Fugen readily agreed. He reorganized the remaining five thousand men into a legion, naming it the "Ash Legion," and appointed himself as the Legion Commander. The only Mercenary Corps leader willing to submit was Fernan Pilazzo, an experienced and fierce Legendary Powerhouse rich in battle knowledge, whom Fugen appointed as deputy commander.

From then on, the Ash Legion took root on the Pioneer Coast. The soldiers tore the flag of the Tiriel Kingdom into pieces and threw them to the ground, replacing it with an emblem of a Bathed in Fire Eagle Claw, which became the new Legion Banner of the Ash Legion.

The newly appointed Legion Commander, Fugen, did not rush into the forest. He quietly stated that, given the current strength of the Expeditionary Army, even ten times the numbers would still be feed for the mysterious ancient races in the forest. He demanded that everyone in the Expeditionary Army gather for new training, cultivate farmland, raise livestock, build fishing boats, and construct the camp into a town until they could achieve self-sufficiency and start producing simple weapons.

After several months, the soldiers of the Ash Legion underwent a completely different training. Everyone became adept at using sword and shield, long spear, and crossbow, and learned how to form tight formations. Dissenters and troublesome soldiers were sorted out, severely punished, re-educated, or exiled. The remaining five thousand troops developed formidable combat ability. When the Green Skin Tribe from the south came to harass them, the legion managed to rout the Barbaric Beastmen raiders at the cost of only a dozen injuries.

As night fell, the sweltering weather finally began to cool down. Salty sea breezes swept across the coast of Lustria. The seasoned Mercenary Leader Pilazzo finished his day of patrol. Under the bright moonlight shining on the Pioneer Coast, Pilazzo, who was over forty years old, still maintained a youthful appearance due to his Legendary High-Tier abilities. Scars on his face reflected the numerous battles the Mercenary Leader had experienced.

Pilazzo was the only one among the five Mercenary Corps leaders who wasn't a mercenary noble from Tiriel Kingdom. He was merely a Mercenary Leader employed by Prince Miraglino's "Siege Master" Bogil. Witnessing Fugen's indescribable power and charismatic presence, unlike the other three Mercenary Corps leaders (one had already died during an ocean voyage), Pilazzo did not reject submission, instead choosing to pledge loyalty to Fugen without much hesitation.

Pilazzo never imagined that he would kneel so earnestly before an unknown, handsome man, willingly becoming his subordinate and fighting for him.

Whenever he thought of this, Pilazzo would always laugh at himself, then shake his head, continuously trying to shake off past foolish acts from his mind.

Concepts like honor, responsibility, mission, and even conscience had long been discarded by the ruthless Mercenary Leader, thrown far away. But Fugen taught him that these things, though discarded, still existed in the world and could be picked up again.

Under Fugen's inspiration, the Mercenary Leader retrieved these concepts, placing them back inside his chest. Proud and honored, he became Fugen's deputy, helping him manage the territory and train the army, becoming his most loyal subordinate. For Pilazzo, Fugen's presence made him understand his life's meaning, which was to fight for Fugen.

The Mercenary Leader's boots, once made with great care from crocodile skin and a source of his pride, were now tattered after over a year at sea. Yet, he still preferred wearing them.

The Ash Legion had only been here a few months, so resources were often in short supply.

"Rustle~ Rustle~" The sand on the beach was very soft. Pilazzo followed a small path back to the town. The wooden gate was half-open, and many soldiers holding crossbows were on the city walls. Seeing Pilazzo returning with a small patrol squad, the soldiers let them in.

Most of the buildings within the town were low wooden houses, newly built by cutting down trees. Many of the chimneys were emitting cooking smoke. Seeing this, Pilazzo smiled: "Soldiers, you've worked hard today. Go back and get a good night's sleep."

"Yes, Deputy Commander." The soldiers stood straight and saluted.

The town's layout was personally planned by the Legion Commander. He led the Expeditionary Army—which could no longer be called the Expeditionary Army anymore. Since Fugen's arrival and the soldiers' union under his leadership, they had long put the Tiriel Kingdom behind them.

Everyone firmly believed that only by following under the Legion Commander's command could they have an incomparably bright future.

The two-story wooden house in the town's center was the largest building in the entire town. This house was meticulously designed, both ventilated and full of elegant artistic sense. Fugen resided here.

Inside, the faint sound of a lute could be heard, making the cool Winter Festival night feel even more comfortable, the music beautiful and intricate, expressing infinite reminiscence of past glories and a renewed strength.

Pilazzo knocked on the door: "Legion Commander? It's Pilazzo. I have something to discuss with you."

"Fernando? Come in."

"Gululu." The door was pushed open.

A man, so handsome that he almost seemed inhuman, was sitting in the middle of the room. A pile of firewood on the ground was still burning; a large iron pot over the fire contained boiling milky-white fish soup. The Legion Commander of the Ash Legion, Fugen, sat behind the iron pot, holding a lute, plucking at the strings and singing. A golden double-headed eagle emblem stretched across the wall behind him, as if it was spreading golden wings right behind Fugen himself.