[Ridge]
"You're looking for support to build an army?" He taps his fingers across his desk, "Would that have anything to do with the Nycia invasion?"
"Nycia?" So he does know about the invasion. That definitely makes my job easier. I have a much better chance at recruiting someone when I don't have to convince them I'm not crazy.
"Nymour-Dwecia. It's what the chatter has been calling the alliance between the country Nymour and the Kingdom of Dwecia."
"Dwecia is involved?" I ask ignorantly.
He raises a thin eyebrow at me, "A Knight who is unaware of the strength of his enemy? Nymour doesn't have the power to cross the border on it's own." Of course. That makes sense, and just like that another piece slips into place. Dwecia has a slightly larger population than Nymour, though they're not as advanced technology wise. Nymour is known for its medical and mechanical advancements, but they don't have the manpower to use it to its full potential. That's why our tech and many other aspects are considered above them.
However, adding Dwecia to the equation changes their odds completely. Now the question remains, why DID they invade the Empire? As far as the citizens were aware, there were no hints that the two territories had been conspiring. From the sound of the General's letter, it doesn't seem like the military knew either. How did two of the largest nations get away with planning a large-scale invasion without a scrap of intel coming our way?
"I knew something was off, but I didn't have enough information to figure it out." I admit.
He watches me solemnly, snake eyes studying even the smallest flinch carefully, "Good for you, boy. Ah, I'm assuming you know who I am by now?" His fingers drum harder against the desk in anticipation.
"Viscount Morin," I pause then, to his surprise, I add, "The gutter rat of the Nobles." He stares in shock for a minute before regaining his composure, and quickly losing it again as he bursts out in a series of loud snickers and creepy chuckles. Even his laugh matches his disturbing persona.
"Kedcoe Morin, pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir...?" He looks up questioningly between dissolving giggles.
"Ridge." I reply.
He nods as if expecting this answer, "The promising young man from The Walter Dozen, a fine Academy indeed." He opens the top drawer of his desk, "I believe a business partner of mine tried to recruit you once." I furrow my brow in confusion, trying to remember if I got offers from other Noble families or something. I can't think of any, it was pretty obvious I would serve the Riddothas before I even neared graduation, so I didn't get many recruitments over the years.
"And who would that be?" I ask. He spreads a few papers out in front of him.
"You might not remember them, the Eastern Mercenaries they called themselves back then, I believe." We make eye contact, 'Now they're known as the Perry Vandals Guild or something." My mouth goes numb. The small mercenary-for-hire group that became one of the Empire's most feared criminal information guilds this side of the Solar River. Just who is this man?
It better be worth it to get involved with him, I can't afford to be labeled a criminal. Hopefully, the war will appreciate our efforts. War has no room for easy decisions after all.