The War Pigs wanted to maintain their arrogance.
Aililan, however, had to intervene. She wanted the other Orcs to know that the War Pigs were in bed with the Humans, making the War Pigs a target for everyone else and isolating them from the rest of the Orc tribes.
Just as the envoy departed from Atester for the Wasteland Ox Tribe, Aililan headed straight for the army camp.
There were only 10,000 soldiers in all of Atester. In the past, they were merely used to defend against Orcs heading south, buying time for the lands behind them.
But things were different now.
Aililan liked Atester City. In her eyes, this place shouldn’t just be a defensive barrier; she was going to turn it into a major military stronghold.
Before Aililan even entered the encampment, several military generals were already waiting outside. Gareyas, in particular, was looking forward to her arrival with great anticipation. This was the first time Aililan had come to inspect the army since she began her rule as Governor, and its significance was extraordinary.
The Saintess’s carriage came to a halt.
Gareyas stepped forward and said, “The Saintess has arrived.”
Aililan nodded slightly, then looked toward where the army was stationed. “Mm, take me to see the soldiers.”
“Saintess, do you need me to assemble them?”
“There is no need. I will just take a look.”
Gareyas felt a pang of disappointment. If the Saintess could have given a speech to the entire army, it would have been a great boon for the troops; at the very least, it would have served to boost morale.
The Fourth Wing Army mainly consisted of two types of soldiers: cavalry and shield-bearers.
This was simply the way things were, as Atester had always focused on defense. Being able to stop the Orcs from moving south was already considered a great achievement. Before Aililan, no one had ever thought about striking out, let alone reaching the Orc Plains.
This time, however, Aililan focused primarily on the cavalry. The generals in the army exchanged glances. What this Saintess was showing — or rather, what she was subtly expressing — carried profound meaning.
The equipment of the Fourth Wing Army’s cavalry was average. Most of them were light cavalry. After all, when defending a city, you couldn’t exactly have cavalry riding horses on top of the walls. Therefore, the role of the light cavalry was mainly reconnaissance — acting as scouts.
After a moment of silence, Aililan spoke. “Master Gareyas.”
“Saintess, please give us your instructions.”
“The cavalry must be taken seriously again. What do you think?”
“This…” Gareyas hesitated for a moment before saying, “Cavalry is certainly powerful, but it isn’t the mainstream of the Fourth Wing Army.”
Aililan waved her hand and smiled. “New situations require new circumstances! If I wanted to build a cavalry force, would you have the confidence to do it?”
“Saintess, this is not something that can be accomplished in a single day.”
“I know. Then we shall focus on the current light cavalry. Select the elites among them and temporarily form a brand-new cavalry unit. For the initial phase, 1,000 men will suffice. Let’s call it the Quick Response Force. What do you think?”
“Saintess, I am the Legion Commander of the Fourth Wing Army. I hope you can be honest with me. What exactly is your purpose in forming this cavalry?”
Aililan pointed toward the north. “The Orc Plains should feel the iron hooves of us Humans.”
“I also know that it is a plain.”
“It is an endless wilderness.”
“Cavalry is the only true way.”
This was Aililan’s will. Ever since she took office, it was clear from her series of actions that this Saintess’s blade was pointed directly at the Orcs.
Gareyas took a deep breath. At the same time, a surge of wild ambition rose within him. As a soldier, he preferred a powerful Saintess like Aililan.
After thinking it over, he asked, “Then what are the specifications for this Quick Response Force?”
Aililan had already thought about it and said without hesitation, “It should still be mainly light cavalry.”
“Still light cavalry? Then the meaning of your reorganization…” Gareyas suddenly paused, then quickly changed his tone. “The Saintess is right.”
Gareyas quietly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Changing light cavalry to light cavalry indeed didn’t seem like much on the surface, but the true meaning lay in the fact that Aililan seemed to want direct command over them.
Aililan smiled but said nothing.
As for why she didn’t change light cavalry to heavy cavalry, it was mainly because heavy cavalry was too cumbersome on the great plains. Light cavalry could hit and run, but if heavy cavalry ventured deep into the plains, there was a high probability they would be surrounded and wiped out.
Aililan asked, “So, Master Gareyas, how long will it take for you to give me my Quick Response Force?”
Gareyas thought about it and said tentatively, “If it’s only 1,000 light cavalry… two months?”
“Too long.”
“Then… one month?”
“Still too long. We have already sent an envoy to provoke a conflict with the Wasteland Ox Tribe. I can give you half a month at most. What do you think?”
Gareyas gritted his teeth. “Fine. Within half a month, I will definitely deliver a unit of light cavalry most capable of elite combat.”
Aililan laughed. This matter was settled.
Gareyas hesitated for a long time before suddenly saying, “Regarding the commander of this Quick Response Force, may I recommend someone to you?”
“Who?” Aililan asked curiously.
“My daughter.”
“Why recommend her?”
“I want her to be your adjutant and undergo Trial Experience by your side.”
“Following me is fine.” Aililan paused, then continued, “But I should tell you beforehand that if she has any bad habits, she had better change them before becoming my adjutant. I will not spoil anyone.”
Gareyas hurriedly swore a guarantee.
The matters with the army were finished. Aililan then headed for Bitgel without stopping.
Even though she encountered several warnings from the Governors who believed the Saintess was the heart of Atester and should remain there to preside over the overall situation, they unfortunately couldn’t sway her.
Those accompanying her were all Aililan’s confidants — and, of course, that Feng Aotian.
Fina Nisi intentionally slowed her horse to ride alongside Aililan’s carriage. She began to talk about things she had seen on the plains. “Saintess, I’ve heard that deep in the northern Orc Plains, there is a Warm Blue Lake. The Orcs call it the Divine Lake.”
“Oh?” Aililan said. “To think such a place exists.”
Fina Nisi quickly fanned the flames, doing her best to hype it up. “Saintess, don’t you want to go see it? Just say the word, and no matter how many difficulties or dangers there are, I will definitely take you to see the most beautiful scenery. I will also protect your safety.”
Aililan narrowed her eyes. This Feng Aotian’s scheme was practically hitting her in the face.
‘If I were to agree on a whim, wouldn’t we encounter some kind of crisis? Then the two of us would have to depend on each other for survival, and then this and that would happen… By the time we returned, wouldn’t I have already been claimed by her?’
Thus, Aililan changed the subject. “I will definitely go. Miss Naris of the War Pigs also mentioned it to me in her letter. I would love to go… By the way, Miss Naris told me in her letter that she misses you very much.”
Fina Nisi: “???”
Fina Nisi’s whole body shuddered. Just thinking about that War Pig girl made her skin crawl. Although Fina Nisi often said that “everything is the same once the lights are out,” she really couldn’t bring herself to touch that War Pig girl.
With the War Pigs’ thick body hair, even with the lights out, ‘it would probably feel like a dense thicket.’
Aililan continued, “Grandmaster Fina Nisi, don’t you miss Naris?”
Fina Nisi: “???”
Fina Nisi forced a smile. She must have been too gentle lately because of those two Saintess predecessors of Aililan’s, but Aililan’s predecessors were already gone.
‘I really need to control the Saintess properly.’