In the city center of Second Feather City.
Marquis Bogula was escorted onto a high platform.
“You cannot do this to me! I am a Marquis!”
Before he could finish speaking, a noose was placed around his neck by a Chaste Knight, and he was hoisted up.
He didn’t even struggle for long before his eyes bulged, and he died completely. Until the moment of his death, he couldn’t believe that a Marquis of his stature would meet such an end.
The crowd below erupted in an uproar.
The nobles watching from the shadows trembled all over.
‘The Marquis was just executed?’
‘The Saintess’s methods are far too ruthless…’
‘Marquis Bogula’s ancestors, after all, were the ones who established the Fifth Wing.’
‘A noble family of a hundred years…’
However, before they could think further.
In the square, the Bishop of Second Feather City, along with a group of clergy, stepped forward.
They publicly read out Bogula’s crimes and displayed the conclusive evidence one by one.
“Look at what Marquis Bogula has done! While the Saintess fought desperately on the front lines, he was delivering food and supplies to the orcs in the rear!”
“It’s utterly insane!”
“Tell me, does he deserve to die?”
“This is the crime of treason!”
The crowd was in an uproar once more.
When nobles embezzled some wealth on ordinary days, they dared not speak up, but colluding with a foreign race was a capital offense.
Many even felt that mere hanging was too light a punishment.
At the same time.
In the Parliament of Second Feather City, Aililan pushed someone to the forefront.
“Yibimu, you work in secular law.”
“I feel that some people in Second Feather City have been far too unrestrained, practically disregarding the Church’s laws.”
“You will stay here for now and cooperate with the Religious Inquisition Court to reorganize the local legal order.”
Yibimu was precisely the judicial official of Atester City.
This was also a test by Aililan towards the other cities of the Fifth Wing—she was signaling that she would gradually intervene in the affairs of the entire Fifth Wing.
Strictly speaking, Atester was merely her trial ground.
If she did not return to the Holy Land for an official post, she would, like the “Diligence Saintess” and others, eventually govern an entire Wing region.
Afterwards.
Aililan called Yibimu again for a private instruction: “You must take the matters of Second Feather City seriously. When the time is ripe, I will transfer Grace, Alistair, and others here to assist you in handling administrative affairs.”
Yibimu looked serious, suppressing the excitement in his heart. “Please rest assured, Saintess. I will give you a satisfactory outcome.”
He swore inwardly.
Back in Atester, his other colleagues had already achieved merits in front of the Saintess, while he alone seemed mediocre.
This time, he would definitely not fall behind again.
“If you encounter difficulties, you can seek out these people.”
Aililan handed him a list.
On it were the vacant positions left by those previously dealt with, which would be filled by trustworthy individuals from the Holy Land.
Aililan did not stay here long.
Because there were still more traitors to deal with.
Over the next half month, she traveled almost the entire Fifth Wing.
The number of noble houses disposed of reached seven.
This series of thunderous actions completely intimidated those with ill intentions.
Meanwhile.
In a hilly area at the border, Gareyas had already led the main army and established a sturdy encampment here.
Ahead lay the endless Beastman Plains, forming a standoff with the War Pigs.
When Aililan personally arrived at the front lines, what she saw were endless rows of tents behind the encampment.
“Saintess.”
Gareyas, with a grave expression, handed over a report: “Our forces have mobilized thirty thousand soldiers this time. The Jackal Tribe has mobilized approximately forty thousand.”
Aililan frowned. “Why only forty thousand from the Jackals?”
“Please calm your anger, Saintess. The Jackals have their own difficulties. The Beastman Plains have no natural barriers. If the War Pigs send mobile units to flank them, their rear would be compromised, so they must keep troops for defense.”
“What is the current state of the battle?”
“Reporting, Saintess. Currently, the battlefield is divided into northern and southern fronts. On the northern front, we hold the mountain pass; the beastmen dare not launch a strong assault for now. On the southern front, due to the open terrain, the War Pigs and Jackals primarily engage in raids and reconnaissance; both sides are still probing.”
“So, it’s still a stalemate phase?”
“Yes. Should we notify the Jackals to launch a simultaneous attack on both fronts? After all, with seventy thousand against forty thousand, the advantage is ours.”
Aililan gave him a deep look.
Phrases like “the advantage is ours” should not be spoken lightly.
She walked to the sand table, pondered for a moment, and said, “In military command, you are the professionals. But at the strategic level, you will listen to me.”
“Please instruct us, Saintess.”
“I believe initiating a decisive battle is unwise. Time is on our side. Each day we delay, the War Pigs consume another day’s worth of supplies. Feeding men and horses, they cannot hold out for long. In less than half a month, they will be forced back to gnawing on roots.”
She paused, then continued:
“At that point, the ones who will be anxious are them. They will inevitably launch a strong assault on our encampment, and the attacking side is destined to pay a heavy price.”
“What you must do is fortify the encampment and produce as many defensive siege weapons as possible.”
“Additionally, all blacksmith workshops in the city are to enter a war readiness state. Just for arrows, daily production can reach tens of thousands; in ten days, that’s hundreds of thousands.”
“You must ensure our archers can achieve this—the men may rest, but the arrows never stop.”
“Finally, I have already relocated all surrounding villages and towns into Atester City. You need not worry about harassment from the rear.”
Gareyas listened, his blood boiling with excitement.
Having fought for so many years, he had never fought such a “wealthy” war.
Just the phrase “the men may rest, but the arrows never stop” nearly brought tears to his eyes.
Even the concern of villages and towns in the rear had been completely resolved by the Saintess.
“Saintess… are there any oversights in your arrangements?”
“No, no, none at all!”
He shook his head repeatedly, his voice trembling slightly. “I just never imagined that, under your coordination, soldiers would only need to focus on fighting. This… it’s too incredible.”
Aililan smiled slightly.
Wasn’t this the most basic principle?
But upon second thought, she understood.
Without unified coordination, just the matter of provisions and military pay alone would be enough to cause endless disputes among various parties.
How could it be like this now—
The men may rest, but the arrows never stop.
Gareyas even felt.
Only a fool could lose a war fought like this.