The art of Schmoozing (1)

"Why I don't believe talent equates to age, experience maybe, but not talent. I also pray that I never acquire enough experience for me to be very powerful. Wouldn't you agree Viscountess Helen?"

Jack emphasized the word viscount, this was because as the personal 'registered' of the Cast that immediately makes him one rank lower than his recruiter. In this case the Casts had Duke Killsman, and Duchess Regina, making Jack a Marquise.

Forgemire followed the same nobility rankings as Earth, in order from lowest to highest rank: Esquire, Knight/Dame, Baron/Baroness, Viscount/Viscountess, Earl/Countess, Marquise/Marquess, Duke/Duchess, Prince/Princess, Crown Prince/Princess, King/Queen, Emperor/Empress.

Jack was subtly telling Helen to fuck off because she doesn't know anything about magic, and because she was two ranks beneath him. While also warning her to not cause trouble. Of course Jack didn't really mind her comment, but he had to upkeep the image of the Cast's.

Reading between the lines Helen's face twitched before going back to normal, "Yes, it is not good for the youth of today to struggle as their predecessors."

Helen did not back down though, as this line brought in more than just her into the conversation, if Jack wanted to insult her he would also be insulting the group of women with her.

Smirking lightly Jack spoke, "Of course! I'm sure you wish someone would have given you such advice, I shall take it in head and make sure to repay the kindness."

Jack bowed lightly to Helen before turning around and heading toward a different group of nobility. Jack did not turn around or look at Helen until he got a group of well built men. Which was a good idea because if he had seen her facial expression after he turned around, he would not have been able to contain his laughter.

Approaching the circle of men Jack started to notice several different things about them. They were of different age ranges the eldest of them being early 50's and the youngest was most likely in his early 20's like Jack.

On their hand were rough callouses, and some of the older gentlemen had scars and stress lines that represented a life of constant stress and trials. These men were without a doubt military men, listening in to there conversation Jack waited for an opportunity to include himself into the conversation.

"Really Jim, I never thought I'd see the day the snobby brat who was no wider than a twig would wind up being a colonel of the imperial army! I mean how much bribing did you have to do to get there?"

A man you looked to be in his forties was speaking clapping a much younger looking man on the back.

"Haha, I just did a lot of hard work to get where I am now, of course gentlemen are willing to be persuaded a bit more when the woman of the house support there decision."

The man was not so blunt with his words, after all what was a little bit of corruption to these men. Everyone had some sort of dirt on them what's wrong with a little strategic influencing. That was the mindset of the nobility of Forgemire.

"HAHA, you were always a charmer weren't you? Damn if only I had thought of that when I was your age. Hell! I might have been a general by now!"

"Are you kidding me Cain? With a mug as ugly as yours? You'd wind up ruining any chance you had!"

"Yeah, yeah Jim we get it you can't find a girl for yourself so you have to borrow others now quit bragging!"

A third man who seemed to be between the age of the other two spoke up. Looking at the pin on his suit he seemed to outrank the other two and so the stopped quipping at each other.

"Honestly you two are just causing more trouble than you're worth! You can talk about being great and all when you find whoever killed all those citizens. We aren't military for show, it bothers me that there is so little to go off of on these cases. Honestly if more soldiers like you two acted 10% more civilized we probably would have caught them by now."

"Bold words, but I think you're off on your calculations a little. With how these men are it would be a miracle if they find him after 60%!"

Jack took this opportunity to jump in, he was not afraid of upsetting the two soldiers because if they attacked him then they would lose. And soldiers losing to a mere 'registered' that did not use magic would be a huge embarrassment.

The man who was just talking turned to look at Jack mildly surprised before bursting out laughing.

"HAHAHA, you're right but I didn't want to hurt the little princesses feeling to much you must understand."

The other two man turned red in anger and were about to speak before they saw their superiors response to the comment. This prompted to hang there heads in shame.

Jack simple smiled lightly before responding, "Haha, I guess that is true I still have much learn about giving people a carrot and a stick."

Upon hearing jack's further provocation the man continued laughing even harder before walking up to Jack.

"Man I like you! What's your name after this I hope we can go out drinking together some time. I like I man with values and a sense of humor!"

The man slung his arm over Jack's shoulder and walked him closer into the circle of military men.

"Jack Axter at your service sir."

"Axter huh?... AH you're that new mage the casts have hired right? How's that going for ya? They feeding you right, you look a little skinny to me!"

Jack was surprised by this mans straightforwardness and his bold words against the Cast's. Although they were not serious, most people even amongst the Dukes and Duchesses would be careful with words about the Cast's.

"Ha, I have to thank my mother for my fast metabolism!"

"Say Jack, you got a girl? If not I could introduce you to a couple of fine ladies I know!"

Jack was stunned, he had never met a man as brazen as him. Jack started to have a bad feeling about what this man's identity was. Then thinking about the question the manhad asked Jack's eyes turned angry for a second before going back to normal.

"Yes sir, I have a girl waiting for me after tonight."

Seemingly not noticing the malice in Jacks eyes for the brief moment the man looked slightly disappointed.

"That so? Aww, I was looking forward to introducing some girls to ya! You seem to be the type that would get flustered and that is some of the funniest shit you can ever see."

Sitting down at a table with the man and a group of what seemed to be veterans the man clapped both of Jack's shoulders and introduced him loudly to the other men and women at the table.

A woman who was sitting next to Jack rolled her eyes at the man before punching him in the arm.

"Geez, Warton you don't have to introduce the kid to us like that, unlike you we know all the important faces at a party. Plus you're gonna embarrass him!"

Jack held in his laughter at the actions of the woman and the reactions of the man named Warton.

(Wait.... Warton, Warton, where have I heard that name before? No... War God incarnate Warton?!? He was one of the most prominent generals of all time, they say that he would recklessly charge into battle and wouldn't stop until he beheaded the enemy general.)

Jack paled slightly before looking at the man you was now bickering with the older woman next to him. Looking closer at the pin on the mans suit Jack realized that it wasn't just a higher ranking pin for the army, it was a Grand General pin.

Confirming his thoughts Jack paled further as he turned to look at the woman bickering with him. She also had a grand general pin on her suit.

Jack started laughing for a bit until he realized that the members of the table were looking at him.

"Sorry, it's juts funny to think about how many people view Grand General's as gods among men, but if they saw you two like this I wonder what their thoughts would be."

Upon hearing his words Warton's eyes turned slightly sad before he sat down next to Jack.

"Heh, I suppose so. When you have been treated different for so long you try to find any chance to act normal again."

Jack looked at the now quiet Warton before taking a huge leap of faith.

"Pfft, you can't fool me old man! You just can't control yourself in front of women because they're usually right instead of you!"

Hearing this the woman on the other side of Jack covered her mouth as her shoulders started shaking. The rest of the table was also desperately trying to hold in their laughter as one man took a sip of his drink while turning his head away, and another was holding their fist up to their mouth while gripping the table.

"Why you little brat, didn't your mother ever teach you how to respect your elders!"

Warton grabbed Jack's head and started giving him a nuggie, but beneath Warton head lock Jack was able to dish out another response.

"Yeah, but she also said not to trust old geezers who offer me candy."

At this the rest of the table couldn't take it any more and burst out laughing. Of course Jack was not laughing as the man known as War God Incarnate was currently increasing the pressure of his nuggie.

Releasing Jack from his hold Warton simply shook his head before giving Jack a wink.

(I have a feeling that this will be a longer promenade than usual.)