Finally, Lin Feng turned his gaze toward Li Gui, the chef who had been standing quietly to the side.

"Master Li."

"Lord, please give your orders." Li Gui replied hurriedly.

"I am lacking a chef responsible for our daily meals, so from now on, you will stay in the Lords Mansion kitchen to work."

Lin Feng said, then changed the subject, "Besides, I have heard that some skilled chefs can not only cook delicious food but also use special ingredients to create travel rations that are easy to carry, can quickly replenish energy, and even increase endurance?"

Li Gui's eyes lit up; clearly, this was his area of expertise, and his nervousness faded significantly:

"Reporting to you, Lord, I do know a little bit about it. Using the 'Gray Potato' and 'Black Rye' native to the Nightmare World as the main ingredients, supplemented with a small amount of powdered Gray energy crystals (a very trace amount, mainly for energy guidance and stabilization), and combined with several common, long-lasting dried wild vegetables and salt, through specific kneading and baking techniques, I can make an 'Endurance Ration Pill'.

Eating just one can keep an average person from feeling hungry for half a day and can slowly restore energy, though the texture is quite dry and hard, and the taste is average."

Keep someone full for half a day? And slowly restore energy? Lin Feng was overjoyed!

This was simply a powerful tool for the future army's long-distance raids, hunting expeditions, and even emergency supplies during wartime!

Although the texture and taste were not great, in specific situations, the strategic value of this item far exceeded that of delicious food!

"Very good!" Lin Feng praised, "Master Li, one of your main tasks from now on will be to produce as many of these 'Endurance Ration Pills' as possible.

I will have people prioritize supplying you with Gray Potato, Black Rye, and other materials. You can also ask if you need helpers. The daily meals for the Lords Mansion just need to be simple and palatable; the priority is the stockpile of these ration pills!"

"Yes! Lord! I will certainly do my best!" Li Gui, hearing that the Lord valued his craftsmanship, was suddenly full of motivation.

After arranging these matters, the sky had completely darkened.

Torches and oil lamps were lit throughout the camp. The direction of the 【Great Qin Elite Camp】 remained quiet, but Lin Feng could feel that the conversion of the ten Refugees inside was progressing steadily.

He walked alone back to the second floor of the Council Hall, pushed open the window, and looked out at the village, which was beginning to take shape under the cover of night.

Resources were in place, new members were joining, special rations were being prepared... everything was steadily advancing in the direction of his plan.

"Eleven days..." he whispered to himself, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the window frame, "Xiaoyao Stronghold, Juyi Manor, what kind of answer will you give me tomorrow?"

The next morning, at dawn, as the dark red morning light just climbed over the wooden walls of Beacon Fire Village, the drawbridge outside the west gate was lowered once again.

This time, more people had come.

The head of Juyi Manor, "Cloud-Piercing Eagle," had come in person.

He was a middle-aged man in his early forties with a lean, rugged build and eyes as sharp as a hawk's. The Black Iron Longbow on his back, even wrapped in animal hide, could be seen to be extraordinary.

Behind him followed Iron Abacus and four elites from the manor, all of them looking solemn.

Xiaoyao Stronghold was still led by Gui Shusheng, with several others following behind.

The two groups arrived at the west gate almost simultaneously; evidently, they had met on the road, yet both remained silent.

Across the moat, they looked toward the newly repaired and orderly buildings inside Beacon Fire Village, as well as the "Beacon Fire" flag fluttering in the morning breeze, their expressions complex.

Lin Feng, accompanied by Zhao Hu, Tie Dun, Arrow Eye, and Shadow Snake, strode out of the west gate and stood upon the drawbridge.

There were no pleasantries, no probing. Lin Feng looked directly at the two of them and got straight to the point:

"The two of you, what have you decided?"

Gui Shusheng and Cloud-Piercing Eagle exchanged a glance.

Cloud-Piercing Eagle stepped forward and spoke first. His voice was a bit hoarse, but it carried a decisiveness born from having weathered many storms:

"Lord Lin, Juyi Manor has a total of one hundred and eighty people, including twenty-three Awakened and one hundred and fifty-seven Refugees. Yesterday, when Iron Abacus returned and relayed your words, I discussed it with the brothers in the manor for the entire night."

He paused, lifted his head, and looked directly at Lin Feng. There was no longer any scrutiny or doubt, replaced instead by a determination akin to burning one's bridges:

"We—all one hundred and eighty of us from the manor—are willing to join Beacon Fire Village entirely!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of Zhao Hu and the others lit up, and Tie Dun almost shouted out loud.

A flash of pleasant surprise also crossed Lin Feng's eyes.

The whole manor joining! One hundred and eighty people, plus the two hundred or so existing population of Beacon Fire Village, the total population would directly break the four hundred mark!

"Good!" Lin Feng said loudly, his tone filled with undisguised appreciation, "Manor Head Cloud-Piercing Eagle, you are a man of deep understanding and righteousness. I admire you!"

Upon hearing Lin Feng call him "Manor Head Cloud-Piercing Eagle," Cloud-Piercing Eagle waved his hands repeatedly, his attitude earnest:

"Lord Lin, there is no more Manor Head Cloud-Piercing Eagle from now on. If you don't mind, you can just call me Wang Wu, or Old Wu, either is fine!"

He took a deep breath, his voice low and sincere: "To tell you the truth, I, Wang Wu, have been holding on with these brothers in this godforsaken place for nearly a year.

We can't eat our fill, we can't sleep warmly, we have to worry about the Nightmare Tide every month, and we still have to get fleeced by the Black Wolf Den. The brothers don't say it, but they are tired deep down.

Lord Lin, you took down Black Wind in a few days, wiped out the Black Wolf Den in one night, and now you are upgrading to town-level—I, Wang Wu, am not blind. I can tell who is a true dragon and who is a loach."

He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and lowered his head: "The one hundred and eighty people of Juyi Manor, from this day forward, are willing to serve the Lord unto death!"

Behind him, Iron Abacus and the four elites also knelt on one knee in unison and said together: "We are willing to serve the Lord unto death!"

Lin Feng stepped forward and helped Wang Wu up with both hands, his voice solemn: "Please, rise. Beacon Fire Village is in its infancy, and this is exactly the time when we need people. Manor Head Wang bringing your brothers to join shows that you trust me, Lin Feng.

I have only one thing to say—once you enter Beacon Fire Village, we are one family. If I have a bowl of rice, I {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} will never leave anyone without a sip of soup!"

With a thought, he used his Lord's authority to grant Wang Wu the 【Honorary Resident】 title on the spot.

Wang Wu's body trembled as he felt the mark, connected to the territory and resonating with the National Fortune Cauldron, settle deep into his soul. His eyes even turned slightly red.

He opened his mouth, and a thousand words ultimately turned into just one sentence: "Thank you, Lord!"

Zhao Hu stepped forward, patted Wang Wu's shoulder vigorously, and grinned: "Old Wu, from now on, we are true brothers! I've heard of your archery skills long ago; you'll have to teach that kid Arrow Eye later!"

Arrow Eye said gloomily from the side: "Brother Zhao, I'm still here."

Everyone laughed, and the heavy atmosphere eased up.

Lin Feng then turned to Gui Shusheng, his gaze calm.

Gui Shusheng had been quietly watching this scene from the side, his pale face revealing little expression, but his fingers gripping his folding fan had turned slightly white.

He met Lin Feng's gaze without avoiding it, cupped his hands, and said: "Lord Lin, after discussion, Xiaoyao Stronghold has chosen... the second option."

He paused, appearing to be weighing his words, his voice still refined: "Some of the brothers in the stronghold are the old folks the stronghold leader brought out from Qingshi County back in the day, and they have an attachment to the name Xiaoyao Stronghold.

There are also some... who do not trust me, fearing that after joining Beacon Fire Village, they will be marginalized or even liquidated. As the Second-in-Command, although I have the heart to entrust everything to you, I cannot disregard the feelings of these brothers."