Chapter 164 : Chapter 164

Chapter 164. Returning to the Territory

Three ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍days later, the travel-worn Eli finally led the five hundred vanguard cavalry from the Winterbourne Family to the foot of Obsidian Territory’s familiar and sturdy walls.

From ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍afar, he saw the orderly houses in the valley, the wisps of cooking smoke rising into the air, and the black dragon banner fluttering in the wind atop the city wall.

Only ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍then did the string that had been taut in Eli’s heart finally relax somewhat, and he let out a long breath.

No ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍matter how many grand and turbulent events he experienced outside, only this place—

this ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍territory he had built with his own hands and poured countless efforts into—could make him feel truly grounded and give him a sense of belonging.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍soldiers guarding the city recognized their lord’s eye-catching white hair from far away and immediately shouted excitedly.

“It is the lord! The lord has returned! Quick, go notify Lord Buck and the other administrators!”

“Open the gate! Welcome the lord back!”

The heavy city gate slowly opened amid the turning of the windlass.

Eli rode at the very front, leading the five hundred brightly armored cavalry behind him into Obsidian Territory.

Regarding the intelligence that Iman had launched a surprise attack and occupied Storm City, and was attempting to gather the Federation remnants for desperate resistance,

Eli weighed the matter carefully during the journey. In the end, he still sent a reliable messenger carrying the detailed intelligence to Thorne City at the fastest speed possible to report it to Lucius.

He believed that after receiving this news, whether Lucius or the other marquesses,

they would certainly further accelerate their respective marching speeds and absolutely would not give Iman time to calmly integrate his forces.

After receiving the news, Estor hurried over from the direction of the lord’s keep with several administrators and Captain Buck, who was dressed in full military attire. They arrived just in time to meet Eli after he dismounted in front of the city gate.

“Lord! You have finally returned!” Estor excitedly jogged forward, his face overflowing with heartfelt joy.

He subconsciously reached out and grabbed Eli’s arm, then realized he had been rude and hurriedly let go, but the excitement in his eyes did not diminish.

“Estor, you have matured quite a bit,” Eli said to him with a smile and a nod.

He took out two official documents personally signed by Lucius from his chest and handed them to Estor.

Estor accepted the two rolls of high-quality parchment with a puzzled expression.

“Lord, these are…?” As he spoke, he carefully unrolled them.

When his gaze fell on the clear words “viscount promotion order” and Eli Pendragon’s name on the first document, his eyes instantly widened, and his breathing stopped for a moment.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. After confirming it again, he trembled all over with excitement.

With a thud, he actually dropped straight to his knees before Eli, his voice trembling from extreme excitement.

“Viscount?! Lord! You… you have been promoted to viscount?!”

This earth-shattering shout instantly drew the attention of all the surrounding people and soldiers.

“What? Viscount?!”

“The lord has become a viscount?!”

“Heavens! Our Obsidian Territory has a viscount!”

After a brief silence, fanatical cheers erupted like a volcano!

The nearby people, craftsmen, and soldiers all gathered around, their faces filled with excitement and pride as though sharing in his glory. Waves of cheers rose higher and higher!

“Long live the lord!”

“Viscount Pendragon!”

“Long live Obsidian Territory!”

The corner of Eli’s mouth twitched, and he withdrew his earlier evaluation of Estor.

He reached out and helped Estor, whose legs had gone somewhat weak from excitement, back to his feet.

Then he looked at Captain Buck, whose eyes likewise could not conceal his excitement and relief.

“Buck, while I was away, nothing unexpected happened in the territory or Lucerne City, did it?”

Buck nodded, immediately straightened his chest, and reported in a steady voice, “No, Lord.

Everything is normal in Obsidian Territory and Lucerne City. The defenses are stable, and production is orderly. Please rest assured, Lord.”

“Very good.” Eli nodded in satisfaction, then instructed Estor, who was repeatedly rubbing the two documents.

“Estor, stop only being happy. Hurry and make arrangements. Prepare hot food and places to rest for these warriors behind me. They have had a hard journey.”

“Yes! Yes! My lord viscount! I will go at once!” Only then did Estor seem to wake from a dream.

He hurriedly and carefully put away the two heavy documents, then turned and was about to run off to make arrangements.

Eli called him back and added, “Prepare plenty of food, and more meat as well.”

“Understood! Lord Viscount!” Estor answered loudly and left at a brisk pace.

Only then did Eli turn toward the vanguard officer from the Winterbourne Family who had traveled with him—Sir Berry.

He was an experienced and steady middle-aged knight, as well as a loyal vassal of Marquess Winterbourne.

“Sir Berry, the journey was tiring. You have worked hard,” Eli said to him. “Please take the men to rest first.

As for the specific follow-up arrangements and tasks, once I have discussed them with the administrators, I will notify you at once.”

Along the way, Sir Berry had already been surprised by Obsidian Territory’s orderly administration, sturdy defenses, and the sight of the people sincerely supporting their lord.

This also made him certain that Eli before him had truly risen by relying on his own ability and merits.

At this moment, he wore a sincere smile and nodded in response. “Lord Viscount, you are too courteous. It is my honor to come to your territory.

I did not expect your territory to be so complete, prosperous, and orderly. It is truly admirable.”

He and the Winterbourne soldiers behind him all bowed to Eli in thanks. “Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Viscount!”

Eli smiled as he watched them head toward the arranged camp area under the guidance of Obsidian Territory’s soldiers.

Then his gaze swept over the surrounding people, who were still excitedly discussing, as well as the administrators waiting at the side.

“Administrators, follow me to the council hall.”

“Yes, Lord!” the administrators answered in unison and immediately began helping disperse the crowd.

“All right, all right, everyone, disperse for now and return to work!”

“Team captains, organize your men and return to your posts!”

Under the guidance of the administrators, although the crowd remained excited, they still gradually dispersed in an orderly manner.

Eli then brought his core team and quickly arrived at the council hall inside the lord’s keep.

When he pushed open that familiar wooden door and saw the familiar furnishings inside the room, Eli finally felt the relaxation of truly having returned home.

He walked to the main seat and sat down directly.

The administrators also quickly took their seats in order, all with solemn and serious expressions on their faces.

They knew that since the lord had suddenly summoned them, there must be an important matter.

The last to arrive was Wolfgang. His powerful body carried the panting Old John on his back as he walked in.

“Lord, apologies. We are late.” Wolfgang carefully placed Old John on a chair before sitting down at the side himself.

Eli smiled and nodded to indicate that it was fine, his gaze lingering on Wolfgang for a moment.

He keenly noticed that this Wolf-kin leader seemed even taller and stronger than before.

His muscle lines were more distinct, and even his originally somewhat rough face seemed to have become… a little more handsome. A faint dangerous aura lingered around him.

Eli gathered his thoughts and looked at all the core members in the room, speaking in a steady tone.

“During this time, while I was away from the territory, all of you have worked hard.”

“It was not hard, not hard!”

“This is our duty. Your words are too serious, Lord.”

The administrators responded one after another.

Eli did not exchange too many pleasantries. He stood directly and walked to the large map behind him, which marked the detailed terrain of the southwestern Western Frontier.

“Everyone, I will speak directly.” He pointed at the map. “Lord Lucius has officially decided to begin the full-scale recovery war of the Western Frontier.

Our Obsidian Territory, together with Lucerne City, has been assigned to the southern front under Marquess Winterbourne’s responsibility.”

He paused, allowing everyone to digest this information, then continued.

“In this battle, aside from the five hundred vanguard cavalry of the Winterbourne Family that I just brought back,

Marquess Winterbourne will later personally lead an army and bring roughly eight thousand main troops.

Together with the military strength of our own Obsidian Territory and Lucerne City, as well as the forces of other Frontier Lords who may join along the southern line, the southern line’s total strength is expected to reach more than ten thousand men.”

“More than ten thousand men?!” Old John drew in a sharp breath.

“Heavens… how much grain will that consume…”

“We finally managed to settle down for a while…”

Hadi asked, “Lord, with food supplies for more than ten thousand men, relying solely on the reserves of our two cities will probably be far from enough…”

After thinking for a moment, Captain Buck looked at Eli. “Lord, what do we need to do? Defend or coordinate an attack?”

Eli looked at the administrators, who were discussing among themselves with worried expressions, and pressed his hand downward, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

“Everyone, rest assured,” he said, raising his voice slightly.

“The grain, fodder, and baggage will mainly be arranged and allocated by Thorne. Later, a dedicated transport team will deliver supplies to Lucerne City.

Marquess Winterbourne’s main force should arrive here to rendezvous with us in about three days.”

His gaze turned to Hadi. “Hadi, you are familiar with Western Frontier affairs and personnel from all sides. When the time comes, there may be coordination and liaison work with the Western Frontier quartermasters. You will be primarily responsible for that.”

Hadi immediately rose and solemnly answered, “Yes, Lord. This subordinate understands!”

Eli walked back to the table, placed both hands on its surface, and swept his gaze over every administrator’s face.

“Of course, for us, the main question is this—how many troops do all of you think Obsidian Territory and Lucerne City should send to participate?

We must both display our strength and loyalty, while also avoiding excessive consumption of our own defense and development foundation.

Everyone, speak your thoughts. Let us discuss it.”

The atmosphere inside the council hall instantly became even more solemn and focused.