Chapter 55 - Vampyres (4)

[293 Days Remaining]

The next morning, I found myself at the Third Manor House, and face to face with one of Baron Serle's Minister of War.

There were six Ministers of War serving under Baron Serle, one for each of the six manor houses, and they were the ones who organized the defense of the northern region of Shail Kingdom, with Baron Serle acting as the overseer. There were many more people serving under the Ministers of War, but this was the basic organization for the most part.

The Ministers of War themselves had no fighting ability, so to speak. They were more like tacticians and administrators.

The ones who had the real fighting power were the three Generals. Under these generals were various platoons of knights led by the Knight Commanders. Further under these knights were the soldiers and captains.

This was how the Third Minister of War explained to me the military organization of the northern region of Shail Kingdom. He also added that the six Grandmasters, who were acting as the judges of the Tournament of the Wolf, were independent from the military organization. They were more like respected trainers and warriors who wielded power close enough to that of the three Generals. They were the closest and personal retainers to Baron Serle.

That said, the interview conducted personally by the Third Minister of War was easily passed. I had given false answers to a few of the questions, but for the most part, it wasn't too much trouble because the minister knew that I was a wanderer and a foreigner. Thus, questions were mostly of my background and my answers were ambiguous at best.

That had elicited some suspicion, but he couldn't exactly call me out on my answers. So I was safe.

Having been accepted into the military organization, I would start off as a knight, but I would not be in any of the knight platoons or under any knight commanders. This was partly due to the fact I was a foreigner and partly due to winning the tournament.

Instead, I would be tasked with various tasks, which the Third Minister of War would give me personally.

For the moment, I did not know whether or not this meant I was lucky or not, having the minister hand me my tasks personally.

It also seems like my first task had been decided.

I was to lead a punitive force to subjugate black elves raiders who have been troubling a north-western frontier town called Listace.

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Having been dismissed and given the pertinent information, I was once more led by the female contracted Shinobi serving under Lady Iona.

She was still clad in the black, loosely fitting garments and a black mask covered her entire face, only revealing her pair of blue eyes. The loose garments, however, did nothing to hide her curvaceous and well-endowed body. Her twin Wakizashis in white scabbards also hung behind her back in an X position.

We had a game of silence in play once more between the two of us. This time, I did nothing to interrupt this game, though I was still a little curious as to what exactly a Shinobi was. I had never heard of such a term in my human life. I made a little note to myself that I would ask the female Shinobi her name once we meet the next time. For now, I was content.

When we finally arrived at the Second Manor House where the lunch had been planned, the female shinobi was gone, her footsteps barely heard against the marbled floor of the manor.

I shall summarize the lunch I had with Lady Iona and her siblings succinctly, because I found it particularly boring. The new faces, however, were interesting, since I had only ever met Baron Serle in my human life. And that was outside of the manor houses.

Oh yes, I also found the lunch quite delicious, the food exotic luxuries which only a rich noble like Baron Serle could obtain.

I shall list the names of the five new faces I met during this lunch, but I will not give their descriptions as of this moment as there will be plenty of time to do so in the future.

-Lady Arina Serle (The second oldest after Lady Iona)

-Lady Calina Serle (The third oldest)

-Lady Lelani Serle (The fourth oldest)

-Lady Dylena Serle (The youngest sister)

-Lord Gustov Serle (The little brother of the family and the youngest of the siblings; he also seems to admire me. I could almost see the stars in his small child-like eyes)

After the satisfying lunch was over, I bid all of them a farewell and Lady Calina Serle, the middle daughter of the family, even gave me a long hug, which Lady Iona frowned upon because of the duration.

It seems like the short-haired Lady Calina, whose height matched my chest, had been taken by me. She had marveled at how I had beaten all my opponents so easily in the tournament.

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Back on the streets of Asolance after exiting the Second Manor House and receiving back my weapon, I decided to explore the city a bit more.

After all, I had a whole day to waste before I was to lead a punitive force tomorrow to subjugate a group of black elves, which had been troubling the frontier town of Listace.

I had time in excess and I had crossed off Baron Serle in the list of suspects. For now, I would bide my time and gather information. I had in mind a few more suspects, who have had dealings with my father, Falin Mead, and I, Alan Mead in my past human life.