The One-eyed Female General clenched her fist for a long time.
The atmosphere in the Military Council Chamber became so stifling it was hard to breathe.
Everyone’s gaze was focused on the Stabilizing Force of Sunset Fortress, waiting for her final decision.
Time ticked by, second after second, and that tightly clenched fist finally loosened, powerless.
Sera George’s tense body seemed to have all its strength drained in an instant, slumping against the back of her chair in defeat.
“Alright… Lord Wendy.”
Sera took a deep breath and lifted her head.
The scrutiny that once filled her right eye had now been replaced by a mix of awe and exhaustion.
She knew that Wendy was right.
To gain the greatest advantage at the smallest cost—this was the essence of war.
As for those sacrifices…
Since ancient times, those who achieve great things always walk over bones and ruins.
“Your strategy will indeed give our army an overwhelming advantage. I… I will go evacuate the villagers right away.”
As she spoke, she casually tapped a nearby general who was also from a commoner background, “There’s no time to lose. The Wolf Riders will arrive by tomorrow evening. We must act fast.”
With that, Sera prepared to hand over full command of the Frontline to Astreia, while she herself went to handle this most difficult and thankless dirty work.
Seeing the Stabilizing Force of Sunset Fortress so decisively transferring her authority, Wendy couldn’t help but look at her in a new light.
‘Tsk, what a perfect tool.’
But that wouldn’t do.
He absolutely didn’t want Princess Royal Astreia, that soft and fragrant girl who could serve as both bodyguard and cuddly pillow, running off to the front lines and fighting far away from him.
If she got bumped or bruised, where else could he find such a perfect cushion?
Risking life and limb should be left to the oxen and horses.
“Ahem, ahem…”
Wendy gently nudged the dazed Princess Royal beside him with his elbow, signaling toward Sera with his eyes, “Astreia, General Sera is the pillar of Sunset Fortress. Now, more than ever, we need her here. She can’t just leave on a whim.”
One sentence snapped Astreia out of her daze.
She immediately recovered from the shock brought by that grand strategy, hurried forward in three quick steps, and grabbed Sera’s armored arm.
“General, please wait! I am too young and inexperienced in military affairs. To defeat the Orcs, I need you to devise our strategies. Please, you must stay!”
Sera stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked at the sincerity on Astreia’s face—clearly not an act.
Then she glanced at Wendy’s harmless, peach-blossom eyes, and began to doubt herself.
Could I have misunderstood?
But looking at the sincerity of these two, it didn’t seem like a performance.
For a moment, Sera was caught in a dilemma—unable to leave, but not sure if she should stay.
Wendy saw this and knew the moment was right, so he spoke calmly, “General Sera, Astreia is a Princess Royal. In the future, she’ll be overwhelmed with affairs and can’t stay at Sunset Fortress for long, let alone personally oversee the production of gunpowder. We need someone absolutely reliable to take full responsibility for this critical task… Do you understand what I mean?”
As he finished, Prince Wendy narrowed his eyes slightly, the scrutiny and expectation in those peach-blossom eyes making it clear: this position was meant for her.
The one to oversee the gunpowder must be absolutely loyal to Astreia—even to the point of defying orders from the Royal Capital.
At the same time, she needed to be powerful enough not to yield to anyone’s threats.
Looking over all of Sunset Fortress, General Sera—an important regional official, and in The Game Plot, a loyal veteran who served her country to the death—was undoubtedly the perfect choice.
“Ah… ah?! Y-Your Highness means… me?”
The anticipated tears of gratitude didn’t appear.
This battle-hardened general, who never flinched even if Mount Tai collapsed before her, now looked like a rookie on her first campaign, pointing to herself in shock, her words tumbling out in confusion.
She never imagined Wendy would value her so highly!
This was gunpowder!
A strategic weapon that could overturn the balance of the entire continent!
And she, she was being entrusted with the supreme authority to oversee its production!
What trust! What honor!
A tidal wave of ecstasy instantly swept away her rationality, and Sera’s body reacted faster than her mind.
“Thud——!”
Her armored knee slammed heavily onto the stone floor.
She bowed her proud head—the same head that had never bowed to anyone on the battlefield—and with a devotion straight from the soul, solemnly swore to Astreia.
“Your subordinate Sera George! Hereby swears! I will serve Princess Astreia to the death! I will never betray you!”
Seeing this, Astreia was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood Wendy’s intention.
She suppressed her excitement and joy, hurried forward to help Sera up, and accepted the loyalty of this Northern Frontier Veteran.
However, Wendy spoke up again with a startling announcement.
“Very good, it seems General Sera understands my meaning. In that case, General Sera can freely recruit military personnel and civilians from around Sunset Fortress to produce gunpowder, and those who help should be given a fair share of the profits from its sale.”
As he spoke, he swept his gaze over the still-shocked crowd and asked in a deep voice, “May I ask if any of you are willing to assist General Sera?”
Boom——!!!
Though he spoke softly, it exploded in the minds of every officer!
Those from commoner backgrounds reacted first, their eyes practically glowing green.
Evacuate the villages? Lose their homes?
To hell with that!
Getting involved in gunpowder production was like the heavens dropping a golden rice bowl in their laps!
Not only for themselves, but even the local commoners would see their incomes soar—they might even have meat to eat every day from now on!
Compared to the rest of the Erashia Continent, where people barely had enough to eat, this was paradise!
“We are willing to serve Her Highness to the death!”
“Willing to serve Her Highness to the death!”
Without a trace of hesitation, they all followed Sera’s lead, dropping to one knee and pledging their fervent loyalty to Astreia.
A wave of clanking armor echoed through the chamber, the scale and passion of their oaths drawing everyone’s attention.
Meanwhile, the military and political second-generation elites sent by the Royal Capital were thinking even further.
With unlimited gunpowder support, this Princess Royal was bound to gain enormous power.
Driving out the Orcs was only a matter of time.
By then, returning to the Royal Capital with military merit and the trump card of “gunpowder,” that lofty Throne…
It seemed the Valoran Kingdom was about to change!
If they didn’t pick a side now, when would they?
Most importantly, with Prince Wendy’s ruthlessness in deciding the fate of thousands with a smile, if they didn’t pledge loyalty now, would they be eliminated on the spot?
In an instant, fear and ambition overwhelmed whatever pride they had as nobles.
“Thud! Thud!”
These second-generation elites rushed to kneel, faces filled with fervor, as if they were already Astreia’s most loyal supporters, their voices louder than anyone else’s.
“We are willing to go through fire and water for Her Highness, never to regret it even in death!”
Looking at the sea of kneeling officers before her, listening to the thunderous shouts of loyalty, Astreia was completely stunned.
She had never imagined that, despite always being shunned by the people for her figure, ridiculed by the nobles, and regarded as “ugly,” she would one day receive such recognition and loyalty.
A wave of happiness and fulfillment, like a hot spring in the mountains, wrapped around her entire being.
But Astreia knew very well—none of this was because of her.
It was Prince Wendy.
It was all thanks to Wendy.
It was he who, with unmatched wisdom, paved the way for her; it was he who, with seemingly ruthless strategies, won people’s hearts for her.
At this thought, Astreia slowly turned and gazed at the boy standing behind her—the one who had paved this heavenly road for her with his own hands.
The roaring cheers around her seemed blocked by an invisible wall.
In her world, only his figure remained.
The sharpness and coldness of a warrior had long faded from her emerald eyes, leaving only the tenderness and affection that could melt steel.
A thousand words condensed into a single, heartfelt call, so soft she feared it might shatter the dream.
“Wendy…”
Before she could finish, Astreia’s vision suddenly blurred.
Everything in her sight began to distort and peel away.
That holy and perfect Prince Wendy, the gentleness on his face quietly faded, replaced by a mocking and deeply disdainful sneer.
“Heh, look at you. Did you really think I’d fancy your fat body?”
“Staying with an ugly pig like you just drags down my class, but your Princess Royal status is still useful. Once I’ve squeezed out all your value, I’ll kick you aside!”
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