Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The New Semester
There is no panic. Nope. None at all, not even a little bit, from anyone or anything. Definitely no scrambling of search teams and multiple Gen One Nineballs to locate the missing ninth signature. Nosireebob nope.
//"I'll tell you if anything happens, but I have five Gen One Nineball units flying out with drone support. If it turns out that you're needed, I'll scrambled a Gen Two Nineball unit for you and you can fly in to personally assist."//
"Fucking hell, how did we miss this?" Leon washes his face as the toilet flushes. "A faction with tech comparable to ours– maybe better. Oh Saint above, there's gonna be so many revisions to the plan…"
//"We can discuss the finer details later– you have guests to entertain and an image to maintain."// the A.I reminds it. //"Wouldn't want to make your parents mad."//
"My parents are the least of our concerns now…" Leon snorts, but Hustler isn't wrong. "Alright, I'll leave it to you holler if anything comes up. I'm serious."
The A.I gives its assurances as Leon returns to the dining room where he has a nice, relaxing dinner with his family and the three young women at the table– all of whom do their best to impress Leon's parents. They try not to make it too obvious, but it's… a little obvious.
"I believe Leon to possess the sort of capability that would compliment any woman well, regardless of his rank or capabilities." Angelica posits. "He is quite accomplished in name and deed, even if his methods are… unconventional. I-In a good way, of course."
"He's a good man under that rough exterior. I don't know how you raised him, but it was the right way and every parent in the kingdom has to learn of it." Clarice tells Luce and Barcus. "I might take lessons from you when I end up having a kid– it'd help a lot, no doubt!"
"Leon's very kind and honest. It's nice to be told upfront about what issues I have and how I can fix it– even if it hurts to hear." Olivia smiles at him. "He always looks like he has things handled no matter what they may be. And… I-I'll stop there before I embarrass myself."
"Oh no, please, do go on! I want to hear this!" Barcus laughs.
"It's okay dear, you can be honest." Luce smiles. "All of you can– no-one will judge."
Jenna opens her mouth. Leon and two other legs kick her, and she immediately shuts up.
Dinner lasts longer than expected, with plenty of talking being done over the food as Angelica, Clarice, and Olivia do their best to impress the Bartfords. And they do such a good job that the conversation continues even after dinner, where the whole group congregates in the living room where conversation continues. Leon is forced to take center stage, retelling his experiences in the military– specifically his exploits in Carkus. He tries to put on a good show, and from the wide eyes he gets from his audience he thinks he does a good job.
After a while, he stops worrying about the unforeseen development in his and Hustler One's plans and starts to actually have fun with. His body relaxes, and his expressions stop being so forced. It delights his audience even more though they do press him for details on his fight with the King of Carkus– hanging onto every detail and listening to every word.
The night becomes less stressful when he has to retell his exploits in Lura, and he… puts it in the back of his mind. For now.
=X=X=X=X=X=
His family lingers a few days to tour his territory and offer their thoughts and opinions on how Leon's developing his land. Mostly from Barcus and Nicks– Luce is quickly whisked away by the housewives of Murrayfield to fish for gossip, Collin finds other kids to play with, Finley gets lost in one of the well-stocked bookstores, while Jenna quickly gains a following of fetching young men whom she is quick to milk of all use. Leon watches her and gestures Cethe to stand next to him, the beastwoman hurrying to comply.
"Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid." Leon orders Cethe. "I'll reimburse the boys she swindles, but I don't want word of her taking men to bed spreading in my town."
"By your command, Lord Bartford." the beastwoman maid bows. "I will see her chastity safe. Though…"
"Yes?" Leon blinks.
"What if the suitors are women?"
"...my sister fancies women?"
"I ask for clarity's sake, sir."
"Well, just… Make sure she doesn't wind up doing anything bad."
"Yes, lord."
Information is shared and, though Leon can't just give his father several dozen crates of the new Kalashnikov-line guns, he does set up a trade deal that would be effective when his informal exile ends. In turn, his father pledges his forces to the defense of Leon's territory. Tit-for-tat.
The Bartfords return home not long after that, satisfied and bearing promises of a better future. Luce hugs all three girls and whispers things into their ears, while Barcus gives them all a single firm nod that immediately has them beaming and happy. Hustler One just pats Leon's shoulder and gives him the least sincere look of sympathy he's seen it wear. He settles for smacking and groping the gynoid body's ass when no-one's looking, smirking all the way.
//"Very funny."// the A.I huffs.
"It was to me." Leon laughs. "So, how'd the search go?"
//"About as well as you expect."// the A.I reports, waving with Leon as the Aurellian Hawk takes off. //"No traces remained in the vicinity of the ninth blip's area, and I've run every possible sensor I had at my disposal thrice to make doubly sure."//
"So they squirted. Damn." Leon grunts. "And given how remote the area is, they could be anywhere by now."
//"Indeed. I will start sending out dedicated search parties to see if they pick anything up. In the meantime, your summer break is almost over and I believe you are to be prepare for a deployment into anti-piracy operations."//
"Yeah. Man, I'm starting to regret not getting a personal warship." Leon sighs. "Oh well. I'll make do with an AC."
//"Speaking of, when is Sybil supposed to return? I've seen neither hair nor hide of her since she left with the Arclight heir."//
"Oh, I'm sure she's doing just fine." Leon chuckles.
=X=X=X=X=X=
"P-Pleash…! N-No more…!"
"Oh no, you don't get to worm out this– you started this mess so you get to suffer the consequences! Chris, get me the toy."
"No! Not the toy! Please, anything but that!"
"And lube it up with the good stuff, you know which one. I want her to feel every inch of it as she watches you pound my pussy raw!"
"...Not that I mind the roleplay in any significant capacity, quite the opposite really, but… s-shouldn't I be sending you back to Leon's territory soon?"
"Eh, the boss won't mind– he's great like that. Now stop lollygagging and get me the toy! Claire's being particularly feisty here!"
"Chris! Chris, please– y-you're my fiancee! Don't listen to her!"
"Ooh, you're already wet! Faster Chris! And unbuckle your belt while you do that– I'm soaked through here!"
=X=X=X=X=X=
The rest of summer break passes quickly. Between managing his land, training Olivia, working with Angelica and Clarice to better his territory and make better future inroads, getting to know the two noble ladies better, and updating the plan with Hustler One, things show themselves to be surprisingly busy for Leon. He barely has enough time to sleep in and even less time to unwind and relax. But he pushes through regardless. He used to be a Raven after all– he's managed to survive off of less things.
Halfway through the last week of the break, ships bearing Atlee and Redgrave coats arrive escorting a royal vessel, which itself carries an evaluator from the palace. The man is mostly there to inquire with Leon's 'minder' as to how obedient he was in following through with the royal orders, while the Atlee and Redgrave ships pick up their respective daughters. Olivia chooses to stay behind to try and squeeze in some additional training, something Leon was more than willing to do.
Chris comes back to deliver Sybil and a freshly repaired Kingslayer Armor. He doesn't stay long, though explains that he'll be busy with his engagement. Apparently, him coming clean and introducing the beastwoman to his fiancee helped smooth things over immensely; enough that the Renauds and the Arclights were more than willing to negotiate a proper wedding in due time.
"...and you're okay with that? I thought your heart only had room for Syb?"
"It does, yes. But Claire has been… adamant in her involvement."
"Ah, okay. Just make sure you sit down and have a serious discussion so everyone can get what they want and not feel left out, okay?"
Chris gives Leon a look that has him wondering if he'd said something stupid. Regardless, he stays long enough to give Olivia some swordsmanship pointers before going back to the Arclight estate and prepare for the next school semester.
On the day summer break ends, he and Olivia return to the capital ready and rejuvenated for the rest of the school year. His arrival at the Academy is welcomed by his Ravens and the border noble heirs whom he helped find brides for, standing in two separate lines at the gate with straight backs and firm expressions.
"Welcome back, commander!" they all greet, completely ignoring how the other students gawk at the display of loyalty. "We hope your summer has been good!"
"...could you guys at least pretend to not be like this?" Leon sighs. "Alright, disperse. Back to your dorm rooms, don't clog up the main thoroughfare."
"Sir!" they acknowledge and, as one, about face and march away. Davian and Harold remain, however– grinning at him and Olivia.
"If you're gonna ask about my love life, I will fold you two into pretzels." Leon threatens. Olivia giggles. "I'm serious! Livia might be giggling, but I'll do it!"
"'Livia', huh?" Davian smirks.
"Abe's gonna fucking rich at the end of this." Harold cackles.
The reincarnate takes three steps to the two before Olivia puts a hand on his chest, firmly pushing him back. He turns to her, betrayed, and the blonde just giggles harder as she arrests his forward movement. She beams at him pats his chest twice.
"No bullying." she tells him.
"They're my followers and they're mocking me!" Leon protests, and the two stooges laugh. "See?! Look, they're literally laughing at me!"
"You can deal with them later, when I'm not watching." Olivia compromises. "It's true that they're being mean, but I won't stand for you doing bad things where I can intervene."
"...you're lucky I like you." Leon grumps, and his two followers laugh harder. "I'll get my pound of flesh eventually, mark my words."
"Good." Olivia nods, pleased. "Oh, there's Angie! Hold on, I need to greet her!"
"Take your time, I'm not going anywhere." Leon laughs, watching her scurry off to the Redgrave clique. He waits for her to get well out of earshot before whacking Harold and Davian over the head with an open hand. "Fuck you."
"S-Sorry sir, but you know how funny it is! We just can't help it!" Harold guffaws. "She's got you wrapped around her finger now, huh?"
Leon smacks him again.
"Whatever." Leon snorts. "Anything to report over the summer?"
"Eh, not much. Pirate activity's waning, people are still a little anxious about us but have more or less accepted it, and… that's about it." Davian shrugs. "I'll have some of the new guys complie a report and send it your way for proper review– assuming you'll still be in the Academy by then."
"I'll be here until I get called off to deal with the pirates, or whatever the crown wants me to make less troublesome." Leon grunts. "Harold?"
"Not much to report on my end either. Though…" he pauses. "My brothers in the Royal Army report the deployment of a regiment to the western territories. Nobody knows why exactly, only rumors– from monster attacks, to pirate raids, to a secessionist movement; though that's pretty stupid since the western territories are pretty loyal. But the fact that a whole Royal Army regiment was deployed in the first place means…"
"Some kind of fuckery's happening over in the west territories." Leon muses.
"The commander would've been deployed in that case, wouldn't he have?" Davian blinks.
"I was serving an informal exile, and I doubt anyone would want to see my powerbase grow if I somehow pulled it off." Leon grunts. "Probably some Earl or Marquis wanting to get some extra prestige and win favors in the court."
(In his office, Marquis Frampton Fia Malcolm sneezes into his tea.)
"Well, regardless," Leon continues. "It's not like we can do anything about it here. Do we have anything to prepare for in school in the coming days?"
"Uh… I think there's the school festival coming up?" Harold guesses. "I don't know if attendance is mandatory though…"
"It's not." a new voice interrupts. "But most do it anyway to try and get a fiancee out of it and boost their rep."
"Donovan." Leon nods at the approaching senior. "Clarice not with you?"
"She went to speak with Lady Redgrave and Olivia." the older student tilts his head at the trio of girls, and low there's Clarice hugging Olivia. "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything, but I bring a letter from Lord Atlee." he hands Leon that same letter. "I know not of its contents, but I hope it's a 'thank you' for handling his daughter over the summer."
"It was no trouble. Not like I could do anything after she snuck aboard the Little Buzzard anyway." Leon laughs. "But back to the school festival– attendance is not mandatory, you said?"
"Nope. It's heavily encouraged, but ultimately not needed." he shakes his head. "Though, given your reputation I expect a great deal of people are interested to see if you'll do anything come the festival. Your 'coffee party' was quite the show, after all."
"Hmph; I make people see their folly and now everyone wants a repeat performance." Leon grunts.
"Aww, c'mon commander! It'll be fun!" Harold laughs.
"You're just hoping I bring out the burlesque dancers again, damn it." the reincarnate huffs.
"I heard about that from the grapevine." Donovan perks up. "Did you really–?"
"Yes."
"O-On school grounds–?!"
"Yes, with the faculty's approval no less." Leon waves him off, and crosses his arms. "But no, if it's not mandatory then I won't be doing anything and that's final."
Notes: The author is edging real hard with those tease lemons; let's hope he/she stops before we pull out the pitchforks and demand it! Oh and don't forget to storage your power-stones here, I will keep them right here and safe!
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