Inspection

After going a few more rounds with Killua, Leon left his younger brother to his own devices. He had work to do. Picking up his phone, Leon dialed Gotoh after ringing once the head butler picked up.

After several decades serving the family, Tsubone eventually retired, although she bought a house nearby and was allowed back on the property whenever she wanted.

"Master Leon, what do you need." Leon smiled at Gotoh's voice, "There's supposed to be a shipment that arrived, so I want it delivered, also arrange a flight to take me over to the compound."

"Of course, Master Leon, I have already arranged for your private blimp to be ready." Leon smiled, "You're the best Gotoh. I still don't get why any of you guys won't accept a raise."

Leon could hear the smile in Gotoh''s voice, "Because sir, we live to serve, and everyone in the family treats us well."

Hanging up, Leon went back to his room to shower and change before walking to the landing pad. Leon grinned when he saw his favorite pilot sitting at the wheel, "Hey Silvia, how do you like your new job."

The tall skinny Asian woman smiled, "It's wonderful, Mr. Leon. I have to thank you again for the doctor you hired to treat my mother."

"Oh, how is Mrs. Feng? I'm sorry for not sending a card," Leon said, leaning against the wall of the cockpit.

"She is doing well, and I'll make sure to tell her that you wish her well," Silvia said with a nod as she started up the plane. Leon made sure to be well-liked with the people in his employment. It was so much harder to betray someone when they treated you like family.

The blimp ride was only a few hours, and as usual, it was as smooth as ever. Leon thought it was uncanny how Silvia could avoid turbulence.

A few hours later, Leon heard Silvia over the loudspeakers, "We're here, Sir." Leon sighed as he entered the mindset of a leader.

Leon couldn't be seen as weak in front of his subordinates. Walking down onto the landing pad, Leon looked out at the private island covered in dense jungle.

Leon remembered that he once ran through the same trees. He had bought the island from the hunters association. As he understood it, the Dark Continent was also a jungle, so he wanted his troupes familiar with the environment.

Leon didn't walk more than two steps before he was surrounded by a company of soldiers, each carrying assault rifles.

None of them spoke a word to Leon as they walked with him into the compound. Leon could see soldiers butchering a giant crab before tossing pieces into a stew pot.

Leon had read books about running an army, and he was a fan of using the carrot and the stick. There was a reward system in place. If you did your job well, you were rewarded. Most of those rewards could be gifted by a ranking officer in the form of meal tickets.

Handing them in at lunchtime could get you better meals and desserts, and Leon, how no doubt that they became the de facto currency among the troupes.

When Leon entered the inside compound, he saw Butch, the man in charge while he wasn't around, " Lord Leon, I wasn't excepting your arrival. Are you here to do an inspection?"

Butch was about 6'5 with a thick beard and short snow-white hair. While he was getting up there in age, his muscular build still told everyone not to mess with him. After talking with Butch for a while, Leon would describe him as the perfect soldier.

Determined, fierce, and loyal to a fault, "I feel it's better to see someone's true nature when they don't know someone is watching them."

Butch nodded, "Let's go out to drill field. Most of the force is there training." Leon nodded, and he followed Butch to the back, where they came out onto a balcony overlooking a cleared area the size of three-foot ball fields.

"As you see, we have everyone training eight hours a day, then another ten going over drills, and weekends are chores and free time." Butch quickly listed off.

"How are you providing food for my army," I asked, looking down at the drill sergeants screaming at any and everyone.

Butch had a smile on his face, " Every week we hold a hunt, where teams go out into the forest and bring back the biggest monster they can find. Winners get to eat free for that week."

Leon smiled, " How do you dispose of the bones." Butch shrugged, " We dump them into the forest for the scavengers to pick clean. Do you want to get a closer view?"

"Would my presence distract the men from their duty? I don't want to be a bother." Butch looked more bothered at my question than I had ever seen him.

"If you don't mind me saying, sir, you need to be seen by the troupes. It will give a boost of morale and spur them on."

Leon thought it over for a minute, "You have a point, Butch, but I'll only meet with the commanders and majors."

Soon Butch gathered all one hundred nen users in one room, little let them stew for a while before he addressed them, "I'm here today to talk to you about my true reason for hiring you."