NOVEL WEB Chapter 15: Rewards
"Nonsense!" Amarant replied after being lost in thought for a moment, "Good work will always be rewarded even if performed unintentionally. Just as misdeeds will be punished even if done so with the best of intentions. Now, tell me what you want and say it with your chest! With confidence!"
Luke looked amused at his grandfather's words before considering it for a moment. There were indeed a few things on his wish list that he hadn't gotten around to due to a lack of time or resources.
He could always use more gold, to source for truly rare ingredients in the Six-Sided World for his alchemy.
He also wanted to install a more permanent workshop for alchemy and crafting magic items. What he had now for brewing equipment was woefully lacking for the truly advanced brewing techniques that would be necessary for some of the recipes that the A.I. Chip had.
Another thing Luke wanted were personal guards. Not because he would actually need bodyguards, having already bested Grant, Ward and Bernard all at once at the same time. But useful and loyal subordinates who could assist with troublesome matters would always be good to have.
Additionally, Luke also wanted to see the compatibility of Magus World Knight techniques and manuals with the natives here that did not have an A.I. Chip fused with their soul. If he could impart his knowledge to subordinates he could trust and cultivate high-ranking warriors that answered only to him, it would be useful for any long term goal.
If he could cultivate warriors at least as competent as Grant, Ward and Bernard, it would be considered a success. The three Saint Swordsmen were considered an elite force in this world where less than 1% of the population could even reach Advanced-rank.
Based on the three Saints' best guess, there existed less than 100 Saints in the entire world. To have three under retainer by the Notos Greyrat family was already a statistical anomaly.
But why settle for just one request if he could have them all? One should always start at a high point when negotiating after all.
"Since grandpa has said so, then please pardon my excessive request." Luke flashed a childlike grin that he knew could melt the hearts of his grandparents.
"I need gold for research. I want a magic workshop installed for alchemy and crafting. And Lastly, I want a squad of personal guards that will only listen to me."
Amarant nodded twice in quick succession, "Your first two requests are not a problem. We can talk about exactly how much gold you need later. But why do you need personal guards? Are Grant or Bernard not sufficient?"
Ward was excluded from the question because as a Water Saint, he was almost always guarding Amarant himself, who spent most months in a year in the Asuran Capital of Ars.
Luke waved his hands in disagreement, "Of course Grant and Bernard are strong enough to protect us, but they are Notos guards, not mine. If, or rather when I eventually leave Notos Keep for whatever reason, I would want them to stay here to protect my parents and grandma."
"You will never leave Notos Keep!" Valentina protested with a pout, "I won't let you!"
Both Luke and Amarant ignored the pouting woman.
The Lord of Notos Greyrat nodded in understanding, "So you want your own men to order and follow you around, huh? That's fine. You can select any of the Notos men-at-arms you want."
Luke's lips tilted downwards, "But all our guards are so old!"
All the adults in the room felt their eyebrows twitch at the accusation. The Notos Keep naturally did not employ old guards. They were all in their twenties or thirties, similar in age to Luke's mother and grandparents. Being deemed as 'old' by Luke felt like an arrow had pierced their hearts.
"I want my personal guards to be around my age. Or at most, not more than 10 years older than me!"
Amarant cleared his throat in order to forget the painful barb from his grandson, "But if they are so young, they won't be strong enough to protect you."
Luke waved away his concern, "That's fine, we can grow strong together! And I won't be leaving the Keep anytime soon, right? I have time to train them up!"
Naturally, Luke did not reject the Notos men-at-arms for as meaningless a reason as age. The current guards employed by his household were all loyal, or mostly loyal, to either Amarant or Pilemon. What he wanted were blank canvases and untouched clay, for him to mould and cultivate to be loyal only to himself.
He wanted subordinates who would not hesitate to go against his grandfather's word if Luke himself said so, and none who might spy on him and report to Pilemon should they see something they shouldn't.
Additionally, the Knight Training Manuals he had worked best for youngsters who started practicing them from a young age. Their beneficial effects would be limited on those who have already reached maturity.
"I see. Well, I suppose it would not change much. I hear you are already strong enough to defeat our Saint guards in a duel. Having a few personal guards, even if they are younger and inexperienced, wouldn't make a significant difference. How many were you thinking?" His grandfather asked.
"A full squad. Sixteen! And if possible, I want to select them myself!" Luke answered with a bright smile.
Anthony interrupted at this point, "This seems like quite a distraction. I hope you will not neglect your studies for this."
"Don't worry master, this will just be a side project. Magic is, and always will be my primary focus." Luke explained, appeasing his concerned teacher.
Amarant pondered the number for a couple seconds before agreeing to it. Truthfully, Luke's request for personal guards would cost a lot less than his first two requests of gold for research and installing a private workshop for him.
His guards would still just be trainees when first recruited. Even if generous, their monthly salary would not exceed three silver asura coins a month since they were still in training and their food and accommodation would all be provided for. For the next year or so, the total cost for twenty of these personal guards, not counting their food and accommodation, would still be less than 60 Asura Gold Coins.
"Very well. We will put up recruitment notices in Auster (Capital City of Milbots Region which the Notos family rules. Also where Notos Keep is located at). You can specify the requirements yourself, Luke." Amarant declared. "Pilemon! See it done.
Pilemon struggled not to grit his teeth. He resented how Amarant saw him as little more than his steward despite being heir apparent. Even now, he had to facilitate this little game his son decided to play on a whim when there were other, more important matters to attend to.
Alas, Pilemon could do naught but obey. At least until his father was gone and he took over the reins of the Notos household.
Luke's requirements for his recruitment notice were simple. He only had two:
1) Candidates had to be 10 - 18 years old;
2) Healthy with no disability.
In exchange for even showing up for the try-out, they will receive one Large Copper Coin as remuneration.
Pilemon paled at his requirements, or rather, the lack of them. "This will attract thousands of vagrants looking for a quick buck! How many of them will actually be serious candidates? Are you really going to evaluate all of them personally? This will take weeks, no, months!"
Luke shrugged, "It's fine. All I need is one look at them to decide."
His father found his eyebrow twitching as it usually did when he had to deal with his precocious son, "Just one look? Luke, are you taking this seriously at all? What about a skill or athleticism requirement? Minimum height and weight? Gender?"
The boy smiled cheekily, "Call it gut feeling. All that matters to me is if I feel they have potential." Of course, with the A.I. Chip's thorough scanning, one look is all he would really need to judge them.
To Pilemon's surprise and delight, his father actually took his side on this. "No need to drag this longer than necessary. If all you need is one look, then we shall limit the selection process to just three days. Three days to select 16 guards, that should be more than sufficient."
If each of them were given one Large Copper Coin just for attending the trial, then even if a thousand candidates showed up within the three days, it would only be 10 Gold Coins worth of expenditure.
"Okay, I can agree to that." Luke conceded.
Pilemon still shook his head at the time, effort and manpower that would be wasted on a child's whim. After all, he would be one that had to deal with the administration of processing hundreds or even a thousand of these applicants.