Reborn As Noble

Erinette smiled.

”Most of Armand’s enemies, especially the nobles and the Human Kingdom, only know Armand is advanced. But they don’t fully understand our weapons and defenses.”

Alf nodded. ”True, Your Majesty. They only know about the flying metal things, the weapons that shoot and explode, the mana relay towers, our strong army, our powerful economy, Armand being the main supplier of ore and food, especially our white gold, cocoa, Pekko fertilizer, frozen food, and, of course, our beloved Pekko. They’ve seen our floating iron ships, our warships, and other visible advancements, but they don’t know the details.”

”Yes, Your Majesty.” Erinette bowed gracefully. ”The only ones who truly know our capabilities are those who have experienced them in war...and died. None of the enemy spies have been able to get inside to take notes or fully understand Armand’s true strength.”

”Mm...” Garius nodded. He glanced at the map again.

”And since they might not know that Tybalt is under our protection and has access to come to Armand by sea, with his people able to land at our ports, we still have to alert our naval fleet and port authorities.”

Alf chuckled and shook his head. ”Your Majesty, we already have the Pekko who are always relaxing around Armand and Arjam. They’re naturally suspicious of newcomers and will openly follow anyone who seems out of place, squawking loudly the whole time.”

”Ah...” Garius let out a hearty laugh. ”You mean the recent incident, huh? Where one of the wild Pekko kicked a suspicious person to the ground, held them down with its talons, and squawked smugly, as if it had single-handedly captured an enemy spy in Arjam?”

”Yes, Your Majesty. Our port authorities and guards were already on alert at the time, but those Pekko couldn’t even wait. They just surrounded the spy and harassed him with their beaks, and one of them directly kicked the spy to the ground and held him down with its talons without even giving him a chance to talk... Let’s just say... our personnel at the time were... ’surprised.’”

”Aren’t they cute~?” Francesca smiled sweetly. ”That’s the specialty of the Pekko. No one knows, other than us and our soldiers, how special they are, able to use magic skills, possessing strong instincts and detection abilities, and capable of fighting back.”

Garius smiled, a hint of nostalgia in his expression. ”I was lucky to find Giddie when I was still a child. Later, he brought the whole flock. I still remember back then, Giddie wasn’t even as big as he is today. No one has records about the Pekko or their origin. I only know they’re a unique. They just suddenly appeared in Armand, and now...” Garius chuckled softly and shook his head. ”They’re everywhere around Armand.”

Francesca just smiled and mumbled softly. ”It’s a good thing they’re here...”

Garius tilted his head. ”Honey?”

Francesca glanced at him and kept her pure smile. ”Yes, dear?”

”Did you say something?”

”Nothing, dear. Nothing. I just find the Pekko cute~”

”Oh...” Garius glanced at the ceiling.

I wonder what my wife is saying.

Well... perhaps it’s not important anyway.

Garius shrugged and kept reading the report, turning the pages before pausing.

”Alf?”

”Yes, Your Majesty?” Alf leaned in and looked at the report Garius was showing.

”This... Amazarak?” Garius glanced up at Alf.

Alf placed his palm over his left chest. ”Yes, Your Majesty. This image was captured a day ago, as per your request.”

”Isn’t the Amazarak Kingdom supposed to be gone, no longer a nation? I believe it was supposed to be conquered by the Halfling Kingdom... right?”

”That was what was supposed to happen, Your Majesty,” Alf explained. ”But with the civil war currently raging within the Halfling Kingdom itself, Amazarak has been left without anyone to properly rule it.”

Garius glanced at the image and the report. ”So you’re telling me Amazarak is rebuilding... but isn’t their queen no longer ruling Amazarak, and her whereabouts are unknown? Even Zania, her sister, doesn’t have any information about her. And our intelligence and scout units haven’t been able to find her, right?”

”Yes, Your Majesty,” Alf agreed. ”Zephyra’s whereabouts remain unknown. The only information we have is from years ago, when Kenjirou attacked the Halfling Kingdom with her, and they lost. Even during the Celestial War, when Prince Javier fought the late King Edmund, Kenjirou attacked Prince Javier but was killed by Kliatana. Zephyra was nowhere near Kenjirou at the time. Our intelligence and Shadow units confirmed she wasn’t nearby.”

Garius kept looking at the image. ”If it’s not Zephyra who’s rebuilding her country... who is it?”

One of the pictures caught his attention, and his expression shifted to one of intense focus.

His face turned serious.

”Alf.”

”Yes, Your Majesty?”

”Inform Hesbeirn, Gilmon, Jarman, and Savran. Tell them we have little time left. Make sure the preparations are in full swing, train our soldiers, units, elites, and everyone else to be at their best.”

He gripped the report tightly. ”Alf... train all of our assassins, and tell our Shadow Master to train and select his best people. And Erinette?”

”Yes, Your Majesty?” Erinette stepped forward, her face calm and stern.

”Train all of our battle maid units, from special to elite. Make sure everyone is ready. Tell Rasdingen and our seamstresses to craft the best armor and outfits for our forces. Ensure everyone is equipped with Javier’s inventions, mana guns, magic blades, mana bombs, anything they can carry.”

”As you command, Your Majesty.”

”Alf?”

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

”Make sure our Pekko riders from all Pekko units are trained to their peak. Feed all the Pekko the best food, ensure they’re in top condition, and allocate more budget for their care.”

Garius glanced at the map again.

”We might be facing even more trouble... than just a civil war.”

Francesca glanced at the report in Garius’s hand, and her face turned serious.

”So... they also have that, huh?”

Garius pinched the bridge of his nose. ”Looks like we’re going to face even more troublesome enemies.”

Meanwhile, in the room.

Liana glanced at Javier, who sat looking at his mana personal computer with a serious expression.

”Young Master?”

”Hmm?” Javier glanced back at Liana.

”Yes, Liana?”

”Why do you look so serious?” Liana asked, her tone gentle but curious.

”Oh? Hmm... nothing. Maybe I’m just tired.”

”Then you should rest, Young Master~” Gloria gave him a narrow, sly glance. ”And perhaps we could... you know~”

Javier smiled faintly. ”Maybe after this. I’ll rest once I finish checking this. It won’t take long.”

”What are you looking at, Young Master?” Liana stepped forward and leaned in, looking at the screen.

”Hmm? This image is moving... Are you watching a video?”

”Ah... no. This is a live feed from... certain places.” Javier moved his mouse and pressed a few keys, zooming in with a smooth, seamless motion until the image focused on several men wearing unique armor under mana lights.

( End Of Chapter )