Chapter 53: Delimiting the Area and Convening the Meeting

Baird entered the hall, bowed deeply, and reported, “Master, the main force of the werewolves encountered a kingdom army at the border and has been annihilated. However, according to the intelligence I’ve gathered, the allied noble troops from the Province of Selop seemed quite disappointed.”

“They’re bound to be disappointed,” Veylin replied with a smile.

Baird was somewhat puzzled. His master seemed to have foreseen everything—truly a man favored by the goddess.

“Baird, inform the others: in three days, we will convene a territorial council. It is time for us to expand westward,” Veylin stood and instructed Baird. “Also, select twenty young women—I have a use for them.”

“Yes, Master.”

Veylin nodded; once Baird departed, he returned to his chambers to rest.

At dawn the next day, Veylin had Baird prepare essential supplies. He also told Raimondo to bring out half of the spoils taken from the werewolves, load them onto wagons, and deliver them thirty kilometers west.

“Master, I do not understand,” Raimondo confessed to Veylin, seeking answers.

“These things, though valuable, were gained by chance. They were originally seized by Lady Anastasia. We’re fortunate to have received half,” Veylin explained, feeling the cold aura at his back.

Standing not far from the convoy, Sia listened to the noble youth’s words, her eyes flickering with an unusual expression, but she remained silent.

“Good morning, Lady,”

Veylin turned, saw Sia, and bowed.

“Hello, Veylin. If everything is ready, let’s depart.”

“Yes.”

At Veylin’s command, a squad escorted twelve wagons filled with various supplies, along with twenty carefully chosen young female serfs, toward the Silver Ice Region—thirty kilometers to the west, a name Veylin had designated for the thirty square kilometers.

An hour later, Veylin arrived at a hill two kilometers left of the entrance to the Shadowed Lands. Nearby, a modest river flowed, suitable as the water source for Silver Ice.

“Not bad,” Sia commented, then summoned her magic, drawing the ambient magical energy toward her.

Veylin stood aside, watching as water gathered from all directions. Under the manipulation of a legendary mage, something from nothing: in half an hour, a castle of ice rose.

Snow and frost engulfed the surroundings. All vegetation, eroded by the icy aura, turned to fine crystals.

Others stared, motionless, as if witnessing a miracle.

“Veylin, this shall be my residence. You may seek my aid at any time; I will honor our pact.”

“Yes, Lady,” Veylin replied respectfully, then gestured toward the twenty young female serfs, “Lady, these are my gift to you. I hope you’ll accept them as servants.”

Sia turned, extended her right hand, and a magic circle enveloped the twenty women. She declared, “Will you become my servants of ice?”

“We will,” the twenty women replied in unison.

As soon as their voices fell, the magic circle activated and enveloped them.

A few minutes later, the glow faded. The twenty women in coarse garments had vanished, replaced by twenty beings with azure skin, their bodies sheathed in ice as if it were clothing, two pairs of translucent wings behind them, nascent antennae atop their heads, and even their features transformed.

As for their strength, Veylin’s senses detected that they, once ordinary humans, now possessed mid-bronze rank abilities, and their power was still growing.

The twenty unknown beings opened their eyes, knelt, and paid homage to Sia, respectfully saying, “Greetings, Mistress.”

Sia noticed Veylin’s astonishment and smiled. “They are no longer human. You may call them Ice Elves.”

Veylin closed his mouth, stunned. “Lady, your power, it…”

“No need to worry. I know what frightens you,” Sia interrupted, explaining, “There are many restrictions on transforming someone into a servant of ice. I didn’t expect this process to be so thorough, with no mutations. Perhaps, thanks to you.”

“I…”

Veylin gazed at Sia’s smile, bewildered.

“This is my chosen one. In future, if he arrives, you must not hinder him.”

“Yes, Mistress,” the twenty Ice Elves answered.

Lastly, Sia drew a token from her chest and handed it to Veylin. “This token will shield you from three attacks below legendary rank and deter certain ill-intentioned parties. Consider it payment for these things.”

“Thank you, Lady.”

Feeling the warmth lingering on the token, Veylin accepted it without pretense.

He then bade Sia farewell and returned with Baird and his party to the Lake of Star Prayers.

On the journey back, Raimondo looked at Veylin with admiration, exclaiming, “Master, you are truly far-sighted! With those goods, you gained a treasure.”

“Haha, this was well worth it.”

Baird, meanwhile, was utterly confused. He watched his master and Raimondo, unable to fathom the reasoning behind these events.

Two days later, in the castle hall, fourteen low-ranked Silver Knights, according to their status, took their seats.

Once everyone had arrived, Veylin began the meeting.

“At present, we have a population of four thousand, an army of five hundred, eighty-three knight squires, and fifteen Silver Knights. We have ample food and weapons, a stable foundation, and powerful protection. Now is the time to expand our territory.”

“Within a year, we must fully develop the one hundred fifty square kilometers around the Lake of Star Prayers, and continue expanding. We will establish buffer zones on the outskirts, leaving sufficient space.”

The fourteen Silver Knights understood their lord’s intentions.

During the initial founding, it was possible to abandon unnecessary things and preserve vital strength.

But as the territory grows, they cannot repeat the same strategy each time. They must keep enemies outside the borders to minimize losses.

“Master, how much land should we develop this time, and how large should the buffer zone be?” Baird asked.

Veylin surveyed the room and answered, “With the Lake of Star Prayers at the center, expand westward by at least two hundred square kilometers, and establish a buffer belt twenty kilometers wide.”

He paused, producing two sheets of parchment, which he handed to Baird and Orlando for circulation.

Since the lord had finished speaking, the others began discussing quietly.

Ten minutes later, after everyone had read the parchments, Veylin continued, “Competition brings progress.”

“I have decided to divide the expansion and construction into two departments and grant equal resources. After a year, I will assess the Lake of Star Prayers and the newly expanded territory. The team with the greatest achievements will receive six low-grade magic crystals, a mithril dagger, three sets of excellent-grade knight armor, three excellent-grade knight swords, and a seven-colored Life Flower.”