“The million-strong Imperial Guard we’re about to establish will need many generals. We’ve already placed promising candidates where they need to be. But these future generals will need a master whose status is higher and whose military achievements surpass their own. To make them swear loyalty unto death, that master must have a record of outstanding service. Anyone who takes this path will face countless battles where death is all but certain. Every one of those battlefields could cost you your life. Do you still insist on going through with it?” In a study somewhere in the imperial capital, a middle-aged man radiating imperial authority spoke calmly to the young man before him.
“Yes! Surviving one deadly battle after another, earning outstanding military merit, and reaching that position are my goals. I’m willing to pay for them with my life!” The young man looked at the middle-aged man and answered calmly.
“Good! Go, then! A man who has fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood is a true man!” The middle-aged man nodded, then spoke quietly as he looked at the young man, whose eyes were resolute and brooked no doubt.
“Yes! I’m leaving! I won’t come back until I’ve claimed that position!” the young man said calmly to the middle-aged man, who radiated imperial authority.
With that, the young man gave him a crisp military salute, then turned and strode away without hesitation.
