The wooden cabin was actually quite spacious, but it naturally became crowded when a dozen or so burly men squeezed inside.

Especially with the biting cold wind, the windows and door were sealed tight, lest even a little cold air sneak in.

With no air circulation, one could only imagine how thick the stench of sweat from a dozen or so rough men was.

The Lord had been able to tolerate it, but Fulina’s arrival introduced a faint, barely-there fragrance into the thick stench of sweat.

It was like finding a bowl of fragrant rice in an overflowing outhouse; far from whetting the appetite, the combination was nauseating enough to make one gag.

Fortunately, the Lord was no ordinary man. He simply held his breath. He figured he could last for about an hour, so getting through the meeting shouldn’t be a problem.

"In fact, I wasn’t able to gather any specific intelligence on the Minotaurs heading south. I only managed to observe their general situation from a high vantage point."

"Afterward, I was attacked by a squad of Centaurs. There were about thirty of them, all adult Warriors. They carried curved bows and greatswords, wore Leather Armor, and were formidable fighters."

"Their leader, especially. I’m not certain I’d be a match for him one-on-one."

Knight Si Kai explained, his expression grave.

He wasn’t a scholar who enjoyed carefully choosing his words, nor was he the kind of commander who used flowery prose just to show off his erudition in a battle destined for the history books.

So, he explained the situation in plain, simple terms to the officers of all ranks present, allowing them to get a clearer picture of the enemy.

"This Wilderness Alliance Army has about twenty to thirty thousand troops. If you discount the vassal Races serving in logistics, their actual combat strength is probably around seven to eight thousand. Most of them wear Leather Armor and wield iron weapons. Because my observation time was very short, that’s all I managed to scout out."

Finally, Si Kai added, "At their current marching speed, they will reach High Cliff Castle in five days."

"That is all, Your Grace."

"Thank you for the intelligence you’ve brought us, Knight Si Kai." Fulina gestured for him to sit, a smile on her face. She snapped her fingers. "This ragtag group is a bit larger than I expected, it’s true. But no matter how many rabbits there are, how can they be a match for an eagle? Victory is the only possible outcome of this battle."

Her words voiced what the officers of the Thorn Corps, regardless of rank, had been thinking but hadn’t dared to say. They immediately erupted in fervent agreement.

"Blinded by madness, they’ve picked the wrong opponent!"

"They must’ve had their brains eaten by Goblins to dare provoke the Martel Family!"

"With the Duke leading us personally, they’ll have no choice but to swallow the bitter fruit of defeat!"

Pride is an unavoidable vice among soldiers, and the men of the Thorn Corps were no exception. Between them, they had fought more battles, large and small, than they could count on both hands.

They were one of the top legions in Bailiu City and considered an elite force in all of Debei. How could a bunch of savages from the Wilderness possibly compare?

Besides, combat effectiveness wasn’t something created out of thin air; it was based on tangible factors.

War was won with superior equipment, troop coordination, and a commander’s strategic planning.

In a war involving tens of thousands, individual strength was irrelevant. Discipline was the key.

This was a principle that everyone present—save for a certain Lord—held as gospel.

For the past decade or so, under Duke Fulina’s capable governance, the Northern Territory had flourished. Its military might and its finances had both swelled accordingly.

The soldiers were well-equipped, their morale was high, and they had long been spoiling for a fight.

And this bunch of Wilderness savages?

They were a hastily assembled, ragtag band with rusty Iron Armor and iron weapons. Forget having a strategic commander—their Warriors probably fought as a chaotic mob, each for himself.

The disparity in their strength was obvious at a glance. When the North soldiers heard that this band of Minotaurs was marching south with ill intentions toward Bailiu City, they mostly roared with laughter, seeing them as walking piles of achievements, just begging to die.

Battle requests from one Legion Commander after another had piled up, filling Fulina’s council hall. After careful consideration, she had chosen Fujero, a Legion Commander who had always dreamed of joining the nobility.

Fulina tapped the table, a smile playing on her lips.

"I have already dispatched a Panda squad to provide support. They will assist us when necessary."

The Lord immediately let out a whistle. With him taking the lead, the room burst into excited chatter. While the officers didn’t abandon their decorum quite like he did, they were all visibly thrilled, and the serious atmosphere evaporated.

It was no wonder they were so excited.

Although they all believed the Thorn Corps was guaranteed to win, the enemy still had a numerical advantage; their forces were outnumbered three- or four-to-one.

In an actual battle, controlling their casualty rate would be a challenge.

If their losses were too severe, losing face would be a secondary concern; the Thorn Corps might cease to exist entirely, absorbed into other legions.

But the arrival of the Panda squad was a huge reassurance.

The Panda squad was part of the Panda Warrior Corps, a legion with a considerable reputation throughout Debei, so naturally the Lord knew quite a bit about them.

This legion typically numbered only around five hundred members, but all of them were Panda People of the Panta Race.

These adult Panda People stood about three Tri-Blades tall and weighed over a thousand pounds. In terms of sheer physical prowess, they were no worse off than the Minotaurs.

Furthermore, since childhood they had cultivated "Qi," a form of Power originating from the spirit. Each one was a master of martial arts. Don’t be fooled by their kind faces and love for peace—they were truly ruthless characters.

They had all grown up together, so their coordination was seamless. Though they numbered only five hundred, if deployed correctly, they could absolutely turn the tide of a battle.

This Warrior Corps was considered the elite of the elite, the ace of aces, in all of Debei.

If the entire corps were brought over, one couldn’t claim they would easily annihilate the Minotaurs, but the war would certainly be a walk in the park.

But even a single hundred-man squad was more than enough.

"I’ve decided that we will set out after our meal. We will intercept these Minotaurs on the Agate Plain and make them pay for their ignorance and arrogance with their blood!"

"This winter, the Agate Plain will be a sea of blood!"

With every sentence Fulina uttered, the officers present cheered in excitement. Their chance for promotion and wealth had finally arrived.

The corners of Fujero’s mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly.

Although Duke Fulina had suddenly taken command of the battle, he would still receive his share of the glory.

’As long as I perform outstandingly in it!’

"I have decided to form the Knight Order commanded by Knight Si Kai and Baron Levi’s private Pioneer Guard Team into an auxiliary unit. They will operate independently of one another and of the Thorn Corps."

Facing the questioning gazes of the various officers, Levi simply smiled and nodded.

This was something he and Fulina had already discussed, so he was not the least bit surprised.