Chapter 141: An Honorary General

Mara reported Cassian’s answer to the King’s Frontier Legion. The commanders found his decision almost as hard to believe as she had. Another heated discussion followed.

An hour later, she contacted him again.

"The commanders have agreed to create a special appointment for you: honorary major general. You won’t have any military obligations. Your authority will be limited as well, of course."

As for converting the rank into Aether, Cassian had only been making a remark. The Legion might well have less money to spare than he did. Mara was a lieutenant, yet she had started with only an Elite Hero. That said enough about how generously the military could equip its newcomers.

This offer suited him much better.

"Good. Please thank the commanders for me."

Mara relaxed at last.

"Then I’m one of your soldiers now, sir."

Cassian smiled. "Don’t worry. You won’t regret following me."

He opened the Eclipse Muster Hall’s production function and spent thirty thousand Muster Fortune on three new Chapterhouse Blueprints, including the full training content. All three went to Mara through the Exchange.

"One is yours. Please pass the other two to the Legion with my thanks. Make sure they know the owner has to be a female Human Lord."

Mara stared at what he had sent.

"If you’re short of building materials, Elara has resource points for Sea Melody Stone and Blue Rain Gold."

"Yes, sir!" Mara answered loudly. "Thank you!"

After ending the call, Cassian opened the Eclipse Muster Hall’s panel.

[Muster Fortune: 138,830]

Six Chapterhouses were now complete. Mira, Lydia, and Maelin had built theirs; Maelin had passed the other Blueprint to Brielle, who had paid to build that branch in her own Domain.

With the branches’ Eclipse troops contributing as well, the line was generating more than thirty thousand Muster Fortune a day. That figure was still growing.

He could afford the next stage of Veyra’s Mistveil March now. Tempting, but spending on her alone before deciding how to use the rest seemed extravagant.

"Once we’ve taken first place in the Marches Ranking, I’ll work out how to spend it."

He had another matter to settle too.

"And I should find a buyer for that Hydra Nest out at sea."

There was still plenty to do.

The news of Cassian’s honorary rank soon went public.

[Tobias Reed: An honorary major general! He doesn’t command the army, but has the King’s Frontier Legion ever made an appointment like this before?]

[Rowan Ashford: They’re being stingy. With the boss’s strength, they should have made him a regular major general.]

[Tobias Reed: This is already impressive enough.]

Elara, Mara, and the others who knew what had happened had no answer for that.

The Legion had offered. Cassian had turned it down.

——

The next few days passed quickly. At last, the day of the first Marches Ranking arrived.

Everyone had been hunting hard for points. With half an hour left before the results, Cassian invited Riftward’s leading Lords to his Domain. They had earned a break, and first place was already theirs. There was no reason to wait until noon to start celebrating.

Ten more guests had joined the familiar circle of seven: Gareth from Stoneward, Mira from Northwatch, Brielle from Ironwake, and the seven Valcrests from Greyfen.

Brielle was a lively, round-faced woman whose smile brought out two dimples. She had become Darian’s chief assistant.

Lyra looked around. This was her first visit to Cassian’s Domain, and she seemed a little disappointed by what she could see.

"The strongest Lord in Tidecrown Province, and this is where he lives? I expected something more impressive."

"Most of his strength is out at sea," Seraphine said. "Apart from the Eclipse line. And haven’t you noticed how much Aether there is here?"

"I have. But you can get this kind of concentration with higher-grade Aether Crystals."

Then Lyra saw the food.

She stopped looking around the Domain.

"Epic spirit produce? And that’s... Legendary meat?"

"You’ve all worked hard for those points, especially our guests from House Valcrest." Cassian gestured toward the platters. "The meat came from the Sea Dragon King. Eat well. It should help you recover."

Lyra’s opinion of him improved at once.

Legendary spirit meat could improve a Lord’s attributes. Most people would guard a supply like this as a treasure. Cassian had laid it out for his guests.

"Is our Commander rewarding his army?"

"You could say that." He smiled. "Go on. Eat as much as you like."

They needed no further encouragement.

Beside him, however, Nessa suddenly sighed and lowered her fork.

"No appetite?" Elara asked.

"Everyone knows Riftward will finish first." Nessa looked thoroughly dejected. "There’s no money to be made from the betting this time."

"So even dragon meat has lost its appeal?" Cassian glanced across the table. "We could give your share to Seraphine. She’s nearly finished hers."

He reached toward Nessa’s large platter.

"It hasn’t!"

She hurriedly covered it with both hands, then looked up at him.

"Cassian, next time could you leave the turnaround until the end? Like the election. We’d be able to make money again."

"You really think I can control the scores?"

He gave her a look, then brought up an image for the table to see.

"I found this Hydra Nest a while ago. Is anyone interested in the troops below Epic?"

Forks stopped moving.

"Another Epic Wild Troop Building?"

"It has Legendary recruits too, like the Royal Hall Elara uses!"

"And Hydras can fight at sea."

Darian leaned forward.

"I want the Legendary Hydras. Name your price."

Cassian was delighted. He made himself look reluctant.

"Legendary troops? I was planning to recruit those for myself."

"You sold access to a Hill King," Darian said, raising a fist at him. "That’s a Legendary troop too."

With Darian’s strength and the information available to him, killing Legendary monsters was hardly beyond reach. He had already killed three since the Realm opened.

His luck with the rewards was another matter.

No Domain Evolution Seal. No Hero Soul. No Troop Sigil. Not even a Troop Soul. All three kills had given him equipment.

He still did not have a single Legendary troop.

"Darian, you can have my next Hill King recruit if you want," Elara offered.

"No, no need." He turned back to Cassian. "Your Hill King fee was five hundred thousand. I’ll offer twenty million Aether per Legendary Hydra."

Cassian could barely have asked for a better opening price. He kept the reluctance on his face a little longer.

"Well... since we’ve known each other this long, all right."

"That’s more like it!" Darian raised his glass. "To you!"

He drank three toasts in quick succession, looking happier with each one.

At last, he was going to have Legendary troops of his own.

The talk and laughter continued until noon, when a public announcement appeared.

[Announcement: The results of Tidecrown Province’s first Marches Ranking are now available.]

[Lord Kill Points — First Place: Riftward Marches]

[Points: 4,852,000,000]

[Rewards: Commander Cassian Vale — All Attributes +100. All Marches residents — All Attributes +40. Riftward Region — Fortune +10. All other Regions in the Marches — Fortune +2.]

[Lord Kill Points — Second Place: Coldridge Marches. Points: 4,378,000,000...]