Emperor of Steel
chapter-198

To the east of the Baroque Imperial Palace was an amphitheater.

Horse racing and Gigant fights were often conducted for the emperor’s leisure time.

The riders who participated in the Gigant fights were Knights of Guard. They show off their skills while at the same time providing pleasure to the emperor.

Kang! Kakang!

The sun was shining warmly, and two Gigants of knight class, painted red and blue, were duking it out.

Emperor Rudolf was watching the game with a grim expression.

In the midst of the fierce competition, fragments of the Gigant glows and swords flew. However, unlike the maids around him, he didn’t even blink.

There was a powerful barrier magic that was placed in the stands, and such fragments could be avoided even when flying in their direction.

“Who are the ones competing now?”

The emperor picked up a handful of almonds from the golden tableware on the table and asked Count Ferrero, the vice-captain of the Knights of Guard, who immediately got up and answered, “Juan de Maghreb of the Silver Knights of Guard and Dias de Galvara of the Iron.”

“Members from famous nobles. Then why are their skills like that? Expert grade riders? Don’t you think that it’s very embarrassing to even see them?”

Count Ferrero didn’t respond to the Emperor’s words.

Not because he didn’t have anything else to say but because there were a lot of things he wanted to say but couldn’t pick one.

Originally, the Knights of Guard were supposed to be composed of the best knights of the empire. However, the principles weren’t properly followed.

One had good skills but wasn’t famous. A few had the ability to improve their fencing skills but not a great personality.

But now, there were other problems much serious than those.

It was because there were quite a few who entered using their connections with powerful nobles or bribing the leaders.

It wasn’t like they had no skill at all, but the ones who entered the guard in such a manner usually neglect their training.

It was obvious that their skills and ability would get stagnant if they keep doing that.

With all the lazy eating and playing they were doing every day, their sense of fencing would fall apart.

In addition, the Knights of Guard were currently only in the capital. Important practical skills and the ability to cope with the enemy was much lower than the knights at the regional forces.

At the same time, the Gold Knights of Guard were the closest to the emperor’s nobles. However, it was the silver and iron guards who acted much seriously.

‘The most irritating thing is that the inexperienced nobles are jealous of the hard-working gems.’

Philip was one of the missing figures in the Knights of Guard.

It was said that he had already reached the top level of Expert and had become the Knight General of Rakan territory.

Such talented people were being driven away by the nobles, and the Emperor acted like he didn’t know.

In any case, Count Ferrero had spent several years trying to fix that problem.

But the higher-ups were busy fighting for power and staying in their allotted positions, so they didn’t bother thinking about it, and the other captains of the guards thought that it was above their work.

No, it would have been lucky if even one noble thought of it as their problem. Rather, the families, which were backing a few young knights, were powerful nobles.

Each time he tried to stop something, the nobles placed a lot of pressure on him.

‘If the Knights of Guard are in this situation, the Majesty who is acting all bitter should realize that he was responsible for it…’

Emperor Rudolf had retired capable Knights of Guard. He used to take them off duty and sent them to faraway regions.

Most of them were either favored by the former emperor or were supporters of the 3rd prince Reichard, who never returned.

There were a lot of skilled ones in them, but instead of re-employing the ones that returned, the emperor got them involved in minor accidents and had them executed right away.

Not just that, the emperor tried his very best to provide great services to his nobles.

In fact, the nobles always rebelled when they saw such actions—the emperor taking care of only his men.

Count Ferrero, who was neutral, would have been kicked out of the Knights of Guard if he wasn’t a Sword Master.

“Train them properly. Is there any dignity if the Knights of Guard stand like this?”

“Yes, I will keep it in mind, Majesty.”

The emperor, who was constantly nagging Ferrero during the fights, got up from his seat and went into the palace.