Cthulhu Gonfalon

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

After the assessment, Viscount Erik added some routine questions about life dream, attitude to life and views on the Eagle Kingdom and orcs alike. Leon answered each of them in a standard way.

Hearing all of Leon's answers, Viscount Erik gave him a token of centurion and appointed him leader of the next scout troop. Viscount Erik told Leon to set off once the troop was complete and ready and that Leon would be a direct subordinate to Earl Burton, the Chief Commander of the scout camp at the front.

Dene Burton, the Earl, was one of the legendary powers in the Eagle Kingdom. Years ago, Earl Burton had been a student of the old king's and got along well with Leon's father and uncles and Leon himself. When he had been caught in a dilemma in Wood's rebellion, he asked for a duel with the Orc Empire's legendary powers to shelter.

Since then Earl Burton had been living in seclusion. Nobody had met him, including King Woods who didn't have a chance to see him either until the orc troops flooded over, let alone reappointing him.

Being a direct subordinate to Earl Burton was the best offer Viscount Erik could give. And this was no doubt sincere for a top robber who desired success.

Gracefully Leon expressed his gratitude and accepted the token. After leaving a magic mark as required, he left the camp to visit the Eagle Wing City as this was, according to him, his first time here.

Leon's plan sounded reasonable for Viscount Erik because it would take at least 3 to 5 more days to recruit a complete scout troop and before that Leon would still be free.

After Leon had left, Viscount Erik started to praise him again. He spoke so highly of Leon that a bashful person might probably feel embarrassed upon his words.

His clerk wondered, "High-ranked robbers are not scarce. Though this person is an incredible archer, is he that good to deserve your compliment?"

"You don't understand!" smiled Viscount Erik cheerfully, "I have been working on intelligence, for sure I have all information of the well-known masters in the Four Towns in the Northwest. But look, there has never been any young good robber called Rien from my source so far and even the several high-ranked robbers we know appear to have no connection with him."

"What?!" the clerk was shocked and concerned, "Do you think he is a spy?"

"Impossible. Anyone in the Legendary Realm would find it difficult to cheat my legendary-ranked crystal lie detector, not to mention a high-ranked robber. If he was really a spy, he must be someone of advanced legendary or peak legendary or above…would you believe such a master is a spy here? Plus, the best robber in the Orc Empire is Atel, the 'assassinator' of medium legendary, who would also fail to cheat my crystal!"

"So…he is not a spy. But why wasn't he heard of before?"

Viscount Erik smiled, "You've got the point! I believe that he was secretly trained by the Association of Thieves of the Rye Town. As it's known to all, Void Mask Land has the most masters in the Four Town area - nearly ten legendary-ranked are there along with two Real Gods - probably nowhere but the Dragon Cliff of dragon race could parallel on the main plane. Then comes Dragon-roar Town - there were quite some advanced adventurers arose from there these years though there was no legendary ones. Compared with these two areas, the other three towns are far behind with almost no big names to offer. While Rye Town which used to lead in the Four Town area with its good geographic location of connecting the northwest and the west is also seeking to regain its past glory."

"You mean…this Rien is among the talents they've trained so hard. But why is he now here to join the anti-orc troop? He has all the resources to succeed to the chairman of the Association of Thieves in Rye Town…"

"Chairman of the Association of Thieves in Rye Town?" laughed Viscount Erik, "Who would bother taking this 'position'? This lad has an eye and is talented. He has a future! He will probably soar later to be a legendary-ranked!"

"What?!" the clerk was surprised - there were loads of young advanced individuals out there but a majority of them reached their limits at this level and found no way to proceed further into the legendary realm. However, this young man Rien was expected so highly by Viscount Erik!

"Moreover, people like him do not merely work on his own. His coming here means that we are backed by all major powers in Rye Town at least. They may even send their troops over to help us at critical moments." Viscount Erik smiled and added, "Despite the small size of their troops, the quality is incredibly high. Soldiers there are no weaker than medium-level adventurers, some are even as strong as advanced ones. They would be a real benefit to us in the fight!"

Their conversation went on for a while until the next candidate came.

And Leon was then already at an isolated mansion in the city.

This was the Viscount Tariq's mansion. Reding, the senior Viscount Tariq, had been a famous sage who had used to serve the Eagle Kingdom and one of Leon's mentors back then. After Reding's death, Raisin Tariq, the successor, had estranged himself with the then king for their bad relation since the young age. Viscount Raisin had probably not been involved in the Wood's Rebellion although his bad temper would have hardly made him any good subordinate to the usurper. This might be the reason he had been living in seclusion.

Leon had wished to recommend this viscount to Sui Xiong early in that year, or at least to recommend a descendant of the Tariqs. Considering the renowned academic background of this family, there must be someone good at state affairs and qualified to take on a crucial position.

But Leon's plan was set aside because of the later incidents and Sui Xiong didn't try to recruit a Tariq since then.

Time flew, and it had been nearly twenty years…or some thirty years already together with that fifteen years back then. How was the Tariqs?

The mansion didn't look good anyway…

Slightly tidied himself, Leon then moved to the small window aside of the main entrance and gently knocked on the metal windowsill with a small hammer hung by the window, giving a visit request as etiquette required.

The gatekeeper was a senior in his late forties but still energetic. He quickly asked Leon about his visit and went off to deliver the request.

Soon after, Leon was meeting with senior Nick, the butler of the Tariqs.

Mr. Nick was in his eighties. The Nicks started to take on the job of butler at the Tariqs since Mr. Nick's grandfather's generation, thus had become a trusted name at the Tariqs. And the Nicks was a hereditary wizard family. Leon remembered that Mr. Nick's father had been an advanced wizard and that Mr. Nick himself was also reputable by fighting a few battles with the old king in the old days.

"What brings you here, Mr. Rien?" despite the age, Mr. Nick looked pretty well. He had bright eyes under his white eyebrows and subtle airflow was around his body - Leon knew that was caused by his strong magic power.

Unlike other nobles, he was straightforward. Plus, with his magic power, one would feel threatened and convinced in front of him.

Leon smiled and mobilized the airflow around; a projection of human figure came out from him - a fifteen-year-old Leon.

"Hello, Mr. Nick." the projected Leon Igor smiled and greeted Mr. Nick, "You look so well, as if 'nothing has happened'."

Mr. Nick frowned and hesitated and smiled at last.

"Using the Dou Qi airflow to make a projection charm is a medium legendary practice. Your Highness Leon, you've improved so much over these years!"

"Not really, I should be capable of this for my great talent." the young Leon smiled and replied, showing the confidence of his young age.

Suddenly he switched and asked, "Mr. Nick, I have been confused these years - and still are - why did uncle decide to rebel? Do you know the reason?"

Senior Nick became silent and shook his head, "Nobody knew Wood's reason. But I have my guess, do you want to hear?"

"Certainly, you are my senior fellow. Unlike me who didn't receive much coaching from Mr. Reding, you have always been Mr. Reding's favorite student."

Senior Nick smiled and said, "I just doubted that he was being supported by the Noble Maids Church and even …"

He stopped to point at the sky.

Leon frowned and didn't say anything.

For sure Leon knew who he was talking about, but was it likely for such a figure high above to be involved in a trivial throne in the mortal world?

"Have you heard of anything?" he asked later.

"Indeed…I guess you already know the Noble Maids Church's annexation of Groundbreaking Knight Church? Actually, they had their conflicts first intensified on a large scale in our Eagle Kingdom."

"But it's not in uncle's territory."

"True. But evidence showed that a few of his trusted subordinates happened to show up in that area during the conflict."

After a long silence, Leon asked again, "Is there more evidence?"

"No. In fact there could not be much evidence on such issues." senior Nick smiled, "But isn't it better to ask him face-to-face since you are so strong now? You are well-prepared to do so directly without any concern."

Leon nodded and smiled.

"You are right. I will find a chance a 'ask him properly'!"