Chapter 21. Initiated mental training
"Victory! We won!"
"Yeah!!"
Laputa's soldiers who had been watching Kimura being caught atop the castle walls roared.
They had won.
It was not just a victory, but it was a grand victory in a situation where they were in an extreme disadvantage. It was a complete victory.
It was an inspiring achievement.
"Are any injured, or dead? Report!"
Commander James as soon as the battle ended, sought to quickly check the status of his soldiers.
"Platoon 1, None, sir!"
"Platoon 2, two injured!"
"Platoon 3, None, sir!"
Amazingly, there were no casualties.
Two soldiers who had suffered minor injuries were all the setbacks that Laputa suffered in the battle.
'My Lord, did you predict this would happen?'
James looked towards the watchtower that Kang Chul-In would have been in, and could not hide his awe.
"With the combination of troops that the enemy has, they will not win against us, no matter what they do."
Kang Chul-In, who had gained intel on the Burrow's troops, assured them. That they cannot lose, and that they will make an overwhelming victory.
And that had come true, right in front of his eyes.
"Walk faster!"
Meanwhile, Podorski and the other cavalrymen bound Kimura tightly with rope and returned to Laputa.
"Ugh…!"
Kimura was dragged along by the soldier named Podorski.
But… he looked a bit strange.
'What, what is that bounding method?'
'Scary…'
'how in the world did he tie it like that?'
In the minds of those looking, lots of questions arose.
Kimura was tightly bound in a very complicated and strange rope-tie, and it was tied so well that it did not allow for any movement from the head to the toes. It was enough to make everyone surprised.
Kang Chul-In too, was taken aback.
'Ha… this is driving me crazy.'
Kang Chul-In hid his face in his hands, as if he was tired.
Where Podorski learned this was unknown, but the rope-tie that was used on Kimura was a technique similar to the tortoise shell tie, commonly found in Japanese AVs.
A Japanese Sovereign bound with a tie found in Japanese pornography… it was ironic.
"Sovereign, it is a complete victory. But why do you seem…"
"No, nothing."
Kang Chul-In swatted his hand at Lucia's worried question.
"I probably did not sleep well last night."
Kang Chul-In who could not say that the tie method was lewd, just avoided the question saying that he was tired and moved his eyes towards Timothy.
"Timothy."
"Yes… Sovereign…"
Timothy looked as if he had lost his country. In reality, he did lose a country. From today, the Burrows would fall to Kang Chul-In's leadership.
"Your Sovereign is incompetent and foolish."
Timothy did not answer.
Although Kimura was incompetent and foolish, he was, up until a moment ago, still Timothy's owner who he had pledged all of his loyalty. He could not turn his back the moment Kimura had lost.
"And he abandoned you. If you still have loyalty to pledge to a leader like him, pledge it to me."
Timothy opened his eyes wide.
"So…sovereign…!"
"I don't know how it looks in your perspective, but I value men of talent. I don't know your capacity, but I like your loyalty. What do you think, would you grow this land together with me?"
It was an unforeseen proposal, but it was also an attractive proposal.
'Me, me… does he want this Timothy?'
Timothy could not speak, confused and jumbled at the sudden conciliation.
"You must need time. There, the sun sets."
Kang Chul-In pointed at the mountains.
"Decide before the sun sets and darkness comes. I am not that laid-back. Then, I will go see that arrogant monkey."
Kang Chul-In left, giving Timothy less than an hour to make a choice.
"Timothy."
Lucia called to Timothy, who was staring blankly.
"What are you contemplating?"
"What do you mean…"
"You have hit the jackpot right now. You have the opportunity of a lifetime right in front of you, but why are you not taking it?"
Lucia spoke in a serious tone. It was not the tone of treating a loser's advisor, but an advisor to an advisor.
"Us advisors, all of the land's service people have waited an infinite amount of time between the dimensions. For our Sovereign to come and lead us!"
"But we cannot choose Sovereigns. Only the Sovereigns make a choice. Only God knows what Sovereign will lead us. Am I wrong?"
"You.. you are right…"
"And a chance has been given to you to choose your Sovereign. Are you going to choose that incompetent Sovereign…"
Lucia raised her arm and pointed at the doors of Laputa. There was Kimura, who was being dragged and humiliated all tied up with the rope tie of Podorski.
"or choose an extraordinary Sovereign like mine. This time, the choice is entirely yours. However, the Sovereign's right hand is my spot so do not dare!"
Lucia's eyes burned.
"Anyways, the Sovereign has given you time, so think wisely. Also… the Sovereign has already granted you a pardon once."
"That… is true."
It was true.
If it was any other sovereign, they would have had Timothy's head at the start of dawn.
"Do not disappoint him. Although he has shown mercy, he is blood and iron at the core. This… is probably the last chance you will be given."
Lucia was saying, "there is no second chance". Timothy's choice was either to serve Kang Chul-In, or die.
"Then, I hope you make a wise decision."
Lucia with those words, quickly left the watchtower.
"Ah… Gods… what is this Timothy to do?"
Timothy who was now left alone, thought again and again.
Was he to remain loyal as an advisor to the end, or was he going to serve a new master? It was hard to decide. It was a problem too difficult to solve before the sunset.
When everyone was celebrating the victory, one person, Kang Chul-In was not rejoicing.
No, he was happy, but the material of his happiness differed.
If the others were purely celebrating the victory, Kang Chul-In was celebrating the rewards of the victory. He had won in the battle, and he had captured the leader of the enemy, Kimura. From today, the gold and surviving troops of the Burrows would fall into Kang Chul-In's hands. And…
'Timothy, he will prove useful.'
The old goblin was the biggest harvest.
Kang Chul-In wanted Timothy to pledge his loyalty to him. Because Timothy was too, an advisor. Like the 300 Sovereigns, there were also 300 advisors. Therefore, for each advisor, there was a [specialty]. A specialty usually for internal affairs. Maybe she was a special case, but he could not see Lucia's specialty.
However, Timothy was different.
Timothy in the eyes of Kang Chul-In had the skill of [Administration Master]. The capabilities of that skill were as follows:
-[Administration Master]
Level: 1 (Maximum Level 5)
Effect: Administration work performed, Efficiency +20%
Effect: Night Shift performed, efficiency +70%
Effect: Administration work performed, stamina +30%
It was a skill perfect to put to work on a desk. For Kang Chul-In, who's head spun just hearing the A in administration, Timothy was an extremely needed asset. If Timothy pledged himself to Kang Chul-In, he would for the rest of his life, until his death, be in front of a desk with papers. Kang Chul-In, thinking of this and that, arrived at the Sovereign hall where his throne was. In the Sovereign Hall, there were Commander James and ten soldiers, the cavalryman Podorski, and Kimura waiting for him.
"My Lord, my congratulations on the victory."
"Congratulations, my Lord!"
His soldiers sent awestruck congratulations, but Kang Chul-In was not satisfied with this boring win, so he did not show happiness.
It was an easy win.
Kimura was an idiot too stupid to even call Sovereign, and trash not worthy of dealing with. Kang Chul-In was not a man who would be satisfied with a victory over an incompetent leader.
Think about it.
Would a professional boxer be happy that he had won against an elementary school child? Would a strong, fit man celebrate a victory after twisting a chicken's neck?
If there was one who was happy, that person would be the true trash that laughed after stepping on the weak. It would not be an overstatement to say all those who enjoyed massacres of innocent people, were crazy.
"Enough congratulating. Now, I will teach this one a lesson so if you have a club that's suitable, bring it."
"Yes, Sovereign!"
At Kang Chul-In's orders, a soldier quickly went to fetch for a club.
"Are you Podorski?"
Kang Chul-In called for the cavalryman who had captured Kimura.
"Yes, my Lord. I am Podorski."
"…do you like handcuffs, by chance?"
"Huh? That… Handcuffs are a wonderful catalyst that makes boring sex life more interesting…"
Poldorski was about to explain something, a little embarrassed, but Kang Chul-In waved his hand and cut him off.
"Stop! Do not speak further."
"Yes. How do you know, my Lord, that I like handcuffs?"
"… don't try to know anything."
Kang Chul-In turned away.
The reason why Kang Chul-In asked such a question… was that Podorski looked just like the mascot of a public safety organization of a certain country. The round eyes, short haircut, the M shaped forehead like a monkey, the excessively large ears, and the brown hair. If he had worn the uniform, no one could deny that it was that mascot.
'A guy like that, used that crude rope-tie? You have to live long to see certain things.'
Kang Chul-In pressed his aching head tenderly and shook his head.
"…Anyways, you captured the enemy's leader, so you have done well. I will appoint you to Laputa's Director General."
"Thank you, my Lord!"
Podorski bowed to Kang Chul-In in gratitude of his unexpected raise in position.
"I, always wanted to be a cop ever since I was young!"
"…Seemed like it."
"How, how do you know that, my Lord!"
"Just… don't ask. You'll get hurt."
"Yes, Sovereign!"
Anyways, Podorski who said he wanted to be a cop since he was little, was given a position of determining Laputa's safety. Kang Chul-In looked at Podorski and thought that maybe a person's destiny was predetermined.
"James."
"Yes, my Lord."
"You did a good job as well. I will reward five gold."
"Oh, thank you my Lord!"
Five gold was about 2,000 dollars. James' smile reached his ears.
"I will postpone detailed rewards to a later time."
Kang Chul-In looked down at Kimura and spoke.
"Uh…Uh! Mmm.."
Kimura bound with Poldorski's rope and with a gag in his mouth was trying to say something. Although he could not understand it, he was almost a 100% sure Kimura was begging for him to spare his life.
"Young."
Kang Chul-In who had seen Kimura's face grimaced, as if to say the little boy was nothing.
"About a high-schooler? Well, I have no intentions of going easy anyway."
Kang Chul-In was not someone to go easy because the other was young.
"Uh…Uh! Mmm!!"
Kimura, overcome with horror yelled. He must have felt his life in danger looking at Kang Chul-In's eyes. It was that moment when the soldier who was looking for a club ran into the Sovereign Hall and handed Kang Chul-In an iron club.
"My Lord, here it is."
Coincidentally, the iron club resembled the shape of a baseball bat, making it perfect to hit someone. There was not a club better to teach someone a lesson.
"Undo that idiot's rope and make him lay in front of me."
Kang Chul-In ordered
It was time to train the monkey.