The next morning, Titus was standing guard atop the city gate. His eyes were sharp, fixed on the space below the wall, where three muddy, exhausted deerkin bloodline warriors stood.

  Titus tightened his grip slightly on his chain mace, the heavy iron links clinking softly with the movement. He was ready to strike at any moment—one wrong move, and he'd rush down to take them out.

  But once he caught wind of their identities, the hostility vanished from his face, replaced by a smile. He gave a quick nod and turned to run off and report.

  Before long, Martha, who had been anxiously waiting in the village, came rushing to the gate. Her long, muscular legs and wild charm beneath those shorts made Draven momentarily distracted.

  Standing behind her, he couldn't help but swallow hard. Damn, he thought, it's been a while since I've had any real fun—been holding back all this time just to stay by Sylvia's side.

  He shook his head and pulled his thoughts together, then stepped forward toward the gate.

  They had given the Dorian brothers eight days to arrive, and they showed up ahead of schedule. That kind of efficiency and determination improved Draven's impression of the deerkin even more. He thought to himself, This race might really be worth cultivating.

  As soon as Martha rushed out of the village and saw her three little brothers covered in mud and travel grime, she couldn't help but laugh.

  She quickly stepped up to them, ruffling each of their heads like she used to when they were kids. Her face was lit up with a warmth she couldn't hide.

  The three of them had clearly suffered a rough journey—muddy paths during the rainy season, swarms of bugs in the forest—but even with blood and dirt smeared on their bodies, they were grinning from ear to ear.

  Draven didn't waste time with pleasantries. After a few quick greetings, he warmly welcomed them into the village.

  Including Alaric, the female side of his family was growing more impressive by the day.

  Inside the stone house, Viola had already instructed the maidservants to prepare food and hot water. The deerkin brothers didn't stand on ceremony—practically diving onto the table, shoveling food into their mouths like they hadn't eaten in days.

  Martha scolded them for their messy eating, but her eyes were full of affection. As she wiped their faces, she muttered,"I knew you guys wouldn't take care of yourselves."

  Now that the siblings were finally reunited, she could breathe easy. Though she hadn't said anything out loud in the past few days, Draven knew full well that she'd been quietly worried about their safety the entire time.

  He noticed the faint trace of resentment at the corner of her eyes and rubbed his nose awkwardly. Truth was, he had been neglecting her lately—his attention tied up with Sylvia and matters in Black Flag Territory.

  Not to mention that Martha had barely arrived in Black Flag Territory before he dragged her into bed. To be blunt, he was the one who made the first move, but never got around to giving her any real commitment afterward. No wonder she felt a little bitter.

  But Draven wasn't nervous. He had figured out how to win a woman's heart—and how to keep it.

  He gave Martha a warm smile and got straight to business.

  "Let your brothers rest for a few days, get their strength back. Then I want you to lead a team—pick a few kobolds and get started." Draven pointed at the map."I want you to form the first scouting squad of Black Flag Territory."

  Martha's eyes lit up at once.

  She was never the kind of woman who liked to stay at home. She loved the forest, loved to run. Scouting enemies in the woods was a hundred times more fun to her than sitting around indoors.

  "It's the rainy season now, so I don't expect immediate intel," Draven continued, shifting the topic."But there's one thing we need to take care of right away."

  "The road network between the three villages in Black Flag Territory—we need someone to go and walk those paths. Sure, the Nightmare Horse can fly, but when it comes to building roads, someone needs to physically scout the terrain. See where the land slides, where the swamps are."

  "Black Flag Territory doesn't feed idle hands. I don't care who you are or who you are to me—everyone needs to pull their weight." His tone was serious as he glanced around the room. Then he added,"And I don't want the women around me turning into petty, jealous ornaments."

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  Martha nodded with a smile. This was exactly the kind of task she wanted.

  Once her brothers had eaten their fill, Draven gestured for her to take them to pick a stone house and settle in properly.

  After everyone had left, Draven sat alone on the stone chair, quietly pondering the next round of personnel adjustments for Black Flag Territory.

  "When Gregor returns, some things will need to be shaken up," he mused, drifting off into thought.

  Sylvia sat quietly to the side, not interrupting—just watching his serious, focused face.

  The arrival of the Dorian brothers stirred something in Sylvia's heart as well. She knew…the Elven Kingdom's royal guards would likely be arriving very soon.

  It wasn't until Viola walked past them with a bundle of fabric in her arms and gave a soft cough that Draven finally snapped out of his daze, as if awakened from a trance.

  He looked down and met Sylvia's gentle, slightly confused gaze. Her eyes were calm, but within them was a persistent and quiet longing.

  Something tightened in his chest, as if pricked by a thorn. He glanced back at Viola and gave her a small, apologetic look of thanks.

  Then he turned back and asked softly,"Where would you like to go today?"

  Sylvia shook her head without speaking, just leaning a little closer to him.

  "I don't want to go anywhere. I just want to stay by your side."

  Draven gave a faint, bitter smile at her words and wrapped his arm around her. As he gently patted her back, he murmured,"If you keep acting like this, how am I supposed to handle you in the future?"

  Though his words teased her for being clingy, his heart had softened. The way she looked and acted—it was her silent way of saying "I love you," wasn't it?

  He gently lifted her chin, cupped her face in his hands, and carefully studied her features.

  "Sylvia," he said quietly,"what do you think the future of the Black Flag Territory will look like?"

  Sylvia was caught off guard by the question. She had certainly contributed a lot to the development of Black Flag Territory—from early defense structures to resource distribution and mana crystal transport—but she had never truly thought about what the future of this land would be.

  "I don't know," she said with a bit of confusion,"but I suppose it'll be a place full of hope?"

  Draven didn't respond right away. His gaze grew serious, as though the weight he'd been carrying inside was finally surfacing.

  "Sylvia, given who I am now, and the current state of Black Flag Territory, do you think your father—and all your proud kin—will ever accept you and me being together?"

  The question hit her like a bucket of cold water, poured straight into her heart.

  She trembled, and her expression changed instantly. She wasn't stupid—of course she had thought about this issue. She had just never dared to face it head-on.

  She preferred to deceive herself, to believe that as long as they loved each other, the rest would work itself out eventually. But now, hearing Draven say it out loud, she could no longer avoid it.

  Her eyes welled with tears, and her voice trembled:"Draven... are you planning to give up on me?"

  Draven lowered his head and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He knew what she was thinking, but he wasn't planning to dodge the issue.

  "I'm not giving up," he said with firm seriousness."It's because I don't want to give up on you that I have to grow stronger. Black Flag Territory must grow stronger too. Only when we're powerful enough will others have no right to interfere in our lives."

  "You are a princess of the Elven Kingdom. And I… I'm just a fledgling lord who's barely found his footing. If we don't change our reality, it will tear us apart someday. Sylvia, I don't want just a few sweet years—I want you by my side forever."

  "Forever..." Sylvia repeated the word softly. The tears in her eyes were gradually replaced by determination.

  It was as if she had suddenly found her direction. Her gaze cleared and became firm again."Draven, I understand now. Don't worry. Even if I return to the Elven Kingdom, I'll find a way to help Black Flag Territory grow. I won't let you face all this alone."

  Hearing those words brought a sense of relief to Draven's heart.

  He lowered his head and kissed her—fiercely, passionately.

  He knew this wasn't just some sentimental romance. This was their pact—the way they would face the future together.

  He wanted Sylvia to become a part of Black Flag Territory—not just his lover, but someone who could help shape the future of this land. He wanted her to see that she could influence its destiny, not just come here for love.

  The more you invest, the harder it is to let go. Just like business—once you've put in enough resources, you won't give up so easily.

  He knew Sylvia wasn't some pampered noble girl who only knew how to play the harp under moonlight. She had courage, intelligence, and a heart that could weather any storm.

  After the kiss, carried by the heat of the moment, he began to share his plans with her, one by one.

  "The Elven Kingdom is rich in resources. There are things over there we might never find in a lifetime. When you return, could you support us with some materials? Things like mana crystals, alchemical equipment, or even experienced craftsmen?"

  It was as if a fire had been lit in Sylvia's heart. She listened intently, nodding occasionally, even offering some ideas of her own.

  She suggested bringing a territorial development plan back with her, so she'd have a proper excuse when applying for resources. She also mentioned a cousin who managed the royal capital's supply depots—maybe there was a way to open a backdoor through her.

  Draven nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining with satisfaction.

  At that moment, Sylvia was no longer just a sweet, clingy girl. She was a valuable ally, a capable partner, even a diplomatic envoy who could win him resources.

  He held her tightly, already planning his next moves and future personnel arrangements.

  But far to the south, in the Elven Kingdom, a storm was already brewing.

  With King Sigurd's mobilization order, large forces began to gather—targeting the heartland of the Blood Elves.

  And the Grand Seer Garin was marching with them. This time, they were heading toward a confrontation with a mysterious demigod.