Chapter 94: 94 Personnel Arrangement

Chapter 94: Personnel Arrangements

Of Rong’s three subordinates—Macken, Elron, and Ridal—it was Elron who now most urgently needed a boost.

This second extraordinary being to follow him still lingered at the Intermediate Mage stage (212/300), just shy of the threshold to Advanced.

Having completed the achievement, Rong had gained a full 160 Essence Shards. He divided them into two portions, channeling all 88 into Elron’s core—pushing him past the barrier into Advanced rank.

“How’s it feel?” Rong asked after the ritual, watching Elron’s face.

“Yes!”

Elron’s eyes gleamed with radiant energy—he was in better condition than ever.

“Master, I’ve gained two spells: Holy Shield and Light Bind.”

“Oh?” Rong leaned forward, intrigued. “Tell me.”

Holy Shield—a third-tier light magic—summoned a shimmering barrier around the target, capable of absorbing magical and martial damage, yet useless against pure physical strikes.

Light Bind, by contrast, was an immobilization spell. As Elron described it, tendrils of luminous energy sprouted like glowing vines, coiling around the limbs of the afflicted, locking them in place.

Once again, Elron had gained no offensive spells—his path had only grown more entrenched in defense.

“Cast Light Bind on me,” Rong said, rising. “Let me feel its strength.”

Elron extended a finger, tracing intricate glyphs in the air. This spell was far more complex than any before—dozens of luminous nodes flickered into existence, weaving a lattice of radiant threads.

When the final glyph flared, he pointed at Rong. Instantly, golden tendrils erupted from the void around Rong’s limbs—serpentine, unyielding, wrapping his arms and legs in searing light.

“The grip doesn’t seem weak,” Rong murmured, testing his bonds. His limbs were utterly pinned.

He gritted his teeth, muscles tensing, attempting to wrench free one arm—but the binding held fast, stronger than he’d imagined.

Even at his early Intermediate level, he could not break it.

“Stronger than I thought,” Rong admitted.

He opened his interface and poured all 80 attribute points into his Knight progression—now at Intermediate Knight (133/200).

“Break!”

He roared, hurling every ounce of strength into his limbs. The golden tendrils trembled, flickering violently—on the verge of collapse.

One breath. Two breaths.

Rong’s face flushed crimson, veins bulging. For seven, eight seconds, the struggle held—then, with a whisper of shattering light, the tendrils dissolved into motes, vanishing.

He rubbed his wrists. Good—he’d broken it himself. Otherwise, he’d have lost face before his men.

“Excellent restraint,” Rong nodded. “Enough to hold any ordinary Intermediate Knight.”

He shifted tone. “By the way, when Macken advanced, he awakened memories. What about you? Any revelations?”

When Ridal had first been summoned, he’d claimed command of the Flame Expeditionary Force.

Then Macken, upon reaching Advanced Knight, had recalled himself as Captain of the Seventh Knightly Regiment.

Now, Elron had ascended too. Had his memory stirred?

“Master,” Elron bowed slightly, “I received a fragment as well.”

“It tells me I, like Macken and Ridal, came from the Flame Expeditionary Force. My role was ‘Sacred Healer’—dedicated to healing and support.”

The spells he now wielded—Inspiration, Flash, Healing, Holy Shield, Light Bind—all aligned perfectly with that title. “Sacred Support” would’ve been even more fitting.

Rong finally knew: these three, summoned from the void, were bound by a shared past.

And as their power grew, so too would their memories—and with them, secrets unknown to the world.

After Elron withdrew to assimilate his new strength, Rong found himself with rare, quiet time.

From the 21st to tonight, the 23rd—just three days—and he had already subdued three savage tribes.

Though the Ash Soil Tribe wasn’t fully secured, with Babulin—native to the land—and three other Junior Knights already in place, control would be no issue.

All that remained was to spread his policies, sprinkle small favors, and win their hearts.

So long as their living conditions didn’t worsen, and hope took root in even a few minds, all would fall into place.

“I never imagined it would unfold so smoothly.”

For now, as long as the Black Collar Tribe didn’t provoke him, he wouldn’t seek them out.

His plan was clear: first, consolidate the territories of the Threefold Alliance, establish the foundations of industry here, then decide his next move.

Not because he intended to wait years—no. The assault on Black Collar would come soon enough—likely after next spring’s planting.

“It’s just frustrating how slowly my dual-class advancement progresses.”

He still lacked 67 attribute points to reach Advanced. Once there, Knight required 300, Mage required 400.

That meant 767 total points to become a Bronze Knight and Grand Mage.

At his current pace, it would take roughly five months—perfectly aligning with spring planting.

By then, when he broke through, the Forest Town might boast four fourth-tier extraordinary beings. Even with the Sein Clan backing Black Collar, they’d stand no chance against him.

“Ridal, take Tom, Juweit, Sim, and Babulin to Ash Soil Tribe. Monitor Black Collar’s movements.”

Ridal’s strength dwarfed that of Srein by far. His presence alone ensured Ash Soil’s stability.

Sending Tom and the others gave them trusted hands to command.

“As for the defenses of Green Bamboo and Purple Fruit Tribes—Ridal’s forward presence makes them safe. Let Horn and Jenny remain in Purple Fruit, overseeing both.”

Rong kept Aelin close—he had no fear of betrayal. Besides, from this ordeal, he’d seen Horn and his wife had willingly submitted.

The rest, he would bring back to Forest Town.

Thus, beyond himself, Forest Town now counted nine extraordinary beings: Macken, Elron, Aelin, David, Warton, Dandi, and the three unnamed Junior Knights from Ash Soil who had surrendered.

More than enough to guard the territory—and still spare hands to form hunting parties.

Rong hadn’t expected, in merely two months, to gather so many extraordinary souls by his own hand.

Once horses, weapons, infantry, and archers were trained, he could forge a true knightly company.

And so, the next day unfolded as planned. Ridal departed with his contingent for Ash Soil, ready to assume control.

Meanwhile, Rong stayed in Purple Fruit, demonstrating to Knight Horn how to unravel silk from cocoons.

Actually, the process was simpler than cotton—no ash or lye needed in the boiling.

The only obstacle: no spinning wheel, only hand spindles—clumsy, inefficient.

He resolved: upon returning to Forest Town, he’d have Barl build several spinning wheels. As for looms—he’d first need to see what this world’s looms looked like.

That morning, the girl Aelin completed her census as promised—242 souls of Purple Fruit Tribe duly recorded.

To reward her, Rong permitted her to call him “Brother.”

But the little fellow, whether out of caution for Ning’s intimidation the day before or perhaps a touch of shyness, fidgeted for a long while without uttering a sound.

The brother never managed to call out—but it was Wilson who came running.

After so many days apart, Wilson had missed his lord dearly, fearing some misfortune might have befallen him. So upon encountering this unusual scene in the Purple Berry Tribe, he was wildly elated, warmly greeting Ning while lavishing extravagant praise upon his might.

Wilson had also brought with him the census results from the Green Bamboo Tribe. Adding Woton and Dandi, the total population stood at 354, all duly registered.

Thus, Ning’s domain now counted 2,725 souls.

Ning commended Wilson’s efficiency and assigned him a new task—

train more village heads to be dispatched to his newly renamed Green Bamboo Village, Purple Berry Village, and Ashen Soil Village—preferably those who mastered ridge farming.

For him, the extraordinary need only handle defense; they were not to meddle in construction.

Upon hearing he would become administrator over so many territories, Wilson’s eyes gleamed with radiant fervor, and he immediately vowed to swiftly identify and train the most suitable candidates upon his return.

Of course, the weary administrator’s first duty was to complete the census of the Ashen Soil Tribe.

Soon, Ning’s achievement of 【Population Flourishing】 would surely be fulfilled.

Temporarily traveling far for urgent matters; on the high-speed train this afternoon, tonight’s update will be delayed.

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(End of Chapter)