In the morning, Honō and Ross wake up and look through the window, just to see in the front of the house two lines of ten knights each one, with the kingdom emblem, in the front stood a blonde and good looking guy, Honō and Ross were very confused by this situation.

Honō: “Who are these people?”

Ross: “I have no idea...”

They got dressed and went down the stairs and to the front yard.

Honō: “Can I know why are you here sir?”

???: “Please let me introduce myself. I am Hugues Lancer.”

Honō: “Who?”

Knight 1: “How can you say that? Haven’t you heard about Hugues The Lion?”

Honō and Ross: “The what?”

Hugues: “Please, just call me Hugues.” He says with a smile.

Honō: “Sounds good to me, then please call me Honō.”

Hugues: “Understood. I guess you are the Baron everyone is talking about.”

Honō: “I think so, and what brings you here?”

Hugues: “Well...”

???: “Hugues, what are you talking about with this peasant?”

Hugues face changed from “Start of vacations” to “Why the fuck do I have to do seven projects in the same day?” in an instant. the person that shouted was in front of the knights. With a scum face so hard that Honō felt nauseous looking at him.

Honō: “Who are you?” he says still feeling nauseous.

Weasel: “HOW DARE YOU NOT KNOW ABOUT WEASEL ROBERT NAVARRO?”

Honō: “Ah, nice to meet you, my name is-”

He is interrupted by Weasel, and he starts mocking Honō.

Weasel: “I don’t care about the name of a mere peasant, I came here to meet the new Baron and the second princess, It is said that they arrived yesterday, can you and that maid bring them here?”

Honō: “I don’t think you are qualified to meet him...” he says very pissed, yet hiding it.

Weasel: “Nonsense, I, Weasel? One of the richest nobles in this territory, am not qualified to meet the Baron?”

Honō: “Exactly. If you are really that of a show-off, then you need some manners, or at least you need to have someone competent in your power.”

Weasel: “Heh, you’re very clever to be just a peasant, Hugures! Come here and place this fool in his place!”

Hugures: “But Sir, this person is-”

Weasel: “Do as you’re told!”

Hugures: “...Yes Sir.”

Honō: “If we’re going to fight, then let me prepare myself.”

Honō then turns to Ross with a determined look and a smile in his face.

Honō: “Can you please bring my jacket here? Oh, and please bring ‘that’.”

Ross: “No problem.”

Ross rushes inside the mansion and comes back with Honō’s black jacket, a katana and a Desert Eagle with a caliber of 12,7mm.

Ross: “Do you need more ammunition?”

Honō: “no thanks, I think I can settle this with only one bullet.”

After saying that, he stands in front of Ross, in front of him is Hugues at a reasonable distance.

Weasel: “Hugures! Kick his ass!”

Hugues then unsheathed his sword and started walking to Honō, but Honō hasn’t moved a bit, he then placed his hands out from his pockets and started talking.

Honō: “Oh, you’re approaching me? Even after knowing who I am, you still followed the orders from your lord and decided to face me? Very impressive indeed.”

Hugues: “I could beat you from this distance, but that would be very rude from my part.”

Honō: “Heh, then come as close as you need to, Hugues the Lion!”

Honō then, without even a second, pulled his katana, in that moment Hugues started sprinting towards Honō and attacked vertically, Honō evaded the attack and swinged his katana horizontally, Hugues evaded this attack by crouching, but Honō used this opportunity to kick Hugues, but he managed to block it with his arm.

Weasel: “What are you doing Hugues? Kill that bastard!”

Hugues: “Understood.”

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Hugues then backs off a little bit and puts his right hand in front of him.

Hugues: “FIREBOLT!”

From out of his hand came out a white fireball that appeared to be also electrified, Honō then tries to cut it with his sword, he managed to dissipate the fireball, but he got striked by the little electricity of it that managed to travel from the katana and into the grip of it, it wasn’t much, but it was painful, Honō falls in the ground, Hugues approaches Honō.

Hugues: “The battle is over.”

Honō then starts laughing maniacally, which threw Hugues out of sync.

Hugues: “Why are you laughing?”

Honō doesn’t answer, yet he keeps laughing. In that moment Weasel shouts to Hugues.

Weasel: “He lost his mind, just finish already and knock him out!”

Hugues then putted his sword in his cover and raised it over his head, ready to give the final blow, in that moment Honō rolled in the ground with his leg extended and kicked Hugues leg, this threw Hugues on the ground, Hugues tried to reincorporate, but Honō was already standing and pointing his katana to Hugues, he then started speaking with a smile and laughing.

Honō: “Ha ha! You fool! you fell victim to one of the classic blunders!”

Hugues: “What are you talking about?” He says looking a little bit confused, but keeping it cool.

Honō: “When I was on the ground laughing, you were thinking that you already had the victory, so you dropped your guard! I used that opportunity to then mop the floor with you!”

Hugues: “Look who's talking.”

Hugues then tried to use the same technique in Honō, but he evaded it just by jumping.

Honō: “Using my own techniques against me? Just admit defeat Hugues, come again when you can think at least two movements ahead of your opponent!”

Hugues: “Alright then, I admit defeat.”

Honō: “That’s good, that’s good, you have a lot of potential and a lot to learn.”

Honō then helped Hugues to stand up and shook his hand. Between the commotion caused by the defeat of Hugues, Weasel started screaming.

Weasel: “What is the meaning of this!? How can a fool like you beat one of my best knights.”

Honō then turned to Weasel and started speaking in a show-off style while doing graceful gestures.

Honō: “This fool that stands in front of you! Is the Noble in charge of this lands! Thy name I have been blessed to receive is Komura Honō, and you shall not forget it!”

After saying that followed silence, everyone was shocked by this revelation, but Weasel was on a whole nother level, he just realized that he called a man that could kill him in that moment just by saying that he was attempting against the king’s orders, knowing this he dropped on his knees and bowed down saying that he was sorry about how he spoke to Honō. Honō was in shock to see Weasel’s sudden change of behaviour. But a phrase that he said made Honō change into his opportunist behaviour.

Weasel: “Please forgive my behaviour! I am willing to do anything to repay you!”

Honō: “Anything?”

Weasel: “Anything! I will give you manpower, gold, anything!”

Honō: “Are you sure? You are willing to give me anything?”

Weasel: “Anything that you ask and is in my power! I’ll do it!”

Honō was in paradise, a noble bowing to him and telling him that he would give him anything, it was just too good to be true, he then accepted and told him that he will call him if he needs something, but that for now he notifies the other nobles who he is, and most importantly to not look down on him. After Weasel and the knights went on their way, Honō and Ross entered the mansion.

Honō: “Too early in the morning to be doing this kind of things.” He says tired.

Ross: “The problems are always roaming around you, don’t they?”

Honō: “Luckily there are few problems that do not have solution., anyway, I have to meet with someone now, see you later!”

Ross: “Be safe, ok?”

Honō: “I will! don’t worry so much.”

After that he goes out of the mansion and into the town with a white hat covering his face and carrying a bag with him, he stops in a clear space, it was between two districts, before there were a few houses that were burned in the middle of a revolt, the only thing that is left are rubbles scattered all over the place. Honō then looks around looking for someone, after finding him, he yells at him.

Honō: “Hey Nick! What took you so long?”

Nick: “Hey! We need materials y’know?” He says while laughing

Honō: “Alright, so here are the blueprints.”

Honō then takes out of the bag some blueprints. Nick inspects them and asks him intrigued.

Nick: “So… What is this supposed to be?”

Honō: “A steam-electric power station.”

Nick: “A steam electric what?”

Honō: “In a nutshell, you heat the water, which turns into steam, then the steam spins a steam turbine which powers an electric generator and boom! you have electricity.”

Nick: “Alright, I think i get it. And what are you going to do with it?”

Honō: “A factory.”

Nick: “A what now?”

Honō: “With all this space I can also build a factory on the side of it.”

Nick: “And what will this “factory” do?”

Honō: “It will....” Honō then stops talking for a moment and starts thinking, after a moment, he gives his answer.

Honō: “I… I have no idea.”

Nick: “Then why are we building this?” he says sounding pissed.

Honō: “Handwork you idiot!” He says in a sarcastic tone.

Nick: “And why do you need handwork?”

Honō: “Hello!? an idiot just immersed this territory into misery! And now i’m in charge of it and I don’t want it to be shitty and all of that!” he says angrily.

Nick: “Yeah, then let me ask you again, what will that “factory” of yours do!?”

Honō: “IT WILL...”

Honō just had one of the greatest ideas that someone could think of, he asked himself “why does it have to do one specific thing?” the answer awakened his greed, after thinking of the solution he looked at Nick with a smile and laughing.

Honō: “Hahaha! You are a pain Nick! But at least you make me get some clever ideas!”

Nick: “So, did you figured it out?”

Honō: “Yeah.”

Nick: “And what thing will you do?”

Honō: “You forgot the “S”.”

Nick: “The what?”

Honō: “the sentence you’re looking for is What “things will you make”.”

Nick: “So you’re going to do more than one?”

Honō: “Of course! Now you can start working, I will come tomorrow and inspect the work done.”

Nick: “Understood Boss!”

Honō then heads to the mansion, it was still early, after he entered he headed towards the bedroom, in there he met Ross.

Honō: “Hey.”

Ross: “Hello.”

Honō: “How was your day?”

Ross: “It was great, and yours?”

Honō: “Normal? I guess?”

After that brief conversation they didn’t talked about anything more, Honō then started looking for his phone between the cabinets, after some time Ross started talking again.

Ross: “Hey. Want to go on a date?”

Honō then stopped looking for his phone and looked at Ross confused.

Honō: “Come again?”