Rufus dragged Yosef to the armory with Edward. The armory was full of plate armors, swords, shields, hammers and other weapons and tools.

“Do you think you can build good puppets with these materials?” Rufus asked Yosef.

Edward looked shocked.

“What the hell!? Why would you give him the tools to build even stronger puppets? We don’t know him yet,” Edward protested.

“And uhmm, this kinda goes against my, I don’t want to be bothered and only want to be left alone, policy in life,” Yosef explained.

“I think he is trustworthy enough. He saved my life and I am sure he wouldn’t try to harm anyone of us. And what about your policy that you also want to get a roof over your head and food in your stomach. For that to happen you must make sure this kingdom is safe because if we go down so do you,” Rufus pointed out and looked at Yosef.

“But you realize I can make my puppets fight but I am no fighter myself. I am a proud coward. I will not enter a fight willingly. I like to live. I think living is wonderful”

“Well, then we will then give you a guard to look after you then.”

“No, no, no. I am not going to be guarding this guy. Hell no. Not doing it,” Edward protested.

“I was not thinking of you, but of another one with a sword though. I think you know who I mean,” Rufus said with an almost sinister smile.

~ ~

“NO!” Joan yelled.

“You would only protect him when he would have to fight. Only then would you have to be with him,” Rufus explained.

“Why the hell should I guard him. I am no babysitter.”

“Can I also say my own opinion on this gorilla guarding me,” Yosef said and raised his hand.

Joan took out her sword and pointed it at Yosef.

“See. He is a complete asshole, and I already don’t like him,” Joan said angrily at Rufus.

“Well, I am sorry, but we won't give you much choice,” Doreen said looking at Joan.

“Doesn’t matter, I refuse.”

“As I said we won’t give you the right to refuse or have you forgotten about how you fought against us,” Doreen said and put Joan on a guilt trip.

Joan knew she had no right to refuse. She looked at Yosef who also didn’t look too happy about the situation either.

"Fine.....but he has to promise not to get on my nerves."

"I will promise I will only tell the utmost truth and opinion and this chimpanzee-looking woman has to agree not to get mad if I say that said truth."

~ ~

The treasury of the kingdom had started to grow with the income coming from the sale of gravity stones. With the new profits, different projects were done including reinforcing castles, building roads and cultivating lands to be used for farming.

Slowly but surely the kingdom was bouncing back up from the war, but not forgetting why they started the war, to begin with. The regular people’s lives started to improve and the trust in the rulers was also at an all-time high.

There still was one problem that persisted. The rift between the grey skins and humans still existed. There was no large-scale conflict between them but they still refused to coexist.

Another problem was the emergence of gangs all around the kingdom that took advantage of the situation. When the supply of food and other necessary material was dire, black markets rose to sell them to the highest bidder.

These gangs were born from both the grey skins and the humans who then fought against each other on the streets of the capital and all over the kingdom. These gangs created more rift among the people and took full advantage of it.

~~

In the armory of the palace, Yosef was tinkering with the puppet that he was building with Joan watching over him.

“Are you done soon?” Joan asked.

“The more you rush me, the longer it will take,” Yosef said back.

Joan felt bored and impatient. She went and took a closer look at the puppet.

The puppet had a humanoid build with a body made from wood. It had armor melted around it with a sword welded on its arm. A robe covered its whole face with glass used to make its eyes. The puppet practically looked like a real humanoid person.

“Why did you have to make it so real looking. Like why does it need a head? Kind of creepy,” Joan asked.

“Just my own personal taste I guess, what is obviously better than yours. I like to make my puppets look as lifelike I can,” Yosef explained.

Joan took a look around the armory. She spotted three other puppets leaning against the wall all carrying different weapons. Only one of the puppets was completely empty-handed.

“Why is he without a weapon?”

“Oh, Bob? Haven’t yet figured out what kind of weapon I want to give him yet.”

“You named your dolls?”

“I was just joking and I prefer the term puppet.”

“What’s the difference?”

“You played with dolls, I did not. That is the difference. Girls have dolls, boys have puppets.”

She raised her weapon and pointed it at Yosef.

“This is what I played with.”

“Wow….and I thought I had a bad childhood.”

"You did..... that's why you play with puppets."