Preparations [3]

Sir Hones walked down the streets of the upper district, a place where moving around wasn't easy without the proper permissions. This is precisely why Raymond needed his help. Teachers from the academy, like Sir Hones, had the right to travel between the middle and upper districts.

Sir Hones had a mission: to find and contact the person Raymond had requested. This person was one of the generals in the village, a highly trustworthy figure in Raymond's eyes. This general was also Raymond's next master after he turned 17.

Though Raymond first met the general at his awakening ceremony, their significant interaction occurred after Raymond graduated from the academy. During this time, Raymond was in search of a new master to learn from, and the general was the one who recognized his true worth.

From his memories, Raymond had a blurry vision of what his Talent was, but he knew it held significant value because this general had become a key figure in his life.

"General McWorthy... How could that kid know him?" Sir Hones muttered to himself. "And what does he think of himself, being able to easily reach out to someone like the General? Even if he is a prodigy, I doubt the General would involve himself in these matters."

Sir Hones let out a sigh as he stopped in front of an estate in the upper district. The opulence of the place made him nervous about meeting the General. However, he knew that planning was crucial, and Raymond had trusted him because he understood the stakes.

Approaching a guard at the entrance, Sir Hones inquired about his meeting with the General.

"Excuse me, but you can't meet with the General without an appointment. Please schedule one first," the guard stated firmly.

Sir Hones sighed again and asked, "How can I make one?"

"Visit the main office of the military. They will assist you in scheduling a meeting with the General. He is a busy person, so I hope you understand," the guard explained calmly.

"I see... I understand. I'll be going now," Sir Hones replied, starting to leave the front gate. Suddenly, he remembered something important.

"Ah! This is from the academy. If you have a chance to convey my message, please do so. It's an urgent matter."

The guard paused, considering his response. Finally, he nodded, offering a glimmer of hope to Sir Hones.

"I don't know if I can convey it, but I will try. What is the message?"

"Please tell the General that if he wants to grow a genius hunting dog, he can meet Hones Junior at the academy," Sir Hones said.

"That's all?" the guard asked.

"Yes, that is all. Thank you," Sir Hones replied.

"Alright. I hope you have a great day," the guard said.

Sir Hones continued to the main office of the military to set an appointment with the General.

The next day, Raymond visited the practice venue and found Sir Hones waiting for him. After hearing the news, Raymond sighed in frustration.

"I was hoping to talk to him sooner, but we have no choice but to wait. I just hope it doesn't take longer than I expect," Raymond mumbled, sitting across from Sir Hones.

"Let me ask you. How do you know General McWorthy? He's not famous in the lower district, as he rarely visits. And what's with the message? How are you sure he'll respond to it?" Sir Hones asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

Raymond snickered at the thought. 'Well, it's because I was his 'hunting dog' in the future. His training method involves using his disciples as hunting dogs. He's an aggressive and harsh master, but it's worth it because of his reputation.'

What Raymond needed from General McWorthy right now wasn't his teachings but the reputation that came with his name. Such a reputation in the military was invaluable and not to be underestimated. Having McWorthy as a backer was a dream come true for someone from a poor family like Raymond.

Raymond smiled and replied, "It's because I just do. I can't reveal my secret, sir."

Sir Hones nodded. "I understand. Then we should wait a few days until we get a call from the General."

Disheartened, Raymond accepted that he had to wait for the General to contact Sir Hones. He knew he was still at a disadvantage and that climbing the ladder slowly would take time. As a middleman, Sir Hones also had to wait.

"What a shame... I was hoping to meet him today. But let's not be dispirited. The time will come, and it won't be that long. I think..." Sir Hones mused.

After his training, Raymond returned home and was greeted by his family.

"How was practice, Raymond?" Rowena asked.

"It was okay, Mom," Raymond said as he entered the house. He immediately noticed the solemn expression on Rebecca's face.

"Lilia, what happened to big sis?" Raymond asked, concerned.

"Ah... It's because of some rumors spreading around. She wasn't able to join a group," Lilia explained.

"What rumor?" Raymond pressed.

"Big sis was called a whore and a bitch. What does that mean, big bro?"

Raymond was shocked and instinctively gritted his teeth in irritation. Have they come to that point? They were really acting fast. He should not have stayed low; he needed to hasten his progress, even if it was just improving his physical abilities for now.

"It means nothing. Don't bother thinking about any of it," he said, trying to reassure Lilia while plotting his next move.

Raymond could only sigh in frustration as the situation was already affecting his family. Even if he wanted to ask for their cooperation, he knew it wasn't the right time since they lacked confidence.

"I'm sorry for everything, Mom. If only I had followed that Fulgran, this wouldn't have happened," Rebecca said in a low tone, which made their mother angry.

"Don't ever say that, Rebecca. You did nothing wrong. You just fought for your dignity," Rowena said firmly.

Rudy joined the conversation, trying to boost Rebecca's morale. "He is nothing without his family's background. Don't worry about it, my daughter. I will ask for some help from my friends."

Raymond realized that the tension and unease were eroding his family's unity. The situation was taking a toll, and he didn't like it one bit.

'Ugh... If only I could tell them to endure it for a moment...' he thought, wishing for a way to protect his family's spirit.