Chapter 76: Lion oath

　　"White Lion King" and "Lion King" Lorraine I, is the most famous king of the Eastern Continent since the end of the "Highest King" era that announced the beginning of the Black Iron Age. He was the founder of the Rhine Kingdom, the founder of the Lorraine Dynasty, and one of the greatest kings of the Dark Iron Age.
　　 When Lorraine I was reigning, the "Holy Alliance" as the strongest secular power in the Mayan world has not yet been established. However, the land area owned by the Rhine Kingdom at that time was already equivalent to the sum of the territories of the Rhine, Esperia, and Highland Kingdoms. So far, "The Lion King" is still a very influential name in the folks. Stories about him have been adapted into epics, operas and novels countless times.
For ordinary people, Lorraine I’s most famous deeds are undoubtedly his experiences with the twelve "lionheart knights" who were loyal to him in various parts of the Maya continent, including his youth adventures before he became king, and There are rich and colorful legends circulating in the private visits of the queen's microservices. The main content is basically that Lorraine and his loyal subordinates went through a hard fight, defeating evil nobles, dark wizards or cannibal monsters, and ultimately saving the local people and winning the hearts of beautiful girls.
Legends often undergo subtle changes along with the changes of the times and the imprints left by political events on the people. New elements are constantly added, old or untimely content is deleted, and the characters transition from real to illusory. Most of the images in the book are far from the version in the biography.
　　 But Lorraine I and the twelve Lionheart Knights are real historical figures. Each lionheart knight is a man of great military exploits, and is proud of his reputation. No matter which one of them is a man of great achievements in personal military force and army command. The Lionheart Knights were the most dazzling stars of that era, but they were all willing to serve as attendants, guarding the lion king who shined like the sun on the entire Rhine.
　　At the beginning of the establishment of the Rhine Kingdom, Lorraine I divided the large territory outside the capital into twelve parts, and each of the first lionheart knights owned a vast fief. Even if the glory cannot last, after nearly a thousand years of long evolution, there are only three Lionheart families that were once prominent, and the rest have been divided, destroyed, and annexed, or cleaned up because of the betrayal of the offspring, but they It is still the most powerful noble and vassal in the Rhine Kingdom today.
Lorraine I even proudly called his Lionheart Knights the "Twelve Paladins"-as we all know, the word "sacred" can only be applied to the saints, it symbolizes the realm of transcendence. Generally, only the pope of the church, the incarnation of the gods on earth, can afford it.
　　If the White Lion King really has twelve saints as his subordinates, regardless of the intervention of the gods, his national power is enough to easily push down the entire Mayan continent, so the Lionheart Knight in the historical facts is obviously not so exaggerated.
　　 But historians often believe that every member of the Lionheart Knights has the same strength as a legend, which is supported by a lot of materials. This number is unique in the worldly kingdoms. Since the end of the long war of gods, the power of mankind to reach the top level has become weaker and weaker, even the most extensive empires, including palaces and churches. The numerous forces may not be able to come up with a double-digit legend in the same era. One can imagine the hegemony of the Rhine Kingdom on the mainland at that time.
　　 From the perspective of reality, the biggest problem is how to control the twelve extraordinary people of legendary rank as the king of Lorraine I, so that they are willing to be their own subordinates. Even if the White Lion King himself is also a legend, or even an "anointed one," this is still a very difficult thing, and it is simply a huge mystery.
However, in the legend of Lorraine I and his Lionheart Knights, there is always a very important existence, which may explain the reason for it, that is the oath-the oath of knights, also known as the "lion oath" The twelve people were only called "Lion Heart Knights" after signing a real name contract with the king.
　　 According to the epic record, the content of the "Lion Oath" is roughly: the loyalist swears allegiance to the oath provider and must protect the other's life. No betrayal, no harm, this oath will accompany the life of the loyalist; on the other hand, the oath provider must also protect the life of the loyalist, empathize with brothers and sisters, and must not abandon it.
　　 This is a slightly special oath, because like the "hidden treaty" signed by the gods, the content is only an agreement to "not intervene in secular affairs together". This agreement is based on an equal relationship between the gods. It is said that this is the essential requirement of a real name contract, and it is impossible for a strict contract between a slave owner and a slave to exist.
　　 The lion oath is the same as all other oaths. Its premise is that the two parties are equal and independent; but it also has another requirement, that is, the loyalists must "wholeheartedly" offer loyalty.
Therefore, it is conceivable how difficult it is to sign this vow, because the most uncontrollable thing of human selfishness, the most devout believers will occasionally have blasphemous thoughts, and the most loyal servants will also complain about their masters in their hearts. It has nothing to do with good or bad, but human nature.
　　 Therefore, later historians all believed that the "lion oath" had already been mastered by mankind, but because no one could truly realize it, it has not been known. Until the appearance of Lorraine I...
　　The unity of Lorraine I and the Lionheart Knights comes from an oath. But a new question arises. How did the lion king make the twelve legends willingly sign such a pledge? This requires more than just ordinary loyalty, a contract that can't be betrayed for a lifetime, even people who are loyal and loyal will hesitate.
Possessing a vast territory, a noble status above 10,000 people under one person, honoring descendants, respected and relied upon by the king, companions who support each other, the love of the people, wealth, fame, beauty... all of these It was owned by the Lionheart Knight, a goal that ordinary people would never achieve in their lives. But in essence, even if you don't loyal to someone, it's not difficult to get these as a legend.
　　 The Beyonders who can stand on the pinnacle of mankind all have arrogance and incomprehensible stubbornness. People who have been trained as a brainwashing tool since childhood have no chance to reach the top. "What kind of evil did the Lionheart Knights fall into, so that they would willingly bow to the same person"-this is something that puzzled the former enemies of the Lion King.
　　 But unfortunately, this is also a difficult mystery for later historians. This question has not yet been answered, and perhaps there will never be an answer.
　　 What Richard really cares about is the "Lion Oath" itself.
　　 Judging from historical records, the vow left by the lion king has always been kept in the Rhine royal family, and the inheritance has not been interrupted. This was originally the greatest wealth left by Lorraine I for future generations: by allowing the royal family to sign real-name contracts with loyal knights and nobles, the stability of the king's power was guaranteed.
　　 However, the descendants of the lion king obviously do not have the courage and domineering of their ancestors. Examples of establishing an oath with a legendary rank are extremely rare, and it may take several generations of kings to succeed.
Even though each generation of kings is working hard to train guards, collect war orphans and vagrant children from various places, conduct secret education, and even establish families that provide the royal family with the choice of dead men, but are willing and qualified to sign the oath , Is still very few. In the final analysis, the absolute "loyalty" required by the king and the "independent" character required to be truly strong are often the opposite.
　　 In the current Rhine Kingdom, there is only one legendary knight who swears to protect the Rhine royal family. He is over 200 years old. He has served three kings, but his successor has not been found yet.
In the past, the "lion oath" could only be signed between the king and the legend. Later, the restrictions were gradually relaxed. Some members of the core royal family could also master the oath, and the objects who could receive allegiance expanded from the legend to the master~EbookFREE.me~ only Only in this way could the weak Rhine royal family gain a firm foothold on the treacherous mainland and domestic situation.
　　 Of course, compared with the real ancient kingdoms in history, the pledge that can guarantee absolute loyalty is already very unreasonable, even if it can only restrict a very small number of people.
　　 But for the king, this can avoid some ridiculous accidents, or being killed by people around him or even civilians. The only thing that can kill and replace the king is the power of the high-ranking powerful.
　　 What Richard wanted was an oath. This is something that Rasputin was hard to get. Originally, this thing didn't make much sense to most people. Although there is no public record to prove this, there is no doubt that the pledge that everyone can take is limited. There can be twelve people at the same time. There is only one lion king in history. The average Rhine king has only the closest royal guards, and the relationship between them may be deeper than that of their lovers and children.
　　 For wizards, the most difficult thing is to find the right target. Let the wizards lay hands on the snakes for others, "wholeheartedly" offering loyalty? This kind of thing is hard to imagine even the closest teachers and students, or the family members of the Modao family who have blood relations.
　　 But...
　　 "Does your authority really affect the pledge?"
The existence of 　　 vows, for Richard, has a completely different meaning.
　　 The real lady nodded.
"The contract in this world is a network agreement, and there is only one type of agreement that needs to be secured by identification. It must not violate the most basic personality respect and the current laws of the world government. Now, I know that the prerequisite for the existence of the'pledge' is that both parties Are equal, so I can be more sure of this."