****
Currently, Tim was heading Aurora Island while Ross was handling Winter city for connecting Aurora Island and North-frontier city . Both of them were quite busy with their work .
As free as Swann was because of frequent hunting in the forest .
Swann asked Tim as he arrived on his Aurora horse, Swann greeted him who was currently at the Shipyard and asked, "Hey what are you doing now kiddo and What is this weird design you are looking?"
Without looking Tim answered, "Just a type of ship, Itâs Called Tartane by Lord . Currently, I am studying its design . You should play with those Brats donât disturb me while I am busy . "
Swann murmured as he heard him, "Damn this guy is just behaving like those old men . "
Tim furrowed his brows as he looked at Swann and spoke, "You should leave, I know why you came here, I am not giving you any more bullets for your fun games, everyone will get their daily specified quota which includes you . After the last time you leaked it to others that I gave you bullets, everyone else started demanding extra bullets which only increased mine and my menâs work . Shoo . . . Go away . I ainât entertaining you from now onwards . "
Swann smiled and cursed him, âJeez, such a cheapskate, what will he do hoarding so many bullets day after day . And those men at the factory too are such cheapskates always following laws and orders . I better harass those brats Julius, Clay and Azrail . Or maybe I should try stealing them from Timâs Chamber later on . â
Recently, due to frequent chases by the royal family and Duke Fjord . The travel time of ships had increased due to their tailing and them trying to shake off their pursuits by going into dangerous regions .
Tim was pretty much used to life at Aurora island due to all the talented kids training here with Jake .
âI hope master makes those Steam Engines early on so I can show the real power of these ships . â He thought as he continued observing the various ship designs .
Clay asked as he spotted Julius reading a newspaper, "What are you reading Julius?"
Julius responded without a hitch and continued reading, "Nothing, Just the newspaper . What brings you today?"
Clay looked at Julius making a face as if he was disgusted by him and his betrayal, "When did you become so boring like the other old men? Donât we already have enough Young-OLD MEN in our training group, with that Jake already? While there isnât even a sign of Lord or Master Vlad . "
Julius ignored him as he read about the latest attack by North-frontier town on the mercenaries .
He thought, âIt seems, we got a new general . I will certainly fight under this man . The next we travel I will make sure to make that bastard Swann unconscious and take his place . â
He asked Clay suddenly, "I guess it is because of the problems we are facing currently . They might be busy already . Meanwhile, Did you read about our new general?"
Clay made a disgusted face and spoke, "Nope, why would I read like Old men? but I certainly heard about him from the sailors at the port . They were quite happy with the new General and his actions . He is a straight Hit among the sailors at Port currently . Captain Judd particularly is quite Hyped up"
Julius asked him as he thought he might have some information from the sailors, "I heard a new General Irwin was appointed by the Royal family . Did you hear anything about him?"
All hair on Clayâs half tiger beast Body stood up as he heard about Irwin, "Yeah, a ruthless person who would kill civilians or sell them with no guilt . At least when they are half-beastmen . He is certainly the same like those trash at the Radiant Church . "
Julius didnât continue the topic as he understood the mood after hearing Clayâs tone .
âI guess I need to be stronger than Swan if I want to take part in the battle against Fjord . That bastard is quite cocky as he is able to ride those Aurora Horses . I am just a few days away from doing the same . Maybe I should ask Azrail as he might know something about him . â
****
Juan was grumbling as he couldnât get any answers in North-frontier town in these few days while Lily was enjoying the time of her life at North-frontier city .
He grumbled, "Why are these guys at Administrative Headquarters so tight-lipped . Whenever I tipped the guys at Capital, they would easily speak out all the deep hidden secrets . These guys instead kicked me out or is it because of my identity? Do they know about me being part of Fjordâs army before?"
Bridge smiled and answered as he saw Juan grumbling, "Well itâs correct, it is as you think . They most likely know about our involvement in the previous battle . You should try getting your answers in the Rose university as they too have a lot of information with a lot of rumors as well . Try becoming a student and it may help you anyway . You might as well find the truth buried with the rumors . Professor Glenn from University is also in charge of Black and White Publishers so he may know a few secrets about this war as he is close to Interior Minister Taylor . Try making relation with Glen and speak truthfully about your past, then he may speak and leak you a few secrets . ".
Lily came over and bought them forcibly to the square where the shop was located, "Hey what are you guys gossiping about? Come, there is a new jewelry shop opened by Blue Paradise, they have the latest designs just like their clothes . "
Bridge thought irritatingly as he remembered about the prices at this shop and spoke unknowingly in an ill-mannered way, "Blue Paradise? Isnât that the most expensive cloth shop in this city . Why would any sane person go there to buy clothes?"
Juan slapped his forehead and thought, "And you wonder why would I hang out with you . Of course, it is to protect my wallet . Though the pay in this city is good I am spending more as well because of all these robber shops . "
Bridge laughed as he ditched him and reminded him of the previous conversation, "Hahaha, Ok, see you later . You should think about my proposal . "
Juan thought as he forcibly entered the high-end shop with Lily, âMaybe I should consider his proposal . â
Juan looked at Blue Paradise as if he was disgusted, âThis time, I would again be forced to spend on this establishment which has bewitched my girlfriend . Last time it was clothing and now itâs jewelry . Well, the innerwears they sell are quite good in quality . I guess should thank Lily for introducing me to this shop . I just hope she isnât bewitched by other items . â
The Salesman at the shop smiled as he saw his frequent customer which Juan hated however he was forced to smile as he didnât want to upset Lily .
"Welcome to our establishment, Miss Lily, Master Juan . "
Juan grumbled and thought, âI hate the guts of this salesman . â
****
John again led his men to clear off the mercenaries today,
"I hope every one of you is prepared, today, though the Royal family has made their move and deployed their armies near our borders, you shouldnât worry about them as long as your General is present . When I accepted this operation, I had vowed that I will end this menace of Mercenaries plaguing our Domain even if it means to defy everyone . Now, this is the time they will feel the real pain of a common man when he is powerless against them . "
This time John was prepared and came with 2500 men with the best version of their ballistas .
Amber roared as he heard his speech, "Glory to General Anak . Glory to the Count . Glory to the people of the North-frontier domain . Death to those Mercenaries and their masters . "
Others joined Amber and started their march again .
****
Duke Friedreich received a letter from Melanie and read it which only had some words written on it . The letter read, "I wonât let you succeed in your plan after reading that letter of Vlad . He will be my son in law . "
Duke Friedreich roared as soon as he read the letter, "Damn, that hag is challenging me? Hmph, Since even she thinks that this guy is worthy then I will make sure that he is mine even if those old guys stop me . So what if my son-in-law is a human . As long as my Daughter loves him he will be as good as my son . "
Elder Ryan spoke from the Chambers as he heard Friedreichâs ramblings, "You canât leave now and you should already know why . As for that child Diana, let her remain there under Vladâs security . I donât want further problems when you leave . You should already know what is Draco planning . "
Friedreich smiled and teased Ryan, "So even you believe Vlad more than our own security? Where are the other old guys? As for Draco, I can be bothered about his schemes . "
Elder Ryan hmphed and answered, "Well Facts and emotions canât be entangled . As for Vlad, everyone knows his record and hence no doubts . even my emotions canât deny that . As for others, I donât really care as long as they work for the betterment of the domain . You anyway canât leave . Donât expect to complete the shit you leave behind . You just want a reason since you donât want to work . "
Friedreich thought as he heard him, âDamn this old man and his instincts . Well I canât leave for now after watching armies at Western borders . â
****
In the south-western roads of North-frontier city, John was leading his troops in a calm manner,
The mercenaries today were especially cautious, forming groups to raid big caravans however today not a single caravan passed through as if they knew that something was going to happen . The mercenaries were on a lookout for Count Johnâs men after noticing this anomaly, On the orders of their superiors, they would run as soon as they spotted John and his men . They knew that something big would still happen like yesterday and hence the cautiousness, John intended to cut off small groups one by one but who knew that mercenaries had formed a big base at south-western borders near Prince Hectorâs domain at Dolores . John was only able to kill a few mercenary groups who were unaffiliated or didnât know the situation .
John furrowed his brows as he saw the problem .