Chapter 269 - Home (5) (2/2)
”The castle.... That is unless you want to stop somewhere else along the way Mars?”
Mars gave a nod and spoke
”Then I'll have to trouble you to show us the way to the castle”
The guard gave a smile and spoke
”It's no trouble at all”
Mars was getting more and more suspicious, he had an idea of who was waiting for him at the castle but how they knew he would be arriving today was a mystery to him
'....Well not really, the elders must have told them... But why?'
Even though Mars was thoroughly confused he kept a poker face and followed after the guards that escorted them though the busy streets, soon they arrived at the castle where Vanessa stood in front of the gate seemingly there to welcome them, Mars gave a slight frown, while he was familiar with her having fought together in the golem war and all they didn't get along that well. Vanessa however gave a smile when she saw Mars and walked towards him as she spoke
”Welcome to the former king's city Mars, it's been awhile”
Mars also showed a wide smile and spoke
”Yeah not since you tried to sell off my friends”
Vanessa's smile stiffened slightly before she gave a slightly nervous laugh and then continued
”We are truly sorry for that incident... I hope you can forgive us for that”
”Well that depends on the people you tried to sell... But you're right let's put that matter behind us, I am here today to talk business”
Vanessa showed a big smile when Mars spoke the word 'business' as she knew of his frightening capital
”In that case please follow after me, I'll show you to my father's office”
Mars walked into the castle after Vanessa and soon they reached one of the innermost rooms where Vannesa knocked on the door but she didn't wait for a response before she opened the door and walked in, Mars gave a slight frown and followed after her, inside the room sat James Ichma the de facto ruler of the Ichma province (former Destra) of the NNE, inside the room also sat two generals that were in a heated argument
”---As I said, they are only a tribe!”
”And as I said proper recon should not be overlooked, do you want a repeat of what happened in the Mother forest!?”
James gave a sigh and raised his hand to indicate that the generals should stop before he looked over at Mars and his daughter Vanessa and stood up with a smile on his face
”You must be Mars, welcome to my castle”
Mars glanced over at the two generals and showed a smile on his face
”If you're busy I can come back another day”
”No that won't be a problem”
”Humph”
one of the generals looked displeased with Mars' percenace and when he saw the girls, all of them being non human his frown grew deeper but he remained silent, James showed a slightly awkward smile as he spoke
”So what can I help you with Mars?”
”Well I'll be blunt... I am here to buy a city or town, or at least that was my intention a moment ago... why don't we make a bet instead?”
”A bet?”
Mars gave a smile, a wide one at that before he pulled a crystal card out of his pocket and handed it to James
”This will be my bet”
James cheeked the card and trembled for a moment but quickly recovered his bearing and spoke with a slightly shaking voice
”Surely this is a little overboard isn't it? What could I possibly offer in return?”
”A city”
”...Is that truly fine?”
Mars gave a shrug before he spoke
”It's all I got on me at the moment, if you feel it's insufficient I'll be back in half a years time with double the amount”
”...Double... No this is quite enough, so what is the bet going to be about?”
”Well you present me with a defended city on the edge of the NNE's territory and I'll conquer it within a day, if I can I'll get the city and become it will become a free citystate under the NNE, if I can't you get the crystal card... What do you say?”