Seed of Titan-Chapter 228: Alancho’s Resolve, Drai’s Reluctance
"Wait, Uncle... Is Max really okay with revealing his return?" Drai asked, thinking this was odd since Max had been doing what he could to avoid the mysterious organization’s scrutiny, even going as far as disguising himself when they met at the coffee shop a while ago.
"Of course, otherwise we wouldn’t be holding this event. And why should he fear revealing himself to the public anyway? This announcement will be a great boon for his family, especially when they’re facing increasingly tough competition from their rivals. I don’t know too much of the details, but it seems like many groups have banded together recently to end the Velles’ hegemony in the business sector. I don’t know if you realized it or not when you stayed with them, but their companies haven’t been doing that great these past few years. They’re still afloat for now, but if their counter-measures are ineffective, we might just witness a momentous fall of a centuries-old dynasty in the near future."
Although Alancho conveyed this with a slightly bleak tone, Drai really didn’t think much of it. He felt that the Velles would still be able to live abundantly compared to most people even if their net worth was reduced to a tenth of what it currently was. He even suspected that their head butler, Walter, had a greater net worth than the Varz household combined.
"But I still don’t get what this dinner has to do with me, Uncle. Is it because Max wants me to come?"
"I’m sure he does, but that’s not the reason I’m informing you about this. Actually, I’m the one expecting you to attend the gala—not as a guest, but as my charge. In fact, you will also be put under the spotlight since I’m planning to announce your appointment as my protege."
"What?!" Drai blurted, jolted upright from his seat.
"I’m sorry this comes as a surprise to you, but it was a rather hasty decision I made during my latest talk with Maximillian. After the gala, the whole country will know you as my direct pupil, the person who will likely end up as Rivideria’s Great General in the future."
"Me? A Great General?" Drai muttered before plopping down onto his chair, looking shocked and helpless.
"I told you he wouldn’t receive this well, General," Ailem said with a chuckle. "Drai isn’t like you. Although he’s similarly obsessed with power, his definition of power is too different from yours. For him, it’s intrinsic and personal, not authoritative and encompassing."
"And I said I would help expand his mindset," Alancho replied, completely unfazed by the captain’s remark or Drai’s reaction which clearly lacked enthusiasm.
"Do I even have a say in this?" Drai asked weakly.
"Of course you do, but are you sure you want to squander this great opportunity?" Alancho asked back. "Just imagine how fast your progress will be if I personally train you every other day or so. Besides, I will also cover all your future expenses, including purchases of training equipment or any other inessential item that you want, as long as they contribute to your betterment. Last but not least, I will also introduce you to influential figures that will definitely benefit you in many ways."
"Those sound great and all, but what about my lack of interest in politics? Can I even be a military officer if I don’t care that much about our country?"
"Interest can be cultivated, and my retainers and I will make sure of that, so don’t worry."
Looking at the General’s eagerness, Drai truly felt the irony of this situation. It was as if their roles were reversed, as he used to be the one who was always excited about the prospect of associating with Alancho. But now Alancho was wooing him hard, while Drai thought this offer was too much and would certainly smother his freedom for years to come.
Yet, under Alancho’s pressuring gaze, Drai couldn’t help but acquiesce.
"Alright, I’ll do it. I’ll be your protege, a future general, or whatever. But please keep your words and help me solve the problems related to the Crimson Order. I’ll be glad if you can somehow take the whole group down, but just keeping them away from my family and friends will be enough."
"I promise I’ll do my best to protect those important to you, especially once we finally locate those who are currently missing, so long as you do your best too as my protege," Alancho solemnly pledged with a hand over his heart.
"Then I guess it’s official," Drai remarked sighingly. "Do I have to sign a contract or something?"
"No, I trust you enough."
"Okay then... Still, I don’t understand why you suddenly made this decision, Uncle. To be honest, I don’t think we’re that close yet, and this protege thing feels rushed for no reason. After all, I barely spent a month here, and I’m still pretty young too."
"Like I said, it was hastily made, but not without reason. You see, I’m actually planning to retire soon, probably in a year or two, so I wanted to announce my protege while I’m still in the office, otherwise he—or you—will lack the much-needed support from my current subordinates. If you’re concerned about the spotlight I’m putting you in, don’t worry too much. I’m sure the public will rejoice since I’m basically promising them a dependable figure to safeguard their motherland in the future. Honestly, I actually had a few other prospects in mind, but ever since we met at my house, my mind somehow kept drifting toward you whenever I mulled over this matter. Perhaps this is fate, as I would’ve never met you if you hadn’t been close friends with Natalia."
Drai was unsure if he shared the same sentiment. For him, fate and what-ifs are merely conditional, and things were never set in stone. For example, he also wouldn’t have met Natalia had Ravi not scouted and recommended him to Soluna Academy, which would’ve been unlikely had Drai chosen a different class during his awakening. And even when all of this came to fruition, Drai would probably never end up in the army or as Alancho’s protege if the Crimson Order’s invasion never happened. Therefore, Drai reasoned that if he truly was fated to be Alancho’s successor, then he would lose all reason to be upset at the invasion and everything it entailed—the deaths, his missing parents and professor, and whatnot—since they all must be intertwined, fated, and inevitable too.
Thus, Drai ignored Alancho’s questionable assumption and instead asked, "Why are you retiring? I don’t think you’re that old yet."
"Well, the incumbent president can only apply for one more period. And so far, there’s nobody from my faction who’s popular enough to succeed him after that, which is why I’ll have to assume the mantle."
Drai was speechless. He never thought that the mighty general would one day sit in the office often reserved by old foggies with a talent for bickering and bullshitting.
Alancho smiled wryly upon noticing Drai’s expression. "I know, it doesn’t suit me, right? But if I don’t do this, I’m afraid my faction will lose control of the government, which is especially bad considering the brewing revolt."
"I guess that’s the reason you’re honoring Max? He’s close to me, your protege, and we even survived and escaped together, so that will look good on your resume when you eventually run for presidency," Drai surmised.
"You know, for someone who despises politics, you’re surprisingly sharp," Alancho mentioned with a raised brow before admitting, "Yes, that’s the main reason we’re holding this gala dinner. In return, my faction will be supporting his family’s endeavours thereafter, a strategic collaboration, if you will."
Drai fell silent. Again, he inwardly shook his head at the off-putting world he only got to discover now, where nothing was truly like what it appeared and everyone seemingly had hidden agendas. He couldn’t help wondering if Max had been pressured to take part in this or if he had truly assumed a proactive role. From his time with Max, Drai felt that he wasn’t much of a schemer or that interested in such intrigues, but perhaps his return had changed him so much or reverted him to what he was supposed to be had he never gotten stranded.
"And that’s why you should do your best and climb the ranks fast, Drai," Alancho continued. "If all goes as planned, we’ll be able to keep the military and the government solidified, which will only bode well for our nation and citizens."
"I’ll keep that in mind," Drai flatly replied.
Once the topic had settled and neither had more to say, Alancho called in his secretary and asked her to find someone from the staff to drive Drai back.
"It isn’t everyday that you failed to read the room. Did you seriously not realize the boy’s mood was pretty sour?" Ailem asked after there were just two of them left in the office.
"I knew, but I just didn’t care," Alancho shrugged. "I was once like him, hardworking yet utterly naive, ignorant, even foolish. Only after what my family did to me did I realize the world is unforgiving to those who act purely in good faith. Even if I ended up forgoing all that’s supposed to be mine and had to take shelter in what was once a bleak country, I’m thankful that the experience changed me for the better."
Ailem approached Alancho and sat on his lap. Caressing his firm chest, she whispered, "I’m still waiting for you to tell me the whole story, you know? The tidbits you mentioned here and there only made me more curious."
"Maybe I’ll tell you when I’m in my deathbed," Alancho replied before smothering the captain with playful kisses.
"But seriously," Ailem said as she pushed Alancho’s face away, "I’m really curious. With the supposedly grim history between you and your family, why are they leaving you alone? They must’ve recognized you after you became a prominent figure, right?"
"Well, they did try to assassinate me several times some years ago, but after that, they seemed to have stopped having ideas on me. Maybe it’s because they’ve been frightened since I managed to thwart all their attempts, or maybe they just stopped caring altogether, thinking I probably want nothing to do with them either, which isn’t wrong. Anyway, you probably should get back to your post. I don’t want people gossiping."
’Too late for that,’ Ailem thought as she got back on her feet. She then said goodbye and left.
On her way to her jeep, she kept thinking about Alancho’s mysterious background, wondering when he’ll ever reveal it to her. It was like a bone stuck in her throat since she knew Alancho had once revealed it to someone, a fair and softly-spoken lady who was no longer with him.
"It’s time to move on, General..." Ailem mumbled as she glanced at Alancho’s office above from the parking lot. After a lengthy pause, she finally entered her jeep and drove away.
***
