Chapter 126
Yan stepped out of the annex, heading towards the training grounds. By his side was Jin, who had just been released from captivity. It was at that moment.
“Never would I have imagined someone your age, akin to my daughter’s, ascending to the ranks of the superhuman,” came a voice, rich with gravitas and laden with awe.
Turning, Yan found himself under the gaze of Duke Beowulf and his daughter, Lorena.
Duke Beowulf surveyed Yan as one might a curious creature, his eyes scanning from head to toe. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, nodding slightly. “Your form… it seems it could be nothing but well.”
His gaze then shifted to Jin, who stood frozen behind Yan. “And you are?”
“Ah! I am Jin, assigned to assist the Executor!” came the prompt reply.
“Is that so.”
Yan bowed his head in gratitude to Duke Beowulf. “The kindness you showed at the previous hearing—I shall not forget it.”
Even if Duke Beowulf hadn’t intervened, the transgressions committed by the Special Task Force Commander were bound to come to light.
But with the Duke stepping forward, matters were resolved far more smoothly.
Duke Beowulf snorted at Yan’s thanks, crossing his arms with a smirk. “Hmph, had it not been for this child’s request, I wouldn’t have bothered with this tiresome place.”
Yan looked at Lorena, surprised, and her cheeks flushed slightly. It was because Duke Beowulf had shifted the credit to her.
“It’s the least I could do for saving me back in our territory. And I’ve been indebted to you several times since then.”
Duke Beowulf frowned as if displeased. “The debt you speak of was due to a contract with me, Lorena.”
“…When did we make such a contract?”
“Cough.”
As Lorena glared at Duke Beowulf, he cleared his throat and turned away. “Let’s return to the family estate. There’s nothing left for you to learn from the Dragon Soldier Project.”
Lorena’s brow furrowed at her father’s words. “No, I want to stay here.”
She glanced at Yan and continued, “There’s still so much for me to learn.”
Duke Beowulf clicked his tongue as his eyes followed Lorena’s gaze. “Tsk.”
He made no move to force her, merely clicking his tongue, showing no intent to stop her.
Lorena reached out to Yan. “Does this settle all the debts I’ve owed?”
Yan chuckled and shook her hand. “Yes, thank you. Are you heading back to the training grounds now?”
“I would like to, but…”
Lorena glanced back at Duke Beowulf and coughed lightly before continuing, “I think I need to stay here a bit longer.”
“Alright. See you next time.”
With that farewell, Yan walked down the corridor, leaving Duke Beowulf and his daughter behind.
The next person he encountered was the Scholar Wigor.
Gone was his usual dignified air, replaced by a sly grin as he stared intently at Yan.
“Heh, you’ve had quite the ordeal with that Special Task Force Commander, haven’t you?”
Yan smiled and nodded. “Thank you for your help.”
“Tsk, tsk. So formal. When I saw you on the train, you were always so respectful, calling me ‘sir.’”
Yan lifted his head slightly, his eyes crinkling with mirth. “We’re not on the imperial grounds now. I’ll be sure to call you that more often later.”
Igor’s eyes widened slightly at Yan’s sudden familiarity, and he burst into laughter.
“Ha! Alright, I’ll hold you to that.”
Then, something seemed to occur to Wigor, and his eyes sparkled. “Ah, and you’ve received a title recently, haven’t you?”
“…?”
“You haven’t chosen a surname yet, have you?”
“Ah, yes.”
Yan nodded. He had been granted a title along with the position of Executor by the Emperor, but he had not been given a surname.
Yet, Yan wasn’t overly concerned. He had seen such cases in his past life, and it wasn’t a big deal.
A noble without a surname could later submit a chosen name and crest to the imperial court.
‘I suppose I should give that some thought.’
At that moment, Wigor approached and playfully poked Yan’s side. “If you find it difficult, I could come up with one for you.”
“I’ll contact you if I have trouble deciding.”
Yan’s polite refusal elicited a snort from Wigor. “There won’t be a ‘later,’ young man.”
Yan bowed playfully to Wigor’s teasing words.
Then he straightened up and asked, “But why did you defend me at the hearing?”
The ones who had defended him at the hearing were Duke Beowulf, Scholar Wigor, and Count Zion.
Count Zion had simply honored their deal.
Duke Beowulf had Lorena’s help, though he didn’t fear the Emperor and could confront him directly.
But Wigor…
“You could have lost your life for what you did.”
Even with many students in key positions and the Emperor’s favor, Wigor was just a scholar without power, vulnerable to the Emperor’s whims.
Wigor looked at Yan’s serious face and chuckled. “One cannot change a nation if they cling to their life.”
“…It seems you thought differently during the train incident.”
“Scoff. One cannot risk their life for a mere terror attack! A man of conviction must die where it’s necessary!”
After a brief silence, laughter erupted between them.
Yan bowed once more to Wigor, expressing his gratitude.
Wigor patted Yan’s shoulder, telling him to treat him to a meal later, and then left.
* * *
At the Train Station
Yan purchased a ticket to the training center and glanced back at Jin, who was following him closely.
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Yes, please tell me!”
Jin stood at attention, his discipline unwavering.
It was uncertain if he could really bring down that formidable Special Task Force Commander.
‘Could he actually pull it off?’
Yan handed Jin a folded note.
“This is where my informant is. Please help out there.”
“An informant, you say?”
“It’s just a hole-in-the-wall now, but soon it will be a vast network covering the entire empire.”
Yan looked Jin in the eye as he continued.
“Help me make this happen as soon as possible.”
Jin looked dazed.
A network covering the entire empire?
That would be akin to declaring the power of a Special Task Force.
‘Is that something a mere informant can do?’
Even the Special Task Force needed decades, centuries of imperial support to achieve such a feat.
Jin swallowed hard.
If it were anyone else, he would have dismissed it as nonsense.
‘But the Executor is someone who even brought down the Commander of the Special Task Force.’
Such a person wouldn’t speak carelessly.
Yan noticed Jin’s inner turmoil and smirked.
“You’ll understand once you start helping.”
“If the Executor says so.”
Jin bowed deeply and accepted the note from Yan.
Then he turned and walked away from the train station.
Once Jin was gone, Yan slumped into a seat at the station and sighed deeply.
“Ah, finally one task is completed.”
It was a slight deviation from his original plan to take over the positions of the Chief Instructor and the Task Force Commander.
But focusing on other matters wasn’t a bad thing after all.
With a powerful horn blast, Yan gathered his thoughts and stood up.
Just then, he sensed someone nearby and turned his head, his eyes widening.
“The Chief Instructor? And Lia?”
It was the busy Chief Instructor who had told him to go ahead to the training center and Lia, who had been undergoing various investigations.
At the sound of Yan’s voice, Lia, who had been looking intimidated, widened her eyes and waved.
“Sir!”
“What brings you here? You could have gone straight to the training center, right?”
It was the Chief Instructor, not Lia, who answered Yan’s question.
“She looked too exhausted, so I brought her along.”
It was an unexpected response from the usually cold-hearted chief instructor.
Yan looked at him anew, and the chief instructor’s expression hardened.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I can’t discipline you just because you’re his son?”
“Hahaha, I’m sorry.”
“Sir! I’ll see you at the training center later!”
“Alright, don’t worry and focus on your investigation until then.”
“Yes!”
“Chief instructor, I know you’re busy, but please take good care of Lia.”
“Hey, you’re too protective of your girlfriend.”
Yan’s brow furrowed slightly.
He realized he had never corrected the Chief Instructor’s misconception that he liked Lia.
He was about to say something but then closed his mouth.
There was no need to clarify right now.
The Chief Instructor crossed his arms and continued.
“And from now on, don’t call me Chief Instructor, call me Task Force Commander.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve been confirmed as the new leader of the task force. After all, every other officer is dead. You killed that Black Shadow guy, didn’t you?”
“Ah.”
“Now that things have turned out this way, someone else will take over the Dragon Soldier Project training. Of course, I’ll take care of it until a successor is decided.”
“Yes, I understand, Chief Instructor.”
“Call me Task Force Commander.”
The chief instructor frowned.
Yan’s lips curled up at the sight.
“How about we drop the formality and I call you Damian, sir?”
“…What?”
The Chief Instructor’s face hardened.
He had disliked being called by that name since returning to the empire after the commander-in-chief went missing.
That name was given by his mother, and he believed that those who stood by during her death had no right to call him by it.
After several tumultuous events, he had made others call him ‘Chief Instructor’ instead of ‘Damian.’
Of course, his brother Leon continued to call him Damian.
The Chief Instructor chuckled.
‘Is it because he’s his son… I don’t particularly dislike it.’
He suddenly remembered how the commander-in-chief, who had led him out of the imperial city, used to call him by his name.
“Do as you wish.”
For the first time since meeting Yan, the Chief Instructor, now Damian, smiled a smile that wasn’t a cold sneer.
With another loud horn blast, the train signaled its imminent departure.
Yan placed a hand on Lia’s shoulder and smiled.
“Hang in there a little longer, and I’ll see you at the training center.”
“Yes!”
Lia nodded vigorously.
With that robust promise, Yan finally moved his feet.
He waved to Lia and the Chief Instructor as he boarded the train.
Only after they were out of sight did he lean back in his seat.
Looking out the window as the scenery whizzed by, Yan murmured quietly.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been back.”
It was time to return to the training center.