hotmtlnovel Chapter 202
Chapter 202
Training Ground No. 4.
Theo was there, engaged in physical training, a rare visit after some time. He had something important to tell his followers.
“What are you planning to do?”
Theo had recently started speaking informally with his subordinates.
It was initially a bit awkward for him, but the household retainers seemed to feel more at ease this way.
This change came on Julius’s advice, and Theo had cautiously tested it out, only to find that his followers were delighted.
They even said it finally felt like the distance between them and their young lord had disappeared.
Their honesty caught Theo off guard—they’d been worrying over how to narrow the gap this whole time.
“Before being their lord, they truly see me as family.”
It gave him an odd sense of warmth.
“Yes, my lord!”
“Things are going wild out there!”
“You—no, the young lord—should make some kind of statement or declaration, shouldn’t you?”
His subordinates paused their training to bring him gossip and updates from Winterer.
The news about the three candidates who had announced their challenge for the Hangryong position was creating a frenzy.
On top of that, individuals who had been striving to become Laurel Swords were also entering the fray.
This competition had even earned itself a dramatic name:
**—The Hangryong War (亢龍戰).
“I thought they’d announce it, but this is faster than expected.”
Theo figured it was likely a planned event by the Central Agency to stir excitement and settle the lingering tension.
The position of the Nine Dragons was that prestigious.
They were hailed as the North’s finest swordsmen, world-class masters, those who had unlocked their mental imagery and could carve space itself.
“And after this, they might even start talking about the Ascension Dragon War (登龍戰).”
Theo sighed lightly as he thought of Hilda’s group, already marked by the Black Dragon as the next contenders.
He’d tried to gather information on Wellington, but nothing substantial had come up yet.
As he was lost in thought, he noticed his followers staring at him intently. Shaking his head, he answered bluntly.
“I’m not interested.”
“What? What do you mean!?”
“You, of all people, should claim that position, my lord!”
“What if the new Hangryong starts plotting something against you?”
His followers jumped up and down as if it were their own problem.
Snicker.
Theo couldn’t help but chuckle.
“This isn’t the time to laugh!”
“Ah, sorry.”
Even as he waved his hand dismissively, Theo couldn’t hide the smile lingering on his face.
“There’s no need to worry. It’s not like I’m completely without plans.”
“Then?”
Theo smiled wordlessly.
From this point on, it was a matter of politics, and there was no benefit in them knowing too much.
“Can I win the Hangryong position with my current strength? How far can I go? I’m curious, but revealing my abilities now would be risky.”
Opinions about Theo’s skills varied widely among the public.
Some speculated that he was merely at the level of an advanced swordsman.
Others acknowledged his rapid growth for his age but believed it was mostly hype, putting him at best near the threshold of an advanced swordsman.
A few claimed he had reached the level of a Swordsman of the Dragon Gate, while some boldly suggested he might even rival the Laurel Swords.
The decisive victory against Troiban, where he had led the White Steel Dragon Vanguard to triumph and crossed swords with Granada, was often cited as proof of his strength.
But these were just rumors. There was no clear consensus, and the White Steel Dragon Vanguard, who might know the truth, remained tight-lipped.
“Well, my lord, this might come across as an extremely presumptuous request. I understand it could be seen as favoritism or collusion due to personal ties, but... um...”
“Go on, speak. Don’t worry about it.”
Encouraged by his peers’ silent nods to hurry up, Cybil clenched his eyes shut and shouted:
“Please take us to the East with you, my lord! We wish to follow you!”
“...!”
Theo’s eyes widened in surprise.
Misinterpreting the silence as disapproval, Cybil hurried to add,
“Of course, we know we’re still far from being worthy! We understand we’re not yet good enough to stand by your side. But we haven’t just been sitting idle!”
His trembling voice grew steadier as he spoke, as though a dam had burst, releasing all the words he’d kept bottled up.
“We’ve been training at dawn every single day, hoping for the day we could stand by your side! We’ve held discussions on swordsmanship, honed our skills together, and—!”
“Hahaha!”
Cybil’s passionate declaration was abruptly interrupted by Theo’s hearty laughter.
Confusion spread across the faces of Cybil and the other followers.
Why is he laughing all of a sudden?
Did we say something wrong?
They exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions showing a mix of concern and bewilderment.
Theo’s laughter didn’t subside quickly—it echoed for so long that tears formed at the corners of his eyes.
“Actually, I was planning to ask you all the same thing.”
The eyes of Cybil and the others grew wide in surprise.
Theo smirked, his lips curling into a sly grin.
“Before heading to the East, I’m planning to recruit a large number of volunteers. Among them, those with exceptional talent will be assigned to Squad Six of the White Steel Dragon Vanguard.”
“...!”
“...!”
“...!”
“Of course, if I’m picking recruits, I’d prefer those I already know and trust. So, any of you interested?”
Cybil was the first to shoot his hand into the air.
“Yes! Me! I—ah!”
“Move aside, you idiot! You’re blocking my view of the young lord!”
“Don’t forget me, my lord! I’m interested too!”
“Where should we submit our applications?”
Watching them scramble to volunteer was so amusing that Theo had to spend a good while calming them down.
“At least I won’t have to worry about finding people to take with me. I was afraid they might not want to come.”
Although his followers expressed gratitude toward Theo, it was Theo who felt he owed them thanks.
He’d been racking his brain over how to organize Squad Six of the White Steel Dragon Vanguard while also identifying reliable individuals to accompany him to the East.
Sure, a large-scale recruitment campaign would attract plenty of applicants, but trust was another matter entirely.
“Many of them would likely be spies from other factions.”
However, with the followers from Training Ground No. 4 forming the backbone, Theo’s concerns eased.
Not only had these people been loyal to him before his rise to prominence, but they had also continued to sharpen their skills through diligent training.
Taking them to the East meant he could transplant Ragnar’s culture directly into his new domain—a significant advantage.
Aside from the followers of Training Ground No. 4, Theo also had plans to bring other groups:
The Kriemhild Knights from the floating archipelago.
The Bacchus Clan’s direct forces.
A faction from the White Tower.
And even the Dragon Corps.
“On the way to the East, I should also stop by ‘that place.’”
It was time to reap the seeds he had planted across various regions.
“The biggest challenge is how to structure Squad Six.”
Squad Six wouldn’t just be any group; they were effectively his personal guard and would serve as the core of Ragnar’s power if Theo ascended the throne.
“There’s only one person I can entrust with leading the guard.”
But would they agree to join him?
Theo turned his gaze toward where the White Steel Dragon Vanguard was stationed, his mind already strategizing his next move.