When Derek saw the barbarians leave, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Soon, the noble families who had lost their lands began to return, bringing with them newly formed armies to reclaim their territories.

Of course, some people were bound to suffer.

Titles were revoked, lands confiscated, and the specific consequences depended on the situation.

Moreover, it was likely that no one would dare to underestimate the barbarians in the future, and the border defenses would surely be reinforced.

For now, several thousand-strong units from the Second Legion were stationed here to defend against any possible invasion from the barbarians.

And Derek's future was looking bright.

The commanders who took over the posts were very courteous.

Everyone knew that their status would soon be different.

When Derek returned to Ironwall City with the military orders, he received a grand welcome.

Two thousand-man squads were even allowed to enter the city directly to join the celebration.

In a sense, he had saved the city.

The overwhelming glory made Derek feel a little smug, but his memories from his previous life constantly reminded him to stay humble, especially when things were going well.

With so many eyes on him, jealousy was inevitable.

For now, all the envious gazes were obscured by his dazzling success, but once the glow faded, trouble might follow.

Humility and modesty could avoid many troubles.

Of course, youthful ambition meant there were times when he had to fight for what was rightfully his.

Perhaps this was the principle of acting high-profile but living low-key?

Every moment, Derek gained new insights, blending his experiences from his past life to gradually adjust his actions.

This earned him much praise from others.

At this moment, when he was received by the Governor, his reputation reached its peak.

With the war over, the aura of the North’s top figure returned to the Governor’s hands.

He was the ruler of millions in the northern provinces, and in most cases, he could influence the fate of any individual.

Even powerful earls had to bow to him.

Legally, he was the kingdom’s governor, the highest authority in the local area.

He had the power to command the military, govern civil affairs, collect taxes, and even act on the king’s behalf to summon the nobles.

Although the Governor held immense power, he was still a court noble.

This was the king’s check on the Governor—while in office, he held great power, but after retiring, it was hard to maintain that glory.

However, these were things Derek didn’t need to consider right now. The only person who could decide his fate at the moment was the Governor standing before him.

So he kept a very low profile, showing a face full of humility as he greeted the Governor.

"Sir Derek, I’ve already sent the commendation for your deeds by swift courier to the capital. Your reward will be arriving soon.

Now… let me welcome the hero of the North."

"I dare not claim all the credit. This victory was not solely mine, but also due to the assistance of the First and Second Legions, the steadfast defense of the Iron Lion Legion and the city guards, and the support of the northern nobles.

This is the collective effort of all, how could I take all the credit?"

Derek’s response was unexpected.

Everyone had witnessed his imposing demeanor outside Ironwall City and had expected him to be a rather arrogant person.

Even if he had been somewhat haughty, most people would have accepted it, as he was indeed a hero. However, over time, there would likely be complaints.

No one expected him to speak like this now. The nobles all smiled at each other.

Regardless of the facts, Derek had acknowledged everyone’s contribution, which might even lessen the punishment for the nobles who had lost their land—perhaps just a fine.

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And did Derek lose anything?

Nothing at all. His credit wouldn’t be reduced, and in fact, others would go out of their way to promote him to make his contribution seem even greater.

The king’s reward would not be small, as the northern people’s morale needed to be maintained.

This was a win-win situation.

Governor Jeffrey gave Derek a deep look, and his grip on Derek’s shoulder tightened slightly.

"Well said. I’ve heard much about the Northern Knight’s prowess, and today, I’ve finally witnessed it firsthand."

Governor Jeffrey warmly led Derek into the banquet, personally guiding him to the first seat at the lower end of the hall, where he helped Derek remove his armor.

This was political performance, but it was also something worth boasting about for Derek, so he naturally cooperated throughout.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thanks to the efforts of the northern nobles and Sir Derek’s assistance, we have driven back the barbarians. Drink and be merry."

The Governor, being a skilled politician, turned a potentially negative event into something to be celebrated.

Anyone unaware of the situation would have thought it was the Kingdom of Locke that had been invaded by the barbarians.

But everyone was willing to go along with it. The early stages of the war had been a disgrace, so it was natural to try and cover it up.

Derek, immersed in the atmosphere, gained further understanding of politics.

Sometimes, not everything that looks bad is bad, and some things that seem gray can be viewed differently.

War achievements, fame, and merit—these were all stepping stones for climbing higher, but they were not the only things required.

To truly grasp power, these alone were not enough.

All these things needed to be learned and adapted to in order to navigate the world’s rules.

The banquet ended in a cheerful atmosphere, and the northern provinces were filled with songs and dances.

The scars of the recent war seemed to have been completely erased.

Everyone was making an effort to downplay the war’s existence.

It was just a few unlucky souls who had died, just a bunch of peasants taken away.

The nobles remained nobles, and the northern provinces remained as they were.

Derek finally met his second brother, who had already been quickly appointed as a Centurion, stepping up from the lower ranks of the military.

The Iron Lion Legion, the permanent army of the northern provinces, had expanded from 3,000 to 5,000 men, with further expansion expected.

Sergey had the opportunity to rise even further, but that would require the help of Baron Ferreira.

For now, however, he was more concerned with his younger brother.

"Derek, you’ve really made a name for yourself this time. Everyone’s asking me about you."

Sergey was very excited. His brother had made it big, and he was basking in the glory as well.

He asked Derek about the entire war process in detail and praised him profusely.

Looking back on the war, it seemed that the barbarians had not lost in vain.

Derek had calculated everything step by step, completely leading the barbarians into a trap.

The combat prowess of his soldiers had also exceeded expectations, which was the key to the victory.

So from the very beginning, it was clear that the barbarians were destined to suffer a major defeat—the only question was how big the loss would be.

"I still feel this war isn’t over. The barbarians’ behavior is very strange. There might be more trouble ahead, brother. Please, don’t let your guard down."

Derek voiced his concerns.

Sergey took this seriously. Derek was no longer the little boy he once was.

He trusted Derek’s judgment, though he didn’t know what the barbarians were planning.

The two brothers discussed for a long time, but they couldn’t find any concrete leads.

But soon, shocking news arrived, followed by two urgent orders from the capital.