Chapter 50 – Settling the Men's Hierarchy #1
Right after Lawrence Montemer vanished, at the Holy Kingdom's assembly point. The Holy Knight in charge reported the matter to their leader.
It was something to be discarded anyway, so who took it didn't really matter. But for some reason, it kept nagging at him, so he decided to report it just in case.
"That's how it went—Young Master Lawrence took the items."
"Hmm? Why would he do that?"
"I don't know either...."
The high priest commanding this operation, Amrik, voiced his doubts.
Montemer. Their greatness shook not just the Empire, but the entire world.
Was there some special reason? Personal greed? Or... perhaps?
Unlikely, but no reason not to suspect. Even the famously knightly Alzeras family had fallen to corruption—no law said Montemer couldn't.
"We'll need to put surveillance on them."
"On them...?"
"Montemer has tight ties to the Emperor. But the Iron Tower doesn't."
"Hmm...."
He got the picture. Lawrence Montemer, not yet of age, could easily be swayed by temptation. So monitor the Iron Tower, not Montemer.
"I shall carry out your will."
"I'm counting on you. Select scouts skilled in reconnaissance and have them watch the Iron Tower."
"As you command."
May Seikria's grace be with you.... With the Holy Kingdom's eyes turning toward the Iron Tower too, they'd have to watch their step. The Holy Kingdom never forgave those branded heretics.
Just as the Holy Kingdom marked Lawrence as suspicious, the commander finally appeared. The one in charge of this operation—and ruler of Oberon.
Iron-Blooded Mayor: Jacob Logan
A branch family of Alzeras, head of a barony always clamoring for independence from the main house.
Baron Logan had turned the fairy-left city of Oberon and its surroundings into a perfect cash cow. Whatever else, no one denied his administrative prowess.
"Greetings, heroes! I am Jacob Logan, holder of command for this operation. On behalf of His great Majesty the Emperor, I welcome you all gathered here!"
"A baron's head.... But his command skills are the real deal."
"Yeah, we can respect that. He's got the most skin in the game, right?"
Right as he geared up for independence from the main house, the Alzeras family got tangled in something treason-adjacent. The Logan family snagged a golden position, securing profit and future in one go.
They fired off a letter to the Emperor claiming innocence and aimed to build a foundation with their own merits. Add recommendations from those who knew his admin skills, and he was appointed commander on the spot.
Lawrence looked up at Jacob too. The waste items were already tucked into his sub-space.
No wonder the Holy Knights' stares burn....
So what? They'd assume he stashed them somewhere ordinary—nobody'd guess he'd crammed it all into sub-space. People usually thought within the bounds of common sense.
Lawrence shamelessly slipped into the cluster of Iron Tower mages. The Holy Knights staring him down naturally looked away.
Chuckling inwardly, Lawrence focused on the proper briefing.
#2
Roles were assigned. Departure in a few days. Until then, reorganize and resupply, then devise plans based on scout intel.
Recon teams from Oberon were already out gathering data. Sieges demanded tons of prep—endless cross-verification of info was essential.
"Huh, so we're on assault and suppress?"
"That's right. We'll compete more with knights than mages. But...."
Elder Duncan turned his head. Their partners: the Imperial Central Officer Academy, Oberon private troops, and the Holy Kingdom's 11th Holy Knight Order.
Orders to take three Alzeras villages and one fortress.
A hefty force for subjugating one house.
"With black mages and other forces possibly intervening, we're committing heavy troops. Units, stand by in assigned barracks until separate orders come down."
"Understood, Commander."
Fair shot for everyone. Merits earned subjugating Alzeras would convert straight to material rewards.
Through shrewd distribution of chances, Jacob pulled off unit assignments everyone could stomach.
"Looking forward to it. We'll get a taste of the Imperial Central Officer Academy's reputation."
"You too.... Let's do our best."
The Iron Tower Master and the academy's senior knight exchanged names. The impassive Tower Master and the somehow prickly senior knight.
Private troops just followed orders, so they focused on admin tallies.
"Think we're gonna steal all the merits?"
"Nah, it's no rear support. Mages usually back with barrages, but not us."
"Hmmm, so it's rivalry, huh."
Mage whispers reached nearby knight cadets' ears.
Someone piped up, voice dripping dissatisfaction and irritation.
"Rivalry my ass.... Calling those things mages."
"Hey, can't let that slide. What'd you just say?"
"What, am I wrong? Why're mages ditching crucial rear support to prance up front?"
"That's our call. Who decided mages only lob spells from afar?"
A knight cadet spat in frustration. They wanted the safe rear too—complaints bubbled up naturally.
The Iron Tower had a bad rep among knights. Constant direct comparisons didn't help.
"So why mages pulling dumb stunts when knights and cadets are right here? Wrong?"
"This punk really—."
"Enough."
If the Iron Tower Master hadn't stepped in to mediate, shouts and fists would've flown right there.
Creaking from the jump—what now? The Tower Master pondered.
Senior knight seemed stumped too.
Awkward tension lingered.
As both floundered, our Lawrence stepped up.
"Then let's settle the hierarchy first."
"Huh?"
"Hierarchy...?"
Lawrence grinned.
Men's hierarchy was simple. Survival of the fittest. The strong ruled all decisions—pure logic.
"Rest up today, spar tomorrow. You won't lose to mages, right? Not you proud 'academy cadets'?"
"...."
The cadets scowled but held back. They were drilled in knighthood. Justice. Don't bully the weak, etc.
Lawrence laughed in disbelief at the hesitant cadets.
Their attitude screamed mages beneath them.
To him: [We're stronger, so debating whether to mess with you.]
These bastards look down on mages...?
"What, mighty knight cadets this gutless.... Right, Elder?"
"Can't argue. All just eyeing each other. Think we'll lose to some cadets?"
Duncan had mastered all 4th Circle magic, now challenging 5th. Knight-wise, peak Advanced Knight level.
Advanced Knight: Skillfully wraps aura on sword and body.
Duncan's boosted physique let him duel an Advanced Knight one-on-one.
Lawrence dropped the one line no real man backs down from.
Hear that and refuse hierarchy? Not a man.
"...Chicken?"
Duel set on the spot.
#3
That night, Lawrence scored a private room and turned it into a temp workshop.
Rustling filled the air nonstop.
Yep, this is the best—fun and calms the mind.
Moving the pen cleared his head more and more.
Knock knock knock.
"Lawrence, it's me."
"Out in a sec~."
Loria Montemer had come calling. Door open: big doe eyes, petite bunny-like frame.
Her eyes blazed—clearly heard some nonsense.
"You, what're you doing messing with those knight cadets?"
"Ah—. Just... friendly spar?"
"What'd you say to keep 'em training at the grounds even now!?"
"Didn't say much...."
Lawrence's words were tame. Just suggested settling the order.
"Sigh, fine... You think you can win?"
"Duh. No aura, I take 'em all."
"But they're average seventeen. Big bro, big sis level?"
"No aura, no problem."
Lawrence already had techniques from top peer swordsmen.
Cadets? Elites at best, greenhouse flowers at worst.
Leila? Honed crossing deathlines countless times.
Future knowledge: No cadet topped Leila yet.
Ah, one guy does.
Later Grand Master Elizer Eden. But he's not Central Academy.
So he could win confidently.
Loria sighed softly, passing other intel.
"Anyway... You know you've got a tail?"
"Holy Kingdom? Or... someone else?"
"Huh? Someone else...?"
He'd clocked the Holy Kingdom. Couldn't hide those stares or wafting holy power—Dragon Eye saw it crystal clear.
No red flags yet, so ignoring for now.
Loria was shocked. Others watching us too...?
She'd sensed zilch.
"Watch it. Especially curses and poison."
"...."
Shadows seemed to flicker somewhere.