Chapter 192: Laying the Groundwork for Strategic Counteroffensive

At five in the afternoon, the meeting room in the lord’s residence was already full.

The chamber, once belonging to Haus and decorated in gaudy luxury, had been reorganized by Anna into something clean and efficient. Aside from a few cups of water, the massive ebony round table was bare.

Hank sat, as always, in the first seat to the right of the head position, his back straight as a rod, an unlit cigar held between his fingers.

Rehanna and Little Donnie stood on either side of him, their faces still flushed from training, unable to hide their excitement. Vivi had chosen a seat where she could clearly observe Nolan’s every movement, her fingers idly curling around the tip of her tail beneath the table.

Anna sat to the left of the head seat with an account book spread open before her, brows slightly furrowed in thought. Kayan and Leus had arrived early as well; the former rested with eyes closed, murmuring as if reciting sacred words, while the latter looked positively radiant, as though the words “I’m delighted” were written across his face.

Leus, who managed logistics, had been in high spirits these past few days. Large quantities of standard-issue weapons had been recovered, and siege equipment such as battering rams and catapults had been replenished.

With Nolan and Leus in charge, Coldsteel City did not lack advanced technology. For the Black Armored Legion, which sought to expand its ranks, it was basic materials that were relatively scarce.

What Coldsteel City needed most was time. Even if the captured siege engines were not particularly advanced, they marked a crucial breakthrough—having them at all was better than having none.

As usual, everyone had arrived ahead of time. Nolan, having just finished his physical training, was the last to enter the meeting room, arriving precisely on schedule. He was not wearing his heavy armor today, only a simple set of lordly attire. Behind him followed Ailindel, dressed in a pale moon-white gown.

The appearance of their lord immediately enlivened the room.

Rehanna and Little Donnie were already accustomed to the presence of the Moon Elf heroine and simply stepped forward to salute Nolan. Anna and Vivi, however, had far more complicated expressions.

Anna in particular felt an inexplicable pang as she watched the two walking side by side—one valiant and commanding, the other breathtakingly graceful. The memory of what she had accidentally witnessed that morning surfaced in her mind, and her cheeks warmed involuntarily.

“Ahem. Everyone’s here,” Nolan said, unaware of the subtle tension. He took his seat at the head of the table, while Ailindel naturally settled into the empty chair beside him.

Hank, for his part, had completely given up sparring. After being utterly defeated in two practice matches against Nolan, he had refused to embarrass himself further. As he put it, it was not sparring but a one-sided beating, and he had no interest in subjecting himself to that again. Even he had his pride.

Looking across all of Coldsteel City, only this unfathomably powerful Moon Elf heroine could now truly match their lord in combat.

Nolan carried no airs. He glanced around the room and spoke directly. “Let’s begin.”

Hank placed his cigar on the table, cleared his throat, and began his report in a deep voice. “In the Battle of the Somme River, our results far exceeded expectations. The Black Armored Legion suffered a total of 141 wounded. Among them, 34 will withdraw from the front line due to the severity of their injuries, but there were no fatalities. Every one of them has volunteered to join the logistics corps or the reserve.”

The words “no fatalities” drew a collective intake of breath from the room.

Little Donnie slapped his thigh in excitement. “That’s incredible!”

In a battle involving nearly ten thousand troops, the outnumbered Coldsteel forces had not lost a single soldier. It was almost unbelievable.

Hank allowed himself a hint of pride before continuing. “In this battle, we eliminated over three thousand troops from the Demont punitive coalition and captured 2,827. The rest fled. Enemy commanders, including Sir Pascal, Grand Knight Verdi, and Knight Claw, have all been confirmed killed. Knight Finley remains imprisoned in the dungeon. According to his account, the alliance’s mid- and lower-ranking officers were nearly wiped out in this battle.”

At this point, Hank paused and gestured toward Ailindel with his chin, making no attempt to hide his admiration.

“Our victory would not have been possible without Lady Ailindel. Nearly half of the results were achieved by her and the fully armored Black Armored Legion assault unit under her command.”

All eyes turned to Ailindel.

The Moon Elf heroine merely smiled faintly, showing no desire to claim credit. “It was a team effort.”

Nolan understood well that this miraculous victory had been shaped by many factors. Ailindel’s strength had been decisive, but so too had the Dragon Blood’s Oath potion, which pushed the soldiers’ physical limits; the gradual recovery effect of his Glory Guardian class through the Dawn Aura; the offensive and defensive boosts from two team auras; Kayan’s continuous group blessings from the rear; and the meticulously precise tactical planning.

All of these had combined to create an unbelievable triumph.

“Anna, make sure the compensation and follow-up arrangements for the wounded are handled properly. Any brother who leaves the front line can transfer to logistics or the city reserve if they wish, with no change in wage,” Nolan said, turning to her.

“Understood, my lord. I’ve noted everything,” Anna replied, quickly recording it in her ledger.

Nolan then looked to Hank. “As for the 2,800 prisoners, I have another plan.”

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. “Reorganize them into units. While they can’t match the Black Armored Legion, they’re more than capable of serving as local garrison forces to guard mines and villages. Assign some squad leaders from the Black Armored Legion to supervise and command them. That will free our elite forces from routine security duties. Additionally, announce a promotion pathway. Let them know that those who perform well and pass evaluations will have a chance to formally join the Black Armored Legion. This pathway will remain open long-term. The former Pascal guard unit was once something they looked up to. Their inclusion now will serve as the best example.”

The proposal lit up the room.

Little Donnie grinned. “That’s brilliant, boss! Let them compete among themselves!”

“Compete” was one of the “new terms” Nolan had introduced.

Hank nodded in agreement. “With two to three thousand men, even if only one-tenth are eventually absorbed, that’s nearly three hundred additional troops—half a regiment. And they’re all veterans. Far better than recruiting raw conscripts.”

Turning prisoners into fighting strength—sustaining war through war—was undoubtedly the fastest and most effective way to expand.

Seeing the energized expressions around him, Nolan did not hold back his praise. “Everyone has done well. This victory belongs to all of you.”

The atmosphere grew even more lively, each person taking pride in the remarkable achievement.

“The victory at the Somme River eliminated a hastily assembled force under Archduke Demont—an army made up of various vassals’ private troops. With over sixty percent losses, the remaining forces have lost their will to fight. The blockade north of Coldsteel City has effectively been broken, buying us some breathing room. But,” Nolan’s tone shifted, turning serious, “we cannot afford complacency. The archduke’s true standing army has yet to appear, and neither have his undead allies. The real challenge lies ahead.”

He rose to his feet, sweeping his gaze across the room before turning to the map of Demont Province.

“Although two of the archduke’s three Golden-tier forces have already been eliminated, a seasoned ruler who has governed a province for years cannot possibly have so little in reserve. I suspect…” Nolan paused briefly, choosing his words, “that the archduke is preparing something on a massive scale—a trump card capable of turning the tide of the war. And whatever it is, it requires time.”

A sharp light flashed in his eyes.

“Therefore, our next strategic objective will no longer be defense. We will enter a phase of strategic counteroffensive—and take the initiative.”