"Sir Chris, please proceed directly to the lord's study." The gate guard informed him. It was an order Lucas had given earlier.
"Understood."
Chris nodded, straightening his clothes before heading toward the study room. As he expected, this mission had only been the beginning of something much bigger.
Tap, tap…
Familiar with the route, Chris arrived at the study door, only for it to open before he could knock. Mina stood in the doorway, her expression calm and composed.
"Miss Mina."
Chris immediately stepped aside, showing respect. He held deep admiration for her—after all, even if several of them fought together, they still wouldn't stand a chance against her.
"Go in. The master is waiting for you."
Mina nodded slightly before walking off. She was heading to find Dahlia and Joe—there was business regarding the fleet that the young master wanted to discuss with them.
"Yes."
Chris waited for Mina to leave before stepping inside.
"Welcome back. You've had a hard journey." Lucas said, his hands clasped under his chin as he studied Chris's exhausted face. He knew this mission hadn't been an easy one.
"It's an honor to serve you, my lord. I don't feel tired at all."
Chris stood at attention and took out a small box from his coat—it was the binocular. Placing it carefully on the desk, he said solemnly, "My lord, the item is intact."
"Good."
Lucas nodded, not bothering to check the box. He had enough trust in his people for that.
"Now, tell me the most critical details of the mission." He said, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yes!"
After taking a moment to organize his thoughts, Chris began reporting the key points.
"My lord, the enemy has taken the bait—the treasure map is now in their hands... The compressed military rations performed excellently. If rationed properly, one piece can sustain a person for an entire day... The engineer's shovel is extremely useful. I request that we issue them for all field operations..."
"Very good. Have the team compile a detailed report for me later." Lucas said, satisfied with the mission's outcome. Although the equipment tests revealed a few minor issues, overall, it was a success.
"Understood." Chris responded firmly.
"You and your team get three days off. Once it's over, start training new recruits immediately. I want elite special forces—quality over quantity. You can also consider selecting more beastkins; their physiques are excellent."
Lucas picked up a document and handed it over. "By next spring, I expect to see thirty fully trained special forces soldiers. Follow the selection and training guidelines listed here."
"Understood!"
Chris accepted the folder respectfully with both hands. He knew that a major operation was coming—thirty special forces soldiers weren't just for show. He was no longer just an ordinary hunter; he now understood what it meant to have an elite unit.
"My lord, there was some trouble at the castle gates earlier," Chris reported. "The intruders claimed to be nobles and even accused you of murdering someone named Catherine. We've already detained them at the Guard Division."
"Oh?" Lucas raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his expression. "So, there really were flies buzzing around... Accusing me of murder, though—that's a new one."
Thinking back to Catherine's severe fever and cold when she arrived, Lucas quickly put the pieces together. In this era, with such harsh weather and primitive medical care, the mortality rate from her condition was easily over eighty percent.
"They're not completely foolish," Lucas mused. "Just a bit underhanded in their approach."
A voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"They're just playing dirty, that's all."
Moments later, Dahlia stepped inside, moving with graceful confidence. She performed a noble's bow to Lucas.
"Thank you, Lord Lucas, for saving Catherine."
"I happened to run into them."
Lucas waved his hand with a gentle smile. "Are those troublemakers outside your companions? They don't seem very friendly."
"No, they're not my companions. I'm not familiar with them," Dahlia replied. "This commotion is just them trying to shift the blame."
Dahlia's sharp mind quickly figured out why Kevin and the others were acting this way. They were probably trying to distance themselves from Catherine's death as soon as they could.
She could already imagine what would happen in a few days. If Catherine were to suddenly show up alive, those people would shamelessly try to get close again. That was the part that made her sick to her stomach.
"Looks like I'll have to keep them locked up for a few days, after all," Lucas said with a soft smile. "The little black room will be enough for them. Though I haven't even seen their faces yet."
"Lord Lucas, as long as it's not too excessive, Catherine will take care of it," Dahlia said seriously. "Once Catherine is fine, with her status as the duke's daughter, no one will dare offend her."
"It's fine. I just want to keep them locked up for a while to let them calm down." Lucas waved his hand nonchalantly.
"Huh?" Dahlia blinked, her mouth slightly open. His method was too mild! If it had been her, she would have beaten them up without hesitation.
"How is Catherine feeling?"
Lucas didn't mention the little black room. The psychological torment could be far worse than physical pain, potentially leaving lasting mental scars, like a fear of the dark or becoming excessively chatty.
"She asked me to thank you. Once she's recovered, she'll come to personally express her gratitude." Dahlia said gently, remembering Catherine's words from before. Her green eyes briefly glanced at Chris, who stood nearby, but she seemed to hesitate before speaking further.
"Chris, go rest for now," Lucas said, noticing Dahlia's glance and gesturing for Chris to leave.
"Understood." Chris gave a respectful salute before exiting. With three days of leave, they could all take some time to rest. Some of the team members were planning to visit their families.
Click
The study door softly clicked shut behind Chris.
"Is there something you'd like to say?" Lucas asked with a smile, already suspecting a bit of what was on her mind.
"It's something Catherine asked me to pass along," Dahlia said, her green eyes twinkling with a smile. "She wants to ask Lord Lucas not to let anyone know about the needle you gave her."
"Of course, I've already sealed my lips on the matter. She can rest easy; no one who knows will speak of it." Lucas replied seriously.
"That's a relief." Dahlia sighed in relief. The fact that Catherine had been exposed in such a way was a delicate matter; if word spread, her reputation would be ruined.
"By the way, you're Mr. Joe's daughter, right? Perhaps you could tell me about your fleet?" Lucas said casually, his interest piqued.
"Of course." Dahlia nodded, flicking her long, crimson hair back. She, too, was curious about the collaboration her father had mentioned.
"This time, we've brought twelve large ships with us... they can transport goods to many places across the kingdom. We've even conducted trade in other nations, and have sailed along the coastline..." Dahlia spoke with a steady pace as she explained.
"Do you have any shipbuilders in your crew?" Lucas asked, his gaze fixed intently on Dahlia.
"Huh?" Dahlia blinked in surprise. That was an unusual direction to take the conversation—wasn't he supposed to ask about the cargo capacity or trade routes?
"Yes, we have about a dozen shipbuilders." Dahlia answered honestly after a moment.
"Could you spare a few for me? I'm willing to pay them a high salary," Lucas said, his tone steady. "I need to start preparing to build my own ships."
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