New Life, New Task: I'll Be A Mom Then!!!

Hearing the Third Prince's name, there was a bitter taste and a complicated feeling that came out of Nathan's heart.

Towards the Third Prince, his feelings were actually juggling between envy, because Leon spent more time with his father as his student, and curiosity because his father would only hear him praise whenever he talks about this student of his.

"You know very well that he is not a 'trash' that you speak of." He replied helplessly with an aggrieved expression. His father was flexing, not ridiculing the other party.

"Yes, that's what I wanted you to remember." General Farauld looked at his sulking son and nodded straightforwardly. "That being said, he was the only person who had the right to teach someone this technique. If you want to learn this technique, it could only be him who could teach you."

Nathan looked at his father with an accusing look, "You just performed the technique earlier, why can't you just be the one to teach me that?"

"Simply because you are my son." General Farauld answered with a shrug.

Hearing his father's answer, Nathan's heart felt like it was broken into pieces.

Why can't his father just act like a normal father? Why can he teach other people wholeheartedly but not his son?

But just as he was about to succumb to the pain of disappointment, he heard his father's next words, "As my son, you deserve the best, and I know that I am not the best person to teach you that technique."

His father's words were like a jar of honey being poured in his heart, washing all the bitterness away.

"Well if you say so.." He answered, hiding the smirk he had in his lips with an awkward cough.

"Good, so starting tomorrow, you'll join the Third Prince in an investigation activity! The Prince needed a team to thoroughly investigate the matter of the sinister curses." General Farauld happily patted his son's shoulders, his eyes forming two crescent moons.

Realizing what he had agreed to, Nathan felt like he wanted to refund his feelings of sweetness earlier! Clearly his father had trapped him again!

It was not long ago that he found himself falling into his father's trap, making him spend a long time training hellishly in his maternal grandfather's estate!

Now his father is doing it again!

Seeing that Nathan was about to explode, General Farauld continued to explain with an innocent and enthusiastic look on his face, "Of course, this would be a top secret operation dealing with highly classified information. We need skilled, intelligent and trustworthy people like you to join the team!!!"

'Skilled? Intelligent? Trustworthy? Is that what my father thinks of me?' Nathan thought to himself, he perked up upon hearing General Farauld's explanation.

"Besides, your sister Eli would join too.." General Farauld finally dropped the bomb, his face already reflected the expression that he had already won over his son.

"What time will I have to meet with the team?" Nathan answered without hesitation upon hearing Eli's name.

There were no grievances nor accusations in his eyes, rather he looked like a golden retriever happily wagging his tail upon learning his favorite person would come.

Aquila could only helplessly smile and shake her head. Granted that her husband was not the best father in the Empire, she knew that General Farauld thought deeply of his son.

That's why he appeared to sneakily entrap him in various circumstances, to ensure that his son would be equipped and prepared enough, when he no longer had the strength to wield the armor and sword.

Having him join the investigation team might look like it would benefit the Third Prince the most, but the old couple knew that Leon and Eli could do this even without the help of Nathan.

Infact, Nathan would gain more in this experience as it was a preparation for him when he decides to enter the inner core of the Imperial knights.

"I'll bring you over tomorrow before sunlight. Remember, the matters in this investigation were highly sensitive, only trusted people had the right to know the details." General Farauld ruffled his son's hair before walking towards Dame Aquila who had already prepared the refreshments for the two men.

The morning of the joint investigation came.

According to the arrangement with the temple, the two sides have two weeks to assemble their own investigation teams to ensure that the people who would handle the case of the dark knights were trustworthy and capable.

However, for Leon, he had not stopped doing all the preparatory works this past two weeks, from going to the libraries, negotiating with the temple to go through the memoirs, he went to and fro just to enable the investigation team to start from a better vantage point. He also rallied the Roaming Blades to gather information about the crimes and sins committed by both Hasta and Igor.

In the meeting room of the Crimson Blade's barracks, Leon, Eli and Kayden were waiting patiently for the other participants from the Emperor's investigation team.

Soon, General Eugine and Nathan arrived not long after. Everyone exchanged greetings and immediately proceeded to the secret portal leading to the temple dungeons.

The group did not engage in any discussions but instead prioritized going into the temple to meet the people sent by the High Priest for the investigation.

Finally arriving at the underground dungeons, they were escorted by Julian again to enter into a large and simplistic meeting room where three people are already waiting.

One of them was obviously the High Priest, and there were another two people, a man and a woman, wearing not a temple servant gown but rather a temple knight armor.

"Greetings, Esteemed High Priest…" The two sides exchanged greetings before proceeding to sit on their designated positions according to the party they belong to.

However, as soon as they were seated, they saw Eli, who was assumed to be under Leon's team walking towards the High Priest's side instead.

The two temple knights and the rest of Leon's team were surprised to see this, even General Farauld had to look at Leon with a questioning look clearly shocked by the arrangements.

Only the High Priest and Leon maintained a calm expression seeing Eli's gesture. Seeing that they were not correcting Eli, the rest shut their mouths and waited for the two people to explain everything.

The High Priest only started the meeting after everyone settled on their seats. His ancient eyes that are full of wisdom and benevolence swept on everyone present in the room.

"As you all know, we gathered everyone here to represent the Temple and the Imperial Family in an investigation about the mystery of the curses. We have selected three representatives from each side to join hands in discovering the solution for the problem brought by these curses who had plagued not only the Seirende Empire but the entire Prasinos for centuries now..." The High Priest briefly explained the purpose of the assembly, not forgetting to emphasize the gravity of the damages brought by the curses.

"On the temple's side, I'd like to introduce to you two of the Seirende Temple Knight's vice captains Keren and Joab.

Keren was also the lead for liaising research and intelligence coming from the main and other branches of the Temple. She will help you a lot especially on the known natures and effects of the curse magic.

Joab was one of the most skilled knights in the temple, he can help you in gathering more information and intelligence on suspicious people that could be brought about in the interrogation.

Finally, you all know very well the Great Inventor of the Seirende Empire, Eli. I enlisted her to study more about the curses and its effects. I believe that with her critical thinking, we can save a lot of time in discovering the secret of these curses." The High Priest pleasantly introduced each of the team members, highlighting their strengths and reason why they were chosen in the first place.

Leon also introduced his team members, Kayden, Nathan and General Farauld, all for appropriate reasons.

General Farauld for his vast battle experience, which also included enemies that were too mystical and abnormal, just like the rebels of the blood valley.

Kayden for his medical prowess. It will help a lot in figuring out how exactly the curse attacks and destroys a target's body.

Finally, Nathan, who was present for similar reasons as Eli, being a swordsman and scholar at the same time, he was also a good addition to the team.

The High Priest was satisfied with the team's composition. He nodded with a soft smile and began to discuss the details of the investigation, while Leon gave each one a set of documents.

"A few weeks ago, the Third Prince and his troops managed to capture two people who had been proven to use curse magic and curse weapons. He had also done the preliminary investigations about the two captives. Written on the report laid in front of you were the summary of crimes and wrongdoings these two committed, all of them were conclusive evidence that they knowingly used sinister magic in their deeds. "