His major's shoulder boards glead in the sunlight. Every ti he appeared on the training grounds, he drew countless envious gazes.
Yet he always kept a stern face, rarely smiling, as if those shoulder boards carried an imnse responsibility.
In truth, they did.
However, among all the systems, there was one that Luke personally controlled and never delegated to others.
Loyalty Detection.
Ever since his Spirit attribute had risen to 11 points, Luke had gained the ability "Insight."
He could sense other people's emotions toward him: goodwill, respect, love, hatred, hostility…
These emotions appeared to him as clearly as colors.
He had personally reviewed every mber of the family guard, from Major Mars down to the newest private.
He didn't need everyone to worship him fanatically.
So people were naturally aloof, others poor at expressing themselves — that was fine. As long as there was no hostility, they were acceptable.
But hostility was absolutely unacceptable.
The army was his core power, the foundation of his position in Westeros. Any disloyal person who slipped in would be a massive hidden danger.
Thus, during his repeated "inspections," Luke secretly screened everyone.
The result surprised him sowhat.
The vast majority felt positively toward him — so admiration, so gratitude, so awe.
After all, the treatnt he provided was so good that these n were willing to die for him.
But there were also so who harbored varying degrees of hostility toward him.
So were soldiers forcibly conscripted from other lords' lands and still felt loyal to their forr masters.
So were spies or assassins sent by other nobles to gather intelligence.
So were simply twisted individuals who couldn't stand to see others prosper.
And so, even Luke couldn't understand why, inexplicably hated him.
There were over a hundred such people in total.
Luke didn't make any public announcent. He simply handed the list to the Military Law Departnt.
The head of the Military Law Departnt was an utterly impartial man nad Hans — nicknad "Iron Face," because a scar ran from his brow bone to his chin. After it was sewn shut, his entire face beca stiff and expressionless.
Hans was the second person in the entire army to be promoted to the rank of Major. He was extrely upright and his loyalty was beyond doubt.
Upon receiving the list, he didn't ask why. He simply nodded.
Over the next three days, the Military Law Departnt summoned and interrogated the individuals on the list one by one.
So confessed imdiately, admitting they had been sent by certain counts.
So refused to admit anything, but Luke's "Insight" was never wrong.
So tried to resist and were subdued on the spot.
So were publicly stripped of their "human-skin masks" — they were Faceless n from the House of Black and White.
The verdicts were clear: spies and assassins were executed imdiately.
Those with disloyal intentions were expelled from the territory, never to set foot inside again.
Those who inexplicably hated Luke were imprisoned for further interrogation to see if soone was directing them from behind.
Three days later, the barracks was short over a hundred n, but the vacancies were quickly filled by new recruits.
The remaining soldiers whispered among themselves, but no one dared question the decision.
The Military Law Departnt had publicly released the spies' confessions and evidence — ironclad proof that left no room for argunt.
As for those who had been expelled, no one knew where they went afterward.
No one dared ask.
After this purge, the atmosphere in the barracks beca even purer.
Those who remained were genuinely loyal to Luke.
Even those who had previously been just going through the motions now understood one truth: in the Jaqenion Family army, there was no room for even the slightest disloyalty.
Luke spoke to the remaining soldiers:
"You are the guard of House Jaqenion. You are my brothers, Luke Jaqenion's brothers. I give you the best treatnt, the fairest promotions, and the most complete protection. I demand only one thing from you — loyalty.
"Loyalty to House Jaqenion. Loyalty to . Not superficial loyalty, but loyalty from the heart. If you cannot do this, you may leave now. I will give you traveling expenses and will not pursue you.
"But if you choose to stay, then give your hearts. On the battlefield, we will kill our enemies together. In peaceti, I will take care of you and your families. All you need to do is trust and follow ."
No one left.
More than two thousand pairs of eyes gazed at him in unison.
At that mont, Luke could clearly feel the emotions contained in those gazes: reverence, trust, gratitude, adoration… and a determination to follow him to the ends of the earth.
He nodded.
"Good. From today onward, you are my brothers.
"Glory — I will never enjoy it alone!"
From then on, Luke personally examined and approved every appointnt of high-ranking officers.
He personally spoke with and tested the loyalty of every officer above the rank of lieutenant, ensuring that every person with power was absolutely reliable.
Major Mars was naturally the most reliable.
Luke had tested his loyalty countless tis — it was at the level of a zealot. If Luke ordered him to die, he would draw his sword and slit his own throat without hesitation.
Captain Lucas was the sa. This officer, promoted from a "rooted and righteous" commoner background, was almost blindly loyal to Luke.
Major Hans was a true fanatic who regarded Luke as a god. Even if Luke told him to kill his own father or brother… the man probably wouldn't hesitate.
The other officers had also been carefully selected.
So had outstanding military achievents, so had exceptional ability, but they all shared one common point: absolute loyalty to Luke.
For now, with fewer people, Luke could still vet them personally.
When the army expanded to ten thousand or even tens of thousands, he might no longer have the energy to do so himself.
But he was already considering counterasures.
For example, establishing an internal "Loyalty Review Departnt" responsible for secretly testing all soldiers and officers.
For example, regularly rotating officers to prevent any general from becoming too deeply rooted in one unit.
For example, institutionalizing "political and ideological education" to turn loyalty into a habit and an instinct.
These were matters for the future.
At least for now, his army was clean, pure, and loyal.
And this was his greatest source of confidence.
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