Chapter 165 : Chapter 165

Chapter 165. Mustering Troops and Prophecy

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Eli raised the question, the council hall briefly fell silent.

Then ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the gazes of the administrators seemed to be drawn by invisible threads, all turning toward the most senior among them, Old John.

Eli ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍also followed everyone’s gaze and looked over.

Old ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍John, who had been pushed forward, felt the corner of his mouth twitch slightly and inwardly cursed these colleagues for being unreliable.

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was fine to have him build houses, but asking him to participate in a military decision that concerned the territory’s safety and future development—was this not utter nonsense?

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was an old craftsman. How could he understand such things?

Helpless, Old John could only stand shakily, his face showing difficulty.

“Lord… this… this old man is foolish and knows nothing about military affairs.

However, this old man dares to ask one question. Do you… have confidence in this battle?”

Eli looked at him and chuckled softly. Then he nodded solemnly, his tone certain.

“In this battle, the Western Frontier is well prepared, and our forces far surpass the remnant enemy. As long as the tactics are proper, victory can be expected.”

Hearing his lord’s confident answer, Old John finally breathed a sigh of relief, as though he had found his pillar of support.

He considered his words for a moment, then slowly said, “Since you have such confidence, Lord, then this old man will offer a shallow opinion.

At present, under Captain Buck’s efforts, Obsidian Territory’s standing force has already been replenished and maintained at six hundred men.

This number is certainly more than enough for maintaining the daily security and defense of our current territory.

Lord Brandon also sent a letter from Lucerne City before, informing us that the force there has also been maintained at around three hundred.”

He paused, then looked at Eli. “Since you are confident in this battle, Lord, perhaps Obsidian Territory and Lucerne City can invest in it properly.

This is both service to the Western Frontier and an opportunity to display our strength. As for the specific number…”

He turned his pleading gaze toward Captain Buck, who truly understood military matters. “This… it would be more appropriate to ask Captain Buck to speak.”

When Captain Buck saw Old John’s pleading gaze, he could not help finding it a little amusing.

Still, he stood steadily and took over the topic.

“Lord, Old John’s words are reasonable.” Buck first affirmed Old John’s judgment, then began stating his own opinion.

“At present, the six hundred soldiers of Obsidian Territory have undergone my strict training. In addition, with the excellent weapons and armor provided by Master Glenn and Administrator Leon,

their individual quality and equipment standards will absolutely be difficult to match on the battlefield.

Moreover, during this period, I have already selected the dozen or so most elite men from the army and replenished the Black Crow Knights’ organization.”

Then his gaze turned toward Wolfgang, who was sitting quietly at the side, his tone carrying a trace of barely perceptible appreciation.

“Apart from that, there is also good news I must report to you.

Wolfgang… successfully broke through several days ago and has officially advanced to the Gold Tier!”

“What?!” When Eli heard this, surprise instantly burst from his eyes, and he immediately looked toward Wolfgang.

Feeling his gaze, Wolfgang nodded steadily, confirming the news.

Excellent! Eli’s heart rose with excitement.

In that case, he now had two Gold Tier powerhouses under his command: Buck and Wolfgang!

Even within the noble circles of the entire Western Frontier, this was absolutely a high-end combat force that could not be underestimated.

Buck continued, “Lord, you are now an honored viscount, but you are still young, and your seniority is shallow.

In this full-scale operation, many long-established nobles and commanders of the Western Frontier have gathered. Some will inevitably look down on you.

I believe this will be an excellent opportunity to display the true strength and value of you and our Obsidian Territory to everyone!”

He stated his specific proposal. “Therefore, I suggest that Obsidian Territory can draw out four hundred and fifty elite soldiers, plus the fully staffed fifty-member Black Crow Knights, for a total of five hundred men.

As for Lucerne City, while ensuring basic defense, it can draw out a little over one hundred soldiers.

With more than six hundred troops in total, well equipped, well trained, and with two Gold Tier fighters present,

I believe this is absolutely a force that cannot be underestimated, and it is also enough to show our seriousness and attitude toward this campaign.”

As Eli listened to Buck’s detailed analysis, a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

“Lord, Captain Buck is absolutely right!” Aika, the Chief Intelligence Administrator, immediately spoke in agreement.

“Although you are already a viscount, you are too young, and it is inevitable that you will suffer some inherent contempt.

This is an excellent opportunity to display your strength! I fully support Captain Buck’s proposal!

Moreover, according to this plan, the remaining soldiers of Obsidian Territory and Lucerne City, together with our security teams, will be sufficient to maintain the daily security of both cities.”

“That is right, Lord! Leave the territory to us. Please rest assured!”

“Exactly! It is time for the Western Frontier to see our strength!”

The other administrators were also stirred with passion and excitedly expressed their support.

Seeing that everyone’s opinions were united, Eli no longer hesitated. He nodded and made his decision.

“Good! Since everyone has reached a consensus, then… we will decide according to Captain Buck’s proposal.

Obsidian Territory will send five hundred troops, and Lucerne City will send one hundred, for a total of six hundred men to participate in the southern line operation.”

With the decision made, Eli’s expression relaxed. He looked around at everyone and threw out another piece of good news.

“In addition, with my promotion to viscount this time, I also obtained a new fief.”

The administrators’ eyes instantly lit up, and the excitement that had just settled was ignited again.

“Lord, where is it?”

“As expected of you, Lord! Is our territory not expanding a little too quickly? Hahaha!”

The meeting room was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Eli raised a hand and interrupted everyone’s excited discussion. “It is… Springflow City, south of Lucerne City.”

“Springflow City?” Administrator Hadi, who was familiar with the Western Frontier’s geography, instantly became excited and shot to his feet.

“Lord! When I was young, I once followed my father to Springflow City!

I remember that the scenery there was very beautiful, the land was fertile, and the water was sweet and abundant. It is a good place!”

“Hahaha! Good!”

“A great thing!”

Everyone cheered again.

Eli looked at the scene with amusement and, at the right time, gave them another shot of encouragement.

“Springflow City was indeed wealthy before, but precisely because it was wealthy, it suffered severe turmoil during the war that swept across the southwest.

It is said that the original Samuel Family nearly all died in martyrdom, and the city’s population has withered. Everything is waiting to be restored.

After it is recovered in the future, reliable people will naturally be needed to manage and rebuild it…”

The administrators instantly understood. An even brighter light flashed in their eyes, and they secretly made up their minds.

They had to work even harder in the coming days and display their abilities, so that they could seize the initiative in the possible future allocation of administrative positions.

Seeing that the purpose of the meeting had been achieved, Eli looked toward Buck and issued an order. “Buck, time is urgent.

Go now and immediately gather the confirmed soldiers. Have them eat a full meal and make preparations.

We will depart shortly for Lucerne City to rendezvous with Brandon and wait for Marquess Winterbourne’s main force to arrive.”

“Yes, Lord!” Buck accepted the order and swiftly turned to leave the council hall to make arrangements.

“Good. The meeting ends here. Everyone, go arrange your own work and ensure that the territory operates normally while I am away.”

Eli announced the end of the meeting.

“Yes, Lord!”

The administrators all rose, respectfully bowed to Eli, then filed out while discussing matters with excitement and motivation.

Eli also left the council hall and returned to his room on the top floor of the fortress.

He planned to rest briefly and change into lighter clothing more suitable for marching.

When he passed by the room at the end of the corridor that he had temporarily converted into a storage room, his steps paused slightly. He suddenly remembered the dragon egg he had brought back from the sanctuary.

He pushed open the door and walked in.

Inside the room, the half-human-tall dragon egg, whose surface was covered with fine crystalline scales, still stood quietly on the soft cushion in the center of the room.

Compared to when he had left, there seemed to be no change at all.

Eli could not help walking forward and gently touching the cold, hard eggshell. The sensation was strange.

“A dragon…” he murmured.

Would this egg become a great help in the future, or an enormous trouble?

His gaze caught sight of the two weapons hanging on the wall beside it—the spear and longsword he had prepared to give Ron and Buck.

“Right, I still have not given this weapon to Captain Buck.” Eli remembered this matter and took the longsword down from the wall.

It felt slightly heavy in his hand. The scabbard was plain, but the sharpness hidden within faintly seeped out.

Holding the longsword, he left the storage room and walked toward the drill ground downstairs, preparing to hand this gift to Buck before departure.

Behind him, the door gently closed.

Inside the storage room, the dragon egg still stood alone in place, as though eternally unchanged.

However, after Eli’s footsteps had completely disappeared at the end of the corridor,

within an extremely tiny gap between the scales on the surface of that motionless dragon egg, a stream of light seemed to faintly… flicker once like breathing, then quickly fell silent.

The egg’s body also seemed to… sway ever so slightly?

The movement was so faint it seemed like an illusion, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

The room returned to dead silence, as though nothing had ever happened.

The nameless book Eli had left in the room slowly fluttered with the stray wind that slipped inside, and the starlight revealed upon it could faintly be seen.

【The small boat moored by the shore was abandoned by several sailors. The sorrowful prince still sat upon it, yet what he had lost... was his crown…

And so, three sailors altered the lines of fate...

The boot tip of the first sailor crushed the sand beneath it. He stole the heavy crown, and that golden shackle would be borne by fate.

The blade of the second sailor rested against the prince’s neck, escorting that noble soul toward a nameless land.

The third sailor severed the moored anchor, leaving the drifting small boat with… no way home from then on.

The surging waves overturned like a giant palm. The keel wailed, and the sails shattered like torn butterflies.

When the final plank was swallowed by the abyss, at that moment, a red star will burn through the night and carve out a bloodstained trail…

All that sank into the abyss, all that was forgotten, will break free from their shackles and rise… from nameless graves.】