The burdens of government could not trouble Salomon's life, at least not yet.
He had dispatched every Praetorian Guard, leaving only Hammurabi and Amon, who were responsible for his personal protection. Armed with shields and greatswords, the two Praetorian Guards had taken part in all the security measures the Sisterhood had arranged for the manor. They also remained the manor's rapid-response force, tasked with guarding and maintaining its emergency evacuation systems.
Of course, not every resident of the manor welcomed the Praetorian Guard.
At first, the Emperor's two sheep had been terrified of the giants. But as time passed, they chose to launch attacks along the guards' patrol routes, butting their heads against the leg armor. The bear cubs, though mischievous, were smart enough not to provoke the Praetorian Guard. With a predator's instincts and enhanced brain capacity, they had deduced that the guards were creatures at the top of the food chain. Seeking advantage and avoiding harm was a biological instinct, even for brown bear cubs. They were not about to provoke the Praetorian Guard like those foolish sheep. Aside from the horses in the stable, who welcomed Hammurabi and Amon because they knew how to care for them, few animals liked the Praetorian Guard. Nor did the two guards understand why the Emperor kept so many animals at the manor.
The manor's owner did not suffer from some kind of persecution complex. He simply knew how dangerous this world was. Otherwise, he would not have approved the Sisterhood's request to deploy naval mines and underwater sensors, much less filled the manor with concealed anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft missiles. If necessary, a ballistic missile could even be launched from beneath the manor. But its silo was actually located in a forest clearing behind the estate, disguised by grass and