As Michael thought about it more and more, the idea seemed to become a lot more solid.
He knew instinctively that his guess was right. These Red Mankeys were nothing like the Dragonborns, who each showed tremendous talents in dueling.
Perhaps, the Red Mankeys were a lot more suited for warfare, as soldiers who moved with a hundred men simultaneously without missing a beat, as soldiers who rushed towards their enemy from one call from their general.
It would make sense why the Red Mankeys would make such a great impression onto Grieve that he remembered them even from the grave.
"Sir…are you from the Reborn company?" one of the Red Mankeys asked.
"I am. Have you heard of us?"
The Red Mankeys firmly nodded. "We have friends…that told us what happened…at the Welcome's Inn…we also want…to join your nation…"
Michael was surprised that the news spread so fast. It only happened this morning.
"This is great," he said. "I was hoping to ask you if you want to join."
The Red Mankeys were elated, their tails swinging back and forth like a dog.
"Can I ask if you have any more friends that want to join our nation."
They all looked at each other awkwardly.
"We have our family…back at home…in the village…"
This was exactly what Michael was looking for. He wanted more Red Mankeys to join him so that he could test out his theory about their collective strength as a group.
The Yellow Mankeys already showed a version of this back at home. Michael noticed that a group of Engineer HobMankeys working on one project together always seemed to create a faster end product than the other demi-human species.
Michael thought it was just their camaraderie as Mankeys, but maybe there was more to it than that, something a lot more innate within their species.
"I'm sorry…sir Michael…but we don't…know where the village is," the Red Mankeys dejectedly said.
They explained that back in the days, once they left their village, they were forever exiled and banned from returning. Their village ensured this by kidnapping them in their sleep and tossing them out in the wilderness so that they wouldn't know their way back.
That's what happened with their ancestors back in the day. And since they, their parents, and their parents' parents were born here in Angora City outside of their village, then they could never truly know where they truly came from.
"But we hear…that it's near Angora City…"
The Red Mankeys were sorry that they couldn't help Michael any further. Michael assured them that he was going to find them sooner or later.
"Nothing in the shadows can hide from me," assured Fudge. "We'll find that village in no time!"
Michael told them to go to Welcome's Inn for now and Sheina would be the one to take care of everything for them, whether they wanted to stay here or move to the Nation of Reborn.
Meanwhile, he was approached by a few young Squires, who were eyeing him with amazement.
"Sir Jon would like to see you, mister."
Since he was already here, and he had always planned to visit, Michael agreed and followed the Squires deeper into their Knightly Court.
No one was more excited for this than Fudge, who began discreetly placing his shadows everywhere so that he could spy on every Knight inside. Michael had to warn the little ninja not to go overboard.
"Aww…I really wished I could spar with the Knights!" Zion said disappointingly.
"Hoho, then I shall be your sparring partner later," replied Grieve.
That quickly shut him up,
Michael was the only one who appreciated the beauty of the Knightly Court.
Everything here looked like it was ripped straight out of medieval England, with mossy stone walls and Knights polishing their metal chest plates.
The whole circular Court was divided into many sections, each one dedicated to a specific weapon.
The sword section, named the Way of the Sword, were full of Knights training their Squires how to properly hold a sword. Their barracks contained nothing but swords, having many different varieties that they could choose from.
Beside them was the Way of the Spear, which seemed to harbor quite the rivalry with the Way of the Sword, as they began shouting teasing remarks at their rival for losing the games in the arena.
Every one he passed, whether they be soldiers, civilians, or even animals, gave him a passing glance and a polite nod when he walked through. It seemed that the rumor about the Reborn company had already spread here as well.
The Squires eventually led him towards the furthermost slice of the Circular Court containing the barracks of the Way of the Axe.
There, he was welcomed by Sir Jon and the rest of the Knights that saw him in the tomb.
"Michael…it's great that you decided to meet with us today," Sir Jon said, shaking Michael's hand. Then, he turned to Zion and offered his hand to him as well.
"And you, great sir. What is your name?"
"Me?" Zion said proudly. "I am the great Zion! Sting like a butterfly, float like a bee!"
Then he turned to Grieve, who was completely covered, obscuring his entire being.
"I haven't met you before, but seeing as you are part of the Reborn company, I am sure that you possess great strength."
Michael was glad that he made special Mithril-laced clothes for Grieve that enhanced his 'stealth'. He didn't know how he was going to explain how he turned the great General Grievous into one of his own allies.
"Let us talk inside. We have much to discuss."
Sir Jon led Michael and the rest inside the barracks. They passed through the different rooms for the Knights and Squires before eventually ending up at the very end of the hallway, presumably Sir Jon's own office.
"Please come inside. There is someone very special waiting for you there," Sir Jon said. "This meeting is far too important to be made by me alone. Instead, there is someone a lot more qualified to talk to you."
Michael raised his eyebrow, before looking past the door with his Supreme Skill.
However, all he could see from the inside were a bunch of random mana. Although it was plenty and of immense intensity, Michael sensed no sign of Life mana anywhere inside.
Is it not a living being?
Michael eventually opened the door and there, he saw in front of him, a large Orc who had his back turned away from him.
"An Orc?" Michael asked.
However, as he came closer, he then realized that this was no ordinary Orc.
That was because it wasn't a life form at all but instead a projection made entirely out of mana.
"I apologize for meeting you this way. I would have liked to look upon you face to face, but I am quite preoccupied with something and cannot bring my true form to meet you."
The Orc walked towards Michael, with the floorboards creaking under his feet, making him seem like a normal demi-human.
Even other people wouldn't have known the difference. But he could.
"We haven't met yet, but I have heard a lot about you. I am Kruger, a Heavenly Knight."