Read Novel Full Chapter 548- Plans
Chapter 548: Chapter 548- Plans
After settling Delicia in the infirmary and personally instructing her to take the day off, Reinhardt returned to his mansion.
At the door, Anastasia was waiting for him.
"You’re back, Master," she said, bowing her head.
Reinhardt nodded.
"I’ll be in my office." Saying that, he headed in.
Anastasia with her head slightly bowed stood where she was. Then, after seeing that he was gone, she slowly stepped towards the place he was just standing in moments ago and deeply inhaled the scent that still lingered there.
This! Quickly, she realized that it was not the scent of the perfume he usually wore, nor was it the scent of any sanitary product from the mansion.
This scent was from a woman.
"...Delicia?" Anastasia murmured.
Her sharp womanly instincts were telling her that she was not wrong.
.
Inside the mansion, Reinhardt found Melissa waiting in his office.
In his absence, she had reviewed multiple documents and put them in order of priority in front of his desk, thus simplifying his task.
Urgent documents on the left, reports requiring signatures in the center, notes in Melissa’s handwriting were clipped to several pages.
She was as efficient as ever.
"Lord Reinhardt, you were gone all night," Melissa muttered.
"Something urgent came up."
"As it usually does."
She strode to his desk in that sexy assistant dress of hers, pushing the documents forward.
"I’ve reviewed everything in your absence. These can be resolved today. These can wait until the end of the week. And these," she tapped a thinner stack, "are going to give you a headache."
"You’re a lifesaver."
Reinhardt chuckled softly.
One of the reasons why he was able to do his job as the Governor of a city that was developing as rapidly as Snowpoint City was because of his exceptional secretary.
Not only her work, but her presence too inside his office made the boring day somewhat exciting.
And so, days passed by like a blur.
During the morning, all his attention was placed on strengthening his knights.
Reinhardt drove the knights of his order relentlessly.
Synchronization practice, second Core, weapon drills, and summoning theories. He pushed them harder every single day until every cell in their body screamed.
Of course, a training regime created using the [Heaven’s Memory] seemed extremely spartan and inhumane; in reality, it was these trainings and the elixir he created pushing the members towards greater heights.
The result was also alarming. Many of the members, even the dumbest ones, began to achieve slight results.
After training, the rest of his day was dedicated to governmental affairs. Meetings, petitions, trade disputes, scheming nobles, profiteering merchants.
Amidst the mess, if there was a relief, it was the nights.
Sometimes Anastasia attended him, precise and flawless, anticipating his needs before he voiced them. Other times it was Melissa, efficient even in bed.
On certain nights, Karina lingering in the shadows, would appear before him, seeking his comfort. And on rare occasions, Zerina would appear from the window, dragging him away from his desk when she decided he’d worked enough.
One girl each night.
It was quiet, comforting and unwound all of his stress.
.
Two weeks later, Reinhardt’s office.
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, shining across the polished floor.
Sitting at the large oak table with his fingers interlocked was Reinhardt. Across from him stood Vangeance, back straight, chest subtly puffed out. Beside the knight was a silver-haired girl with a slender, almost fragile frame, yet her eyes were sharp, vigilant, like a drawn blade.
The girl was none other than the prodigious talent, Silvia.
Reinhardt’s gaze lingered briefly on Vangeance, assessing the growth he made over the days. Like a swordsmith looking at his creation, a newly sharpened blade.
After a while, he nodded his head in satisfaction.
"Regarding your earlier request to go on a journey, I’ve decided to grant it. You may depart now."
Hearing those words, Vangeance’s eyes lit up.
Reinhardt continued. "You’ve made considerable progress these past couple of days. You’re not far from acquiring the two fundamental skills. More importantly, you’ve thoroughly grasped the theory behind [Divine Beast Summoning]. As long as you continue training, you will summon your divine beast sooner or later."
Hearing such direct praise from the commander, Vangeance couldn’t help himself. He straightened even more, hand to his chest.
"Boss, leave it to me! I’ll master [Divine Beast Summoning] no matter what!"
Reinhardt gave a faint smile and nodded.
At that moment, Melissa stepped forward from the side, placing a document onto the desk.
He scanned it swiftly, equipment lists, rations, emergency supplies, travel permits. Everything was in order. These were all the items the young knight would require for his journey.
Now with this document bearing his signature and the seal of the governor of Snowpoint City, Vangeance can roam anywhere in the city, and even outside without being stopped in any outposts.
After handing the document to the young knight, his gaze then shifted to the girl standing beside him.
"What about you? Why are you here?"
Silvia immediately straightened and saluted, her expression serious. "Commander, I wish to accompany Vangeance and assist him in his trial."
Reinhardt raised a brow slightly but did not interrupt.
"Even level 7 trials at the Altar carry significant danger. My assistance and combat insight could increase his chances of success. Besides, I’ve already mastered the basics of [Divine Beast Summoning]. I’m at the final stage, contract formation."
This was not arrogance but rather facts.
While all the other members, even the holy knights were still making steady progress towards the [Divine Beast Summoning], not only had Silvia already acquired the two basic fundamental skills for summoning and mastered the theory, but if she could master the last Contract Formation stage, she would essentially be the first knight to learn the [Divine Beast Summoning Skill].
Silence filled the office as Reinhardt considered her words.
Sending Vangeance alone who was prone to recklessness, might be pushing it. However, with a level headed prodigy like Silvia it would not only guarantee the trial’s success but would also hone the latter’s leadership abilities.
After all, among the group of Kevin, Gwen and the others, Silvia was undoubtedly the captain of their squad. Sending both Vangeance and Silvia would refine both of them.
Training environment within the Order though strenuous, was safe and controlled. It might be alright during peacetime; however, Reinhardt knew that the demons were plotting something.
The appearance of three Heavenly Kings in the kingdom of Aetherion, the awakening of Her Majesty that revealed the involvement of a Heavenly King, and the subsequent news of a hero dying in a dungeon which was later covered up by Aetherion.
All of this pointed to the troubled times ahead.
For his future goals, building the strength of his force was crucial. Who knew what kind of horrors were waiting in the uncharted Tainted Lands?
Sending the two to experience the vast outside world would put a sense of pressure on these youngsters and at the same time hone them through actual combat.
It was not just Vangeance and Silvia, he planned to send the other remarkable knights and talents on a journey outside too.
Reinhardt leaned back slightly, fingers tapping once against the desk.
Both knights stiffened.
"...Very well, Silvia, you’ll accompany Vangeance. For you, this journey will serve as the final step toward forming your contract. For Vangeance, it will temper his resolve before reaching level 7."
His golden eyes sharpened.
"Out there, there will be no instructors. No safety nets. Only your judgment, your blades, and your lives. Treat this not as an opportunity, but a mission."
Out there, he or the order would not be with them; they can only rely on each other.
"Yes, Commander!"
"Yes, Boss!"
The two replied in unison.
"Prepare yourselves. And return alive."
With that, he sent the two out.
After Vangeance and Silvia left the office, Reinhardt turned his attention to Melissa.
"Call Eleanor. Gwen, Kevin..." he listed out those knights who were close to stabilizing the fundamentals.
Melissa nodded at once and moved efficiently.
It didn’t take long. One by one, they gathered in Reinhardt’s office.
Eleanor arrived first, dressed modestly but unable to completely hide her star-like presence. The usual squad of Kevin, Gwen, Rolan, and Delicia followed soon after, eyes brimming with expectation.
Behind them came several familiar faces, knights who had survived Reinhardt’s brutal training regime and were now standing at the threshold of something greater. When everyone was present, Reinhardt rose from his seat.
"I’ll quickly get to the topic. I’m giving you all a new mission. One that will train both your mind and bodies" Saying that, he turned his attention towards the glamorous woman whose presence alone was enough to steal all the attention.
"Eleanor, you’ll soon be leaving the city to begin filming on a distant set. Your director has sent me the files. The route is long, the locations remote, and your presence alone is enough to draw unwanted attention. To make sure you can give your all, these knights will accompany you".