The World of Tactics

Chapter Twenty-Four I: A Conspiracy

"Within the Anuicia Kingdom, the inheritance of the fief and title is obvious. The eldest would inherit the fief but in the case of the Anuicia Kingdom. It did not matter if the eldest was a male or female. However, if the eldest died without bearing any offspring, then the fief would automatically go to the second eldest. This time, however, the second eldest must be a male to inherit the fief and title. Otherwise, the fief and title would be taken back by the kingdom.

This would ensure that they are replaced with honorable soldiers who bravely fought on the frontier and their chances to redeem their countless merits. The same goes for those who have contributed to the kingdom with a considerable amount of wealth, materials, and food. This process of elimination will allow others with such a contribution to be rewarded. As for the younger generation that inherits the title and fief's deed, who barely contribute to the kingdom will be demoted to commoners once three generations have come. The only chance was having multiple children to ensure that the fief and noble title did not flow to outsiders while also contributing to the kingdom." A book within the Anuicia Kingdom where nobles would have to teach their kids the common sense of the Anuicia Kingdom.

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John Smith had been following in the footsteps of little Hugo's and little Savannah's blue frame. It took quite a while, but he finally realizes that Hugo was making smart decisions throughout. The pathway leads to the c***k wall, but the two only go along the wall's edges and never move through the center lanes. The prison was quite big and Hugo had perfectly used the smarts to navigate there while minimizing the distances. Little Hugo had even purposefully moved counter-clockwise along the long passage to get to the c***k wall.

It was evident that Hugo escaped the prison with ease along with Savannah on his back. He also moves through the c***k wall with his mother. Up the stairs and came to a specific place on one part of the wall. He was quite shocked, but he was happy that Hugo still remembered this side of the wall because it was covered in vines. He had once shown Hugo how to get up this wall using the vines. Hugo was not able to climb up at that time.

His emotion slightly calmed as he saw that Hugo was being much more talkative and the expression that Hugo had was at ease. The cold front that little Hugo took on was more of a mask of self-protection. He was much more concerned about little Savannah. She was completely different from Hugo. Her face was deadpan cold without any sort of feeling. Even from his observations, little Savannah's eyes were dulled, and seeing Hugo all fretting while talking to little Savannah. His eyes turned completely cold and ruthless.

His presence completely changes and even the surrounding temperature has dropped a few degrees. However, he hid it as his mother made an uncomfortable groan. This scene before him was put into his heart because Savannah had completely changed into another person due to this traumatic experience. Once everything settled down, he would continue his onslaught of finding the true culprit. Even now, his six senses were ringing an inner bell within his body. He felt that 'Victor' was not the true mastermind. It must have been something darker and stronger than 'Victor.' His current guess was that a demon had been the one setting things up.

He felt the need to grow stronger. He wanted to completely maximize his levels and continue to find a way to get higher promotions. Sooner or later, with an incomparable defense and magic resistance. None should be his opponent in battle. This is simply not a want nor a need, but a must. He must be stronger when going against the 'demon' because he knows that he could barely go up against Victor and his death-knight-father.

He lightly jumped over the wall and the light landed on the opposite side of the wall. With his high strength, skill, and speed. His action was possible and it barely affected his mother's resting. Then he continued to watch as little Hugo made it to the top of the wall. Afterward, the two jumped. Of course, Hugo was the one to suffer while little Savannah was in a better condition. He also noticed the slight feeling coming from little Savannah. The change of expression was brief, but the tears that were flowing down were still there.

No matter what, he felt a bit better seeing that Savannah's feelings had not all gone away. There is still a chance of Savannah being able to recover. It should not be a problem, since he had nothing but time on his hands. Sooner or later, he would be able to ease and restore the two emotions. Cure their wounds and wrap them up with band-aids. It would not take long for him to see the two smiles again. Hugo is waving a sword with a smile while Savannah's bright smile, melding with it, holds a fireball.

So, he quickly tracked down the two and noticed that the two had gone to the village first. The tracking was not long before he realized what the goal of the two was. It was food. At that point, the two were searching for food. The traces disappear and he begins to become anxious as this is the only lead to his younger siblings. It might be due to interference of the other human presences that the trace of the two was lost. His mind became hectic and crazed. If not for the fact that his mother was in his arms, he would have made a hole in the ground with his fist.

At the time, he was tracking little Hugo and little Savannah. Dork was the first to smell his stench when he was nearby and Lawrence had no choice, but to follow from behind carrying a lot of soul cores in hand. Likewise, there was another younger soldier that was following behind Lawrence. At this point, his senses had already warned him that there was a familiar strong presence moving in his direction. When it turned out to be Dork and Lawrence did, he left his guard down a bit.

Lawrence was the first to speak, "Young master? Is your business done? And-"

He did not let Lawrence continue and interrupted, "My mother." His voice was quite low and exhausted.

He was not in the mood to talk to others. Today, he encountered many things and learned many things, and was exhausted. The home that he was yearning for had gone down the drain and its future was bleak. His mother is physically weak right now. Not only that, he had just lost traces of his two younger siblings. He could not work out any motivation to talk right now. As for the younger man right besides Lawrence, he paid almost no attention.

The young man beside Lawrence began to speak, seeing that his conversation with Lawrence had stopped into a silence, "My lord, I'-I'm Henry. A private soldier under your father." As Henry sees that he pauses to look over, Henry continues, "If-If my lord trust me. I know where your younger siblings are."

He paused and stared straight into Henry's eyes. He slowly uttered a single word, "Where?"

Seeing that Henry had some lead, he chose to believe in it. Even if it's not true, he is still willing to try it because he just lost the trace. Henry did not hesitate any longer, "They are within the hidden outpost just three kilometers away. I'll guide you, my lord."

He turned to Lawrence who was next to Dork, "Lawrence, this is an order. Take care of my mother."

Lawrence nodded while saying, "Yes, sir."

He believed that his mother would be cared for better under Lawrence's surveillance because he did not want his mother to come with him to the hidden outpost in the woods. After all, his mother is still exhausted and has little strength to move. Once he met up with his two younger siblings, it would be better than to come back and set things within the mansion and the village. For now, that is.

Once his mother was settled, he turned and nodded at Henry. Henry did not say much, but the seriousness was still there. They went out of the village, which did not take long, since he kept rushing. They were not even walking at this point and Henry was slightly tired, but he still insisted that Henry lead on. They started speed walking a few seconds ago and they easily reached the part where the woods were separated in a neat line. Even so, he felt that this was going slower than he had expected, so he scooped up Henry and gave Henry a piggyback ride. He did not walk or speed walk but ran at this point while Henry was riding behind him while pointing the way forward.

It was not tiring even carrying Henry from behind. Likewise, the woods also have rough terrain and some uneven parts. They had to circle, but for parts that he could jump over. He did not mind his etiquette at all, being a lord and such, because this would help him get to the hidden outpost quicker. His running speed was not even slow since his speed stat is maxed out for his current class grade. The same goes for his jumping strength and navigating around the woods became much easier afterward. Due to his uncaring nature, his clothing had a few rips here and there.

Moving at a moderate pace that was a speed close to the average running speed of an average person, by the time they reached the hidden outpost. Only twenty minutes had gone by. It was something that surprised Henry quite a bit since it was difficult to carry someone and run. For him, this was done with ease and he did not even pant afterward. After all, he had maxed out most of his stats. Practically, unless someone had an incredible amount of growth potential all across the status board. As for other abnormal creatures such as him, there are practically close to none at all.

In the yonder, he saw many fallen wooden logs within the intersecting trees that turned green with all of the plants and moss growing around or on them. Even a couple of weird-colored mushrooms were commonly found around it. He had put Henry down and followed from behind. Within a few seconds or so, within the mazes of fallen wooden logs, they find coverage of thick green vines. It perfectly melded within the surroundings unless someone carefully takes a good look. There would be nothing interesting. This time, he did not even need Henry's guide because he had already seen two small thin figures that went through the passage of green vines.

When looking from the outside, the vines do not look as thick. Once, he reaches his hand to open up a passage through. His senses had already told him that there were a few dozen presences at the tip of his sense's range. As for the vines, as he kept trying to continue, the vines considerably thickened in numbers and he began to feel a slight squeeze by the vines. It was not as bad, but the bad part about this is that he needed to open his passage forward. He even wondered how the vines could grow in such a tight space without sunlight.