The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Behind Starlight’s Success, the Eclipse Continues to Grow

Valentine and returned to the Starlight branch later that evening.

Aurora was still inside her private office, reviewing several documents when a knock came from the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Valentine stepped inside.

Aurora looked up from the documents.

"Valentine. You’re back."

"Yes, Lady Aurora."

Valentine walked toward the desk before stopping a few steps away.

"The matter has been settled."

Aurora closed the document in front of her.

"How did it go?"

"The recruitment was successful."

Valentine gave a small nod.

"The father agreed to the arrangement, and the daughter accepted as well. The house and the promised compensation have already been provided."

"I see."

Aurora smiled faintly.

"And the girl?"

"She’s currently traveling with us."

Valentine paused before adding,

"She’s quite young, but she seems determined. Her father was reluctant to let her go at first, but the girl herself made the decision."

Aurora nodded.

"Good. We should make sure she receives proper care once she arrives."

"Of course."

Valentine’s expression softened slightly.

"There is one more thing."

Aurora raised an eyebrow.

"How many new recruits are coming with you?"

"Thirteen."

Aurora blinked.

"Thirteen?"

"Yes."

Valentine nodded.

"During the operation, we identified several other children who met the requirements for recruitment. Their circumstances were similar, and after being offered protection and a new life, they agreed to join us."

Aurora leaned back in her chair.

"That’s considerably more than I expected."

"So I thought as well."

Valentine gave a faint smile.

"At this rate, the Order may need to prepare additional accommodations."

Aurora smiled.

"That shouldn’t be a problem. We have plenty of space at headquarters."

She stood from her chair and walked toward the window.

"Have the recruits been informed about the Eclipse Order?"

"They understand the basic conditions."

"And the confidentiality agreement?"

"Explained clearly."

Valentine’s expression became serious.

"They understand that what they see and learn after joining us must never be revealed to outsiders."

"Good."

Aurora turned back toward her.

"Then there’s nothing else to worry about."

Valentine nodded.

"We’ll depart for the main headquarters shortly. The other elites are already waiting."

Aurora looked toward her.

"Take care of them during the journey."

"Understood."

"And Valentine..."

Valentine stopped.

Aurora’s expression softened.

"Welcome them properly when they arrive. They’re no longer just children we rescued from unfortunate circumstances."

She smiled faintly.

"They’re members of the Eclipse Order now."

Valentine lowered her head.

"Yes, Lady Aurora."

She turned toward the door.

"I’ll make sure they understand that."

Aurora watched her leave.

Thirteen new recruits.

Another thirteen lives brought into the Order.

She quietly returned to her desk and looked through the reports once more.

"Master will probably be pleased."

With that thought, Aurora picked up her pen and continued working while Valentine and the others prepared to leave for the main headquarters with the thirteen new members.

Aurora was still seated inside her private office, surrounded by documents concerning Starlight’s continued expansion, when the door opened without ceremony and Leonora stepped inside with a thick folder tucked beneath one arm.

"You look busy."

Aurora glanced up from the report in front of her and smiled faintly.

"I am. Although you usually don’t come to my office carrying that many papers unless something interesting has happened."

Leonora walked over and placed the folder on the desk.

"Then you’ll probably want to read this."

Aurora closed the document she had been working on and leaned back slightly.

"Go on."

"The headquarters sent an update concerning the new facilities."

Leonora opened the folder and spread several blueprints across the desk.

"The construction is progressing faster than expected. The main research building is nearly finished, and they’ve already started working on the underground sections."

Aurora looked over the plans.

"What have they completed so far?"

"The first underground floor is being prepared for research involving monster cores, magical crystals, concentrated mana, and other sources of magical energy. The second will be used for testing magical tools and weapons, while the deeper floors will contain laboratories for monster-related research."

Leonora tapped another section of the blueprint.

"They’re also constructing sealed chambers for high-level monster materials. Some of the cores we’ve recovered are producing considerably more mana than expected, so the researchers requested stronger containment systems before they continue."

Aurora’s eyes narrowed with interest.

"Good. If they’re going to experiment with that kind of energy, I’d rather have them overprepare than discover the importance of safety after something explodes."

Leonora laughed quietly.

"That was more or less my opinion as well, so I approved the additional barriers."

"Any problems?"

"Nothing serious. The researchers have been surprisingly cooperative, although several of them have apparently become obsessed with understanding why some monster cores behave differently from others."

Aurora smiled.

"Let them be curious. That’s what they’re there for."

Leonora closed the blueprint.

"I thought you’d say that."

She reached for another report.

"There is also the matter of Starlight’s finances."

Aurora raised an eyebrow.

"Already?"

"We’ve been open for almost a month, Aurora. At this point, I think it’s safe to say the accountants have stopped sleeping."

Aurora gave a quiet laugh.

"That bad?"

"That profitable."

Leonora opened the report.

"The exact figure is still being finalized because several large transactions, advance payments, auction settlements, and private contracts haven’t been completely processed yet, but based on the current records, Starlight has generated roughly nine million gold coins since its establishment."

Aurora paused.

"nine million?"

"Approximately."

Leonora turned another page.

"And that’s only the recorded revenue. It doesn’t include the value of our remaining inventory, properties, unsold auction pieces, stored monster materials, or several high-value contracts that are still being settled."

Aurora looked over the figures again.

"So we’re already past nine million."

"Comfortably."

Leonora smiled.

"If the current growth continues, I wouldn’t be surprised if Starlight reaches several million gold coins in monthly revenue once all the branches are fully operational."

Aurora leaned back.

"Not bad for a business that hasn’t even been open for a month."

"Not bad?"

Leonora gave her an amused look.

"Most merchant families would probably lose consciousness if they saw these numbers."

Aurora laughed softly.

"Then it’s fortunate they don’t have to see them."

She pushed the report aside.

"How much of that can we safely reinvest?"

"Enough to expand without affecting our existing operations. The restaurant is producing more than enough to sustain itself, while the auction hall and luxury divisions are beginning to generate ridiculous amounts of money whenever a rare collection is released."

Leonora shook her head slightly.

"Some of those collectors are completely unreasonable."

"They’re paying for it."

"That’s what makes it worse."

Aurora smiled.

"I suppose that’s their problem."

Leonora closed the financial report and reached for the final document.

"There is one more matter about the Orphanage."

Aurora glanced at the heading.

Leonora opened the document and leaned back in her chair.

"I visited the other day and spoke with the sisters myself. The situation was worse than we expected. Their funding had almost completely disappeared, the building was badly damaged, and they had already started reducing meals because there simply wasn’t enough food."

Aurora’s expression became more serious.

"How many children?"

"Thirty-seven. The sisters were doing everything they could, but there were days when even they went without food so the children could eat."

Leonora turned another page.

"The kitchen was nearly empty, several rooms had damaged walls and leaking roofs, and most of the furniture was barely usable. They had nowhere else to turn, either. If the orphanage closed, the children would have been scattered to different places."

She paused briefly.

"That’s why they accepted our offer."

"The renovations have already started."

"Yes. We hired the construction teams the other day. The damaged sections are being replaced, the roof is being repaired, and the new rooms are already under construction. Give them a few more days and the place will look completely different."

Leonora’s expression softened slightly.

"The sisters were almost unable to believe it. They thought we would eventually ask for something in return."

"They were right to be suspicious."

Leonora smiled faintly.

"But after everything they had been through, they weren’t going to turn down a chance to keep the children together."

She closed the folder halfway.

"I also explained that this isn’t simply Starlight donating money. The orphanage is becoming one of our establishments, which means it will be protected and managed under the Eclipse’s authority."

Aurora gave a small approving smile.

"And the sisters accepted that?"

"They did. They’ve already agreed to the responsibilities that come with it."

Leonora’s expression became more serious.

"I’ve bestowed Eclipse’s power upon them as well, and the Four Watchers have begun training them."

Aurora nodded.

"How’s the situation?"

"Better than expected."

Leonora’s smile carried a hint of amusement.

"They weren’t fighters before, but that doesn’t matter anymore. With proper training and Eclipse’s power, they’re becoming capable of defending themselves. More importantly, they’re learning how to protect the children."

She tapped the report.

"They won’t be dispatched as ordinary members, and their first responsibility will always be the orphanage. But if someone breaks in, threatens the children, or tries to take advantage of the place, they won’t stand there helplessly."

Aurora’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"They’ll kill if necessary."

"Exactly."

Leonora said it without hesitation.

"I made that clear from the beginning. In public, they’re still sisters responsible for an orphanage. But if someone comes after them and the funds, they’ll respond as members of the Eclipse."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"I don’t think any of them will hesitate."

Aurora looked over the report.

"How about the children?"

"I bestowed Eclipse’s power upon them as well."

Leonora turned another page.

"Some reacted strongly, while others showed much less potential. But none of that means they’re useless. They’re children, so their training is being handled according to their age. The Four Watchers are teaching them magic control, self-defense, observation, discipline, and basic combat."

She smiled slightly.

"Even the ones who seem ordinary now will become capable once they’ve been properly trained. They won’t be thrown into dangerous situations, but they’ll grow up knowing how to protect themselves and the people around them."

"Their future doesn’t have to be decided now. For the moment, they’re being educated, trained, and given the chance to grow."

Leonora closed the folder.

"Some may eventually become fighters. Others may develop different talents. Either way, they’ll have the strength and education to choose what they want to become."

Aurora leaned back slightly.

"And the confidentiality agreement?"

"Already settled."

Leonora’s expression became colder.

"They know Starlight is only the public face of the organization. They don’t know the full structure of the Eclipse Order, but they understand who protects them and what is expected of them."

"And if they betray us?"

"They know the punishment will be worse than death."

Leonora gave a faint, almost amused smile.

"I didn’t bother explaining the details. They only needed to understand one thing: betraying the Eclipse isn’t something they can walk away from."

Aurora met her eyes.

"That should be enough."

Leonora gathered the documents.

"They’re grateful, Aurora. Not only because we’re paying for everything, but because we’re giving them something they haven’t had in years."

Leonora smiled.

"They have food now. A proper home. Medicine. Education. Training. The sisters have the strength to defend themselves, and the children finally have a future that isn’t decided by whether someone feels generous enough to donate a few coins."

She stood and walked toward the door.

"They know what they’ve been given."

Leonora stopped at the doorway and glanced back.

"The renovations should be finished in a few days. Once they’re done, it won’t look anything like the place I visited."

Aurora looked toward the window.

"Good. Make sure the Watchers continue their training after the construction is finished."

"Yes."

Leonora opened the door.

"There’s no reason to waste the power we’ve given them."

Aurora smiled faintly.

"Exactly."

Leonora left, closing the door behind her.

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