Fort Knightfall never lacked strength.
Steel rang through its courtyards from dawn until dusk. Mana flowed through its walls like blood through veins. Its soldiers were disciplined, its Beast Slayers feared, its general spoken of in hushed tones across the human kingdoms.
Yet Daniel knew something crucial.
Strength alone did not shape the world.
Structure did.
That realization came not in battle, but in silence—late one evening, as Daniel stood on the highest balcony of the fortress, staring down at the lantern-lit roads stretching outward like veins. Every one of them led to a village under his protection. Every one carried goods, people, and rumours.
And none of them truly belonged to him.
That would change.
The next morning, the council chamber was sealed.
No guards stood outside.
Red flags battalion banners decorated the walls.
Only Daniel, Miimi, and Beth.
Daniel stood at the head of the stone table, arms folded behind his back, expression calm but focused. Miimi sat with several ledgers already open—she had a habit of preparing before plans were even spoken. Beth leaned lazily against a pillar, watching Daniel with sharp, amused eyes.
"I've made a decision," Daniel said.
Beth smiled. "You always say that like we won't argue."
Miimi nodded. "Or ask how much it will cost."
Daniel ignored them both.
"I'm forming an organization," he continued. "One that stands above borders—but not thrones."
That got their attention.
Beth straightened slightly. "Above borders but below crowns? Bold."
"Necessary," Daniel replied. "The human kingdoms are fragmented. Every beast wave, every calamity, every war—handled separately, inefficiently, selfishly."
Miimi closed one ledger. "So you want coordination."
"I want reach," Daniel said. "A faction recognized by every human kingdom as indispensable."
Beth crossed her arms. "You're describing power."
"Yes," Daniel said calmly. "But not ownership."
He placed his hand on the table.
"We call it the Red Flags Banner."
The name lingered in the air.
Miimi repeated it softly. "Red Flags… Banner."
Beth grinned. "Subtle as always."
Daniel's lips twitched. "It's memorable."
"The Red Flags Banner will offer protection, intelligence, and Beast Slayer intervention to all human kingdoms," Daniel said. "In return—"
Miimi raised a finger. "Materials."
"Resources," Daniel agreed. "Beast cores. Rare metals. Mana crystals. Supplies."
Beth added casually, "And favors."
Daniel nodded. "And the right to recruit."
That made Miimi look up sharply.
"Recruit who?"
"Young talents," Daniel said. "Promising warriors. Survivors. Those with potential but no backing."
Beth laughed quietly. "You're going to make the nobles furious."
"Good," Daniel replied.
Miimi tapped the table thoughtfully. "You said random recruitment."
"Yes," Daniel said. "No quotas. No favoritism. No noble bloodlines."
Beth nodded approvingly. "That keeps the image clean."
"And effective," Daniel added.
Beth tilted her head. "Who does the recruiting?"
Daniel looked at her.
She smiled wider. "Say no more."
She turned to Miimi. "The Elder Beast Slayers will handle it."
Miimi frowned briefly, then nodded. "Eighteen of them—well, seventeen."
"Eeseren is still in her hibernation cocoon," Beth said. "Recovering."
Daniel's expression softened for a fraction of a second. "Then the others will go."
Beth stretched. "We'll send them on 'random expeditions.'"
Miimi chuckled. "That's never random."
"Of course it is," Beth said seriously. "They'll just happen to pass through desperate villages full of hidden geniuses."
Daniel allowed himself a rare smile.
"Now," Beth said, clapping her hands once, "let's talk about your other dream."
Daniel glanced at her. "You mean the city."
"Yes," Beth said brightly. "Because you don't just want an organization. You want a base."
"A village first," Daniel said. "Something we build from the ground up."
Miimi leaned forward. "That grows into a town."
"And then," Daniel continued, "into a major business center."
Beth walked to the map mounted on the wall and traced several glowing trade routes with her finger.
"This is easy," she said. "Very many villages along these paths are already under our protection."
Miimi nodded. "Merchants already trust those roads."
Beth looked back at Daniel. "Build there. Expand outward."
Daniel studied the map. "It will centralize trade."
"And cut off noble-controlled routes," Miimi added quietly.
Beth smiled sweetly. "Which will make them very unhappy."
Daniel exhaled. "They'll protest."
"They always do," Beth said. "But what will they do?"
She met Daniel's eyes, smile sharp.
"The strong cannot be questioned."
Miimi laughed softly. "You enjoy saying that far too much."
"It's comforting," Beth replied.
"There's still the issue of land ownership," Daniel said. "A city requires legitimacy."
Miimi raised her hand. "I'll talk to my father."
She hesitated. "…But you know he's stingy."
Beth waved dismissively. "Please. Leave it to me."
Miimi blinked. "What exactly are you planning?"
Beth's smile turned dangerous. "Anything for darling."
Daniel sighed. "Every time you say that, something expensive happens."
Beth shrugged. "Love is costly."
Three days passed.
Daniel spent them drafting structural hierarchies for the Red Flags Banner—logistics wings, Beast Slayer divisions, training protocols. Miimi calculated supply flows and trade taxes. Beth… disappeared.
On the third day, Miimi finally cornered her in the corridor outside the council chamber.
Miimi stared at Beth with wide eyes. "How."
Beth blinked. "How what?"
"How did you convince him?" Miimi demanded. "The decree was signed. The nobles were furious. My father looked ten years older."
Beth smiled innocently. "Oh, that."
She leaned closer and whispered, "I told him that if he couldn't satisfy the dreams of my future husband—"
Miimi's eyes widened in horror.
"—then I would truly hate him," Beth continued cheerfully, "and never return to the castle."
Miimi nearly dropped her ledger. "You didn't."
"Oh, I absolutely did."
Despite violent protests from the nobles, the king relented.
The royal decree was announced publicly the same night.
A ten-thousand–acre square of land, positioned along critical trade pathways, was granted to General Daniel.
Official purpose: development and stabilization.
Unofficial truth—
"It is my wedding gift," the king said stiffly, "to you and Daniel. In advance."
When Daniel heard the news, he stood silently for several seconds.
"…Ten thousand acres," he repeated.
Beth watched him closely. "Try to look impressed."
Daniel nodded slowly. "I am… somehow impressed."
Miimi burst out laughing.
Beth smirked. "Liar."
Daniel turned away, hiding a small, genuine smile.
The City of Red Flags Banner had its foundation.
Not built on crowns.
Not upheld by noble blood.
But on strength, systems, and a banner that would one day be recognized across all human lands.
And as Daniel looked out over Fort Knightfall once more, he knew—
This was only the beginning.