Chapter 18 Part 2 of 2 (Patreon)

Mistress Mercy’s carriage continued into Zahir City.

She sniffed the air, her face screwing up into a grimace.

The mana in this realm is so thin. It’s slowing down the amount of mana I can gather.

She looked outside of the window. People moved to the side, shaking in fear at the powerful presence of the beasts pulling her carriage.

If just one of them went on a rampage there would be nothing that the city lord could do.

The carriage stopped at the city lord’s manor.

A muscular man wearing mid Apprentice-level armor with a silver chain stood ready to receive her, his guards lined up on either side in formation.

They had low Apprentice, even Novice level gear.

I have been searching for information for months. Everything comes from here. Zahir City.

Her guards opened the door to her carriage.

The City Lord and his guards bowed deeply.

Mercy walked down the steps and looked over the assembled men. The wind drifted through the courtyard.

“Rise. You are the lord of this city?” She looked the man up and down.

“Yes mistress, I am Abdul Zahir” The silver chain wearing man cupped his fists and bowed again, his body shaking.

“Good. Let's talk inside.”

Zahir led her and her guards into his manor. He took them to a private room with two couches and refreshments. Mercy grimaced at the food and moved to a couch, sitting down. The mana is so thin in the food it's useless.

Zahir paled at her reaction. She waved for him to sit opposite.

As he did so, two of her guards stood behind Mistress Mercy, a third behind Zahir, two others moved about the room.

Mistress felt a little pleasure seeing the anxiousness written on Zahir’s features.

“What can you tell me about the Silaz Trading house?”

“It is a large trading house with a major location in Zahir. It used to be the headquarters, but that has now shifted to King’s Hill. They have several locations in the Beast Mountain Range outposts and different kingdom capitals. They deal in many trade goods, but they are best known for trading in monster cores and mana stones. They also trade in beast par-“ Zahir shut his mouth as Mercy raised a hand.

“Who leads the trading house?”

“Wren Silaz.”

“What about his family?”

“His father was a great driving force. He took the whole house to a new level. Wren expanded into the Outposts and has only built on his father’s past achievements. Do you know of Domonos Silaz? He had the honor to join your venerated Willful Institute.”

Mercy’s gaze chilled, making the mana shift.

“Where are Wren and his father now?”

“His father retired from the business. It's said that he is exploring trading in the higher realms with his last son and crippled daughter. Wren, he lives in King’s Hill Outpost at the headquarters there.”

“What about this King’s Hill Outpost and Beast Mountain Range?” Mercy frowned.

“All of the outposts in the Beast Mountain Range banded together, created an alliance. The city in the middle of all the outposts is called King’s Hill. They trade with everyone and created a consortium that trains talent from across the First Realm!” Zahir said hurriedly, catching his breath after.

“When did this happen?”

“Years ago, before I was the city lord,” Zahir grimaced.

Mercy clicked her tongue.

“Where is the old city lord?”

“He abdicated and disappeared with his children. There was an attack on him that nearly killed him outright.” Zahir shrugged. “He might have actually been killed, I’m not sure.”

“We’ll head to this King’s Hill,” Mercy rose from her seat.

She made it to the doorway, her guards opening it and walking ahead.

Mercy turned to Zahir with a frown.

“What was the name of the last lord?”

“Uhh, Chonglu something,” Zahir said.

“What?” Mercy snapped.

“Lord Chonglu,” Zahir’s shoulders rose.

“The two children, were they twins? One boy and one girl?” Mercy’s mouth was moving as fast as her brain.

“Yes!”

“Feng and Felicity? Was that their names?”

“I think so?”

“Do you know?”

“I-I’m pretty sure it was!”

“What happened when he was attacked?” Mercy’s rapid fired.

“He was attacked by two assassins. They nearly killed him. I heard two people saved him from the brink. Then a strong fighter appeared. Then they all disappeared with some of the guards and the old lord’s people.”

Could those two people be from Vuzgal?

“The two that saved him; were they men, women, what did they look like?”

“I think they were two men and they were strong.”

Mercy’s brows furrowed; she held her head, looking at the ground trying to pull her thoughts together.

Chonglu, Silaz, the Vuzgal City lords, I think they’re all connected somehow. Then there’s the massive changes in the Beast Mountain Range. There is something more here! I need to report this to Elder Cai Bo.

***

Yui Silaz checked the mission board in the [mc3] command center.

The door opened to the room. Domonos walked in, gathering silence from everyone in the room.

“You need a shower,” Yui’s face split in a smile. Domonos’s flat expression brightened as the two brothers hugged.

“Ahh, smells like you need one too.” Yui laughed as he patted Domonos on the back. “Come on, the others won’t be here for a bit.”

“How have things been?” Domonos asked as Yui led him down the underground tunnels to the secure conference room.

“We’ve got a completed network of sensing formations throughout the mountain ranges around Vuzgal with the help of Kanoa’s people. Down the roads as well. Beast Mountain Range is covered as well. A beast doesn’t so much as fart without us knowing. We’ve created a defensive line around King’s Hill based off of what we have at Vuzgal. Bunkers with overlapping arcs. Work on the mountain range to add in cannons and artillery to provide support.” Yui opened the door for Domonos.

“I heard you’ve had some issues with Vuzgal?”

“Yeah, I sent my second, Carvallo up there to oversee things.” Yui closed the door as they found seats.

“Attacked Vuzgal directly. Bold of them.”

“It means that the Associations have gotten a better deal. If we stay or if we go, they’re covered.”

“Any movement on their side?” Domonos asked.

“Nothing official yet or in the city. We’re not planning to do anything either way. Most of the issues have come from the traders and the bandits that have cropped up.”

“What’s the intel saying?”

“Not Willful Institute. Someone else is aiming at us. Pooling our different sources. We’ve got indications that they’re linked to the surrounding cities. Dad’s looking through it. How are things on your side? How have my people been?”

“You their mother now?” Domonos cracked a half-smile and rubbed his worn face.

“Willful Institute is playing the waiting game. Most of the sects don’t understand this shit takes time. We can’t just run in and take it. The conflict has pulled the Institute together, but not everyone else. They’re vultures just looking for the biggest prize.”

Yui shook his head.

“They’ve increased in number and hired on more mercenaries that have helped out. If not for Dad’s spies, we would have been led into a few bloodbaths. Your people have done well. They’re well-trained, switched on. Haven’t had any issues, yet. Even with the battalions being different, they are working together as if they’re one unit. I trust them as much as I trust my own people.”

“What about the halls being hit?”

“Are you asking what I think, or what the reaction has been?”

“Any of it.”

“The military members understand it. It is a hard decision. Erik and Rugrat have trained with us every chance that they get. We know that they’re not some cold unreachable sect heads. The guild members, we mostly trained them. They don’t know Erik and Rugrat. They’re pissed that they weren’t told. They’re looking at their people being hit. Don’t see how they tried to limit the damage. How Erik and Rugrat’s primary focus is to defend the people of Alva. Don’t acknowledge how their own families have been hidden and protected. So they’re pissed at Erik and Rugrat. But it will pass with time. In the meantime, it has only increased their rage towards the Institute.”

Domonos coughed.

“The people that haven’t been trained here and don’t know about Alva, they’re more driven than ever. All of them that can, have been signing up to join the battlefields.”

“How is the Guild on the battlefield now? There were issues in the past.”

“When we started they were fighting like mercenaries. While they’re not soldiers, they’re coming together. Having the Tiger and Dragon Battalions fighting alongside and supporting them, they’ve matured quickly. One has to learn fast in war.” Domonos stared at the opposite wall tapping his finger softly against the table. “What about Mistress Mercy?”

“The leadership might be annoyed by what happened but the general guild members are just angry at the Institute. All of our people understand it. We’ve started to pull out our people from leadership positions, turning them over to the guild members. We’ve been able to reform squads to use as quick reaction forces. Fighting is slow. That is it.”

“The Institute has been searching for information around Vuzgal, in any way they can find it. After the guild attack, Elan wiped out most of the Institute spies. The remaining ones we know who and where they are. Through them, we can pass false messages. With the Institute attacking Vuzgal, we can assume that there is an agreement the Associations will accept if we are removed. We have to watch out for not only the Institute but other powers moving against us. We’ve set up a lot of backups across the realms but we’re still low. Something that might be fixed sooner rather than later,” Glosil glanced at Yui and Rugrat. “The Institute is pulling together but they’re on a shaky foundation. Other sects have achieved victories, pushing into the Institute’s territory. A purge will be carried out in Vuzgal shortly to remove forces that would try to harm us. Defenses have been increased across the board. Recruitment is as high as ever. Here is the information book.”

Glosil took out the small tome and slid it to Domonos.

“Light reading,” Domonos opened the book, getting caught up on the operations of the rest of the Alva army.

***

Elder Lu Ru re-read the orders he had just received.

“Understood,” he said to the messenger putting the orders on his desk.

The messenger bowed and left Elder Lu Ru’s office.

Elder Lu Ru stood and moved to the windows that looked over the Fourth Realm Blue Lotus Headquarters. Through it, he commanded all of the Blue Lotus locations across the Fourth Realm.

Lei Huo marched into the office wearing her armor. Cui Chin came with her, wearing his scholarly robes.

Elder Lu Ru turned from the impressive view.

“An agreement has been reached between the Blue Lotus and the Willful Institute in regards to Vuzgal. Cui Chin, Lei Huo, make the necessary arrangements to shift personnel around. We do not need to evacuate Vuzgal, all Lotus members are guaranteed safety. Though they might have to remain inside if there is fighting. Make sure to remove families from the city and prepare for a warring state.”

“Sir,” Lei Huo’s frown deepened. “There are honorary elders among them.”

“The Blue Lotus comes first, above all personal relationships. The other Associations have all agreed as well. We have made it clear that they are try their best to not kill the honorary elders. You will have to tell them to evacuate, if they do not, then they will not be under our protection.”