[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-202":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1101059,1437,"Chapter 202: Byles and Desmond","the-reborn-king-chapter-202",202,"\u003Cp>William sat in his office overlooking the barracks, looking down at the new recruits training. His eyes were in small slits as he watched the rigorous training they were undergoing. \"Tch. They’re not as good as the past recruits.\" It was small things but he could tell that the new recruits had come from the cities rather than the countryside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the first round of recruitment when creating the Ammary Military the large incentives got many struggling men from the countryside to enlist hoping to have a steady wage without having to do the back-breaking labor of farming. They were perfect for him. Already having trained bodies from the labor they did, whilst easily adapting to the regimented lives of a soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the men in the courtyard he could see subtle differences. The swing of their sword was weaker, and their attitudes, and the amount of stamina they had. It was annoying things but he was sure that eventually they could be molded into perfect warriors. \"General.\" A woman walked in holding papers giving a salute towards him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>William turned as she placed the documents down. \"It seems the Empress has received more complaints. She has once more handed them towards you.\" The secretary spoke in a flat town and her words caused William to groan as he grabbed his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Isra had begun her swordsmanship lessons and Alfred reforms to allow women to take part it had created a problem for him that was unforeseen. Women requested to join the army. Looking at his secretary he didn’t care if women were a part of its runnings, but that was only in roles away from the battlefield. He just couldn’t see it putting them on the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just send the usual replies.\" William dismissed the concerns but seeing his secretary not leaving he sighed. \"What is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The problem will not end if this remains.\" She stopped talking opening and closing her mouth. \"Permission to speak freely?\" She asked hesitantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>William thought about it but eventually nodded. He trusted her capabilities, having graduated from Lindonfall University near the top of her classes. She was also a woman. He hoped she could give him a perspective he wouldn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The trend Her Majesty started is not dying like initially believed. In fact, alongside the equal opportunities His Majesty has granted in terms of education for women, it has created a... desire for self-determination. It has spread to all parts of life, from the home all the way to here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it you are getting at?\" William leaned back lighting his pipe. \"You can’t be asking me to allow women into the armed forces. It is not possible. Forgive me if it offends but they are weaker than men.\" William took a puff of his pipe, \"More so the men out there would believe it their role to protect them in battle. It will split focus and create a disorganized mess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secretary smiled and nodded in agreement. \"That’s not what I wanted General. A woman’s place isn’t the battlefield after all. What I propose is a unit created solely of women, one that is more ceremonial than anything. They can be used to prove His Majesty’s grace towards everyone, meanwhile appeasing and encouraging support from the woman of the Empire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>William took a hit of his pipe, blowing a cloud of smoke out as he tapped the table. \"It could work. But it would be expensive and I don’t see much worth in it. A trend is a trend. Eventually, this craze to join will die down and things will return to normal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe.\" The secretary could completely disagree. She had interacted with many of the women who wanted to join the army during her time at the university and she knew most didn’t actually care about its responsibilities, only wanting to try something new. \"But you do know women have been allowed to take part in the classes for military theory. Those who take part in those usually come from the Godwin lands. And we can’t exactly say they are hoping on a trend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Catherine.\" He chuckled thinking about it, \"We can push them towards the navy. As for any truly set on joining the military...\" He paused but eventually clicked his tongue and shook his head. \"It just won’t be possible. They could be a tactical genius but the men won’t respect them. Even then, I wouldn’t want them. Not because of a lack of talent but because it’s a headache and potential danger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>William waved it off. \"Send the usual replies. Now, the parade in Far Mile. Have the troops arrived?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secretary pulled out a note from her inner pocket and handed it over. \"Yesterday. It seems Mayor Desmond has finalized everything and is now preparing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\" William got up clicking his neck. \"It seems it’s time for me to leave then. A replacement has already been prepared for my absence so don’t worry about that.\" The secretary saluted as he walked past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Alfred. Is this what you want.’It was one of the main things he couldn’t understand Alfred’s opinion on. Letting women have education and be involved in the government was fine. His daughter was one of these people who greatly benefited from it after all. But to put them on the battlefield. He shook his head at that thought. He needed to talk to Alfred about it. If he wanted it then he had to stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Desmond stood on the port. He looked out at what could be only called an armada as the Godwin fleet floated in the distance. His smile was full of pride as the people in the background spoke excitedly. The city had undergone a great transformation in a few days and showed the efficacy of the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was usually empty streets, now had banners flying the empire flag littered all major streets. Decoration hung between houses as the people also prepared their own, hanging them out the windows. Vendors littered all around selling goods as a wide range of tourists flooded in. Every Inn was booked and the people looking to make a quick profit opened their homes letting people rent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud tapping sound from behind broke his distraction as the sea of people watching the distant fleet opened a path for an old man flanked by two Inquisition soldiers. Desmond looked at him and tried to put on his friendless smile. He didn’t greet Byles first, instead waiting for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence between the two lingered for a couple of seconds, both men refusing to speak first. Desmond knew he should have been the one to start, and the people around looked on confused unaware of the cold war going on behind the scenes between the Church and Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually standing by his side Byles looked at the distant fleet. \"I hope you enjoyed my gift the other day.\" His old voice floated in Desmond’s ears and caused his smile to become crooked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was unique, to say the least.\" He could still see the head that was thrown on his desk at that time. Despite that, he wasn’t nervous knowing it was a message for him to back off on Byles’s demands for the event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m glad you like it.\" Looking up at him he wore a grandfatherly smile making Desmond go cold. \"Though it could have been avoided.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’What a scary old man.’He spoke in his mind returning a smile. \"Maybe, maybe not. After all some horrible preachers have been in my city for a while.\" Desmond looked back out to sea. \"I wonder, do you know anything about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The church doesn’t keep track of every faithful servant who preaches the word of Sol.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh. The word of Sol.\" Desmond laughed. \"Then I guess bashing his blessed one is the word of Sol now. I wonder how the Holy Land would find that. I’m sure His Holiness Constance would find that quite a predicament.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His Holiness’s name is too grand for you to speak Mayor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forgive me. But I would say the same for His Majesty’s, and yet preachers have been screaming it. It just makes me wonder why the clergy in my city didn’t take action.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From the rumors I heard, they stopped after a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They must have seen the light,\" Desmond said in jest as the two understood the truth. \"So what is your holiness here for anyway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Am I not the one leading this event? Why would my presence be strange.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shall we cut the bullshit, Bishop?\" Desmond said crudely. \"You obviously didn’t come to see the arriving fleet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are right.\" Byles looked to the sea. \"You have kept communication with me so small that I’m at a loss. I just wonder. Is His Majesty the Blessed One coming?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why wouldn’t he? This is a day to honor a departed hero of the Empire, but more importantly a friend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I have a proposition,\" Byles said once more in his happy grandfather’s voice. \"The Inquisition will be by his side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That won’t be....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, no. I insist. He is a Blessed One. It’s only right that we have the most holy guards stand by his side. Besides, I will be with him during the event.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Desmond chuckled. \"I will speak to His Majesty about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You do that.\" Byles smiled and turned, walking off.’Blackwood. You must follow up on your side now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Desmond watched the departing Byles and clicked his tongue. Flicking his finger he called over one of his workers. \"Contact Esmond’s people. We have work to do.\" The servant bowed and ran off, slipping into the crowd as Desmond looked back out to the fleet.\u003C\u002Fp>",1624,"2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z","2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z",1,"novelbin.me","fc1c76a3eddb6c581176dcfef9f02e6c10f6af0f8fe2bac8a41064b4bc81f1e3","the-reborn-king-chapter-203","the-reborn-king-chapter-201",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]