Another World Witch Training Manual

130. Most suitable candidate

For a father, it is protection; for a king, it is a check and balance.

Placing Xinlai on the border would not only keep him away from the undercurrents in the capital, but also allow him to build prestige within the army, while preventing Simien from swallowing up the border troops whole—it would be a win-win-win situation.

Moreover, the information revealed in Sinley's words just now also secretly pleased Bermelt:

Lord Tansten had a relationship with Sinley during his lifetime and even instilled in him the idea that "a prince should be tempered on the battlefield."

This shows that Sinlai's decision was not impulsive, but rather that he had a genuine understanding of and preparation for the border.

"Granted." Bermilt's voice rang out in the hall, steady and powerful. "Sinlai, the 50,000 heavily armored cavalry on the border need someone who can represent the royal family to go and appease them."

"You are both a prince and have received guidance from the late Marquis Tanstin, making you the most suitable candidate." His gaze shifted to Simien, his tone softening slightly. "Simien, the investigation into the magical fluctuations still requires your oversight. Let your brother handle the border matters."

Simien's expression turned visibly cold in that instant, but he immediately bowed and said in a calm voice, "Your subject will obey your father's decree."

Xin Lai bowed respectfully, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Bermelt nodded in satisfaction and waved for everyone to leave. The court scribe hurriedly departed with the drafted letter, and the doors of the Hall of Radiance slowly closed, shutting out the commotion outside.

Xinlai led Fern out of the Hall of Glory. The afternoon sun shone brightly on the palace's white marble steps, reflecting a dazzling light.

He took a deep breath, the wind of the royal city carrying the sound of flags fluttering atop the city walls. Fern followed behind him and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, what about the border..."

"The letter and military pay will arrive as scheduled," Xinlai said in a low voice. "You will come back with me first, rest for a while, and record everything you saw in the capital and His Majesty's promises. When you return to the border, you need to truthfully inform all the units in the army of these things."

Fern nodded solemnly.

Just as the two were about to leave, they heard unhurried footsteps behind them.

Xinlai did not turn around, because he had already recognized the person coming from the rhythm of their footsteps.

"Xinlai." Simien's voice came from behind, calm with a faint hint of a smile, "The journey to the border is long, please take good care of yourself."

Xinlai turned around, meeting her brother's unfathomable eyes, and returned his polite smile: "Second brother is too kind. The royal city is turbulent, and the truth behind the magical fluctuations will surely surface soon. Second brother, please take good care of yourself."

Simeon took a few steps closer, shortening the distance between them to only three steps.

This distance is a polite social distance for ordinary people, but for the royal brothers with their delicate relationship, it is almost an overstepping of boundaries.

Simeon's gaze lingered on Fern for a moment before returning to Sinlai's face, his voice low enough that only the two of them could hear: "The Marquis Tanstin's old subordinates really trust you a lot."

"What they trusted was the tokens and the man left behind by the Marquis of Tansten," Sinley replied nonchalantly. "I was merely completing what the Marquis had left unfinished."

"Unfinished business?" Simien raised an eyebrow slightly, his smile deepening. "Third brother, some things aren't necessarily a good thing once they're done. After a few years of honing your skills on the border, you might find when you return that this royal city is vastly different from when you left."

"Then we'll wait and see." Xin Lai's smile remained unchanged.

Simeon didn't say anything more, turned around and strode away.

His deep blue mage robes fluttered in the wind, his back straight and proud, like a drawn sword. Xinlai watched him disappear around the corner of the corridor before turning away, the smile on her face gradually fading.

Fern whispered behind him, "Your Highness, the Second Prince has probably already set his sights on the troops at the border."

“He has many things on his mind,” Sinley said as she walked down the steps. “But the old king isn’t so senile as to hand all the blades to him. Let’s go, there’s still a lot to do.”

In a secluded mansion in the royal city, Sinley settled Fern in an unassuming guest room.

This mansion was his mother's old property, which had been transferred to his name many years ago, but because of its remote location and simple appearance, it had never attracted anyone's attention.

Fern was quite satisfied with this. After confirming that the surroundings were safe, the veteran finally let down his guard after a whole day and leaned back in his chair to let out a long sigh of relief.

Sinlai sat at his desk, picked up a quill pen, and began writing a letter to the border troops.

This letter needed to be delivered by the returning scouts, so that the soldiers on the border could feel the sincerity of the royal family's reassurance, and also to ensure that they knew that all of this was not a favor from Simeon, but the result of what Sinley and Bermelt had negotiated in person.

In a letter to the border troops, he described in detail the process of negotiating with Bermilt and the specific contents of the letter of reassurance.

He did not exaggerate his own achievements, but he did not hesitate to mention the Marquis of Tansteen's dying entrustment and the transmission of the token.

He wrote it very carefully, scrutinizing every word to ensure that even if the letter fell into the hands of Simeon's spies, it would not become any leverage against him.

It was nearly late at night when Xinlai finally put down his quill, sealed the letter with sealing wax, and handed it to Fern: "Keep this letter safe. Take it back to the border with Roderick and the others after you meet them up."

As he spoke, he took a heavy money bag from his waist and said, "Take this money. If you encounter any checkpoints or inspections on the road, bribe the officials who need to."

Upon returning to the border, do not rush to spread the news. First, find the old camp commanders and centurions whom the Marquis trusted most and tell them the contents of the letter.

When the letter arrives, tell them exactly what I said today in the Hall of Radiance.

Fern stood up and solemnly accepted the letter. "This humble general will certainly not fail Your Highness's trust."

Sinley saw Fern out of the back door of the mansion and watched the sturdy figure disappear into the night-shrouded alley.

He didn't turn back immediately, but stood there, looking up at the night sky above the capital city, which was slightly reddened by the lights.

He made his move today.

Bermelt's agreement to let him go to the border was tantamount to cutting a hole in Simeon's sphere of influence.

But the loyalty of 50,000 heavily armored cavalry on the border cannot be won with a few handshakes and letters. He needs to withstand real tests on the border to earn the trust of those veteran soldiers.

Before heading to the border, there was one more thing he needed to do.