Orcs of the Northlands

The invitation from the Wings of Light came at a price. Ryan planned to have the Shadow Vanguard follow the example of the Legions of Vampires.

"This is for dealing with those Black Swan Assassins. You need to understand that our enemies are stronger than we imagined."

Ryan spoke to Higni. The girl with vertical pupils showed little reaction.

"Kill them, or be killed."

She said it as if it were nothing unusual. Ryan waved a hand. Higni clearly did not need much reminding, nor did she intend to involve herself in anything else.

"Arrange for fifty vanguards to join the Wings of Light first. As long as they hold golden feathers, they can openly appear on those nobles' lands."

"There is no better way to understand those nobles."

"Once the nobles see the strength of the Shadow Vanguard, they will naturally have need of me."

Ryan smiled. The Wings of Light had given him another means to extend his reach.

After returning to the Northlands, Ryan no longer needed to fret over irritating politics. Instead, he faced the even more troublesome issue of territorial development.

In the Northlands, there was only ever one theme: survival.

This year, the Frozen Earth Territory's most important administrative matter was naturally construction.

The Swampland to the south, the Snow Plains Great Wall to the north, and the road network connecting them.

With the weather still favorable and the Swampland's development progressing well, the main reason was that the slaves and commoners involved had already seen the results of the previous two years and were especially enthusiastic. Lord Ryan had promised them that they would be entitled to part of the harvest from the fields they reclaimed, and that no taxes would be collected for the first few years.

This Swampland was vast. Ryan