Early in the morning on July 13th, Laurist wasn't in a good mood. Andrew, the naughty kid, got into trouble again. He caught a little rooster in the morning, probably blaming the rooster's crowing for waking him up from a good dream. Therefore, he suddenly had the idea to barbecue on the spot. Then, he took some straw ropes and tied the little rooster up in a mess. Then, he lit a fire …
It was not hard to imagine what kind of terrifying existence the little rooster would turn into when it caught fire. It was a fire-breathing fighting rooster of a flock of chickens. The little rooster with the burning straw rope turned into a fiery meteor. First, it set the chicken shed on fire. Then, it flew up to a green tree by the roadside. Thick smoke rose from the tree, and then it entered a maid's room, igniting the curtains and bedsheets. Finally, accompanied by the screams of the maids, the little rooster scuttled into the storeroom. Then, it flew out of the storeroom and landed on the floor of the kitchen, dying …
Laurist hurriedly got up from his bed. When he saw that the servants had already extinguished the flames, he heaved a sigh of relief. He grabbed the brat and gave him a good beating, causing his butt to swell up on the spot. Then, Princess Silvia nagged Andrew for using too much force for half an hour as he cried loudly. Laurist didn't even have an appetite for breakfast, so he just took a few bites and went to the study room.
It seemed like he had to find a strict tutor for Andrew so that he wouldn't be spoiled by Princess Silvia. The good thing was that Princess Silvia didn't spoil her son unscrupulously like Elina who spoiled her son. Eight-year-old Andrew was just a little naughty and got into trouble because of his curiosity, but he was usually a good kid. Laurist gave him a good beating in the morning, mainly because he was doing morning exercises on top of Fina Carrie and was interrupted by the fire alarm. That was why Laurist vented his anger on Andabel.
Genolio pushed open the door and brought Laurist a pot of freshly brewed food.
Laurist asked lazily, "Do you have any plans for today?"
"Your Highness, at nine o 'clock, the dean of Dawn College, Master Swordsman Kelud, will come to see you. I think he wants to discuss the establishment of a branch of Dawn College," Genolio replied.
Time flies. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed since Dawn Academy moved from Morent City to the north. Dean Levins also retired after his success. He gave the position of Dean to Great Swordsman Kelud and returned to his hometown to retire. Dawn Academy was now the number one academy in the Andinac Kingdom, with nearly 10,000 students. Other than the Norton family, many other nobles also sent their children to study in the North.
"Where does Dean Kelud want to open a branch?" Laurist asked.
Genolio slapped his forehead. His Highness had shoved the documents to god knows where again. He quickly reminded him, "Your Highness, didn't you receive the application from Dawn College last time? Dawn College doesn't know what to choose. One is to open a business branch in Venados City in the Delemark province, and the other is to open a knight branch in the Winston province's Windbury capital. "
Loriste immediately understood. No wonder Dean Kelud had come to look for him now. It was purely because Duke Kempis and Duke Phelim had come to him. Dawn College had always been a comprehensive college. It had many majors, such as the formal training of knights, business accounting, and statistics, which were the most popular majors among the students. The reason was simple. Students who graduated from these majors could easily find high-paying jobs. Whether they joined the Norton family's armed forces or became civil servants in the Norton territory, they were very popular. Even if they were not related to the Norton family, they would still be recruited by other nobles and merchant guilds.
Duke Kempis had been appointed as the castellan of Venados City by Laurist. He had done a great job in the past few years. Not only had he made Venados City the headquarters of the Snow Salt Merchant Guild, he had also developed it into the largest commercial city in the Andinac Kingdom. Almost all the merchant guilds in the kingdom had gathered there. Therefore, he had set his sights on Dawn College. He tried his best to persuade Dean Kelud to agree to open a business branch in Venados City so that he could train a large number of talents needed by the merchant guilds to meet the needs of the expanding merchant guilds. Duke Kempis was supported by a large number of new rich and honorable nobles. They did not want to compete with the Norton family in the North every year for the students who graduated from Dawn College.
By the same token, Duke Phelim hoped that Dean Kelud could set up an independent school for knight training in the capital of Windbri. This was also the wish of the military nobles in the kingdom. Compared to the formal knight training in Dawn Academy, these families of military nobles were more or less lacking in knight training for their children. Firstly, the physical qualities and attributes of the military nobles' children conflicted with their ancestral impetus, so they were not as well-rounded as Dawn College. Secondly, it was too much of an investment to give their children comprehensive knight training. It would be much easier to just hand it over to Dawn College.
To Dean Kelud, it was a good thing that Dawn College could set up a branch. It meant that Dawn College's influence was growing. This was not the moment when Dawn College was on the verge of closing down more than ten years ago. If Laurist hadn't persuaded Principal Levins to move the entire Dawn Academy to the Northern Lands, then gifted land to the Academy for free and mobilized labor to help build the Academy, the Academy wouldn't be as prosperous as it was now. Logically speaking, Dawn College had to discuss with Laurist about setting up a branch. Moreover, both Venados City and Venados City were under the jurisdiction of the Norton family. If Dawn College wanted to set up a branch, they had to get Laurist's approval before they could allocate a piece of land for Dawn College to set up a branch.
"I remember the application document was blue. I think it was stuffed on the table over there. Go and look for it," Laurist said to Genolio as he rubbed his temples. He remembered seeing the application document a few days ago. He was busy reviewing the agreement with the shrines, so he put it in the pile of documents.
After searching for a long time, he finally found the application document. Laurist took it and asked, "Is there anything else other than meeting Dean Kelud this morning?"
Genolio replied, "Your Highness, there is no one else to meet. However, His Majesty just sent a messenger to you yesterday, urging you to depart for the imperial capital as soon as possible to attend his coronation ceremony. You have to write a reply to the messenger. Also, Duke Kenneth also sent a letter asking when you will depart. He hopes to go with you to the capital. Duke Filim and Duke Şahin also sent a greeting letter. The letter says that they will be going to the capital together on the 18th of July to attend the ceremony. They also welcome you to go with them … "
"Why would I go so early if I have nothing better to do?" Laurist muttered. "Anyway, His Majesty's coronation ceremony is on the 10th of August. I just have to get to the capital three or four days earlier. Alright, I will write to His Majesty now. I am very busy and do not have time to go so early. However, I will reach the capital before the 5th of August. As for Kenneth, write a letter in my name and tell him that I'll be there by boat. Tell him to wait at the Platinum Beach … "
"But Your Highness, you have to give me an accurate departure date …" Genolio complained.
"Alright." Laurist began to count with his fingers. "It should take seven days to get from North Sea City to Qilin Port. I think it will take eight days. Then, I will stay at Qilin Port for a day. That will take two days to reach the capital. That will take a total of eleven days. Including the day I will have to pick up Kenneth, that will take twelve days. Oh, right, it will take three days to get from Grizzly Bear City to North Sea City. That will be a fifteen-day journey. Genolio, we have to reach the capital before the 5th of August. According to this itinerary, we will depart on the 25th of July. Inform Duke Kenneth of this. "
(Note: The calendar in Galinthea Continent has thirty-five days.)
"Which lady will you be bringing with you, Your Highness?" Genolio asked.
Laurist knew that he was not referring to Princess Silvia, but the four ladies in waiting. As the matriarch of the Norton Family, Princess Silvia would naturally have to attend the coronation ceremony.
Laurist thought for a moment and said, "Bring them all, including the children. After the ceremony, they can spend the summer at Seaview Manor on Cilovas Island. They will like the beach there. "
"Yes, Your Highness," Genolio said. As Laurist's attendant, he would inform Butler Bowery of Laurist's decision. Butler Bowery would then inform Princess Silvia and the four ladies in waiting. Although it was only the 13th of July, there were still ten days before they would depart. However, the Duke of the Northern Lands would be bringing his family with him. There would be many people accompanying him, so some luggage had to be prepared in advance.
At nine o 'clock, Dean Kelud came to see Laurist punctually. The two of them had not seen each other for many years. They were both filled with emotion. To Dean Kelud, he had practically watched Laurist grow from an ordinary student of Dawn Academy to a great legendary figure. Back then, the Iron Instructor of the academy, the current Duke of the Northern Lands, and the Sword Saint of the Kingdom. This made Dean Kelud, who had already been a Gold Instructor when Laurist first entered Dawn Academy, feel that he had lived his entire life as a dog. Now, he had finally become a Rank 2 Great Swordsman, but Laurist had already become a Sword Saint …
Dean Kelud, who had regained his senses, finally decided not to compete with Laurist in terms of combat energy. Back then, when Laurist was still an Iron Rank, he had fought to a draw with Dean Kelud, who was a Three-Star Gold Rank. As a result, the sly and cunning Dean Levins had decided to place a heavy bet on Laurist. He had used Laurist's swordsmanship to set up traps for the other Silver Instructors of the other academies in Morent City. This had allowed Dean Levins to vent his anger, and at the same time made Laurist a Black Iron Locke.
After the host and guests were seated, Genolio offered tea. Dean Kelud did not stand on ceremony and went straight to the point. Dawn Academy did have plans to open a branch, but they were only planning to open one branch for now. Thus, Duke Kempis and Duke Phelim were arguing fiercely, and Dean Kelud was stuck in the middle. It was not that he did not want to open two branches, but that he did not have enough teachers and manpower. He could not abandon the few specializations in the North just because he wanted to open two branches. If that happened, the Norton Family would be the first to object.
Laurist understood this very well. At the same time, he also understood the purpose of Dean Kelud's visit, which was to push the blame to Laurist. Laurist had to take the blame even if he did not want to. Only by using his mouth to decide which branch to open for Dawn Academy would Duke Kempis and Duke Phelim stop arguing. Neither of them dared to anger Laurist. As long as Laurist made a decision, they could only shut up obediently.
"Then let's open a business branch in Fandenath City first," Laurist quickly made his decision. He explained to Dean Kelud, "Now that the world is at peace, and His Majesty has changed the kingdom to an empire after his ascension to the throne, it is unlikely that there will be any war in the next ten years. The most important thing is to recuperate and restore the people's strength. The struggle for the throne and the civil war have already riddled more than twenty provinces in the empire, leaving behind a mess. What the empire needs the most now are low-level civil officials who understand the people's livelihood and business. He was not a knight who charged and broke through enemy lines. Thus, if we open a business branch, even if the graduates are not recruited, they can still enter the empire's bureaucracy and become well-paid low-level civil officials. "
Instructor Kelud nodded. "Alright, then it's decided. We'll open a business branch in Fandenath City first. I'll reject Duke Phelim's request as you said. "
Laurist pondered for a moment, then asked, "Why does Duke Phelim want to open a knight branch of Dawn Academy in Fandenath City?"
Dean Kelud's answer was simple. The Phelim Family's Pegasus Legion had suffered great losses in the bloody battle at Mana Hill Plains three years ago, especially the low-level officers. Thus, Duke Phelim hoped to open a knight branch in Fandenath City. It would be convenient for the newly promoted veterans and low-level officers of the Pegasus Legion to train as knights for a short period of time, restoring the Pegasus Legion's combat strength.
"How about this, you can let Duke Phelim choose people to come to the north in batches for short-term training. There's no need to specifically set up a knight branch in Fandenath City," Laurist suggested.
However, Dean Kelud was still in a difficult position. "Your Highness, while your suggestion is pertinent, it's difficult for us to do so. If we don't open a business branch, we can transfer some people to open a knight branch. We can train the low-level officers of the Pegasus Legion for a short period of time. But if we open a business branch, the instructors in the academy won't have the manpower and energy to train the Phelim Family's armed forces. "
Laurist laughed heartily. "What's so difficult about that? How about this, I've just given the family's knights a long holiday. You can hire the old students of Dawn Academy to be instructors for a short period of time. I'm sure they'll be very happy. But there's only three months. In October, the family's armed forces will reassemble and head to the Barbarian Plains for training. "
Dean Kelud was overjoyed. He quickly stood up and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Your Highness. Now all the problems are solved."
…
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
