The border fortress on the western edge of the Phoenix family’s territory is already under construction.

  Peace Haven’s construction team is doing a fantastic job. With plenty of bor from the Phoenix nds, the foundation work is complete.

  Now they’re building the main structure, and the schedule hasn’t slipped. Everything should be finished on time by next year.

  Meanwhile, Peace Haven’s schools, hospitals, and agricultural institutes established within Phoenix territory are all running smoothly.

  With the Duke’s guard stationed there, no one dares challenge Jansen’s authority yet.

  Before Henwell heads west, the Phoenix Second Legion is sent to Peace Haven for training.

  Henwell sets the standards, and after Henwell leaves, Duke Jansen personally takes command at Peace Haven.

  The Phoenix Second Legion troops don’t dare act out of line. After six months of selection, six thousand soldiers are chosen.

  Those who don’t make the cut still undergo ten months of training, showing significant improvement.

  It’s clear that once reorganized, the Phoenix Second Legion’s combat power will see a huge boost.

  The six thousand selected now train alongside Peace Haven’s seven thousand soldiers, working to integrate smoothly.

  Overall, things are going well. The mixed legion is starting to take shape.

  As for the commander of this mixed Second Legion, Henwell ignores Duke Jansen’s advice to simply appoint a Peace Haven general.

  Instead, he opts for a fairer method: senior officers from both sides compete in exercises to determine who will lead the legion.

  They run war games and live drills, each commanding their own troops as well as the opposing side’s soldiers.

  Multiple scenarios are evaluated comprehensively to pick the best commander.

  Henwell’s words are clear: this is about controlling tens of thousands of lives, thousands of families.

  There’s no room for mistakes. After all, one incompetent leader could doom an entire army.

  The exercises start before Henwell returns and are still ongoing.

  The Phoenix side’s candidate is Vichu Jin, a 41-year-old Knight Commander.

  He used to command the Phoenix Second Legion, and Duke Jansen initially pnned to send him back to lead it again.

  But after these past six months, he’s come to recognize Peace Haven’s advanced military system.

  More importantly, he understands that the elite Second Mixed Legion formed by both sides will surpass any single Phoenix legion in combat strength.

  Commanding such a powerful legion is every officer’s dream.

  He doesn’t want to miss this opportunity and insists on staying.

  Vichu Jin is no slouch. He’s a battle-hardened warrior with an impressive record and extensive combat experience, truly a fierce presence on the battlefield.

  As a Knight Lord of the Phoenix family, his lineage has always been central to the family’s core.

  Now that Phoenix has risen to a ducal house, Vichu Jin’s title has shifted from Knight Lord to Knight Baron.

  Despite his age, he fights with a reckless, aggressive style, known for his fiery temper and penchant for risky maneuvers.

  On the Peace Haven side, the commander is Mocto.

  He serves as deputy commander of Peace Haven’s Third Legion and also leads the Fifth Battle Group.

  From the days when he was just a stand-in, Mocto has followed Henwell’s veterans through every major battle—from the Blood Hill csh to the Transformation War, never missing a fight.

  Over nearly a decade, he’s risen steadily from knight’s attendant to Battle Knight.

  Within three years at most, Mocto is expected to reach the Grand Knight rank.

  Whether in personal skill or military command, Mocto advances with steady, reliable progress.

  At just thirty-three, Mocto’s personality is the por opposite of Vichu Jin’s.

  Reserved and composed, Mocto fights with a cautious, methodical approach.

  He excels at accumuting small advantages that eventually connect and build into a decisive upper hand, striking fiercely to crush the enemy completely.

  In both war games and live drills, Vichu Jin has been repeatedly outmaneuvered by Mocto’s slow, steady tactics, like a frog being boiled gently in warm water.

  Vichu Jin’s risky, high-stakes style struggles against this kind of incremental, step-by-step advance.

  So far, Mocto holds a clear lead in their ongoing rivalry, essentially securing the final victory.

  As a native of Peace Haven, Mocto is also considered a talent nurtured by the Phoenix family.

  From the perspective of strengthening cooperation between the two sides, he’s an ideal choice.

  Both Jansen and Henwell are pleased with these two leading the mixed Second Legion.

  Their complementary strengths should make the legion stronger, provided they can work together rather than pull against each other.

  On that front, Henwell and Jansen pn to personally meet with them after the commander is officially chosen to discuss how to colborate effectively.

  After this year, the Second Mixed Legion finishes its full training and is officially assigned its formation.

  Then, it will head north to repce the First Mixed Legion, taking on the duty of guarding the southwestern military governorship of the Vorry Kingdom.

  At that point, the First Mixed Legion will be responsible for security in the Phoenix family’s industrial zone at Peace Haven.

  Only this battle-hardened legion can keep the various Phoenix family factions in line.

  After discussing these matters, Henwell stays at Duke Jansen’s castle for a few days.

  One afternoon, Henwell accompanies Jansen’s youngest daughter, Elisa, for a stroll outside the castle.

  In the distance, a convoy approaches, and the guards start aggressively driving people off the main road.

  Watching as the guards swing their sheathed longswords, knocking down vilgers who block the way, Henwell frowns.

  “Go see what’s going on!”

  Simon quickly mounts his horse and rides to the roadside.

  Henwell then sees a dispute unfolding on the road.

  Elisa, curious, hurries over to see what’s happening.

  As they reach the roadside, they hear someone cursing loudly: “Where did these bastards come from, daring to block our path? Are you blind? Don’t you see this emblem? This is the Phoenix family crest! Want to get hanged?”

  Simon narrows his eyes at the convoy but doesn’t take the curses seriously.

  Henwell spurs his horse forward: “This isn’t a military operation. You can’t block the official road. Carriages must travel in single file. That’s the w set by the Duke. Why are you breaking it?”

  The cursing man looks at Henwell, who’s dressed in pin clothes: “Who are you?”

  Elisa huffs proudly: “This is my brother, Henwell! He’s pretty formidable!”

  The knight bows to Elisa: “Greetings, Miss Elisa.”

  Then he turns to Henwell and says coolly: “So you’re the lord of Blood Hill! This is a Phoenix family matter. You’re just a Knight Lord, aren’t you? Can’t you see this is the Phoenix family’s viscount crest? By the rules, you should dismount and salute my master.”

  Simon, who’s been silent, sms his hand on his sword hilt and roars: “How dare you! You mutt! Want to die?”

  Henwell raises his hand, stopping the Iron Guards from escating. He dismounts and bows: “My eyes were poor. I didn’t realize this was Second Brother’s carriage.”

  A man steps down from the carriage. It’s Jansen’s second son, now Viscount Kaku.