chapter 43

Six months before....

As the sun gradually faded, the knights and servants had already finished setting all the tents and settled down.

It has been a month since they left the capital for the sublime tour ceremony, if things goes as planned, then they still have five more months to endure. After all, this tour happens once every five years, for the emperor to stop by randomly-chosen-cities and personally check on the development of the Empire.

Those who worked hard immediately went to sleep after dinner, and those who idly yawned throughout the journey began having their own fun.

" Why leave so early general? the night is still long" said one of the knights who were shamelessly drinking and playing cards.

Bernard Egerton waved his hand, saying with a smirk:" I am going to annoy our elegant emperor".

" make sure to stay alive ".

"Hahaha".

Stopping by one of the supplies carts, Bernard sneaked a bottle of fine wine and two glasses, then directly went to Jennings's tent. And just like an Emperors' tent should be, Jennings's was spacious, luxurious and fully furnished.

He narrowed his eyes at the man entering his tent all smiles and harmless, Jennings said:" you have no shame, do you?".

"Hahaha, if I had some maybe I would be much more successful, don't you think so?" Said Bernard as he nonchalantly sat on the couch.

Jennings sighed:" just get out".

Bernard poured the wine in the glasses, saying energetically:" come on, accompany this old man for a drink, will ya?".

Doing his best not to be lured by the red liquid smoothly filling the glasses, Jennings said with twitching brow:" you are younger than me, Bernard ".

Wearing a confidant grin, Bernard swirled his glass as he said provocatively: "hey, give up and leave these to do later. One or two serves won't harm, no?".

The faint sweet aroma reached the barley able to resist Emperor, instantly, broke his weakling will.

Who can resist such a seductive scent?!!!!

Defeated, Jennings got off his desk and walked towards the bearded man, he said annoyed: "which reminds me, aren't you in your thirties? For how long are you going to play around? find a suitable woman, get married and settle down already ".

Bernard: "no way, there will be no woman in my heart other than my little Ma".

Even more annoyed, Jennings barked:" stop using your younger sister as an excuse, you better find one yourself or I will tie you with whoever I decide for political purposes. You hear me! ".

Ignoring him, Bernard drank all that was in his glass in one go, then he changed the subject, avoiding such a headache:" by the way Jennings, we will arrive at Alara tomorrow right?".

Jennings knew how stubborn Bernard was, dragging this subject at the moment will ruin their mood, he said swirling his glass:" yeah that's how it's supposed to be".

Leaning his back at the cushion, Bernard said as he poured himself another shot:" then from there, I will depart off the troop for about a week, but we shall meet at the next city ".

"Where to?" asked Jennings.

Bernard said with the most solemn face he ever had:" to see my baby sister ".

"Huh?!!!".

the general placed his empty glass on the short table in front of him, he crossed his arms saying:" This tour will take at least half a year, you are not expecting me to not see my little Ma for all that time, do you?".

Jennings rubbed his temple until it turned red, he hopelessly said:" how did you become so.....disparate, that you are shamelessly obsessed with your sister".

Bernard: "hey! You didn't see her, so of course you wouldn't know, My adorable Ma is an angel– no a goddess. Plus, master was the one who summoned me, and you know that if master called for me from the other end of the earth to pick up a pin off the ground I don't mind running barefoot to get there".

Jennings:" your master? Why so?".

Bernard:" no details, he sent me a letter telling me to come when there is time. Well, naturally I will run there even if I don't have time ".

Jennings hummed:" you know.... I am quite curious ".

Bernard blankly said:" about?".

Jennings:" take me with you when you go, I want to meet your master".

After a pause, Bernard finally regained his senses, he rebuked:" ha!!!! Are you nuts?!!! There is no way I would take you with me!! You are an emperor, you have a god damn tour to do!! And it's a small town, there is no place to serve you!!".

Jennings:" it's okay, I will just go as a normal person, the troop will stay here until we return ".

Bernard:" there is no way in hell you are a normal person, just sit still and do your business, I am not taking you with me".

With a smirk, Jennings said irritated:" fine, don't take me. I will sneak by myself and follow you, surely you won't let an emperor, some one who is not normal at all, go outside defenceless, hm?".

Grinding his teeth, Bernard unwillingly agreed to it, after all, he can't tie an emperor then run away, nor can he delay his masters' request, there is nothing left but to give up.

******

After arriving at Alara city, Jennings settled at the mayor's mansion, as Bernard said, they will leave right at three in the afternoon, since the town is nearby it will only take them few hours to reach there.

As he was sorting things in his mind, a butler knocked his door saying:" forgive me for disturbing your majestys' rest, but an ambassador from the capital is requesting to meeting your grace, saying it's urgent ".

" let him in"

Kneeling deeply, the man said mannerly:" may heavens bless Sitia and her Emperor".

Jennings waved his hand for the man to stand, he said firmly: "speak ".

" your majesty, the mining team at Amaira has discovered that the new cave was originally a beast's nest, the beast type is unknown, judging from its mana flows it is certainly not lower than an S rank, they are requesting your permission to whether continue or not".

Hearing that report, Jennings knotted his brows tightly, deeply in thoughts.

'Our current plans highly depend on this mine, if we withdraw now, the damage might not be healed for few years, however, if we managed to take control of it then we no longer will need to import power stones from Baranos any more, which will be a boost to our economy..... should I consult Bernard about this? He is probably busy enough, also Amaira is not that far from here, we still could fix things if it went wrong'

After a good while, Jennings answered:" for now keep with the plan, but for safety, let them take high elite knights to eliminate the monster, if it was not possible, then let the magicians create a formation and trap the beast inside until we deal with it".

"As you wish, your majesty ".