“I… This…” The magistrate was out of words.
Seeing the magistrate’s defeated expression, Alonzo said, “look. I know how hot-blooded young people could be. I am one of them after all. There is no sense for this incident to ruin our kingdom’s future promising talents, right? Both your son Walter and mister Storm Wind, who has joined our kingdom faction, might become the pillars of this kingdom. How about the two of you make peace with each other, instead of going after for mutual destruction?”
Magistrate Warren stared at him with a meaningful look. He understood, with the prince here, he had lost the possibility to settle the issue with this outworlder. The best he could do was taking up the prince’s offer. Otherwise, his son would not escape punishment as well.
Of course, he would not just let the outworlder go like this. No one that had crossed him or his family was allowed an easy life, especially an outworlder. He would think of another way to deal with this matter.
After coming to this comprehension, he decided to not drag this matter. He said, “the prince is wise. We shall do as the prince had instructed. I thank you for the leniency you have shown my son. I will make sure his blunder will not be repeated.”
Walter cringed hearing his father’s words. He knew he was in for a scolding after this. He turned back and glared at Jack. Not only had he failed to enact his revenge. He was even going to suffer further. He could not forgive this outworlder for the suffering he had caused him.
Jack caught Walter’s stare. He gave him a simple shrug and smile. Walter felt like exploding where he stood, but his feeling mattered not as his father started dragging him as they walked away.
“Magistrate Warren!” Alonzo called out. The magistrate’s group stopped upon hearing the call.
“Yes, my prince? Is there any other instruction?” Magistrate Warren answered politely.
Alonzo turned to him and said seriously, “I know of your reputation. Please believe me when I say if there is anything untoward that happens to mister Storm Wind. I will make it my personal mission to investigate the cause, and you will be my primary suspect. Do I make myself clear?”
Magistrate Warren’s eyes gave a savage glint, but his expression remained neutral and unperturbed. “If such a thing happened, I will cooperate fully with the investigation. Please be rest assured that I will not cause any trouble to mister Storm Wind here.”
“That will be the best then,” Alonzo nodded.
The Magistrate group then left the premises. Jack and the others could only see their back, but if they could see the magistrate’s face at the time, they would see him exhibiting a very ugly scowl. The magistrate swore in his heart that he would make the outworlder pay for this humiliation, one way or the other.
Huh, it’s over? Jack thought as he watched the magistrate’s departing back. He had not made a sound since he came out. The NPCs were bickering so intensely that he felt like he was watching a drama. Before he knew it, the discord was over. There was no effort on his part at all. Could this be the luck stat from Goddess blessing at work? He wondered amusingly. And here he thought that he would have a hard time with the NPCs due to his action against Walter, so the matter was resolved just like this?
‘Well, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,’ he said out loud in his mind. He would take an easy outcome any day. He was not the kind of guy who preferred hard challenges when there was another easy way out available.
“What gift horse? What in tarnation are you thinking about?” Asked Peniel who heard his thought.
‘nothing. Just a saying from where I came from,’ Jack replied.
The atmosphere in front of commander Quintus’ residence was much more relaxed now without the magistrate’s group. Lindsey sheathed her weapon. Commander Quintus dismissed his soldiers to go back on patrol around the residence. Bailey and Alonzo approached them.
“So, you are a prince?” Jack asked Alonzo, at last breaking his silence all this time. If he didn’t start talking, others might have thought him scared shitless from the ordeal.
Alonzo nodded.
“He is the third prince of King Themos. The youngest one of his highness’ offspring,” commander Quintus informed. “The young prince had requested to join formal training of the squires, and for his identity to be kept secret. He didn’t want special privileges during the training. Only me, Lindsey, and Lieutenant Bailey knew about this.”
Jack was scanning the prince with Inspect again during commander Quintus’ explanation. His description was still just a squire, no mention of a prince, so NPC’s identity could also be hidden if they willed it, Jack thought. He also realized no wonder Alonzo had that beacon thing to summon Bailey when they were in trouble inside the cave yesterday. He must have had it for an emergency when he needed help.
The expressions of the other cadets were rather complex. They didn’t expect that the comrade they had been training with all this time was a prince. They might even have made fun of or teased him in the past. Walter most likely did. With his status exposed now, they won’t be able to treat him the same way anymore.
“Thank you for the help, Prince Alonzo,” Jack said sincerely with a bow. “I owe you one.”
Alonzo shook his head, “that’s nothing. It was nothing compared to your bravery yesterday. I meant it when I called you my benefactor. I hoped we can still be friends despite my status.”
“It will be my honor to befriend a prince,” Jack replied.
“That’s good to hear. Many others might balk after learning my identity.”
Jack was confused. Was he kidding? Wouldn’t it be more correct to say that many others would be swarming to try to be his friends once they learned of his identity? But Jack didn’t think too much about it.
They did indeed come for the planned training trip. Lindsey was already prepared so they could depart immediately. Jack had all his belonging in his personal inventory bag, so there was never a need to prepare, he did feel a little reluctant for leaving the Training Ground though.
Yet, it did get a little boring only practicing on wooden dummies, better to fight real monsters. He couldn’t just focus on skill proficiencies after all, level was still the primary parameter of power.
He went together with the five cadets. Lieutenant Bailey was still the one overseeing their training, so she came along as well. The three cadets acted timid throughout the journey. Jack couldn’t blame them though, he assumed that was due to the revelation that Alonzo was a prince. Only Lindsey treated Alonzo the same way as before.
They went a little further than yesterday for the training cave. It was a series of cave holes at the side of the mountain cliff. They didn’t look too different from yesterday’s mining caves though. But instead of miners working around, all they see were soldiers guarding the caves. Maybe to keep watch that none of the monsters came out to create havoc in the city.
The soldiers saluted Bailey when they approached. She stopped in front of one of the caves. There was a plate sign fixed above. Number twenty was carved on that plate.
Bailey turned to everyone. “All right, go in. You five should be clear on the drill already. As for Storm Wind, this was a training cave suitable for level 20. The monsters inside ranged from level twenty to twenty-five, but all basic monsters. So you shall not encounter a problem like yesterday. Even if you meet a level 25 monster, as long as you cooperate well, all of you should have no problem.”
Everyone nodded. Jack mimicked them.
“Okay, same as yesterday. Mister Storm Wind would take the lead,” Bailey said.
Oh, come on! Sister, this was my first time here, the others were frequent already here. Shouldn’t one of them take charge? Furthermore, Alonzo was a prince. Wouldn’t it be weird if he commanded a prince?
He looked at the others, they didn’t seem to mind. Even Alonzo had saluted him once Bailey announced him as the leader. Oh, such an obedient prince. He was more suited in the military than in the palace court.
Oh, well, since no one objected, he yelled out, “all right, you apes! We don’t have all day. Move out!”
The cadets looked at each other before following Jack into the cave.
