Blueprint for Seven Fiefs
The laughter quickly subsided, and through the gap in the silver mask, the Governor's gaze turned cold, fixing on him directly.
He leaned forward slightly, and the sense of oppression he exuded increased dramatically.
"Ambitious enough, but coordinating tens of thousands of people and a Defense Zone is not the same as you shrinking into Blackpine Fief to fight a defensive war."
You're too young and lack experience. With your current standing, I could at most grant you a Long Night Fief in Changye. You think you can rule over a region?
You are not qualified.
The Platinum Flame fell on Shien, casting a long, narrow shadow.
He listened quietly, without a trace of anger in his eyes, and carefully chose his words, saying, "The Governor is right. Fighting a tough battle and holding a Defense Zone are not the same thing. I don't yet have enough achievements to convince everyone."
Then let's start by using the four ruins under our command as pilot sites, with Blackpine Fief as the central hub, Grasshawk Fief, Iron Gleam Fief, and White Fang Fief as forward warning and containment areas.
Please grant Bishop Castian the title of official representative. I ask for nothing more than wartime control over these four outposts, priority in fortification, and a written order from you.
Yasol remained silent, his gaze fixed on him from behind the mask.
Meeting that gaze, Shien added the last sentence, "The Graymist Defense Zone can't afford to wait any longer; the Sacred Flame isn't sustained by seniority."
If I wait until I've accumulated enough seniority and everyone is truly convinced, by the next time the Blood Moon Season arrives, there won't even be many of us left fighting for the Sacred Flame.
You can first see if this system can relieve the siege of the Defense Zone and help the Sacred Flame relay go a little further. If this pilot defense line is impassable and cannot be held...
Shien paused for a moment, then said, "That subordinate of mine is already dead in the trenches."
Yasol's gaze, hidden behind his silver mask, was fixed on the four territories circled by Shien on the Sand Table.
After a moment, he slowly raised his right hand and tapped the Sand Table three more times with his fingertips.
"Blackpine Fief, Iron Gleam Fief, White Fang Fief, Grasshawk Fief —four are too few. The Graymist Defense Zone, a sieve leaking from all sides, needs only four nails; it can't support the entire Sacred Flame Domain."
He picked up three small platinum flags from the silver tray beside him and accurately planted them into the Sand Table.
"Ashen Fief, Shattered Stone Fief, Coldwater Fief."
The three points, along with the four points previously circled by Shien, immediately formed a line, effectively blocking several key routes leading from the west side of the Defense Zone to the middle section.
"If we're going to try, let's try something big." Yasol pressed his hands on the armrests and leaned forward slightly.
"From now on, you will be fully responsible for these seven locations."
Shien stared at the seven newly planted flags on the Sand Table, his icy blue pupils narrowing slightly.
Once these seven points are connected, the Sacred Flame Domain, in overclocked mode, is enough to cover most of the Graymist Defense Zone. Moreover, the terrain is favorable for the defensive layout, which shows that the Governor fully understood the essence of his strategy and instantly deduced a better solution.
He steadied his breathing, his face remained expressionless, and his back remained ramrod straight.
Yasol pressed his hand heavily on the edge of the Sand Table, his voice deepening as he said, "What you wanted, I gave you. Listen to the rules."
First, the Tear Knight Defense Line is bleeding profusely everywhere. I will allocate the required supply quotas to these seven territories to you accordingly.
But there's only the quota; you won't get a single extra one. You'll have to figure out how to fill the gap yourself.
Secondly, you must deal with the lords still alive in these seven territories yourself; the Governor's Mansion will not clean up this mess for you.
Third, if this system collapses in the Seven Fiefs, even if you are lucky enough to survive the Magic Creature' jaws, I will personally cut off your head and hang it on the Tear Knight City.
Shien remained completely unfazed; to him, all three points Yasol made sounded perfectly normal.
The Eternal Night Wall is a place that shows no mercy and offers no room for wishful thinking. If one cannot even unite these seven territories, it doesn't really matter whether one dies in the mouth of Magic Creature or under the city gates.
"I don't need any extra supplies, but I do need people," Shien stated his only request.
A cold laugh rolled down Yasol's throat, as if he had heard something strange. "Fine, those fifty thousand-plus Refugees and criminals, and thirty thousand warriors and Knight in the rear, are yours."
After speaking, he tilted his head slightly and looked at the line of Cleric on the right side of the hall.
A Cleric in his thirties stepped forward silently. He wore a dark-patterned robe, held Ashwood Staff, and had eyes as deep and unfathomable as a dry well.
"Emon, from today onwards, he will be with you, serving as the coordinator between the Governor's Mansion and the Council of Deliberation, helping you advance defense efforts."
Shien looked up and met the Cleric's gaze for a moment.
Neither of them spoke; Emon stood there, as quiet as a statue.
Shien understood immediately after a moment's thought, and without the slightest hesitation, he knelt on one knee again.
"The Governor is very thoughtful. The Graymist Defense Zone needs to do more than just strengthen its defenses; it also needs to establish proper regulations. With Emon overseeing things, he can keep those who shouldn't be making moves in check."
Yasol looked at him and chuckled softly, easing the tense atmosphere in the hall.
"At least you know what's good for you." Yasol raised his hand and picked up the Sacred Flame Signet Ring, representing the overall command of the war zone, from beside the Sand Table. "At least you know your limits."
Shien reached out and took the Sacred Flame Signet Ring, clutching it firmly in his palm.
It was cold and a little prickly to the touch.
From that moment on, he received the military order for half of the Defense Zone, and also an iron chain around his neck.
Back in his private wartime study, Yasol tore off the Mask of Mercy his face and tossed it into the pile of battle reports still stained with dark red blood on the desk.
He trudged to the ironwood liquor cabinet, uncorked it, and filled a glass with strong liquor.
"What a ravenous wolf cub." Yasol tilted his head back and took a gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing heavily. "Big appetite, and clear-headed too, he knows how many bones he can chew right now."
Castian took the glass, a hint of approval flashing in his grey-blue eyes.
He didn't respond to that, but instead tilted his head back and swallowed the spicy liquor in one gulp.
Yasol leaned against the edge of the table, looking down at the swirling liquid in his glass. "Now, let's see if he can make this dish work."
As soon as he finished speaking, the faint smile on his face vanished, and his gaze darkened once more.
Yasol turned around, his gaze falling on the entire map of the Tear Knight Defense Line, which covered the entire black stone wall.
"The position of the Graymist Defense Zone District Supervisor, the legal authority granted to you by the Church, and the right to deploy the Mobile Holy Knight are all still in your hands."
But next, there's something even more important that you need to do.
As he spoke, he drew a short sword with dried bloodstains from the shadows.
The sword tip pressed heavily against the parchment map, accompanied by a screeching sound, and then slashed horizontally, dragging it all the way from Tear Knight City to the outer nodes, cleaving through most of the Defense Zone.
"I want you to go to the outer lines and wipe out all the wandering High-Tier Demonic Beast, reclaim the lost territory that can still be recovered, and rebuild the old nodes that can still be repaired. It's not just about the Gray Fog, it's about the entire Tear Knight Defense Line."
This mission is dangerous, but besides you on this entire defensive line, I can't find anyone else."
Castian glanced down at the gap in the defensive line on the map, his expression unchanged. "Understood. I'll lead my men out of the city tomorrow morning."
Yasol glanced at him, said nothing more, and simply reached out and pressed the short sword back onto the edge of the map.