Clank~Clank~Clank
"Keep moving you tribal dumbfucks, don't stop mining or you can forget about having any food tonight." A large burly man with brown leather armor shouted while holding a leather whip on his hands.
While occasionally whipping, the slave labourers who stopped mining for even a second.
"See what did I say, there's no way that Viscount could possibly afford a Knight, to station at his mine. Ian said, as both him and Karn witnessed this entire scene a few hundred meters away.
"I don't understand, it's just one ordinary person guarding them, those Slaves could easily escape if they tried."
"You have no right to critize them, I literally had to wait for two years despite giving you everything. This people weren't as lucky as you."
As Ian said those, Karn immediately shut his mouth as, he felt guilty for judging this people.
''Right I was same as them, No I am worst, I was lucky to meet Ian and despite that I have been so indecisive, I have no right to blame them."
"Now,Now no need to be so harsh on yourself" Ian immediately consoled Karn before continuing
"But, still leaving just one man to guard the mine, it shows how incompetent that Viscount is."
But After Ian gave a deep thought he finally understood why Viscount didn't fell the need for more men. 'Those people, their eyes are completely lifeless, as if they have completely given up on their life.'
"People who usually become Slaves are generally Soldiers who rebelled against Nobles or their Family members,but their might also be Criminals mixed in there, we need to find a way to filter those people out."
"Don't worry about that, leave it to me." Karn said with a confident tone.
Ian immediately raised his cat brows, looking at Karn's confident demeanor he couldn't help but ask.
"What exactly are you planning to do ?"
"You said it yourself, when you don't know the answer of something, ask someone who does, just sit back and relax I'll end this without any need for violence."
After seeing how confident Karn was, Ian finally gave in and nodded his head, before leaving his finally instructions
"After rescuing them, pick a few trustworthy looking individuals to pick your parents up, after that we will be leaving for Madwa."
Karn had lot of questions in his mind, like why we are going to that desolate village again, but he decided to push his questioning for latter date, as it seems he has a task to accomplish first.
After deciding on the finer details of the plan, Karn nodded his head while charging off towards the mine alone.
While Ian sat back alone and murmured.
"You can come out now."
"Tsk, as I thought your not an Ordinary cat" A familiar voice entered through Ian's ears, as a familiar dark blue haired young man appeared right besides Ian.
"Can I know what exactly are you doing Sir Stanley Barnes." Ian asked while giving a lazy glance, honestly it was quite obvious why this man is here.
"I'm just keeping an eye on my master's mine, is something wrong with that."
"You're no longer wearing a robe bearing Silva Viscounty's insignia, which master are you exactly talking about."
Stanley Barnes immediately stopped talking in circles, when it comes to intellect he was completely out classed by this cat in front of him.
As Ian said, Barnes already left the viscounty after rescuing the Viscount back to his estate, and he immediately started investigating about the whereabouts of that strange black cat he encountered. which led him to this village,the last place Viscount silva visited, and he finally found it.
Barnes immediately sighed and said.
"Fine, You got me, as you can see I no longer serve the Viscounty, so whatever happens to this mine, is none of my businesses."
"But that still doesn't answer my question, why you are following us.?"
"T..Th..That..."
"You're looking for an opportunity to leech of me." Ian said with gradual tone.
"That's a little harsh, I was just looking out to see if their's something I could help you with."
Ian didn't bother answering back to Barnes he quietly glanced towards towards Karn who was walking towards the mine.
Seeing no response from this cat in front of him Barnes panicked and desperately started pointing out his strong points.
"I have Nine years of experience, being a Knight and I have never failed any assignment or task given to me, I am a Peak 'Third CIRCLE' Magic Swordsman, you might not know this but I went to Crune Royal Academy, although my parents had to spent all their fortune they earned as a merchant just to send me there."
Seeing that cat giving no response to any of his crucial points, Barnes felt disheartened,as he has never been in such situation before, usually nobles would among themselves to recruit a talent like him, Although he is not some prodigy or a genius, but he still worked really hard to be at where he is, as he was about to walk away while being gloomy and dispirited, he heard a familiar voice stopping him.
"Wait!, did you say your parent's are merchant's?" Ian questioned.
Stanley Barnes halted his steps and immediately gave a nod, he didn't know among all the strong points that he mentioned, this would going to be the one that would grab Ian's attention.
"I see, what kind of goods do they usually trade ?"
"Anything that makes profit, from Clothes to mine ores to jewellerys, whatever they might get their hands on and turn into profit."
"I see,I guess you're not that useless after all."
Barnes didn't really mind Ian deciding his usefulness based on his parent's, Cause he could tell that this cat in front of him can help him reach the realm he always dreamed off.
Honestly the moment Barnes realised that the "Two Star" individual that he fought yesterday was a kid of a serf who has yet to turn fourteen.
What the hell was he doing at the age of 14?, he was barely able to lift his sword, while his parents squandered all their fortune to send him to the Royal Academy.
Honestly Barnes didn't thought much about his opponent, before he found out about his origin and age.
Reaching Two Star at the age of 13, is something only those prodigies of Great Clans, Acadmies and Royal Family are capable of.
'That kid must be a prodigy and cat must be some Heavenly master.' Barnes thought as Ian handing him those Heroic grade technique is still fresh in his mind.
"Let me ask you something first, answer me honestly, what exactly do you think of the Crune Empire ?"
Barnes contemplated a bit before giving his answer.
"A country filled with narrow minded people and traditions."
Ian nodded his head, as he seemed satisfied with that answer.
"Listen carefully, your usual fickle way won't work on me, if you want to be a Knight under me, you'll have to take an oath."
Barnes immediately placed his sword on the ground, as he placed his hand on his heart, while sworing at oath of complete loyalty towards Ian.
For safety reasons, Ian even decided to form a Mana contract, which Barnes agreed without any resistance.
After all details were agreed upon,Ian made an amicable smile before saying.
"Welcome Sir Stanley Barnes, it's nice to have you as a new member of our Rebellion Army."
"R.Re..Rebellion What ?" Barnes Exclaimed.
"Ahh!, my bad I didn't explain it to you, we are planning on a rebellion against the Empire."
Honestly Ian deliberately didn't mention this to Stanley Barnes, as no matter what he couldn't just tell someone he is planning on a coup, so he decided to wait until Barnes swores an oath of loyalty.
"W.W...Why didn't you tell me that earlier ?" Barnes exclaimed in an horrified expression.
"You didn't ask, you just seemed so desperate to serve under me, even thought I refused."
Hearing those words Barnes could help but want to go back in time, slap his past self in the face.
He has been so thinking about leeching off of Ian, while serving under him, that the he forgot the very basic thing of measuring the risks.
Ian could tell what's going inside Barnes mind, but it's none of his business since he has already swore an oath to him, as he turned around to look at the status of the mine Karn entered, just a while ago.