As the study settled down, Edward cleared his throat and proposed an idea.

Edward wanted to form an elite company of 100 men.

Tarin and Johan both looked confused while Aureus looked further intrigued. Brandon had the look of an eager spectator.

“Just 100 men? Isn’t the number a little too low?” Johan asked what was surfacing in everyone’s mind.

Brandon and Tarin were chuckling now while Aureus kept his peace.

Edward continued in a pleasant manner, “Highness I wish to create a preliminary version of a form of my realm’s special forces.”

“These men will specialize in taking out military objectives that even 1000 men could not easily take out.”

Now, Tarin and Johan had a switch in expression and were hanging on to every word.

“Continue,” Aureus said.

“The preliminary strike force I am envisioning is a fast, hard-hitting force of 100 elite men.”

“They will cross terrain that is considered not possible to be crossed by the enemy and strike at weak and unguarded critical points.”

“For example, while a battle is ongoing, these 100 men can appear from the back and take down an enemy’s headquarters.”

“An assassin of sorts, one may say.”

Aureus gave no expression as he cited examples of this type of operations being done in the Three Realms prior and many powers have learned to take countermeasures against such tactics.

“Highness, if an army of 100 sphere users were to appear undetected outside your own headquarters in the midst of battle, how would you grade your chances?”

Johan looked as if the answer need not be said and was about to speak up when Aureus raised a hand in his direction.

“Quite good, I would say”. Aureus had a modest smile as he give replied..

Tarin was laughing at the side now.

“If they had the strength equivalent of a thousand men?”

Aureus was still smiling as he said he would be forced to retreat.

“What about your command staff?”

“I see, it's a stratagem of taking the King, regardless.” Aureus cupped his chin as he replied. “Tell me, how do you intend to compose your forces?”

Edward listed three pieces. A golem mage, 100 spirit beasts and 100 recruits drawn from Everdawn’s forces. The incentive of recruitment will be dependent on his ability to upgrade monster and spirit cores.

“Tarin, Johan, what are your opinions?” Aureus asked.

Johan replied that such a strike force is well balanced and small enough to send through dangerous territories to strike key objectives.

Tarin ventured that there is a high chance of success for this type of operations in the Outer realm due to the lack of airships. None of the other forces will be expecting stealth insertion tactics. Using the company for a critical first blow would be ideal.

Aureus was silent for several moments before giving his approval. He further stated that Everdawn will the resource cost required for recruitment as well as providing subsidies for the purchase of sphere equipment and aether gems.

“ I will discuss further with you on the spirit beast aspect on a later date. The sourcing of a golem mage is all yours though.”

Tarin than stated his interest in the formation of this special forces and requested to join as an adviser with Johan.

Aureus looked towards Edward.

Edward turned towards Tarin and Johan and cupped his hands while saying that he would be more than delighted to accept.

“Edward, I will look forward to the creation of your elite company,” Aureus said. “Brandon, see me tomorrow morning at your earliest convenience.”

“Concerns, councillors?” Aureus looked round the room, “Very well, dismissed. Have a good night.”

—

The next morning at dawn, Brandon took a hasty breakfast before heading towards the castle’s study.

As he knocked and entered, he found Aureus perusing reports with a meal by the side.

“Aureus, have you forgotten what Sage Mynir taught us? Do one thing at one time with one’s whole heart? It is rather unbecoming of a royal prince to be eating while working.”

“He also said to determine one’s truth by oneself and not simply accept what is said by another no matter how venerable,” Aureus returned without even pausing.

Aureus then looked up with a smile, “Bread? The castle’s baker is excellent in her craft.”

“No thanks, I ate before coming.”

“Aureus, how do you gauge our chances of recruiting the underground tribes?”

Aureus shook his head by way of reply.

“I concur, some of them may be exiles from the core realm but that does not mean they will turn their backs on their brethren in the Coalition.” Brandon agreed as he contemplated.

“As much as I wish to recruit them, we cannot put our hopes on it. Moving forward , we should look at upgrading the existing labor pool in Everdawn.” Aures replied while circling some sections of the report he was reading.

“Brandon, work with the various guilds in increasing their capacity to accept apprentices as well as conducting classes for population who are able to attend. If needs be, I can issue a royal decree to help you wring heads.”

Brandon stretched his neck as he stated that he has several plans in place such as the creation of job fairs and market manipulation via spreading rumors of provincial contracts.

As Brandon moved towards the study window, he expressed his thoughts that with the gates closed, a stock exchange institute is meaningless. Banking and administration will need a rudimentary framework in the near future.

As Aureus set aside his reports, he pulled up a golden spatial pouch. Indicating with a wave of his hand, he mentioned that before leaving for the Outer realm, he exchanged most of his personal resources with Imperalis guilds for blueprints. A number of the blueprints he had on hand were of magitech tools and machine shops.

“I would take their guarantee with a heavy pinch of salt though. God knows, the number of times Father needed a heavy drink after dealing with them.” said Brandon as he rolled his eyes.

“Aureus, what do you intend to specialize our southern settlement in? There is no way we can compete head on with the Iron range in terms of products.”

Aureus took out Edward’s pistol and placed in on the desk.

“Point taken, if you have technologies on that level, I believe Everdawn can distinguish itself even from the Iron Range.”

“We will need to carve out our own niche areas in the road to come. We shall discuss this further after I return from the Arctine Ranges. I intend to head towards the contested lands and the Coalition’s borders while I am there.”

“To scout out the various underground tribes?”

“Yes, I believe some of them may be enticed over to Everdawn. Well, it will not hurt to at least gain intelligence.”

—

Over the next few weeks, Edward can be seen all over Everdawn city as he visited various military outfits. The only exception was the mercenary guild which he left well alone. He would meet with one individual at a time and would always summon a bottle of water after finishing the meeting.

During the first week of Edward’s recruitment, Aureus sent a few small boxes of grade 2 and 3 monster cores as well as a Everdawn credit note. Many servants gossiped that glows of red and green could be seen from Edward’s room at night however no one dared to approach the room when the glows could be seen.

Aureus turned a deaf ear to those rumors and Tarin even encouraged those rumors further by adding ludicrous stories that Edward was from a rare branch aether ability creation.

Johan and Brandon were having a late night meal at the kitchen when they overheard the servants talking. They could only smile at each other and Johan had difficulty dipping his bread into his mushroom soup as he heard stories about how Edward was a distinguished person from the MagiTech institute specializing in creating abilities that will overturn the battlefield in one swoop.

Brandon was enjoying the show until one of the servants declared that Edward was turning normal ores into elemental ores with the help of secret techniques that prince Aureus brought back from the Scattered Kingdoms. He spat wine when the servant declared he saw the rainbow hues of the various elemental ores from Edward’s room. His face was screwed in such a manner that Johan choked on his bread.

After that, the two wolfed down their food at top speed before leaving the kitchens.