Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill - Chapter 371: Promotion To Count
Chapter 371: Promotion To Count
In the final moment, Ruel had tried to surrender.
His lips had moved. His throat had strained. But no sound came out.
A thin, almost invisible spell had wrapped around the space, sealing voices. No matter what he said, it could not be heard.
It was not that he did not want to surrender. It was that he was not allowed to.
By doing this, Ethan had forced the situation to go further. He had pushed Ruel to the edge and made him step fully into the fight. Ethan had been sure of one thing. He would not kill Ruel. But this was enough. More than enough to establish his prestige in front of everyone.
Some dissatisfaction rose among a few imperial knights, but none spoke. What had happened was clear. Strength spoke louder than complaints.
Kane, however, looked at Ethan with a different gaze now.
Before coming here, he had been given clear instructions.
Test Ethan’s strength and his power.Alongside this also test his character.
After all, Ethan was originally from Ruthiana, not Arcadia. If he could be suppressed, then suppress him. If not, then win him over and bind him with favor.
Now the result was obvious.
Suppression had failed.
Kane took out a scroll sealed with the royal mark.
Ethan immediately stepped down from the field and stood straight.
“KNEEL!”
His command was firm.
His wives, his officers, and the surrounding men all knelt without hesitation. Armor clinked. Fabric rustled. Heads lowered.
Kane opened the decree.
“By imperial decree,” Kane announced, his voice carrying across the courtyard, “Baron Ethan Blanks is henceforth recognized as Count Ethan Blanks, Lord of the Ruthiana Territories under Arcadia’s protection.”
He continued, “This title is granted in recognition of his efforts in stabilizing chaos, protecting civilians during war, rebuilding cities, strengthening borders, and maintaining order where others failed. His merit, leadership, and contribution to regional stability have been acknowledged by the imperial court.”
The words settled heavily in the air.
10:40
Kane rolled up the scroll and looked at Ethan.
The words settled heavily in the air.
Kane rolled up the scroll and looked at Ethan.
“Rise, Count Ethan.”
Ethan stood.
Kane stepped forward and extended his hand.
“Congratulations, Count Ethan. From now on, you are one of us.”
“Thanks, sir,” Ethan replied. He clasped Kane’s hand firmly.
They smiled at each other, both calm, both polite. Neither showed what they truly thought.
Around them, voices rose.
“Congratulations, Count Ethan!”
“Our Lord is now a Count!”
“Well deserved!”
Hall lowered his head with a proud smile. Rathlos crossed his arms, watching quietly. Sophia and the others looked relieved, their eyes bright.
The title had changed.
But everyone present understood.
What truly changed today was not the rank.
It was how the Empire would look at Ethan from now on.
After that, Kane and his knights took their leave.
Ethan had asked them to stay and taste the local delicacies, but they declined quickly. They moved with unusual urgency, as if they were running away from some kind of monster rather than leaving after a diplomatic visit.
Ethan watched their retreating figures and understood.
His display had shaken them. Some of the imperial knights were clearly displeased. They could not show it openly, but the tension in their posture and the way they avoided his gaze said enough. Anger and frustration simmered beneath their discipline.
At the end of the day, Ethan did not care.
He had not acted to please them.
As the dust settled, Hall stepped forward with a serious expression.
“Sir, there is an urgent situation you ought to take a look at,” Hall said.
“Urgent?” Ethan replied, frowning slightly. “Then you should have told me earlier.”
“I wanted to,” Hall answered honestly. “But Sir Rathlos told me to wait until the farce was over.”
Ethan let out a short breath. “Alright.”
He followed Hall and took the report from his hands.
The moment he read it, his expression changed.
It was detailed information about a demon invasion on the Frontier.
“What is this nonsense?” Ethan muttered, sucking in a cold breath.
The scale of the attack made his palms turn cold with sweat. A demonic invasion, and not a small one. This was not something a single kingdom or even one empire could handle alone.
The Demon Continent was vast, and its forces were terrifying. If left unchecked, an entire kingdom could be flattened before meaningful resistance could even form.
Currently, there were five major human kingdoms. Arcadia, Xylos, Morvath, Valorant, and Eldoria.
Among them, Valorant and Eldoria were the strongest.
Valorant was known as the land of knights, forged under the rule of the Blood Tyrant King Ezekiel von Valorant. Eldoria, on the other hand, was the land of magic, ruled by Queen Ophelia Val Eldoria, whose mastery over arcane arts was legendary.
To resist a demonic invasion of this scale, the combined effort of all human kingdoms would be necessary.
Ethan looked up at Hall. “Any information from the Empire?”
Hall shook his head. “We have not ventured that deep yet.”
Ethan closed his eyes briefly and exhaled.
“We have taken control of all of Ruthiana, but we are still shallow,” he said quietly. “We need to advance into the Empire.”
He opened his eyes and looked directly at Hall.
“Start training spies. I will find an opportunity to open a path for them.”
“Yes, sir,” Hall replied without hesitation.
……
In the blink of an eye, one month passed.
During this period of so-called “cleansing,” the Arcadia army completely took over the Kingdom of Ruthiana.
The old order was crushed.
All nobles of Ruthiana fell from their lofty positions. Once rulers who stood above everyone else, they were reduced to ordinary commoners without land, titles, or authority.
Even the wealth they had accumulated over generations was stripped away.
Many nobles could not accept such a cruel reality and chose to end their lives instead.
Several once-glorious families collapsed overnight, their bloodlines scattered or erased.
Among the countless local noble families of Ruthiana, only a few exceptions remained.
The Blanks family stood firm.
The Duke family allied with Albert also survived.
However, even among the dukes, punishment was swift and merciless.
The Monopolis family was completely wiped out.
The families of Duke Salvos, Duke Reeves, and Duke Longburn were all demoted to Barons.
The sudden fall in status was deeply disheartening. Pride built over generations was crushed in a single decree.
The Blanks family, however, rose instead of falling.
Ethan was promoted to Count.
Alongside him,The Royal Family with Albert taking the lead was also elevated.
Though they were to be demoted, their timely surrender and cooperation earned them special treatment. They were granted the status of Counts with additional privileges.
For the next two years, they would not be taxed. They were also given opportunities to advance further if their strength and contributions continued to grow.
As for governing the entirety of Ruthiana, a Duke would be appointed.
According to rumors, this Duke would be a vassal chosen directly by the Emperor of Arcadia, someone loyal to the Empire rather than the local nobility.
Who it would be remained unknown.
Only time would tell.
