- Maybe you should cut down on the amount of training you do with the children. says Yvelt to Roderick

Roderick sits down on their bed

- Personally, I think that it's essential for them to learn how to wield swords. says Roderick. You can never know what might happen in the future. At least, they'll always be able to defend themselves if they know how to

Yvelt sighs as she lays down on the bed

- I am just worried that Malick, Leas, and Enzo are starting to go too far with those spar of theirs. she finishes after sighing

- Did something happen? Roderick asks as he gets in bed

- Today, just like every other day of the week, Enzo brought some wooden swords to school. starts Yvelt with a concerned and annoyed tone

- That's nothing new. says Roderick with an unsurprised tone. He always does that

- Yeah but today, he spared against Malick and Malick almost broke his ribs. says Yvelt

- Malick almost broke Enzo's ribs with a wooden sword? asks Roderick in surprise

Yvelt nods

- That can only mean one thing. says Roderick

- What does it mean?

- It means that Malick's muscles are growing faster and stronger than other kids, no, then other people. says Roderick

- He did seem a little surprised when he saw Enzo on the floor. says Yvelt in a pensive manner

- He probably never even noticed. says Roderick. I see... For now, I will focus on training him to control his strength, otherwise, next time he might actually break someone's bones

[In the brother's room]

- Are you ok? Leas asks his brother

- My body is okay but my pride isn't. answers Enzo

- Did you really believe that you could beat him? asks Leas

-...

- If we're being honest, even I can't defeat Malick. says Leas. And I am stronger than you

- So what? says Enzo. Are you saying that because he is stronger than me, I shouldn't challenge him?

- What I am saying is that even though you know all of that, you still challenge him and lose to him. says Leas

- Gee, thanks for reminding me. says Enzo in a sarcastic tone

- All I am saying is that he already hurt your pride many times. says Leas while staring at the roof. Are you gonna give up and make today the last time or are you gonna keep going and continue getting your pride hurt so that one day you may defeat him?

- Shut up and go to sleep, dumbass. says Enzo

Leas smiles and closes his eyes

[Someplace else]

A tall man with blond hair and blue eyes enters a giant room with a long table in the middle and multiple people sitting on the side of the table. When the man enters, all the people at the table rise up as he walks toward his seat. The man sits at the end of the table

- Sit. he says in a calm and cold tone

All the people that rose when he entered the room sit down as soon as he says to do so

- Where are we with the negotiation with the Flexibale kingdom? asks the man

Nobody answers

- I see. the man says with a smile. So, they refused our offer, huh?

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The small smile that was on the blond-haired man's face turns into an enormous one

- That leaves us only one option, doesn't it? he says with a giant smile

The people at the table are all sweating profusely except for a blue-haired man and an orange-haired man

- FINALLY! says the blond-haired man with a smile of madness. IT'S TIME FOR WAR!

- If I may? says a man with blue hair sitting right next to the blond-haired man on the left side of the table

- What is it? asks the blond-haired man with an annoyed tone

- Our forces have yet to recover from the war that we waged five years ago. says the blue-haired man. If we were to wage war with our forces in this state, even if we were to win, we would be vulnerable to attack from other kingdoms

- Tsk! makes the blond-haired man. How much time would it take for our forces to fully recover

- At least, five years. says the blue-haired man

- What if we were to use conscription? says the orange-haired man who is also sitting next to the blond-haired man but at the right side of the table

- How much time would we buy? asks the blond-haired man

- Two years. answers the orange-haired man. In three years, our forces would be ready to go to war

- However, using a compulsory enrollment decree will create anger among the commoners and the nobles. the blue-haired man says. Such anger will create groups like the Fiery Wings that were created because of the war five years ago

- Hmmm.... They were quite the pain in the ass. says the blond-haired man. They even managed to sneak into my bedroom to kill me

- Please do not forget that the Fiery Wings have not been destroyed. says the blue-haired man. Because we won the war five years ago and managed to turn the public's opinion from their side to ours, they went silent

The other people at the table start to nod and agree with what the blue-haired man said

- Another war so soon after we just waged the one from five years ago will create unrest which the Fiery Wings will take advantage of. If we were to add compulsory enrollment, the kingdom would be thrown into chaos

- We would have rebellions taking place all over the kingdom. says a dark green-haired man sitting next to the blue-haired man with a reflective tone and expression. Waging a war while dealing with civil war would make us the perfect target for the two other kingdoms

- There is a way to deal with rebellions. says the blond-haired man with a smile. And it's an incredibly entertaining one

- Could you be talking about... starts the blue-haired man with nervousness

- A public execution. says the blond-haired man with a smile. In other words, instilling fear into the hearts of the citizens

The blue-haired man's eyes widen in stupor for a moment and a frown of anger quickly replaces the stupor on his face. Once the blond-haired man notices that the blue-haired man is frowning at him, he simply smiles and says

- Don't worry. I was only making a harmless farce

The blond-haired man sighs

- Fine. I'll give you three years. he says after sighing. If after three years our army is not ready for war, I shall use the compulsory enrollment decree.

- Thank you for your wise decision, o great sun of the kingdom. says the blue-haired man while bowing his head down to the blond-haired man

The blond-haired man gets up and leaves the room while chuckling in anticipation

- What are you trying to do, Gregoire? asks the blue-haired man to the orange-haired man

- Who knows? says Gregoire as he shrugs. What about you, Neant? Do you really think that you can bring back our army to its original strength in a matter of three years

Neant frowns

- Are you trying to actually make us lose the war? asks Gregoire with a smile. Because that's what it feels and looks like

- I am not going to fall for you silly mind games, Gregoire. says Neant with composure. However, I will be keeping an eye on you

- Do as you wish, my friend. says Gregoire with a smirk

Neant turns around and leaves the room. As soon as he does, all the other people sitting at the table get up and leave except for Gregoire. Just as he was about to get up, the door of the room opens and a man with a completely black mask enters

- How is it going? asks Gregoire

- We've found traces of them. answers the masked man

A smile forms on Gregoire's face

- Good. he says

[The Next Day In A Small Tavern Within The Village Of Ragseem]

Roderick enters the tavern and sits down at the counter in front of the bartender

- It's been a while since I've last seen you here, Roderick. says the bartender while cleaning a mug

- Winter is coming soon, Churno. says Roderick with a smile. It's the season that makes a lumberjack like me far too busy

- Lies! says the Churno loudly with a smile. You are always busy since you don't only cut wood but also use it to make stuff. How long are you gonna keep lying and say that you are and tell other people that you are also a carpenter? You could make much more money if you did

Churno puts a mug full of beer in front of Roderick.

- How much? asks Roderick as he takes a sip

- You built me this tavern for free. says Chruno with a grateful smile. My friend, for you, the drinks are always on the house

- Thanks. says Roderick as he continues to drink

The door of the tavern opens up and this time people with swords at their waist enter the tavern

- Why are mercenaries here? Roderick asks to Churno

- They are mercenaries? Churno asks with surprise. How did you know

Roderick points at his chest

- All mercenaries possess a mercenary badge. says Roderick. They keep it on them in a place that everyone can see so that they can get hired by anyone at any moment

- You learn something new every day, huh? says Churno. As for why they are here, I think it is because they are headed for the capital

- The capital? asks Roderick. Why would they be going there?

- Didn't you hear? asks Churno

Roderick shakes his head as he gulps down the rest of his beer

- The army has started recruiting under the order of General Yovrum. says Churno

- General Yovrum? You mean from the Yovrum ducal family? asks Roderick. Are you saying that the son of Neant Yovrum became a general?

- Yeah. answers Churno. No matter how you look at it, there is only one reason something like the army recruiting people would happen

Roderick puts his empty mug down on the table

- A war is coming. says Roderick while frowning