Chapter 65: Dont Wake the Dragon (2/2)

“Oh, you know, our portfolios have many gray areas,” the deity replied. “Like drugs or prostitution.”

Having been claimed by four deities, Victor wondered if he should catch them all. “Eh, don’t expect any ‘goodish’ deity to look on kindly to you,” Deathjester said, confirming that he could read the Vizier’s mind. “Except maybe Seng or Cybele, since you’re easy as they come.”

“Hey, what does that mean?” Did they consider him a manwhore upstairs?

“Not just upstairs,” Deathjester shrugged. “Now, I have an offer for you.”

“An offer you can’t refuse, or an offer-offer?” Victor asked, doubtful.

“I had something fresh with the Nightblades, and with Lil’ Lucie gone, the organization will fall into disarray,” the harlequin replied while ignoring the question. “And while I’m all for eras of strife, it will make law-loving Mithras happy, and his pleasure is my unhappiness. I also believe you have great potential as a villain, and not only because you followed one seminar.”

“You want me to take over the Nightblades?” the Grand Vizier guessed.

“Yes, but only if you spare my lovely assassins,” the deity confirmed. “Someone has to care for the dregs and outcasts of the world. So. Do you want to become the Napoleon of crime, Vic?”

Frankly, if he had asked months ago when Savoureuse offered him control of a chapter, he would have refused.

But now, Victor wasn’t sure what to make of it. Controlling the Nightblades would help repurpose their vast resources to serve his and Vainqueur’s interests, instead of the fomors’. He could reform the organization to make it something more productive than terrorists for hire. On the other hand… his karma would take another hit.

“I don’t really feel like a villain, or someone walking the path of chaos, as you say,” the Vizier argued. “If anything, I’m the main reason why this country is semi-functional.”

“You’re in league with Happyland, you lead a nation of monsters, made necromancy a state-sponsored trade, you’ve ruthlessly hunted your own kind to protect a greedy, destructive dragon… should I go on?”

“I did most of that for Vainqueur. I owe him my life.”

“You didn’t resist very hard even though he listens to you, and keyword is most. You’re the one who allowed fiends to operate there, without Vainqueur’s input. You’re not evil, because only angels believe in absolutes, but you’re not hero material either. Face it, Vic, deep down, you’re a hoodlum; if the kind with vision and virtues.”

“That’s a nice sales pitch,” Victor deadpanned. “What next, ‘join the dark side and get cookies’?”

“That’s the thing you don’t get yet: there are no sides, just whatever you want,” Deathjester shrugged. “So? Deal?”

Victor considered the deity’s words until the answer became obvious. “I accept.”

“Glad to hear that,” the god replied, before sliding a talon beneath his harlequin hat, and bringing out a letter. “Also, if one day you wish to go beyond a mere seminar and further your education in overlordship, my pals and I have a whole curriculum for aspiring social climbers. Here’s your invitation.”

Victor snatched the letter and examining it. The seal on the back represented a black lightning bolt, and someone had written the word ‘Scholomance’ on the front.

“Remember, Vic,” Deathjester said, ascending to the skies through a pillar of light. “Lie all the time, cheat, steal, screw the law, and paladins too! That’s the purpose of life!”

“Screw in what way?” Victor deadpanned.

“That’s the spirit, my boi!”

And then the deity vanished before everyone’s astonished eyes.

Congratulations! For dismantling the Murmurin branch of the Nightblades through cleverness and cunning, reaping souls until you had your fill, and rescuing your master on horseback, you earned three levels in [Grand Vizier], two levels in [Reaper], one level in [Assassin] and one level in [Chaos Rider].

You earned the [Forktongued], [Envious], and [Soulmaster IV] Class Perks.

+180 HP, +40 SP, +5 STR, +2 VIT, +10 SKI, +5 AGI, +5 INT, +8 CHA, +7 LCK.

[Forktongued]: You gain a +5 bonus on Charisma checks when you tell lies.

[Envious]: technique, you can steal one positive ailment (such as Regen or Physical Ward) from an enemy or ally and apply it to yourself.

[Soulmaster IV]: Your knowledge of souls has opened you more paths to power than necromancy alone. You can now learn and use [Necromancy], [Rituals], and [Diabolism] spells up to Tier IV. Reaper levels now count as Caster levels for the purpose of class restrictions, and if a class grants you a spellcasting tier in your specialized schools of magic, they will stack with Soulmaster IV. This replaces [Necromancy III].

Congratulations! By gaining enough levels into specific classes, being chosen as the head of a criminal syndicate, and receiving the blessing of the god of crime, you can now combine [Assassin] and [Grand Vizier] into the prestigious [Moriarty] class.

[Moriarty]: An emperor of crime, a diabolical mastermind manipulating entire countries from the shadows. Specialties: Leadership, Illusions, Stealth, Small Weapons. Major growths in Skill, Intelligence, and Charisma. Perks affected: [Is-No-Good], [Blade Stinger], [Forktongued].

Well. He had work to do.

At the first hour after dawn, Vainqueur had summoned almost all of his minions at the central square, to address the population.

For things would change.

Vainqueur observed the inhabitants of his city, who had all gathered to listen to his wise words, from the lowest slime to the tallest dwarf. He could smell their worries, their fear. They had had terrible nights and seen Manling Victor’s own home go down in flames. They wanted reassurance.

They would have their fill, and more.

“Citizens of Murmurin,” Vainqueur cleared his throat, to begin his speech. “Long you have feared the night. For days, vampire insurgents led by Lavere the Bat have waged war against my city. They have burned your houses, slaughtered my cattle, corrupted the hearts of old minions, and threatened even what I cherish most. The rebels have cowardly hidden in shadows, trying to divide you through fear, and mistrust.”

His eyes settled on Malfy the Fiend and Miel the Angel. The former remained in a wheelchair, although he had recovered a little; the latter had had her identity cleared up, thanks to Vainqueur’s own genius and Repentant Savoureuse’s testimony. But now, both stood united against the true enemy.

“But the battle is over!” the dragon rejoiced, raising his left hand and clenching it. “The bat leader is dead by my flames, crushed like the vermin she was! As I speak, my forces, under the leadership of my Grand Vizier, are crushing the last pockets of resistance! For as long as you remain under my wing, all will fall before the Empire’s might!”

The crowd immediately reacted with joy, enthusiasm… but all of it subdued. While the most zealous of his minions applauded, as usual, most worried that these attacks were but the beginning of a war. The tension remained palpable. Vainqueur decided to relieve it, by handing out honors to the minions he felt deserved them. “Kobold Rangers, take a step forward.”

His oldest, most prized minions after Manling Victor gathered before him, bowing in line. They had covered themselves with glory in the darkest night, and today, he would reward them.

“When I found you, you were but kobolds,” Vainqueur said. “Yet I immediately saw the seeds of true minionship slumbering within you, ready to be unleashed. Now, you have grown in power, becoming the elite of my lackeys. You are everything a master could want from his servants.”

His minions shivered at his praise, bowing so deep that the dragon worried that they may break their backs.

“As a reward for your long and dutiful service, I promote you to Knights of Vainqueur, and Defenders of the Niece,” Vainqueur declared. “Thou shall protect and guard one of my three greatest joys: my beautiful niece, Jolie. You shall defend her as you defended my gold, and prevail where Knight Kia proved herself lacking.”

“Your Majesty honors us,” Red spoke for the entire team, all of them had tears in their eyes; although it must have been water condensation for the undead ones. “And we shall bring glory to you in return!”

“I know, minions. Now, kiss my ring.” Vainqueur offered them his hand, which they all embraced; the dragon quickly moved on to the hero of the day. “Allison the Dryad, step forward.”

The dryad sheepishly approached.

“Once I disdained you, for I did not consider you minion material.” Too skinny, and he could not eat Rolo. In time, he had come to appreciate the golem’s ability to supply him with food, enough to forgive this defect. “You have proven yourself worthy of my trust.”

“Uh…” the plantkin didn’t find her words, too intimidated by the honor. “Okay…”

“For your deeds against the insurgents, I now make you my new wizardry teacher. You shall assist Manling Victor in making me even more powerful.”

“So… keep doing what I’ve been doing already?”

“Yes, but now your contribution is recognized,” Vainqueur said, showcasing his generosity. “Now kiss my ring.”

After she did, albeit with less enthusiasm than the Rangers, Vainqueur addressed the crowd again. “However, citizens, as a good dragon, I shall always tell the truth. The vampire insurgents were but the soldiers of a much older threat. The fairies.”

“Fairies?” “The Fomors?” “They’re back?!”

Vainqueur listened to the whispers of his lackeys, finding out that they feared his old rivals, as much as they respected dragons. Their ancestors had died at the hands of these creatures, or toiled as slaves.

“This time, however, they have gone too far. They spat at a volcano.”

To punctuate his declaration, Vainqueur let out a stream of fire at the skies, instantly silencing his adoring fans.

“Minions, the fairies declared war on me,” Vainqueur said, smoke coming out of his nostrils. “By freeing the Goldslayer Furibon from the seal which kept his evil contained, attacking my minions, and threatening my niece, they broke the dragon-fomor peace, which has held since the morning of the world. If they have forgotten who won the first war, I shall remind them in the second.”

The great dragon proudly extended his wings, so all his minions could bask in his full majesty.

“For I, Vainqueur Knightsbane, First of His Name, Great Calamity of the Age, Defender of the Hoard, Greatest Gladiator, Genius Presidente, and Emperor of Murmurin, Ishfania, and the Albain Mountains, declare war back on the fomors!”

Charisma check successful!

His servants raised their hands in bloodthirsty acclaim, eager for revenge. “War!” they shouted all at once, their screams becoming deafening, “War! War! War!”

“The Mell clan, which has opposed me since my awakening, shall learn its place! Nowhere in this world will they feel safe from my wrath! I will burn their lairs to the ground, empty their pens of cattle, and claim their wealth as mine!”

Vainqueur waved his hand in a dramatic fashion. “As the first measure, I hereby order the creation of the Vainqueur Watch for Thorough Fairy Destruction; an institution dedicated to finding new and creative ways to deal with the fomor problem! I invite any creature willing to fight the good fight, to join this golden crusade!”

None applauded this decision more than the dwarves; they had eagerly welcomed his orders to prepare for the return of Furibon, and could not wait to test their weapons on new targets.

“As my second measure, it is time for the country to live up to my reputation,” Vainqueur said. “All of my minions will train and be equipped, so that one day, very soon, we shall take the fight to the fairies, instead of letting them invade us again! I shall expand this empire beyond this city, across the sea and into the island of Prydain! Under my wings, we shall prevail!”

As his citizens applauded the declaration, Vainqueur abandoned himself to his imagination, thinking about the future. He already salivated at the thought of the vast treasures which the fomors would surely drop. He had much work to do, for the fairies were vicious. They had crafted golems that could challenge even him. They had modernized, as he did when he embraced the dragon System.

He would have to modernize his empire too. While the growth of his hoard remained his priority, he would ensure that his empire grew stronger under his rule. While he had been content to let Manling Victor handle minion affairs, he would now provide direct guidance, until his dominion had grown tenfold.

And one day, very soon…

He would conquer even the Moon!