Chapter 144
“…You want me to recommend you to the revolutionaries?”
Damian’s face hardened like stone.
The revolutionaries of old were one thing, but the current lot were no different from a terrorist group.
And that wasn’t all.
The man who ousted Yan’s father and took the seat as the leader of the revolutionaries was truly fearsome.
He changed the title of ‘Commander-in-Chief’ to ‘Supreme Leader’.
By drawing in external forces, he expanded the mere four legions into eight.
In just a few years, he had erased most traces of the former revolutionaries with his incredible savvy.
Even Theo, hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime genius alongside the Crown Prince, and Owen, the old man who had long been with the revolutionaries, could barely withstand the current Supreme Leader’s political onslaught.
Yan joining such a dangerous group of revolutionaries?
Damian voiced his negative opinion with a heavy tone.
“You must be thinking of saving your father… but it’s too difficult now. It would be better to join after Theo and Old Man Owen have grown their forces a bit more.”
Yan shook his head.
“I want to rescue my father as soon as possible. Waiting doesn’t suit my temperament.”
“No, waiting is the right move. The current Supreme Leader of the revolutionaries is a terrifying person.”
Yan’s eyes sparkled.
He felt sorry for Damian, but he himself was second to none when it came to being cunning.
If even Damian spoke so, then…
‘It’s hard to even imagine.’
In his previous life, there was virtually no information known about the leader of the revolutionaries until his own death.
They had captured a few officers and Damian, but that was the end of it.
Then, the image of the Emperor from his past life, who had looked at him with such a mechanical gaze, flashed through his mind.
The Emperor of his past life was as formidable in politics as he was in force.
If he were to set a standard for the Supreme Leader…
‘Perhaps, as formidable as the Emperor of my past life?’
With that thought, the adversary seemed quite challenging.
But he was undeterred.
Hadn’t he once landed a blow on the Emperor of his past life?
Yan met Damian’s gaze.
“Please, I beg you. If it becomes dangerous, I promise I’ll pull out immediately.”
Moved by Yan’s earnest plea, Damian let out a sigh.
Then, with a furrowed brow, he looked at Yan.
‘Having overcome countless adversities, perhaps this young man could escape from the Supreme Leader too? Maybe…’
But he couldn’t easily give an affirmative answer.
Yan was the son of his benefactor.
The guilt of not being able to rescue his benefactor, who was currently imprisoned somewhere, was already heavy, and losing his son as well…
‘Sigh.’
Damian shook his head.
If Yan weren’t his benefactor’s son, he wouldn’t have worried this much.
Finally, after deep contemplation, Damian spoke.
“I’ll think about it. For now, return to Armenia and get the trainees acclimated. Prioritize that, and once I’ve sorted out my thoughts, I’ll contact you.”
Yan looked into Damian’s eyes.
The resolute look in them suggested that any further persuasion might lead to the conversation being dismissed altogether.
Eventually, Yan also stepped back.
“Understood.”
After all, acclimating the trainees to the estate would take at least a month.
If Damian still couldn’t make a decision after that…
‘I’ll have to find a way.’
He had a few tricks from the revolutionaries in his previous life in mind, which could be used to at least get in at the lowest level.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
Yan bowed politely.
Damian, seemingly unable to stand the sight of Yan, waved his hand dismissively to send him away.
The words he had uttered must have been quite shocking.
Creak.
And so, Yan left the office.
Left alone, Damian pressed his temples and leaned back.
“…What do I do?”
He didn’t want to send Yan to that dangerous Supreme Leader.
But Yan’s unyielding gaze kept haunting his mind.
Because of that, his head began to throb.
Damian let out a deep sigh.
“I don’t know.”
He needed to sort out his thoughts.
Whether to send Yan to the revolutionaries or not.
* * *
The training academy’s grand event, ‘The Recruitment of Talent,’ had drawn to a close.
Dignitaries from across the empire could only chuckle in disbelief as they left empty-handed.
During the usual ‘Talent Recruitment Period,’ even the most rural nobles would manage to take home at least one trainee.
But this time, the recruitment was utterly dominated by a single family.
Even the Southern Duke, one of the four great ducal houses, had offered staggering terms to no avail.
“If only the Southern Duke had swept them all, we wouldn’t feel so defeated.”
“Indeed. By the way, have you noticed how often we hear that person’s name these days?”
“Not content with just an enforcer’s role, he now boasts a title, and even the backing of the most powerful in his domain. It’s rare to see someone rise so quickly under His Majesty’s favor.”
“Ah, remember the inquiry? Even the Imperial Knight Wigor seemed to recognize him, didn’t he?”
The nobles murmured among themselves about Yan.
They couldn’t deny his accomplishments, but…
It was suspicious how many connections he had.
And those connections weren’t with ordinary people.
With that thought, the nobles fell silent, each harboring their own theories.
‘Could he be the talent the Crown Prince has earmarked for the next special mission?’
‘The Emperor’s secret illegitimate child?’
‘Or perhaps the nucleus of a new power? With Wigor, Duke Beowulf, His Highness the Crown Prince, and now the Task Force leader. Didn’t the Count of Zion and the Director of Inspection await him when he disembarked from the train?’
As their imaginations soared,
Other nobles and officials were already making swift moves.
“Hahaha, it’s been a while, Enforcer. Do you remember me from the Imperial banquet?”
“You! To address a man with a baron’s title as ‘Enforcer’! Ha, Baron, may I have a moment of your time?”
Yan felt a wave of fatigue as he faced the nobles who put on a friendly front before him.
He had anticipated that the artificial elixir would cause a stir, but…
‘Sixty already.’
More than half of the guests who came to the training academy had approached him.
At first, he humored one or two with a smile and a reply, but as their numbers grew, even responding became a chore.
Of course, they approached him because of the artificial elixir he had announced.
But Yan had no immediate plans to supply the elixir.
He intended to start selling as soon as possible, but even rushing it, it would take a year.
It wasn’t a business for just a day or two; the elixir needed grading, and various processes to prevent theft.
So he was politely declining, stating that the quality wasn’t perfect yet for immediate delivery.
‘Tiring, indeed.’
He sighed inwardly at the sight of more nobles approaching with smiles from afar.
That’s when it happened.
Someone approached with an overwhelming presence, pressing down on the surroundings.
“It’s been a while.”
Yan slightly bowed his head to the newcomer.
“Greetings.”
“Heh, has it already been a year? Time flies. It feels like we parted just yesterday.”
It was Hans, the steward of the Beowulf ducal house and the former commander of the White Dragon Knights.
His overwhelming presence scattered the nobles who had crowded around Yan.
Finally, Yan could breathe a sigh of relief.
A whisper reached Yan’s ears.
-There’s no need to thank me too much.
It was Hans’s voice.
Yan chuckled.
It seemed that Hans had deliberately exerted his presence to disperse the nobles.
Hans came closer and whispered.
“Please take good care of the lady. She’s still inexperienced and might make misguided decisions, so guide her well.”
“Lorena is already an excellent knight. You needn’t belittle her so.”
Hans’s face stiffened slightly at Yan’s response.
But soon, he stepped back with a gentle expression.
“Perhaps I’ve been mistaken, having brought the lady up from such a young age.”
“Worrying about someone you cherish is only natural.”
“Haha, is that so? Well, if you ever face difficulties, knock on the doors of the Beowulf ducal house. The lord holds you in high regard and will gladly entertain any reasonable request. Personally, if there’s anything I can help with, I’ll do my utmost.”
With that, Hans extended his hand for a handshake.
Yan’s eyes sparkled.
To receive such a friendly offer from one of the four great ducal houses was unexpected.
Yan quickly grasped Hans’s hand, lest his feelings change.
“I look forward to working with you.”
At that moment,
He felt a strong grip from the hand he held.
Looking up, Yan saw flames dancing in Hans’s eyes.
He asked in a stern voice.
“Just to be sure… you don’t harbor any peculiar affection for the lady, do you?”
Yan smirked.
Both Duke Beowulf and Hans had such similar concerns.
They were indeed curious characters.
“There’s nothing of the sort.”
Yan’s crisp response seemed to perplex Hans even more.
“No affection for the lady? Oh, dear Yan…”
Yan’s brow twitched.
What was he supposed to do?
But soon, Hans released the handshake and let out a deep sigh.
“The lady is now an adult; she’ll manage on her own. This old man has been too meddlesome.”
“It’s alright.”
“Hmm, I should be going now.”
With those words, Hans boarded the train bound for Beowulf territory, leading six trainees.
Yan turned his head.
There, the trainees who had just emerged from the academy were breathing in the fresh air, looking as if they were truly alive for the first time.
Lorena’s ears were red, perhaps due to Hans’s actions, and Charl chuckled beside her.
Cruel and Roman bickered as usual, while Kasa laughed awkwardly, trying to mediate between them.
Whooosh!
A train blared its horn as it entered the station.
It was bound for a domain near Armenia.
Yan climbed the train’s steps and turned to survey each of the trainees.
Some faces were familiar, others new.
But all were brimming with excitement and anticipation.
Eighty talents in total.
All would become his loyal followers.
Yan grinned and shouted.
“Let’s go!”
Thus, the majority of the trainees, after more than five years of training, were assigned to Yan.
Whooosh!
The train carrying Yan and the eighty trainees began its vigorous journey towards Armenia.