Chapter 65: Starting Point Orphanage

Under Bruno's arrangement, Old Ford's power was effectively weakened.

However, Old Ford had no complaints about it. He genuinely approved of Lopida taking over the financial affairs of Idar.

On one hand, Lopida was one of Bruno's trusted aides. He had previously managed Salt Field and Fishing Port without any major mistakes, and both had been running smoothly. So, it was only natural for him to take over the financial affairs of Idar.

On the other hand, Old Ford understood clearly that Idar's future depended on the new generation of rising talents like Shabi and Lopida. Only they could keep up with Bruno's pace. As for himself, it wouldn't be long before he would return to the earth.

Moreover, the responsibilities Bruno assigned to him were by no means light. Whether it was the Cape Salt Field, Sugar Workshop, or other industries, these were all vital to Idar's survival. Not to mention the newly established Anti-Smuggling Bureau—he simply had no extra time or energy to manage financial affairs.

For most people present, their responsibilities were simply redistributed and refined.

However, Sam Layton was probably the only one whose power was truly reduced.

After all, in Bruno's view, political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.

Although Sam Layton was trustworthy, the soldiers of Idar could not all be controlled by a single person.

…

Sam Layton stood at the entrance of a worn-out alley in Idar City, clad in polished armor, accompanied by two well-dressed regular army quartermasters.

Today, he was here to deliver compensation to the families of the soldiers who perished in the Battle of Grand Highlands.

The Battle of Grand Highlands allowed Idar to successfully seize the Grand Highlands in the north, pushing its northern border to the southern banks of the Soren River.

However, Idar also paid a price—three soldiers lost their lives.

Losing only three men in battle wasn't due to Idar's overwhelming military prowess. It was more because the Soren army was extremely weak, and their commander, Herman Barkley, underestimated the enemy. That's why the battle ended in such an unexpected manner.

To honor the fallen, Bruno not only promised compensation to their families but also required Sam Layton to personally deliver it.

Today was Sam Layton's first time handling such a task, and he hesitated at the entrance of the alley.

As the instructor and commander of the regular army, he had trained and lived alongside his 300 soldiers every day.

Although he might not remember every soldier's name, at the very least, he recognized their faces.

But now, knowing that three of them would never return to the barracks again, Sam Layton felt an unfamiliar emptiness in his heart.

This was something he had never experienced in his years of military service!

"Hey…" Sam waved his hand, stopping a passing civilian.

Seeing Sam calling out to him, the man became visibly nervous and cautiously asked, "M-My lord… are you calling me?"

"Does XX XXX's family live here?" Sam asked.

"Oh! Him? He lived at the very end of the alley, but… I heard he died. Now, only his child lives there…" The man's voice grew quieter.

"What about the child? How has he been surviving?" Sam Layton immediately asked.

"Neighbors take turns giving him food when they cook. Times are tough for everyone, but at least the child hasn't starved…"

Sam frowned and finally stepped forward, walking into the dim alley.

At the alley's end stood a recently repaired house—still worn-down, but not filthy.

"This must have been fixed by our Earl…" Sam thought to himself. (Note: In Chapter 36, Bruno repaired some houses in Idar City during the New Year.)

"Creak…" Sam gently pushed open the half-closed wooden door.

"Who's there? Is it Daddy?" A young voice suddenly came from inside the house.

Before he could respond, a small boy ran out eagerly—only to freeze at the sight of the unexpected visitors.

"I was a friend of your father, XX XXX. You can call me Sam." Sam Layton stepped closer and squatted down to explain.

"Sam…" The boy hesitated before asking timidly, "Do you know where my father is? People keep saying he's dead… but I don't believe them…"

"Your father… went on a long journey… He wants you to come with me." Sam gritted his teeth but couldn't bring himself to say the truth.

"…I see." The boy's eyes dimmed at that moment.

"Go pack your things."

The two quartermasters looked at Sam in shock.

Even Sam wasn't sure why he was doing this.

But he did it anyway.

He had attended the military instructors' lectures, and some of what they said made sense. Spending time with his soldiers every day, he had built bonds with them. Though his relationship with the boy's father was merely superior and subordinate, he simply couldn't leave the child to wander the streets.

Maybe… this was what His Lordship called "brotherhood"?

…

Seated at his desk, Bruno listened quietly to Sam Layton's report.

"So… you brought the child back?" Bruno asked.

"Yes." Sam Layton nodded.

"What about the other two families? Did they receive their compensation?"

"All delivered."

Idar had many orphaned children. Instead of letting them roam the streets, potentially becoming a threat to society, wouldn't it be better to establish an orphanage in Idar City?

After all, children should be nurtured from a young age.

"Lister!" Bruno called out.

"I'm here, my lord." Lister entered.

"Find a place outside Idar City and build an orphanage to house all the children in our lands who have lost their parents."

"My lord…" Sam Layton was visibly moved.

"Get back to your barracks and train your soldiers. Idar has far more orphans than just this one. I don't want my army commander leading around a bunch of little kids in the camp."

"As for the orphanage's name… let's call it Starting Point Orphanage. For these children, this might be the new beginning of their lives."