44 Chapter 44: Progression

Caesar stepped out of the merchant guilds office and loosened his collar, "that woman cannot be fully trusted, I need to gain her loyalty" Caesar thought inwardly as he walked down the stairs.

*step*

*creak*

A loud creaking sound echoed throughout the entire guild as Caesar walked down the stairs, everyone turned their head to see who was coming down.

Once Caesar showed his face the employees present drew in a cold breath, one of the employees quickly rushed in front of Caesar.

"S-sir, Veronica had said that she would be coming down with you after the meeting… where is she?" the fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy asked while stammering for words.

"She asked me to go back alone, she should still be in her office," Caesar said briefly while walking past the boy.

*creak*

Caesar pushed open the two wooden doors and walked outside, the sun illuminated his face and blinded him. Caesar lifted his hand to shade his eyes and walked towards the training grounds.

Inside the merchants guild, all of the employees were looking at each other bewildered "isn't Veronica the rumored demoness, the one that always walks out of the conference room with a happy smile, while her victim is crest-fallen?" A random employee girl asked in a quiet voice.

"Who knows, maybe the rumors were exaggerated?" another girl asked

"Let's quickly get back to work before she comes out," a young man said

Caesar walked down the streets with a contemplative look "If we gain too many funds without a solid foundation for the company than we will gain suspicion…"

Caesar suddenly scanned the people around him and thought to himself: "I wonder if there are any tobacco plants in this world?"

The civilians that caught eye of Caesar would all bow respectively and get back to their daily chores. Caesar would greet all of them with a smile and continue on his way.

After about a few minutes of walking, he finally reached the training grounds, the knights were training hard… All of them were drenched with sweat and were gnashing their teeth struggling to continue.

"This is weird… why are they training so hard?" Caesar thought to himself quietly.

"Hey!"

Caesar turned his body and saw a concerned Edward looking straight at him… "if you're wondering why they are training so hard it is because a messenger came today"

Caesar tilted head in confusion, "what did the message state?"

Edward turned his body and looked at the training knights "the messenger stated that a new ranking system would be implemented in a few weeks… once the men heard of this they immediately started competing with one another and training their hearts out"

Caesar also looked at the training knights… "they actually heeded my advice? I wonder what alterations they are making to my initial suggestion?" Caesar whispered audibly enough for Edward to hear.

"Were you the one that suggested a ranking system?" Edward asked curiously.

"Yes, the knights were getting paid hardly enough for their hard work, not to mention there was no way for them to be promoted"

Edward nodded his head solemnly "I'm afraid that with this new system they will work themselves to death"

Caesar shook his head slowly and smiled "their bodies are quite strong and used to physical exertion… You don't need to worry about them" Caesar said reassuringly.

"Sigh, It's unfortunate we will not be able to see their progress in a few weeks," Edward sighed sadly while gazing at the sky.

Caesar stepped forward and patted Edward on the shoulder "don't worry, even if we need to leave for the dark continent… We will be back"

Edward furrowed his brows "are you confident that you can help us and get out unscathed? For all we know, the clan head is already…"

Caesar removed his hand from Edwards' shoulder and also gazed at the clear blue sky that resembled earth… "I don't know how it will end, but, I will surely try my hardest," Caesar said quietly.

Edward looked at Caesar's face and said: "I have observed you for a while, you are a cold and calculating man… why would you help us without gaining any benefits?"

Caesar's lips curled "Once upon a time, there were two brothers abandoned by their family… the elder brother worked hard, he studied, he worked, he fed the younger brother...The elder brother spent more and more time working and climbing the ladder, of course, he was also getting more and more money as time went by. His life revolved around money and ordering others"

Caesar's eyes filled with sadness as he continued…

"He got what he wanted, money, power, women, anything he wanted he could get… But somewhere along that path he lost that innocent little brother… No matter how much money or profits the man gained he had forgotten the main reason he started making money in the first place.

Edward looked at Caesar bewildered…

"The moral of the story is, never lose sight of who you are and who you aspire to be even if you risk failure"

Caesar suddenly smiled brightly and looked at Edward "If I let you two go back to your family and Ahri were to die, I would regret that for the rest of my life… I want to live this life with no

regrets." Caesar said while smiling towards Edward.

Caesar suddenly chuckled and continued "enough talk about depressing topics, shall we spar again?"

Edward furrowed his brows and adverted his gaze "I think I will pass on that offer" he said quietly.

"Haha, well, the next time we have the chance, let's play for a bit" Caesar laughed loudly and teased Edward.

Edward scratched the back of his head and nodded awkwardly, seeing this Caesar's lips curled and he walked out of the training grounds… he lifted his hand and said: "Edward, I have no ulterior motive for helping you… Don't worry"

Edward didn't get a chance to respond before Caesar disappeared… Caesar walked quickly through the streets towards the palace… "My father and those nobles quickly agreed to change to the military system I suggested, why did they agree so fast?" Caesar contemplated to himself

Caesar soon arrived at the palace while still deep in contemplation...

"Young master, how did the meeting with the merchants guild go?" Sebastian asked curiously, seeing Caesar walk up the stairs silently.

Caesar was broken out of his deep thoughts and raised his eyes… "It went decently, do you have any information on that woman named Veronica?" Caesar asked while walking with Sebastian.

"She is a regional manager of the Merchants Guild, she handles the branches that reside in the northern kingdoms in the continent… From my understanding, she is quite a big fish"

Caesar nodded his head, "how much influence does she hold within the guild?"

"There should be about 20 regional managers, 10 staff managers and 5 public relations within the guild, of course, the guild leader is on top… regional managers hold a lot of power but they are not nearly at the top." Sebastian said after thinking for a while.

Caesar and Sebastian continued walking through the palace while talking, "Sebastian, does my father know that I am leaving soon Rahvin kingdom soon?" Caesar abruptly changed the topic and asked curiously

Sebastian bowed deeply and help a complicated smile on his face… "he had asked me and I told him, I can not hide anything from my lord"

"I had expected something like that would happen, what was his reaction?" Caesar asked curiously.

"He was surprised at first and then stressed… He kept muttering things along the lines of 'the baby bird has to leave the nest sooner or later' with a desolate look on his face" Sebastian said teasingly.

"Haha, it's not as though I am leaving forever…" Caesar roared with laughter and Sebastian just carried a wry smile.

Sebastian and Caesar soon reached the main halls and split apart, Caesar looked towards Sebastian and smiled deviously "keep Elizabeth occupied for tonight" he said slowly.

Sebastian sighed deeply and nodded his head before changing directions.

Caesar walked through the long halls and soon reached a wooden door labeled with the number 71, he smiled slightly and turned the doorknob.

*Creak*

*lock*

Caesar closed the door behind him and locked it, he looked at the surprised Ahri that had a bundle of sheets covering her body…

"Have you been holed up in your room all day?" He asked slyly

"T-that is because last night you said we would… continue" Ahri's voice went lower and lower until she sounded similar to a mosquito.

Caesar walked over to her and sat at the end of the bed, he reached out with his slender fingers and caressed her hair… "do you not want to continue?" he asked tenderly.

"I-it's not like that, it's just l-last time we were in the heat of the moment… so, I-I am embarrassed" Ahri flushed furiously and put her face in the covers.

Caesar leaned over and kissed the back of her head, he moved his head down and whispered in her ear… "this is the last time we will be alone for a lengthy time, leave your body to me and let me take the lead" He said seductively which made Ahri flinch.