THE RISE OF THE KNIGHTS OF SINNERS
#20# NEW WEAPONS TESTING
Two weeks have passed since the return of King Charles. In Valdia, Leo was already preoccupied again by the construction of a secret basement. The activity increased with the reshuffling of troops in each Valdia military division. Even so busy, he did not have time to return to the palace even though there Licia always waited to invite him to talk.
He spent the days inside the project of building a basement that was tightly surrounded by wooden fortifications and guarded by over a thousand troops. Besides the workers, the Yurei, and Leo troops, the place was haram for others to enter. Thalia even Licia had forced her way in but they were actually blocked by the senses. There was a fight but it did not last long because indeed the ability of the senses was far above the two of them.
There were also suspicions from Licia about the secret construction. But, it was only a mild suspicion that was lost from his memory over time.
***
After 17 days had passed, Leo finally returned to the palace. Dirty in dust, he walked leisurely into the palace hall where Licia and Thalia were already waiting for him.
" you? " shock Leo saw Licia and Thalia in the hall.
" It's been a while! What are you doing there? You should have– "not finished talking Thalia, came 3 workers carrying a long box approaching Leo.
" Mister, " said one of the workers as he thrust the long box.
" It's been yes? Okay come with me to the room, " said Leo walking just past Thalia and Licia.
" lao! At least say hello to princess Licia! " sela Thalia.
" Sorry brother, I have an important affair. "briefly reply Leo up the stairs and leave the 2 beautiful women.
" Hhhh sorry Licia I can't seem to help you" Thalia said.
" If it wasn't my grandfather who told me to date him, I wouldn't want to ask him out! " saddened Licia who failed to fulfill the wishes of king Charles. He vented his frustration by stomping his feet many times while looking cynically at Leo.
" Aren't you expecting that date too? " task Thalia a little teasing.
Licia's face flushed red, "Ti-no, who expected it? "
" The hypocrite. Every night when you sleep always deliriously calling Leo's name, "reply Thalia who makes Licia even more embarrassed.
" Yahoo! How do you know ituu!? "
" Hey white gorilla. Every night I would go to your room to make sure no hit man was after you. So it's only natural I know that, "
" At least wake me up if you get into the room! Never mind, I'm going around town, "Licia stepped up the stairs.
" The city is outside, why are you going upstairs? "
" I'd like to take Melina, "
" Why not just take me? I can accompany you too, "god Thalia.
" Cih, who would invite a gorilla like you. I'd better be with Melina. Anyway, I see there's a lot of paper reports that need autographs from Uncle Aiden's son. But oddly enough, the autographed one relaxed instead, "synced Licia with an evil smile.
" Why do you remind me that's a gorilla!, "grily Thalia. Her ears were hot hearing the silver-haired woman's innuendo.
" That's it. Continue your work. "
Licia goes to the kitchen on the second floor where Melina and Sely are learning to cook. As for Thalia, she returned to the study because there were indeed hundreds of report papers that she had to sign.
***
" I thought it could take months, but I didn't think it could be finished so soon, "Lo took the long box given by the workers.
" Although it has been done, but we have not been able to test it because the rest of the magic energy stones at work have been used by all masters" concluded one of the workers.
" Okay, you can continue the work. I will test this weapon at the Yurei base. And as for the energy stones, tomorrow will be sent to your place, "
" Good sir. We are allowed to return to work. " The three workers returned to the basement of the palace where they worked.
While Leo rushed towards Yurei headquarters to test the weapon in the box he was carrying. Testing was carried out at Yurei headquarters as all the magic energy stones had already been transferred to the base in order to maintain security and confidentiality.
On the way to Yurei's headquarters, Leo had a chance encounter with Licia and Melina. Leo did not care about it. His enthusiasm for the weapons in the box made the marquis' son as if he did not know the two girls who passed him. Seeing Leo's indifferent behavior, Licia began to feel dumped. But Melina continues to encourage and ask that Licia think positively about her brother.
***
When he reached Yurei headquarters, Leo headed straight for the basement accompanied by Indra and several other Yurei division captains.
" Indra please bring me a small shard of energy stones, "leo's pinta while opening one by one the lock of the lock that sealed the box. Indra himself went towards the magic energy stone storage room to retrieve the one Leo ordered.
After all the locks had been removed, Leo opened the wooden box and was blown away when he saw the contents in the box.
" sir? " said Indra who returned from the storage room and saw Leo speechless.
" Indra, with this weapon we can better guarantee Valdia's safety, "Lo took the contents of the box.
The moment it was ejected, the entire eyes of the Yurei members in the basement were instantly blown open. They were amazed to see a long-barrelled firearm where the gun was held there was a small hole covered in glass.
" Rifles? " tanya Indra lirih.
" A firearm needs gunpowder to use it, and this weapon only needs a small grain of energy stone" Leo said, looking at the weapon he was holding.
" The gunpowder itself is very expensive so with us having this, we can save costs and do not need to buy gunpowder, "so Leo continued while picking up energy stone fragments from Indra. The stone was inserted into a small hole in the handle of the firearm.
...Booooom...!...
After the trigger was pulled, the weapon fired a magic shot that blew up the walls of the basement of the Yurei headquarters. So loud was the sound of an explosion, that it shook the Yurei headquarters and the surroundings. In addition, the voice was also heard outside and made a little panic in the population.
" T-this!? " shock Indra saw the wall of the former shot destroyed.
" This is just a small fragment of energy stone and the great magic energy in the shale is still very much when I have fired, " said Leo excited after seeing the results of the weapons test. He also saw that the stone fragment was still emitting light which indicated that there was still some magic energy.
" This weapon can be a threat to the outside if they know the master. We have to keep it a secret, "sela Lambert (captain of the 1st division Yurei ).
" Yes, I know that. There were still two hundred weapons like this left unfinished. If all the weapons have been completed, I will form a new special force for the use of this weapon, "reply Leo who keeps the firearms back in his box.
" The rest are cannons and airplanes. I'm getting excited! " continued Leo confidently.
" Sir, you've been a few weeks without rest. The construction of the flying boat still took a long time because the workers had to redesign it on paper before building. In addition, they also have to learn the use of magic energy stones to fuel the ship, ", said Indra advising Leo who is desperate in his ambitions.
" Ahaha you're right. But to rest seems impossible. I still have a lot of work to do, "
" Already sir. Patrol and development duties let us supervise. You better rest first. Next season the lord is already living in the capital so we want the lord to really take care of his health before leaving, "said Keanu (captain of the 7th division Yurei ).
" The Yurei army was formed to ease the master's work. So you don't push yourself, " said Indra smiling and patting Leo on the shoulder.
Leo felt what his subordinates said was right. He nodded his head in accordance with their wishes. " All right, all the tasks I'm giving you, "
" Now you better take a walk to enjoy the city with Miss Melina or the others" Indra said.
" Why don't you go to the hot spring? I'm sure you need some refreshment after working hard, "suggested Lambert.
" Lazy. The hot springs are crowded now, "
" amany? Wait a minute, you didn't know there was a hot pool in the palace? " indra Sahut.
" ha? over where? Is it in the palace? "
" Hhh it's natural that you don't see because it's a little hidden. The pool is under the palace. To the right of the door of the secret workspace. Though Miss Thalia used to bathe there, did she never tell you? "
" Maybe he forgot. Lately, we rarely interact. I want to go where you mean. I leave the rest to you. " Leo hurriedly left Yurei headquarters. He was curious about the hot spring that Indra meant.
***
Arriving at the palace, without further ado Leo headed straight for the basement. Sure enough he found the door Indra meant. A golden dragon-patterned door was right at the end of the hall not far from the door to the secret workroom guarded by 4 soldiers.
Leo approached the door and opened it. He was amazed to see a large and luxurious hot spring. The entire white-patterned space is lined with gold patterns that add to its luxurious feel. While the hot water itself turned out to be artificial hot water heated in a heating barrel created by his late mother.
The blonde youth tightly closed the bathhouse door and thoughtlessly took off all the clothes and just walked into the pool.
" Fyuuuuh... " A moment the burden of Leo's mind just crashed when entering the pool. He felt relieved and comfortable.
" Leo-le!? "
There was the soft voice of a familiar woman in Leo's ears. He flinched while looking in all directions for the presence of the source of the sound behind the thin smoke that limited his gaze.
" Lician! " Leo was shocked when he turned to the right, it turned out that there was Licia who was also soaking.
Licia's face flushed. He folded both hands covering his body that was submerged in water. " Why are you here? "
" I didn't know you were here either! I thought the pool was empty! " Lo was misbehaving while closing his eyes. Her cheeks were flushed from a slight look at Licia's cleavage.
" Then I'll go and wait for you to finish the shower! Don't look at me because I'm naked" Leo tried to get out of the pool naked.
" N-no need! T-this is your warm pool, so stay here! B-but we turn our backs on each other, " said Lica timidly. He wanted to talk to Leo longer from the beginning but never came true. And this time he ventured even in the wrong place.
" No! I'll come out and wait for you! If I get caught showering with a girl, I'm sure you'll punish me! " reply Leo blushed in shame.
As he walked, Leo was shocked by the hand of Licia holding his right leg. " Stay here! "
" Licia don't hold it that way or I can ja– "Not finished warning, Leo fell into the pool because Licia's hand pulled her leg.
...Byuuur...!...
" I told you not to hold kaaa...! " Leo was once again startled by Licia's face which suddenly was exactly 10 cm in front of her face.
Seeing Leo's funny behavior, Licia smiled and chuckled. His laughter was so sweet that it left Leo stunned and blankly staring at the girl's pretty face. His heart beat faster interspersed with thoughts that began to drift imagining his love story with Licia.
" Hey, why daydream? " ask Licia pinching Leo's cheek.
" A-ah sorry, " said Leo who had begun to calm down.
Leo's words ended the conversation. They were soaking together but turned their backs on each other. Actually the two of them wanted to open a conversation with each other but awkwardness beat their intentions.
" I-I heard from Thalia, you don't know this place.But how did you get here? " ask Lilly nervously. He finally started a conversation.
" I was told my subordinate. Out of curiosity, I decided to come here to relieve stress, "
" After grandpa came home, you started to get busy huh? Though I wanted to talk to you longer, "Licia immediately shut her mouth after saying. He accidentally slipped his heart's desire.
" U-forget that word of mine! " continue Licia panicked. Her cheeks are getting red.
" Bak Thalia already has her own interests in completing her education. While my father's condition is getting worse. Therefore, as much as possible I will replace their jobs temporarily at least until brother Thalia graduates from the academy, " replied Leo.
Licia actually knows the reason for Leo's busyness. But he is not satisfied if he does not hear directly from the person. " Is that so? I didn't expect you to turn out like this, "
" All thanks to my treatment in Taiyoria. Maybe if I were only treated here, there would be no change in me even I could go crazy because of my trauma, "
" Can I ask you something? "
" Of course, why not? "
" How do you evolve magic elements? "
" On that, huh? I was just idly trying to meditate to gather natural energy like my grandfather taught me. You know for yourself that easterners awaken their magic by absorbing natural energy. I also imitated the way to increase my magic energy capacity. However, the amount of natural energy I absorbed instead evolved my magic element, "
" That's so simple...? "
" My magic evolution cannot be separated from the dark magic energy in my body. You know for yourself, don't you, Valdius' blood and strength flow on his veins? "
" Hmh, "Licia nodded her head then slowly sank her lips in envy at Leo who was born to the Valdius family.
" But it actually does not rule out the possibility for ordinary people to evolve magic elements in that way because the ice emperors could also evolve using the same way, "
Leo's words stirred up Licia's expectations. He did crave the evolution of magic elements but in a normal way without having to take magic energy generation pills.
" W-can I do that? " ask Licia.
" Want to try it? "
" Uh? " Licia didn't expect to get a call from Leo.
" There's a place I want to go to and it's perfect for absorbing natural energy. If you want to come, after the shower we immediately leave, "
" But aren't you busy? "
" The rest of the tasks have been taken by my subordinates. So I had a lot of free time until I entered the academy, "
" Well, I'm coming! " Licia eagerly accepted the invitation.
" We'll be in that place for three days. So prepare your supplies before you leave, "
" Then I want to prepare everything now and wait for you at the gate of the palace, "Eager Licia came out of the pool to put on a towel and immediately left the bath.
Leo just smiled a little. She recalled her childhood with the silver-haired woman where Licia always showed her passion for training. A spirit that used to often make Leo envious.
^^^To be Continue.^^^
