After the morial service was over, the King made a point of keeping him behind.
"Little Rod,"
he said with a smile.
"Congratulations on achieving Trolian’s most significant feat in recent years at such a young age."
Thinking of his fellows Tomman and Detri, Rod’s mood dimd slightly as he spoke softly, "It was the sacrifice of my companions that brought about this success."
The King’s expression turned serious.
"They did not sacrifice themselves for you, but for everything they loved. Protecting all that will be the best way to honor them."
Rod’s spirits lifted considerably, and he smiled, "Thank you."
The King returned the smile.
"Little Rod, you have a special aura about you, and conversing with you is very relaxing for ."
Rod joked, "You really noticed it, my latent potential as a king, befitting the incumbent King of Trolian."
The King laughed, "Without the Soul Trait of the Eternal Burning Fire, at best you could only be the King’s man."
"Forget it, Miss Qingyu already has too many n..."
"So you must strive hard. The Royal City Internal Affairs Departnt has already reported a list of her one hundred and thirty-three prospective consorts, and so far, I’ve approved only you."
"So far? If you’re the last to approve, maybe I could consider it."
Curious, the King montarily forgot the matter at hand and asked, "Why?"
"If I’m the last, then she would be soone else’s wife. Being the neighbor old Rod is more acceptable. But to be the first? That’s like being handed a vast green prairie unexpectedly colored with one hundred thirty-two others. No thanks, I have a weak heart."
It took the King a mont to sort through Rod’s logic before he laughed, "You’re quite ambitious, kid. Who do you think Qingyu is? It’s almost impossible for her to marry you alone."
Rod shrugged, "Then let’s forget about it."
After so light-hearted banter, the King steered the conversation back on track.
"In light of your successful mission and achievents in the Third Battle Zone, all your charges for publicly killing Gregor at the Judgent Court have been acquitted. Here is your new Resonance Crystal."
The King took out a crystal and injected Spiritual Energy into it.
The numbers flashed rapidly, and the final tally at the bottom read: Honor 20,151, Guilt: 0
"I’ve directly erased your guilt. Based on your honor points, the Royal City will award you 201 Iron dals. You can go to the Royal City Logistics Departnt to exchange these dals for supplies you need."
"I would suggest you exchange them for materials for crafting a Soul Weapon that belongs to you."
Rod nodded and accepted the crystal.
The King continued, "According to your rits, I will recomnd you to beco the King’s Hand and serve as a Third-Level Commander in the Supre Military War Departnt. Then, I will use this opportunity to assign you to Star Town for a pioneering mission."
"That way, you will have command of a Battle Group."
Elated, Rod exclaid, "Is this your plan? Have you planned this all along?"
The King shook his head slightly.
"No, this is Theodore’s plan. My original intention was to keep you growing in the secret branch because you are too young and inexperienced to lead so many people, and there is no precedent for this in the Royal City."
"But I believe in Theodore, just as they trust ."
The King paused before continuing.
"So, as soon as you returned, I ordered your assignnt to Detri’s team, allowing you enough rits to beco the King’s Hand and to serve as both the Mayor and Defense Chief of Star Town."
"Moreover, Theodore also conveyed to through Spirit Transmission that you had the highest chance of success in the team."
"And indeed, that was the case. We had prepared for the worst, as the projected success rate of the mission was less than thirty percent, but you completed it successfully, becoming a hero to all of us."
Rod was stunned for a long ti before snapping back to reality. He suddenly rembered sothing Theodore had once said to him in the Dream Realm.
"I am working on sothing more aningful than everything else I’ve done in my life."
Could this have been what he was referring to?
"Did Lord Theodore foresee that my best choice would be to beco a Guardian of a region?"
"It’s impossible for the entire Royal City to revolve around ."
"The existence of the Dream Realm must not be exposed, or it will bring even greater catastrophe."
"Once I beco a Guardian, I’ll have a legitimate reason to request high-end combatants from the Royal City and command them to serve ."
"Of course, with my current qualifications, I’m far from being a Guardian; my strength is not yet enough to protect the lives of countless people in the defense zone."
"But I can settle for second best and beco a Defender, safeguarding the security of a town."
"That way, I’d be eligible to form a team and request manpower, money, and materials from the Royal City."
"When the ti cos, with one command, everyone will naturally leave the final blow against the monsters to ."
"Hahaha."
"Most importantly, defending a town, expanding the territory for Trolians, and increasing living space for humanity, will surely grant Divinity!"
"Good!"
"Worthy of Lord Theodore."
"Your wisdom matches mine!"
Rod’s mouth twisted into a grin, nearly missing the King’s next words.
"Star Town is near Star City, a region still sunk in darkness. Once Star City is fully under our control, we will expand in all directions."
"You’ve experienced the Third Battle Zone’s campaign and should understand that an isolated stronghold is useless. A core stronghold must have subsidiary strongholds nearby."
Rod nodded slightly, he was very clear on this point. Whether it was Byron Old City, Laisuo City, or Iron Armor Fortress, all were deployed in such a defense system."
"Star Town is such a stronghold, but it’s not just a military one; it’s also a production site. You need to thoroughly clear all monsters in the vicinity, ignite the Guardian Fire, and completely transform it into an environnt suitable for human habitation."
Rod couldn’t help but smile.
Exactly what I wanted.
The King said with a smile, "Don’t get too excited too soon. Expansion plans are always unpopular within the Supre Council. You’d better find so like-minded companions on your own, especially powerful combatants."
Rod thumped his chest: "Don’t worry, with one call from , followers will flock to like clouds."
The King laughed, "I hope so, young Rod. Lord Theodore places great hopes in you, far beyond this. If you can establish a foothold in Star Town and successfully create a thriving human territory, you might also get involved in the Holy Fire project. By that ti, marrying your Miss Qingyu may not be just a dream."
Rod’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly rembering what the King once told him about the extinguishing Holy Fire, he asked softly,
"Is it related to the continuation of the Holy Fire?"
The King’s expression beca solemn, and the golden crown on his head blazed, making him appear like so god descended upon the Earth.
"Yes, everything I’ve done is for this plan."
"Otherwise, I wouldn’t choose to expand during the Doomsday and the Dark Tide, wouldn’t hold on to Star City at all costs. Royal City has already lost many people for it, and many more will die."
Rod thought of all the previous unexplained phenona and softly asked, "King, we will succeed, won’t we?"
The King did not imdiately answer.
He stood, looking up at the towering flas.
The majestic Holy Fire obscured everything in sight, its burning golden light refracting throughout the space, making the Sacrificial Altar seem like a paradise of gold.
After a mont of silence, the King said softly,
"If the Holy Fire goes out, Troli will face its third great extinction in history."
"Of the one billion humans who survived the Dark Epoch, probably less than one ten-thousandth will remain alive."
"Human civilization will once again be interrupted, and I don’t know if it can recover again, nor do I know if there are other human civilizations beyond us. But I must proceed on this path, regardless of how many die, what the cost, whether it’s or you, we must keep going forward."
The King turned around, the majestic Holy Fire burning behind him.
This grand and magnificent golden blaze could not conceal his smile.
"As long as the will of the fire remains unextinguished, I believe that one day, humanity will once again light up this world and burn all darkness, wraiths, vermin to ashes."
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