Shien's gaze went first to the Legion seats. "First, the Legions' current structure will remain unchanged."
Many officers had braced themselves for a sweeping reorganization. At this, their expressions eased a little.
"But this Blood Moon Season proved that mobile operations across Defense Zones must continue."
Shien did not beat around the bush. "So the Joint Mobile Legion will be disbanded. From today, it will become a strategic mobile force directly under the Governor's Mansion, and it will be expanded again."
A slight stir rippled through the Legion seats.
After the last Blood Moon Season, many had thought the Joint Legion would become even more formidable if it absorbed this temporary force. But with a single sentence, Shien had made the force permanent—and ordered another expansion.
On reflection, it made perfect sense. The force had shone too brightly in this Blood Moon Season for anyone to raise much objection.
Shien ignored the stir and continued. "The rules for temporary deployments and resource priorities across the Twelve Defense Zones will also be reformed."
At that, he looked toward Raymond. "Commander Raymond will oversee the reform."
Raymond rose from the Legion seats and pressed his right fist to his breastplate. "At your command!"
Several Legion Commanders behind him rose and saluted as well.
Whatever traces remained of the factions formed around the previous succession candidates lost all meaning with that gesture.
From this moment on, Raymond was one of the highest authorities in the Legion system, and Shien was his direct superior.
Shien nodded and continued. "The second matter concerns the Sacred Flame and the Sacred Flame Echo Console. The sacred relics in each Defense Zone will remain under the care of local Clerics. The Governor's Mansion will not take every key Sacred Flame post in the Twelve Defense Zones into its