Another Reward Earned

"As our influence expands, so will our territory. The responsibilities of the clergy will only increase," Rowan stated, his gaze sweeping across the gathered figures. "You must establish an efficient system as soon as possible to ensure that our Holy Radiance Church continues to grow in an orderly fashion."

Raymond immediately responded, "Yes, my Lord. I have already realized the importance of this matter and have been intensifying the training of priests."

Satisfied with his response, Rowan turned his attention to Ian.

Seeing Rowan's signal, Ian stepped forward and reported, "Your Holiness, the Inquisition's primary task remains the eradication of the hidden remnants of the Radiant Church. However, we have encountered a serious problem—our lack of high-level combatants.

"Every operation requires us to concentrate all available elite forces, or else we risk falling into enemy traps. If that happens, not only would we fail our missions, but we could also suffer devastating losses."

Rowan nodded thoughtfully. He knew that cultivating powerful warriors was not something that could be achieved overnight. After a brief pause, he said, "You're right. Training high-level combatants takes time. But we can't just sit and wait.

"We need to establish specialized academies immediately—institutions that will systematically train and supply talented individuals to the Inquisition. Ian, you must make regular visits to these academies to scout for promising recruits. Once you find suitable candidates, bring them into the Inquisition and provide them with focused training. Only then can we gradually strengthen our ranks."

Hearing this, Ian nodded firmly, already formulating a plan to identify potential candidates from the academies.

At that moment, Black stepped forward and spoke in a deep, steady voice, "My Lord, our current forces stand at twenty thousand knights and thirty thousand infantry. The various legions have been training rigorously, and morale remains high. Our overall combat strength is steadily increasing.

"In terms of logistics, Her Majesty Evelyn has done an outstanding job. The distribution of supplies has been handled with precision, ensuring that our troops have everything they need. Thanks to her efforts, we have not encountered any shortages, allowing us to focus entirely on our preparations."

Rowan listened intently to Black's report, nodding with approval. Internally, he couldn't help but think, This system really knows what it's doing. Evelyn has proven herself to be a natural ruler—her management skills alone have saved me countless headaches.

Taking a deep breath, Rowan addressed them all, "The situation is turbulent. War could break out at any moment. Everything we do—whether it's expanding the Church, conducting Inquisition operations, training our military, or ensuring logistical support—is all preparation for the battles to come.

"Every aspect is critical. You must remain vigilant and dedicated, ensuring that each task is executed flawlessly. There is no room for complacency."

Raymond, Ian, and Black responded in unison, their voices firm, "Yes, my Lord! We will give our all and not fail you!"

With that, they bowed respectfully and swiftly departed to carry out their respective duties.

After handling official matters, Rowan made his way toward the royal palace.

As he entered, his eyes fell upon Evelyn, who was seated at her desk, meticulously reviewing documents. Even though she was heavily pregnant, she showed no sign of slowing down, her concentration unwavering.

Rowan frowned slightly and strode forward, his voice filled with concern. "You're about to give birth, Evelyn. You need to rest. Let your subordinates handle these matters. Your health is the top priority right now."

Hearing his voice, Evelyn finally looked up. A playful smirk formed on her lips as she teased, "Your Holiness, how's married life treating you? Your bride is stunning—surely, you've been enjoying yourself?"

Rowan instinctively glanced around to ensure they were alone before leaning in and whispering mischievously, "Would you like to experience it for yourself?"

Evelyn rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance. "You never take anything seriously. Look at me—I'm about to give birth, and you're still saying nonsense."

Rowan chuckled. "Just joking. But seriously, you need to take care of yourself. Don't overwork yourself."

Evelyn nodded slightly, but then a thought seemed to cross her mind. She looked at Rowan and said, "Now that the two duchies have merged, the political landscape has changed. I've been considering whether we should relocate the capital.

"The current location is somewhat inconvenient. For the sake of long-term development and centralized governance, moving the capital might be a wise decision."

Rowan pondered for a moment before replying, "For now, I think we should hold off on that. You know how unstable the situation is—war could erupt at any time.

"Our current capital is farther from the frontlines, making it a safer choice. Relocating now would be a massive undertaking, requiring enormous manpower, resources, and funds. Worse, it could expose us to unforeseen risks during the transition. If an enemy attack occurs mid-relocation, we'd be in serious trouble.

"Let's wait until the situation stabilizes. Then, we can properly assess whether moving the capital is necessary."

Evelyn considered his words carefully before nodding in agreement. "You have a point. We'll table this discussion for now."

Time passed swiftly as everyone remained engrossed in their responsibilities.

Before they knew it, Evelyn's time had come.

After an arduous labor, she successfully gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Just as Rowan gazed at his newborn son, a long-forgotten sound echoed in his mind—

"Ding!"

The system's cold, mechanical voice rang out:

"Detected: Evelyn has given birth to a son.Rewarding the host with double Faith Power accumulation.Rewarding the host with a Level 1 Defensive Aura, capable of protecting up to 100,000 individuals."