On External Platform No. 8 of Gray Mist Fortress, Greg dropped to one knee and bowed. "My lord."
"Rise."
Velin raised a hand in gesture.
Greg rose at once, his armor giving off a faint metallic scrape.
Velin carefully studied this Guardian Knight who had followed him for many years. A decade had not dulled his edge; instead, the aura of a battle-hardened veteran had become increasingly restrained and profound.
"How much longer until you break through to High-Gold?" Velin asked bluntly.
"Fifteen years will suffice," Greg answered gravely without concealing anything.
Velin leaned back slightly against the steel railing and asked, "If I double your Cultivation Resources, how long would you need to break through to High-Gold?"
After pondering for a moment, Greg hesitated before answering, "My lord, approximately ten years."
"That was within expectations," Velin murmured.
Greg caught the subtle shift in his lord's expression. His throat bobbed, but in the end, he swallowed his question.
If his lord was asking this, then there would surely be major moves in the coming years, perhaps even decades.
"Relax." Velin uncrossed his arms and waved a hand, signaling that Greg did not need to be so serious. Then he asked, "Tell me about the size of the Auxiliary Army under Gray Mist Fortress over the past decade, as well as the current state of the West Wind Camp under your command."
"Yes, my lord."
Greg answered and began his report.
"My lord, when you left Qixing Territory in October of Radiant Calendar 9772, the Auxiliary Army under Gray Mist Fortress had five camps, totaling more than thirty thousand Subterranean Creatures."
"After nine years of development, the Gray Mist Fortress Auxiliary Army has expanded to around sixty-five thousand members. It is divided into seven camps and commanded by six High-Silver professionals