At the mention of the High-Rank Council, Landen got a headache. There were quite a few high-ranks in his territory now, but not many of them actually listened to him.
The two largest groups were the Gallop Fund members from the Imperial Capital and Yawenni's relatives. Together, they numbered nearly sixty. The Gallop Fund mainly contributed Mages, while Yawenni's relatives were primarily Knights. Not only had both groups settled down and built lives in the territory, they had also rendered meritorious service in war and construction. They were people Landen had no choice but to look after.
Apart from those two groups, there were the High Priests sent by various religions, such as Priest Hughes; minor branches of the Gallop Family who had come seeking refuge; and connections slipped in from the Imperial Capital and Royal Capital. These three groups totaled fewer than forty people, forming, together with the two main forces mentioned above, a high-rank contingent of a hundred.
Compared to those he could not control, the high-ranks Landen could truly command consisted only of his own Knights, the Mage girls, Halkara's Priests, and the Magic Beasts. Even if every advanced-class professional among them reached high-rank, their total number would not exceed twenty.
In other words, after promoting his subordinates to high-rank, Landen would still need to completely win over either Yawenni Golden Moon or Fiat Gallop before he could have the final say in his own council.
"Heh, this is what they mean when they say that if you marry into one family, you have to marry into all of them." Having heard of Landen's predicament, Gleia laughed. "I suggest you get engaged to Yawenni. That way, not only can you control a seemingly formidable Knight Order, you can also maintain an absolute advantage in the High-Rank Council."