18 Reward and Request!

"So, Sir Adrian, what would you like as a reward? You can ask for anything that is within my power," Count Nadino asked, carrying a gentle smile on his face.

After refusing for a while, Adrian reluctantly agreed to the reward. As he started contemplating the reward, a familiar sound welcomed him.

*ding*

Side Quest - Join the Nexus Academy of the Three Nations

[Join the Nexus Academy, funded by the three neighboring Kingdoms. The elites from the three kingdoms join this prestigious academy, ensuring their success. Created by the three weakest kingdoms among the seven empires. To survive against the other four prominent empires, the three kingdoms decided to unite by sending their elites to this single academy to become warriors of the nation.]

Time limit - 6 years

"What the? The quests keep popping out at random. How am I supposed to join the academy which is only attended by nobles or royals of the three kingdoms? Although I can join if I show my full prowess, but that will cancel the main quest," Adrian kept thinking when suddenly he heard Demios' voice in his head. "What are you thinking about so hard, you idiot? Just ask the chance to attend that academy as a reward from this count."

"Oh right." Adrian was jolted awake as he was reminded about the reward. The count was waiting patiently for Adrian's response.

"I would like to join the Nexus Academy of the Three Nations, Sir," Adrian responded in a calm tone.

"What?" Tauras blurted out. He was not expecting this request, but the count raised his hand as he stopped Tauras from speaking further.

"Alright, I will get you to join the academy when you turn 18. May I ask how old are you right now?" Count inquired after agreeing to Adrian's request.

"I will turn 16 in a month, sir," Adrian replied with a smile on his face.

Adrian will turn 13 in a month but as he was hiding his real age he answered 16.

"Alright, after 2 years, I will help you in getting admitted to the Nexus Academy of the Three Nations. This is my promise to you in the name of the Nadino family," Count Nadino announced.

"Now that all this talk about the past is over, can you tell me what happened and why all the people I saw had worried looks on their faces?" Adrian inquired, upon entering Antinia city, All the citizens had worried looks on their faces, and it was worse in the case of knights.

"It's all because of that bastard, Count Philip." Count Nadino gritted his teeth before continuing, "After we solved the monster issue of the forest, Antinia started flourishing even more than before, and the profits made that bastard jealous. So to acquire Antinia, he claimed that he is the rightful owner of Antinia and it should come under his territory."

"What? But it shouldn't be a problem even if he claims anything without any proof or logic," Adrian muttered.

"It wouldn't be a problem if he didn't have any proof. Antinia city was under the Philip County some decades ago. It was bought by my grandfather when he was the Count. Antinia was a land covered by the forests, but my grandfather and father developed it into what it is today.

And now that bastard claims that his grandfather never sold Antinia to us. We also don't have the papers that proved the transaction. Now, that bastard has applied for a territorial war to the North Nobles Federation, which has already been accepted by them. The federation asked us to either give up Antinia to Philip or fight the territorial war," Count Nadino finished his explanation.

"So what are you gonna do?" Adrian inquired.

"Of course, we are going to fight," Count clenched his fist as he yelled, "I will not let that bastard take a single piece of my land!"

"Alright, good luck with that," Adrian said with a smile.

"Huh? What do you mean? Aren't you gonna fight in the war as the vice captain of the knights?" Count asked as a frown appeared on his face.

"Hmph, you think I will fight for you for free. Keep dreaming," Adrian thought in his mind.

In reality, his words were, "I came here to resign today from the Nadino knight order. Here is my resignation," Adrian placed a letter on the table, getting up to leave.

"Wait! Sir Adrian, at least tell me the reason for this sudden resignation, and if it is something in my power, I will fulfill any of your requests," Count spoke with an anxious look.

"It's not sudden, sir. I had joined the order with the intention of leaving after a month of service, but due to the sudden circumstances, I was busy for 2 months, that's why I wasn't able to inform you. Even this visit was also with the intention of informing you about my resignation," Adrian replied, getting up to leave once again.

"Wait! Can't you leave after the war? I will even make you captain of the Nadino knights," Count again offered with an anxious look.

"Sir, it is not about me. I am just a child right now and have been away from my mother for a long time now. She must be very worried about me. I just needed some money before; that was the reason for my visit to this city," Adrian answered with a deep smile.

"You? Just a child? You killed a fxcking Troll which I couldn't even push back in one strike, and you call yourself a child!" The Count roared in his mind as he listened to Adrian acting as a child who misses his mother.

"How about I give your mother a big house to live in Antinia and reward you with 5000 gold coins after the war. I will also guarantee your mother's safety. If you want anything else, just name it; I will do my best to provide it. Just fight this war from my side," Count offered after figuring out the intention behind Adrian's words.

"The Count catches on quick, hehe," Adrian thought before answering with a smile, "Alright, sir, I will help you in this war, but please guarantee my mother's safety even after the war."

"Oh, thank you! And I swear to not let anyone harm your mother in my territory till the day I am the Count," Count announced. "You can come tomorrow with your mother. I will arrange the place for your mother to stay by tomorrow."

After discussing some other details, Adrian left for his house.

"Father, aren't you paying too much for Sir Adrian? Although he is powerful, there are also other powerful knights in the Vradel kingdom other than him. You could've hired them for half the price which you offered to Sir Adrian," Valark said, approaching his father after they were left alone.

"That's where you need to learn, son. Although there may be knights or mercenaries as powerful as Sir Adrian. But have you even seen the extent of Sir Adrian's full prowess? He just used one strike to kill that huge troll which was wreaking havoc on the battlefield. How many people in the empire are able to do that? Another thing is that he is young, so we can create good relations with him from the start. If I had a daughter, I would have married her to him. His mother can also help in creating those good relations.

The second reason was that I was afraid that he might join that bastard Philip's side. What is the amount that I offered to Sir Adrian compared to the whole Antinia City," Count Nadino explained.

"Yes, Father, you are right in your reasoning. I was shortsighted and couldn't see the bigger picture. I will try my best to learn from you," Valark muttered in a voice carrying admiration for Count Nadino.

"Hahaha, yes, you should learn as much as you can, my son," Count laughed, praising his son.