Chapter 839: The Mobile Strike Group

Henwell's explanation does nothing to delight Pabos.

If anything, he looks discouraged. "Father, I thought you really were letting me go out and gain experience on my own."

Henwell smiles. "Do you know why I'm placing you in the mobile coalition army?"

Pabos nods. "At first I thought you wanted to train me. Now it seems you've set your sights on these battle-hardened coalition soldiers."

"You want me to win them over, so they'll join us after the war and give us this powerful mobile force."

Henwell shakes his head. "Yes, and no. I do want them to join Peace Haven, but not because you've courted them."

"The army is different. Soldiers have always respected strength. They follow the strong."

"You don't have to set out to win them over. Perform well enough, and they'll come to admire you on their own."

"You're different from the coalition's other commanders. They represent their countries. You represent me!"

"Sometimes one person's charisma carries more weight than a country's influence. You're my banner within the coalition."

"When they see you, they see me as I once was. They can also imagine how high you may rise in the future."

Seeing his son thinking it over, Henwell pats his shoulder. "All right. Don't dwell on it. From this moment on, give the war your full attention."

"I've made plenty of arrangements, but this is still a battlefield. Battle spares no one. The enemy doesn't care who you are. All the enemy sees is someone to kill."

"Pabos, my son, you're going to this war in my place. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, and don't chase glory for its own sake."

"Remember the battlefield skills I taught you. Killing the enemy bravely comes second. Staying alive comes first. You have to live to keep fighting, and to win."

"You know Morris. He came from the Lord Iron Guards. He was originally going to become deputy commander of the Eleventh Legion."

"Now he'll serve as your adjutant and lead the other warband alongside yours."

"He's steady by nature, a strong fighter, and a capable battlefield commander."

"And he isn't the only one."

"I handpicked all ten thousand men in those two warbands, from the soldiers to the officers."

"They come from the garrison warbands, numbered legions, garrison legions, Lord Iron Guards, Military Intelligence Office, Constabulary, Caravan Guard Corps..."

"Learn from them, and ask for their opinions often."

"But you must think for yourself and make your own judgments too. As their overall commander, you can't hesitate at a critical moment."

"One last thing, my son."

"From now on, those ten thousand lives are your responsibility. Think carefully before battle. Once it begins, stay calm and act decisively."

"Bring them home alive!"

"And bring yourself home alive!"

After the Harvest Festival, the contingents sent by the various countries finish assembling.

These elite soldiers carry the continent's finest standardized weapons, wear its finest armor, and ride its best warhorses.

The Ika Kingdom's two warbands become the coalition's First and Second Warbands.

Whistler, commander of the First Warband, is thirty-seven. He is Henwell's younger brother, Viscount of Diversion Bay, and a newly advanced Grand Knight.

Christian, commander of the Second Warband, is forty-one. A common-born knight, he received Henwell's secret help during the Champion Knight competition in Livos City. He is now a veteran Grand Knight.

Their banners are the Golden Twin-Blade Banner, representing Ika, and the Golden Scales Banner, representing the lord of Livos territory.

The Billie Kingdom's two warbands become the coalition's Third and Fourth Warbands.

Chasol, commander of the Third Warband, is twenty-six and holds the title Marquess of Yinxin City. His father is Ruper, Henwell's former gladiator companion. Chasol is the eldest son and a newly advanced Grand Knight.

Henderson, commander of the Fourth Warband, is forty-five. A viscount from the Billie Kingdom's neutral faction, he is a veteran Grand Knight.

Their banners are the Golden Crown Banner of the Billie Kingdom and the Bloodstained Golden Rose Banner of Grand Princess Catherine.

The Ogiro Kingdom's two warbands become the coalition's Fifth and Sixth Warbands.

Rembrandt, commander of the Fifth Warband, is thirty-six. He is the eldest son of Marquess Divarak, Henwell's partner, and has recently advanced to Grand Knight.

Hoover, commander of the Sixth Warband, is forty-eight. A count from the Ogiro Kingdom's neutral faction, he is a veteran Grand Knight.

They carry the Golden Thorn Banner of the Ogiro Kingdom and the Shattered Hammer Banner of the sixth prince's faction.

Lumir's two warbands become the coalition's Seventh and Eighth Warbands.

Dimir, commander of the Seventh Warband, is forty-two, the same age as Henwell. He is the eldest son of Clifford, Lumir's marshal, and holds the Grand Knight rank.

Pavka, commander of the Eighth Warband, is forty-four. He is Obilian's younger cousin, a count of Lumir, and a veteran Grand Knight.

Their banners are the Golden Holy Lake Banner, representing Lumir, and the Light of Fortune Banner, representing the Trade Alliance.

Peace Haven's two warbands become the Ninth and Tenth Warbands.

Pabos, commander of the Ninth Warband, is seventeen. He is Henwell's eldest legitimate son and Peace Haven's young lord, on the verge of reaching the Grand Knight rank.

With his lavish equipment and Henwell's personal instruction, however, Pabos is no weaker in battle than a Grand Knight.

Morris, commander of the Tenth Warband, is forty-one. A former serf from Ogiro, he once served as Henwell's personal guard. He is a former company commander of the Lord Iron Guards, now a newly advanced Iron Knight.

These two warbands also carry two banners.

One is the Golden Lion Banner of the Vorry Kingdom.

The other bears a new design rather than Henwell's personal crest.

On it is a great black bird, its head raised and its wings spread. Every feather on those wings is shaped like a sharp sword.

Its left claw holds a sickle, and its right holds a forging hammer.

The bird stands on an open book, with crimson blood pouring over its body.

Blood drips from its outstretched sword-feathers in a curtain of rain, as brilliant as flames trailing from its wings.

One eye is crimson and sharp; the other is calm and gentle.

This is the totem Henwell has designed for Peace Haven. His personal crest can no longer serve as its symbol.

Otherwise, as the people's spiritual power grows, it would force him to ignite divine fire against his will.

He cannot accept that.

For soldiers to invoke the Light of Civilization themselves, they need a beacon: a totem through which they can draw the light gathered across Peace Haven to their location.

The totem must be complex enough to stop people from channeling the light at will.

That will keep corrupt individuals in Peace Haven from contaminating the Light of Civilization.

Henwell has therefore designed this emblem of Peace Haven himself.

Sculptures of it will be erected throughout Peace Haven, and every department will display the emblem.

Even Peace Haven's goods will bear the mark in the future.

With this totem, Henwell intends to channel the vast spiritual power Peace Haven has accumulated, and the Light of Civilization it has gathered.

The banner is called the Bloodstained Black Phoenix Banner!