Marshall was the highest rank in the military. Most Marshalls were retired 4-star generals but 3 stars could make the jump if they had accomplished something exemplary on the battlefield. One could become a Marshall even without being in the military, but only by achieving something incredible like becoming a powerhouse or a master Spiritsmith.

Marshalls had independent armies under them and could attack at will. All generals worked under a specific Marshall. In other words, were you recruited affected what Marshall you work for.

"We fall under Marshall Fay Bronze, master Spiritsmith and Dean of Ethereal Forge Academy!"

Darius was not stupid. He knew that this division of the army also the country's number one Spiritsmith Academy under them. That meant that this division was under…

'The Orions!'

The Orion Family controlled the academy as Fay Bronze was one of their elders and was married to the Family head.

'Another offer from the Orions!'

But this one was different, it was offered by 3-star Generals! Man who could squash him with their fingers. Not to mention this wasn't just the support of the army, it was also the support of the academy and Orion Family! The undisputed number one noble family!

Refusing them once in public was one thing, but refusing 3-star Generals was another. Darius wasn't sure what to do. For the first time since using Indomitable, he was hesitant!

Both the Grandmaster and the Orions had enticing offers…but the Generals were right in front of him right now.

"Kylian you brat, betraying your own family again! You are a disgrace!"

Didier's gruff voice came from the open door and an angry Didier walked through.

A Laporte lobbying for Orions. This was an odd situation.

'There is a story behind this!'

"I am just doing my National Duty Grandfather."

"Ah." Said Darius understanding. This emotionless man was a Laporte? And the old man's grandson? The complexity of noble life annoyed Darius to no end.

"Now now boys no need to fight." The soft voice of the dean wafted over everyone like a smooth breeze.

'This another spirit art, meant to calm people.' Mused Darius.

"Marshall Bronze!"

Kylian and Donald stood at attention and saluted her.

She raised her arms and said, "At ease young ones. We are one big family here. Now, why don't we walk the boy in and have him understand everything. It would've in his best interest to have him know all the details."

Her own soldiers were certainly not going to refuse while Didier harrumphed and pulled Darius' hand.

…

"I see."

A conversation explaining the connections between everyone and their offers then continued peacefully. The emperor joined in with Lara as well as she had rushed to summon him. As it stood, Darius had three offers. From the Old man, from The Orions and from the Royal family. But he had to make sure that's how it stood.

"old man, are you representing the Laporte Family in this?"

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Didier shook his head, "I am a family elder but I'm retired from politics. This is for me and me only!"

The others all shook their heads. They all believed this was a foolish thing to say as the value of his offer was now lowered. He was a Grandmaster but he was not a stable force like the Laporte family.

"Alight I have made my choice. I pick the old man."

The old man jumped in joy while the others all looked shocked at each other. "If you want to know why I made this decision ask the old man, excuse me."

Darius left the office like he was leaving his own kitchen. The old man smiled and cackled evilly.

Fay remembered what he had said earlier, about how he was plotting this. She looked at him ad said, "Didier, what did you do?"

Everyone else thought for a moment and waited for his strange laughter to finish. The old man coughed, trying to look like he had some sort of dignity!

"It's simple really. All your offers involved constant life-threatening battle! The boy is at essence a coward, but you all forgot that because you kept seeing his martial skills. The point of the tests wasn't just to test him, it was also to fool you into focusing on his martial talent when he hates fighting the most! Hahaha, I can't stop laughing."

Everyone in the room, especially fay had ugly looks on the faces. The old man played them good.

Let us simplify this. They all gave offers where they offered power and riches, but he had to fight in most scenarios. In the army, his life would always be in danger of fighting. If he joined the royal family his life would be at risk from political infighting. If he joined one family he would be making the others his enemy!

The Orion offer from Katya would have been better as it was purely from the family, which brought politics. But this new offer had war included. It was dead the moment it was spoken, and the old man knew. He had spoken with Darius at great lengths in order to understand his character.

Darius wanted to live a lavish life with as little risk to his life as possible.

When the three sides made their offers the other side could not hear. Only the old man's offer did not include risks to his life. To Indomitable Darius, the pain was no different from an itch. Not to mention that he would have more freedom.

The others all tried to sugar coat it but the old man had warned him early in the morning before the exam.

"Joining the big families sounds sweet but your life will now revolve around their desires and choices. You as an outsider would never truly the inner circle. If they had the need to they would sacrifice you regardless of how many resources they gave you.

"As my true disciple, you only have to follow my smithing philosophy and absorb my teachings. What you do in-between lessons and training has nothing to do with me. Not to mention the number of Powerhouses I work for. If they knew I had a true disciple, one who was accepting my inheritance and had a good chance of being a grandmaster…tsk tsk, the glory you would have. And they all would be willing to die for you. Just saying."

This was the true value of the old man's offer. Protection. Families and armies were large and stretched their resources. But the True Disciple of a Grandmaster was like the childe of a cult. The old man wasn't that powerful by himself. But if anyone angered him they would invite the wrath of a nation upon themselves, because he had many many powerhouses who depended on him!

This was the reason he had taught fighting based skills to Darius. To make him look like a fighter. That plus public knowledge that he had minimum Valour level indomitable made people assume the wrong thing. He wasn't an asura born for battle. He just fought like one! His life depended on it after all!

With the old man, he would all he wanted, more freedom and more protection. All he had to do was remain neutral in politics and he would be safe. But he needed to have the strength the old man told him early on. If some people can't have you, then they would rather kill you.

The royal family won't mind much but the Orion family will take offence if he chose anyone other than them. So the old man would safely take him to another country far away where he would develop until he became strong to protect himself. There was minimum risk to his life. Sounded good to Indomitable Darius.

Normal Darius wasn't wise enough to think in this direction. He thought that if he joined some minor family the big ones will stop bothering him. He forgot that the nail that sticks out hammered. The Orion family would be more than happy to wipe out an entire family if it meant getting their hands on him. Darius was a hick and didn't have much experience in the world. His overcautious nature sometimes put him at risk as it lacked practicality. Darius didn't know human nature. But his other side did…

…

Old Man Didier had an office as one of the schools living founders and a professor. He sat back in his chair with a happy look on his face.

"True disciple! Yeah!"

The old man childishly spun his chair around, "Woohhhoooooo"

Then a voice transmitted to his mind. It was quick, familiar and precise!

"Take the boy to these coordinates, lose any followers."

'This voice, it's him!'

Didier's face became grim as he teleported away. He reappeared next to a frightened Darius who was watching some porn.

"Oh sh-"

Before Darius could speak with his pants down, Didier took him away. They reappeared on-top of the dome, headed northeast.