CHAPTER 574: CHAPTER 538 INCREASE KNIGHT NUMBERS_2

After all, this is in the Northern Territory, and what could solve problems better than seeking help from the Northern Territory Count?

However, this did not align with Perfikot’s purpose of training and cultivating Eldest Princess Annie’s governance ability, so for some time now, Perfikot avoided helping Eldest Princess Annie whenever possible, only assisting when she truly couldn’t decline.

Although, as the future Empress of the Empire, Eldest Princess Annie did not need to excel at managing daily affairs, having her engage in such tasks was to give her a general understanding and familiarity with the related processes.

Hence, in the future, she wouldn’t be deceived by the Empire’s nobles and bureaucrats in similar situations.

Eldest Princess Annie understood this, so she treated all her tasks very earnestly from the beginning.

But after the first time a construction project issue was perfectly resolved by seeking Perfikot’s help, Eldest Princess Annie’s reliance on Perfikot increased significantly, to the point where there were even murmurs suggesting Perfikot should inherit the throne, as she also had a claim to it.

However, Perfikot couldn’t be bothered with these matters.

If she had the leisure time, why not return to the lab to conduct new research rather than waste time bickering with Imperial cretins?

But no matter what, she definitely had to meet Eldest Princess Annie. As for the matters the Eldest Princess requested her to handle, Perfikot would help if she could, but if she couldn’t, there was nothing she could do.

"Aunt Annie, what brings you to me again?" Perfikot greeted Eldest Princess Annie as she returned to her office.

Although Perfikot somewhat avoided Eldest Princess Annie, she never neglected the necessary etiquette.

"Did you confer honors on the new members of the White Bear Knights? I heard you expanded your Knight Order; it should be the White Bear Knights, right?" Eldest Princess Annie looked at Perfikot with concern and conveyed her intention for the visit.

Although the White Bear Knights were Perfikot’s private military force, as an armed force, especially one whose attention was heightened due to Perfikot, the inventor of the Steam Knight, they would be the first to draw attention if they crossed a line.

Eldest Princess Annie approached Perfikot precisely because of this attention.

"Yes, I expanded the current size of the White Bear Knight Order, increasing the number of members from 120 to 180." Perfikot admitted straightforwardly without hiding her actions.

As for why any slight movement in the Northern Territory could draw significant attention, it’s quite understandable, since the entire Empire is closely linked to the Northern Territory, and if anything indeed happens, news surrounding Perfikot would quickly follow. Not to mention, this was an expansion by a full sixty formal Steam Knight roles.

If this force were placed in the old world, it would be enough to influence the rise and fall of a nation. If Perfikot had the ambition, she could try some maneuvers.

The change in this force naturally drew the attention of various forces in the Northern Territory.

Eldest Princess Annie’s appearance was based on this, as forces friendly to the Northern Territory and Perfikot did not wish for any conflict between the Northern Territory and the Imperial Center. Naturally, they hoped the two would remain closely bonded.

However, such a large-scale change in armed forces is a significant matter for the Northern Territory itself, let alone others.

But to Perfikot herself, this was merely the shortest way she found to solve the problem of the White Bear Knights not being numerous enough, using the power she had.

"You could completely form a new Knight Order, so why strengthen the White Bear Knights? A size of 180 might be a bit bloated for a Knight Order." Eldest Princess Annie’s words were filled with a kindly reminder, hoping to persuade Perfikot to reduce the impact of this matter.

In many places, the size of a Knight Order is well-documented and regulated.

For example, according to rules and standards, a Knight Order should have ten squadrons, each consisting of around 8-12 formal knights.

Typically, each squadron could also include around 4-6 knight apprentices following the formal knights to learn how to become true knights.

This is not only a tradition of the knight profession from ancient times but also a more specific regulation of the Victor Empire on the military system of knights.

So overall, although a Knight Order might not always be at full strength for various reasons, it could at least guarantee a fighting force of a hundred people.

Translated to the White Bear Knights, initially, they had about eighty members, with the rest being knight apprentices or trainee knights.

As the White Bear Knights received some support, they entered a development phase, with their size eventually set at 120 formal knights.

Though there were attendants or servants categorized as knights present, they clearly could not be counted within the knight’s combat strength, not to mention Perfikot’s apparent intention of increasing the number of Steam Knights.

What Perfikot did earlier was to expand the formal knight setup of the White Bear Knights from 120 by half, adding six newly formed squadrons.

In fact, many people and forces were quite aware of the large number of Steam Knights under Perfikot’s command.

After all, Perfikot made no attempt to hide when using Autonomous Knights.

Almost everyone knew beyond her two Knight Orders, Perfikot could draw out over a hundred Autonomous Knights at any time.

Obviously, there were calls to limit the scale of armed forces under Perfikot’s control, primarily because over a hundred Autonomous Knights could severely damage a Knight Order equally equipped with Steam Knight armors.

However, Autonomous Knights, after all, were akin to alchemical puppets requiring human command and control, indistinct from alchemical puppets Perfikot made in the past.

Combined with lobbying from certain individuals, many did not pay much attention, merely considering them Perfikot’s toys, believing them to lack the battle prowess compared to real knights.

But the increase in the number of actual knights was a completely different concept, usually indicating the formation of an entirely new class.

So this time, with Perfikot increasing the formal knight count of the White Bear Knights, it immediately attracted attention from various factions, despite Perfikot already having produced over two hundred Autonomous Knights in a factory previously.

"For me, even 180 is just barely enough. If following my thoughts, the White Bear Knight Order should be expanded to a thousand." Perfikot jokingly responded to Eldest Princess Annie’s tactful persuasion, then laid out her reason: "The Northern Territory is currently in a tumultuous time, purely on combat strength, I can field three hundred Autonomous Knights, a force potent enough to annihilate cities and topple nations.

But Autonomous Knights can’t handle more complex issues, so I need to increase the number of White Bear Knights to have them manage various matters for me."

"Then why not establish a new Knight Order? The Empire isn’t denying you the capacity; is this really necessary?" Eldest Princess Annie still hoped this wouldn’t escalate, so she offered Perfikot a plausible explanation.

However, Perfikot directly refused, strongly stating: "Northern Territory people only recognize the White Bear Knights——only they can represent me."