195: Melissa emerges from quarantine

The four ordinary legions of Red River Territory total twenty thousand men, while the three title legions have fewer than a thousand combined.

After absorbing tens of thousands from Blackstone Fortress, the population of Red River Territory has reached an astonishing eight hundred thousand.

Moreover, due to the unique circumstances of these population absorptions, the majority are young adults, with relatively few elderly, weak, women, and children.

Rayne plans to recruit another thirty thousand this time, expanding the ordinary legions to fifty thousand, and increasing the original legion size of five thousand to six thousand.

After several battles, issues were discovered in the newly formed legions. In legion warfare, relying solely on infantry and cavalry is insufficient. With an additional thousand men, a six-thousand-man legion will be divided into more professions for coordinated combat.

The individual combat strength of ordinary legions is much weaker than that of title legions, so their battles rely more on collective power and numerical superiority.

Better coordination means ordinary legions can unleash even greater combat strength.

However, Rayne's decision to expand the military gives Ross a headache.

Ross stood before Rayne, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

"Lord, just a month and a half ago, we completed a major military expansion. I've been working non-stop, barely sleeping, and only now have I managed to sort out the affairs of these legions."

"These legions have just gotten on track, and you want to expand again. Isn't this a bit too fast?"

As Rayne's most trusted and capable subordinate, Ross manages the daily military affairs of Red River Territory. It's because of Ross that Rayne can be so relaxed.

"The situation is changing too quickly, and I have to respond. If we don't expand and train these new recruits now, there will be even less time to train them later."

"But you've been too busy this past month. This won't do. I'll assign you more people; delegate tasks to trustworthy and capable subordinates."

"Don't worry about so many things yourself. Focus on the big picture and let go of the minor details; don't get bogged down by trivial matters."

"Your strength has reached Silver Peak; it's time to prepare to break through to Gold Rank. Take this potion and go back to prepare for your breakthrough."

Rayne still had three bottles of Gold Rank Clancia's Blessing. Since there had been no suitable candidates, these three gold-grade potions had been stored in Rayne's spatial ring.

Now that Ross finally meets the requirements, Rayne naturally didn't hesitate to take it out for him to use.

"I understand, Lord."

"I'll go back and arrange the division of labor for them to handle things first. I'll break through to Gold Rank as soon as possible and won't let you down!"

Ross solemnly accepted the potion, his eyes slightly moist.

Once, his dream was merely to become a Silver Knight. Now, he is about to become a Gold Knight—something he could only dream of before, never imagining it would become reality.

"Go on, I await your good news!"

Ross prepared to break through to Gold Rank. The military expansion didn't stall because of Ross's absence; instead, it progressed even faster.

Thirty thousand new recruits were recruited in just three days. As the new recruits began training, Ross completed his breakthrough.

As Rayne expected, without any setbacks, Ross smoothly broke through to Gold Rank, becoming a Gold Knight.

With Ross's talent and the powerful effects of Clancia's Blessing, Rayne never doubted Ross would fail.

Ross's successful breakthrough to Gold Rank made Wayne and the others envious.

Under Rayne's cultivation, the earliest followers improved their strength rapidly. Recently, they all made some breakthroughs, but they still have some distance to reach Silver Peak.

Apart from Ross, the others' talents can only be described as good—better than ordinary people but not geniuses. Without Rayne's cultivation, they might only break through to Silver Rank with luck in their lifetime.

Now, with Rayne's cultivation, they have broken through to Silver Rank early, and Gold Rank holds great hope for the future.

Clancia's Blessing and Clansia's Blessing have extraordinary effects, greatly enhancing personal potential and breakthrough success rates.

As Dora's strength increases, the effects of the rare plant stone life flower will improve, and the potions Kapdo refines will naturally become more effective.

Although stone flower fruit takes nearly nine years to harvest a batch, stone flower juice is available every year, allowing potions to be made annually to cultivate a batch of talents.

With Ross as an example, the others also began to intensify their cultivation. The arrogance and impatience caused by promotions after the military expansion were dispelled by Ross's breakthrough.

Rayne originally wanted to hold a banquet to celebrate Ross's breakthrough, but another major event interrupted him.

A powerful aura swept across the entire Red River City. Ordinary people had no reaction, but all Professionals were startled by this aura.

Professionals below Silver Rank lost their resistance instantly and collapsed to the ground after being swept by the aura. Silver Rank Professionals weren't much better; only a few Gold-rank Professionals maintained their posture under this aura.

"Did Melissa succeed?"

The source of the sudden powerful aura was precisely where Melissa was in seclusion.

After the aura disappeared, Rayne had Yiven relay orders for everyone not to panic, assuring that everything was under his control.

Then Rayne went to wait outside the treehouse Melissa had built for herself. Besides him, Alistair, Kapdo, and others also arrived.

Melissa didn't keep them waiting long; after a moment, the treehouse opened on its own.

Melissa flew out, flapping her wings. Her appearance hadn't changed from before.

But Rayne could sense a deadly threat from her, along with a unique aura swirling around Melissa's body.

"Aunt Melissa, did you succeed?"

"Yes, I succeeded, little Alistair. I've finally broken through to Legendary. After struggling for over a hundred years, it wasn't easy!"

"I can go home!"

"I'm no longer afraid of the Great Elder and those annoying old folks. This time when I go home, I'll show them how amazing I, Melissa, am!"

"Hahahahaha!"

The image of Melissa as a strong expert didn't last more than a few seconds before her true nature was revealed.

Alistair looked at Melissa, who was laughing with her hands on her hips and head tilted back, with a helpless expression.

Rayne and Kapdo felt no disrespect. Even though they were somewhat familiar with Melissa, they both understood that Melissa was now different from before.

Respect for a strong expert made Rayne and Kapdo treat Melissa with more reverence than before.

After chatting with Alistair for a bit, Melissa came before Rayne.

"Kid Rayne, my successful breakthrough is partly thanks to you. Before I go home, I'll stay here for a few days. You and Alistair can listen to my experience on breaking through to Legendary."

Melissa gave Rayne a great gift.

A Legendary Expert imparting breakthrough experience is an extremely rare opportunity, an absolute boon for Rayne.

"Thank you, Ms. Melissa. Thank you for your generosity."