"Grayson, go and introduce Ryan to instructor Lemmon and the new recruits. Say to him that, Mr Huang will be there for assistance."
"Yes, your highness."
"Assistance? But I don't know anything about combat or teaching them how to be a knight..." I didn't know that I would have to participate... I just thought I would be there to help resolve any disputes or discipline any troublemakers...
"Don't worry too much about it. By you giving some assistance, it would allow you to hold more weight when it comes to disciplining them. Educators have a higher authority and leeway when it comes to students of noble birth. Guards and knights and any others who doesn't have the authority will have to face court martial. It's a perk written in the contracts for all educators."
"I see..."
Oh? So that's it. The noble families are very cunning indeed. They could use the clause as leverage to abuse the system. Currying favours, bribing the instructors for special privileges. No wonder all the bad recruits were picked, this whole arrangement was created so that the nobles could have even more advantages within the system without any real authorities doing anything about it.
The corruption is real...
I feared the reason why the troublesome recruits are like this, is because, instructor Lemmon has been brought by the nobles. I can't be sure, but with me assisting, I can find out.
Grayson guided me to the front of the class, where fifty recruits stood at attention, all staring at me. Grayson went to the instructor to relay what the prince had said. I could feel the tension in the air as the majority of the recruits shot daggers at me with their sharp eyes.
I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned my head to see Grayson giving me a 'knowing look', before he turned to face the new recruits. Grayson introduced me to the class and as he did so, promoted a couple of snorts from the unruly nobles.
Fifty recruits stood in front of me, spread out with a metre gap in between them, lined up in five rows of ten.
My eyes scanned the large group of recruits and everyone of them, whilst are military trained - their bodies straight and their head held high - subtly gave their attention to me in various ways. Their faces were stoic but their eyes told me every thing to a degree. I've learnt this skill, from my many years of observing my peers in high school and from my students.
This skill was also the reason how I managed to acquaint myself with my students. I could always tell what their true feelings were and allowed me to coax their inner self out.. their vulnerable self.
Out of the fifty recruits that stood in front of me, I only recognise ten of them. The ten I do recognised were the ones that made up the group that accompanied us up the tower. And strangely enough, all the bad recruits except for two made it into the group.
The two good recruits that had made it into the group were Liam and Graves. I said 'were' as in past tense was because it was these two who sacrificed themselves to save two of my students, Chloe and Ann on the eightieth floor.
A small smile appeared on my lips for a brief moment as I just found two new members for the Knight's Order.
"Sir?" Grayson called and snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Oh sorry. Yes. Hello every one. My name is Ryan Huang and I'm here to assist the instructor."
The men were at attention, their bodies straight, feet apart and their faces showed no emotions. That's on the outside, on the inside, I could tell that most of them didn't like what they just heard.
I mean I get it. A strange new person suddenly showing up, and said that he would assist with the teaching, meant that to the nobles, I was the ratchet to the many lose bolts in the machine. I was someone who their parents haven't persuaded yet, a problem they will call home and whine to their parents to fix. Just one more person their parents have to get under their control with a lucrative deal.
In hindsight, the deal would be lucrative for anyone with little money or power but to the nobles, it was like giving candy to an ignorant child.
People in my position would accept anything these noble families would offer, because at the end of the day, to live a prosperous life in this world, even if it's a step through the door meant that your dignity was the exchange in the offer.
The noble families have power which also meant that the offer was demonstration of said power and it isn't an offer that could be declined. To hold their power, they needed control. If they can't control the problem than the other option is to rid the problem entirely. Simple answer was death... that or control by force.
Thankfully, I had the prince on my side which meant that I was protected by him... to an extent. It's only a thin shield as the nobles could bring this up to the king but it was a shield nonetheless.
"Sir, what is the meaning of this?" Called out one of the nobles breaking their military composure.
"Yeah! Why is this pleb here? Is a commoner going to teach us, nobles?" Called out another one.
"Yeah!" Many of the recruits called out in unison.
"Isn't he an otherworlder?" Someone from the back called out in a booming voice that caught the attention of everyone. Soon whispers floated around saying 'otherworlder?' "My father told me that the king had summoned a group of people from another world, to help us. Us! The nobles, the pride of this great nation!"
My eyes widened not by the recruit's words but the pop up that appear in front of me.
"What's your name recruit!" Called out Grayson in an angered voice.
"Gathas Hallow! Son of the Hallows! My father is Count Maxim Hallows!" His voice boomed and everyone turned their heads to him. Grayson was shocked too.
[Warning.]
Ba-dump, Ba-dump
[Warning! Target that's involved with your death has been revealed. Count Maxim Hallows.]
"Hallows?" Grayson gasped. Grayson side glanced me, clearly frightened.
It seemed like the Hallows are a very influential family. I haven't heard of them nor had Gathas accompanied us to the tower as one of the selected.
Information network like always sensed my curiosity and provided me with information about the Hallows.
Apparently the Hallows was one of the first families that joined king's courtship. Lumas, Gathas great-great-great grandfather joined that era's king as their leading advisor. They have connections all over the kingdom and even have people in other kingdom's as informants. They are a family that likes to gather information so they could use said information against competition or enemies.
The Hallows, a family that loves information ironically also is very secretive. It is said that only the king's most trusted knows some information about but it's the king that have knowledge of most of their hidden secrets. Many speculate that the king is some decent relative to the Hallows but almost all rumours had been squashed by the king himself.
All I got from that information was that the Hallows likes information and their main position in the king's courtship is the lead advisor role. Kinda fitting role to have in all common sense and purposes... With all that info, the king must've let the Hallows run away with most of the decision making and information gathering. Maybe the king is a puppet under the Hallows. It would make the rumours seemed more possible.
"Mr Hallows," I said in a booming voice, so he can hear me, all the way, at the back of the group. "My role, upon request by the prince is to assist with the lessons. Being a commoner or an otherworlder has nothing to do with this. I'm a teacher, a student will always have something to learn from us."
"We are knights in training, not some kids learning about the alphabet. We learn through battle, so why would we learn from you, a support."
Using the word 'support' as an insult is a very low blow. He thinks I can't fight, will see about that.
"I may be a support and have limited knowledge about the way of battle and sword play but..."
I took a quick glance at Marlos who caught my gaze and tilted his head. I flashed him a quick smirk before completing my statement.
"I have beaten the prince once in a duel."
Everyone gasped except for Grayson who showed no emotion. He knew what I was referring to considering he was there and he knew the outcome. It wasn't much of a duel or even a spar but I did defeat him and with all the level ups and battle experiences I've gained, I could at least hold my own and be on par with these new recruits, I think...
I knew what I said could be taken in many different ways and I could predict the answer to my statement.
All the recruits and the instructor swerved their heads to the prince in complete shock, all except for Gathas who stared at me with scepticism. I could tell his ego is flaring, waiting to give a response once everyone has come back to their senses.
"Don't be fooled," Gathas shouted, "He's lying."
I was about to respond when, Marlos swooped in with his response.
"He's not. I was indeed beaten in a duel by Mr Huang. It was a fair fight and he won. He may be an amateur in swordplay but he got guts and unpredictability. I would say, in a situation where you think you would win because you underestimate your opponent, is the fight you would one hundred percent lose your life!"
Oh shit... I glanced at Gathas and I could tell by the glare in his eyes that Marlos just gave him a perfect reason to respond without losing too much face if the outcome isn't favourable.
"Prove it. Let's have a duel." Gathas spat, his eyes now shooting figurative dagger at all the vulnerable spots on my body which sent a tingling sensation to said spots.