Such a low-level transcendent like Charlotte, who has condensed four blood sigils and possesses four abilities—Insight, Blood Flame, Lightfoot, and Angel's Sting—could be considered one in a hundred.
Charlotte "rested" at home for three days before resuming his "diligent" work routine.
Upon arriving at 1 Yansun Street, he conducted a quick inspection.
As a superior, it was necessary to be familiar with his subordinates, not out of diligence but because Charlotte was concerned about "assassins" infiltrating and catching him unaware.
Charlotte keenly noticed that more people were showing up for work, with the number exceeding two hundred. This puzzled him, so he returned to his office and called in Hermonsa.
He had promised to help her advance to knighthood, so he couldn't just do nothing.
After carefully inquiring about Hermonsa's training, Charlotte found out that, as he expected, Hermonsa had "dropped out" early. She hadn't learned the official knight's breathing techniques at the National Academy but instead learned a breathing technique from a wandering knight who had passed through her hometown.
This breathing technique was incomplete, and despite training for seven or eight years, Hermonsa had been stuck at the power seed breakthrough stage, making no progress.
The Old Continent was not like Earth, where open access to culture and knowledge through the internet and specialized schools was available.
In Fars, the four universities did exchange academic ideas, but outside the universities, even the National Academy rarely engaged in external exchanges, making it difficult for outsiders to learn the official knight's breathing techniques.
Charlotte pondered for a while and then said, "You've been practicing the Flame Demon Breathing Technique, which is popular in the Southern Continent, but it actually has significant flaws. Over a hundred years ago, a professor improved the Flame Demon Breathing Technique and renamed it the 'Golden Forbidden Flame.'"
"I can help you find a textbook on the Golden Forbidden Flame. Once you've corrected your breathing technique, I can ask a senior to try forcefully infusing battle energy to help you break through your power seed."
As Charlotte was contemplating how to help Hermonsa find a transcendent path, there was a knock at the door, and a clear, cheerful voice came from outside the office, "Mr. Mecklenburg, may I come in?"
The voice was familiar, and Charlotte quickly said, "Please come in!"
A mature beauty with a dignified and sharp air entered his office. She was Meiweisi, the Internal Court Guard and Chief Patrol of Lukavaro District, who was supposed to be his counterpart according to the Patrol Force's standard configuration.
This woman, with her complex background, smiled and said, "Apologies for the interruption."
Following etiquette, Charlotte responded, "No interruption at all," and gestured for Hermonsa to leave.
Meiweisi didn't even glance at Hermonsa. After she left, Meiweisi said, "The Patrol Force of Lukavaro District is about to be reorganized into the Free Knights' Order and could be deployed to the battlefield at any time."
"I still have my duties as an Internal Court Guard, so I won't be able to leave with the Order, which means I'll temporarily step down from my position as Chief Patrol. Your new partner will probably arrive within a few days."
Charlotte knew about the Empire's military system. The Fars Empire's military was divided into five categories, ranked from highest to lowest: the Royal Knights' Order under the Emperor, the private knights' orders of the major nobles, the local military forces, the Free Knights' Order, and mercenaries.
The Royal Knights' Order, private knights' orders, and local military forces were standing armies. The Free Knights' Order was a temporary conscripted force, assembled during wartime and disbanded afterward. Mercenaries were considered outsourced forces, typically unpaid but issued letters of marque by the Empire, allowing them to legally plunder enemy nations during wartime.
The Patrol Force was considered part of the local military and generally wasn't allowed to leave its post. However, during wartime, since the Patrol Force was already part of the government's military hierarchy and didn't require additional pay, it could be given the designation of the Free Knights' Order, granting it the authority to go to war.
This wasn't unique to the Fars Empire; other nations in the Old Continent also liked to reorganize local forces into military units to be used as cannon fodder.
Of course, most Free Knights' Orders weren't made up of local forces doubling as soldiers but were purely "temporary conscripted armies" that faced disbandment after the war.
It's worth noting that most detective agencies are officially registered as mercenaries, and adventure groups are also registered as mercenaries. The Empire's agency responsible for registering and managing detective agencies, mercenaries, and adventure groups is the local Patrol Force.
Charlotte was slightly surprised and asked, "Who will be my new partner?"
Meiweisi smiled and said, "I don't know."
"But what you should be more concerned about is where the Free Knights' Order will be deployed."
Charlotte instinctively asked, "Where will I be sent?"
Meiweisi replied, "You were born in the Behemoth Principality, so there's a high chance you'll be sent to the Behemoth Principality to fight against the Naserafin."
Charlotte frowned slightly. He really didn't want to return to the Behemoth Principality. As a transmigrant, he wanted to cut ties with his past to avoid having any "acquaintances" notice any discrepancies.
But he quickly thought, "If I go back to the Behemoth Principality, I don't necessarily have to mingle with my old circle. I could just stay within the army."
Meiweisi continued, "There's one more thing. Since the Patrol Force is being reorganized into a knights' order and may soon be deployed, you've been given the authority to expand your ranks. The Lukavaro District Patrol Force can be expanded to 3,000 men. Moreover, the Empire will send reinforcements, but most of the soldiers will need to be recruited by you."
"I've brought you some assignment papers for the Patrol Force and the Free Knights' Order."
Meiweisi smiled without making any further moves.
Charlotte understood her implication and said, "I won't stop anyone from leaving."
Many feared going to war, so those who were merely collecting a salary would look for ways to transfer out of the Lukavaro District Patrol Force. Meiweisi had mainly come to speak on behalf of these people.
Satisfied with Charlotte's understanding, Meiweisi said, "The documents are quite heavy and are still in the carriage. I'll have the coachman bring them up."
Charlotte smiled and nodded to show he understood. After chatting with Meiweisi about some unrelated matters, she finally took her leave. A moment later, her coachman delivered a large leather case filled with assignment documents.
Recruiting soldiers on such short notice was a daunting task for any military officer on the Old Continent.
But for Charlotte, it was actually quite easy.
He finally understood why there were more people showing up for work today—they were there to process their transfer requests.
After sitting in his office for a while, Charlotte instructed Madam Nancy to prepare the carriage and headed to his former workplace—Kilmainham Prison.