The lords asked during the meeting who the teacher was.
They had thought those teachers were professionals recruited by the Jiuzhou Territory through the population hall.
At one time, they had felt immensely impressed that the Jiuzhou leader was so fortunate to have recruited so many outstanding professional individuals.
As a result, Toji Hisami told them that those instructors were all local residents performing corresponding work within the territory.
The lords had been completely shocked at that moment.
It was just that they had not dared to show it too openly in front of Toji Hisami, fearing he might look down on them.
Yet the inner turmoil continued until the end of the meeting when Toji Hisami departed.
They quickly stopped Lena, eager to ask for clarification.
They claimed they wished to study in the Jiuzhou Territory for a few days, but in truth, they simply wanted to see what kind of people made up the Jiuzhou Territory!
Toji Hisami had mentioned that these skills were gradually learned and developed by their subjects, but they did not believe it at all.
Lena understood their thoughts the moment she heard them.
The curve at the corner of her mouth lifted slightly; the beautiful affairs officer felt quite amused by the lords’ reactions.
She reflected that her own thoughts and feelings at the beginning had been identical to theirs.
It had taken a long time to digest it all.
A lord’s talent was everyone’s secret and would not be disclosed casually.
There was nothing one could do about combat talents; as long as a lord engaged in battle, people would guess it sooner or later.
However, development-oriented talents were far harder to deduce.
Toji Hisami had no intention of actively informing them either.
So far, except for the senior officials of the territory and Boris who had become a retainer, not even the citizens inside the territory were clear on the details.
They simply kept speculating, each holding their own guesses.
Lena could not resist the lords’ persistence, so she simply agreed.
She immediately took the lords to arrange a place for them to stay.
In any case, even if the lords ended up seeing nothing in the end, it would not stop them from following in Toji Hisami’s footsteps.
During this period, exposing them further to the style of the Jiuzhou Territory was also a good thing.
Over those few days, the points on the gold standings fluctuated daily.
Those who stood at the forefront yesterday would wake up today only to find they had fallen back past two hundred people.
Individuals unknown today might find themselves in the top one hundred tomorrow.
The competition was fierce.
At this moment, the silence maintained by the first alliance in the district, the Heaven Drive Alliance, was incomprehensible to many people.
Some of those who had been refused entry harbored malicious assumptions.
They mused that Toji Hisami could lead a group of rookies all on his own, but he might not be able to lead an entire alliance at all.
Yet no matter how they speculated, Toji Hisami remained number one on the gold list.
Having already broken past 2,000 points, there was no doubt he would pass the first assessment.
Next, it depended on whether he wished to maintain his first-place ranking in points.
However, no one believed Toji Hisami would willingly give up the top spot.
That brief silence meant nothing; the previous experience in the valley had made everyone understand.
Toji Hisami’s strength was unique across the Eastern District.
No one in the Eastern District could stop him. Looking across all districts, the only one who might pose a threat to him was Sardo in the Western District.
This descendant of the Golden Family held 1,700 points, pressing very close to Toji Hisami.
Still, if people wished to see the two confront each other head-on, they would have to wait until the next assessment.
Furthermore, people noticed that while the four major districts of East, West, South, and North had all displayed their capabilities, the Central District seemed to remain entirely silent.
Someone checked the points of the Central District lords, only to find they were all sitting at the bottom, showing no intention of rising.
This left many observant individuals across the other four districts thoroughly confused.
After the first week of the assessment, Heaven Drive finally deployed a team to venture out and fight.
One hundred shield guards, one hundred Flying Tiger Cavalry, and five hundred auxiliary soldiers.
The team of seven hundred people in total was led entirely by Boris.
Some of the other lords sent their own heroic souls to assist, while others dispatched no heroic souls at all.
On the day Boris set out, traveling alongside him was Toji Hisami!
Toji Hisami, the leader of the Heaven Drive Alliance and lord of the Jiuzhou Territory, was departing the territory once again.
The citizens of the Jiuzhou Territory who received the news gathered eagerly outside the city walls.
They could not stop their lord, so they could only hope to use their gazes to urge Toji Hisami to "rest" for a few more days.
Especially the dwarf Polo.
After Toji Hisami had returned, this dwarf craftsman had personally experienced the difference between a 100% talent effect and a 50% talent effect, leaving him utterly stunned.
He felt that if Toji Hisami stayed for another month, he might be able to raise his craftsman level further.
Seeing that Toji Hisami was about to leave, the dwarf grew so anxious that his face looked red with heat.
Finally, he rolled his eyes and trotted forward.
The shield guards recognized the dwarf Polo, but they still stepped in to block him.
Over on the other side, Boris was bidding farewell to Toji Hisami.
Boris was setting off to increase his points, while Toji Hisami was searching for resources that could help the Xuanwu Guard take shape.
Because of their differing divisions of labor, Toji Hisami took only Lyra and fifty shield guards with him.
"Don’t worry, with me here, everything will go smoothly," Boris declared with a grin across his bearded face. "I may not know how to manage a territory, but when it comes to military matters, please trust my keen instincts!"
Toji Hisami patted him on the shoulder and said nothing more.
When employing someone, do not suspect them; if you suspect them, do not employ them.
He was naturally at ease regarding Boris’s strength.
Just as he sent Boris off, he spotted Polo jumping up and down, waving at him frantically.
Toji Hisami gestured with his hand, and the shield guards immediately cleared a path to let the dwarf step through.
"Lord, please take me with you on your journey this time! If the armor or equipment gets damaged, I can repair it on the spot!" Polo pleaded. "Besides, members of the Jumai family are warriors who can fight as well!"
To make his words more persuasive, Polo even lifted a large shield beside him and swung it about.
The giant shield stood taller than he did, yet in the dwarf’s hands, it appeared as light as paper.
It was just that the sight looked rather amusing.
Dwarf Polo’s voice was loud, and the blacksmiths watching from behind overheard his words, their eyes lighting up instantly!
What a brilliant move!
Why hadn’t they thought of that?
They wondered how a dwarf with thick eyebrows and big eyes could turn out to be so scheming.
If one followed the lord, could they not enjoy the pleasure of rapid growth anytime and anywhere?
However, before those blacksmiths could react, another figure rushed out.
Taking a closer look, it was none other than Maier!
Alchemist Maier!
That fellow sprinted up to Toji Hisami, dropped to his knees, and bowed directly.
"Lord, the shield guards’ armor and shields bear runes as well! How can I be left behind when repairs are needed?"
"Oh, damn it!"
The next moment, someone shouted from the crowd, "How can the lord eat stale rations while traveling? He must have fresh produce!"
"Members of agriculture and forestry apply to be listed!"
Another yelled that the lord would be sleeping in the open air during his travels and needed a comfortable house built.
"Engineers apply to be listed!"
Seeing that everyone was about to surge forward together, Lena stood before the crowd with a dark expression.
"Nonsense!"