"What? Establishing an assassin organization?" Rian widened his eyes in surprise.
The revelation left him utterly taken aback.
The notion of establishing an assassin organization was so unexpected that he never fathomed it would be Arthur's proposition.
Initially, he had entertained the possibility that Arthur's request could involve joining his ranks as a subordinate or providing protection.
However, the idea of establishing such an organization of assassins sent his heart racing.
The reason being that he had never personally founded an organization from the ground up.
In fact, the Black Swan organization itself was not his brainchild; he had merely assumed leadership after being appointed by his predecessor.
Despite his initial shock, he was resolute in fulfilling Arthur's request, even if it proved challenging.
He held steadfast to his commitment and viewed the promise he had made to Arthur as a solemn oath he could not break.
Anticipating Rian's surprise, Arthur had foreseen it.
It was understandable that someone of his esteemed stature embarking on the establishment of an assassin organization might seem peculiar.
However, the organization he sought to create was not just another ordinary assassin group but rather a specialized force tailored exclusively for himself.
Just as David had his clandestine army of shadows, Arthur desired to forge his own formidable army, subject to his command.
This is very important considering that an army like David's shadow army is really needed either to kill others who interfere with his plans or to spy on enemies.
Furthermore, having such an army would alleviate the challenges he faced when conducting investigations beyond the borders of the Balka Empire, making them more manageable and under his control.
Arthur sighed and took a sip of his tea, contemplating his words.
"Indeed, constructing an assassin organization, or rather, establishing a specialized force directly under my command, is intended to carry out tasks that I am unable to undertake directly," he remarked casually, his gaze fixed intently on Rian.
Upon hearing this, Rian grasped the significance behind Arthur's reference to "things I can't do" and couldn't help but nod in understanding.
"I understand," Rian replied.
"So, what would you suggest as the first course of action?" He inquired, attentive to Arthur's forthcoming explanation.
Despite his prior experience as a leader within an assassin organization and his familiarity with the responsibilities it entailed, starting from scratch presented its own set of challenges.
Moreover, Rian recognized that Arthur might possess valuable insights and a superior plan to guide his endeavor.
Arthur nodded and proceeded to provide an explanation.
"Naturally, I have already made the necessary preparations for your tasks," Arthur assured.
"Firstly, I will send you to Arkham, the capital of the Balka Empire. There, you will locate two individuals who will undoubtedly assist you in the establishment of our organization."
Upon hearing this, Rian couldn't help but be slightly taken aback, his thoughts echoing, "Find two people?"
However, before he could dwell further on his surprise, Arthur reached into his pocket, retrieving two scrolls that materialized in his palm.
"Here, these scrolls contain the profiles of the two individuals, along with details regarding their designated roles within the organization," Arthur explained meticulously, extending the scrolls towards Rian.
Rian gratefully accepted the two scrolls, carefully stowing them in his pocket.
"Very well, I will search for them, Young Master Arthur." Rian promptly agreed, trusting in Arthur's guidance without hesitation.
Without delay, Arthur proceeded with his instructions.
"Secondly, I wish to provide you with a companion in this endeavor of building the organization," Arthur stated casually.
"Companion?" Rian contemplated the notion for a moment but swiftly dismissed the question from his mind.
Recognizing that he was merely carrying out Arthur's directives, Rian held the belief that the recommended companion would undoubtedly provide valuable assistance.
Arthur took a deep breath. His gaze was fixed on Rian with a serious expression as he continued.
"The third and final instruction is of utmost importance," Arthur emphasized.
Rian maintained a contemplative silence, fully engrossed in his thoughts.
"After you have amassed sufficient strength, I want you to systematically target and engage every existing assassin organization, from the smallest to the largest, in a series of calculated stages. This approach will rapidly bolster the ranks of our army," Arthur explained.
Upon hearing this, Rian responded promptly, determination evident in his voice: "Understood! You can count on me!"
With resolute determination, Rian pledged to carry out the task with unwavering dedication.
This old-fashioned yet effective strategy allowed Rian to cultivate his strength discreetly, ensuring his safety.
By systematically targeting smaller assassin organizations and gradually progressing towards larger ones, Rian could establish his dominance in the shadows.
Arthur had meticulously considered various scenarios, guaranteeing Rian's safety.
Moreover, Rian's strength was already remarkable, perhaps even surpassing that of most individuals in the Balka Empire, excluding the formidable power of the three great families.
With the addition of the two individuals he would find and the companion Arthur planned to provide, Arthur held unwavering confidence in Rian's inevitable success.
"And I will also provide you with abundant resources to facilitate your rapid and discreet growth."
"When you believe you have acquired enough strength, you may consider targeting the Black Swan organization and seizing what is rightfully yours," Arthur stated, a smile playing on his lips.
Arthur's intentions were evident: to seek vengeance and eliminate everyone who had betrayed Rian.
Furthermore, Arthur was well aware of Rian's deep-rooted animosity towards the person who had betrayed him in the past.
This revelation would undoubtedly serve as a significant morale booster for Rian, further igniting his motivation.
As anticipated, upon hearing Arthur's words, Rian's eyes immediately sharpened, and an intense aura of murderous intent emanated from his being.
"You are absolutely correct, Young Master Arthur," Rian affirmed resolutely. Gradually, he took a deep breath, calming himself and regaining composure.
Arthur's expression softened into a faint smile, satisfied with Rian's resolute response.
Suddenly recalling something, Rian swiftly retrieved a piece of paper from his pocket, offering it to Arthur.
"By the way, Young Master Arthur, this is the theory you requested," Rian stated, extending the paper to Arthur.
"Oh? I nearly forgot," Arthur admitted, accepting the paper from Rian's outstretched hand.
Without delay, Rian proceeded to clarify, "I've written down my teori on mana manipulation, but please bear in mind that these are just my personal thoughts, Young Master Arthur."
He continued with a hint of embarrassment, scratching his head, "So, please forgive me if it turns out to be of no use or lacks significance."
Arthur smiled subtly and tucked the paper away without immediately reading its contents.
He recognized the significance of the theory and intended to thoroughly analyze and refine it, as it held the potential to augment his own power.
Retaining an air of nonchalance, Arthur responded with assurance, "No need to worry; I am confident that I can perfect it."
Acknowledging Arthur's confidence, Rian nodded, choosing not to delve further into the matter.
Rian recognized that his theory was merely based on his own thoughts, and he wasn't certain if it would prove effective or not.
Considering the circumstances he had faced before, he hadn't had the opportunity to delve deeper into the subject or conduct extensive research.
With those considerations in mind, Rian decided not to dwell on them too much and focused on the tasks at hand.
Following their discussion, the two engaged in an hour-long conversation, addressing crucial matters and mapping out important tasks.
"Well, you can head back to your room for now," Arthur concluded, signaling the end of their conversation.
Rian nodded, fully comprehending the instruction, and rose from the couch.
"Thank you for everything you've done, Young Master Arthur." Rian said this and bowed his head respectfully.
Rian was deeply moved by the magnitude of Arthur's generosity, understanding that he could never adequately repay him for everything he had received.
The invaluable gifts of his wife's and daughter's whereabouts, along with the opportunity to amass power, presented a potential avenue for him to achieve his long-awaited revenge.
Arthur, sensing Rian's deep gratitude, simply raised his hand lightly and said, "You're welcome. Don't dwell on it too much."
Rian smiled gratefully and lowered his head once more, saying, "Alright, then, I will take my leave with your permission."
Just as Rian was about to turn around, Arthur's voice resonated in his ears.
"Remember, don't forget to visit your family. Your wife and daughter have been eagerly awaiting your return for far too long."
Upon hearing those words, a slight tremor ran through Rian's body.
He offered a small nod in acknowledgment and exited the room.
Observing Rian's departure, Arthur let out a chuckle and rose from his seat on the couch.
Making his way toward the window, he peered out at the ongoing heavy rain.
With deliberate movements, Arthur retrieved a letter from his pants pocket and unfolded it.
For several minutes, he perused its contents, yet his expression remained unchanged, maintaining an air of indifference.
Returning his gaze to the rain-soaked scenery outside, Arthur murmured to himself, "In a few days, the border between the south and east will plunge into chaos, coinciding with my visit to the Imperial Palace."
"The tension is...escalating..."
Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m