Chapter 34: Expanding the Army

The military meeting began, Ninglu listened to the briefing first, and Bukayo yielded the opportunity to Szczesny.

"My King..."

Szczesny raised his head nervously, just in time to meet Ninglu's pitch-black eyes, and his brain immediately went blank.

He was stunned for a few seconds, and only after Bukayo nudged him from the side did he come back to his senses, remembering the young man's kind reminder on the way here.

"Look at our Lord's feet."

Szczesny hurriedly lowered his head, subconsciously changing his form of address, following Bukayo's way of addressing him.

"My Lord, the Seventh Company has already seized the Piszczek, and everyone on the ship has sworn their allegiance to you."

"The ship is in good condition and can set sail at any time."

"Well done."

Hearing Ninglu's words, Szczesny breathed a sigh of relief; he still couldn't figure out why it wasn't the Company Captain who came to report, but rather him, a Captain.

"My King, the defensive positions of the Hive Tower have been initially established."

Luoersiliefu still addressed his master in his own way, even though in his heart, Ninglu was a deity.

"Furthermore, among the living captives, four thousand eight hundred and six people believe that you, who killed the Mad King, are the true representative of the Omnissiah, and they wish to pledge their allegiance to you."

Thierry noticed that everyone's eyes were focused on him.

"My King, I believe their allegiance comes from the heart."

"The way Puhachi led this army was by cultivating a cult of personality around himself; he emphasized his own perfect body as the representative of the Omnissiah."

"His private army, after years of indoctrination, had come to believe his nonsense; now that you have killed the Mad King in front of them, it has shattered their beliefs."

Thierry thought of the scenes from not long ago and still felt deeply shaken.

"Thus, they naturally view you as the image Puhachi had crafted."

Ninglu nodded, and he immediately began to reconceptualize his military building plan in his mind.

Ten seconds later, he spoke.

"I accept their allegiance. Luoersiliefu, you are to select soldiers immediately to fill the establishment of the First Regiment."

"Thierry, using the personnel of the Weila Family as a foundation, select personnel from the surrendered troops to form the Second Regiment according to the establishment of the First Regiment."

"Bukayo, you are responsible for forming the Third Regiment; you may select personnel from the surrendered troops or recruit them yourself to form the Third Regiment."

Ninglu gave Bukayo more freedom; after all, the young man's physique still fell within the category of ordinary people, and "Sleepless" did not possess absolute martial power like "Warrior," so forming his own regiment was more unique.

"As you command, my Lord."

"Szczesny, you are responsible for forming the Fourth Regiment; your squad and the remaining captives are your foundation. For the personnel you lack, recruit them yourself. Do you have any questions?"

Szczesny had the least military merit among everyone, so Ninglu could only give him the people the other Leaders had left behind.

This was also his final test; if he dared not accept the order, Ninglu would let him continue as a Captain.

Szczesny was taken aback; he had not expected to be promoted directly from a Captain to a Leader in one leap.

Although surprised, this time he did not raise his head, nor did his brain crash.

"My Lord, you trust me, and I will certainly not let you down."

"Szczesny, do not be nervous. I will not pick people from the captives; those people are all yours."

Seeing that Bukayo had his own plans, Ninglu approved their distribution scheme, and after pondering for a moment, he spoke.

"Since that is the case, send the remaining people back to Teziwoke and order Howard to form the Fifth Regiment."

With five regiments at full strength, totaling twelve thousand five hundred Warriors, and counting the Commanders and the armored vehicles to be replenished later, the total consumption of supplies was something Ninglu, who occupied Teziwoke and Lukebo, could afford financially.

Moreover, he was still going to conquer two other Hive Cities; if it weren't for the lack of talent, he would have no problem adding another five to ten regiments.

【Still lacking talent!】

Thinking of this, Ninglu remembered the two portions of "Knower" Potion that could be concocted, and he looked at Thierry.

"Do you have any technical talent among your subordinates?"

"My King, I have a technical team under my command with a total of thirty-seven people; among them, only Wojciech Bielik can be considered a technical talent."

As he spoke, he took out a Data Slate to show Ninglu the file.

"The Bielik Family has been mechanics for generations, and Wojciech has dealt with machinery since he was a child."

"The technique to awaken the Magnetic Levitation Train Machine Spirit was something he studied and then taught to others."

"I need his services."

Ninglu decided to keep this person by his side to observe him; if his ability and loyalty met the minimum standards, he would cultivate him into a "Knower."

"It is his honor to serve you."

Thierry readily offered his most capable technical talent, "I will send him a message immediately, ordering him to come and report to you."

Ninglu's gaze swept over the four Leaders, "All of your regiments must undergo swimming training, especially the Fourth Regiment."

Szczesny gave a wry smile and followed the other three in acknowledging the order, thinking distressfully.

【Is my Lord specifically knocking me down? He knows I cannot learn to swim.】

A moment later, a middle-aged man wearing red clothes with white trim and having neat, short brown hair walked quickly into the palace, and he saluted everyone solemnly.

"My King."

"Lord Thierry, Lords, Woyiqiehe Bielik pays his respects to you all."

"I heard you are a technical talent. Now I am giving you two tasks: one is to repair the cracks in my Heavy Halberd, and the other is to research waterproof weapons."

Ninglu immediately issued a test task to Woyiqiehe to verify his ability.

"As you command, my Lord."

"Szczesny, stay behind; the others may withdraw."

Thierry's loyalty still needed to be tested, so Ninglu decided to cultivate Szczesny into an extraordinary being first.

After everyone left, Ninglu looked at Szczesny.

"You seem to be under a lot of pressure?"

"My Lord, you see clearly; everything else is fine, but I truly have no talent for swimming."

Ninglu picked up a book from the desk and handed it to Szczesny.

"Go to the side hall to read and await my summons."

"As you command, my Lord."

After taking it, Szczesny discovered it was not the book on military theory he had expected, but a book on rhetoric.

He walked helplessly to the side hall; although his background was better than that of a Lower Hive dweller and he had received a basic education at the Omnissiah Altar, enabling him to read and write, rhetoric was a field only needed by the upper classes such as Arbiters and Lawyers, and he had no foundation in it.

Szczesny felt that today was both his luckiest work cycle and the one that caused him the most distress, yet even so, after sitting in the leather chair, he immediately entered a state of serious reading.

Just as he was earnestly grappling with the rhetoric book, he heard Ninglu's voice.

Szczesny picked up the book and walked quickly into the palace.

He stopped ten meters away from Ninglu, but the giant walked straight up to him.

Szczesny saw Ninglu's left hand holding out a vial of potion, the blue gelatinous substance resembling the ocean.

"Drink it."

Szczesny did not hesitate for a moment; after taking it, he tilted his head back and drank the potion directly.

Half a standard hour later, under Ninglu's guidance, Szczesny mastered Meditation and Spirit Vision.

"Thank you for your grace, my Lord."

The "Sailor" said excitedly, becoming increasingly convinced that Ninglu was a deity.

"Are you still worried about swimming now?"

"My Lord, the ocean is my home; I want to jump into the sea right now."

"The opportunity will come soon."

(End of chapter)