The Emperor’s Angel of Death

After a lengthy discussion and numerous revisions to the details, the military reform plan was finalized within the Privy Council. Subsequently, based on the war merits and achievements compiled from the Eternal Court's past military actions, the Privy Council announced the first list of personnel to be granted military ranks and positions. All Strategos, regardless of their Ark origin, received military positions and ranks. In a sense, this stripped them of their status as 'Ark Volunteers' and transformed them into professional soldiers truly belonging to the Eternal Court. Although this wouldn't sever their connection with their original Ark world, it at least represented a qualitative change in their identity.

However, the current number of standing soldiers in the Phoenix Army is still far from the target of fifty battalions. After excluding most of the Guardian militia, Skyfire pilots, and Dragon Knight, the number of infantry soldiers is less than two thousand five hundred. Forget fifty, even ten battalions would be a stretch.

But the subsequent matters were the responsibility of Ivahan and the Privy Council he led. Even for Szohyang, continuous combat and personal involvement in everything could lead to fatigue, not so much physically, but more mentally. Moreover, he didn't believe that micromanagement was a good thing. If he wanted the Eternal Court to operate like a true nation, he had to learn to delegate appropriately.

Furthermore, Szohyang not only delegated authority to the Privy Council but also showed unusual regard for Ivahan. When Ivahan and his former subordinate, Baina, held their wedding during the peaceful time after the war, he even invited them to the Garden of Eden Palace to receive Veronica's marital blessings.

"You weren't particularly close to Ivahan before. He was just a Dragul under Dolar. Why do you value him so much?"

Surrounded by misty vapor, Szohyang, who had immersed most of his body in the warm pool water, leaned back slightly, spreading his arms across the smooth stone platform.

"Because he is honest, reliable, and, more importantly, he used to be Dolar's subordinate."

The space was vast and magnificent. Seen from above, the Hot Spring Palace, located at the end of the Garden of Eden's seaside peninsula, sparkled like a pearl lying in a giant shell. From the moment it was built, it had been the Eternal Queen's place for bathing and relaxation. Statues of various shapes, like meticulously blown glass, protruded from the pearly light, and warm, glowing stones were embedded in the precious walls, their shimmering light permeating the wall structure. The light appeared even whiter against the deeper, smoother ribbons of green, white, and brown.

Various branch-like shelves grew from the walls, holding many exquisite vases, incense burners, or handicrafts, like trees of treasure, but without being overly extravagant.

The main color scheme here was still simplicity and elegance, as well as warmth and tranquility.

Supporting the palace's dome were several lifelike giant spirit bone trees, but they were not lifeless objects. Their dense branches were covered with colorful flowers and leaves of various shapes. Encircled by them was the hot spring, large enough to accommodate a thousand people. In the middle of the pool was a fountain, shaped like a conch shell, topped with gemstones, constantly gushing forth spring water rich in weak spiritual energy—all directly from the roots of the World Tree, thus possessing incredible healing power for most organic life.

The bottom of the pool was paved with many slightly glowing primordial stones and smooth shells, and many unknown flowering algae grew there. Various beautiful small fish formed by weak spiritual energy constantly swam through them, their scales reflecting countless points of light, shimmering with bronze, scarlet, and gold interwoven. Even their swirling and gathering created tiny rainbows, coupled with the constant falling of petals and leaves from the sky, truly a paradise on earth.

【】

This place was the forbidden area within the forbidden palace. Apart from the Queen and her permitted female officials, only the Eternal Queen's maids and genderless Mohuroluoqie could enter and exit. Any male approaching would be immediately executed or blasted to death by the Bandalamu perched on the roof.

Only one person was an exception: the Queen's husband.

Phoenix King Szohyang.

Now, he lay in this spring that could almost bring a mortal back to life, his eyes closed, slightly raising his head to let the spiritual spring nourish his skin and spirit.

Hearing his lazy words, a soft laugh floated from not far behind him.

In an instant, pale pink petals rained down, scattering in the warm spring breeze, while pieces of light gauze also fluttered in the gentle breeze.

Behind the thin curtain was a dreamlike haze. As the breeze gently lifted ripples and gaps, it also softly brushed the white silk, leaving the scent and warmth of flowers and leaves on the embodiment of life and beauty.

On some slightly messy, huge soft cushions, lay a beautiful goddess on her side. Silver-white, cascading hair like a snowy wave surrounded her exquisite face, which was still slightly flushed, and her long, slender ears. Thick, curled eyelashes gently fluttered, and emerald green pupils were covered by delicate eyelids. Loose and flowing gauze clothing lightly revealed her body. As she slightly propped herself up, leaning on the soft pillows, her jade-like, water-glossed, slender legs were crossed on top of each other. Some petals lazily hung down from her shoulders, exposing smooth, porcelain-white, delicate shoulders. Her fair skin, like warm mutton-fat jade, flowed with a honey-like luster. Her delicate and secluded collarbone resembled a curved, pure moon, and her slender waist, which could be grasped with one hand, was tied with a soft ribbon. If not for its weak hold, the light, cicada-wing-like, one-piece gauze garment on her body would probably be blown away by the breeze, but just this simple attachment added a strong sense of hazy beauty, making people imagine what a graceful and moving scene lay beneath the vague concealment.

Beneath her, besides the fluffy cushions, was also a wide and even huge robe, the overlapping wrinkles on which seemed to indicate that some intense events had occurred not long ago.

Handily picking up a cup from the floating tray beside her, Veronica took a sip of the nectar, and her pink, luscious lips curved into a smile as she softly laughed:

"Are you planning to create a competitor for Dolar?"

Szohyang, his eyes closed, shook his head.

"No, I have never doubted Dolar's loyalty, even though he now has so much power. I am doing this to protect him. Too many people are watching him now, and he is responsible for the part that is most likely to offend people. At this time, there needs to be someone to divert other people's attention from Dolar. This is also Dolar's own intention. After all, I can't stay in the court for a long time at the moment, and I can't interfere and prevent many political conspiracies, so I can only prepare in advance."

"Then what about me?"

"Your task now is to rest well and not worry about those petty matters."

Hearing this, Veronica put down the cup, stretched her arms, revealing a graceful appearance that one couldn't bear to disturb.

"Okay, okay, okay."