Chapter 63: Those with a Twist (2)

“Stop right there!”

The one who threw the stone was none other than Raion.

Behind him stood Jade, Patrick, Shtefan, and Alkas.

They had arrived near the backyard earlier and had been watching the situation before stepping in.

The sudden appearance of Raion startled the soldiers, who immediately dropped to their knees.

“Your Highness!”

Dike, equally surprised, released the soldier’s wrist he had been holding.

It was an extremely unfavorable situation.

In the heavy silence that followed, Lord Shtefan stepped forward first.

“What disgraceful behavior is this from soldiers of the territory!”

Furious, Shtefan advanced on them and continued his scolding.

“I asked you to explain what in the world you were doing! Why are you silent?”

The soldiers, kneeling on the ground, could not utter a word.

Then, Raion, who had been standing slightly behind, stepped forward.

“Well… looks like my people appear rather laughable to you. I went through all that trouble to reorganize the troops and even establish new training programs, and this is what I get.”

“W-We have committed a grave sin.”

“Really? Are you ready to die for it?”

“T-That is…”

Even though those words came from their own mouths, they could not bring themselves to answer.

Their apology was nothing but empty words.

Raion, of course, understood exactly what they were thinking.

“I can’t just overlook this. Alkas!”

Alkas, the knight commander in charge of the soldiers, could not lift his head in shame.

When Raion called him, he finally stepped forward, still unable to meet his eyes.

“I will make no excuses. I will take full responsibility and personally retrain these soldiers.”

“No. That won’t be necessary. I’ll take care of it myself. It’s an issue I should have dealt with sooner or later anyway.”

Raion was well aware of the corruption within the Kanas forces.

From the start, his intention had been to reform and properly discipline them once the reorganization was complete.

“What will you do, Your Highness?”

At Jade’s question, Raion didn’t think long.

“Hmm… I’d like Patrick to take command of the Slingbow Unit here. How about it?”

“I’ll do as you wish.”

Patrick, standing beside him, accepted Raion’s order without a single doubt.

However, Shtefan was puzzled.

“Your Highness, how can a butler lead a military unit?”

“Is there anyone here who can shoot a bow properly?”

“Those soldiers are archers.”

He was referring to the ones who had harassed Dike and Monica.

But their lack of basic strength made it difficult for them even to draw, let alone aim, a slingbow or slingshot.

“Then let’s start by building up their fundamental stamina and strength. The method is up to you.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll forge them into the kind of unit Master desires.”

It seemed Patrick was also somewhat (?) angry about how Dike and Monica had been treated.

A faint vein stood out on Patrick’s forehead.

“Let’s first show them what real skill looks like. That’ll make them more willing to obey.”

The silver-haired Patrick walked over to the table where the slingbows were laid out.

He picked up the one made from ogre sinew, the same slingbow Dike had just used, and without a quiver, grabbed five arrows in his hand.

“This is the level of skill my master expects.”

He muttered softly and swiftly drew the string, loading and firing in rapid succession.

It didn’t stop at one shot.

The next arrows were nocked and fired in quick rhythm toward the target.

Pwak! Pak! Pwak! Papak!

In the blink of an eye, five arrows flew and pierced dead center into the target.

‘Was he always this skilled?’

Raion found it strange and decided to check Patrick’s status.

[Target Information]

Name: Patrick Waver

Age: 59

Occupation: Exclusive Butler to Prince Raion

Title: White Flash

Life: 810 / 810

Stamina: 2,520 / 2,520

Mana: 520 / 520

Abilities:

Landscaping — Level Max

Cooking — Level 7

Cleaning — Level Max

Swordsmanship — Level 8

Dagger Mastery — Level 8

Spearmanship — Level 6

Archery — Level 8

His stamina and vitality had increased significantly, and several of his combat skills—particularly archery—had risen sharply.

It was a stat sheet that explained the performance Patrick had just shown with the slingbow.

‘He improved this much?’

The last time Raion had checked Patrick’s information was six years ago, when they were staying at Taron’s Palace.

Though time had passed, Raion doubted there had been that many opportunities for Patrick to train and raise his skill levels.

“I see you’ve checked my details, Your Highness.”

Patrick seemed to guess from Raion’s surprised expression.

“What happened?”

“After watching Your Highness and Sir Jade’s training sessions, I began exercising whenever I found time.”

Judging by the numbers, even Jade could not match Patrick now.

After his explanation, Patrick turned toward the soldiers.

“From now on, I’ll be taking charge of your unit. If anyone has an objection, speak up now.”

None of the soldiers dared to open their mouths.

They had never imagined that a mere butler’s archery could be this extraordinary.

“If there are no objections, then all slingbow units under my command will follow my orders from this moment. Understood?”

“……”

No one responded, still too stunned by the sudden turn of events.

At that moment, a dagger shot out from Patrick’s hand, grazing the cheek of the soldier standing at the front before embedding itself into the wall behind him.

Even the soldiers standing farther back could see it clearly.

“No answer?”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

The soldiers, their spirits jolted awake, shouted in unison with all their might.

Raion was quite pleased with what he saw.

“Good. Then I’ll be counting on you from here on, Patrick.”

“I will do my utmost so as not to fall short in serving my master.”

“Handle that on your own. Dike, Monica, let’s go inside. Ah, Jade, Alkas—gather the knights and soldiers who are off duty or standing by.”

“Us, as well?”

Alkas looked puzzled.

Meanwhile, Jade began to feel a growing sense of dread at that order.

There was still some time before the troops would be gathered.

During that time, Raion walked through the garden in front of the main building with Shtefan.

Shtefan’s face had been filled with worry from earlier.

“Are you that concerned?”

At Raion’s question, Shtefan let out a shallow sigh.

“Haa… I simply cannot guess what it is Your Highness is planning.”

From the beginning, the reason Prince Raion had come to the Kanas Territory was because of the succession trial for the royal throne.

His right to inherit the throne would be determined by how much he could develop and prosper the territory.

Naturally, Raion’s progress so far had been remarkable—enough to put him close to becoming the next heir.

However, his reorganization and expansion of the military forces were actions that the Royal Capital and other territories would not view favorably.

“What exactly are you intending to do, Your Highness? I understand supplementing the numbers since Kanas’s allotted troops are insufficient, but honestly, if other territories hear of this, they won’t be pleased.”

“We’re strengthening them to protect the territory from monsters. Who could complain about that? It’s not like we’re making them work for free, either.”

“But I doubt Praison, Malren, or Hasein would see it that way.”

In the Theron Village of Kanas Territory, there were plans to produce various goods to be traded not only with nearby territories but even foreign nations.

Naturally, the expected profits were enormous.

If the surrounding territories learned of this, they would surely try to suppress Kanas.

And if word spread that Raion had even reinforced his forces, sanctions from the Royal Capital could follow.

“It’s just as I said earlier. Ah, and since you mentioned Hasein—cut off all dealings with them. Every single supplier relationship we’ve had for the territory’s supplies is to be terminated.”

Kanas had always been isolated, making self-sufficiency difficult.

So far, they had been sending people to Hasein to purchase the necessary goods.

“If we suddenly sever ties, it will cause trouble.”

“Is there really any need to keep paying more than double the market price?”

That was the real issue.

Because self-sufficiency was impossible, Hasein had been selling supplies at an outrageous price.

Moreover, the Kanas Territory had been covering transportation and escort costs for crossing the Clamen Mountain Range.

Every time, a ridiculous sum of money was spent just to bring in goods.

“But it’s not a relationship we can simply cut off without preparation.”

“Send an official notice under my order. From now on, all goods in the Kanas Territory will be produced in Theron.”

“Well, yes, but…”

Shtefan looked deeply troubled. From a lord’s perspective, the consequences were all too predictable.

“In any case, I’ll leave it to you. If Hasein sends someone here, I’ll deal with them myself.”

The matter concerning Hasein had been part of Raion’s plan from the very beginning.

Step, step.

Before long, Jade appeared, still wearing an uneasy expression.

“All have been assembled.”

“Then let’s go. Lord Shtefan, please proceed with what we discussed.”

“Understood. I’ll see to it right away.”

Raion, together with Jade, arrived outside the west gate, where the knights and infantry soldiers were gathered.

The area bordered the forest and opened into a wide field.

Near the fortress stood several cultivated plots farmed by the territory’s peasants.

“Hmm… this should be suitable.”

“What are you planning to do, Your Highness?”

“What else? There’s plenty of land here—time to plow it.”

“Plow… the field?”

Jade had the sinking feeling that his worst suspicion was correct.

Without answering, Raion opened the warehouse and began pulling out plows and hoes in large numbers.

They were simple tools made earlier—just wood and iron.

“With these.”

“I know what they are, but… why gather the soldiers just to plow fields?”

“What else? To plow, of course.”

Due to the recent large-scale recruitment, many soldiers were idle.

Though the knights were training their units, there were still numerous issues—just like with the slingbow unit earlier.

So Raion had come up with this solution.

“Here, right?”

“How many times must you ask? We’ll divide the troops and start tilling this land. Clear out the stones too.”

“I understand the hoes, but… what’s that?”

He was referring to the plow.

On the Phalon Continent, plows didn’t exist—fields were still tilled by hand.

That was because there were no docile livestock that could be used like oxen.

Horses existed, of course, but they were too expensive and hard to tame for agriculture, making them unavailable to commoners.

“People can pull this instead. One person in front pulls, another behind handles it. I’ll show you how.”

Raion took out some rope from the warehouse and tied it to the plow, looping the ends around Jade’s shoulders.

“L-Like this?”

“Yeah, now pull.”

Jade, speechless, began to drag the plow just as Raion had said.

The knights and soldiers who witnessed the scene all wore bewildered expressions.

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