Chapter 89: Check

Luke looked outside the window and looked at Nash beside him. They are now on the estate because they have business here. Luke turned to face Liam, who was standing behind him and spoke up.

"Let's go."

Liam nodded and Nash created a teleportation spell and let themselves be transported. When Luke opened his eyes again, he was now inside a large room filled with papers and books. There are also cupboards and tea sets in the corner. And in the middle of that room, there is a desk filled with paper with a blonde golden boy on it, busy scribbling on the paper. He was so busy that he didn't even notice Luke's arrival.

Luke took a step forward and smiled at Lance, who was busy signing papers. He wanted to surprise him a little.

"Sup."

Shing! Clank!

Luke stood frozen in place when a sword suddenly tried to swing towards him. Thankfully, Liam and the imperceptible Nash stopped it in time with their swords and shields, or Luke's neck would have been severed. Luke then saw Lance holding the sword with a shocked expression on his face. Luke was surprised too, so surprised that he cursed unintentionally.

"What the fuck Lance?"

"Oh? It's you? I thought it was an assassin or something."

Lance then put down his sword and put it back under the table. Luke and Liam just looked at these actions with dumbfounded expressions. Lance just acted as if he hadn't just swung a sword with a pure murderous aura earlier. When Lance finally put the sword under the table, he then put his intertwined hands below his chin and smiled at Luke, who was looking at him with shock.

"So, what does the hero of the continent want from me? And why did you suddenly barge into my office? Want to die?"

"....What was that earlier?"

"Hmm? Instincts."

"What the fuck?"

"Watch your mouth."

Luke zipped his mouth and looked at Lance with a frown.

•Dad! His swing and speed earlier were both strong and fast! He is almost at the level of a swordmaster!

'What? Why didn't you tell me? You should've told me a long time ago!'

It seems that Nash somewhat reads what is on Luke's mind and speaks with a confused expression.

•I thought you already knew, so I just kept quiet about it.

Luke just sighed and massaged his head. He feels like he'll have a headache. There is nothing written in the novel about Lance being a swordsman. All Luke knew about his abilities was that he had the power of the [Shield].

Luke sighed and sat down on the nearest couch and looked at Lance, who was looking at him with confusion. Luke then asked him with a concerned stare.

"Are you..... Being assassinated daily or something? You've got the instincts of a wild animal, your highness."

"Hey, that's rude. But you are right, I am being assassinated daily. I'm assassinated so frequently that I can't leave the office without a knife in my pocket."

"So that's why you trained swordsmanship skills?"

Lance looked at Luke as if he was funny, which made Luke feel annoyed.

"Trained? No, no. I did not take swordsmanship classes or anything."

"...Then what's with that speed earlier? Swords are heavy you know?"

"I just got used to it. Whenever I feel an unidentified presence near me, I just reflexively swing my sword, like earlier."

Luke looked at Lance. He then learned just how hard Lance's life was. Being assassinated daily while handling paperwork with no personal knights or anything... It must be hard.

'But I guess this is the specialty of Lance. Being able to multitask. Managing a whole kingdom, protecting himself from assassins, and dealing with family problems. Wow, he's a lot stronger than I expected.'

Luke nodded quietly as if he understood. He then suddenly patted Lance's shoulder, which made Lance flinch. But Luke didn't care about that and gave Lance a thumbs up.

"Don't worry, after the war, your influence will surely go through the roof. That means your parents will hesitate about whether to kill you or not."

Lance's eyes squinted at Luke's serious face. Lance then sighed and flicked Luke's hands away from his shoulder.

"Isn't that why I am working hard?"

"Yes, and it is only a matter of time for you to be king, your highness."

Luke and Lance smiled at each other. Liam just looked at this scene and sighed while shaking his head. Then Liam spoke up.

"If you want, I can teach you swordsmanship, your highness."

Lance looked at Liam with surprise.

"Really? You'll do that?"

Liam was about to nod, but he suddenly stopped. He then remembered that he just got his power on a random day with no training whatsoever.

"Nevermind I.... I didn't receive proper training, so I just rely on my instincts too...."

Lance and Luke were both silent while looking at the embarrassed Liam. Lance then turned his head towards Luke and Luke looked at him with a frown.

"Don't look at me, I just rely on my instincts too."

'Actually, I just randomly swing my sword and my aura is just an aura with no special skills in it....'

Lance looked at Luke shrugging his face and Liam's red face from embarrassment with disbelief. He can't believe it: these two idiots in front of him are swordmasters, and they became so by instinct? You've got to be kidding. Lance just sighed.

"Well... I suppose we all rely on our instincts, don't we? We're a bunch of instinctive boys."

"....Your highness that sounds so lame."

"Shut it. Now, tell me what you want."

Luke then looked at Lance for a while before speaking.

"How's the iron giant doing?"

Lance frowned.

"Seriously? Did you come all the way here to ask me that? Why don't you just go there yourself?"

"Really? Can we?"

"Yeah, what's stopping you?"

"I thought that Ceb Mountain was only for authorized personnel. That is why I came to you to ask for your permission."

".....You banana."

"Hmm? Why am I a banana?"

"Haa! You can go back and forth in there as much as you want! I am not stopping you!"

"Okay. And your highness, can we ask for some cookies?"

Lance was silent. He then looked at Luke, who was looking at the glass cabinet that was filled with treats inside. He then asked in disbelief.

"... You came here for cookies, didn't you?"

"How did you know?"

Lance sighed. He then learned that the real reason Luke came here was just because of the cookies and not for permission to go to Mount Ceb. But it is quite understandable. Luke is the type of guy who goes wherever he wants without permission.

Luke looked at Lance's sighing face. The true reason he came here was for the cookies. Nash kept nagging at him in his head, so he didn't have a choice.

•Dad! I want cookies! Uncle Lance's cookies are so good! However, of course, Little Ava's cookies are good too!

Luke just sighed and stood up. He then opened the glass cabinet and took out the jar of cookies inside. Luke then approached Liam and waved at the frowning Lance.

"Bye, bye, your highness."

Lance just sighed and massaged his head. He then made a shooing gesture.

"Just leave. Be gone."

Luke just nodded and teleported towards Mount Ceb. When Luke arrived, he looked around.

"Wow, everything is going smoother than I expected."

Luke could see all sorts of advanced weapons and armors. Luke and Liam kept on walking around. The inventors didn't notice them since they were busy, so Liam and Luke freely walked around while checking out the inventions.

"Luke? Liam?"

Luke and Liam turned their heads towards the voice who called them. They then noticed a sweaty Klein wiping his brow. He is also full of grease and oil. Luke didn't hesitate any longer and asked him.

"Where is it?"

"Follow me."

Liam and Luke then followed behind Klein. While on their way, other workers stopped and greeted Klein on the way. He seems to be the most respected person here. Luke then looked forward and saw a giant, tall cloth that seemed to be covering something. The iron giant must be in there. Klein approached it and opened the cloth for them and Luke then entered and looked up. He then saw a giant that was about 50 meters tall. Luke just stared at it while Liam looked at it with amazement and surprise.

•Dad! That is so big!!!! Bigger than Shawn!

Shawn is 20 meters and the iron giant is 50 meters. If Shawn was here, he would look like a child next to it. Luke nodded in satisfaction. Klein noticed this and made a proud face.

"This big guy is powered by mana stones. We inserted mana stones in every limb and joint and then connected it all towards the control system up there."

Klein then pointed towards the head of the giant. That is where the control system and the pilot will be. Luke smirked.

"It's very good. Keep it up."

Klein gulped at Luke's smirk. Luke then smiled at Klein and patted his shoulder.

"Why don't you pilot it?"

Klein was speechless while looking at Luke.

".... I thought you were going to be the pilot?"

Luke blinked a few times. What was Klein thinking when he thought Luke would pilot a giant?

"I can't pilot it. I don't know how. And you, the creator, know your creation more than anyone else, so I think you'll do well."

"Wait! Hold on! Why me?!"

Luke stared at Klein's nervous face.

"If you are worried about getting killed, don't worry, I got your back. Wouldn't it be thrilling if you came home with an amazing story to tell your daughter?"

Klein was silent. He seems to be thinking about something. Luke just patted his shoulder.

"I am not forcing you. Then, see you later."

Luke then exited the tent and walked forward. Liam looked at him with hesitation before speaking. He knew that the reason Klein was here was because he made a deal with Luke to see his family once everything was over.

"Brother Luke-"

"Don't worry. I don't delegate tasks to people who are incapable of performing them."

Liam zipped his mouth and looked at Luke's back with a gentle expression. He knew Luke wouldn't just throw someone to death if he wasn't sure he could save them. Luke didn't notice this and kept on walking.

Beep! Beep!

Luke and Liam stopped walking. Luke then took out his magic communication device from his pocket that was beeping red, and Nash immediately connected it. Luke and Liam enter a room devoid of people and stare at the screen. They then saw Erdene frowning.

"What's the matter, grandpa?"

•Dark Eye.

Luke and Liam's faces turned serious. Luke then asked.

"What about the Dark Eye?"

•They have now launched an attack on the Mer kingdom.

Luke sighed, knowing this was coming. Dark Eye is finished with Erdene, the closest is Mira, while the other three are unknown.

"We'll be on our way."