Sam thought for a moment and asked Duke.

"What test?"

"I will give you a battalion of soldiers and during the war after the first eight months, you will be tasked to defend a border town with that battalion. If you can do so. It is considered your win.

If you lose. I will still award you with some points based on the performance and you have to bury the hatchet with General."

Duke explained as he looked at Sam, like he wanted to see through him completely. But he was unable to do so.

Sam thought for a while and said.

"I am okay with the deal. But I have some conditions.

My team members in the camp will be given to my battalion.

My training methods and practices cannot be copied, hindered or questioned.

I need access to the outside world without restrictions. I will be given authority to bring my people along with me."

"Deal."

Duke didn't even think twice before agreeing.

Sam looked at the General with animosity and was about to leave. But the General stopped him.

"The matter about Jim."

"What makes you think I would agree?"

"Sam, this is between me and you. Don't take it on him."

"Then you shouldn't have involved him in the first place."

"What do you want in return? Just name it."

"Do you think you could buy me? Do you have enough worth?"

Sam said these words and left the place. He was quite satisfied today. Not only did he get back at the General and Thunder wolf squad, he has fulfilled his hidden agenda too.

That's right, Sam has a hidden agenda and that was fulfilled now.

Since, the first day of the military camp, he has laid down an elaborate plan to get two things out of Duke.

One of them is obviously the points in the military test and the second one is the information.

The information about the competition and the people behind the scenes of these competitions.

From the day that Marquis said that Sam is now under someone's protection and anybody who is not part of the candidates will be dealt with, if someone killed him, Sam became intrigued.

He was interested in the people who can make the empire do their bidding. But it is impossible to get the required info from the authorities.

But would Sam just leave it at that? Absolutely not. So, he wanted to pry into the info and gather whatever he can.

And this time, he wanted to gauge the importance of the candidates and the tolerance of the empire's authorities towards the candidates and not only that he also wanted to know the factors that could influence the importance placed on a certain candidate.

He felt that his conflict with General is the perfect opportunity and actually proved to be one perfect opportunity.

Right now, Sam's actions can be considered outrageous. Demanding a General to step down from his position, asking a lord to remove his subordinate's nobility status, destroying the Novice's army, crippling a General's disciple and threatening a General and a Duke along with the lives of the innocent.

Any of the actions can be used to sentence him to death.

Even if his identities as an expert in various professions will not help him much. Because, the Duke and General can downplay the situation since they have enough power and the matter will be ended by demanding an extraordinary amount from Sam as compensation in the best-case scenario.

If Sam himself was in Duke's place, he would have slapped the offender to death and then would think of ways to coverup.

But Duke didn't do so. There might be two reasons. The Duke is too good of a person which is most unlikely and farfetched reason and the second one which is the most possible reason is, the people behind the scenes.

From what Sam could guess. The People behind the scenes seemed to place an enormous importance of the candidates. Which can be observed from how Duke didn't want to kill Sam,

And the importance is also relative. This can be concluded by how Duke tried to create a test to stop Sam from taking immediate action and from the conditions after winning, he can only come at General after he was competent enough.

If it was any typical candidate, even if Duke couldn't kill him, he would at least use force to put him in his place.

But he didn't do so and Sam believed that it has something do with his professional status.

That is the reason for him to think that importance is varied. A Duke is obviously more informed than a Marquis.

And from Duke's reaction, Sam speculated somethings.

First one, is the importance of a candidate can be influenced by their area of expertise. The candidates are tested in many ways.

Their adaptability, will, endurance, mentality, investigation skills and now military and business acumen.

There could be two reasons behind this. One of them is that the people behind the scenes need a multi skilled potential youngster and the second one is the emperor is using this chance to find a bride and groom to his daughter and son.

There is a high chance that both of them are right and in both cases the addition of his professional expertise will give him a high chance of succeeding.

That led to the second speculation. Sam might have a chance to get some influential status and authority which could definitely lord over the Duke's and generals. That is why Duke proposed a test and conditions which would not affect the Southern star much except for the General.

The third speculation is, the people behind the scenes are keeping an eye on the candidates. If not, why would Duke be so cautious. He can just finish Sam and seal the news.

The people behind the scenes have a very low chance of learning it because only very few people know about this meeting.

That means Sam would definitely be marked by someone and any major moves of his might have been observed by them.

But from Sam's experience he didn't sense any gazes or any person tracking him. And it would be rather difficult to follow Sam for every place because, he moved out many times with the help of shadow mice.

So, the other party might have employed some techniques to keep track of him. Sam had to figure this out and he has to do so as fast as he can.

In his previous life, Sam spent half of his life time under someone else's control. Now, he doesn't want to do so.

So, he has to figure out a way to find out how he is being monitored.

He has many secrets after all.

After Sam left the palace, he was again escorted by the same attendant back to the camp.

General wore a dejected expression. He looked at his students who are also in low spirits.

Then he looked at the Duke.

"I will talk to the tower head of the Pharmaceutical tower. I cannot guarantee though."

General nodded his head and after some hesitation he asked.

"Why did you propose such a test? What exactly is happening with the competition? What do ��they' want exactly?"

Duke shook his head and said.

"The less you know, the better. But there is one thing I have to tell you. Sam must be already a seeded candidate by them and you better not mess with him. If I don't propose this test, Sam would carry the grudge and then the whole southern star has to pay the price.

As for why this specific competition.

The Duke of our enemy empire sent a messenger. He wants to have a competition of young commanders at a border town.

He might be trying to highlight his son in front 'those people'. I was thinking on selecting a person, but I can only use this to deter Sam.

If Sam died in this battle, there won't be a need to worry, but even if he won, at least I have a chance to mend the grudge.

But then you would be in the most perilous situation. I hope you understand that I don't have much choice here."

Duke said and fell silent.

General understood this point as well.

So, he fell silent.

Next day, two things happened. One of them is the tower head of the Pharmaceutical tower was invited to Dinner at Duke Palace and another one is an announcement in the camp of the military base.

A battalion is going to be formed and Sam is going to be the commander of the battalion.

All the soldiers from various regiments can apply for a spot. If they don't the soldiers will be selected randomly and will be assigned to the battalion.

There is three days to apply.

Sam didn't care about the recruitment. For all he knew, no one would apply and he would have to pick the candidates himself.

So, he didn't care much and made a visit to his estate.

No one is at the estate at the moment and all them are busy with the business. Sam looked at the impact crystal excavation process and noted that there is not much progress.

Even if Kelly and Philip worked full time, they might not have any progress, let alone when they are busy.

So, Sam let out Yanwu, panthers, Blazing earth bulls. All the fire types beasts he had with him and let them work on it.

The panthers are already Level 2. So, they can make some time to practice some fire control of the fire poison.

The Blazing earth bulls stopped at the peak of the Level 2 and it is hard for them to grow beyond that.

Sam let them use their fire to clear the impact crystals under the lead of Yanwu.

He has some other things to do and one of them is finding the method in which he is being monitored. So, he took the Zoi termite queen out.