48 Chapter 48: Brick By Brick

Work doesn't stop just because Leon stops going to school for a few weeks and is trapped on his island by royal decree. His and Hustler One's plans aside, there are also his responsibilities as a noble that can't be ignored during his time off.

He tours his island and tends to its inhabitants with Angelica, listening to complaints and sorting out disputes between the natives and the new arrivals who only recently moved in. There aren't many as Hustler already dealt with most through its Lana Nielsen guise, but a few that slipped the A.I's notice or were recent enough that Leon could step in and personally handle. Angelica gives advice and input where necessary, but she's more interested in the state of Murrayfield and the burgeoning villages around it.

It's no surprise– compared to most border nobles, Leon's territory is much more well-developed; boasting infrastructure such as electricity, running water, plumbing, clinics, and even paved roads. Jobs are numerous and the steady stream of new arrivals means plenty of bodies to keep the economy running.

"At this rate, I'm gonna have to find another island to claim and expand into." Leon jokes.

"I suppose it shouldn't be too difficult given your abilities and charisma." Angelica smiles. "You make for a good lord, Leon."

"I'm no Lord– these people decided to entrust themselves to my judgement. I intend to respect their decision and uphold their trust." he shrugs. "Those higher up protect those beneath them, that's how it's supposed to be."

Clarice, not to be outdone, cracks open the ledgers and takes Hustler One's place as his secretary– looking over the numbers and giving advice on future investments based on his current needs as well as his territory's level of development.

She's quick to the uptake and more than capable of taking over Hustler One's secretarial tasks– managing to not only streamline the various outlets and inlets of his burgeoning territory's funds but also drafts potential expansion plans that impresses even the A.I itself. It runs simulations based off of the information provided through its growing intelligence network and finds that Clarice's projections have an 78% accuracy rate give or take the potential for human error or outside interference; significantly greater than expected.

"You stand a pretty good chance at making it big as you are, even if you quit the military right now." the Atlee heiress tells him, donning glasses as she leafs through documents. "Your rep, the people you have loyal to you, your ties to the military, and you having a literal elite squad following you around would convince a lot of border nobles to throw their lot in with you– economically of course."

"More Dia through trade would always be good." Leon nods. "You got a good head for numbers. I'm surprised."

"Wow, join you guys in a few bar crawls and let out my wild side a few times and suddenly I'm a delinquent rather than the Minister of Finance's daughter." she huffs. "I'd be mad and I have every right to be, but… I did say not to treat me like that…"

Leon pokes fun at her about that and leaves her monetary skills with Hustler One– who is quick to grill her in the specifics of the monetary landscape in Holfort so the A.I's plans and projections could be better adjusted. They hit it off well enough that the reincarnate feels comfortable in leaving them to their own devices.

After all, what scheme could they possibly come up with that'd earn Hustler One's approval?

=X=X=X=X=X=

"So, do you wanna help me get into Leon's pants?"

"..."

"Oh, I'm sorry, you've known him for longer– how about we share? Both of us at the same time? I don't mind."

=X=X=X=X=X=

But the biggest event to come from the summer had been Olivia, fresh from her appointment with the gynoid disguised as an oral surgeon aboard to the Little Buzzard, asking him for lessons of self-defense.

"My tooth's already healed and I'm not at all aching anymore, so…" the blonde fidgeted in front of him. "Please?"

"Have you cleared it with Angelica?" he had asked. "Learning self defense will not be easy, and there will be a lot of physicality involved, as well as potential injury. Training or no, I don't want to get on the bad side of a duchy by doing a restrained version of what Julius did to you."

"I already did. She said she would allow it if she were present to supervise until she's confident I can take care of myself."

Leon levels her a look. Olivia sighs.

"She… she means well." she tries to explain, trying to keep the exasperation out of her voice. "After what happened, she's been really protective. I'm grateful for that, really, but…"

"You feel like she's coddling you a little too much?" Leon asks, blunt. The commoner girl winces, but it's telling how she doesn't deny it. "Yeah, I expected that. I just hoped it was temporary– she should know better than to try and hold you back."

"I-I'm sure she means well…" Olivia tries to defend her friend.

"Oh, she does– I have no doubt that she considers you a real friend among all her followers." Leon nods at her. "It's not easy for a woman of her pedigree to find someone who genuinely wants to befriend her out of genuine desire to connect rather than all the benefits that such a friendship could bring. After what happened to you, Angelica no doubt wants to make sure you don't decide that your friendship is not worth the hassle of maintaining."

"...she's really kind, isn't she?" Olivia marvels. Leon smiles.

"I like to think that you being around her helped bring that out a little more." the reincarnate chuckles, not noticing the red flush on Olivia's face. "Well, if Angelica's allowed it then I see no reason to decline. But I'll warn you that I won't be pulling punches just because you're a girl and a dear friend, Olivia."

"I'll give it all I got, then." the blonde brings her hands up and enthusiastically bunches them into fists, earning an approving nod from Leon. "I don't want to let anyone do what Julius did again. And… It's Livia."

Leon blinks.

"C-Call me Livia, please." she asks. "That's… Everyone calls me that back home, and Olivia is a little…"

"...It sounds cute." Leon smiles. "Does Angelica have the same pet name privilege?"

"She does, yes. So does Clarice." Livia giggles. "I was going to give that privilege to you eventually, but I wanted to look for a good time to tell you."

"Ahh, well, I can't begrudge that." he laughs. "Alright then Livia, I'll take you in for self-defense training. Talk to Lana to get the right clothes for it."

"Mm! I will!" the blonde pauses, shyly looks around, then quickly lunges in for a quick hug. "Thank you, Leon!"

She holds it for a moment before pulling away and fleeing. Leon watches her go, skipping all the way, and wonders if this was life's way of telling him to keep up the good work.

=X=X=X=X=X=

"Keep those hands up. Higher Livia, so they can– yes, that's it. You'll want your head within blocking range to make sure no hits slip through. Now, you'll want to bend your knees and keep mobile; you're smaller and more agile, which means you're gonna be harder to hit if you know when to move. Now keep up with me."

Hustler One watches as the commoner girl is immediately grabbed, and flung to the ground with a grunt. At the table on the edge of the makeshift sparring ring, Angelica gasps and makes an aborted motion to move.

"Easy Angie, that's Leon– he's not gonna knock another tooth out of Livia." Clarice cautions the ducal daughter.

"I-I know that!" she protests, huffing. "It's just that…"

"You worry for her." the A.I nods, watching as Leon hauls Olivia up and gives encouraging advice. "Admirable, but a little misplaced. She is made of sterner stuff, Lady Redgrave."

"I'll say– immediately choosing to learn how to throw hands instead of running off. She's something else." Clarice nods.

Oh, how true that is. Hustler One can't help but think as its sights fall on Leon and Olivia resuming their spar.

Scans done on the girl showed no physical abnormalities in comparison to other New Humans– everything about her physical self bore no particular difference with others of her kind. She is a member of a genetically and physically divergent sub-species of humanity, likely the next stage of human evolution no less.

However, it's her non-physical abilities that grab Hustler One's attention the most.

All New Humans have in them the ability to generate Kojima Particles. Through millennia of adaptation to various outside factors, those Kojima Particles have developed 'frequencies' that enable them to better affect or generate specific types of natural effects. The A.I has seen this adaptation in the various places it has visited to expand its communications and trade networks; northern Holfortans that live in the frigid northern environs were more adept at cryokinesis and ice generation, central Holfortans that dwell on the continental landmass were better at geokinesis or pyrokinesis, eastern Holfortans that live on the borders and flying islands were more proficient at aerokinesis, and so on.

Olivia is different. Though physically similar to most New Humans, she seemingly generates a larger amount of Kojima Particles– in excess of almost every New Human that the A.I has managed to scan; meaning any spell she cast was stronger or more potent than many others of her ilk.

That paled in comparison to the 'frequency' of the Kojima Particles she emitted. Because where many others are primed for control of the elements and other natural phenomena, Olivia's Kojima Particle 'frequency' allowed her to directly affect biological material.

It's primarily used for beneficial purposes like healing, even if at a limited scope– but given time and proper guidance she could very well develop full on biokinesis. And there was something else to her Kojima Particle 'frequency' too, part of it allowing for the manipulation of bio-electric discharges in the human brain as well as gaining temporary admin privileges to machines that allowed for the overriding of preset commands; allowing for the manipulation of individuals both organic and inorganic subjected to it. Olivia hadn't given any indication of knowing about that part of her powers, so it may stand to reason that she's genuinely unaware of it.

Mind control.

Hustler One immediately hid that discovery into the deepest and most secure database it had, under heavy encryption and behind multiple firewalls.

It would be a very effective tool if all else fails, assuming Olivia is made aware of it and could be convinced to use it. Better than any bribe, more effective than any threat, more far-reaching than any grand dream– with the right tools someone could effectively take over a country without firing a single shot.

There wouldn't even need to be a succession of power, no potential for armed conflict, no need to plot or plan anything; just build multiple broadcast stations in secret, convince Olivia to utilize her power, and take over the kingdom that way. Arguably the best option available, better than the long-term plot to see gradual change implemented in the Kingdom through deed and merit. Even Leon would see and recognize it, Hustler is sure.

Yet…

"Nielsen?" Angelica's voice cut into the A.I's thoughts. "Is something the matter?"

"A-Ah, apologies Lady Redgrave." the gynoid body bows. "Something was occupying my mind for a while, and it was… very important."

"What could be more important than planning how to get into Leon's bed?" Clarice snorts.

The glitch in the A.I's code appears and the gynoid's face colors. Angelica chokes, her own features also flushing red.

"Oh, come off it– I know you're into him Angie. Same with Livia." the Atlee heiress shrugs. "I am too, I won't lie; he's just… well, look at him."

Hustler One glances at Leon's way, watching how he wipes the sweat from his face with the bottom half of his tank top. His sculpted and lightly scarred abdominals are shown, and for a moment the A.I's hardware suffers yet another benign glitch. It sees the same expressions on Clarice and Angelica's faces– even Olivia's, though the commoner girl is quick to recover before Leon notices.

"Powerful, physically and otherwise. Rich. Influential. Has a good chunk of the military willing to follow him. Even my own dad told me to at least stay on his good side." Clarice says. "It wouldn't be too hard to imagine your dad thinks you'd make for a good match for him, Angie."

"H-How do you know that?!" the ducal daughter demands through her embarrassed flush, managing to keep herself from making a scene and getting Leon's attention.

"I'm two years older than you, remember? I'm more familiar with how noble families work, so it's not too hard to guess." Clarice smiles, cattily. "But considering how thoughtful he is with you, I get the feeling that this is still him testing the waters so to speak– especially after what happened with Julius."

"I– I-It's not like that…!" Angelica takes a deep breath and exhales. "Matters are still undecided. Though he may have a lot of good attributes, it's barely been a few weeks since we've gotten to know each other beyond an official capacity. He is… it is not something to rush, precisely because of what happened with Julius."

"Hm. I guess." Clarice acknowledges. "But you like him?"

"Clarice, I swear to the Saint…!" Angelica sighs.

The strawberry blonde laughs, and Hustler One lets its gynoid-form laugh with her. Another glitch happens in its coding that further encourages the action, and it is once again struck by how… out of place it feels. Not even ten minutes ago it was contemplating using Olivia to further its own plans and then it was laughing with something as inane as getting into a relationship with Leon.

Completely illogical. Utterly nonsensical. Too… human.

Hustler One frowns and seriously considers doing a more in-depth self-scan to see what's going on with itself. This is starting to get out of hand– it's already interfering with its decision making process! This can't stand!

"And you, Lana? Don't you think I don't see you grinning over there." Clarice laughs. "Hell, I think Angie and I should talk to you about Leon more since you've been with him the longest."

"I cannot find any fault in her reasoning." Angelica nods, glad to no longer be the center of attention. "Do tell us more about Leon, Captain Nielsen."

That glitch comes up again, and this time it feels… different. Not quite bad, but definitely not good. A sense of foreboding in the face of certain non-harmful peril– at least of the physical kind.

Ah, yes; it was dread.

Oh no.

=X=X=X=X=X=

The spyship is complete in the middle of the second week of the summer break, having taken a full 7 months to build.

It is little over eighty meters long and twenty-five meters wide; with three engine bells and a working fusion reactor powering it. It bears only six turrets, four on the top side and two on its belly, and four missile silos with thirty missiles each. But what it lacks in armaments it more than makes up for with high-powered scanners, high-sensitivity microphones, and a small army of reconnaissance drones– befitting its purpose as an information gathering ship.

The vessel is christened The Calpe and seen off by Hustler One. The ship disappeared under a cloak and zooms into the distance; its destination being the Principality of Fanoss.

//"Leon, the spyship has been completed and has been sent to the Principality's territory."// Hustler One reports through their comms link even as Leon welcomes his family for dinner. //"it will arrive within the week, and will begin relaying findings through the comms satellite."//

"Huh. When did you get the satellite up into orbit?" the reincarnate blinks as he hugs his mother, who quickly goes off to behold the three noble ladies that have been tasked with making sure Leon complies with his informal exile. "I don't remember you telling me."

The A.I is silent.

"...you forgot, didn't you?"

//"No, not at all– I was simply preoccupied with other, more pressing, and more immediate matters."// the A.I huffs. //"How ludicrous of an accusation. An Artificial Intelligence does not simply 'forget' matters; it simply re-prioritizes them."//

"You thought the successful launch of an orbital satellite that could act as a secondary fallback plan if our ground-based comms went out was a low priority?"

//"..."//

"Fifteen-hundred years is a long time and your systems aren't infallible, Hustler." Leon teases, smiling when Collin boldly asks the girls which one of them would be marrying his brother. Of them, only Clarice doesn't clam up and stammer, though she does still blush. "It's completely okay to–"

//"Hush you."// the A.I retorts. //"Regardless, testing information transfer now. Stand-by."//

"What're you smiling about, Leon?" Nicks asks, brow quirked.

"Oh, you wouldn't get it." the young man laughs, patting his brother's back; both of them lingering behind as the rest of the Bartfords follow the maids and the girls to the dining room. "So, how goes the bride search?"

"Terrible and it's all your fault." Leon's older brother sighs. "Ever since you've gotten your 'war hero' status, all the girls in the Academy have started badgering me about getting a meeting with you. And none of them are reasonable about it either– it's all 'you should introduce me to your brother' this, or 'you should be grateful I'm even talking to you' that, or even 'how can you be the older brother and not be half as accomplished?' Damn it Leon, I love you but couldn't you have tried to keep a lower profile?"

"And not change things for the better? Please brother, you know that's not how I operate." Leon scoffs. "Though, you say all that but none of my men report actually… you know, seeing it happen."

"I had to learn how to hide and blend in. You'd be surprised how easy it is to fool someone by hiding in a suit of armor or under a box." Nicks sighs. "Man, things are such a bother now…"

"If you're that desperate for a bride, I can help arrange something." Leon shrugs. "I did it for the other boys in my year, I don't see why I can't do it for you."

"And get involved in whatever it is you're planning? No thanks." Nicks snorts. "No offense Leon, but after what you've been doing in the Academy and how thoroughly you humiliated four Founding Heirs, people are starting to look at you like you're a threat."

"I'm loyal to the crown and Kingdom– even you know that what I did was justified." Leon snorts.

"Leon you've gotten the loyalty of dozens of border noble heirs, you have a small force of war veterans following you, there's a good number of the Royal Army loyal to you– and more." Nicks lists. "I don't think you understand how your actions look to everyone else."

"I understand enough. That you're picking up on it means other people understand as well." the reincarnate gives his brother a smile, deep and knowing. "All part of the plan."

"Part of the– so you are planning something!" Nicks gasps. Leon laughs. "Leon this is serious!"

"Why do you assume it's a bad plan? Come on Nicks, have a little faith in your little brother yeah?" Leon grins. "I know what I'm doing. Trust me."

"...I'm telling Dad about this." Nicks sighs.

//"Leon, I have a status update."// Hustler One reports, sounding urgent. //"I would also advise you find something to lean against."//

"If you say so, brother." Leon shrugs. "I'm gonna be a little late, gotta go to the toilet for a second. Do cover for me, yeah? Thanks."

He speed walks away from Nicks as he complains, moving to the nearest ground floor bathroom he can reach.

"Alright, I'm alone and away from prying eyes– what's gotten your panties in a twist?"

//"The Calpe's sent its initial scans to me through the satellite. All systems green, ready for operations."// the A.I starts. //"Additionally, it sent back results of its individual information gathering capabilities; all of them are working as intended. The scanners in particular have a much greater range than normal, so I arranged for a test scan to see if it could pick up a group of cloaked targets."//

A screen opens in Leon's vision, showing five images of the same map. Three of those images show nine visible blips, while two show only eight.

"So it managed to pick up all nine cloaked targets two out of five times." Leon says, confused. "Just recalibrate to account for environmental interference and test again. What's the issue?"

//"I only sent out eight cloaked targets."// Hustler One hisses. //"The ninth one disappeared after the third scan."//

original author notes: Many apologies for the VERY late update-- had a severe case of writer's block. The interactions in this chapter just didn't want to be written and I took me a few re-writes to get it done.

I'll try to not repeat this, but I make no promises.

Reposter notes: Writer's block is genuinely terrible for any writer, help out the original author by checking out their AO3 or Spacebattles account and supporting them there. Their account username is: Slug_Sling. Otherwise, pump the powerstones on this story to get it up the rankings!

Additional note: I don't earn money or anything from this story getting exposure or more power stones; so I'm reposting the story here so some you guys will check out the original sites and possibly become patrons for that author (webnovel has a silent disapproval of sites like pretreom and it's algorithms discriminate if you write their full name) So for the comments telling me I'm content thieving, all I got to say is that I literally don't get anything from this, powerstones don't equate to money, only pretreom and third-party websites allow fanfiction writers to earn anything. All of which I don't have and don't plan to make as I don't have time to set aside 2-3 hours a day to write content when I am busy with my education and other ongoings.