At Rover's gesture, the side hall of the Governor's Palace was temporarily converted into a command center.
Currently, he was standing in front of a massive sand table of the Sanguis Hunting Grounds. Adjutant Vibia was rapidly reporting the fragmented latest intelligence transmitted from the frontline, her tone rushed and anxious.
The main doors were suddenly pushed open, and a group of people walked in.
Leading them were several research directors dressed in standard Black Shores uniforms, along with an officer wearing special Black Shores epaulets.
They saluted Rover in unison, their posture respectful, clearly having confirmed the highest authority of the person before them through the Black Shores' internal channels in advance.
"Lord Rover, Commander Liszt of the Black Shores' Seventh Fleet reporting."
Commander Liszt's voice was steady. "The fleet's armed personnel and technicians have deployed according to the predetermined plan. The deployment of the city defense force field generators has begun, and the connection to the energy hub is underway. Please instruct us on the next course of action."
Rover nodded, his gaze never leaving the sand table: "Commander Liszt, your unit's primary task is, first, to ensure the absolute safety of the Seven Hills Port and the main city. Elevate the defense level to the maximum. As for the Senate's sector, it requires 'priority protection' so they can 'discuss matters with peace of mind.'"
His tone was flat, but Liszt immediately understood. The so-called "priority protection" was actually surveillance and isolation, preventing those useless fools who were at odds with Augusta from causing trouble in the rear at an inopportune time.
"Second, the main fleet is to blockade the waters between Windtide Cliff and the Attilius Pass. Be ready at all times to deal with small groups of Black Tide creatures that might break through the frontline, and provide tactical support to the Seven Hills city defense forces."
"Finally, the technical team must devote their full efforts to analyzing the energy data of the Sanguis Hunting Grounds to find the source and patterns of the Black Tide's abnormal convergence. I need to know the location of the Black Tide's core and its weakest entry point."
"Also, assemble a rapid-response elite squad equipped with heavy firepower and specialized weaponry. Prepare to head south to the Hunting Grounds with me to support the frontline."
"Yes, Lord Rover!" Liszt accepted the orders without hesitation and turned sharply to deploy his forces. The efficiency of the Black Shores was fully displayed at this moment.
After Liszt and the Black Shores technical executives left, a somewhat lively voice with a unique cadence rang out from the back of the technical team:
"Boss, this errand is pretty intense, huh? Those lords in the Senate turned so pale seeing you, it was like they'd seen a ghost."
A familiar young woman slowly strolled over. Her smile beneath her sky-blue short hair carried a hint of teasing, and she was still toying with that small mirror in her hand.
The newcomer was none other than Bu Ling. She walked up to Rover, tilted her head to look at him, her eyes lacking their previous complete relaxation, now holding a bit more scrutiny and a trace of awe.
Rover finally looked up from the sand table and turned to her, the corners of his lips curling into a rare, playful arc: "Bu Ling? Or should I call you... Black Shores Special Guest Advisor stationed in the Seven Hills, Bu Ling?"
"During our 'chance encounter' on the streets of the Seven Hills last time, you told me you were just a passing diviner from Mengzhou, traveling through the Seven Hills and just happening to be interested in the events here, and then you casually guided me to deal with the Threnodian and the Fractsidus stirring up trouble."
He paused, his teasing tone deepening: "What? You point me to go risk my life on the front lines, while you sneak into the technical team to slack off? Isn't this distribution of labor a bit unfair?"
The smile on Bu Ling's face instantly froze. A flash of genuine surprise crossed her eyes, quickly turning into a wry smile and deeper admiration.
She hadn't expected that Rover had not only seen through her previous disguise long ago, but he even remembered the casual words she had spoken back then with crystal clarity. And it seemed... he knew far more than she had imagined.
"Boss... you... you really are..." She took two steps back and shook her head, her familiar Mengzhou accent surfacing again. "Nothing can be hidden from you. You got me. Last time was a mission requirement, observing from the shadows, you know... This time I promise to be completely honest. Whatever the boss says, goes."
She dropped her playful demeanor and said seriously: "I will follow up on the technical team's analysis. I should also be able to help with certain aspects of energy tracking and illusion breaking."
"Good." Rover didn't press the matter further and turned to Adjutant Vibia beside him. "Are the guide and transport for heading south to the Hunting Grounds ready?"
Vibia immediately replied: "At Windtide Cliff, you can ride the fastest Griffon Echoes across the strait to the Sanguis Hunting Grounds. The guide is the sole survivor of a gladiator squad that previously went deep into the Hunting Grounds; he is the most familiar with that area. But, My Lord..."
She looked troubled. "The Senate is still strongly opposing your personal deployment, deeming it too dangerous, and..."
"No 'buts'." Rover interrupted her, ignoring the mess of nonsense regarding the Senate in her words. Then, as if remembering something, he looked at Vibia. "Before Governor Augusta left, did she leave any authorization for me?"
Vibia was taken aback, then nodded heavily. From her chest, she carefully took out a golden badge that seemed to radiate faint heat and lightning—it was Augusta's personal sun crest.
"I was so busy earlier I didn't have the chance to give it to you... Before the Governor left, she said, 'If he comes, give this to him. Tell him that I entrust the future of the Seven Hills to him.'"
Rover fell silent for a moment. He took the badge, which still carried Augusta's fiery aura and infinite trust, and gripped it tightly in his palm.
That passionate and unyielding female Governor had only met him once during the gladiatorial tournament, yet she had unreservedly handed over such a heavy responsibility and trust to him.
He took a deep breath, put the badge away, and his gaze grew even sharper: "Notify the Senate. Based on Governor Augusta's authorization, during my absence, all matters regarding the city defense of the Seven Hills and the rear will be jointly decided by Adjutant Vibia, assisted by Commander Liszt and the Black Shores technical team."
"If they have any objections, tell them to wait until I get back—assuming they can still find a reason by then."
The orders were rapidly issued, and no one dared to object anymore.
But just as he was preparing to leave, Vibia called out to him again and pulled out a somewhat familiar blue crescent bracelet from her pocket.
"Aside from the badge the Governor left, Oracle Yuno also left this bracelet for you. She asked me to give it to you, hoping you can 'help Augusta be crowned as the Hero King and defeat the Black Tide.'"
The bracelet from his memories was finally in his hands. Feeling the cool and gentle accessory that seemed to still carry a trace of Yuno's aura, Rover understood perfectly. He said nothing more and simply nodded to Vibia.
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