Chapter 772: The Young Dragon

Cumberland of Peace Haven is torn. On certain matters, he no longer knows which side he should take.

For more than half a month, he remains distracted and uneasy.

As Director of the Military Intelligence Office, he cannot hide the change from his subordinates.

One day, he visits the Education District to select graduating students for the Military Intelligence Office training program.

He stops shortly after passing the identity check and entering the school grounds.

He sends his subordinates ahead to preside over the selected students' placement ceremony.

Cumberland stays behind and waits on the athletic field.

At lunchtime, a young man runs over, stands at attention, and gives him a regulation salute.

"Second-year high school student Pabos reporting, sir!"

Cumberland smiles and pats his shoulder. "I haven't seen you in half a year, young master. You've grown taller again!"

Pabos, Henwell's eldest son, smiles back. "With a father as tall as mine, I was never going to be short."

"Uncle Cumberland, are you here to select new students for the Military Intelligence Office? What made you come see me?"

"I would love to study at the Military Intelligence Office, but my mother would never agree!"

Cumberland chuckles. "If I took you away, the heads of every other department would gather at my door and beat me senseless!"

Silence settles between them for a while.

Pabos finally speaks. "I'd like to use a martial training room. Do you have time to give me a few pointers, Uncle Cumberland?"

Half an hour later, they stand facing each other inside an enclosed training room.

Pabos walks to the weapon rack and chooses a longsword. "Please instruct me, Uncle Cumberland!"

Cumberland casually takes up a longsword of his own. Pabos immediately lunges at him.

Cumberland feeds him openings while pointing out the weaknesses in his swordsmanship.

A little over ten minutes later, Pabos's sword clatters to the floor.

"Your martial skill is improving quickly, young master, and your foundation is solid. You should become a Battle Knight before long."

Pabos shakes his head. "I have resources ordinary people could never dream of. The fact that I am still not a Battle Knight means I have been too lax."

Cumberland reassures him. "There is no need to rush, young master. At your age, our lord had only just arrived in Peace Haven."

"He had not even reached the Knight Rank."

"He did not become a Knight until he completed the Path of Glory. You are only fourteen. You have plenty of time."

Pabos sighs. "It's different. I am a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse."

"My father was nothing like that. By fourteen, he had already killed countless people. He was steel forged amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood."

"On the very ground where our manor now stands, he commanded a battle at fourteen and wiped out a large bandit force."

"His victories earned him respect, and his strength won him the title of Blood Hill Lord!"

Cumberland sighs inwardly. Pabos has grown up with every possible advantage.

Even so, he can still see his own shortcomings. That alone is rare.

And at his age, it marks him as an outstanding heir.

After a moment, Cumberland says, "The extraordinary path must be taken one firm step at a time. Our lord forged his foundation in battle."

"You have no chance to fight at present, so you must temper your foundation again and again."

"Our lord once said that a road must be walked one step at a time, and a meal eaten one bite at a time. You cannot rush."

"Whether you are following the extraordinary path, governing territory, or dealing with neighboring powers, impatience will only cause mistakes."

Pabos frowns. "Uncle, if there is something you want to say, say it plainly."

Cumberland pauses. "There isn't. I was only making a comparison. Take Kaku, the Phoenix family's second son."

"He moved too quickly. He saw Young Master Orak's absence as a chance to expand his influence and became impatient."

"He even took the reckless step of detaining the strategic supplies we sent to the Northern Mountain Front."

Pabos sighs. "If this is about that matter, then I'm sorry. I do not have the authority to intervene, and I shouldn't."

"That decision belongs to my father and mother. All I can do is take care of myself and keep them from worrying."

Cumberland smiles and pats his shoulder. "I meant nothing else. Kaku was only an example."

"I wanted to warn you not to rush. The moment someone grows impatient, mistakes follow."

"And if no mistake appears, it usually isn't because he was lucky."

"It means a larger trap is waiting for him. Regret is worthless once there is no way back."

Cumberland changes the subject and resumes teaching Pabos how to fight.

Five days later, Pabos returns home for the holiday.

That evening, he studies Peace Haven's recent documents and intelligence on the surrounding political situation.

A little after ten, Melissa enters with her younger daughter in her arms and urges Pabos to rest.

After his mother leaves, Pabos puts out the lamp, sits in Henwell's chair, and gazes into the night.

Time slips by before he finally says, "Bring me everything we have on Kaku's seizure of our supplies."

His voice echoes through the room. Nothing stirs but the cool breeze blowing through the window.

Half a minute later, a figure steps from the darkness.

Kleios, the mute ranger, signs to Pabos. "As you command."

Before long, a stack of documents rests on the desk.

Pabos leaves the lamp dark and reads by moonlight.

At dawn, he rises to leave. "Please tell Director Cumberland I would like to meet him somewhere private."

"If you have time, come as well. I have questions, and I need both of you to help me find the answers."

That afternoon, Pabos rides toward Iron Guard Camp and happens to encounter Cumberland, Director of the Military Intelligence Office, along the way.

They dismount and walk side by side, leading their horses. Cumberland says nothing.

After a while, Pabos says, "There is something I would like Director Cumberland's help with."

Cumberland replies, "Go ahead, young master."

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Brother Wyatt in a long time. His father, Uncle Orak, still hasn't returned."

"Wyatt has never seen his father for as long as he can remember. He cannot be feeling well."

"He is only two years older than I am, so he should be in his final year of high school. I don't know which school he attends."

"Please use your authority to transfer Wyatt to my school."

"That way, we can see each other often and keep each other company. It would be better than leaving him alone."

Cumberland does not answer, so Pabos continues, "Johnson is currently a battalion commander in a mixed legion."

"I heard he was wounded in battle, and Aunt Fiona is very worried."

"So I have one more request. Please transfer Johnson back and assign him to Iron Guard Camp."

Pabos suddenly turns toward the empty air. "Warden of the Guard, with the Calamity War approaching, Aunt Fiona needs more people protecting her."

"After Uncle Orak left, we took responsibility for his family. We cannot let anything happen to them."

"This is a small selfish request of mine. I hope you will both grant it. If anything goes wrong, I will bear the responsibility alone."

Without waiting for an answer, Pabos mounts his horse, flicks the reins, and rides away.

Cumberland stands frozen for a long moment. Then he draws his sword and drops to one knee. "As you command!"

The air ripples faintly. Kleios appears and bows toward Pabos's retreating figure.