Ezra arrived at the castle after he had accompanied Caspian, it was two hours after dark he had arrived at the castle. He dismissed Evered and Rycharde and proceeded to his father"s study.
However, he wasn"t at the study. Ezra found out he was at the training grounds and proceeded there.
As he entered the archway two guards stood and nodded at him. He heard familiar sounds.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
His father donned the Colt he gave him. He looked like a natural at handling a gun. All his shots. .h.i.t the bullseye.
He noticed Ezra immediately in the torchlight.
"Oh h.e.l.lo, my son, I was just testing this weapon of yours. Honestly it feels so naturally built for us pyromancers, you can even smell the sulfur as you shoot the weapon. The power, the intensity and shock wave is so gloriously entrancing. It"s like casting an earl ranked spell without the magic drain. I changed my mind your "research" does help the domain," Reitz blabbered with a seriously proud look while he was so enamored with the weapon.
"I told you not to use it unless in dire circ.u.mstances dad, you can"t go around and wasting the bullets, besides what if spies come and see that. It"s going to be a liability to Bren more than an a.s.set." Ezra said with an exasperated tone.
"Why? How much could each bullet cost? A few gold pieces is no big deal especially with that bank you set up, we could literally just make money, and spies in this building? Hmph, I"d like to see them try." he replied with a confused tone.
"Banks don"t work that way dad, I got to explain it to you in detail next time. But anyways each bullet cost a hundred imperial gold pieces,"
Reitz shuddered, he consumed a whole clip, if Ezra"s estimation was correct then he just consumed 800 gold in one go, he was a bit of a miser. Ezra had the colt designed with the m911 model which can hold up to 8 rounds per clip,
"That, that"s huge, why didn"t you tell me!" Reitz now having an exasperated tone, he sounded like a defeated merchant.
"Anyway, I have news, dad."
"Oh, what is it?" still with a withered tone.
"Caspian is actually a pure blood. a.s.sa.s.sins were sent to kill him off today."
"What? How is that possible? I should tighten the security around Bren."
Ezra recounted the story.
"Looks like we struck it good if he wins the upcoming duels our domain will practically be one and a half times larger than a duchy," Reitz exclaimed with a satisfied expression. It was like striking gold for him.
"We should support him in the upcoming duels, and we should add more guards to your retinue, for better security for the both of you," Reitz continued," we also need to groom him. Let"s ask your mother to teach him better spells."
"About the security dad, no amount of tightening would make Bren safer, if we can"t identify each individual entering. I"m designing something that can instantly take portraits of people, we can use these to tighten security in the future."
Reitz just nodded, he didn"t quite get what his son was saying.
"About Couralt, its best if we can send men to scout the situation," Ezra suggested.
"Yes, I"m thinking of an amba.s.sadorial force and a covert operations unit. What they can"t pick up we can buy the information in taverns."
"Yes, that would be optimal, but father remember our deal, I wanted an escort for making a bank in Aprax. That is the best place to make a bank, trade with the borders is booming there and if we could get enough deposits and loans there, we could fortify it profit even more."
"Well, your mother and I talked about it, we can prepare an escort force in two months" time. I need to stay here, I"d love to go with you but I need to do my Lordly duties. Aerwyna will be the pivot of this operation," Reitz explained to his son. The pivot was what the imperials used for the main mage in the group, normally they were the commanders and the strongest in an operation.
"I also need builders and architects, masons. Looks like I"ll have to spend a few months, training some scribes."
"It"ll take more than two months then, why not stay for the year," Reitz asked, "Try to do little things in the meantime. Aprax is too far away."
"Yeah, I guess I"ll just make a bank in Anticourt first, how bout I make a university here?"
"That"s like the artificers academy in Rexasticus right?"
"Yes, but it will teach more general knowledge. It"ll help the whole domain in the long run,"
"Hey, whatever that bank idea of yours is better than a gold mine so I think you can do that if you think it"ll benefit Fulmen," Reitz nodded and smiled though he didn"t quite understand how it could aid the domain but he did have a rough idea.
"Oh, that reminds me it"s almost your birthday soon."
"Oh yeah, I"m turning 8 soon," Ezra nodded, eight years since he had been reincarnated and five since he vowed to change the whole of Arcanium.
"We are going to have a feast, we"ll invite everybody," smiled Reitz, "that is still in a month though, you"re finally old enough to hunt, we"ll go hunting in Irriton after the celebration, like family tradition."
"I look forward to it father," Ezra nodded.
"Anyway, I hear that you are going to do those lectures again, you"ll hold them here again aren"t you? I"ll need to tidy this place up, since you have invited my daughter-in-law," Reitz smiled trying to fish a reaction from Ezra however he got none.
"Yes father, that is why I wanted a university building, I"ll need more land west. I plan it to be pretty large. It"ll serve as a research facility as well so that we can bring more technology to Bren, like that gun you used. More minds will help in developing the domain and not just the n.o.bles."
"I see, that is quite a good idea, do as you wish we have enough resources thanks to your bank,"
Ezra was happy that the university idea was approved. He didn"t have to manipulate his father in to agreeing to his wishes, he realized that it was beneficial that he made a bank first when he didn"t intend to do so.
"So, basically we"ll just focus on building the university for the year then spread the bank the next year?" asked Ezra.
"Yeah, looks like no one is copying your idea yet, maybe they think it won"t work on their domain. It was really brilliant of you leveraging the trust the people have with Castle Blackfyre,"
"Well banking is all about trust," Ezra nodded, in the modern world this was often exploited to the dismay of the depositors, however, he had none such thoughts. He wanted to establish the most trustworthy inst.i.tution the empire has known and for that he needed to modernize starting with the laws and education he would creep into Bren.
"Yeah, I think it is a good idea making a university first. Let"s start the next week," continued Ezra, " I hope you could promote the inst.i.tution, like you promoted the bank."
"Don"t worry my son, you can depend on your father, I am Reitz Blackfyre am I not?" Reitz smiled as he messed Ezra"s hair up.