"Hahaha, it's my responsibility to stay in shape. A knight should always be prepared"

Replied the man in front of me, his characteristic smile adorning his face. Although a considerable amount of time had passed since our last interaction, he still maintained the same appearance. Like before, he was clad in armor, with a sword hanging at his waist. Observing the hall closely, I noticed the presence of three guards, and John seemed to be one of them. After all, this was to be expected, given that John held the position of commander of the Solaris knights.

Even more so considering the fact that this party includes not only members of the royal family from Solaris but also from other realms. This reflection brought to mind the fact that I hadn't yet had the opportunity to meet the royal families of the other countries present. Although they were also present at Emi's birthday celebration, the confusion of luxurious attire and diverse origins prevented me from clearly identifying who was who on that occasion. I decided then to make a mental note to introduce myself to at least some members of the royalty from other countries before the end of the evening.

"Since we're on the topic, how have your days been? Any recent developments that have demanded your attention, or anything of the sort?"

I looked at John as I asked the question, though truthfully, I didn't have high expectations for an answer. Especially not an answer that confirmed what I was suggesting.

"Oh, impressive that you've noticed. I guess geniuses really do think uniquely, don't they?"

John declared, visibly surprised, as his gaze fixed on me. Soon after, he continued.

"At this moment, we're conducting training for new recruits. Initially, we planned to use a nearby village for it. However, reports came in that a group of bandits, comprised of approximately fifty to seventy individuals, has taken control of the area"

John explained, letting out a sigh. As I heard his words, various thoughts began to form in my mind. Recently, I had become aware of a location relatively close to my territory that had been invaded by bandits. Yet, upon further investigation, I realized it was an unaffiliated village, not part of Solaris. Even though it was located within our territory, that village operated almost independently.

"Do you plan to reclaim the area? It seems like a challenging task, considering they've likely fortified the area. Advancing without a proper strategy would be almost suicidal"

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I put my hand on my chin as I spoke. Observing my reaction, John briefly cast a glance in my direction and then spoke.

"That will depend on the circumstances in the coming days. This isn't the first time it's happened. Usually, the bandits attack, loot the place, and retreat to their base. The only reason they would stay in the village is if their original base is no longer usable... But why are you asking? Do you have something in mind?"

John responded, directing a curious look my way. Upon hearing his words, I replied ambiguously.

"Perhaps"

I replied, shrugging with a mysterious smile.

"Well, I know you're smart enough to know what you're doing, but remember you're not alone now. If something happens, many people will be sad"

Jhon stated, directing his gaze at a specific point. Following his line of sight, my eyes landed on Emi, who was enjoying a chicken wing peacefully. Of course, I didn't intend to throw myself into dangerous situations. However, since I had already previously mapped out the area infiltrated by the thugs, this could be a good opportunity to test the new weapons I had been developing.

"Sure, don't worry about that. By the way, you're also involved in my plans. I'll keep you informed about what I'm planning"

I commented, keeping my gaze fixed on Emi as a smile formed on my face.

"I understand"

Those were the only words Jhon uttered after hearing what I said. Somehow, he seemed to have grasped more than I had explained, but I decided to leave this matter to address later.

The rest of the conversation with Jhon was mostly comprised of casual exchanges. It seemed like Jhon was up to date with everything that had happened in the last few months and asked me how I was feeling that day. I then decided to show him the scar that had remained on my body due to the stab wound, and Jhon smiled, commenting that now we had something in common, for similar reasons.

It appears that, just as I got my scar while protecting Emi, Jhon also acquired his by protecting his wife. However, Jhon didn't go into many details about the matter.

After bidding farewell to Jhon, I quickly returned to Emi's side, fulfilling my promise to spend the rest of the night with her. As I approached, Emi waved at me in an adorable gesture.

"Have you finished what you needed to do? Also, I didn't know you were so close to Commander Jhon. What were you two talking about?"

Emi asked when I joined her by her side. I wasn't sure if I should share all the details of the conversation with Jhon, but I also didn't want to hide anything from her. So, I decided to be honest in my response.

"Do you remember that village near my territory that was recently taken over by thugs? We were talking about that. I mentioned that I was considering testing the new weaponry I've been developing"

I explained to Emi, sharing the details of the conversation I had with Jhon, while attentively watching her expression for any signs of reaction. However, to my surprise, Emi didn't show an intense negative reaction, although she also didn't seem completely convinced of my idea.

"Well, I trust that you'll be okay. In fact, please promise me that right here and now"

Emi said, as her golden eyes reflected a mix of emotions. It was the first time I saw her like that, and it seemed like the scare of almost losing someone she loved still affected her, even though she was trying to disguise it.