It is true that an Imperial Knight's power can only grow through combat.
But no one ever stipulated that these battles had to be glorious ones, fought on the battlefield against Demons and Space Aliens.
For a Knight Warlord like Franz, his heart was devoid of ideals and honor. Even his faith in the Emperor was not as devout as it appeared.
Or rather, battles fought for power and profit, coupled with a bit of dumb luck, could increase his power all the same.
Just like that Lord Knight who sold his soul to a Demon: Crusher Stein.
Through a series of battles against opponents of similar strength or in one-sided stomps, Franz had clawed his way up from an ordinary Knight in a Mercenary Corps to where he was today.
Greed had won him power and status.
And one day, greed would take it all away.
The tempting reward of becoming an Administrative Region Lord with a fief of ten planets was like a Demon's whisper, steadily stripping away Franz's reason and sense.
