Chris had been wary of this promise after that day and was considerably more behaved in the grounds. He did not want his cousin to be a willing murderer. Wilson was happy to hear that and he didn't forget to remind him what he can do if he becomes reckless and risks himself for something moronic.
Days passed quietly without many incidents afterwards. Wilson adapted to how he navigated school and the people he wished not to be in the same room with. So far, he had not met Alphonsus, thanks to the cooperation of Alexus to take up his time.
It might be a lie that he made a mistake and was punished with community service, but the work he did was real and could be said to be meaningful. He acted as Alexus's assistant over minor matters regarding mediating between the nobles and the exceptional talents from commoner backgrounds. Due to differences in upbringing and also priorities, the two groups have been at odds since the academy's 50th year of establishment.
The root cause of the division was the nobles and aristocrats at that time with inflated egos. Thinking themselves as higher than commoners, they had been harassing them to show their supremacy. It was not a great issue back then, as it was a general trend.
But commoners can only take so much from their tormentors. On the 50th school's anniversary, they revolted and successfully showed the nobles that they can be much more than them once wealth and their early advantages are stripped away. They didn't leave any consideration for those nobles and thoroughly showed them that those who were bullied could turn around and make them humiliated for their own incompetence.
The student council at the time was wise and made a defining line between the nobles and commoners to prevent the incident from happening again. Commoners are granted to create their own union, similar to the council, to act as their representatives. Every few cycles, they will confer to coordinate events, instructions, and allocation of funds, if needed.
This ensures that despite the division, everyone in the academy is not lagging behind and relationships are mentioned in a clear-cut way. The system has existed since then, and each council from both nobles and commoners has been a figure of authority. Also, it was a way for the insightful nobles to recognize the talented ones they can pull over to work under them, while for commoners it allowed them to secure a patron who will back them up for their careers.
Wilson accompanied Alexus to these conferences. He came to meet a few remarkable people among them in his future. Most of them are unyielding people who didn't align with anyone until his death, but made names due to nobles offering promises one after another to secure their employment.
Young as they are now, Wilson is tempted to poach them earlier. They are not yet that prideful. He can exploit a knowledge or two to lure them over to work for him in the future.
"What are you thinking so hard there?" Alexus poked him by the forehead as he noticed the other looking at a few commoner representatives with burning eyes.
"I'm only thinking our land needs a few talents." Wilson was blunt. He does not like to lie as much as he can. The closest to a lie he does are half-truths to confuse. "It has been a long time since we had new blood among our workforce."
"Now that you mention it, your family has the tradition of having the same workforce per term," Alexus said with understanding. "Saw people you like?"
"Dahlia from the finances is good at what she does. Vincent from their vice has a way with words. Shaun who was assisting them would make a good guard."
"Picking core people?" Alexus raised a brow at his choices. "You're in a tough competition. The First Prince had his eyes on them even before they shined."
"I'm aware." Wilson remembered these people to be loyal people of the First Prince's faction and had created a revolution with a new financial system to boost the economy and the treasury. "It does not hurt to try. If I can't get them, maybe they know people who share their ideas and ethics. Those are rare reserves I can dip in."
"Good luck on that." Alexus patted his shoulder for luck. "However, you do need to finish those notes to submit to the council. Plot your recruitment later."
"All done." Wilson gave him a folder of everything he noted during the meeting. "I made an extra note there as suggestions for better efficiency, hope you don't mind."
Alexus made a quick scan on the papers before nodding at his suggestion. He then said he will submit this to the council for consideration. It should be approved without a problem.
Wilson only played with a pen as the people were filing out of the room. Although the meetings were more interesting than the academy's lessons, in his opinion it is still too immature. He does not mind giving an input or two to ease up their workload and make things a little easier for them here.
Suddenly, a timid young commoner girl came to them. She was maybe fifteen years old, a freshman at the academy with the color of the emblem on her shirt. A freckled face with brown eyes that shows her anxiety as she approached.
"How can we help you?" Wilson said with a smile at the girl.
"Uhmmm...I-I heard about what you two are talking about earlier." The girl was clutching at her skirt as she mustered the courage to speak.
"Are you referring to my plans of recruiting students?" Wilson spoke up to help out the poor girl.
"Y-yes!" The girl replied with an uneven pitch in her tone. "I know I am still quite new here. A-and I didn't e-earn any merit yet. But I would like to recommend myself for a post, if I could be considered."
"I'll certainly can give you a chance since you worked up your courage." Wilson likes those who take the initiative to get what they want. These people are often those who work hard on their own to earn their keep and positions.
"But like you said, you're still new here and everything. We typically look at your academic records and performances as references to see if you're a fit for a role. What can you provide my family if I commend you as a potential talent?"
The girl flushed at his straightforward questions, like he is currently interviewing her for her future.
Wilson was still smiling as the girl was wordless as she tried her best to answer. He is in no hurry to hear the girl's answer. He already knows who the girl was and what she is capable of.
Anna Candle. Future mother of surgery. A brilliant doctor who devoted her whole life to medicine and revolutionized wound care. Back then, she became one of Alexus's people who also served the campaigns and lessened the death rate of soldiers due to her care and techniques.
She is a great talent for those on the field. While he likes to keep her as one of his, she will bloom more under Alexus who needs to be on the battlefield as someone who holds the golden ram. As long as she stays near Alexus, he does not need to worry much during expeditions.
"I-I heard that your territory has a shortage in medical talent," Anna finally formulated her words. "I'm c-currently studying medicine and a part of a research community who is actively working on improving and developing better medications and treatments. I-I already have a working research with great value for the general populace."
"Impressive as it sounds, my territory does not need cutting-edge medicine to function," Wilson replied as he popped his arm on the table. He rested his face at the back of his hand as he gave Alexus a look on the side. "New treatments and medications are better suited to those who often need them, right?"
The girl bit the back of her lips as Wilson said those words. Wilson could see she was breaking down at his words, something understandable for someone who is currently too inexperienced in facing people way above them. He didn't want to see her lose confidence from this.
Sighing, he addressed Alexus who was quietly overseeing the whole thing like a bystander. Knowing him, he is just listening and going with the flow. He will probably not speak unless he is dragged into the conversation.
"You'll do better with the house of Davis. Compared to us Thymes, they needed more doctors for their soldiers given that they can be dispatched at any time the king commands them." He smiled at Alexus who sighed at the mention of his name.
Finally, Alexus gave his full attention to the girl. Compared to Wilson who was all smiles, he was almost expressionless. This made the girl more nervous and clutch on her skirt tighter.
"Don't scare the girl now, Alexus. You'll end up hated if you do that." Wilson chuckled at the situation at hand. He wondered how these two got along in his previous life with how rigid the two were.
Alexus gave him a glare before speaking to the girl.
"I'll review your profile later on." Alexus took out a blank piece of paper from the folder. "Fill up your information here. Later, I'll send my servant to coordinate with you if you are proven a good fit among our medical team."
Anna nervously took the paper. Wilson handed her a pen. She seems out of it as she wrote her details on the paper.
When Wilson took back the paper and handed it to Alexus, it was only then Anna thanked them with a shaking voice. Wilson told her that this is not yet final but a review, advising her to prove herself while waiting.
The girl thanked them again before leaving the room. Wilson chuckled at the display. He finds her actions cute for someone who would later be high above her peers.
"Isn't she cute?" Wilson off-handedly commented. "She'll be a great addition to your people. Eager, young, and so full of potential."
Alexus's face turned stern at his comment. His eyes on the paper handed to him became thoughtful. Wilson noticed that and chuckled some more.
"Cease whatever nonsense you're thinking." Tapping the table to get Alexus's attention. "I don't mean her as a romantic interest. Among our juniors and even our own batches, how many have the courage to step up and think?"
Alexus looked straight to Wilson's playful eyes. Determined that Wilson is not attracted to that girl, he tucked the paper in his coat. She is not a threat to the chance he was given, therefore he'll take care of her as she was given to him by Wilson.
"I hope you're not planning anything dangerous." Alexus said as he stood up from his station. "I don't know what you are planning, but it's clear you're preparing for something."
"Don't worry." Wilson assured the other. He has too many things to do, he cannot afford to be reckless and fall midway. "I'm just being prepared for rainy days. The princes are not exactly as subtle on their agendas as they believed."
"Better stay away from any of them," Alexus advised. " The Thymes have always been neutral. Being involved with any of them will break that centuries-old standing."
"I know," Wilson said and he tapped the table again. He knew how it went the first time with the Third Prince.
"How about you? Aren't you allied with the First Prince?"
"Like I have a choice." Alexus rolled his eyes and motioned that they needed to leave now as there are other people who will be using the room in a few. "Mother was from the same line as him. By blood, we are tied together regardless of my feelings about it. Perhaps it was lucky that compared to the rest of the princes, he is decent and worthy of trust."