Chapter 32: Schemes

"...Master?" Sling was bewildered at what happened. 

He didn't know what came over him all of a sudden, but the moment Ian uttered those words, his mouth uncontrollably moved on its own and his brain shut down.

He had no control over what he just said.

But what came out was as honest as it can get.

Ian's powers had already calmed down and his eyes no longer glowed with a deep and magnetic light. 

Knowing that Sling was confused and stunned by what transpired in that few short seconds, Ian vaguely passed it off, "It's just a small ability of mine. Nothing you should think anything of for now."

It's definitely not a "small ability"! However, Sling could not question his master's words, and he understood that his master was currently unwilling to share more information with him. So Sling uttered a word of acknowledgement.

"Yes."

Moving away from what happened, Ian inquired into Rip's recent progress in the special training. 

Upon the mention of his son, Butler Srca's impeccable smile turned into a beaming grin, showing how proud he was of his Rip.

"Master, no need to worry, my son is currently the best trainee among the trainees, no one can match his learning ability and talents. The trainee, Chase, you were interested in now stands at second best, but still leagues above the rest."

"Hmm, that's good. I'll have to find time to visit Rip at the training and praise him." Ian was getting a little addicted to having such a cute, energetic, and loveable little brother. But lately, he's been very busy with his preparations so that'll have to wait. "What about Blake? The gloomy one."

Butler Srca answered without pause, the same report he made to Levi recently, "Trainee Blake, surprisingly, also possesses great learning talents and sits steadily at the third best position within the group of trainees. Unfortunately, it is not noticeable because of his low sense of presence. Sometimes, the instructors even forget there's such a trainee under them. Blake's invisible presence could be called a skill, especially desirable within an assassin that not only helps him exterminate his target but also allows others to not notice or remember him—is what Shade informed me."

"Yes, he was naturally born with that attribute. However, what to do with him depends on Levi. He has nothing to do with me. I just want to know the progress on the bet."

"Oh, yes." Butler Srca knew about the bet between Ian and Levi, because they needed him to keep an eye on the three best trainees as they were not so free as to visit the special training building every day. "So far, Rip and Chase have become good friends, however, they still do not know of the existence of Blake as his presence is really almost non-existent."

"Well then, create some chance encounters and increase their interactions with each other. Or else this bet will never start."

"Understood."

"You may take your leave. Start implementing some of the schemes you thought up and make sure to let the three of them 'get to know' each other," Ian dismissed Butler Srca.

"Yes, as you command, Master." Butler Srca bowed and took his leave gracefully and respectfully.

"No, wait." Ian suddenly stopped him.

Turning back around, Butler Srca looked confused. Were there any other orders for him? "Master?"

Ian called out into the empty room, "Shade."

Whoosh!

"Yes, Master." Shade appeared instantly beside Ian out of nowhere.

Butler Srca did not look surprised since he already knew Shade was in this room although he could not see him.

"For the period of time our Sling here is carrying out the schemes, you will drop your duties to guard me and join Sling and act as his temporary bodyguard. There's a lot of danger involved when it comes to dealing with them after all and Sling only knows the basic self-defense combat techniques taught to him during the special training. Of course, you should also assure your own safety, Shade." Ian remarked as he thought about their arrangements while finishing up the tea in his teacup.

Placing the teacup down heavily on the clothed table, it created a bang sound but the fragile porcelain cup miraculously did not break.

"I command you to drain them of all their funds, as much as you can. Leave them penniless and full of anger and regret! This should give us more time." 

"Yes, Master!" Both Shade and Sling shouted. 

"Good. Now you two may leave."

Shade followed Sling out of the room.

While out of Ian's earshot, Sling switched off his perfect butler mode to his normal mode as he teased his younger fellow comrade, "Aren't you disappointed that you have to leave our master's side to guard me~?"

Shade did not react, his face expressionless and not exposing what he was thinking.

"No." 

Only one blunt and curt reply was given to Sling.

Even though his answer was terse, Shade meant what he had said. He was not disappointed—although he was a little regretful—that he could not guard Ian, because he knew just how powerful Ian really was. In reality, Ian did not need anyone to guard him. Even if Ian decides to venture into a forest of ferocious beasts alone and unarmed, he would come out alive. Even if faced with hundreds of men, he would emerge unscathed.

Shade only wanted to guard Ian because of the overflowing loyalty in his heart and his desire to be close to his master, not because his master actually needs his protection.

So, when Ian gave him an order, even if it meant leaving his side, Shade was willing to carry it out to the end with perfection.

Sling thought nothing of Shade's curt reply, he was used to the non-talkativeness of his colleague. 

"That's good then," Sling said sincerely, "because you won't be seeing our master until the end of the summer break."

Then he leisurely walked off, leaving a turned-to-stone Shade.

*****

On the side of the trainees going through their usual routine of attending lessons.

As of the moment, sweat flowed like a flood in the specially-designed outdoor training grounds. 

Phreeeeeeeet!!

A shrill whistle blew.

"Stop! Everyone, take a five minute break!" The instructor for this lesson shouted in a loud, booming voice.

All the trainees instantly dropped to the ground, relieved and exhausted beyond imagination.

"Sometimes I wonder if this is a military camp or a talent-training program rather than the training for the serving staff of a mansion," Chase complained as he crashed onto the ground on his back. He closed his eyes to try and rest a little before the five minutes were up.

Even then, Chase continued to talk, his orange and yellow hair flaring bright and lively, "Out of the more than a hundred of us at the beginning, less than 60 are left two weeks into the training. Everyone's struggling yet persisting. Not only do we have to learn how to cook, clean, manage the mansion, and listen to the orders of our future masters, we also have to learn how to 'respectfully and properly' conduct ourselves and train our bodies. What kind of job are we really signing up for?!"

Yet in spite of all his complaints, Chase didn't seem to have any intentions of quitting.

Rip listened wordlessly with a smile to Chase's tired rant. He would be lying if he said the special training wasn't hellishly tough. 

However…

Rip was motivated. 

Extremely motivated. 

This much cannot dampen his spirit and drive to complete the special training flawlessly and pass the final test. 

Chase, "So why did you want to join this special training? You joined about a week after it started and most importantly, you're below the age limit."

Sweating and panting, Chase couldn't help but ask the cheerful, energetic, and ever-smiling Rip why he joined the special training, especially when he was this young. 

"Mmm, that's because I like young master Ian so I want to become useful to him as quickly as possible." The young Rip, unlike in the future, did not have any filter or restraints when it came to telling his real reasons for his actions to someone he met for only a short time. He answered the inquiry honestly without any hesitation, especially when he found nothing confidential or wrong with what he said.

Chase was surprised as he did not expect that to be his answer. "You want to become useful to young master Ian?" Chase was a little confused, he thought Rip's reason was a little silly. Why would anyone willingly enter this training hell just because of another person when said person doesn't even need you to do it. 

"So why do you like young master Ian?" Chase asked carelessly as he picked up a towel and wiped away the stream of sweat dripping from his forehead and body.

"I don't know, I just like him," Rip shrugged as he said this, making Chase confused. Beads of sweat also adorned his forehead and parts of his body. As he shrugged, the movement caused the sweat to slide down his skin.

Although Chase outwardly had a bright appearance and showed a sunny and easygoing personality, inwardly, he found it hard to do things or feel things without a reason. To like someone just because, was something he had never felt before nor did he believe in the sincerity and realness of that feeling.

"Is that so," Chase didn't know what else to say. Although he found Rip's reason to be simple and childish, he did not want to hurt the feelings of his new friend so he chose not to comment.

Rip, "Yes!" His blue eyes shone with determination and inextinguible fire. 

"When I first met him, he felt close to me. Like we had an intimate connection," confessed Rip as he placed his hands flat on the area above his heart.

"Mm." Chase made a sound of acknowledgment. Not expressing if he believed in Rip or not.

Phreeeeeeeet!!

The long, shrill sound of the whistle sounded again.

"Get up off your butts! It's not the time to be lazy. Get up! Run for another 30 laps, then do 5 sets of 100 pushups, 5 sets of 200 situps, and 5 sets of 100 for the other exercises!" The exercise instructor shouted. "After we finish the warmups, we will continue to practice self-defense combat techniques!"

Phreeeeeeeet!!

"Go!"

Chase and Rip lifted themselves off the ground with momentum and started the new round of sets of exercises with the other limping trainees who looked half dead.

"Good!"

"Continue! Keep going! If you don't finish all the sets within the next 20 minutes, you won't be eating any dinner tonight except for a bowl of porridge and pickles in the dinner preparation class!"

The trainees went even faster through their sets.

"Good job! I like your selfless persistence and drive!"

"Since you're finished with the warmups, start practicing the techniques with a partner. Even fighting three or four people at once is fine!"

At last, the combat class ended and it was finally the turn of the dinner preparation class which in reality was just the trainees preparing the dinner for both themselves, the instructors, and the Everett family.

Identical to the contents of the breakfast and lunch preparation class.

Tonight, Chase was not in charge of the dessert station, instead, he along with Rip were assigned to the main course station to prepare the main course the Everett family will be eating tonight.

Although the dinner preparation class prepares the dinner for everyone, different meals of differing qualities are served to different classes of people.

While all the trainees looked and acted exhausted after the hours long combat training and exercise, Rip and Chase both recovered quickly and could even hold steady the knives in their hands. Unlike the shaking fingers and limbs of the other trainees.

However, even Chase was impressed by Rip's resilience and his energetic and cheerful nature that never seemed to burn out. 

"If my little brother were here, you guys would become instant best friends."