While Claude was only a technician in charge of program support and logistics in his previous life, he had seen his fair share of things after spending so much time by his boss's side in the business world.
Even though he had never seen a pig run, he had eaten his fair share of pork and knew what it looked like.
So in front of Field Marshal Michaelich he was the humble, studious student, but in front of Mr. Weyblon he was the old man of the business world, laughing and joking with ease.
Even though the mining association had invested a lot in him, Claude didn't act like he was flattered or overjoyed.
His attitude was still ambiguous. He did not promise that he would be beneficial to the mining and commercial association after he succeeded Marshal Michelic as the supreme commander of the theater of operations.
Claude knew very well that merchants valued profits. Since they were investing in him, they would naturally want to reap greater profits.
Claude had thought that was all Weyblon was going to talk about, but he didn't think that after discussing how Shiks would need a few more years to prepare for the next colonial war, Weyblon would take out a national bank account book and put it in front of Claude.
"What's the meaning of this?" Claude thought, Is this a blatant bribe?
Putting the national bank account book in front of me just like that … That's a little too much.
Weyblon smiled. "Lord Baron, this is an anonymous account book. The password is written at the back.
Anyone who takes this account to the national bank can use the password to withdraw the money in the account.
However, there's only one riyas in there and nothing else.
Perhaps the baron had already heard that as the governor and admiral of Anfiston, he would receive ten percent of the dividends from the two gold and silver mines every year.
This account is used for dividends and will only be transferred to this account at the end of the year.
Now that Anfiston is part of the theatre and there's no viceroy or admiral, the highest-ranking officer of the theatre is entitled to this share. "
Claude smiled and took a look at the account book. It was indeed anonymous.
However, he immediately threw the account book back on the table. "Why are you giving it to me so early? I remember Misivik is the highest-ranking officer of the theatre, right? This account book should be given to him.
I won't get my dividends until next year … "
Weyblon nodded in acknowledgment, "Marshal Michelic naturally has such an account as well. The dividends from the past two years have all been transferred to him.
However, he won't be able to do so this year because he will be stepping down at the end of November and returning to the Royal City. At that time, our association will present him with a generous gift.
However, the dividend for this 10% shares is due at the end of December, so Marshal Michelic is no longer eligible to receive this dividend. Since you've taken over his position, this dividend will be yours. "
"You guys are so realistic. The tea cools when the people leave. Marshal Michelic lost a huge sum of money in just a month."
Claude shook his head. "Perhaps I should persuade the Lord Marshal to delay his return to the royal capital until January next year. That way, he'll at least be able to get his bonus."
Weyblon's face reddened. "Lord Baron, it's not that we don't care about old times, but it's the rules of the association. This dividend will only be distributed to the highest-ranking officer of Anfiston. Be it the viceroy or the highest-ranking officer of the theatre, the one who's about to step down, whoever's still in office on the day of the dividend will get it."
Still, that was fair and reasonable. Nobody could say anything about it. At most, they could only blame themselves for not having the fortune.
Marshal Michelic, for example, was only a month away from receiving his dividend.
However, Claude chuckled. Naturally, Misielc wouldn't care about that sum of money. He suspected that the reason he took it in the past was because he didn't want to embarrass the mine owners and merchants.
"Alright, my friend, I appreciate the kindness of your association. Do you have any other business matters?"
Seeing Weyblon shake his head, Claude asked, "Didn't you say you had a personal matter? Is there anything I can help with …"
"Oh, it's like this …" Weyblon began to explain.
Weyblon had two sons and a daughter. His eldest daughter was already married and his youngest son was still two years away from adulthood. He was currently studying in Grinosburg's middle school and was a liberal arts student.
What worried Weyblon the most was his second son, Derivik, who was 29 years old.
What surprised Claude was that Weyblon's second son, Deriweyk, was actually a retired soldier who had participated in the great war five years ago.
Claude recalled that Aueras didn't recruit soldiers from the seven colonies back then, so how did he participate in the war?
He didn't think that Derivik would sneak off to Aueras to enlist as a volunteer soldier when he turned 18.
Weyblon had wanted his aspiring son to serve in the local garrison of Anfiston, but he didn't think that he would end up having a heart attack.
His wife went to the wargod's temple every day to pray for his son's safe return.
Perhaps Weyblon and his wife's sincerity moved the god of war, but Derivik survived the five years of war without a scratch and was even promoted to first lieutenant of the kingdom.
But because he was in the second line corps, the post-war downsizing of the army meant that officers like Derwick, whose family was in the Union Territories, were among the first to be forced to retire.
Derivik couldn't continue his military career even if he wanted to and had no choice but to return to Anfiston.
Derivik felt more at ease after returning home and became a manager in Weyblon's mining company. A year later, he got married and was now the father of three children.
Weyblon thought that he would be able to hand over the family business to his son in a few years, but he didn't think that his son would still be restless even in his thirties.
Some time ago, he actually said that he wanted to sign up for the army and continue his dream of being a soldier. Then, his family started to make a fuss. The older one was crying and the younger one was howling. It was a complete mess, but Derrick was dead set on joining the army.
"Why does he have to enlist?"
Even if a veteran like him didn't have citizenship, he wouldn't be forced to enlist, especially when he was a low-ranking officer.
Unless the situation was dire and they were severely lacking in manpower, most men would have to pick up their weapons and go to the frontlines.
Otherwise, it was all voluntary. At the same time, they would be given corresponding positions in the army according to their military rank before they retired.
The hundred thousand families of retired soldiers who migrated to the war zone were mainly commoners living in poverty. That was why they agreed to migrate to Nubissia under the temptation of money from the new nobles. They were willing to reenlist in the army so that their families could have their own businesses, fighting for the future of themselves and their families once more.
Derivik, on the other hand, didn't have to worry about his livelihood at all.
Weyblon's family business was one of the top ten in Anfiston and he could be considered a tycoon.
Not to mention, there wasn't much of a difference between being a citizen and being a commoner in the colonies. The people there weren't as particular about class as the natives. Apart from the fact that it was harder for them to hold public office, they didn't have much of a difference in other aspects.
"He still hasn't forgotten his dream of becoming a general," Weyblon explained helplessly.
Derivik had a dream when he was young. In his dream, he enlisted in the army and earned merits on the battlefield. By the end of the war, he was already a victorious general of the kingdom.
But when he led his troops into the royal capital on a white horse to be inspected by the king, he suddenly fell off his horse and that was the end of the dream.
"He told us about his dream back then. I even encouraged him to pursue his dream. Who knows, he might really become a general of the kingdom when he grows up," Weyblon said with a bitter smile, "Perhaps he took my encouragement seriously. That's why when the war broke out five years ago, he felt that it was his destiny. That's why he secretly bought a ticket to join the kingdom's army so that he could fulfill his dream on the battlefield."
Based on Derivik's willingness to enlist and his bravery on the battlefield, he should've been retained by the ministry of the army to serve as a basic officer in the main army.
However, he was born in the colonies. According to the rules of the ministry of the army, soldiers from the colonies were supposed to serve on Nubissia.
Furthermore, he joined the second line corps. After the war, there was a general downsizing, so he was forced to retire and only received a recommendation letter.
In other words, if he wanted to continue his military career, he could use that recommendation letter to get a position in one of the seven colonies' garrison forces.
However, Derrick, who had experienced five years of war in the eastern territories, had no interest in continuing to serve in the garrison forces of the seven colonies. As someone who had been born here, he naturally knew what kind of people the garrison forces were made up of.
Aside from the fact that the officer positions in those forces were a pitfall, most of them were filled by the personal cronies of the provincial governors. An outsider like Derivik wouldn't be welcomed no matter which colony he joined.
That was why Derivik returned home to help out in his family's business. He didn't think that the colonial forces of Shiks would set their sights on the colonies.
When the war broke out, Derivik had wanted to enlist, but his wife was about to give birth and he was afraid of being agitated. Coupled with his parents' persuasion and the fact that he hadn't received any orders to enlist, he gave up on the idea.
He didn't think that Shiks wouldn't give up even after winning two colonial wars and vowed to continue the war. They even announced that they would form ten standing corps to wash away the humiliation of the two colonial wars.
Seeing that the war was going to continue, Derivik finally couldn't hold back his desire to become a general anymore. His youngest son was already two and a half years old and he didn't hold back anymore. He was determined to enlist.
Unable to persuade his son to change his mind, Weyblon could only choose a good unit for him. After much consideration, he felt that Claude's unit was the most reliable.
Firstly, Line 131 was the unit with the best fighting ability and offensive awareness in Ranger. They would always make great contributions and it was easy to get promoted in such a unit.
Secondly, there was something else that Weyblon valued the most about Claude's troops: they always achieved victory with the least amount of casualties every time they participated in a battle.
So, Weyblon's personal request was for Claude to allow his son to join his forces as one of his subordinates.
Perhaps, in Weyblon's eyes, Derivik really had the chance to become a general after clinging onto Claude's thigh.
If he could go one step further and obtain the title of nobility, then he could die without regrets in this life.
"My friend, is that really what you've decided?"
Claude shook his head with a bitter smile. "Wars are dangerous. Anything can happen on the battlefield. Even a colonel like me has to risk my life on the battlefield sometimes.
If you really want him to become my subordinate, you and your wife must be prepared to lose him.
This isn't a joke. "
He was speaking from the bottom of his heart, but Weyblon still nodded firmly. "Lord Baron, I know our request has put you in a difficult position, but since my son still wants to become a soldier, we've decided to let him pursue his dream.
After making this difficult decision, we understand that this isn't a safe path. It's one filled with honor and danger. He could be sacrificed at any moment.
However, we hope that even if he falls, he'll still be a proper soldier of the kingdom. This is the path he chose and we won't regret it. "
Claude was moved. After a long while, he finally nodded. "My friend, since it's your request, I'll give your son, Derivik, a chance.
Line 131 will return from Feru in the next few days and set up camp in Lanu.
When the time comes, have Derivik come to HQ to look for me. I'll arrange for him to be a staff officer under me.
His rank will be the same as when he retired as a first lieutenant. Let him familiarize himself with military affairs.
After all, he's been away from the army for so long and he'll have to relearn Ranger's tactics and tactics.
"Of course, I don't have the authority to make him a member of Ranger. I'm only giving him a small opening to see if he can still be a soldier.
Marshal Michelic has decided that within the next three months before he leaves his post, we will reorganize and complete the basic framework of five reinforced divisions.
In the future, when the immigrants come in batches, we only need to fill in these five enhanced divisions to replenish their manpower.
If your son Derrick really has military talent, then I will use him according to his abilities and find him a suitable position in the division directly under me … "
"Thank you, thank you, Lord Baron," Weyblon thanked him profusely.
After sending Weyblon and his wife off, Claude was finally able to spend a few peaceful days at home.
However, his days at home weren't that great either. His son's naughtiness and disobedience annoyed him quite a bit. There were many times when he wanted to beat him up to teach him a lesson, but his mother would always stop him.
That little bastard already had experience. As long as he got into trouble, he would immediately follow Grandma's side and he would be safe.
No matter how angry Claude got, he wouldn't be able to do anything to him.
Apart from his son, Claude's constant nagging also made his days particularly hard to bear.
Naturally, his mother's nagging wasn't directed at Claude, but Angelina.
Sometimes, Claude would wonder if he had taught his sister the wrong things about chemistry and physics. She no longer experimented with concoctions anymore. Instead, she enjoyed experimenting with the explosives he taught her in alchemical formations.
She had no choice but to move her lab to a secluded corner of the lake to prevent the frequent explosions from alerting the townsfolk.
A week later, Tribe 131 set up camp in Lanu.
On the same day, Claude received an eagle messenger from HQ. Marshal Michelic wanted him to head to Grinosburg to attend the meeting for the new war theatre the next morning.