Of course, the plans were more on the long-term scale and involved her gaining a foothold in the military and then gain a level of influence she was sure would prove useful in the long run.

Of course when she had proposed this to Hal, he only reluctantly accepted saying, he hardly thought she needed to do something that was bound to be quite dangerous just so they could gain an influence they could otherwise gain with the proper use of subtlety and espionage.

​​

Eventually, they both settled on the fact that it was not really about any plans but mostly about her getting her pound of flesh.

Whatever influence she would then gain was more of a by-product of all that.

And here was her stupid father attempting to stop all that because of his personal convictions.

Convictions she did not give a shit about.

"I'm going to join. I don't care if I have to leave the Silva Duchy to do so" she said with a frown.

Devon looked her in the eye,

"Then I will make sure I stop you from leaving"

The two stared at one another for a couple of minutes with neither ready to be the first to back down.

Eventually, Devon sighed and leaned back in his chair before pinching the bridge of his nose and then said,

"How about a compromise?" He asked but Melinda only kept staring without saying a word so he took that as readiness to listen to his proposition,

"There is an imperial barrack that is made up primarily of those who are first and foremost loyal to the Dane family.

It started off being supervised by an Imperial lackey and it took years of careful selection and steady and subtle filling for it to become a place where my words matter.

Also, thanks to my 'Loyal deeds', I have been given complete control of it so that I can 'shape those who will defend the Continent' as I have for centuries.

I will let you join that one."

Melinda shook her head,

"I don't want to"

"Why not?" Devon asked.

Melinda sneered,

"You have too much influence on it. The fact that you control it makes it completely undesirable to me" she said.

Devon shook his head,

"You are always so stubborn. Come on. Meet me in the middle. Whatever you want to achieve from joining the military rather than becoming a part of the Fiery Lotus sect, you can achieve it this way.

And much as you would love to be away from me thanks to your inability to let go of the past, it is more reasonable to be among those who you can be sure do not mean you harm. Those with ties to the family."

Melinda mockingly widened her eyes,

"Oh? And who was Cirk when he tried to take advantage of me? Who then exiled me for defending myself? I seem to remember that it was you, 'Father'"

Melinda let a moment of silence pass before she said,

"Okay, I will join your stupid Barrack," she said and turned away from the desk but Devon was not done,

"There is, however, a condition" he called to her and Melinda turned with a sudden feeling of trepidation she hid behind her I-knew-it smile.

"Of course there is." She said.

Devon sat forward in his chair,

"In six months, there will be an Entrance exam at the Royal Academy and I want you to participate. You will be going as a representative of the Fiery lotus sect"

Before her exile, Devon had once proposed that she join the Royal Academy once she was eligible but she always said no. She had never been interested in sects and at that time, it was no wonder she was like that.

After all, she had never been an official member of the Fiery lotus sect because she did not see the point. Her family always supplied her with all the required cultivation resources and she had preferred to be taught by her father and cousin.

And although many things had changed since then, she had still never considered joining the Royal academy even though Hal would be taking the entrance exam.

But if that was what Devon wished to use as a condition, she might as well join and follow her Fiance to the imperial city.

She turned around again and walked out of the study but not before showing her consent,

"Alright" she said.

Devon frowned slightly,

"Since when are you so agreeable" he wondered as he watched her leave.

-

Melinda was out of her father's residence and a young woman was waiting for her. The woman had a lithe figure and Black hair that did not go past her shoulders. There was a seriousness in her brown eyes even though she smiled at Melinda upon her exit.

"You are still here?" Melinda asked with a frown.

The woman bowed,

"I was ordered to see to your every need. Where else then would I be?" She asked as she straightened up.

"You mean you were told to spy on me by my grandmother" Melinda said with a scoff.

The lady bowed but said nothing.

The lady's name was Irma and she had been tasked by Isabella to keep a close eye on Melinda. There was the possibility that the Patroness had no ulterior motives in doing so and she might have truly done it so Melinda would be safe but Melinda did not seem to think so.

However, annoying as it was, Melinda was not too rebellious against it. After all, Irma was at the Peak stage of the Cosmic phenomenon realm and hence quite capable in her own right

Also, she knew the capital which had changed quite a bit since Melinda was away,

"If I wanted to get someone a gift. One I purchase personally, where do I go?" She asked Irma as she walked away from her father's residence with her escort close behind.

"Well, there are many numbers of places you could visit..." Irma began but Melinda cut in,

"The Paladin Trade union?" She said.

Irma nodded,

"Certainly one of the places you could visit. They trade in top-quality products but hardly ever entertain the purchase by individuals. But you should not have that problem"

Melinda smiled as though she were enjoying a private joke,

"No, I don't think I will"

...

Lucile was quite glad to be back in the familiar building of her Trade Union's headquarters. With the details ironed out with the Sheik of Black lagoon, she could begin her plans to bring the Paladin Trade Union to even greater heights.

She had returned to the Duchy capital two days ago and had to admit that she had expected Hal to have already visited her.

The fact that he still hadn't annoyed her to no end but she knew that at some point, he was sure to visit, and then she would then give him a piece of her mind.

She was taking a tour of the building while making preparations for her upcoming grand auction that was meant to announce that the Trade Union was back in full strength when she heard a voice that was asking politely to see the one in charge.

Normally, she would have ignored the voice since those who knew and would speak to her personally would not be stopped at the counter but she noticed the lady holding a familiar-looking Golden fan...

"Excuse me, I'm in charge" Lucille announced as she showed herself to the beautiful golden-eyed lady with calf-length hair and the lady standing protectively behind her.

Melinda looked at the big-breasted lady Hal had told her about and smiled as she presented the Golden Fan in her hands,

"Someone gave me this fan and I came to browse for an appropriate gift to give him and show my gratitude"