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Time- 11:38
Location- Central Region, Central Capital, Unknown, Field Marshal’s Office
“Field Marshal, please don’t speak of death so lightly,” Demigod Baylor said with an earnest tone, he really wished well for Henricks.
“Stop it, you are starting to sound like Jody. But seriously, now that you know the government’s plans for you are you still going to continue with your investigation into the silver milk powder case?” Henricks knew what his disciple’s answer was going to be yet he had to be sure.
“I have to, though not for the government but for Ellen’s son. He seems to have gotten himself into something way in over his head, I don’t know the full story but it seems he needs me,” demigod Baylor spoke as if he held the responsibility for Ellen’s son. Hearing him, even Henricks could not help but lift an eyebrow as the most admirable thing about his disciple was also his weakness, his loyalty.
“Seeing how you, who had not applied for leave in decades, suddenly applied for two days of leave to adopt that boy, I realized how much this meant to you, I do not understand it, but I know it is important to you. So when the government approached me with their idea, I did not think twice to accept it on your behalf. And I was right to do so,” Henricks said, making it clear that he was not in favor of demigod Baylor’s obsession with Ellen but out of love for his disciple he reluctantly took part in enabling him.
“Field Marshal, you informed me of the government plans for me but what about its plans for Dalton Wyatt that is if it turns out that the silver milk powder is not a fraud?” demigod Baylor did not seem to care about the government using him as a pasty in their nefarious plans, he seemed to be more worried about what government planned to do with Ellen’s son if the product he was granted a patent for was not a fraud.
“This is where things get interesting, in case the government gets a certainty that silver milk powder is everything it claims to be then you will be the biggest winner,” Henricks’s eyes shone brightly just imagining the future where even the mortals could cultivate their active soul percentage without requiring to contract a grimoire.
“I don’t understand,” said demigod Baylor, unable to understand what his mentor was trying to imply.
“Kid, you recall when I said you cannot become a Field Marshal because the number of Field Marshals is limited and you do not have the seniority to compete for it even if an opportunity arises? Well, this is your chance to level the playing field,” Henricks did not get to the point but kept speaking in riddles and using honeyed words clearly he was trying to prepare his disciple for what he was going to say next.
“No, I don’t care about being a Field Marshal, if it means I have to use Ellen’s son to gain it,” Demigod Baylor had spent enough time with his mentor to know what he was trying to do.
“Don’t be so quick to reach a conclusion, you did not even let me finish what I had to say. It is not as bad as you,” Henricks said, trying to convince his disciple to listen to what he had to say till the end and then reach a decision.
“Field Marshal, I don’t know what you are trying to say but I know enough to be certain that you plan to use Dalton Wyatt to get me out of the hot water and pave a way for my career. I appreciate you looking out for me but I will not be a part of it nor will I let anyone put Ellen’s son in harm’s way,” demigod Baylor said resolutely without allowing his mentor to explain how the government planned to use the boy.
“You do know that if the government cannot use you then they will find someone they can use, like for example the Duskborn Family,” Seeing his disciple being stupid, Henricks spoke the hard truth and added, “I will be honest with you, the main reason the government is willing to use you instead of millions out there is that they believe that I control you. And since they control me, it works. You see where I am going with this?”
“…” hearing the cold hard truth dropped by his mentor, demigod Baylor was without words.
“It’s like in kindergarten if you play by the rules of the adults you get to keep your toys or else…” Using his disciple’s silence as an opportunity, Henricks decided to school him, “Kid, let me remind you again, the military is the government’s dog, we protect our masters and do their dirty laundry without asking questions, usually we guard the walls but recently with the usher of prolonged peace we are required more in here than at the borders to help our masters keep their errand boys in check. So don’t make the mistake of thinking that we are the government. The club of corrupt officials and officers in government that you busted a few years ago, had made the mistake to think they were the government, and guess what happened next? Their names landed on my desk. Considering this was an easy opportunity to earn merit and make a name, I passed it to my favorite subordinate, you.”
“Field Marshal, I am trying hard not to jump to a wrong conclusion so please tell me what should I make out of what you just said,” demigod Baylor selected his next words very carefully.
“Kid, don’t blame me. This is how I have been able to make it this far, as your mentor I am showing what I know. But it is up to you whether you decide to take the same route I took. No matter what you end up choosing I will respect your decision,” Despite his means, Henricks was only doing the best for his disciple to the best of his knowledge. He would rather force people with high ethics into power than people who would do anything to come to power.
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