Shanti was right. The reason he had obtained the rosters for every unit from various departments was merely to confuse everyone. Most of the people he had his eye on were those with genuine talent who had been sidelined or suppressed by their respective departments for various reasons, much like Rachelia.
In the past, if Yang Hui had asked for people, it might have raised suspicions. After all, Yang Hui was once considered a "waste" in the eyes of many. It was only natural for "waste" to cluster with other "waste," wasn't it?
But now, who would be foolish enough to think that the people Yang Hui took an interest in were also useless?
If someone truly thought that, then they themselves were undoubtedly the useless ones.
Therefore, if it became known beforehand that Yang Hui wanted these seemingly insignificant people, others would surely take notice, perhaps even using them to negotiate terms with him.
Now that he had successfully clouded their vision, Yang Hui could find these people directly and take them away. Only after they were gone would he send the transfer orders to their former superiors, leaving them to stare blankly in frustration.
But for now...
"Huff... huff... Is this... is this really just basic... training?"
"I... I was still too... hasty..."
Having finished their daily basic training, Villetta and Joan Roe lay in a puddle on the ground—a puddle formed entirely of their own sweat.
Jeremiah, standing nearby, was doing slightly better; he could at least stay on his feet, though exhaustion was written all over his face, and he was soaked through.
"Huff... huff... It is not without reason that His Highness is so powerful," Jeremiah said to the two on the ground.
"Yeah, I'm starting to wonder... Is His Highness really human?"
"And then there's Regene Regetta. He's just a maid, yet he could complete it so easily."
Villetta and Joan Roe looked at the relaxed and comfortable Yang Hui and Regene Regetta, their feelings complex.
They had been top students at the Royal Military Academy, ranking among the best in every category, including physical fitness tests. They could outperform many men, which had been a source of great pride for them.
But after leaving the academy, they realized there was always someone better.
They had once thought that as fresh graduates, they naturally wouldn't compare to frontline combat units. However, they were confident that given enough time, they could surpass others and reach the top again. But now...
Their confidence was shattered into pieces. In front of Yang Hui, they didn't even have the courage to try and catch up.
"Alright, once you've recovered a bit, hurry up and get on your feet to walk around. If you just lie there right after training, today's work will go to waste."
"Understood..."
After lying on the ground for a minute, the two women regained a bit of strength. They struggled to their feet and began walking slowly around the training field.
"Not bad." Looking at the three of them, Yang Hui nodded in satisfaction.
Regene Regetta nodded in agreement. The current training volume was not designed for the physical constitution of ordinary people, even after the intensity had been lowered by one level. Never mind being able to stand and walk now; even completing the training was extremely difficult.
Yet the three of them had gritted their teeth and finished. Jeremiah hadn't even reached the point of total collapse, which was quite impressive.
"However, Mr. Yang Hui, they won't be able to keep up this level of intensity forever. Otherwise, their bodies will suffer irreversible damage," Regene Regetta reminded him.
"I know. Today was just to find their baseline. Starting tomorrow, we'll lower the basic training by another level."
"Understood."
Once the three had completed a lap around the training field, they returned to stand before Yang Hui.
"It is now 11:00 AM. You may go to eat. Unit tactics study and training will begin at 1:00 PM."
"Yes, your highness!" the three replied vigorously. Though exhausted, their eyes were full of light. The training was grueling, but they could feel themselves growing, especially with the influx of fresh knowledge.
For instance, the unit tactics Yang Hui was teaching them were unlike anything they had seen before—far superior to the tactics currently used by the Empire. There was also the basic mechanical knowledge and wilderness survival skills which they had initially deemed useless.
"Your Highness, do I need to notify the others?" Jeremiah asked with a bow.
In truth, they weren't the only ones participating in the training. Yang Hui's Knight order was already at full strength, with forty-five Knightmare Knights and over a hundred members across various departments. However, the others hadn't been able to hold on; they had passed out after reaching their limits and were carried off to the infirmary. Only Jeremiah's group had persevered.
"Yes, notify them. Also, tell the Maintenance Squad to have the training Mobile Suits ready. Don't let there be any hiccups."
"Yes, your highness."
After the three left, Yang Hui and Regene Regetta returned to his office. Regene Regetta reported to him: "Clovis has fully taken over the administration of [Ten]. He has indeed followed his agreement with you, leaving governmental affairs to Bader while he humbles himself to learn."
"As for Clovis, I am still at ease."
"Hehe, when Clovis first took power from Cornelia, his first instinct was to destroy the refugee camps in [Ten]. Bader gave him quite a scolding for that."
"That's normal. Influences from childhood aren't changed overnight. However... have the people on his mother's side been cleaned up?"
"They've all been dealt with. A group of foolish people, acting all high and mighty before they even had power in their hands. They were nothing more than clowns."
"As long as it's been handled cleanly. Since Clovis wants to do this, let him do it well. Don't let those people infect him with their stupidity."
"Understood."
Beep, beep, beep... Just then, the office phone rang.
"It's me."
"Your Highness, Her Highness Cornelia is here to visit."
"Let her in."
"Yes, your highness."
A moment later, Cornelia arrived, accompanied by her right and left hands, Dalton and Gilbert Durandal.
"I am truly flattered by my sister's concern. To come visit me right after leaving the Imperial Palace."
"Wipe that look off your face, Yang Hui. It's disgusting." Cornelia didn't treat herself as a guest, sitting directly on the sofa as she snapped at him.
"Fine." Yang Hui threw up his hands and dropped the wicked smirk.
"You move fast. Several of the people you took were ones I'd had my eye on for a long time, only for you to snatch them away," Cornelia complained.
"You can't blame me for that, Sister. First come, first served."
"Hmph, if you hadn't returned to the capital a step ahead of me, how could I have given you the chance?"
"You'll have to ask the Old Man about that."
"Enough nonsense. Where is my compensation?"
"What compensation?" Yang Hui's mouth hung open slightly as he stared blankly.
"Don't be thick. You poached the people I wanted. You think you can just let it go without giving me something in return?" A devious smile played on Cornelia's lips.
"Cough, cough..." Yang Hui choked slightly, then said speechlessly to Cornelia, "How is this my fault? Who told you to hesitate? The quick get the prize, the slow get nothing. Don't you understand such a simple principle?"
"I understand it, but you still have to compensate me."
"Why?"
"No 'why'!"
"...Sister, can we be at least a little reasonable?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I am a woman."
"Pfft! Cough, cough..."
What a refined reason. Yang Hui was left unable to rebut, though he couldn't help but complain in his heart: When you're a tomboy out on the battlefield, why don't you think about being a woman? When you're humiliating those male nobles, why don't you think about being a woman?
Regene Regetta, Gilbert Durandal, and Dalton all struggled to suppress their laughter. Gilbert Durandal and Dalton, in particular, had never seen Cornelia acting like an unreasonable, troublesome woman, cornering Yang Hui until he wanted to cry.
"So, where is my compensation?"
"...I'm not giving you anything!" So what if she was being willful? Who said that was a woman's prerogative? Men could do it too!
"Oh? Is that so..."
"What are you trying to do?" Seeing Cornelia's smile turn eerie, Yang Hui's hair stood on end, and his survival instincts blared an alarm.
"Nothing, really. It's just... I also asked Father for a special privilege. I'm lacking an excellent Adjutant by my side."
"I am ashamed to say that my abilities are insufficient to assist Her Highness Cornelia. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness." Dalton, truly a loyal Knight, coordinated with Cornelia with seamless timing.
"Cough, I think..."
"I don't care what you think." Cornelia stood up, walked to the desk, and looked down at Yang Hui. "I only care what I think."
Cornelia's actions told Yang Hui: Your big sister is still your big sister!
"Fine, fine." Yang Hui would absolutely never be Cornelia's Adjutant; he wanted to keep his freedom. "In one month at the latest, the fifth-generation Knightmares will be mass-produced and deployed. I'll make sure your Knight order is the first to get them..."
"Not enough."
"...I'll have Rachelia and Lloyd modify them for you to reach sixth-generation performance. Is that enough?"
"Hmm, not bad. However..."
"Sister, that's the best I can do." Yang Hui was close to tears. Who would have thought that the iron-blooded female general of the battlefield would transform into a cunning witch just to mess with her brother?
"I'm not being unreasonable. I want my Knight order and your Knight order to conduct all training together. Whatever your people practice or learn, my people will practice and learn as well."
"Just that?"
"Just that."
"You should have said so earlier!"
"You offered the price yourself. No haggling allowed."
Cornelia didn't actually care about next-generation Mobile Suits or genius modifications. She could eventually get mass-produced units, and she had her own channels for modifications. Yang Hui's training methods were what she truly wanted. She would never believe that the Knight order Yang Hui was building was just an ordinary special forces unit.
If Yang Hui was doing it, he would do it to the best of his ability. The Knight order he established would surely match his own overwhelming power.
The greatest difficulty was how Yang Hui would turn others into powerhouses that could match his strength.
"..." Yang Hui felt depressed, wishing he could slap himself. Fortunately, he hadn't mentioned the biggest trump card in his plan, or he would truly be heartbroken.
"Morning basic training has already finished. At 1:00 PM, we start unit tactics study and training. Will your Knight order start today or come back tomorrow?" Yang Hui asked.
"Hehe. Dalton, Gilbert Durandal!"
"Reporting! The [Rose Witch] Knight order has assembled outside the [Nightmare] Knight order's base and is ready for duty at any time!"
"Mm, very good." Cornelia nodded in satisfaction, looking at Yang Hui mockingly.
"..." Yang Hui's eyes turned into dead fish eyes. "You really are a witch who knows herself well!"
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