163: reward

Linn's voice was grand and clear; every name he spoke seemed to strike a chord in everyone's heart.

"Morton, Clay, Payson." He first called out the three high-ranking officials in charge of internal affairs, military, and local governance. "The three of you have worked hard and performed great service; you are the cornerstones of my Star Sea Territory. Now, in the name of the Grand Duke of Star Sea, I grant you the title of Viscount of the Star Sea Territory! Furthermore, I bestow upon you Star Sea Islands 1, 2, and 3 as hereditary fiefs, to prosper your families and enjoy eternal glory!"

Viscounts! And the first three islands of the core thirty-six! Morton and the other two trembled slightly, then became uncontrollably excited as they stepped forward and knelt deeply: "We thank the Grand Duke for his profound grace! We swear our loyalty unto death and shall never fail you!" From commoners or ordinary noble retainers to high-ranking nobles with real power and hereditary fiefs, this was a glory they had never dared to imagine.

"Henry, Ocean Jack, Sebastian, Karl, Angus, Shirei, Evan, Batu, Yilman, Jokic." Linn continued to read ten names, covering the naval commander, army corps commander, air force commander, commanders of various special units, as well as Henry the construction official, and core generals from other races. "The ten of you have distinguished military achievements and guard your respective regions. You are promoted to the rank of Baron of the Star Sea Territory! Henry remains the Chief Architect, while the other nine are promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. Star Sea Islands 4 through 13 are granted to your families as fiefs!"

"Thank you, Grand Duke!" the ten responded in unison, their voices shaking the roof. A barony plus the rank of Lieutenant General meant they were both high-ranking military figures and true noble lords; reaching this point in life could be called Perfection.

"Ronald, Fellan, Lawrence, Barton." Linn looked at the administrative officials who were about to take office or already held heavy responsibilities. "Governing local regions is also a great merit. You are promoted to the rank of Baron of the Star Sea Territory, and Star Sea Islands 14 through 17 are granted as your fiefs. I hope you will achieve new merits in your new positions! Barton will continue to serve as the Chief President of the Star Sea Territory Chamber of Commerce."

The four men, glowing with pride, stood up to receive their honors!

"Hogan, Augus, Alexander, Wade, Spark." These were the meritorious vice-commanders, including naval officers and warriors of other races. "The five of you are promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, granted the title of Knight of the Star Sea Territory, and bestowed Star Sea Islands 18 through 22 as manors. I hope you will continue your efforts!"

Finally, Linn looked at Clay: "Clay, pass on my orders. Among the Griffin Knights, the eight Knight squires who first followed me—Alge, Benson, Calvin, Drake, Ellis, Finn, Gareth, and Harold—are promoted to the rank of Colonel and granted the title of Knight of the Star Sea Territory. I shall always remember their loyalty and bravery."

"Yes!" Clay responded solemnly. He could imagine how excited and overjoyed those eight Knights—former subordinates of the Iris Family who had now grown to the Peak of Gold rank—would be upon receiving this order. From squires to Colonels with noble titles, their life paths had been completely changed by following Linn, gaining glory and a future far beyond what their former master's house could have provided.

A series of rewards fell like raindrops, and the hall was filled with an atmosphere of excitement, gratitude, and immense exhilaration. Everyone saw the value of their struggle and the hope for their Family's prosperity, understanding more deeply the meaning of "Prospering with Star Sea."

Linn looked at the impassioned crowd below, slowly stood up, and his voice spread throughout the hall:

"Today's rewards are an affirmation of past merits. But this is not the end; it is a new beginning! The territory of Star Sea will not stop here, and glory and wealth will follow. I hope you will cherish this honor, fulfill your duties, and use even greater achievements to create a more brilliant future for yourselves, your families, and the entire Star Sea Territory!"

"We are willing to die for the Grand Duke and the Star Sea Territory!" The mountain-shaking oath rang out again, loyalty and faith condensing like steel at this moment.

The rewards were finished. An emerging noble group and military bureaucratic system, with Linn as the absolute core and closely linked by Bloodline, merit, and territorial interests, was officially formed in the Star Sea Territory. The keel of this giant ship became sturdier, its sails fuller, as it truly began its unstoppable voyage toward the unknown deep sea.

Most of the thirty-six core islands of the Star Sea Territory had been enfeoffed. These lands were not large, and if they achieved more merits later, the fiefs might be slightly insufficient. However, these were the absolute core lands of the Star Sea Territory, representing a kind of supreme honor.

Administrative affairs, military affairs, and rewards were concluded.

The crowd began to discuss some trivial matters. Jokic reported that over a hundred thousand human civilians had been captured during this period and asked Linn how to handle them.

Linn told Clay to send an envoy to the Royal Capital to actively request to go to war. He planned to stage a staged battle with Jokic. Under the guise of attacking the Orc Coalition Army, they would sweep these people along to Rhine City.

After all, openly letting Jokic transport the population would arouse the kingdom's suspicion.

Finally, everyone made adjustments to the internal land of Star Sea Island.

Batu stood up and reported: "Lord, the total population of the Orcs has now achieved a Breakthrough of 10,000. The land near Star Sea City is no longer sufficient for the Orcs' development and reproduction. I hope you can make a decision."

Linn pondered slightly; the forest where the Orcs originally lived was almost unable to accommodate them.

Linn made a decision. "Star Sea Island has a total of five thousand square kilometers of land. The Sea God Clan inhabits the thousand-kilometer forest in the south. Of the remaining four thousand square kilometers, Shattered Star City is in the northwest, Star Sea City is in the west, and Star Moon City is in the center. They occupy three thousand square kilometers of land."

"Now the only extra land is the Northern Plateau Forest. I now grant that place to you Orcs as a habitat."

Batu and Augus were overjoyed, their three-meter-tall bodies rising to express their thanks.

Werewolf King Jokic was the most envious of this decision. One must know that land on Star Sea Island was limited, yet the Orcs, who were also of the Orcs race, occupied nearly one-fifth of it. How could he not be envious?

But at the same time, it showed that Linn had no discrimination and treated the foreign races who surrendered to him equally, making him even more determined to follow Linn.

The meeting was over, and everyone in the Star Sea Territory began to enjoy the Star Sea Day carnival.

However, the high-level officials of the Star Sea Territory were exceptionally busy, all eagerly taking their families and relatives to their newly acquired islands to start building castles.

The two werewolves, Jokic and Wade, were even more impatient to transport their core werewolf descendants and relatives through the East Sea Prefecture teleportation array to the islands to establish their private territories.

Only Henry, Batu, and Sebastian were not in a hurry at all. Henry had no Family and returned to the Northern Base to work as soon as the meeting ended. Batu and Sebastian were not in a hurry to move because of their tribes' living habits.