After I died, my personal maid rebelled.

I've been busy all day, but I don't even know what I've been busy with.

After ripping off his old classmate, Thorne dragged his weary soul home. The room was filled with the warmth of candlelight as his wife, Lilith, prepared dinner.

Although he too had succumbed to Oswald's evil forces, Thorne felt he was lucky enough, at least he still had hope for life, didn't he?

Thorne could only wish his old classmates good luck.

Once you arrive in the Northern Territory, the rules are different. You could openly curse Oswald in the street and probably wouldn't be punished; but if someone fails to manage their people or carry out their duties...

Go find yourself a good spot in the mass grave while you can, or you won't be able to get one later.

It was only after arriving in the Northern Territory that Thorne gained a deeper understanding of the word "power."

To some extent, Oswald was indeed somewhat capricious, because his purpose in recruiting these people was not to grant titles to nobles, but rather to assign stewards to the common people.

The support of the people made his rule as stable as a mountain.

"Is something bothering you?" Lilith asked, bringing a lavish plate of food to him.

Thorne quickly took the plate, placed it on the table, and shook his head, saying, "It's nothing serious, but the students were tricked into coming to the Northern Territory, and I'm afraid their lives won't be easy from now on."

Lilith shook her head and smiled wryly. "But they always have to make choices, Thorne. We're not children anymore."

Taking her hands in his, Thorne blinked, puzzled, and asked, "Choice? What choice?"

"After the plague, the Northern Territory has in fact gained the ability to contend for supremacy. The Northern Territory is sandwiched between the Kingdom and the Demon Kingdom, and the Central District is sandwiched between the Northern Territory and the Southern Territory. Remember what I said today, Thorne."

Lilith nestled into his arms, her face filled with reluctance, and said, "For your sake, and for our child's sake, you must not make any more choices."

Boom boom boom!

A rapid knocking shattered the tranquility of the house. Thorne snapped to attention, only to hear a soldier outside shout, "His Excellency the Duke orders you to assemble in front of the Duke's mansion in one hour. Destination: Starfall City!"

……

The bright moonlight spilled across the plains, and the horseshoes clanged crisply against the concrete road. Thorne, once again experiencing the Northern Territory's rapid march, glanced back at the nearly one thousand imposing, armored knights behind him and couldn't help but gasp.

What are we supposed to do? Is the demon race attacking?

No one answered his thoughts; every soldier stared at the tall figure at the front, their hearts pounding.

Bad news, the Duke is furious; good news, it was the demons who did it!

No matter which group or which organization you're in, when it comes to the crucial moment, you still have to rely on our Knights. We are the Duke's strongest weapon!

As the knights gradually pulled away from the carriage, feeling the soldiers' high spirits, Jenny, sitting in the carriage, was both amused and exasperated.

The growing fame of the second legion, and the knightly order that was putting all its effort into training itself, had created a rift between them.

Other troops are fine, but the Knights value honor above all else. If they can't be the Duke's number one, they'd rather strangle themselves.

But this wasn't the great battle they had been expecting; the Duke was clearly preparing for a small-scale operation. Jane herself couldn't understand what the demons were trying to do.

Could it be that these guys have put all their talent into combat?

When humans and demons are at war, what is the demons' motive for sending slaves from the dwarf kingdom to the front lines as gifts?

Whether or not the demons achieved their desired goal, the duke's face at that moment was filled with the violence born of provocation.

Enemies and adversaries are two completely different concepts. I'm not afraid of an enemy rolling their eyes at me; I'm afraid of an enemy engaging in ambiguous relationships. If the target is wrong, then all their actions are wrong.

Since she couldn't catch up with these eager knights anyway, Jenny simply covered herself with a blanket, lay down, and drifted off to sleep.

Of the trio, Eleanor often had to stay behind to handle government affairs, so Janet naturally became the Duke's regular partner.

This time, a fierce battle is inevitable, and she needs to be careful to maintain her physical strength at all times.

From night to dawn, and from dawn to night, each rest period was very short.

Having spent countless days galloping on horseback, Thorne, noticeably thinner, only saw them crossing numerous villages, resting and changing horses at a huge military camp, passing through passes, and struggling along winding canyons through dense forests.

The key point is that the Duke of Oswald didn't say a single word throughout the entire trip.

Finally, at an ordinary twilight hour, Starfall City, which the knights always said was almost there, appeared in the distance before them.

Pushing aside the branches blocking his way, Thorne couldn't help but let out a long sigh. What a magnificent city it was, like a lost sacred site nestled in the mountains.

Human courage and resilience are embodied here. Throughout the long history, only Starfall City has stood firm, guarding the peace of the human kingdom through countless storms.

Aside from the massive storm in her previous life where Elene dragged everyone into self-destruction...

The gates of Starfall City swung open, the thick stone walls on either side weathered by time. Count Camaro personally led a retinue of three troops to await the Duke's arrival.

He dismounted and nodded to them in approval.

These were his most loyal soldiers. Perhaps the wind and snow on the border were too heavy, for the old soldiers' temples were already gray, while the young soldiers' faces were full of resolute marks.

With his hands behind his back and a whip in his hand, Oswald slowly opened his mouth under their reverent gaze.

"I won't say anything about who's bearing the burden for whom!"

The powerful voice echoed through the valley, drawing even more pride from the soldiers.

"Because I know that those who dare to come here are the most iron-blooded soldiers in the Northern Territory! The entire Northern Territory is currently undergoing military reforms. Among you are five thousand garrison troops, five thousand veterans, and three thousand archers."

"Therefore, you do not need to be divided again. I will directly order you to be Starfall Masters, and Count Camaro will serve as the Master Commander."

After saying that, Oswald turned to look at Camaro and smiled calmly.

"Count Camello, I've entrusted you with the elite archers of the new army. Don't expect them to lay eggs with a golden goose; I order you to replenish your division's fighting ranks as quickly as possible!"

Despite being middle-aged, Camaro, still full of energy, straightened his back, suppressed his excitement, and replied in a deep voice, "Yes!"

Commanding an army of tens of thousands of people is an achievement that no family has accomplished in more than a dozen generations.

Although he had a premonition, once he confirmed the position of his superior, Camaro suddenly felt that the world he was in had become incredibly vast.

Many people don't understand what it means to command tens of thousands of people. Let me put it this way: if Camaro were to go to the capital one day, and any of the counts or marquises dared to raise their voices at him, he would slap them across the face.

What kind of class do you have to dare use the same title as me?

I heard that old man Rondo also managed to snag a division commander position. Humph, he begged for it, and he still has the nerve to brag about it everywhere…

Casually dusting off the dust on his collar, Camaro, as a confidant of the Charles family and a frontline commander, naturally didn't take Rondo's words to heart.

"Alright, you'll have to take care of the army's development from now on." Oswald strode into Starfall City, one side of his face illuminated by the twilight.

"Now take me to the north city wall. I want to see what kind of wonderful gift the demons have prepared for me."