Chapter 50

I tap my pen on my desk as I read through the account that Wilkins wrote to me. My head rests gently on my palm as I nearly fall asleep.

His spending isn't that high, nor is it that low either. He spends a decent penny trying to run his family. Mostly due to the academy fees that he has to pay and his new business ventures.

On the other note, Alexander seems to be handling the entire locomotive project well all by himself. Though I'm sure the workload will get to him eventually.

"Right, let's brainstorm," I told Amelia through telepathy. She was staring at the sword that hung on my wall while I worked on reading through letters and reports.

"Oh, about what?" She asked me with delight. "About the special division."

She ran towards my desk and jumped onto it. Taking her place right in front of me as I put down my pen and cracked my knuckles.

"First and foremost, these soldiers will be trained in secrecy. There should be four teams in which there are two squads. This makes eight separate squads. They will be stationed across the kingdom to take care of any serious danger, no matter the risk or issue.

Amelia listened along to my ideas as I rambled on. I wrote down everything on a piece of paper to keep track of my idea. I could be onto something here.

"So what are their specialities?"

"Everything. At first, I'll test out the training course myself. If I struggle with it then I would say it's perfect for the trainees."

Amelia gasped in shock, taken back by the difficulty of the training course.

"Eh!? A course that even you struggle at? No one will survive!" She exclaimed.

"Exactly! The weakest will be thrown out. The strongest will stay. This is an easy way to separate the best from the worst."

"You weren't kidding when you said that not everyone is allowed to join. But how will you get such people?"

"Aha! That's where I was stuck. The best way to get these people is to recruit them normally. Though it will be stated that it's for an experimental set of soldiers. Even if we make up a single squad, it will be enough."

"Then?"

"Then we can show them off. If one squad is available, we make them do public stunts as a way to advertise the special troops. This way we can interest people, and make them motivated to train harder so that they can join this special group."

"Woah! That's smart. So where should we begin?"

I attached my pen's cap and started scratching my chin, thinking of where to even begin with such a barebone project.

"Felix."

This should've been my first act, having Felix be present during the brainstorming.

Without further time wasted, I storm off from my office in search of Felix. There was no guarantee where he could be, but I will search the entire palace to find him.

"Where do you think he is?" I asked Amelia as we walked downstairs. "No clue. Could be in the kitchen, or the garden."

"Let's check the kitchen for clues."

Though it seemed there were other ways to find him. One of those ways was presented to me when I saw a fairly tall man with dark brunette hair standing in front of me. He was talking to one of the servants but was also dressed as one, Vincent.

I called out to him, to get his attention. Vincent was surprised to see me and walked up to me as I walked towards him.

"Ah, it's quite a surprise to find you here, my lord. Though what brings you searching for me?" Vincent asks as he bows down.

"Felix. Where is Felix?" I asked him in a rush. He slowed me down but kept following me through the hallway. "Felix? He's in the garden, perhaps."

"Follow me. I have work with you too."

"Why in such a hurry? Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong. I just have an idea that I want to see come to life. I need two people with a functioning brain each, and military knowledge will be preferred."

Vincent laughed hysterically as we walked down to the hallway that led outside to the garden. "Hah! Well, it seems that Felix and I are the men you're looking for."

"Actually WIlhelm would've been more suited for this, but I don't want to bother an old man."

"Touche"

The garden was still a maze to find Felix in, but, unlike a maze, I could look around the entire place if I tried hard enough.

We both split up to figure out where he was but to no empty-handed empty handed. No sign of a man with white hair dressed in formal attire, only flowers and grass.

"Artorius! It seems you're looking for someone!" A familiar voice echoed out from behind me.

I whip my head around to see the man I was searching for waving his hand. He smiled at me but I had no time to waste and had small talks with him.

"Come here! There's time to waste but I'd rather not."

Felix was concerned about my rapid actions. "Why? Is something wrong?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"No, why do people ask that all the time? Anyways, follow me to my office. I'll explain everything as we walk."

"Lead the way," Felix says as he motions his arm to go forward.

Vincent runs up to us and follows behind me as well, taking glances around us, making sure no one else was near us. I felt the presence of two mana cores, disregarding the mighty mana core that sits atop my right shoulder as I walked through the garden.

"So, what's the plan?" Felix asked in curiosity. I forgot to explain to him as we made our way to the office.

"Right, I forgot already. Firstly, remember the talk we had as we walked to the palace today?"

"About the new military group?"

"Yes, I've thought more about it with Amelia and came to figure that it's best to start with it at once."

"I assume you have more plans than just your imagination?"

"Of course, nothing goes your way when you don't have a plan. I already brainstormed the foundation, all I need is the materials for the foundation and the tools to build them."

Felix snickers loudly before composing himself. Vincent on the other hand seemed skeptical and concerned. I couldn't tell by his facial expression or any words as h spoke none but from his silence.

"A new military group?" He spoke out from confusion.

"It's a special group of soldiers." I simply explained to him, and ring him a long and detailed explanation of what I was planning.

"Well, what will it be for? War?"

"Do I look like a man that wants war?"

"With your current skills and power, yes."

I had no comeback. The silence was my answer which Vincent, took.

"Well, it won't be for war, but to stop the war. They will be tasked to protect the people no matter what danger they are in. That's why they are special."

"Isn't that every soldier's task?"

"Yes. But to explain further, an archer is tasked to protect them with his bow and arrow. A knight is tasked to protect them with his sword and possibly a shield. Unlike them, these men will be tasked to protect them with every weapon."

An audible gasp escaped from Vincent's mouth. "Outrageous! How can they master every weapon?"

The explanation would continue in the office as the long walk back was finally over. I twisted the handle open and stormed into the room with my small entourage of two butlers and a fox, taking my seat and looking at the sheet of paper where the plans were written.

"Here, this is the foundation of this project. Have a read, both of you and decide what is to be done."

The paper consists of everything from the number of troops, training regiment, what is to be expected from such troops and what is to be done with them

Both of them sat down on the chair opposite mine. They both held one side of the paper and read it thoroughly, making different facial expressions together. Both widened and narrowed their eyes at the same time, even having similar brow movements, humorous.

"T-this is truly outrage you think they will go through training that you can't do yourself?" Vincent shouted out, in shock that I would even plan something like this.

"Nope."

Then why plan it!?"

"That's where you need to think more deeply. If I struggle with it, then everyone will. But that also filters out the ones that are not fit to be in such an elite rank. Only the most elite troops will be able to even perform the training at a respectable time."

Vincent nods his head and crosses his arms as I explain to him my reasoning. He seemed to have understood, but Felix on the other hand seemed skeptical.

"But how do we know one soldier is elite and the other is not?"

"Great question! The best way to tell is how long they take to complete the course. Longer than two minutes means they are not fit to be, below a minute and a half, they have a higher possibility. Below two minutes they have a chance."

"Hmm, an interesting ranking system. The rank is done by time rather than kills or hand-to-hand combat."

"These men have to be quick so they can spring to action. Agility and strength, as well as mental fortitude, will be tested in the training."

They both nod in response, approving and understanding my plans. "That's great! I assume you want us to start the preparations?"

"Yes. But first, Vincent, I have some different work on top of this one."

Felix takes his leave, leaving me and Vincent alone in the room. He seemed anxious as his legs shook while staring at me.

"You are going to be a manager."

He gets taken aback by my words. "M-manager? For what?" He asked, shocked by his new title.

"Wilkins' pub in the market district. You see, and it would help him loads if he can leave the city for other work but also see to it that the shop is functioning."

"There is no payment, right?"

"If you wish for payment, I can pay from my wallet. But I don't see a reason for you to be paid, as your finances are already covered by me."

Vincent seemed worried but I didn't know for what. He hasn't asked me for money since I've covered his expenses, even when he goes out shopping with his family I have it covered. This is the first time he's asked me about a salary.

"Very well, I won't ask for any monetary allowance. I just request that my two children are safe."

Seeing his dedication and love for his children, a small smile breaks from my usual emotionless face. "Very well. I'll see to it that your kids are safe at school."

"Thank you. I will do all the work you have for me as long as these small requests are fulfilled."

"They aren't small. Each of their requests is like a salary for you. For any new task I assign you, I give you the choice to take monetary gain or a request that I will fulfil for however long you work for me. This is your salary."

"I understand. Is there anything else that you want to talk to me about?"

I sigh and stand up from my chair, feeling more lousy while sitting down. "Yes, there is."

I slowly walk around my table in a gentle stroll with Amelia following behind me. "I need you to be my spy at the party."

"Pardon?"

"I will have about six spies after me and an assassin that will strike me down if I make any suspicious moves. I need you to figure out who the assassin is, his name perhaps or his visual identification."

Vincent smiles in a sinister manner and scoffs. "Simple, that's a speciality of mine. Sometimes I can see the intent of people by speaking to them once."

"Amelia has a similar ability but, she will be with Kathlyn as a bodyguard, or to know where she is usually. I will be with her but sometimes I may stray off with Alexander in search of investors."

"Also because she's going to be there to enjoy herself, not to work."

"Yes."

"Count on me then, I will figure out the assassin and give you their name and identity," He said with a smile that hid his true nature "Well, pardon me as I have other work to attend to."

"Alright, take your leave to have my own work that I need to do."

Without another word exchanged, Vincent takes his leave from my office as I stared off at Warrior's Ballad.

Amelia noticed me staring but did not talk to me about it. She knew what I was thinking of and her questions were already answered.

"So when will you make a new sword?"

"Too soon to say, just wait till this breaks at the party."

"But how are you so sure it will break?"

A tired sigh escapes my mouth as I slowly walk over to my chair. Aric sent an assassin after me, it must be stronger than me. He knows I won't go down without a fight and if it's just one person, he must be as strong, if not, stronger than me."

The fur on Amelia's back stood up and her tail stood straight. "S-someone as strong as you?"

"I'm not a god, just a mere mortal. You are stronger than me but that man, he's not stronger than you."

"Well obviously! But what if he gets the better of you?"

"Hah! If he does then you're here. Though not at your prime, you still have incredible abilities."

Amelia snuggled up to my cheeks as I complimented her on her abilities. True that her abilities are far from what dragons can achieve, but her powers are still stronger than most humans. Her mana core is already at a dark yellow stage, meaning shareable break red soon.

If Amelia breaks into the red core, then she is already two stages above me and the rest of the population. It comes with age and training, which is why I want to train her more rigorously to speed up her mana core's transformation.

Without any serious work left to me, I put my feet up on my desk and lean back on the handle of my chair. The sun was slowly setting but it was far from the night time. With all this free time, I could catch up on the wasted sleep.

FELIX'S POV

Artorius' plans are outrageous but the direction he's headed in the same direction Theo was headed. I had no clue about the plans but the way I see it, it's similar. Like father, like son.

"Maybe it's time to reveal to him what Theo left behind."

Master Theo had left behind a set of armour that resides peacefully in a room full of his ancestors' belongings. Ranging from sword handles used in the past to letters. It's an archive of the entire Dorman family's history.

The armour set is made of ebony, once used by his father. It's pretty light in terms of weight but is made of ebony, it cannot be broken. The most prized possession of King Theo, the dark king.

A nickname that he has earned from using the armour. Rumours had it that the armour was buried with him, but that was spread amongst the people on purpose so that no one looks for the armour. The true place for the armour is inside the archive room.

As I opened the door to the archive room, I felt the room's ambience change. This room has so much history that you can feel it as you enter.

I slow down my steps and walk inside the room, closing the door gently to not shake up the room. As I slowly turn my head to the left, I see the armour stand. Dust particles started to form on the armour but the dark ebony glittered in the sunlight that came through the window.

The shape and design of the armour, the rigid designs on the chest plate, the spikes on the shoulder pads and the horns from the helmet. The darkness adds to the intimidation factor. Even though it was heavily used in the last war, it barely had any scratches.

"The glory days," I muttered under my breath, remembering the stories that used to be shared around the palace during war times.

It seemed that someone was in here not that long ago, perhaps a few weeks ago. Seeing that the drawer is half opened and the letters are disorganized, it must have been Artorius.

He must've seen the armour in here then. It was a secret kept even from him so that when the time is right, he may be handed the armour. Though I doubt he will ever put it on since he isn't the type of person to wear armour.

I fix up the letters and keep them back inside the drawer. In this room, I could get lost in time going through all the history, but I have to attend to other work.

Without wasting any more time admiring the armour, I take my leave, gently closing the door on my way out and hastily running through the hallway.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Vincent asks as he spots me running down the hallway. "To the barracks! I need to talk with the generals."

"I'm coming with you!" He shouted before picking up his pace and running behind me.

There was no need to rush but I wanted to get work done faster, as Artorius usually does himself.

We sped down the hallways, through the staircases and into the palace courtyard. The barracks where the generals stay are close to the palace and it won't take that long to make it there.

"Why slow down here? Let's go all the way?" Vincent says as he catches up to me while I slow down. "The courtyard is a nice place, I like to take it slow here."

"Huh, you aren't wrong."

Vincent slows down as well and we both go at a more comfortable and slow pace. Neither of us seemed eager to talk to each other and became lost in our thoughts.

"Have you ever thought of marriage, Felix?" Vincent suddenly asked after a long time of silence.

His question takes me by surprise and I jolt up my energy. "M-marriage? Not really. I'm only faithful to serving the Dorman family. My duty keeps me too busy from even thinking about it."

Vincent bellows out his laughter before composing himself. "Don't be silly~! Your youth is running out. It will be a shame if you grow old without children."

"I… honestly don't mind that. It will be nice to have a family to return to once in a while, but that thought will come at a later date."

"The more you delay it, the less likely you are to get married. Take some time out of your day to go out and explore a bit on your own, or with me. Maybe you can find someone."

I couldn't help but laugh at his ideas. To go out and have fun seemed like something I'd not done in a while, especially keeping an eye out for someone I like.

"Don't laugh! I'm being serious!" He shouted out, slightly irritated.

"Yeah yeah. I'll figure something out with Artorius."

The rest of the way to the barracks was filled up with the sounds of the busy streets outside the palace walls. As we walked down to the barracks both of us were more focused on our thoughts than on talking.

As we made it to the barracks I saw a few soldiers taking a break and chatting amongst themselves outside. They bowed down in respect and I nodded in response.

Since the barracks were closely connected with the palace, it wasn't a long walk. It was made this way so that soldiers can be at the palace in minutes.

Unlike most barracks, this was more lavish. It was made for royal guards to stay in when they become tired. These soldiers are only guards in the palace and nowhere else. It's also where the generals and lieutenants are stationed

"Welcome, Sir Felix. It's a surprise having you here." One peculiar and familiar voice came from behind me. "Ah~ Sir Vincent as well? Isn't this a surprise?"

"General Leo Alessandro. I was looking for you."