Situation Of The Territory.

Magnus analyzed the skills of the two men before using [Synthesis] to copy all of their abilities—both those of Augustus and Nutgrove. While he was mainly interested in Nutgrove's swordsmanship and unarmed combat skills, he decided to store the rest for later, planning to bestow them upon his summoned troops.

Magnus felt that the trust of his subordinates could waver at any time, so he believed it would be best to rely on the troops he summoned. These troops would have absolute trust in him, unlike his current subordinates, who might falter. Relying on troops with unwavering loyalty would be invaluable not only in combat but also in managing his territory.

After copying the skills, Magnus shifted his focus to the two men. He had instructed Seraphina to bring only Augustus, so he wondered why both were present.

As he pondered, Augustus suddenly rushed towards him. His approach seemed almost aggressive, as if he were charging to attack, but his face told a different story.

"Lord Magnus, you're alive and well! I can't believe it. I thought I had lost you to death," Augustus exclaimed, running forward and grabbing Magnus in a tight hug.

"Argh!" Magnus winced in pain, causing Augustus to realize his mistake and abruptly step back.

"Sorry, I didn't realize you were still injured. I was just too excited," Augustus said, offering an awkward smile.

Magnus watched him step back. His injuries weren't completely healed, but he exaggerated his pain a bit to appear more wounded than he actually was. It was partly a tactic to gain sympathy and partly caution.

"No need to apologize. Tell me, how have things been since I was out? How are the people faring?" Magnus asked, cutting straight to the point.

The two men appeared shocked. They had known Magnus for a while, especially Augustus, and the Magnus they knew was selfish, naïve, and self-centered. It was surprising to hear him express concern for others.

'Maybe the near-death experience changed him. Perhaps he will become a great leader after all,' Augustus thought, his heart swelling with hope.

-[Your subject Egbert Augustus is pleased by your concern for your people. Trust level has increased by 5%. Current trust level: 62%]

-[Your subject Archibald Nutgrove is confused by your action but somewhat impressed]

Magnus frowned at the notifications, but he soon understood their reactions. He had accessed the memories of the body's previous owner, so he knew how unexpected his behavior seemed.

After their initial shock, the two men began to recount the events of the past week. Gaylord and his men hadn't attacked the territory, even though Lancaster was at its weakest. It seemed logical for Gaylord to seize this chance and finish them off, but he hadn't.

Magnus had several theories about why this was, but he kept them to himself, allowing the two men to continue their account.

He listened intently, his frown deepening as they described the events. After the second ambush by Gaylord's army, which led to more losses and numerous injuries, the morale of his people had plummeted.

Many were losing hope and becoming consumed by fear. There was no telling what the goblin lord and his forces would do if the territory fell. The men could be enslaved, and the women forced into even worse fates.

People were protesting, blaming Magnus for their dire situation, he was the one who led their remaining troop into an ambush which further weakened their already crippled troops. Ironically, they had once cheered his revenge mission, but when things went awry, all the blame fell on him.

Magnus sighed, having half-expected this reaction after receiving the memories of the body's previous owner. Being a leader had its perks but also significant drawbacks, and taking the blame when things went wrong was one of the key disadvantages of leadership.

Being a leader means guiding others while also taking responsibility when things go wrong.

With the people's morale at an all-time low, things looked bleak. The recent loss suffered by the territory army had left people too scared to join the military. And that wasn't even the worst of it. The bombshell the two men had just dropped was the beast horde. Over the past week, while Magnus was unconscious, beast hordes had begun attacking the territory. At first, it was just one or two beasts wandering into their territory, but it had quickly escalated into more frequent and numerous attacks.

Magnus knew that this beast horde was a sign that the territory's first trial was imminent. This realization only added to his headaches. Currently, they were facing two massive issues: Gaylord, the goblin lord, and the impending first trial. To make matters worse, they were severely lacking in manpower and resources to tackle these challenges.

After recounting the events, the two men began to argue, each presenting their own solution to the problem.

"What are you saying? Right now, the people are vulnerable. We need to handle this situation with care, or we might break their trust. That would lead to even bigger problems," Augustus argued passionately.

"Why does trust matter at all right now? We're facing desperate times, and desperate times require desperate measures! We need to start recruiting people of age, even if it means forcing them. We need manpower, not complacency, to survive," Nutgrove shot back with urgency.

"That's not right. Forceful recruitment would only cause a revolt, and that's the last thing we need," Augustus countered.

"To hell with what they feel! People only have the luxury of feelings because others have sacrificed their lives to protect this territory. Right now, we're in grave danger. We don't need their feelings; we need their strength. If we get overrun by the beast horde or fall to Gaylord, everyone becomes enslaved. Their feelings will mean nothing then. We need them now to keep the territory safe," Nutgrove insisted.

Magnus sat back, a frown on his face as he listened to their heated debate. It was clear from their tone that this wasn't their first argument on the topic—it was an ongoing dispute.

No wonder both men appeared when he had only asked Seraphina to bring Augustus. They must have been deep in discussion when she arrived. When they heard Magnus was awake, they both came to present their cases.

As Magnus listened to their arguments, his frown only deepened. He couldn't deny that both men had valid points. Augustus was right that they needed to tread carefully, given the people's fragile state. On the other hand, Nutgrove was correct that they desperately needed manpower to survive. However, forced recruitment didn't seem like the perfect solution either.

Magnus's frown deepened as he considered the two men's points. He began to formulate his own plan, weighing the pros and cons of each approach. The voices of the two men continued to rise in the background, their argument growing more heated by the minute. Magnus ignored the commotion, focusing on finding a solution.

Thanks to the Cognitive Enhancer he had taken, his thoughts were racing at an incredible speed, allowing him to come up with potential solutions in a short amount of time. Meanwhile, the two men continued arguing, their voices growing louder.

"Silence!" Magnus yelled, his voice carrying authority and order. The two men were stunned into silence, their argument abruptly halted.