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Chapter 233: Lusatia's Movements
Taris, who proudly ranked first among the 30 successful candidates, walked into my reception room with equally proud steps.
"I see you've cleaned up in the meantime."
"Yes. I figured there would be some time while you conducted interviews."
"Why bother with all this cleansing when we see each other every day?"
I spoke as if scolding him, but a subtle smile lingered at the corners of my mouth.
'A person's attentiveness shows in these small details.'
When you manage people, you learn.
You discover how rare it is to find someone like Taris who takes initiative and acts autonomously in their spare time.
'Those types usually accomplish more than their fair share no matter what task you give them.'
The so-called "good work sense" refers precisely to people of this type.
And speaking of Taris, he had already perfectly carried out the Gemini escort mission.
"Looking back, you were the most outstanding among Jeffrey's team members. You haven't disappointed my expectations this time either."
"Hey, you're embarrassing me with all this praise."
Taris sheepishly scratched the back of his neck.
"Anyway, congratulations."
"I will serve with utmost loyalty."
I shook hands with Taris.
Strong grip, calluses, large hands with thick joints perfect for holding a sword.
Truly the hands of a warrior and a soldier.
"And I'm personally curious about something."
"Oh, I'm curious what that might be too."
"Being selected for my guard might have been orders from above, but applying for my personal guard unit was your choice. Wasn't it?"
"Tell me your reason."
Taris cleared his throat before answering.
"First, I've adapted well here and have no complaints, so I saw no need to go elsewhere."
"Captain Jeffrey and I have a deep friendship and trust."
"Yes, everyone seems close."
Taris's voice grew serious.
"Sir, do you remember when you assigned me as a secret guard to protect Miss Gemini, who was merely an intruder in the annex?"
"Of course I remember."
"On the ship returning after that mission..."
"The taste of alcohol while watching the night sea was incredibly good."
No further words were necessary.
"Taris, I officially approve. You are hired as a member of my personal guard, Allenvert Grunewald's elite unit."
"Thank you. And please, speak comfortably with me."
I am a man who never hesitates.
I examined Taris with my mana sense.
"Early 4th tier, is it? Make sure you reach the middle of the 4th tier as soon as possible."
"Under Jeffrey, I'm planning to create squad leader positions to command 10 people each."
"Build up strength worthy of that position."
I extended my hand once more.
"Congratulations, 1st Squad Leader Taris. A promotion simultaneously with your recruitment."
Taris bent at a right angle at the waist.
"I will serve with all my loyalty!"
"Good. I like seeing such devotion."
I patted Taris's shoulder and said,
"Now, let's call in our provisional next Squad Leader."
"His performance ranked second, but his personality is a bit peculiar, so I'm thinking of entrusting the 2nd Squad Leader position to someone more reliable."
"Helping people with conflicting personalities blend well is also an officer's duty. Good luck with that."
"Hail! Kaimak of Schwarzenfeld presents himself to his lord!"
Kaimak saluted in a newly polished formal uniform that gleamed.
"...Ah, yes. Have a seat."
Seeing him up close, he had an even more unbearable oddness about him.
"Stand! At attention!"
The madman suddenly raised his palm and shouted.
"I, Kaimak, swear to become the sword that serves my lord, dedicating my body without fear of death! As proof, I wish to cut my finger and make a blood oath, so if you would permit—"
"What finger cutting? That's enough, just sit down."
Does he think he's Rudgarda or something?
"Yes sir. Then I shall offer only my heart."
This one's quite the weirdo too.
Holding back a sigh, I asked,
"Is there any field you aspire to, or one you're confident in?"
After pondering for a while, Kaimak responded with an uncertain tone, almost questioning:
"...Shining? Being radiant? Being glorious?"
"Keep this nonsense up and your recruitment will be canceled."
"Yes. I'll moderate myself."
Finally, the person of concern visited the reception room.
A possessor of opal-colored energy whose desires and inclinations were unknown.
Up close, he was a man with a taciturn and somewhat gloomy gaze.
'Where did this one come from?'
A fallen noble from the borderlands whose background was difficult to verify.
Clean past and reputation.
Because there was nothing suspicious, I understood Olivier's comment about there being reason for suspicion.
"...This is just a casual Q&A session, so no need to be tense."
Severian replied calmly.
"Would you like some tea?"
I caught the moment his gaze lingered briefly on the teacup, and very discreetly scanned Severian's body with my mana sense.
'A search performed by a master of high caliber is difficult for a novice to detect.'
However, considering the possibility that he might be hiding his power, I added a light psychological warfare element to the situation.
I couldn't sense any traces of demonic arts, which I had been most wary of.
'He might have avoided embedding demonic arts to eliminate grounds for suspicion. Or is he Verdzig's, Bergen's, or Agrippa's man?'
But my intuition told me he wasn't Verdzig's. Because:
'Verdzig's interest is currently focused on the underworld.'
Last night, thanks to Skella's tip, I watched the bloodbath at Pawelmoon from a distance.
'Verdzig was damn strong.'
I confirmed that he had been hiding his strength.
'He had crossed the 7th tier barrier.'
Although it was closer to a one-sided massacre, the martial prowess Verdzig displayed was no less impressive than what Ivan had shown 17 years ago.
'Combat experience, martial prowess, physical ability, judgment, and level of martial arts.'
From any perspective, Verdzig was a powerhouse whom even I in my past life couldn't guarantee victory against in a life-or-death battle.
Verdzig had clearly, for a moment, made eye contact with me.
Even in the realm of mana utilization...
Verdzig was certainly not inferior to Ulbhild.
'Assigning Knut and Balthazar to Nagan was an excellent choice.'
With the bosses of two of the five major organizations already changed, preparations needed to be made for the possibility of major chaos in the underworld triggered by even small incidents.
"Severian. Do you have a reason for volunteering for the personal guard?"
"To be honest, I thought there would be more opportunities in a newly established unit. The conditions of higher pay and better equipment were also appealing."
I pretended not to know and asked,
"Do you have family to support?"
"...Yes. Actually, I come from a fallen noble clan."
Severian answered as if he had prepared for this.
"For a man born into a fallen noble clan like me, to revive the clan, one must take the path of either a merchant or a soldier."
I know that very well.
'But he's missing one thing.'
If someone from a fallen noble background has seen a lot of hardship during their formative years, becoming more pessimistic as a result...
About one in three ends up drifting into the underworld.
"And as a result, you chose my unit?"
"Yes. I believe that the relationship between lord and vassal, soldier and commander, is ultimately a contractual relationship based on trust and compensation."
"An interesting perspective. Yet I agree."
If so, was your role as a spy also based on some contract, or was all this just an empty belief convincingly fabricated?
"Congratulations, I officially hire you into my personal guard."
That's why I decided to keep this man close.
"I pledge my loyalty, Young Master."
"Pack your belongings and prepare to transfer by the end of today."
"Yes, I'll take my leave."
I intended to place this man under Taris's squad.
'Someone with his attentiveness should be able to keep a good eye on this man.'
Whether to use him as a card to feed false information, or whether I would instead have my weaknesses exploited by him.
That would depend on how things unfolded from here.
Lusatia, who had been observing Allenvert's personal guard selection process from the sidelines.
She moved somewhere else for lunch.
"Sister, it's been a while."
The First Lady, Isabella, looked at Lusatia with a complicated expression.
"It's been seven years? You haven't aged at all, sister."
"If that's the case, it must be because my time has been frozen in the past."
Isabella, who couldn't help but know the circumstances, nodded slightly as she felt the regret contained in those words.
"Sister. Are you planning to start moving in earnest now?"
"Yes. With Allen working so diligently, as a mother, I can no longer stand by idly."
Isabella closed her eyes heavily once, then opened them.
"Sister, is Karl doing well?"
"He's quietly focusing on his training. I cannot even fully understand that child's intentions."
Recently, Karl had been maintaining a quiet demeanor like someone who had temporarily set aside his ambitions.
Lusatia, who had heard about the gentlemen's agreement between them from Allenvert, recalled the image of Karl that remained in her memory.
"He had a quiet and solid personality. I thought he resembled you."
"Yes. ...You were never harsh with me. I'm still grateful for that."
Isabella shook her head.
"Not at all. I also kept you in check, just the same."
"Checking and attacking are different," Lusatia said, gently but firmly.
"As you know, I have sworn enemies with whom I cannot live under the same sky."
"And they are not on good terms with you either."
Isabella closed her eyes, understanding who she was referring to.
"It seems our conversation will be a bit longer today."
"Boss, this is Brother Knut."
Nagan couldn't help but tense up at the appearance of the giant man who exuded a wild, lion-like aura.
True to his reputation. Even Nagan had heard rumors about a truly beast-like man in the northern district.
"I am Knut Eisenach. Cousin to the Fourth Young Master Allenvert Grunewald and leader of the Haglandere."
"I am Nagan. Inadequate as I am, I've come to lead the Bisakino Brotherhood."
The two men shook hands, clearly sensing the difference in grip strength.
'With just a little more force, he could crush human bones.'
'For a city-born, he has decent physique. Seems he's learned a respectable inner cultivation technique.'
"...Though we have much to discuss."
The common connection of Allenvert and Karzan. And sharing the situations of the Bisakino Brotherhood and the Haglandere would take more than a long night.
"Above all, I would first like to express my condolences for the previous boss's death."
Nagan's alert expression softened somewhat at Knut's words.
And so began the dialogue between the two sides.
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