The mobilization that day had been quite successful.
The day after the rally ended, while Theus was still reviewing reports, Alexei came knocking. He was in charge of Faithguard Army enlistment, and his office was already packed to bursting.
The moment he entered, he began complaining to his lord.
"Forget about the people who want to newly enlist in the Faithguard Army. Practically every worker has submitted an application. Even the old veterans are writing petitions for battle by the squad, hoping to join the expeditionary force."
Alexei sat across from Theus's desk, loosened his collar, and gulped down his tea.
"Don't rush. Have some water and catch your breath first." Theus turned and took a sheet of paper, handing it over. "I just received word that Zoe and Josh are coming over by ship. They'll arrive later today. The two of them hope the expeditionary force can reserve a few more slots for the Mystic Society."
"The Mystic Society? Hmm..." Alexei frowned. After hesitating, he spoke quietly.
"My lord, there's something I don't quite understand. Why are they so fanatical about enlisting? We haven't set particularly generous rewards for military merit, have we?"
The Empire fought wars everywhere, yet its supply of recruits never ran dry. That was because military merit could be directly exchanged for money and power, and one might even be granted a title of nobility—the kind with an actual fief attached.
For a young man whose parents had not left him a large fortune, the best path forward was to enlist and earn the means to make a living on the battlefield.
Soldiers' mortality rates were far from low, but the Empress really did pay.
With that incentive system, an endless stream of soldiers took to the battlefield, bringing about the Empire's revival and paving