This is the true core of a territory, the source of cohesion that unites countless people under one banner!

Perhaps this is also the significance of the academy’s existence. They compile and engrave all of this into words, forming a culture and spirit that permeates the hearts of everyone in the territory.

Of course, this spirit is tailored for the knight class. In the Empire, only the knights are considered the Lord’s own people, perhaps also including the ministers and Armed Attendants. As for the commoners and slaves, they are merely the Lord’s property and expendables. Just as described in the first inscription of the war: it seemed like Su Li, with just 50 knights, defeated 5000 goblins and 3 powerful Anaric Giant Spiders. The contributions of other Free People’s Corps and Slave Legions were reduced to a mere six words: [unity of the entire territory].

In fact, the contributions of the Free People’s Corps and Slave Legions at that time were undeniable. The proportion of slaves who died in battle exceeded 70%, and it was precisely these slaves who held off the assault of the Jieya Evil Bandit War Chariots. Moreover, they protected the territory’s Sacrificial Legion and lured out the goblins’ sneaky assailants.

Yet, in the end, all of this was not even worthy of a single record of their names by the Knight Lords, which made the battle achievements seem somewhat filled with the legendary colors of a knight’s tale.

It was like a romantic charge, where after the Holy Relic of Glory brought down Divine Grace, Su Li, with over 50 shining knights, in the light and storm, launched a charge that shone throughout the days and emboldened the mountains and rivers, defeating over 5000 Forest Monsters.

Su Li now somewhat understands why the myths and legendary stories of the Empire are filled with romance and vividness. The older the story, the more legendary it appears. It’s not because that era was full of romance and the favor of Divine Grace, but because later descriptions lacked detailed accounts of the wars, rather greatly enhanced the Chapters about the main character and his knights, attributing many other people’s contributions to them. Such a strong portrayal of the main characters with a weak coverage of others renders these stories full of legendary and romantic color, as if the Divine Spirit watched over them, destined to accomplish great deeds and establish their own families and territories.

Of course, in this kind of artificially orchestrated deification movement, Su Li is the greatest beneficiary. Just like countless reprises in the Empire’s history, this war record and inscription make him appear full of legendary color, like a protagonist chosen by the Divine Spirit, destined to smoothly create a powerful Hesse Territory under divine protection, embarking on a great endeavor.

If future generations see this inscription, they would also feel the strength and romance of the Bauhinia ancestors, just like a legend, founding this strong territory.

After lamenting, Su Li smiled and asked Principal Oliver: "You put quite some thought into this forest of inscriptions; very impressive. So, did it cost a lot? Do you need me to approve more funding for the academy?"

Su Li recalls the funding for this academy; the first grant even appeared in the Daily Intelligence, informing him that he had agreed to give Oliver 5000 Golden Crowns to lay the foundation of this academy.

But given what has been seen so far, 5000 Golden Crowns is not enough to build an academy, let alone to construct these main buildings.

Even with large numbers of Dwarf Engineers and Ogre construction crews, building such a wonder-level structure requires considerable expense.

In fact, Su Li remembered that Oliver had requested him for three subsequent increases in investment, adding 3000, 1700, and 500 Golden Crowns respectively.

Even so, this project has not spent over. Before building the academy, Oliver had promised Su Li that, after the review and control by the Provincial Affairs Council, the financial budget for this academy would not exceed 20000 Golden Crowns.

This means it could overspend up to 23000 Golden Crowns, with a 15% risk control. If it exceeds 23000 Golden Crowns and is still incomplete, either Su Li would decapitate Oliver, or Oliver would decapitate a series of corrupted officials involved in the project and bring it back on track.

So far, nobody in the territory dares to act recklessly under this Iron-fisted Prime Minister. In the Empire, embezzlement and corruption are unavoidable; even Hesse Territory constantly has various forms of corruption. However, with Oliver presiding over the Provincial Affairs Council, his terrifying authority hangs over everyone, restricting the scale of corruption among civil servants and officers. Oliver certainly fulfills his generous promise when he first joined the territory — to rectify the administration, sort out tax collection, and reduce corruption.

This Hesse Griffin School of Engineering is Oliver’s core political achievement, and he keeps a tight watch over it. So when he heard Su Li’s inquiry, he calmly replied: "Thank you for the Lord’s generosity, but funds are currently not an issue for the academy. Many corrupt officials and unscrupulous merchants have generously donated 873 Golden Crowns to the academy!"

Donations from corrupt officials? Isn’t that the proceeds of your house raids and extortions?

Su Li couldn’t help but click his tongue. Goodness gracious, this Iron-fisted Prime Minister of the territory indeed makes those working for him not only provide labor and materials but also potentially risk losing everything and have it added to the national treasury. It could be said to be in alignment with the Empire’s dark, despairing demeanor.

Of course, they brought this upon themselves. It’s worth mentioning that Su Li is quite generous; as long as they are diligent, devoted to their duties, with various incomes and bonuses enough to ensure a superior lifestyle far surpassing most of the territory’s residents.