357 Mayhem in Phoenix Part 1 (2/2)
However, Daniel trained his soldiers strictly. Since Saleen had come personally, no one dared skive. With a death mage as their commander, the pirates had already gotten used to executing orders without hesitation.
Saleen thought of the situation in Holy Rock City, and he felt that once the city was fully constructed, the location of the army camp needed to be shifted to the outside of the city.
”Sir, are you worried?” Jola said. He could tell that something was bothering Saleen, so he took the initiative to chat with him.
”Mm, I don't know what is going on in Phoenix. According to the plan, even if Phoenix were to be in mayhem, it should only happen after three years.”
”Actually, it doesn't matter when the mayhem starts. In fact, the earlier the better. Sir, you have the spirit kings and five thousand spirit soldiers. Now that Phoenix is in turmoil, you can seize this opportunity to recruit manpower from Phoenix. With these two viscounts defecting, they will bring about one thousand people, and if Sir manages this well, more people will come.”
”Lex will cross the border from Phoenix next spring,” Saleen finally confessed his worry.
”Actually, after getting information from the two of them later, it won't be too late to think of a countermeasure.” At this moment, Jola was not laughing cheekily. He spoke to Saleen solemnly.
Saleen nodded, worried for Lex and Sika. Since these two people were imperative to Saleen, Saleen had become fidgety due to his concern for them. Had it been anyone else, Saleen would never have lost his composure. Jola was right, and even if Phoenix had undergone some massive changes, Saleen would be able to deploy some men for an interception outside the border. This would allow Lex to make a detour to Lianyun City and travel by sea to return to this place.
Saleen grew bored from sitting. Since he was unwilling to meditate, he summoned a soldier to bring a chess set and began playing chess with Jola.
After about two hours, Daniel finally led some people back.
”Sir, I have brought the people back. They are outside.” Daniel entered the barrack, reporting to Saleen.
”How many people are there?”
”A lot, about nine hundred of them.”
”What's the arrangement?”
”They will set up camp outside the city, and I will leave one hundred spirits with me.”
”Good job, what about Piac? Let him in, along with those two guests.”
”Okay.” Daniel turned and left, and before long, a fat baron led two middle-aged men into the barrack. From a distance, Piac ran towards Saleen before bowing deeply to him.
”Piac, long time no see. These two people…”
Saleen spoke flatly. Saleen was a grand mage, and even though the other party was a baron, he did not need to reciprocate the greeting.
The two middle-aged men were clad in civilian attire. When they approached Saleen, they executed a nobleman's greeting, then introduced themselves, ”Great Mage, I am Suha.”
”Peter.”
Both men announced their names briefly, but did not mention their surnames. Noticing that these two middle-aged men were fraught with worry and seemed to be in a daze, Saleen said, ”Gurney should be outside, get some guys to serve tea. The two of you, please take a seat.”
Calming down, Suha and Peter sat on both sides. This was a barrack, and the table in front of Saleen was enormous, so he could open up a map. The three men sat far apart, and when the two men seemed to have wild thoughts running through their minds, Saleen opened his mouth to speak again.
”I heard that the both of you have abandoned your territory and decided to come forth. Is there perhaps a sudden change in Phoenix?”
Suha and Peter stared at each other, not knowing how to respond. They were of noble status, and even though a mage enjoyed more prestige, it was still unheard of for a noble to seek refuge from a mage. This was despite the mage right in front of them owning a city.
”Piac, tell me.” Saleen did not want to waste any more time.
Piac was not as distressed as before, since he had already regarded Saleen as his commander. Upon hearing Saleen's question, Piac smiled fawningly and said, ”Sir, it is true that something had happened in Phoenix. The…”
Piac talked endlessly as Saleen listened intently, and later on, Saleen's furrowed eyebrows began to relax. Indeed, an unforeseen change had occurred in Phoenix, but this change was not directed at him.
This matter had to be traced back to the previous month. Back in November, news had come from Holy Rock City that the new Grand Duke of Phoenix had died under bizarre circumstances, and this piece of information sent huge shockwaves throughout Phoenix.
Following the emergence of the black mages, the cowardly Grand Duke of Phoenix had escaped to Holy Rock City and would not return to his territory no matter what. Saleen knew of this matter, which had become a classic joke among the Qin nobles. But, no matter how cowardly the Grand Duke of Phoenix was, he was still the sole owner of this duchy, and even the Qin Emperor would be helpless.
In November, the Grand Duke of Phoenix had died in Holy Rock City, and Holy Rock City could not clarify his cause of death. To make things worse, the Grand Duke of Phoenix had not left a heir. Yet, after living in Holy Rock City for several years, he had suddenly bore a son.
Holy Rock City had thus decided to let this one year old boy inherit the title of grand duke. The upper house had passed this motion and there was no objection by the lower house either. Naturally, the nobles in the duchy objected. The envoy from the capital was expelled, and a conflict ensued between the few large powers in the duchy. According to the laws of Qin, the land of the duchy would remain independent forever, belonging to the nobles living on it. As for the death of the grand duke, everyone believed that it was a conspiracy orchestrated by Holy Rock City.
And just like that, a war erupted without any warning whatsoever.