Chapter 159 : Chapter 159

Chapter 159. Child of Light?

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍meeting with Ron was relaxed and pleasant.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the resting room beside the military camp, the two of them drank ale and looked back on that thrilling battle beneath Thorne City.

Ron ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍still felt lingering fear over Eli’s final eruption, which had been as though he were possessed by a demon.

Eli ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍merely gave a vague explanation, calling it a family secret art that required him to pay an enormous price.

Although ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Ron half believed and half doubted him, he did not press further out of respect.

Finally, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to express his gratitude for Ron’s timely intervention, Eli promised to gift him a high-purity mithril spear.

The moment Ron heard the words “mithril spear,” he, who had still been chatting and laughing a moment earlier, instantly froze. The cup in his hand almost slipped and fell.

This Hohenzollern Family knight, who was over thirty years old and had experienced countless battles, abruptly widened his eyes, and his lips trembled slightly.

In the next moment, his eyes actually reddened at a visible speed, and an obvious layer of moisture quickly filled them.

“E-Eli… are you… are you serious?”

Ron’s voice carried an incredulous sob, and his hands trembled somewhat from excitement.

“This… this is too precious! I cannot… I cannot accept such a precious gift!”

He incoherently tried to refuse. As a noble who strictly upheld the code of knighthood, he had merely done his duty.

But… as a true warrior, the desire for a legendary weapon was an instinct rooted deep in his bones.

A mithril weapon! That was a mithril weapon!

One had to know that even the high noble Hohenzollern Family, from which he came, had inherited its legacy for several centuries.

Yet there were only two mithril weapons in the family, and both were legendary weapons with long histories, even possessing their own exclusive names and stories.

A mithril spear that belonged to him alone!

This temptation was truly too great for a knight who regarded martial valor as his life.

He looked at Eli’s sincere and utterly genuine eyes. The words of refusal rolled in his throat several times before finally turning into a sigh.

He abruptly reached out and tightly grabbed Eli’s wrist.

“Eli! I… I…” Ron’s voice completely choked up, and hot tears finally rolled down uncontrollably.

“Thank you! Truly… thank you so much!

This friendship, I, Ron Hohenzollern, will never dare forget for the rest of my life!”

Seeing Ron moved to tears before him, Eli was first somewhat stunned, and his heart was also touched.

He amusedly patted Ron’s hand, which was gripping him tightly. “Enough, Ron. It is only a weapon. We are comrades who fought side by side. This is what you deserve.”

He said it lightly, but Ron shook his head hard, still tightly gripping his hand and repeating words of thanks.

Eli spent some effort before finally pulling his hand free. After gently soothing the emotionally stirred Ron for a while, he finally took his leave.

......

On the way back to his room, Eli thought of Ron’s almost失态 reaction.

He could not help gaining a more intuitive understanding of just how precious mithril weapons were in this world.

This was not merely a sharp weapon, but also a symbol of status and inheritance. Its value far exceeded what he had imagined.

Not long after he stayed in his room, a gentle knock came from outside the door.

The respectful voice of the old butler from before sounded. “Baron Eli, the lords have finished their discussion.

Lord Lucius is free at the moment. Please come with me.”

It had finally come.

Eli straightened his robes and followed the butler back to Lucius’s study.

Eli knocked lightly on the door, and Lucius’s slightly tired voice came from inside. “Enter.”

He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The furnishings of the study were no different from the last time he had come.

Lucius was not sitting behind the desk handling documents as usual. Instead, he was rarely half-reclining in that wide, high-backed chair.

His body leaned back slightly, his eyes were closed, and his slender fingers were pressing hard against the space between his brows. His face carried a trace of fatigue that was difficult to conceal.

Clearly, the private discussion with the four marquesses had consumed a great deal of his mental energy.

“Lord Lucius.” Eli walked forward and bowed respectfully.

Lucius did not open his eyes. He merely hummed softly through his nose. “Mm.”

He was still pressing his brow. “It seems your body has recovered well.”

“Yes. Thank you for your concern, Lord Lucius.”

Eli answered. Seeing that Lucius did not seem to intend for him to keep standing, he naturally walked to the opposite side of the desk, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

Only then did Lucius slowly lower his hand and open his eyes.

He glanced at Eli, who had sat down on his own, but showed no displeasure.

“I just finished discussing the Western Frontier’s subsequent plans with the marquesses.”

“Subsequent plans?” Eli subconsciously responded, but the moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them somewhat.

It seemed that he should not ask too many questions about such high-level decisions.

Unexpectedly, Lucius had no intention of hiding anything and answered him directly. “Mm.

Since most of the Federation’s forces suffered heavy losses in the Defense of Thorne, the cities they occupy must be empty of defenders.

At this moment, the various federations are also trapped in internal strife, and for a short period of time, there is absolutely no possibility that they can give effective support to these isolated troops.

We must seize this heaven-sent opportunity and drive them completely out of the Western Frontier’s territory as quickly as possible.”

He paused, then looked at Eli. “The result of our discussion is that the operation will officially begin after your engagement ceremony with Lynn.”

Eli understood. He nodded in agreement. “Yes, Lord Lucius.

Moreover, Marquess Marcus has just returned from the royal capital. I believe that with his personal command, the Western Frontier Army will surely be able to recover all the lost territories quickly.”

Lucius nodded slightly, acknowledging this statement.

But he then changed the subject and threw out a seemingly unrelated question.

“Mm… What do you think Marquess Claire, Marquess Kola, and Marquess Winterbourne are seeking by coming to Thorne together this time?”

Eli froze for a moment and thought briefly. “Uh… to ask forgiveness?”

“Not bad. You guessed half of it correctly.” Lucius picked up the tea on the desk, which had already cooled somewhat, and took a sip.

Only half?

Eli frowned slightly, his mind racing.

Asking forgiveness was the surface reason. Then the deeper purpose…

Eli frowned slightly, his mind moving rapidly. He hesitated as he said,

“Could it be… that they want to contend for the position of commander in the subsequent recovery campaign?”

After saying this, he immediately realized that his words might touch upon the power struggle at the highest level of the Western Frontier, so he hastily added,

“Uh… I spoke without thinking. It was merely a wild guess. Please forgive me, Lord Lucius.”

However, the expected rebuke did not come.

Instead, Lucius let out a low, brief laugh, and undisguised appreciation appeared in his eyes.

“Hahaha… You have grown quite a bit.”

He gently set down the teacup. “In the future, if you have any thoughts before me, you may speak directly. There is no need to be so restrained.

After all, we will soon be… family.”

The word “family” was spoken calmly, but it carried a heavy weight.

Warmth rose slightly in Eli’s heart. He scratched his head, then took the opportunity to raise the question he cared about the most.

“Then… Lord Lucius, regarding my fief…”

Seeing this unconcealed look of anticipation on his face, Lucius felt that much of the mental energy he had spent in the earlier discussion had recovered.

He pointed at Eli and smiled. “Enough. I know you have been thinking about this.

Do not even consider a large city like Kael City, with its vast scale and extremely important strategic position.

First, your seniority is still shallow, so it would be difficult for you to convince others. Second, it is indeed far from your Obsidian Territory, making it inconvenient to manage.”

A little disappointment appeared on Eli’s face at just the right time.

“After discussion, your new fief has temporarily been determined as… Springflow City, located south of Lucerne City.

This place is medium-sized, but the land is fertile and the water sources are abundant. Most importantly, it can connect directly with your existing territory.

The three lands will form a triangular position and support one another. Whether for defense or future development, there is much that can be done.”

He paused, seeming to recall something. “Oh… I remember that the environment there is quite good… You got a bargain.”

After hearing Lucius’s explanation of the “triangular position,” Eli’s eyes instantly brightened!

Stable! This meant that the range of his influence would be a whole that could support itself!

This was indeed far more valuable than an isolated large city!

“Thank you, Lord Lucius!” This time, Eli’s thanks were filled with sincerity.

But Lucius seemed to think of something, and his eyes dimmed slightly.

“Mm. The previous lord family of Springflow City was the Samuel Family, a loyal family with a long history.

Unfortunately… in the war that swept across the southwest after Storm City fell, their entire family, along with most of their vassals, all perished…”

Hearing this, the joy on Eli’s face receded somewhat.

“Enough. Let us not speak of those past matters.” Lucius waved a hand, as though trying to disperse those unpleasant memories.

Then he raised a question that instantly made Eli’s scalp prickle.

“Do you have any suggestion regarding the choice of commander for the campaign to recover the lost territories?”

This time, Eli truly broke out in cold sweat!

Guessing that the marquesses wanted to compete for the commander’s position earlier was one thing. Personally expressing an opinion about the candidate for commander was another matter entirely.

The water here was far too deep. With his small frame, he could not afford to get involved.

If those powerful marquesses learned that he had been “pointing fingers” behind their backs, even if it was only an unintentional remark, there would definitely be no good outcome for him.

“Uh… Lord Lucius,” Eli struggled to organize his words.

“I… I am truly not very familiar with the abilities and… and temperaments of the marquesses. Therefore… I do not dare comment rashly.”

“Hehe…” Seeing him look as though he were sitting on pins and needles, Lucius could not help laughing softly. He did not continue making things difficult for him.

“Indeed, this question is still too far beyond your current level. Mm, then I will give you another task.”

Eli immediately breathed a sigh of relief. “Please give your orders, Lord Lucius!”

“Did Bishop Tim not previously invite you to visit Thorne Cathedral?”

“I want you, when you visit, to discreetly investigate the Church’s… recent movements, as well as their… attitude.”

“Investigate the Church?” Eli was stunned.

“Lord Lucius, is something wrong on the Church’s side?”

Lucius’s gaze became deep. “It cannot be called a conspiracy, but vigilance is necessary.

You should also know that compared with several centuries ago, the influence of the Church in the entire kingdom has gradually weakened.

They will not be willing to remain silent like this forever. They will inevitably seek opportunities to expand their influence once again.

After the Battle of Thorne, Bishop Tim proposed a suggestion to me. He hoped that I would approve the restoration of the Church’s armed force in the Western Frontier—the organization of the ‘Children of Light’…”

“An armed force of the Church?” Eli’s brows instantly furrowed, and his expression became serious.

He immediately understood the key point here.

An armed force that belonged entirely to the Church.

Its very existence was a potential challenge to the existing structure.

Especially during this sensitive period when large-scale military operations were about to begin and the Western Frontier’s internal authority needed to be highly centralized and stable.

“I understand, Lord Lucius,” Eli answered in a deep voice. “I will pay attention.”