Two days after we arrived in Beogradov, Lazarus finally found some time to brief us on our mission.
"Ok. Sorry for the delay, I had some official state business to finish." He informed us.
"All that is important is that we get info on that mission and finally get going." Anna said.
"Well, it's not your ordinary mission actually. You're not going out of the town for the next year or so." Lazarus smiled somewhat awkwardly as he scratched the back of his head.
"What's the mission?" Achilles asked. He changed a lot after some time of being tutored by me. Now he doesn't stammer or cry and pass out every now and then. Looks like I'm scary. Hehe.
Thank you, Arnold.
"You are gonna act like my bodyguards. The pay is five thousand dollars per day. If you're not interested then you will be imprisoned and deported to anybody who wants you more. For you Max, it would be Elisior, for Anna it would be the Pangrasian government, and for Achilles, it is his family." He said.
"Hmmmm. What about we kill you now and slaughter everybody in this mansion?" I said after a yawn. Lazarus just smiled. He didn't say anything and just stood there watching the wall behind us.
'Why does it always have to be behind me?' I sighed.
I turned around and there was nothing. He is simply staring at the wall. I turned back to him and he said:
"Don't try playing that game with me, Maximilian. I am not a fool that I am not easily scared by some assassins."
"So you're trying to act tough now, but you are collecting well-trained soldiers to be your bodyguards. How empty your words can get?" Anna asked. She is a hidden gem. Her nice side now shows up more often than before, making her much more approachable as a person.
"From who do we need to defend you?" I asked. I'm not in too much of a mood to fuck around with him. Five thousand a day ain't that bad either.
"From a certain someone. It is actually classified, not by me, but by the government. I don't know why would they make it classified since it is my personal business so don't blame me for not being able to get more information on the task." He said.
I sighed.
'He says that he wants us to be his bodyguards, yet he won't tell us from what we need to defend him. Is this some kind of joke?' I thought.
"Well, we cannot give you too much protection if we don't know what will attack you." I explained our concern.
"Oh. So that's your problem. No need to worry. All you guys need to do is keep me safe as I walk my own path." He looked like a great weight fell off his shoulders when he heard that we are more concerned about the technicalities of the mission than the mission itself.
"We'll go to the barracks on my property outside the city. There you will be instructed on everything about this job. All the new recruits are gonna be there." He added emphasizing the words new recruits. He probably used his influence as an emissary of the state to pull them out of the army's SF. So our comrades-in-arms ain't gonna be some random throwaways. Good, I can't stand training dozens of people. It's just too annoying to spend a long time gaining their respect.
After exchanging some more information about some unimportant things we went to his barracks.
'As weird as it is to have a bunch of his bodyguards live in a place away from town. He even said that his permanent living place is in the city. Weird guy.' I thought.
Beogradov is a city situated between two mountains, one to the north and one to the south of the city. They both stretch east to west and are around five kilometers high. The names of these giant rock piles are Glinkos and Erenor respectively. Long ago they were covered in thick forests, but then a great nation rose to power from Beogradov and they were used for its war efforts. The capital of the Landygian Empire is Bophor, and Beogradov is nothing more than a regional center now.
The Eskil family's property was on the Glinkos' side facing away from the city. When we got there we were welcomed by a group of around a hundred soldiers saluting. Behind them stands a middle-aged woman with two teenagers at her side and a little girl running around them. The boys looked bored like we are just another bunch of bodyguards brought in by their father.
'Well, looks like I won't be bored during my stay here. With those two flowers around, I can tell that Achilles will have good training partners. Hehe.' I thought.
"Are those your kids, boss?" Anna asked. She already started referring to Lazarus as 'boss'. Well, who can blame her, he is our boss anyway.
"Yes. But I was planning to send the oldest son to the army, and the younger one to the navy. Just to get them to learn the way of the world." Lazarus said after a sigh. I smiled.
'Those lads sure do look capable but they also have a rebellious feel around them. Well, nothing I cannot subdue.'
"Lazarus, I volunteer." I exclaimed.
"Volunteer for what?" Lazarus seemed puzzled by my words.
"I volunteer to train your sons. You won't have to pay for it if you don't interfere with the training." I said with a vile smile on my face. He seemed interested but looked at me with contempt. He probably thinks that I am gonna torture them.
Not that he is wrong. It will be a hellish experience for the boys, but they'll be sturdier than steel after it.
"Don't worry, sir. He is training me too, and I am not broken. Yet." Achilles jumped in on the conversation.
'Smart kid. He must have noticed that he'll have it easier when there's more of them. And he whispered that *yet*. Looks like he knows that we have just begun. Hehe. A sharp eye is the most important thing after a clear mind.' I smirked.
"Heh, is that so? Then I'll see into it. My wife will be delighted to hear that her *little boys* won't visit the front." Lazarus finally exhaled.
After a short walk through the ranks of saluting soldiers, we arrived in front of the rest of the Eskil family. I felt bored for some reason and turned around to face the soldiers.
"Attention!!" I roared. All of the soldiers straightened their backs even more. They do not know anything about me anyway. As far as they are concerned I could be their new commander. Let's play the role.
"I shall be your new commander in this place. If anyone has anything against it step out!!" I added. Nobody moved. Anna looked amused, Achilles wore a knowing smile and the Eskil family seemed to be flabbergasted by my statement.
'Nice. If it's gonna be this easy...' My thoughts were cut short by a man stepping out of the villa and yelling:
"I am the commanding officer here! Who dares to usurp my position!"
'Well if this isn't interesting.' I grinned.
"I!" I yelled back.
He walked to me, lighted a cigarette, puffed the smoke into my face and said:
"Get lost before I cut yer balls of, pal."
With his intimidating stature and scars, he would probably make many men shit their pants.
I kneed him.
He stumbled a few steps back. On his face was the priceless look of surprise.
"Enough, guys. I won't allow fighting in my house. Elliot, you're gonna stand down from your position. Shorty is my new head of guard from now on." Lazarus said while stepping between us.
I lighted a cigarette and smiled.
'Easy.'
"May I ask why, sir?" Elliot asked. Lazarus looked annoyed by the questioning of his orders.
"If you beat him later today when he starts training my sons, you will keep your position. But if you are unable to defeat him, however, you'll be degraded to an ordinary soldier."
"I understand, sir." Elliot saluted.
"And you, Maximilian. You should behave."
'So, the boss is actually angry because of my actions.'
I thought.
"Don't expect me to respect those soldiers too much. I still haven't seen them bleed." I said.
Lazarus sighed and turned around to say hello to his family.
He firmly hugged his wife and then he caught his daughter who was running around him while giggling.
After whispering a few words to his wife and daughter he turned to his sons and said with a serious face:
"Come here guys, lemme hug you."
His sons remained still. They looked at each other and started laughing.
"Don't bother, father. We ain't little kids anymore." The younger one said while he tried to breathe after a good laugh he shared with his brother just a few moments ago.
Lazarus sure wasn't feeling comfortable with their behavior. He sighed and introduced us to them.
"These are my new employees, Shorty, Anna, and Achilles. These are my family members, my two sons, Gabriel and Michael. My wife Maria and my little daughter Lilly."
"Nice to meet you." Maria extended her hand for a handshake. Anna was the first to shake it.
"Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Maria." She replied.
I went straight to the boys.
"Well, you sure do look like some decent material. I think I can make good soldiers of you two." I said while sizing them up.
"What are you talking about, you short idiot?" Gabriel scoffed.
'Well, ain't this nice. They seem to be in need of a good old drill. Hehe.' I smiled.
"What's funny?" He asked.
"Lazarus?" I called his father.
"What is it?"
"When can I start remodeling your sons?"
"Whenever you feel like it." He obviously knew what I had in mind. With his sons being disrespectful to both him and us he knew what comes next is deserved.
I approached Gabriel, who is, by the way, the older brother. I put my left hand on his right shoulder and said to him:
"You know what happens when I get a feeling that somebody is mocking my height? Somebody gets beaten up and hospitalized. In the best case." I said with a smirk. I can feel a slight tremor go through his body. Good. If not respect, I'll have their fear.
"My brother didn't mean to insult you, Mr. Shorty. He is just a little tired from chasing girls in the city yesterday, he didn't sleep well last night either." His brother tried saving him.
"First of all, before I start, I want you two to know that Shorty is my second name. I will tell you my third name. It is the Harbinger of Emptiness. If you want to know my real name, you'll need to survive the day so to say." I said with a shrug ignoring his night adventures.
"S-survive the day? What do you mean..." Gabriel stammered.
"I am your new personal trainer. Hehe. And we start now. Fifty circles around the manor. Are you able to do that? If not then a hundred." I grinned.
"I have had my fair share of physical training I do not need such things." Gabriel says. Well, it can easily be seen on him due to his fit figure.
"Ok, then you shall have a special treatment. And you, Michael? Have you trained enough?" I turned to his brother. I threw a quick glance at their mother. She was somewhat paler than before. Lazarus noticed my glance and approached his wife. He hugged her around the shoulders with his right hand and nodded to me.
"I have. But I am willing to cooperate."
'Smart lad. He actually realized that it is better to obey.'
"Ok then. Gabriel, you will spar with Achilles who is also a subject to my training methods. I want to see how you deal with him. And you Michael have my approval to start jogging."
"Ok." Michael said and started his warmup session.
"Harbinger, is it really ok for me to spar with him? I mean we're on completely different levels." Achilles asked while scratching the back of his head.
"Of course it is. He said he had his share of training." I shrugged.
His father nodded.