If the input and output are not proportional, it is a loss-making business.
In the end, no one will survive to do anything, so what a ghost to cultivate.
What's more, with the qualifications of these civilian children who are only six or seven years old, it is simply unrealistic to expect them to become regular assassins or death warriors. It's not that Wayne looks down on them, but this is a magical world after all. No matter how many ordinary people there are, they can't stand up to magicians. It's much easier to hire magicians directly.
If it were in a military camp, it might be necessary to have a death squad-like presence.
But for those poor people who can't even eat three meals a day, as long as they are treated better, it is impossible to recruit high-quality soldiers. Why go to all the trouble to kidnap those children of unknown origin?
Besides, the kingdom has not had a large-scale war for decades. At most, it was a regional rebellion and suppression.
...Unless Chapman just didn't want others to notice how these people died quietly.
Take a deep breath.
The more I learn about it, the more I feel like I am sinking into a quagmire.
Even though they have to spend so much time, energy, and money, and risk the world's disapproval, these people still refuse to stop. It is only possible because once the goal is achieved, huge benefits beyond imagination can be obtained.
There must be a very tempting goal for them, motivating them.
Wayne seemed to feel that behind all this, the dangerous atmosphere was approaching.
…
The second day.
Wayne knocked on the door alone and entered Duke Elliot's study.
Although they were father and son in name, they actually didn't communicate much alone, so Elliot was a little surprised when he saw Wayne at the door.
"It's Wayne...what do you want from me?"
The Duke, who seemed to have given up his real power, asked with a relaxed tone and a smile.
There have been constant turmoil in the capital recently, but they have nothing to do with the Wenche family. He is happy to be a spectator and watch the ministers argue every day.
Wayne closed the door and stepped forward.
"Father. In the academy, I heard rumors about Earl Chapman being suspected of kidnapping children." He found an excuse to open the topic.
"Well, that's what happened," Elliot said.
"Chapman went to the palace to apologize. After being severely reprimanded by the king, he fell ill at home and refused to show up." There was no bias in Eliot's words. "Many people reported that they found unconscious Chapman servants in their own homes, and most of those people happened to be nobles who didn't usually get along with Chapman."
"But it's a bit strange that we don't have one at home."
Of course we don’t have it at home because I avoid it.
"So, that means it's very likely that it's true, right?" Wayne asked seriously.
Elliot sighed to himself. "Wayne...whether some things have happened or not can be changed as needed."
He didn't get a positive answer, but his meaning couldn't be more obvious.
"Father, did you know about Earl Chapman's private activities before?" Wayne frowned.
It would not be good if Eliot also adopted a tacit attitude towards this and felt that there was no need to intervene in this matter.
Elliot shook his head and said, "I don't know, but I'm not surprised."
"This matter is not that simple behind the scenes..."
Sure enough, there is a secret.
However, Elliot was obviously not prepared to say anything more to himself.
"None of this has anything to do with us. Even if you hear something outside, don't act rashly." He raised his tea cup and took a sip.
The study was quiet for a while before Elliot's low voice sounded again.
"There are some things that I have been hesitant to tell you. Once I know, life may no longer be so carefree and pure." He sighed.
Immediately, Elliot raised his eyes and looked at Wayne. "I think I should ask you for your opinion before speaking out. Do you want to know?"
Wayne replied without hesitation, "Want to know."
"If you blind yourself just for temporary comfort, you will be helpless when the problem really comes."
This is his personal experience.
"Not bad." Elliot nodded in agreement.
"To tell you the truth, no matter what happens in the future, I hope you can take good care of Chris... Can you do this?" Staring at Wayne's eyes, his eyes were very focused.
"able."
Wayne answered immediately.
No matter the expression or eyes, everything is the same as before.
Elliot felt slightly relieved.
I ask this more just to feel more at ease. Judging from his past performance, Wayne is indeed a very reliable and good boy.
This promise is like an exchange of some kind, and Elliot will no longer hide family secrets from Wayne.
"...The royal family is very suspicious of our family," he said.
The Wenche family was also one of the great nobles who were famous before the founding of the country.
Perhaps because they are not like those nobles who are willing to sacrifice everything for titles or rewards, the family and the royal family have maintained an aloof relationship for a long time.
At that time, the ancestors only managed a small territory outside, and the title of the head of the family was only a border count.
However, since a certain king began to vigorously develop education and established the "Qingxi Academy" in the royal capital, all nobles who reached a certain level and awakened magic must enter this academy to study.
In other words, from then on, the younger generations of the family must receive education in the royal capital.
So the family decided to pool all resources and develop into the royal capital.
This decision brought with it some inevitable disadvantages, but also brought more benefits.
Almost every generation of the Wenche family, which attaches great importance to inheritance, has a talented magician, so it is logical that they are noticed by the royal family and come into contact with them.
The relationship between the family and the royal family has also had a very close honeymoon period.
This close relationship reached its peak in the generation of Eliot's father, Vern's grandfather.
Not only did the title become the highest dukedom, the head of the family at that time could even control 80% of the entire kingdom's military power.
These resources have all been painstakingly managed by the family's ancestors from generation to generation, and have become a major force at the center of the kingdom that cannot be ignored.
After that, there will be the "Battle of Fog and Moon" that is well-known throughout the continent...
At this point in his story, Elliot stopped.
"Since then, my father has planned to withdraw from the center of power in the kingdom. Especially later, I discovered that Chris's magic power is extremely weak, which accelerated this process."
