Big Cousin Gilles's formidable strength was beyond doubt.
Zong Shen had already witnessed it once when he first recruited Jeanne.
His relationship with Jeanne was more like that of a special companion spirit.
The stronger Jeanne became, the stronger the summoned Big Cousin Gilles naturally became as well.
This mutually advancing symbiotic relationship was a tremendous boon for Zong Shen.
It greatly increased the added value of nurturing Jeanne.
It was practically a buy-one-get-many deal.
If he raised Jeanne into a Legend, Big Cousin Gilles would gain legendary strength along with her. Wasn't that an absolute steal?
Moreover, aside from Big Cousin Gilles, there were also twenty-four French swordsmen, and they were no weaklings either.
Their strength was also directly tied to Jeanne's.
It was simply not as deeply connected as the bond between Jeanne and Gilles.
In other words, the stronger Jeanne became, the stronger Big Cousin Gilles and the French swordsmen summoned alongside him would become.
Thus, nurturing Jeanne was a very worthwhile investment for Zong Shen.
Because Jeanne would not be the only one to grow stronger in the end.
As Zong Shen considered this, anticipation rose within his heart.
He turned his head, raised an eyebrow slightly, and looked at Big Cousin Gilles, whose entire body was concealed within his armor.
Through the sturdy knight's full-face helmet, Zong Shen seemed to see a pair of cold, resolute eyes.
Those eyes seemed devoid of emotion, containing only an unwavering will to protect.
In other words, Big Cousin Gilles could be considered a special summoned being.
He was neither an ordinary intelligent summon nor a rigid, mindless puppet.
His state lay somewhere between the two.
It could be understood that he possessed subjective intelligence, but all of his thoughts were founded upon protecting Jeanne.
Big Cousin Gilles would