231: Chapter 231 Assembling the Army

"Five... over five million elites... went to the north to fight..."

"Within the kingdom, who is the strongest? What is their strength?"

"It's... it's His Majesty the King... Diamond 9-star... the Grand Elder is Diamond 8-star... the other generals are Diamond 7-star..."

"Recently, has there been any large-scale conscription? Or any requests for aid from external forces?"

"No... no large-scale conscription... the troops General Gos took away were almost the maximum mobile force the kingdom could mobilize... As for... diplomacy, I'm not sure, I manage internal supplies..."

Lin Kong asked several more questions regarding troop distribution, key defensive points, and logistical supplies. To save his life, the Minotaur told him almost everything he knew, even proactively adding some details.

The information was basically verified.

It matched the results of the fragmented intelligence gathered previously, as well as the situation perceived on-site.

"Very good."

Lin Kong nodded.

A glimmer of hope had just risen in the Minotaur's eyes.

The next moment, that silver spatial arrow trembled slightly and instantly sank into the center of his forehead. There was no blood, no wound.

But his eyes dimmed instantly, and all life was completely annihilated under the subtle vibrations of spatial power. His bloated body slumped down.

Lin Kong didn't even look at the corpse. He withdrew the spatial isolation, and his figure rippled like water, disappearing from the spot as if he had never appeared.

Leaving the Minotaur Royal City, Lin Kong stopped at a sparsely populated rocky ravine about two hundred kilometers north of the city.

He extended his index finger, silver light condensing at the tip, and slowly traced a complex and profound rune in the air.

Once the rune took shape, it flashed with light and silently imprinted itself into the Void Realm, creating a subtle connection with the surrounding space.

This was a positioning point that only he or a holder of spatial power from the same source could perceive and activate.

Having done all this, Lin Kong did not stay any longer.

Identifying the direction, silver light burst from his body, and space swallowed him like a ripple.

When he reappeared, Lin Kong's figure was like a silver-gray watercolor blending into the morning mist, standing motionless on the bluestone clearing in front of the Lord's Mansion, which was dampened by thin dew.

He tilted his head slightly, looking at the second-floor window still hidden behind the dim light. A silver galaxy flowed calmly in his eyes, but a very faint hesitation flickered through his heart.

Go straight in? That would be against the rules.

The Lord was still resting. Without being summoned, even with urgent military intelligence, rashly disturbing him would not be the way of a subordinate.

Just as he was weighing whether to continue waiting or find a way to make a slight noise—

"Lin Kong?"

A voice as cold and clear as moonlit spring water dripping on stone came from above and to the side.

Lin Kong looked toward the sound and saw a figure in moon-white standing by the railing of a protruding white stone balcony on the second floor of the Lord's Mansion.

The morning breeze brushed the hem of her holy robe and a few strands of silver hair. Lin Yin's elegant face seemed to carry a soft glow in the dawn light. Her calm eyes were looking at him with a hint of inquiry.

"Sister Lin Yin."

Lin Kong immediately bowed slightly in greeting, his ethereal voice exceptionally clear in the silent morning.

"I have returned from my mission to scout the south and have urgent military intelligence to report to the Lord in person. I wonder if the Lord has risen?"

Lin Yin's gaze paused for a moment on the gilded silver glow on his body, which had not yet fully dissipated and carried the scent of long travel and night dew. She nodded gently.

"I see. Please wait a moment."

After saying this, she turned, and her moon-white figure disappeared behind the balcony door.

A moment later, light and rhythmic footsteps descended the stairs and then turned toward the corridor where Lin Tian's bedroom was located.

Knock, knock, knock.

Three knocks, neither heavy nor light and with a specific rhythm, sounded in the quiet corridor.

Immediately after, Lin Yin's cold voice, which she had deliberately softened, came through the door panel:

"Brother Tian, it's dawn. Lin Kong has returned from the south and is waiting downstairs, saying there are important matters to report immediately."

Lin Tian was actually not sleeping deeply; his biological clock had him on the verge of waking.

Lin Yin's knocking and words were like a stone thrown into a still pond, instantly dispelling the last bit of sleepiness.

He gave a muddled "mm," raised his hand to rub his still-dry eyes, and spoke with the low rasp of someone just awakened:

"Got it, Lin Yin. Have her wait; I'll get ready and come down immediately."

He pulled back the covers and sat up, shaking his head to clear it.

Without much delay, he quickly washed up, changed into casual clothes, ran his fingers through his hair, and pulled open the door to walk out.

When Lin Tian stepped into the conference hall, which was simply furnished with a long table covered by a map of the Southern Region, Lin Kong and Lin Yin were already waiting inside.

Morning light streamed through the tall stained-glass windows, casting bright spots on the floor.

"Lord."

Lin Kong immediately stood up to salute.

"Sit."

Lin Tian waved his hand, taking the lead to sit in the main seat and gesturing for Lin Yin to sit as well.

His gaze landed on Lin Kong, carrying a trace of lingering fatigue but more of an alert clarity:

"Tell me, what's the situation in the south? Be detailed."

"Yes."

Lin Kong didn't waste words and began to report clearly and methodically.

From discovering the border towns to capturing 'tongues' along the way for fragmented intelligence, to finally infiltrating the Minotaur Royal City to observe defenses and sense the presence of powerful figures.

And finally, 'visiting' that high-ranking Minotaur official and obtaining core information...

Everything was detailed and logically presented.

He even used the silver-gray spatial energy condensed at his fingertips to project a rough but clearly marked schematic of the terrain and troop distribution above the long table.

Lin Tian leaned forward slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the smooth tabletop, listening with extreme focus.

When he heard key information like "approximately eight million combat-ready troops remaining, dispersed across various locations," "around two million regular garrison troops in the Royal City,"

"the strongest is the King, Diamond 9-star, elderly," and "the defeated army led by Gos has just returned, morale is low, and there are many wounded."

His fingers tapping the table stopped, and a sharp light suddenly erupted in his eyes!

"Eight million, dispersed, the old King at Diamond 9-star, the Royal City is empty..."

Lin Tian repeated these words in a low voice, his lips slowly curling into a cold, decisive smile.

"Good, very good! This is truly a god-given opportunity!"

He stood up abruptly, hands propped on the table, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yin and Lin Kong. His tone was resolute and brooks no argument:

"Pass down my order: effective immediately, the entire army enters combat readiness! Target: the Minotaur Kingdom!"

The order was like a thunderclap, instantly shattering the morning silence.

Within the Lord's Mansion, the trumpets for relaying orders and the sound of hurried footsteps immediately rang out. Like cold water dropped into boiling oil, the entire Lintian City instantly seethed with activity!

"Lin Yin, you are fully responsible for the assembly and mobilization of the army!"

"All units, including the five-million-strong army stationed in the alternate dimension, except for the necessary garrison, are to be deployed! Assemble in the designated wilderness outside the city and wait for further instructions!"

"Yes!"