinel Legion's power in the desert and solidify the city-states they've already conquered. But that dukedom title… their appetite is too big. A duke isn't some common title."
"I will immediately write to the capital to report your request." Colin put down his water glass and carefully chose his words. "Until Crystal Radiance responds, the Free Men can follow us, and we will provide them with supplies. But remember, during this time, they must not harass any city-states that have already submitted to us, and they must not engage in conflict with the Ausser Army."
Ivanko's face lit up with a bright smile, and she quickly stood up and bowed to Colin: "Thank you, Sir! The Free Men will never let you down!"
When Sir Colin's letter arrived at Crystal Radiance Royal Capital by express courier, Rodney XVIII was holding a royal council at the palace to discuss the situation in the grasslands and deserts.
When the messenger read out, " Ivanko, leader of the Free Men, wishes to submit to the Aldo Royal Family and requests to be granted the title of Duke," a low gasp of surprise rippled through the council chamber, followed by an atmosphere of barely suppressed joy.
"Excellent! Excellent!" The Minister of Finance was the first to stand up, his face full of smiles. " The Free Men have been entrenched in the Redstone Desert for many years, and have never submitted to any power. They have obviously taken the initiative to submit to us. This is enough to show that outside of Aldor, the prestige of the royal family can still overshadow any power—including the Gleiman Family!"
These words immediately drew agreement from the other ministers: "We heard that Paul Greiman sent people to win over the Free Men but was rudely rejected. However, when our envoys went, the Free Men were willing to seriously consider it, and now they are even taking the initiative to request submission. The contrast is obvious. The royal family, which has been passed down for hundreds of years, is the true core of Aldor."
Rodney XVIII sat on the throne, a rare smile on his face. The surrender of the Free Men not only bolstered Sentinel's Legion, but more importantly, it was a powerful demonstration of royal authority—a message that reassured him more than any victory, especially as he focused on consolidating power and balancing local forces.
However, when the topic turned to "the investiture of dukes," the atmosphere in the council chamber instantly became tense, and arguments gradually arose.
The Minister of the Interior frowned and objected first: "The title of Duke is the highest noble title in Aldor. Those who are granted it are either close relatives of the royal family or the founding family! Ivanko is just the leader of a group of refugees in the desert. The title of Earl is already the highest. Giving him a Duke directly is too much and may cause dissatisfaction among other nobles!"