Ragon, who was now able to address the audience, noticed that one thing he lacked was his team. Without that, there wouldn't be proper governance. The village had previously been ruled by the patriarch, who didn't need any community support, so it didn't require much. However, after nineteen years, not only had the population grown, but other humans had also been added to their number, leading to an increase in the community.
Ragon understood that for a kingdom to survive, it needed intelligent council members. However, most nineteen-year-olds would think they should choose someone their own age for the sake of having like minds. Ragon was different; after all, he was over a thousand years old, so he didn't see age as a necessary factor. If he encountered an intelligent toddler, he wouldn't hesitate to choose them.
"Where is the map of this territory?" Ragon requested, but to his surprise, there was barely any response from the people present.
He turned to the two individuals beside him, as if expecting them to provide some information.
They nodded their heads in response, indicating they had no clue where the map might be found.
Meanwhile, Ragon recalled, "Father usually kept a detailed map of this territory every month, so I think I will be able to learn much about it from that." He smiled, remembering that his father would draw the layout of the territory during his rest from hard labor.
"Don't worry, the map is settled," Ragon said, waving his hands to silence the anxious crowd, who were already worried about not having one.
He directed one of the guards beside him and whispered the location of the map. A few minutes later, it was brought to him.
"I want all able-bodied men aged fifteen and above to be gathered here," Ragon ordered, as he needed many men for his plans.
A few minutes later, they were all assembled outside in a vast field. The first part of Ragon's plan was now underway, and he was determined to sort out the next phase.
"I would like ten young men, who are the most agile among all here, to step forward." Hearing this, nearly all the men in the crowd, numbering close to a thousand, came forward.
"Hahaha," Ragon laughed, but he was not foolish enough to be unable to distinguish the capable from the incapable.
In less than a second, Ragon sprang into action; his speed was remarkable. He dashed past the men, casually tapping each one on the face. Those who were quick enough to try to block his touch were marked as having passed the test. Of course, none of them were strong enough to stop his hands. Ragon was a three-star warrior, a quality they lacked at that moment.
In a matter of seconds, Ragon had touched every single one of them.
They were all shocked to see their king move with such speed.
To their surprise, some of them had changed direction. There were now two separate teams, consisting of only ten young men out of the thousand.
"So, if you are among the ten on my left, you have successfully passed the agility test." The young boys who found themselves among the ten were very happy, jumping up in celebration, while the others felt disappointed at the prospect of not participating in the king's mission.
Ragon noticed their wary faces, but he laughed as he spoke to them. "You all don't have to be sad; this is only the agility team. There will be many more opportunities. I forgot to mention that we will be taking the war to them." Ragon smiled, having planned everything out in advance. This was a benefit of being a half-god.
"Ten of you will be called Team Shadow," Ragon told them.
"Hey, you, come forth!" Ragon pointed at a brown-haired boy with a thin frame who was approximately 5'7" tall. The boy stood confidently, as if he were unafraid of anything thrown his way.
"Me, Your Majesty?" the boy asked, pointing at himself.
"Yes, you," Ragon replied. The boy wasted no time and quickly walked toward Ragon.
"What is your name?" Ragon asked him.
"Your Majesty, my name is Peter," the brown-haired boy replied politely.
"Peter, that is a wonderful name," Ragon said, patting his shoulder. He added, "You will be the leader of Team Shadow." Ragon smiled as he looked at him. The fact that no one in the team seemed fazed by the young man receiving the leadership role was part of the aura that Ragon exuded, which established his dominance over them.
"Your..." Peter began to say something, but Ragon silenced him immediately.
"Are you trying to refuse your Majesty?" Ragon raised an eyebrow and stared at him.
"No! Your Majesty... I boldly accept this position, and I promise to do my utmost best to ensure the safety of my team members," Peter said, bowing and kneeling before Ragon.
"Okay, don't be jealous yet; I promise that no one will be left out."
"Now, I won't be choosing only agile individuals; rather, I want you all to draw," Ragon smiled.
Everyone present was surprised that he would need artists this time around. "Is this some kind of joke?" one person in the crowd muttered, tired of hearing this.
"Your task will be to draw what is in my mind, I would be responsible for the descriptions. If you can replicate the specific image in my mind closely, then you will receive a passing mark from me," Ragon explained, his mind already playing out the rules.
Many individuals considered leaving after hearing this, but Ragon wasn't ready to lose any manpower. He didn't care if they wanted to fight or not; it was a must that they would.
It was as if Ragon's senses were everywhere. The moment he noticed people determined to leave, he opened his coat and threw daggers that landed in front of fifty people on the grass, causing them to stop in their tracks.
"I forgot to mention previously that this is not a volunteer organization. It's a must for all of you to participate, whether you f*cking like it or not. Would you rather face me or the orcs?" Ragon barked, staring them down.
They all shivered under his murderous aura and returned to where they stood without wasting a second.
"Where was I again?"