6

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Days passed slowly, and Mark gradually adapted to life in the mansion. In the first few days, the butler Sebas guided him through the facilities, and Mark left Old Soo with him to be trained.

Old Soo did not complain and diligently began learning the Noxian language and how to be a competent butler. Nabu, on the other hand, became Mark's personal assistant.

Since he did not speak Noxian and had many tribal customs, Nabu stayed with Mark most of the time. The castle had training facilities for soldiers, so Mark and Nabu often went there to train.

For the next month, this became Mark's routine: waking up, assisting Swain in translating texts and practicing his speech. Swain would then teach him about political knowledge and Noxian doctrines.

Mark, of course, seized the opportunity and learned attentively, as such knowledge could help him in the future. After morning classes, Swain would usually handle administrative matters in the afternoon, which Mark used to train in the courtyard alongside other soldiers.

At night, Mark would head to the mansion's library and actively research and seek general knowledge. His ability to speak all known languages greatly facilitated this process.

He did this because he knew deep down that, although his knowledge of the game's lore was extensive, his very existence had already significantly altered the future.

A little over a month later, Mark was in the training field, the sound of clashing swords ringing constantly.

Clank!

The sound of colliding swords echoed, and two figures were seen stepping back. In front of Mark stood two burly Noxian soldiers wielding halberds.

There was a pause before the two attacked Mark again. Their halberds cracked the air as they advanced toward him. Mark raised his sword and took a step back, striking the tip of one of the halberds.

With a small blow, the halberd veered off its original course, hitting the other soldier's weapon and causing both to momentarily lose their stance. They quickly recovered and resumed their attack on Mark.

At this point, the entire training ground was silent, with all the soldiers from the mansion observing the fight. The fight mostly involved the two soldiers attacking while Mark dodged and defended.

During that month of training, Mark's body changed tremendously. His muscles grew and toned, his strikes no longer had any previous hesitation, and his stamina improved significantly.

Now, he was a bit stronger than a typical Noxian soldier, but thanks to the two breathing techniques, he could exert much more explosive force, making him balanced when facing the two burly halberd-wielding soldiers.

The wind broke as the blades passed close to his body, but Mark remained composed, swiftly dodging and countering.

"AHHH!" One of the soldiers shouted, raising his halberd high for a powerful strike. At that moment, like a flash, Mark's sword stopped near his neck. "I lost," the soldier admitted, and Mark nodded before jumping aside to dodge the other soldier's attack.

The remaining soldier, seeing his companion retreat from the battlefield, began attacking recklessly, spinning the halberd around his body and executing multiple quick strikes, trying to corner Mark, who jumped back and took a deep breath.

"Sun Breathing, First Form."

Red flames emerged from his sword as it clashed against the halberd's blade. Like a flash, the two figures passed by each other, and a piece of iron fell to the ground.

"I lost," the other Noxian soldier declared, seeing the melted tip of his weapon on the ground. The training center erupted in applause. "Well done! Hahaha!" Julian, the head of Swain's personal guard, said with a loud laugh. He stood over two meters tall, with black hair and many scars on his body.

Like any Noxian, he was tall and robust, but unlike many others, he had a cheerful disposition. He was assigned to train Mark when he arrived at the training center, and the two quickly became friends.

"Kid, I've never trained anyone like you. It's as if you were born to fight! Hahaha!" Julian said, pointing to a scar on his cheek.

On the second day after arriving at the mansion, Mark asked to join the training sessions, and Julian allowed it as long as he fought every Noxian soldier there with his bare hands.

He didn't need to win, just survive for five minutes against each opponent. The first to face him was Julian himself. Naturally, Mark took a beating but somehow managed to land solid blows on Julian, making him bleed from his cheek.

After that, every Noxian that followed was more cautious when facing him. By the end of it, Mark's face was swollen, and every part of his body ached, but less than three days later, he was completely recovered, earning the soldiers' nickname of "monster."

"That's the end of today's training. I also have an announcement for everyone." Julian clapped, catching the soldiers' attention, and they all gathered to listen. "In about a week, we'll be heading to Shurima. Prepare your equipment and say goodbye to your lovers." At the last part, the soldiers laughed loudly and soon dispersed.

Mark met with Nabu, who was still training with a spear, trying to master the basics, and called him to return to the mansion. The two entered, bathed, and changed clothes.

Mark was planning to go to the library, but at that moment, Sebas approached him with a message from Swain. "Sir Mark, the Master has requested your presence in the main hall as a distinguished guest has arrived," Sebas informed, handing him formal clothes with the family crest.

Mark paid attention, aware that he had been summoned, and without delay, instructed Nabu to study alone. He dressed and headed for the reception hall, pausing to take a deep breath before opening the door to the hall.

As he opened the door, four pairs of eyes fell on him. Observing the people seated in the chairs, Mark recognized them all. "I greet General Du Couteau and his daughters." The tall, red-haired man who had been with Swain on the day Mark was taken stood in the room and gave him a brief glance before returning to silence.

Mark later learned that he was Du Couteau. The man, imposing and quiet, seemed unconcerned with words, but the two female presences in the room stood out, drawing Mark's attention.

"Thank you for your respects, Mr. Mark. I am Cassandra Du Couteau. I heard about your feats in the arena a month ago. They were truly impressive," a girl of about 12 years said, introducing herself cordially. She had brown hair, unlike her father and sister, but her beauty and the shrewdness in her eyes revealed much about her.

"Little does Du Couteau know that his wife is a member of the Black Rose and would drag his youngest daughter into a terrible fate in the future," Mark thought to himself, maintaining a cordial smile.

His gaze shifted across the room, and besides Swain, who sat silently drinking tea, Mark saw Katarina sitting in a more distant chair. Her red hair fell across her alluring face and wild eyes. She clearly displayed disinterest in everything around her while spinning one of her knives.

Young, immature, and arrogant.

These words echoed in Mark's mind, but he knew that Katarina would become one of the greatest assassins, if not the greatest, in the world, capable of confronting small armies on her own.

Noticing his gaze, Katarina looked back at him, casting a look of interest, as if she had found a new toy to play with.

"Sit," Swain's words cut through the atmosphere, and Mark quickly took a seat, initiating a meeting that lasted until nightfall. It was a long discussion on military and political aspects that stretched into the night.

The two generals covered countless topics, discussing numerous strategies, policies, potential allies, and supply routes. The content of the conversation was so extensive that Mark and Cassandra only spoke when asked, as the subject was far beyond their knowledge.

Katarina remained silent the entire meeting, and with a quick glance, Mark noticed she was deeply asleep, entirely disinterested in the political matters discussed.

As the meeting neared its end, the two generals decided to take a short break and change the topic to lighten the mood. "So, Swain, have you decided if you'll formally adopt him into your family?" At that moment, Du Couteau posed a question that made the conversation abruptly chill, leaving both Mark and Cassandra in complete silence. For a moment, Mark's mind failed to process what that meant.

Swain didn't respond immediately but cast a thoughtful look at Mark. "I was planning to adopt him, but not now. He's still too naïve and inexperienced. I plan to send him as our vanguard to Shurima," Swain said. At that moment, Du Couteau let out a long laugh, completely changing his previous demeanor and startling even his two daughters, who had probably never seen him laugh.

"As relentless as ever, aren't you? You know the boy will probably die if you send him alone." Du Couteau remarked, but Swain remained unfazed. "If he dies, it is due to his own incompetence, nothing more." Swain's words made Mark feel a slight bitterness in his heart, but it quickly dissipated. Deep down, he knew the general saw him as a tool to serve Noxus, whether as his heir or for something more significant.

At this point, General Du Couteau looked at Mark for a moment and made a declaration. "Well, in that case, my daughter Katarina will go with him!" His words made Katarina's eyes light up with anticipation

, as she had long desired a mission to prove her worth.

Mark, aware of this, felt a tightness in his chest, but before he could protest, Swain nodded, sealing his fate. All Mark could do was curse internally as General Du Couteau locked eyes with him.

"I have great expectations of you, boy."