Over the course of half a month, Velin recruited more than seven thousand professionals in Jinslin District. Adventurers accounted for seventy percent, while over fifteen hundred professionals came from mercenary backgrounds. More than five hundred were fugitives and wanted criminals, and the rest were children of various noble families who had supposedly died by accident.
Under the "bribes" of Jinslin District's nobles, Velin formed the noble offspring living under assumed names and their attendants into a separate battalion. They were separated from the newly established Yalan Army, assigned to the Logistics Unit, and placed under Priest Lavia's command.
As for the Yalan Army's commanding general, Adrian, Guardian Knight to Brian, commander of the Upper Army, took the post.
Ever since Adrian had been transferred to train the Yalan Army, Brian had been swamped with all manner of affairs every day, struggling to keep up.
Whenever Velin inspected the camps and saw his cousin's predicament, he felt somewhat guilty. Thus, he always chose to avoid the Upper Army's encampment.
As long as he did not see it, it was as good as nonexistent.
Under Adrian's iron-fisted command, the seven thousand soldiers of the Yalan Army had been utterly transformed.
During the reorganization, there had been no shortage of those who resisted training with force. But the heads hanging high above the camp gates told the other Yalan Army soldiers what happened to those who defied orders.
In mid-May, the more than two hundred thousand troops of the Fifteenth Army left Jinslin City and advanced toward Saint Marta District, sent off by Governor Rodney of Jinslin District and numerous nobles.
Three days later, beneath the walls of Mailing City, the capital of Saint Marta District, the district governor arrived outside the city with many officials to welcome them.
Velin raised his head