Military Training?

Benjamin enjoyed a few days of rare peace.

He woke up on time, ate on time, and ordered Jeremy around on time, never stepping foot outside. The constant stream of incidents seemed to have suddenly ceased. His father, Claude, had not yet returned from inspecting the estate, and the few people left in the house lived in harmony, exchanging only brief greetings each day.

After finishing Introduction to Divine Arts, he returned the book to Grant's desk early. The episode in Grant's bedroom that night was treated by both as if it had never happened; they maintained a tacit understanding and neither brought it up.

Benjamin spent his days hiding in his bedroom, pretending to sleep while practicing in his consciousness space. He alternated between "meditating" to strengthen the Triangle Glyph and accelerating the condensation of new glyphs, encountering no further issues.

Everything was progressing smoothly and steadily, just like a news broadcast. Benjamin was very satisfied.

However, he also knew that this peaceful life would not last long.

But what he did not expect was that the first person to break his calm practice routine would be his father, Claude.

Claude had returned from the estate, and the first thing he did upon his return was to summon Benjamin to the study early in the morning.

"Your mind is becoming increasingly wild. If this continues, will you start dueling other nobles with guns?" As soon as Benjamin entered the study, Claude, standing with his hands behind his back, launched into a scathing reprimand.

It seemed Claude had also heard about the farce of the noble youths' "war simulation game."

Benjamin was speechless.

He was clearly the victim, so why was he being scolded? It wasn't Benjamin who brought the gun; if anyone was to blame, it was Dick. Why blame him? Was there any logic to this?

Of course, he did not show this on his face. He knew very well that in this situation, all he had to do was keep his head down and take the scolding. Once Claude had vented enough and felt satisfied, he would naturally let him go. This incident would only be a minor interlude and would have no impact on his life.

However, he guessed the process correctly, but not the result.

After finishing his lecture, Claude fell silent for a moment before suddenly saying to Benjamin, "You've lived a life of luxury and never suffered any hardship since you were young, which is why you've turned out like this. I've already contacted a friend in the military. From now on, you will go train with them every morning, so you don't spend every morning lazing in bed!"

Benjamin was stunned.

What was going on?

Before he could say anything, Claude, without room for argument, called in a servant—the same maid who had sent him to confinement last time, Jessica or something of the sort.

"Take Benjamin to the city barracks. Tell them it was arranged by General Gray, and hand Benjamin over to them," Claude instructed, adding a final note, "Keep a close eye on Benjamin, don't let him run away!"

The maid, with a poker face as expressionless as a nun's, replied, "Understood, sir."

Then, she looked at Benjamin.

Benjamin's hair stood on end.

"Um... I don't think I've had breakfast yet..."

"This way, young master."

The maid interrupted Benjamin without mercy and escorted him out of the study.

Claude watched Benjamin's retreating back and shook his head, feeling that his son was failing to live up to expectations.

Just like that, having barely woken up and still feeling groggy, Benjamin was taken toward the barracks stationed in Havenlight.

On the way there.

"Um... your name is Jessica, right? If I remember correctly."

The maid replied coldly, "Yes, young master."

"Jessica, can we stop for a moment so I can get something to eat? Don't worry, I'm definitely not trying to escape. I really just woke up and didn't have time for breakfast; I'm starving." Benjamin said.

It wasn't that he really wanted to use it as an excuse to escape. If he actually ran away, Claude would be furious—he might even be kicked out of the house. Therefore, although Benjamin wanted to stay in his room and practice, he dared not raise any objections.

Benjamin genuinely wanted to get something to fill his stomach. In his current situation, he was essentially being sent to military training. Who knew what kind of program they had in store for him? He didn't dare take it lightly; judging by Claude's attitude, he was clearly serious.

Military training was one thing—it wasn't as if he hadn't experienced it before—but going on an empty stomach was a bit inhumane.

If they made him stand at attention for an hour, do two hundred frog jumps, or three hundred push-ups, what could he do? He would die of hunger and exhaustion before Michelle's curse could even kill him.

Therefore, his request for food was the simplest and most reasonable one he could make in this situation.

Jessica's answer was also very simple:

"No."

"..."

Benjamin couldn't help but complain to the system in his mind:

"This woman is even harder to communicate with than you."

The system was indignant: "Do not compare me to such a background character. Do you think any reader will remember her name in a few chapters? Putting me in the same category as her is an insult to my dignity as a golden finger!"

"...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Benjamin was even more speechless. "Communicating with you is much harder than with her; I underestimated you."

Hearing this, the system said triumphantly, "That's more like it."

Benjamin felt like vomiting blood.

Just like that, with the maid in front of him and the system in his head, Benjamin had no choice and was brought to the barracks in the blink of an eye.

Perhaps because the Royal Capital had experienced several internal rebellions, the Havenlight garrison was located in the inner city, not far from The Church, the noble district, and the royal palace. In terms of combat effectiveness, this army had always been known as the elite of the elite, enjoying a lofty status in the hearts of both the commoners and the nobles.

That Claude could get Benjamin in, even if just for training, showed how solid his relationship was with that "friend in the military"—one had to know that the military never catered to nobles.

After handing him over to the guards at the gate, the maid finished her mission and left. Benjamin was then taken to a camp by a soldier completely encased in armor, whose face could not be seen.

During this process, Benjamin tried to chat with the soldier escorting him to see if he could get some food. The soldier ignored him entirely, which caused the system to gloat once more.

When they finally reached their destination, the soldier spoke his only sentence:

"We're here."

Benjamin listened and thought, Isn't this just a kid? With that milky voice, what's with the attitude...

Just as he was about to say something, the soldier turned around without hesitation and walked away.

"..."

The bratty soldier left just like that, and his attitude made Benjamin realize that these days of military training would likely not be easy.

Sure enough.

"Hey, you kid looking around over there! I'm talking to you, get over here!"

A voice like a broken gong reached Benjamin's ears. Benjamin turned his head to see a middle-aged man in a military uniform with a stubbly beard looking at him with impatience.