Lucian sent Lion Head outside the carriage to guard it, while he checked on his son.
Lucian junior was fine, sleeping soundly. Lion Head said his son didn't cry, and was quiet the whole time.
"You are just one day old, and you're already having so many adventures, just like your parents," Lucian whispered, touching his son's small fist with a finger, "I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but our combined bloodlines are bound to create a legend like no other."
'Or double the trouble,' Voice mumbled, not amused.
The little guy stirred a little as if complaining that his father was too noisy, and that he needed his sleep.
The carriage ride to the clinic was uneventful, with his son showing no interest in talking or playing.
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Lucian went to check on the guy he had knocked out, expecting to find him awake and cursing at him.
He found the man awake and grumbling to himself. When he saw Lucian, he almost fell from his stretcher.
Lucian looked vastly different, wearing a fitted suit, with a tie and a cane. His hair was styled, and he looked every inch a rich, pompous lord.
"I...I didn't know, please forgive me..." the man stammered, his head bowing down. "I didn't mean anything by it."
What luck the man had, to pick a fight with that Lucian Arclight. The only hay head he shouldn't have messed with, and he did.
All hay heads were good looking, all of them. He just thought this one was no different than the others he had seen. A little rougher, a little taller, but still a hay head. Who would have thought that he was that hay head?
"Are you not going to ask for a damage compensation fee?" Lucian asked. He did not want rumors about him beating up a random man in an ale house, "I hit you first, after all."
The man thought Lucian was mocking him and testing whether he would demand a compensation fee. He was not stupid enough to demand one from a lion, and quickly shook his head, "No, My Lord. I was at fault."
"Honesty is a good trait, as is humbleness," Lucian left a few coins on the table, "May the Gods reward you for them," and walked out, leaving the man to wonder what he did to deserve such good fortune.
Lucian was known to be a generous man, and that exerting violence wasn't his preferred way to solve conflicts. Though there were instances where he did so, it was always with a "good" reason.
The man didn't know why he felt like the bad guy, when he had been the one who got beaten up. He knew his intentions weren't good, but he didn't actually do anything.
His head was bandaged and hurt, and yet he felt like he should be thanking Lucian for his generosity. Lucian had the power to ruin his life, but didn't do it. Why?
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Lucian left the building, and went to sit in his carriage, taking his son from Lion Head while ordering the coachman to take him back to Glory's store.
'Why are you wasting your money on nobodies like him?' Voice asked.
'It's fun to see men submit when they find out who I am, and even funnier to see them be thankful for getting beat up.' Lucian replied, letting the carriage move forward, 'They always think I'm testing their character for some grand purpose, that I'm going to reward them if they pass, not that I'm doing it for fun.'
They wanted to be in his good graces, so they never tried to make him look bad, and did everything they could to make themselves look better in his eyes.
'It's different from helping a beggar on the street,' Lucian leaned his head against the carriage window, rocking his son in his arms, 'They don't jump before your carriage, begging for your help. Men like these start with a grudge against you, and changing their perspectives has always been kind of rewarding.'
Only thanks to tests like these was Lucian able to punch two dukal heirs without anyone batting an eye.
Lucian doubted he would get a noble title any time soon. Why would the crown give a neutral party more power?
If he bought a noble title from the crown, it would only look like a poor attempt at gaining influence in the Kingdom. It would cheapen his reputation and make people doubt his integrity.
He would have to force them to give it to him, by becoming invaluable to their survival.
He was not going to mingle in the Southern and Northern conflict, but the East Sea conflict was standing in the way of his trade expansion plans, so it was the obvious choice.
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Snow started to fall as caravans upon caravans traveled to the south, carrying crates of goods with Glory's seal on them.
The chilling breeze that followed the snowfall made the temperature drop even lower, causing the caravan drivers to shiver in their coats.
It was a sudden change in weather, a sign that the cold season would be harsh this year, much harsher than anticipated. But that did not stop the merchants and traders from their journey to the nearest Glory's warehouse.
In fact, the cold weather seemed to spur them on even more. The demand for warm clothes and blankets was increasing, as well as medicine for the cold and dry skin, and the Glory's warehouses were packed with them.
Lucian overlooked the Glory's business during their short stays in each break point, until the caravans reached the borders of the Southern Alliance.
The northern army depended heavily on the Merchant Guild to supply them, which gave the Merchant Guild more leverage to negotiate better terms.
But no matter how much the merchant guild wanted to sabotage Lucian's caravans to get him out of the way, less competition also meant higher price for the end consumers.
The northern army would be the first to feel the impact, not only in terms of prices, but also risks of a shortage of supplies.
That was how Cansan was able to secure a supply contract with the military, quietly inserting Glory into the war effort as one of the major logistical forces.
The main battlefield was near the Lost East Walls, so a part of Lucian's convoy had to split up to supply the army with what they needed, while the rest of the convoy went directly to the Southern Alliance.
'Time for a stretch break,' Lucian woke up his son when the carriage pulled up to the nearest town for a break.
The weather in the South was better than in the North, with the sun still shining.
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
I can't believe that I just summarised 14 years of Lucian's life in 200 chapters... I hope it didn't feel too rushed.😅
I don't know about you, but the academy arc doesn't seem challenging enough for Lucian to waste his time on.
I mean, there could have been some interesting classes here and there, combat training, competitions, field trips, and all that jazz, but it would slow him down so much. And he can't afford that.
He still has the sea trade to conquer!🗣
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