174 Chapter 174: The Amazerian Empire (1/2)
The hovercraft plunged toward the airport, its thrusters burning as it forcibly slowed its descent the moment it reached within ten meters of the ground. Machinery creaked as thrusters and shafts folded to prepare for landing, the metallic noises drowned out by the scream of the plasma jets. The superheated waves scorched the concrete, but the reinforced material didn't give way even as the vehicle set down its tremendous bulk upon the platform.
Even before the engines were fully turned off, the hull opened and clanged downward. Cecilia Stuart strode down the ramp briskly, her beautiful face contorted into a scowl.
”Ah, Cecilia. It's been a while. How have you been?”
At the bottom of the ramp, a safe distance away from the gradually cooling dropship, Sacha Stuart bowed his head slightly as he greeted his niece. Beside him, Adrian Stuart fidgeted nervously, having picked up on his cousin's foul mood.
”I'm fine,” Cecilia replied curtly. Sacha nodded and smiled, as if her reply pleased him.
”That's good. How goes your search for your father?”
Cecilia clenched her fists in reflex. Even though you were the one who orchestrated his downfall and plotted to kill him? You have some nerve asking me about my father.
However, she didn't express her rage. Keeping her fury under control, she instead snapped off a retort.
”You were the one who requested me to cut short my search and return as soon as possible.”
”Yes, yes. I apologize for that.” Sacha lowered his head humbly. ”I'm very sorry, I honestly wouldn't have requested for your return unless it was absolutely necessary, but there was no one else who could handle this task. After all, that man is coming.”
”That man?” Cecilia echoed, but she knew who Sacha was referring to. Her suspicions were confirmed when Sacha continued.
”Yes. Dignitaries and a super VIP from the Amazerian Empire are coming. They wish to discuss the usual trade deals. And you are the only one who can deal with that man.”
”His excellency.” Cecilia nodded, now understanding why her uncle was so desperate to call her back. The crown prince of the Amazerian Empire was definitely not a person just anyone could deal with. He was powerful, persuasive and charismatic. If her uncle attempted the negotiations alone, he would find himself outwitted, cornered and manipulated into agreeing to a deal that was extremely profitable for the Amazerian Empire and very detrimental for the Stuart clan. Even if she was unhappy with her uncle, she couldn't afford to allow her clan to fall into ruin. Without her father around, it fell to her to handle the negotiations. ”I'll do my best.”
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Sacha provided her with a broad smile. ”Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.”
”I'm sure you do. That's the only reason why you're keeping me alive instead of trying to kill me like you attempted the assassination of my father. Because I'm still useful to you.”
Sacha lost his smile. ”My dear, that's quite the outrageous accusation. I assure you, I have no such intentions. And why would I wish for the death of my beloved brother?”
”Says the man who now sits in the throne that formerly belonged to his brother.”
Sacha held up both hands and shook his head. ”If you can find your father, I will willingly relinquish that throne back to him.”
Cecilia snorted inwardly. She was 100% sure that her uncle was just bullshitting her, and that he was confident that she would never find her father.
”You should rest. It has been a long journey, hasn't it?”
”I will need to make my preparations,” Cecilia countered coolly. ”I don't have much time before his Excellency arrives. He will here in…three days?”
”Two days,” Sacha corrected, his head still lowered.
”Less time than I expected.” Cecilia sighed. ”The crown prince is a formidable opponent. I must get ready to face him if we're going to stand a chance.”
”He wants our military technology,” Sacha informed her. ”I already have the products ready for exhibition. I will send you the catalogue later.”
”Please do.” Cecilia's mind was already racing. The crown prince of Amazerian was a deadly foe, and she hated heading into this battle of wits unprepared. Contrary to popular belief, the Amazerian Empire wasn't just filled with warriors. Their leaders were crafty and cunning, applying the same ruthlessness they showed against monsters to the battlefield of trade and commerce.
This was not going to be an easy fight.
*
”We're finally home.”
As much as I wanted to punch the air and cheer, I was much too exhausted. The fight in Sakha City had drained too much of my mana. I had recklessly summoned so many of my Constellation spirits at once that by the time the battle was over, I was running on empty.
Actually, I probably passed out before the battle ended. After the reinforcements arrived, the adults took over and I was relegated to rearguard duty. There wasn't much left for me to do, and my mana trickled away after a while. According to the amused adults, I had passed out on my feet.
Dad had taken care of a good number of monsters from his side, but he also received reinforcements, and together they managed to stem the tide until the military arrived and took over. It took another two days for the soldiers to exterminate the entire horde, but they finally stemmed the tide of demonic beasts and broke them.
Good thing there wasn't any rank A monster leading the horde this time, or we and the civilians trapped inside the city would have been screwed.
However, it wasn't the fight that rendered me so drained. I was also exhausted mentally, my mind suffused with so many bitter emotions.
I failed to save the village.
There was nothing surprising about that. As Dad said, I couldn't be in two places at once. By the time I woke up and regained consciousness, it was too late. When I rushed there, all I saw were ruins and corpses. The monsters had overrun the village shortly after Dad and I landed in Sakha City, tore open the barrier, and massacred the villagers within.
With all the villagers being elderly or farmers, they had no way of fighting back. Military intelligence estimated that they took less than fifteen minutes to fall.
Shinra and Guo Hao's village wasn't the only one. Across the countryside outside Sakha City, the story was the same. At least twelve other little villages had been destroyed. There were no survivors. I had held out hope that at least several of the villagers had run to the forest, to flee the approaching monsters, but that was a lost cause.