Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race

Peikak slowly stood up, his posture rigid, eyes scanning the room before speaking in a firm, professional tone:

"Boss, the main topics of the meeting are: the attack on House Joylore and the rescue of the First Division Commander, Taes Dedoldia; the Fitoa teleportation incident; the alliance with the dwarves; the S-Rank adventurer license; and the absorption of the Great Forest tribes."

Rygar nodded, crossing his arms over the table, his gaze serious and attentive. Peikak sat down again, and Lounirc, the light-skinned elf with silver hair, took the floor.

"Ryg—"

"Call me Leader or Boss."

Rygar's voice cut through the air like a blade. The elf hesitated, clearly caught off guard. He blinked a few times before continuing, his voice slightly more hesitant:

"Leader... I assume you are already aware of the events that led to Commander Taes and the others being captured?"

Rygar nodded again, his expression unchanged. Lounirc continued:

"While the Leader was traveling to the dwarven territory, we held a meeting to address the matter and decided to contact the Demon Race Acceptance Faction in Milis. They directly oppose House Joylore, which belongs to the Expulsion Faction, and at the same time, this would allow us to establish several partnerships with the Milis religion. As part of the agreement, we asked them to ensure the safety of our key members and assist in rescuing them, but I must say that the Boss's actions have shattered any diplomacy that could have occurred—"

"Are you questioning my actions?" Rygar interrupted, his voice low but heavy.

An invisible pressure filled the room. The air seemed to grow heavier. Lounirc felt a chill run down his spine. He shrank back, his resolve wavering under the overwhelming presence of the Iron Legion. Why did he feel so fierce now?

"N-no, Leader, I just—"

Rygar interrupted him again.

"I admit I was emotionally affected at the moment I went to rescue them, but I would do it all over again."

He paused. That was a lie. He knew he could have acted differently if he hadn't been consumed by rage—at the very least, he wouldn't have stormed in for all to see—but now was not the time to show hesitation. He continued, his voice cold and firm:

"With your diplomacy methods, Kidar Adoldia, the warrior I trusted to lead the Legion in my absence, my friend and a friend to many here, was dead before I even arrived. Along with two other warriors. If I had taken any longer, we could have lost Commander Taes Dedoldia as well."

Lounirc furrowed his brows and pursed his lips. Rygar's words were true, but he still felt he wasn't wrong. He just hadn't had the chance to fully explain his position. He was almost certain Rygar knew he was wrong as well.

The heavy silence was broken by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Gorrin Redwine, the long, red-bearded dwarf and commander of the Intelligence Division, intervened, his voice deep and direct:

"The Commander of the Order of Instruction, Galgard, seems to oppose the Iron Legion, but they do not want open conflict. Unlike the fanatics of the Order of the Temple, who want to see us burning and our heads on spikes. The Church Temple remains neutral, but we still have someone interested in continuing cooperation."

All eyes turned to him. Rygar narrowed his gaze, and Gorrin continued:

"The Pope himself has not yet abandoned cooperation. So, it's not impossible. But it's not viable to rely on him alone. We need the support of at least one of the Knight Orders and at least one noble house."

The tension in the room began to ease. The conversation had shifted to future plans. The once-heavy silence was replaced with discussion. Each commander actively voiced their opinions when appropriate. Some agreed, while others considered the risks. Strategies were suggested and debated.

Lounirc, however, remained silent, his thoughts racing. In the end, he chose to say nothing more. The direction of the conversation had already been decided. The priority would be to avoid drawing Milis' attention for now, as long as there was no direct action against the Legion. Instead, the focus would shift to more immediate concerns.

Rygar observed the exchange of ideas among his commanders. There was still resentment, but the Legion was moving forward. And that was what mattered most.

The meeting hall retained a heavy atmosphere of tension as the next topic was brought up. Daruk, the commander of the Tenth Administration Division, stood up, crossing his arms over the table and looking directly at Rygar.

"Chief, we have been taking in and freeing everyone we find from the Fitoa Region. Some are planning to return home, so I'd like to make a suggestion."

Rygar narrowed his eyes, reflecting for a moment before speaking: "Is it about creating a search party?"

Daruk's face lit up with a satisfied smile. "The Leader is wise! That's exactly it."

Rygar nodded, resting his elbows on the table and interlocking his fingers. "Do you have a leader in mind?"

Daruk shook his head. "No, sir. We are still sorting and organizing the refugees. Many are still disoriented by what happened and don't know whether to move forward or try to go back."

Rygar scanned the room before fixing his gaze on Laws. "Laws will be the provisional leader of the group. Not only is he one of the victims of this disaster, but he also knows much of Fitoa."

Laws lifted his head, already expecting the decision, a determined glint in his eyes. "Understood, Leader. I will do my best to find and help all those who are still lost."

Daruk grinned and pounded a closed fist on the table. "Excellent choice, Master!"

Rygar looked around the table. "Does anyone have anything to add?"

Gorrin, the veteran dwarf, leaned slightly forward, resting his calloused hands on the solid wooden table. "I sent informants to the Central Continent to gather more information about survivors and any groups that might be enslaving or hunting them. As soon as I have updates, I will bring a report."

Rygar nodded in approval. "Great initiative. Anyone else?"

Silence dominated the room for a few moments. When no one spoke up, Rygar took the floor again.

"Then it's decided. The creation of the Fitoa Survivor Search Group is officially sanctioned. Laws will be the leader, and Peikak will handle logistics and resources."

Ghislaine, who had been silently listening until now, showed a look of interest. Rygar noticed and made brief eye contact with her before moving on to the next topic.

"As for the alliance with the dwarves, I can say it was extremely successful." Rygar's words sparked a light murmur of satisfaction around the table. "Several caravans of dwarves will soon be joining the Iron Legion. Among them, there is a dwarf named Brigthstone, who can only be commanded by me. I will provide more details when he arrives."

Joseph, one of the commanders, raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Do they have any capable fighters?"

Rygar slowly shook his head. "They have excellent warriors, but nothing too extreme compared to our standard. However, their skills in forging are the best in the world. Their knowledge of metallurgy and enchantment could elevate our Legion to another level."

The commanders nodded, and a new wave of anticipation arose among them. Many seemed excited at the prospect of enhancing their equipment.

Peikak chuckled softly. "So, we can finally reforge our weapons properly. Now that's good news."

Gorrin, who was also a dwarf, slammed a closed fist against the table, enthusiastic. "If we wield weapons forged by dwarves, our strength will increase drastically!" He then turned to Rygar. "Leader, we should invest in building a grand forge within our base. With the number of dwarves arriving, we'll need a proper structure for them to work."

Rygar nodded. "It's a valid idea. After the meeting, prepare a report detailing the resources and logistics necessary for this endeavor."

Gorrin smiled with satisfaction. "Consider it done."

"Now, about the Rank S adventurer license." Rygar cast a serious gaze over the commanders. "We can obtain it as soon as the Blue Dragon scales arrive with the dwarven caravan."

Joseph leaned slightly forward. "Are those scales all they requested?"

Rygar confirmed with a nod. "Exactly. The scales are the only requirement for the mission I was assigned. Once they arrive, we can proceed with the request."

The commanders exchanged glances, and the atmosphere in the hall lightened. It was an important step for the Iron Legion, as many of their future plans required them to have high freedom as adventurers.

"Does this mean we'll be able to accept Rank S missions?" Peikak asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"It means our influence and authority among adventurers will increase significantly," Rygar replied. "We'll have access to high-risk, high-reward missions and open doors to more strategic alliances."

Rygar observed the faces around him. For the first time since the beginning of the meeting, it seemed that the initial tension had been replaced by cautious optimism. There was much work to be done, but each step forward strengthened the Iron Legion and solidified their path.

With the conversation flowing well and the commanders now engaged, Rygar prepared to address the next and final topic of the meeting.

Kilian had sent a detailed report on the absorption of the Great Forest tribes. He stated that the hierarchy system and fast travel network between tribes had been successfully implemented, facilitating communication and integration.

Most of the tribes had agreed to submit to the Iron Legion after hearing about the benefits offered, and now nearly all were under their banner. However, many warriors from these tribes were coming to challenge Rygar for the position of Legion leader. He also warned that the specialized training process would still take time to complete.

Additionally, a surprising piece of news accompanied the report: Kilian Dedoldia had become a Wind Saint under the guidance of Verdia Solarion. This feat demonstrated his dedication and extraordinary talent. But that wasn't all—a new Saint had emerged from the Doldia tribe. A warrior who was already advanced in both the Sword God and North God styles had managed to reach the level of Sword Saint.

He was one of the warriors who had trained as a sparring partner against Rygar countless times and had witnessed the Longsword of Light in action on multiple occasions, feeling its presence up close. Somehow, through either sheer luck or pure effort, he had advanced to the level of Saint.

His name was Weys Adoldia.

Rygar felt a wave of satisfaction and pride. Every advancement was an important piece on the Iron Legion's board, and the fact that two new Saint-level warriors were emerging within his organization only strengthened his growth plan. With a slight smile, he nodded to the commanders present, realizing that his strategies were solidly coming together.

At that moment, the meeting room door suddenly swung open, and Taes hurried in.

"Am I late?" he asked, straightening his posture. His hair was disheveled, and scratch marks were visible on his neck.

All eyes in the room quickly turned to him. The atmosphere remained silent for a few moments before some of the commanders flashed suggestive smiles. Joseph was the first to speak, his tone amused.

"I see you were... busy."

Peikak let out a restrained chuckle, while Gorrin, always straightforward, burst into laughter.

Taes looked visibly uncomfortable and ran a hand over his neck, trying to cover the scratches. "It's nothing... just some intense conversations."

Rygar crossed his arms, observing the scene with an amused look. It was good to see Taes interacting normally again, especially after everything that had happened. The other commanders took the opportunity to congratulate him on regaining his arms and legs.

"It's good to have you back, Taes," Rygar said, his voice filled with genuine respect. "The Legion needs you in top shape."

Taes nodded, his expression softening. "And I'm ready to get back to work."

With the atmosphere in the room now lighter, the commanders resumed discussions about the next steps for the Iron Legion. Several topics were addressed, from managing new members to strengthening strategies to prevent future losses like the one in Milis. Among the suggestions, one idea that was already being implemented stood out: building a wall around the Legion's main base, ensuring greater protection and territorial control.

Rygar pondered for a few moments before responding. "A wall could be a major step forward for our defense, but it might also attract unwanted attention. We need to ensure its construction is quick and efficient. When the project is completed, send it to me for review, and I'll build it myself using Earth magic."

Gorrin, the dwarf who was also experienced in architecture and defensive strategies, spoke up. "Boss, I don't doubt your ability, but this will be a massive wall. Will you have enough mana?"

Rygar answered naturally, "I have more than enough. Draft new plans for additional buildings as well—we'll take this opportunity to expand."

The commanders nodded, though some still had doubts about his claims. As the meeting neared its end, Rygar looked around the room and felt something he hadn't felt since the attack on Milis—confidence. Despite the blow they had suffered, the Iron Legion was rising once more, and as long as he had a say in it, they would become stronger than ever.

"Alright," he declared, standing up. "We have a lot of work ahead. Let's make sure the Iron Legion keeps growing."

With those words, the meeting was officially adjourned, and the commanders dispersed, each with a new mission to accomplish.

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