In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities-Chapter 185 A New Reward System

"Your Highness, I urge you to reconsider. The royal escort forces have predefined roles and missions. A sudden redeployment could severely disrupt operations."

Randolph frowned at the count’s suggestion, his long-suppressed anger finally erupting.

Randolph seethed inwardly. His decision to take the battlefield was supposed to demonstrate his abilities and surpass his father, yet obstacles seemed to arise at every turn. From Michael to a host of lesser figures, it felt as though everyone was intent on blocking his path.

"I am fully capable as a commander. With the princess and the crown prince entrusting me with operational control of the unit, why is there so much dissent?" Randolph exclaimed.

Count Demonic struggled to contain his frustration. If Randolph had been the crown prince of Elonia, he would have insisted more firmly on reconsideration. However, Randolph was a prince from an allied nation, one whose cooperation was vital for future support from Lania. While Randolph didn’t have actual command authority, his status as royalty, combined with the endorsement of the escort forces’ leaders, left little room for objection.

Reluctantly, Count Demonic bowed his head. "Understood, Your Highness. I will follow your orders."

The reallocation of the escort forces commenced immediately. Soldiers and knights were forced to abandon their current tasks to prepare for the sudden transfer. To many of them, it felt like a bolt from the blue. Despite complying with the orders, a palpable sense of unease spread among the troops, as the previously established formations unraveled.

With the royal escort forces now under his control, Randolph merged them with the soldiers Philip had assembled, looking upon the assembled troops with pride. That pride, however, was short-lived.

Unlike Michael’s well-disciplined and orderly soldiers, the men gathered before Randolph were disorganized and undisciplined—a true rabble. This was hardly surprising. Michael’s tireless efforts had transformed his forces, comprising soldiers from the northeastern province and Elonian recruits, into a formidable army. Even some southern and central noblemen who had heeded Michael’s advice had trained their soldiers to an acceptable standard.

In contrast, the troops under Philip’s command had no such training or experience. While the Elonian royal escort forces were in better condition, their numbers were limited. Despite all his efforts, Randolph now commanded a force of 5,000 poorly trained soldiers and 1,000 semi-competent troops.

Randolph’s lips twitched in frustration, and his growing anger made Philip visibly nervous.

"Baron Philip, what is the meaning of this?" Randolph demanded, his tone sharp. "Why are they so disorganized and chaotic?"

Philip squirmed under Randolph’s glare, responding in a timid voice, "There simply wasn’t enough time, Your Highness. Count Michael trained his own soldiers thoroughly but neglected these men and even obstructed my attempts to organize them."

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Philip shifted all the blame onto Michael. The reality, however, was that many of the southern and central nobles had rejected Michael’s assistance, preferring to train their soldiers independently. Philip had tried to whip the troops into shape, but the task was daunting.

This ragtag group could only hope to contribute by following the larger military effort. But what Randolph wanted was an independent, elite army.

Watching the scene unfold, Count Demonic silently prayed for Randolph to realize the futility of his ambitions and relinquish command. Yet the prince’s determination showed no signs of wavering.

"Sir Philip," Randolph declared, "see to it that these men are properly trained. I’ve seen Count Michael make his soldiers battle-ready in a single day. You claim to be no less capable, do you not?"

Philip had no choice but to nod. He, too, believed he could rival Michael. Now that the opportunity had presented itself, he resolved to make the most of it.

As the commander of Orlando Fortress, Michael’s intelligence network was nothing short of meticulous. News quickly reached him that Princess Elise and Crown Prince Randolph had secretly exchanged marriage vows and consummated their union. It was also reported that Randolph now controlled the entire Elonian royal escort force and had incorporated Philip’s 5,000 troops.

"Well, they’re certainly trying hard," Michael remarked with a smirk.

He had anticipated Randolph’s reluctance to remain in the rear and his inevitable plotting. Though Randolph had shown some adherence to the chain of command initially, this turn of events came as no surprise.

Michael decided to do nothing. If the crown prince insisted on keeping his plans hidden, there was no need to expose them. By acting independently, Randolph effectively absolved Michael of any responsibility for his actions.

Michael was not Randolph’s nanny. The prince would have to bear the consequences of his decisions.

As Michael ascended the fortress watchtower to survey the frontlines, thoughts of Randolph’s antics faded from his mind. Orlando Fortress stood at a crossroads of fate. Would it remain the bastion against the empire’s invasion or fall to ruin? The stage for the decisive battle was set.

The fortress held immense strategic value, ensuring that the coming conflict would be fierce and unrelenting.

Gathering his knights and soldiers, Michael addressed them with unwavering authority. While the other nobles had refused to implement his reward system, Michael believed it was vital for maintaining morale in the face of prolonged tension. Hope, he knew, was essential for progress.

"Listen carefully," Michael announced. "Those who distinguish themselves in battle will earn points. Perform your duties to the best of your ability and survive! Points can later be exchanged for rewards of your choosing. If you want land, you shall have land. If you want gold, you shall have gold. Do you understand?"

The soldiers responded with resounding cheers, raising their weapons high.

They had already been briefed by their squad leaders on how the points system worked. After each battle, soldiers would report their achievements to their squad leaders, who would assign points accordingly. With Leonardo’s recording devices accompanying each unit, falsifying reports was impossible, as cross-verification by dedicated record officers would ensure accuracy.

Seeing the soldiers’ spirits rise, Michael smiled. For now, the system applied only to the soldiers under his direct command, but he was confident that its effectiveness would eventually lead to its adoption across the entire army.