Chapter 167 : Chapter 167

Chapter 167. The Game of Power

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍stepping into the familiar council hall of Lucerne City’s lord’s residence, Eli dismissed the attendants on both sides, leaving only Brandon and Buck.

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍briefly and clearly told Brandon about the Western Frontier’s full counteroffensive plan, the southern line’s mission allocation, and the news that Marquess Winterbourne’s main force would soon arrive.

As ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Brandon listened, the expression on his face gradually shifted from initial surprise to solemnity.

After ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍thinking for a moment, he raised his head and looked at Eli. “Lord, since the situation is already clear, please give me your orders. Whatever you need me to do, I will carry it out.”

Eli ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was very satisfied with his reaction. He walked to the table and tapped Lucerne City’s position on the map with his finger.

“Your ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍main task is to maintain Lucerne City’s current stability.

I have already sent Bol to clear an open space outside the city. Later, Marquess Winterbourne’s main force of roughly ten thousand men will be stationed there.

Although they will be strictly restrained, some soldiers will inevitably enter the city to purchase supplies or cause trouble.

When that time comes, you will need to do your utmost to maintain public order in the city and avoid conflict.”

He paused, then continued, “As for supplies, the quartermasters assigned by the Western Frontier will mainly be responsible for unified allocation. They will transport grain, fodder, and baggage here.

On our side, we mainly need to cooperate with their work and provide the necessary assistance and convenience.”

Brandon nodded solemnly. “Yes, Lord!

Brandon accepts the order. I will definitely ensure that Lucerne City is absolutely secure and fully cooperate with the army’s operation.”

“The main force should arrive in about three days,” Eli estimated.

“During these three days, you only need to arrange the city’s defenses and reception matters properly.

However…” His tone shifted, and his gaze became sharp. “During this period, we cannot remain completely idle either.”

He looked toward Captain Buck, who stood at the side. “Captain Buck.”

“Here, Lord.” Buck stepped forward.

“Before I set out for Lucerne, I received a piece of secret-order intelligence from Lord Lucius.”

“The Federation remnants entrenched in various parts of the Western Frontier seem to be responding to Iman’s summons. They are abandoning the cities they previously occupied and withdrawing toward Storm City.”

“Abandoning the cities and retreating to Storm City?” Buck’s brows furrowed, and he immediately grasped the key point.

“Then the cities they previously occupied must now be…”

“Yes.” A light flashed in Eli’s eyes. “They must be empty right now!

Especially Kael City, which lies on our southern line’s advance route.

It was originally garrisoned by Iman of Hofgard. He took the main force away to seize Storm City, so the troops left behind are likely extremely limited. It may even be an empty city.

Perhaps… we can march directly west and recover Kael City!”

This was indeed the first thought that had surfaced in Eli’s mind when he saw that intelligence.

An important city that was almost undefended, a merit within easy reach—the temptation was enormous.

But he also had a trace of hesitation… After all, Eli had not yet explained this matter to Marquess Winterbourne.

And Marquess Winterbourne was the southern line commander personally appointed by Lord Lucius. Without his explicit order, if they acted on their own,

even if they successfully recovered Kael City, although Marquess Winterbourne outwardly appeared to be a kindly old man, and although Eli had Lord Lucius behind him,

he and the vassals under him would probably not be very pleased to see them seize the foremost merit.

Buck listened seriously. After pondering for a moment, he spoke cautiously.

“Lord, from a purely military standpoint, taking advantage of the enemy’s emptiness and launching a surprise attack on Kael City is entirely feasible in theory, and the chance of success is extremely high.

But as you said earlier, Marquess Winterbourne’s clear order to you was to ‘organize Lucerne and await the main force.’

If we mobilize troops and attack without the marquess’s order, regardless of the result, it will easily give others grounds to accuse you of… ‘arrogance’ and ‘disobeying orders.’

That would likely not be good for your future development in the Western Frontier…”

He looked at Eli’s calm expression, then continued with a deeper analysis.

“Lord, please allow me to ask something presumptuous. In this battle, did Marquess Winterbourne bring any young family members with him?”

Eli nodded. “Yes. His son, Sir Soren Winterbourne.”

“Then that explains it.” Buck revealed an expression that said “as expected.”

“Lord, I will speak plainly. I am afraid everyone understands that this will be a war that must be won.

Therefore, for a great noble like Marquess Winterbourne, sending his heir with the army has an obvious purpose.

It is to let the future leader of the family steadily gain a glorious achievement in this easy victory,

so that he can better rule the family and control its vassals in the future.”

He paused. “If we attack without asking for instructions and directly take a great merit like Kael City, then there is no doubt it will be an enormous achievement.

But that merit will also inevitably overshadow most of the glory Sir Soren might obtain.

At that time, what we gain may not only be a city, but also the deep hostility of the heir to a powerful marquess family,

as well as the estrangement and dissatisfaction of the entire Winterbourne faction behind him.

That… would not be worth the loss.”

Brandon, who was at the side, also sighed. A look of deep agreement appeared on his face as he nodded.

“Lord, Captain Buck followed Marquess Leon for a long time, so he understands these… unspoken rules among the upper nobility very thoroughly.

What he said is reality.

Many times, the size of a merit is not judged only by battlefield gains and losses. One must also consider… the balance and dignity of each side.

This subordinate believes Captain Buck is right.”

Eli looked at the undisguised worry in their eyes, and warmth rose in his heart. He chuckled softly.

“Do not worry.” Eli’s tone was calm. “I naturally understand the weight of the interests involved in this matter.”

After Buck’s reminder, he had completely thought it through.

Buck was right. This war of revenge in the Western Frontier was essentially a feast in which various powers would divide the fruits of victory. It was a war that had to be won.

What mattered was merely who could receive the larger, richer piece of cake.

Without a doubt, as the commander of the southern line, the Winterbourne Family had brought its vassals and several thousand main troops. It contributed the most and held the highest status.

They naturally should obtain the greatest and most dazzling share of merit, along with the corresponding benefits.

And the merit of recovering an important city like Kael City, which was one of the largest cities along the southern line,

could only belong to the Winterbourne Family, or at the very least, be completed under its leadership.

Only that would conform to the hidden rules of high noble society that had operated for who knew how long.

Eli Pendragon, a newly promoted viscount, had Lucius’s favor and military merit behind him,

but at present, he still did not possess enough power and status to break this set of rules.

Before his wings had fully grown, he could only choose to obey them and strive for the greatest benefit for himself within those rules.

“Mm…” Eli pondered for a moment.

“Since we cannot attack the city directly, we will first make preliminary preparations.

Buck, immediately arrange for Aika to bring the scouts and secretly set out. Have him investigate the route from Lucerne to Kael City…

and… as much as possible, find out Kael City’s current true situation, the strength of its defenders, and its defensive layout.”

“When Marquess Winterbourne’s main force arrives, I will take the initiative to request battle and serve as the vanguard in the attack on Kael City.”

Seeing Eli quickly adjust his mindset and make the decision that best fit the current situation, a trace of appreciation flashed through Buck’s eyes.

He nodded. “Lord, you are wise.

At that time, as the vanguard, if we can be the first to break through the city, it will naturally also be a great merit.

I will go arrange for Aika now and have him immediately set out with men to investigate.”

After speaking, Buck struck his right fist against his chest in salute, turned, and quickly left the council hall to arrange the task.

Brandon, who had received Buck’s hinting glance before he left, also reacted. This was clearly not the time to continue discussing military and state affairs.

A smile returned to his face as he said to Eli, “Lord, you have traveled all this way. I imagine you have not eaten yet.

I will send someone to make arrangements at once, so you can properly taste some of Lucerne’s local specialties. Consider it a welcome meal after your journey.”

Eli did indeed feel hungry, so he nodded. “Very well. Then I will trouble you.”

As he spoke, Eli looked Brandon up and down, studying his radiant appearance with interest.

“Brandon, it seems the effect of the Moonlight Spring is even better than I imagined.

Looking at you now, so full of vigor, it is almost as though you have become a different person.”

Hearing Eli mention this, the smile on Brandon’s face instantly became even more sincere and excited.

He immediately turned to face Eli and, without the slightest hesitation, knelt on one knee with his right hand over his chest.

“Hahaha! Lord!” Brandon’s voice was slightly hoarse from excitement.

“This… this is far more than simply effective! This is practically a miracle! It allowed these old bones of mine to feel vitality again!

All of this is thanks to you! You gave me this chance at a new life!”

He raised his head, his gaze burning as he looked at Eli. His tone became solemn and grave.

“I, Brandon, hereby swear to the gods above.

I and all my descendants will serve you and House Pendragon loyally for generations!

If I ever violate this oath, may my soul forever fall into the abyss and never…”

“All right, all right.”

Eli smiled helplessly and interrupted this overly solemn oath. He stepped forward and personally helped Brandon up.

“We have known each other for so long. I have never doubted your loyalty.

Keep those vows in your heart. Hurry and bring me the food. I really am hungry.

Remember… have the cook add more salt.”

Hearing Eli’s words, which carried closeness and trust, Brandon’s eyes warmed slightly. He nodded hard and suppressed his surging emotions.

“Yes! Lord, please wait a moment. I will personally go to the kitchen and watch over it! It will be ready soon.”

Watching Brandon’s upright back as he quickly left, Eli lightly let out a breath.

The restraints of the rules of power, the complexity of people’s hearts, the challenges ahead…

All of this reminded him that the game of power tested wisdom far more than slaughter on the battlefield.

But he believed that as long as he advanced step by step, he would eventually occupy a place of his own in this chessboard of the Western Frontier.