Chapter 404: First mission

It has been a few weeks since Hilda, Milly and Kurt arrived at the Serbek Kingdom. The three quickly assimilated to life in the Serbek Kingdom. Hilda was assigned to be one of the trainers of the people, like Valdel and Henrietta, her lessons were all about survival skills, like navigation, understanding of herbs, and other such things.

When the people learned that Milly was Ren's mother, they all started treating her like a queen. In fact, even the former queen didn't receive as much love and pampering as Milly did. They all acted this way since unlike the former queen, Milly had true power, true power in the form of his son Ren. Milly didn't like the way she was treated and wanted to help out as well. She helped in the little things like cooking the meals of the trainees.

On the other hand, Kurt was having a good time. He could play anywhere in this kingdom, and people treated him with the utmost care. He would usually hang out with his big brother Ren who started teaching him a lot of different things. If he wasn't hanging out with his big brother, he was talking with Henrietta who was teaching him how to read and write, or he would help out his mother with minor things.

...

A full five months had passed since Ren started training his disciple Arthur and the twenty. Now he looked at them with a smile on his face. The twenty now resembled true warriors, they had numerous scars on their bodies, their muscles were lean and ready for battle, and the way they stood left little openings.

This was to be expected as they were able to somehow survive Ren's brutal training by working together as a team. Now they stand before Ren as Advanced users of Spirit Aura. They were both happy and worried about their newfound power. It was as Ren said at the beginning, they were now leagues above the others that trained at the same time as them. In fact, compared to them the people who trained under Valdel and Henrietta were not even worthy sparring partners.

On the other hand, Arthur who received the most brutal of training, stood proud and tall. In his training, his limbs have been sliced off and his body almost dying, but every time that happens Ren would heal him. The limbs he had lost regrew, and the body that was dying regenerated. Ren had allowed Arthur to experience true death numerous times. After reviving Arthur Ren would always say the same thing with a grin on his face.

"Do not worry, no matter what kind of injury you sustain, as long as your brain works and your heart is still beating I can revive you no matter how many times. So go forward with no fear, and claim victory against all."

...

Arthur and the twenty were called into the castle were Ren was sitting on the throne. Even though he wasn't wearing anything grand, the aura he emitted made others feel like Ren was the true ruler of all.

Seeing the twenty line up in perfect formation without being ordered to do so made Ren grin. The twenty knelt on one knee while his disciple steps forward his head held high.

"Master, what is your command?"

Ren chuckled as he watched the display before him. If it was before, Arthur would still unconsciously bow his head every now and then, but now he would never bow down his head no matter who he faced. The dangerous light in Arthur's eyes was still around and it was being contained.

'I wonder when the wild beast within would release itself?' Ren mused as he touched his chin.

"Well, for starters I'm happy to say that the twenty of you have finally completed your training. You guys should be proud you have achieved power that you would never have gained if you continued your lives normally. From this point onward you are true warriors, and you will now become my most elite unit. I will call you..." Ren closed his eyes and imagined a name. After a while a name came to him, it was a name wrapped in sentimentality.

"Yeah, from here on your unit will be called the Shadow Clan. You twenty will be under my disciple Arthur who will be your commander."

"I will make you proud, master."

Even though some of them didn't really want to join, they had no choice since Ren had already spoken. Seeing some of them looking reluctant, Ren said something to convince them.

"Even though being a part of the Shadow Clan will be dangerous, the wages you will receive will be great as well. Every month you will all be paid two white gold coins. Depending on the missions you complete you can earn even more. Your family will have better houses, and your descendants will be allowed to attend the school I'm about to build. So are you guys still reluctant to join?"

The conditions Ren gave were too good to be true, but since it was coming out of Ren's mouth the twenty immediately believed it. This was a person who will do what he says, if he said he would kill you he would literally kill you.

Still, two white gold coins, if it was before that much money would be worth ten years of their normal jobs. Not only will they be given money, but they will also be provided with a house. Yet the most amazing thing Ren said was that their descendants will be able to go to school. Only nobles and rich merchants were able to send their children to school. The twenty no longer hesitated and knelt on one knee in front of Ren.

"We are willing to die for you."

"Nice that's what I want to hear. Now I'm going to give the Shadow Clan's very first mission. A few weeks ago, a Duke has announced that he won't be accepting me as the king. He claims that he is the rightful heir to the throne, and I'm nothing but a ruthless barbarian from the Reschbeauch Kingdom that usurped the throne. At this very moment, he is gathering most of the remaining nobles and officials to oppose me. Even some of the royal guards that were out on a mission when Nyarlom attacked are under his banner. He even gathered a lot of mercenaries and adventurers. I want you the Shadow Clan, to head out there to this Duke's domain and give them all a chance. Either they surrender to me, or you annihilate them. Of course, you should let the non-combatants live, aside from that you can do anything. Show them that I'm not someone they should mess around with. I expect nothing but absolute victory."

Arthur and the twenty responded in sync. "As you command!"

"Henrietta tell them the necessary information they would need before they head out." Henrietta nodded as she approached Arthur, and explained who the Duke was and who the people joining him were. She told the group the location of the Duke's mansion where the meeting will take place. As Henrietta was doing that Ren had a sudden thought.

'Oh right, after they leave I better head out to the eternal forest. It's been a while since I met Tsukiko and Leila.'