"I’ll be counting on your guidance, Lord."

Outside the wooden cabin, a chill gust of wind blew past. Si Kai instinctively tightened his collar, smiling as he glanced at his Lord, who seemed lost in thought.

He usually commanded the Cavalry Corps, which operated independently from the main army. His duties were mostly guard and escort missions, so he rarely participated in large-scale battles. When it came to military strategy, he was little more than an armchair general. He was decent at tasks like reconnaissance, but if you asked him to command a major battle, you might as well tell him to forget it and go to bed.

"Ah, in reality, I only know a little about military matters myself," Levi said with a modest wave of his hand. "We’ll have to learn from each other and improve together, won’t we?"

Levi was being very modest.

Levi understood this war very clearly. He was just here to build his reputation, so it didn’t matter if he actually contributed much, as long as he didn’t hold anyone back.

Given the chance to gain experience for free, he would definitely choose to slack off.

That was why he acted so modestly and didn’t try to take charge of everything.

Si Kai just smiled and said no more. There were at least three recorded battles where this Lord had led an inferior force to crush his enemies. Even if the numbers involved were somewhat exaggerated, it still served as indirect proof of the Lord’s military talent. At the very least, he was far more capable than a mere Guard Corps Knight like himself.

"Lady Fulina."

Si Kai quickly bowed respectfully to her, then, with a great deal of tact, took his leave.

Levi turned to look and saw Fulina, who had been the last one in the cabin, walking out.

"Phew, the meeting’s finally over." Fulina let out a long sigh as soon as she was outside.

"I thought you, of all people, Lady Fulina, would be able to keep a straight face amid that thick stench of sweat," the Lord couldn’t help but tease.

"No one could remain unfazed by that," Fulina said with a faint smile. "I just used my Combat Qi to block off the air around my head. I suspect Baron Levi is the one who truly remained unfazed."

’Damn,’ Levi cursed inwardly. While he hadn’t gotten a noseful of sweat, he’d had to hold his breath for a long time. Compared to Fulina using her Combat Qi, his method was just crude. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

However, Levi had a sudden thought. ’If Combat Qi can block the air, can my Holy Light do the same?’

This was the pain of being self-taught. Although he had reached the Firefly-rank in his Holy Light Cultivation, he knew nothing about its practical applications.

"Care to join me for a simple meal?"

Fulina offered.

"It would be my honor."

He had assumed the military conference would be an opportunity to freeload a good meal and had even saved room in his stomach. But it turned out to be nothing but dry talk. Now that a real offer of food had finally come, he naturally accepted without hesitation.

...

Levi had thought that Fulina, as a Duke, would provide special treatment. If not a banquet of exotic delicacies, it would at least be a sumptuous meal.

But what he got was a plate of plums, bread, and milk. It was a "simple meal" in the most literal sense.

In the end, the indignant Lord secretly stuffed all the plums from the plate into his pocket and took them with him.

Zat was squatting in front of the fireplace, adding firewood. He had just managed to warm up the lord’s hall when he suddenly heard the door open. A rush of cold air swept in, making him shiver. He turned his head, about to curse someone out, but the words changed when they reached his lips. "Boss, is the meeting over?"

Levi walked into the room and slumped into a chair, giving a listless "Mmm."

"Here. Brought these plums just for you guys."

He pulled a handful of plums out of his pocket and distributed them to the people in the lord’s hall.

He had originally told everyone to eat first while he went to the meeting to freeload, but his own meal had been a bust. The people from High Cliff Castle had clearly already finished eating. Too proud to admit he hadn’t eaten, all he could do was slump in his chair, looking miserable.

"So, how’d it go?" Zat asked, taking four or five and tossing them all into his mouth at once. He chomped down with a loud CRUNCH, CRUNCH, showing all the refinement of a beast.

"HSSS!"

A moment later, his expression twisted as if he were constipated.

"What’s wrong with you now?"

"Sour!"

Baisitina, who had just brought a plum to her lips, put it back down.

"I go to all the trouble of bringing you something to eat, and you have the nerve to complain?" the Lord shot him a look, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He finished by rolling his eyes. "I might as well have fed them to a dog!"

Anyone with eyes could see that someone had pissed off their Lord, and whoever spoke up now would get an earful. So, everyone kept their heads down, pretending it was none of their business.

"They’re not sour at all. They’re actually very sweet."

Although he felt wronged, Zat didn’t say it. Instead, with a look of pure satisfaction, he grabbed two more and ate them.

"Really?"

Seeing him nod firmly, Levi, half-convinced, picked out the biggest, roundest one and popped it into his mouth.

CRUNCH!

"HSSS!"

The sourness nearly made the Lord’s teeth fall out. He smacked Zat on the back of the neck. "Damn it! They’re so sour, and you still dared to lie to me!"

Zat was on the verge of tears but couldn’t cry. He got yelled at for saying they were sour, and he got hit for saying they weren’t. ’There’s just no winning in this hall!’

Everyone was struggling to hold back their laughter; they wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. Baisitina’s eyes, in particular, had curved into crescent moons.

After taking his anger out on the thick-skinned Barbarian, Levi felt much better and finally got down to business.

"Our dear Duke is preparing to continue north to intercept the Minotaurs. High Cliff Castle has been assigned to the Thorn Corps as an auxiliary squad."

"So, in other words, the fighting is finally about to start?" Muto asked.

"Mhm. Next, I’m going to select a group to head north with me," Levi nodded.

"This isn’t some minor skirmish."

He rapped his knuckles on the table, his gaze sweeping over the various leaders of High Cliff Castle arrayed before him. "It’s a massive free-for-all involving nearly forty to fifty thousand people!"