Chapter 109: Endorsement

Cain followed Kevin back to the catapult camp in silence. Upon arrival, they exchanged a long, complex look, both feeling equally conflicted. The General's decision was a complete shock to both of them, leaving them utterly unprepared. For Kevin, however, it was at least acceptable that someone had arrived—someone he could manage, rather than some decrepit old man who wouldn't be able to lift a finger.

"Move your bedding over and sleep on this side," Kevin said, gesturing to the space behind his own cot. "We’re old acquaintances, and there’s no one else here, so don’t be too formal. But remember one thing: I am a Lieutenant now, so address me as 'Sir.' Don't get it wrong."

Cain: "..."

"Go on," Kevin waved him off, already busy tidying up the room to clear a space. Truth be told, there were plenty of empty rooms; he could have let Cain have a private room or sleep in the garage. They had never liked each other, and Kevin would have been perfectly happy to see him as far away as possible. However, since the General had instructed him to "educate" the boy, Kevin decided that even if he were miserable, he would make sure Cain was even more so.

A moment later, Cain returned with a group of new recruits. They were eager and enthusiastic, helping him move his bedding and belongings. Once finished, they scrambled to make his bed and tidy up, all of them willing and devoted. Cain couldn't even get a hand in; he just stood to the side, observing Kevin’s expression. Kevin merely sat nearby, watching coldly without a word. After all, Cain was an officer and the General's son. Dragging a few recruits over wasn't a big deal, especially since they seemed to be doing it voluntarily.

"Officer Cain," a recruit reported after finishing, "I’ve washed your socks and trousers. They aren't dry yet, so should I fold them and bring them over once they are?"

"Yes, that's fine," Cain nodded, glancing sideways at Kevin. Having spent so much time with Kevin’s recruit squad, he knew Kevin disliked the practice of making others wash one's clothes. Now that Kevin was his superior, he wondered what tricks he would use to torment him.

Kevin remained silent, quietly reading and sipping water.

Before long, the bed was perfectly made—neat, tidy, and spotless, making Kevin’s own cot look shabby by comparison. After finishing, the recruits saluted Cain, gave a casual salute to Kevin, and left in a group.

The room was left to the two of them. The raven had already flown off to walk the dog. Cain instinctively touched his belongings, contemplating how he would survive the days ahead.

"Cain," Kevin began, "are you quite familiar with those recruits?"

"They came over on their own; I didn't call them," Cain defended himself.

Kevin didn't look up from his book. "I know. But they aren't your recruits anymore. I have no one else here, so you'll have to do your own work from now on. You need to adapt. Understand?"

"Mm," Cain grunted, clearly disdainful, though he said nothing.

"The General asked me to educate you. To be honest, it’s quite sudden, and I haven't quite figured out how to go about it," Kevin said, changing the subject. "I have to meet the King the day after tomorrow, so I’ll be busy preparing and won't have much time for you these next two days. There’s a catapult in the garage; go study it."

Cain didn't say a word and headed to the garage. Being with Kevin was agonizing, so having some time alone was a welcome relief.

Inside the garage, Cain tapped the catapult wheel half-heartedly, lost interest, yawned, and lay down on top of it to space out.

Suddenly, Kevin pushed the garage door open. Cain sat up instinctively. Kevin said, "This catapult played a major role in the military exercises. Look at it carefully; I’ll ask for your thoughts tonight."

With that, Kevin walked out, locked the garage door, and left Cain trapped inside. He then left the camp to find information at the city library.

By evening, Kevin finally returned. He took a detour to the Second Battalion to find Cain’s two friends—Marinus and Orca, who had once been in the same recruit squad as Kevin—to ask about Cain’s recent situation. He was primarily interested in his combat prowess, as Kevin worried that if things turned sour, he needed to know his odds in a fight.

He learned that Cain was an expert horseman; at the same rank, he could take on three opponents on horseback. However, his rank progression was slow because cultivation was tedious, and he preferred showing off flashy stunts—acrobatics, spinning spears, and somersaults—all of which were top-tier, though his battle aura remained red.

He hadn't practiced foot combat much since joining the legion, so his level was likely that of a recruit, or slightly improved. With this information, Kevin felt prepared. They asked Kevin about his future plans and how Cain was doing, mentioning that they had gone to the catapult camp that afternoon to visit him but found no one there.

"I locked him in the garage," Kevin replied.

Everyone: "..."

Back at his camp, Kevin opened the garage to find Cain standing by the machine, looking sleepy. Kevin knew the door was slow and creaky; it was easy to stand at attention upon hearing it. But judging by his expression, he had clearly been napping all afternoon.

"Come on, let's go get dinner," Kevin said with a wave.

Cain followed without a word. Normally, each independent unit had its own mess hall, but Kevin clearly didn't. He had always just freeloaded at other battalions, picking whichever hall had the best food, and no one cared.

Bringing Cain along, however, was a different sight. As soon as they entered, several captains and majors at a table on the right stood up in unison. "Oh? Isn't that Cain? ...Er, Kevin is here too. Come, come, eat over here."

Kevin sneered inwardly. These were sycophants, clearly trying to curry favor with the down-and-out Cain. But with Kevin there, they couldn't ignore him, so they offered a perfunctory invitation.

Kevin didn't call them out. He sat down with Cain at their table. The two lowest-ranking officers present immediately stood up, claiming they were finished and telling them to enjoy their meal.

Kevin and Cain sat down, and without them having to lift a finger, the guards served them dinner—a feast identical to what the officers were having. Kevin was polite, teasing with a smile, "Why didn't I get this treatment before? Hahahaha..."

"Hahaha..." the others laughed along. Though the sarcasm was obvious, in such a setting, laughter was the only way to ease the awkwardness.

"Don't worry, brother Kevin. You're always welcome to dine with us," one said, familiarly calling him 'brother,' despite the fact that Kevin didn't even know him. With so many officers in the legion, Kevin, being on the fringes, couldn't possibly know them all.

The officers had already finished eating, but they slowed their pace to wait for Kevin and Cain.

"By the way, is brother Cain a catapult soldier now?" someone asked curiously.

"That's hard to say," Kevin replied. "But since he's with me, he obviously needs to know how to use my catapult. What happens later depends on the General."

Cain sat there gnawing on a chicken leg, saying nothing.

"Huh? Why is brother Cain so quiet?" someone laughed.

Cain gave a cold snort. "My bad luck, nothing to say."

Kevin just smiled. "How is this bad luck? This is training for your own good; the General has your best interests at heart."

Cain was speechless and went back to his chicken leg.

"Look... brother Kevin," someone said, "sometimes, don't take things too seriously. You know what I mean?" This sentiment was echoed by everyone at the table, all nodding and hinting at Kevin.

Kevin understood perfectly well what they meant, but he didn't argue, simply nodding in agreement.

After dinner, Kevin took Cain back. Cain sat there for a moment before standing up. "I'm going out for a walk." Between dinner and nightfall, one was free to move around the camp. Staying here was stifling.

"Get back here!" Kevin said, eyes still glued to his book. "I told you to study the catapult and share your thoughts. What are they?"

"Er..." Cain rolled his eyes. "A catapult is, well... it's a machine for throwing stones."

Kevin remained unmoved, gesturing for him to continue.

"It... it's usually kept in the rear and is very effective at sieges," Cain stumbled. "Er... your machine also has a lot of wheels."

"Anything else?" Kevin glanced at him.

Cain fell silent; he clearly had nothing more to say.

"If you were a recruit, I’d say you were right, as that is one aspect," Kevin said, returning to his book. "But if you are an officer, I suggest you start over as a recruit."

Cain: "..."

"My catapult has an adjustable tilt angle, allowing it to be fired from sloped terrain. It uses a donkey-powered winch to save manual labor for raising the counterweight. It has a stone-sliding chute to partially automate loading. And it features a hardening magic array to stabilize the frame, thereby increasing accuracy," Kevin listed them off like he was counting his own treasures. "You didn't notice any of that, and all you saw were the wheels?"

Cain: "..."

"Sigh! Sit," Kevin pointed to the chair opposite, tossing him a technical manual for the catapult. "Start by reading this. Then memorize all the parameters."

"Memorize them?" Cain was stunned.

"Yes," Kevin replied. "Height, width, length, top speed, range, available ammunition types, weight of the stone projectiles, maintenance procedures, deployment in various terrains, and so on. Get to it. You’re a catapult soldier now. If you don't know these, you're a complete failure."

Cain: "..."

"Your father asked you three questions, and you couldn't answer one. I’m here to train you, and what am I good at?" Kevin reasoned. "I’m good at theory, and your theoretical knowledge is severely lacking. It’s normal to memorize the book. If you're not happy about it, go talk to your father."

Cain had no choice but to sit opposite Kevin and open the manual. He immediately noticed a problem: "This doesn't seem to be the manual for your catapult."

"My catapult is an improved model based on this one, which is the standard-issue catapult for our army. Reading this won't hurt," Kevin replied. "Once you master this, you can memorize the parameters of mine. Don't worry, you have plenty more to learn."

Cain: "..."

The two sat there reading. The raven flew back and forth, landing on Kevin’s shoulder, then flying to the top of the cabinet. Cain’s attention was constantly distracted by the bird as it performed tricks, tossing food into the air and catching it. Cain watched in a daze.

Kevin was long used to the raven. He had to meet the King the day after tomorrow, and he needed to ensure his etiquette was perfect and his speech appropriate. This wasn't a tavern full of drunks; it was a grand occasion, and Kevin took it very seriously.

When it grew dark, Kevin stood up to light the oil lamp. He glanced at Cain, who was still pretending to memorize the first page.

Kevin sneered, "How long are you going to take for such a small amount?"

Cain stared at the book, silent and dazed.

"Get to it. I’ll quiz you before sleep," Kevin added casually. "If you can't recite it, you’re not sleeping tonight. I can keep you company; I’ll be up late anyway."

Cain: "..."

It had to be said that Cain was by no means stupid. Being the General's son, his lineage was there; he wasn't a genius, but he wasn't lacking in intelligence. Back as a recruit, he was one of the best, unlike someone like Gray who knew nothing.

It was just that his heart wasn't in it, and he had never been properly disciplined. With his father being a General and everyone sycophantically flattering him, he had become a bit spoiled. Now, following Kevin, he felt a lot of resistance, but once forced to memorize, his efficiency was still high. Memorization was, after all, the easy part.

Before the camp lights were extinguished, Cain finally finished memorizing everything. Kevin quizzed him randomly, and he was reasonably satisfied.

"Not bad. Go wash up and sleep," Kevin waved.

Cain walked out with a basin in silence.

"Remember, this data is useful; don't forget it the moment you're done," Kevin added. "I’ll quiz you at random times. Starting tomorrow, memorize the data for my five-pair road wheel system."

Cain froze in place for a moment, then pushed the door open and left.

Late that night, Cain couldn't sleep. Perhaps it was because he’d slept too much in the garage during the day. Thinking it over, his future felt bleak. He had no idea how Kevin would torment him, and he still couldn't accept that his father had dumped him on this guy.

Cain shed tears of sorrow under his blanket, internally screaming, "Father, do you not love me anymore?"

Suddenly, Kevin yanked the blanket off. "Why are you shaking under there? Happy about something?"

"..." Cain snatched the blanket back and covered his head again.

In the darkness, Kevin couldn't see what he was doing. He just said, "Get some rest. Tomorrow has its own tasks."

Cain didn't answer and stayed huddled under the covers, drifting into a restless sleep in the second half of the night.

The next day, Kevin and Cain did morning exercises together. Cain riding a horse behind Kevin, who was riding a donkey, was quite a sight. After the workout, they went to breakfast. Thanks to Cain, they were well-treated again.

If they kept eating like this, Kevin’s strength would surely improve. They were being served high-quality monster meat, which was very helpful for cultivating battle aura.

In the morning, Kevin told Cain to memorize the data for the five-pair road wheel system. Since this was Kevin’s own modification, some data—like dimensions—hadn't been officially recorded. But that wasn't a problem. Kevin waved a hand: "Where the data is missing, go measure it and fill it in."

Cain’s face darkened, but he accepted his fate and went off with a ruler.

He spent the whole morning measuring. When Kevin came to check at noon, Cain had only half the data. Kevin sneered, "Is your calculation very precise? Measuring half in the morning and half in the afternoon? Your efficiency is a bit low."

Kevin looked around. "Why is it so dirty here? Go clean it up, shovel out the donkey dung. The mud is still on the catapult wheels from the last exercise. Get it all clean!"

Cain remained expressionless.

"Hurry up! Before dinner, have the garage cleaned, the dimensions measured, and the data memorized," Kevin said before heading back to the library.

When he returned in the evening, Kevin saw the garage was shining, the catapult looking brand new. Kevin didn't believe for a second that Cain had done it himself; he’d likely gotten the new recruits to do it. But since he hadn't caught them in the act, he didn't call him out. "Hmm, not bad. How's the data?"

"I've memorized it all," Cain said confidently.

Looking at his expression, Kevin knew he had actually put in the effort. Even so, he quizzed him on two random items, and sure enough, Cain answered fluently. Kevin nodded in approval. "Good. I'll report to your father that you’ve made progress."

Cain: "..."

"Now that you've memorized the data, I think it's time you learned parabolas," Kevin smiled. "It's a type of mathematical function. You know them, right?"

Cain: "..."

"If you don't, you'll learn," Kevin concluded. "These are foundational subjects. I recall that nobles have their own schools, and mathematics is a basic subject. If you want to be a soldier your whole life, this is useless, but if you want to lead troops into battle, it’s vital. You have to learn it all."

Cain: "..."

"Not just this. Later, you'll learn tactics, famous historical battles, the tactics and equipment of other nations and races, magic spells, formations, and, of course, politics. You need to be patriotic, understand?" Kevin counted off a list of subjects on his fingers.

Cain: "..."

"I admit, I don't know some of this myself. But that's fine, we can learn together," Kevin smiled. "The library is huge, and if there's anything else we don't understand, we can just ask your father. See? What a great learning environment?"

Cain: "..."

"Don't look at me like that. It's all for your own good," Kevin shrugged.

That night, Cain shed tears of agony under his blanket again, not even daring to shake this time.

On the third day, Kevin was to attend the awards ceremony. It was a grand occasion to meet the King, so Kevin was dressed neatly, his beard shaved clean, looking very spirited. Outside, the carriage for the ceremony was waiting at the catapult camp. The General stepped down from it, taking the opportunity to check on his son.

"General," Kevin and Cain saluted in unison.

The General nodded and turned to Kevin. "How is Cain doing here?"

"He's making progress," Kevin replied, then turned to Cain. "Cain, I’ll say this in front of the General: when I return, I’m going to give you a test. It will cover tactical and strategic knowledge. Whatever score you get, I’ll show the results to the General as a report. What do you think, General?"

The General pondered for a moment, silent.

"Since the General doesn't object, we'll do it that way," Kevin decided. "We have to go to the awards ceremony to see the King. You stay here and study hard; I'll test you when I get back."

Cain: "..."

The General added, "Study hard. It's all for your own good." Then, with a wave, he signaled for Kevin to board the carriage.

Cain stood there with a dark face, watching the carriage disappear in a cloud of dust. Left alone in the catapult camp, he silently returned to his room, closed the door, and flipped the table!

"FUCK!!!"