Chapter 140 - THE SMILING MAN II (1/2)

THE PLAINS REGION

CENTRAL PLAINS

IMPERIAL RESIDENCE, THRONE ROOM

'Is this report really credible?! Are you trying to make me angry?! HUH!' Azief was sitting on his dragon throne when he suddenly threw a fit.

He shouts and his anger overwhelm the room as the throne had a slight crack on its handle.

His face was flushed red. The officials all shut their mouths and look at the ground and began prostrating.

They look up at the seven feet platform in which Azief sits on his dragon throne and gulped in fear and trepidation.

'Well!!!'

'We don't know, City Lord. W..e only got a par..tial transmission from our spies.' The man answers, his voice stuttering and sweat filled his back, his hand trembling in fear.

Azief glared at the man and stomp his feet on the platform and it produce a sound like something cracked

Black smoke rises up from Azief feet, and fog of darkness started to fill the throne room, making everyone feel suffocated

The Palace shakes with ferocity like it was being hit by an earthquake when the City Lord shouted and even a steward who is brewing some tea in the Imperial Kitchen was shocked when the porcelain and glasses in the kitchen exploded.

Considering the distance between the Imperial Kitchen and the Throne Room, who else could create such pressure other than the City Lord?

The stewards and the servants all knew that today is not a good day to do any mistakes or play around.

Lord Shadow might be called City Lord, but he was not any different from an Emperor.

Ruling over a large dominion with the power of the world on his hand, Lord Shadow is considered an Emperor in most culture.

The only reason people did not called him an Emperor is because he did not declare himself an Emperor.

Meanwhile, on the Throne Room, after calming his aura, Azief slammed his hand down on the dragon chair, pointing angrily at the new Head of Eden Intelligence Agency after Loki departed, shouting,

'How can you be my Head of Eden intelligence when you couldn't even verify a news whether it is true or not! Do you know how important this news to me? Didn't I already divulge the importance of it to you! Incompetent!

Azief shouting was like a dragon roaring and his Seed Forming Pressure create a pressuring force all over the Palace that even the remaining councilors in the court could not help but feel dwarf and small.

If Azief increase more of his pressure, these officials would soon start coughing blood.

Guo Jia didn't think the City Lord would speak so severely and reprimanding him in front of all the great officials.

It is clear the City Lord views Will as a very important spy. What he didn't know, is that Azief considers Will as his brother.

How could Azief remains calm when he got the news that Will has been missing for a week and then receiving a partial transmission of what seems to be the news of Will imprisonment.

On the other hand Guo Jia has already had his legs softened and he knelt down, his face was solemn and full of repentance.

'Forgive me my lord'

'You!' Azief pointed his fingers at Guo Jia in anger.

'Get out from the Palace and find credible news. I want a credible report by tomorrow. I don't care what methods you use. Or all of your men will be punished.'

'Your orders will be accomplished, my lord'

Guo Jia then quickly stands back and excuses himself from the morning court. He was running outside the throne room to find information as fast as possible.

It was almost like he was running as fast as possible like his life depended on it.

'Next!' Azief shouted and it was like thunder is roaring out inside the room and the officials shrinked down even further in fear.

Clearly, Azief is no longer as calm as he is during the morning.

A new official come forward and then kneeling under the platform he then said

'This lowly official wanted to present a petition from all the other officials urging my lord to call back Lord Loki to return.'

The man is trying to sound confident but there is nervousness in his tone. And his forehead is producing sweats.

Azief mood sour even more but in his heart he was joyful.

Considering this official in front of him is just a low ranked official Azief could guess who masterminded this petition.

It must be either Sina of Sofia or maybe the cooperation between the two.

Which means both of them believed Azief has exiled Loki to the distant north. This behavior is what he wanted the most.

If even Azief closest friend and woman wanted to remonstrate and asked Azief to call back Loki, other hidden spies and interested parties would believe that Azief and Loki is really having a disagreement.

This will give credentials to Azief plots to draw the spies he couldn't capture out of the woodwork.

Anyone that will try to approach Loki with the idea of toppling him will be caught to their roots.

Azief face was cold as he looked at the official:

'Are you meaning to criticize my order? Or are you implying that I done Lord Loki a disservice?'

The official nearly bit his tongue, as the sweat on his forehead began dropping in a much faster rate to the floor.

He clearly only had been urging the City Lord to look at the petition and at least try to listen to the officials pleas to return Loki back to the center administrial position in Eden.

How did it become condemning the City Lord?

'This subject in no way , implying such things. This lowly official does not dare. Please pardon, City Lord'

Azief snorted and said

'I already decided to send Lord Loki to the North to administer the land there. Is there some people here that believe they can arrange everything for me and make the decision for me?'

He said it in a calm tone, but it was icy and full of threats while his eyes scanning the room.

Wherever Azief gazes the officials dare not meet eyes.

This might be the morning court and the officials can run off their mouths, but in the end the final decision lies in Azief hands.

What he says is the law.

They could only be grateful that no matter how bitter the words thrown at him or how angry the City Lord is with some officials he did not execute anyone if the court is in session.

At most he would scold and rarely he send people into exile which is why Loki exile shocked many of the officials.

They all thought after a week, the City Lord anger towards Loki has diminished.

Backed by Lady Sofia and Lady Sina, some officials agree to sign the petition and present it to the city lord in today morning court.

How could they know that the city lord seems to be angrier the more Lord Loki is mentioned?

Many of the officials believe there must be something that happens between Lord Loki and the City Lord.

But even as these officials were thinking all this they all have already kneeling down to ask for mercy

In this city, who would dare to make the decisions for the City Lord, wasn't that the great crime of treason?

Azief gives a cold snort.

'Give me the petition. I will look at it after the morning court.' One of the scribes took the petition and holds it for the City lord as he returns back to his position

Azief did not say it but the officials all understand it.

It means this matter is closed.

They must not talk about Lord Loki matters again in this morning court session unless they wanted to risk angering the City Lord.

As to that official that suggested for Azief to read the petition he was so frightened his face was pasty-white and his hand couldn't stop trembling.

The officials on either side of him silently took a step back from him to distance themselves even more.

'Next!' Azief said and another official come in front.

'My lord, I have report from the Western front' the officials said but his voice is nervous. Clearly the news he is about to present is not something good

'And?' Azief asked as he began leaning to the throne as he tries to maintain a calm frame of mind.

The news that Will might be imprisoned rattled Azief calmness.

Four years together traversing worlds, such kind of experience makes Azief and Will no different than a real blood brother.

'Duke of Western Eden has managed to pacify one third do the population.'

'That is fast.' Azief complimented.

The officials smiles as he sees that the City Lord has calm himself down.

Now, he only hopes that Chu Feng will not interfere.

'This lowly official has made some orders from the General himself to inform and persuade the City Lord to allow the General to expand the Western Border.'

The official thinks to himself.

The General of course knows that not all officials inside the court were receptive of him. Many feared the monopoly of Wang Jian people in the court.

Some Knights which come from Europe doesn't like the fact that Wang Jian people holds many important post.

They fear that Wang Jian is like Feng Jing that rules Wei and will marginalize their people. The official then spoke of his request

'Most of the people there wanted to be assimilated to our territory and Duke of Western Eden military expansion seems to be smooth sailing. Duke of Western Eden however requested a month delay in the expansion plans.'

'Why?' Azief asked as his fingers tapped the handle of the throne.

'Duke of Western Eden decided to create a proper city and base before expanding to other areas. Considering the fact that the Western Plains are receptive towards our rule, Duke of Western Eden might be able to expand the land without bloodshed or war'

Azief nodded. He was about to agree to Wang Jian request when suddenly a voice echoes in the throne room

'So, in that spirit, I request that City Lord would call back Lord Wang Jian and support the Southern Plains defense' suddenly Councilor Wang Gaojun step out from his position and said his piece.

The officials who were relaying the General order look at Wang Gaojun and his eyes is shooting laser, figuratively.

After all the official is not like the City Lord who could shoot fireballs out of his eyes.

The Chu's is staying still, but the Wang's suddenly wanted to meddle! The official wanted to strangle Wang Gaojun right now but outwardly he only smiles.

'Councilor why do you think it is necessary? Considering Duke of Western Eden performance in the Western Plains- '

Wang Gaojun only looked at the City Lord and then ignoring the official trying to persuade him, he said.

'The Southern Plains has mustered their forces and is beginning to threaten the Southern borders with threats and occasional siege. And by the reports that this lowly official got, their soldiers is increasing. There is someone else backing them to oppose us in the Plains. To unify the Plains has never been easy. Since the Western Plains will be easily conquered it is only right for us to send Duke of Western Eden to marshal his troops to the Southern border defense instead of fighting the already complacent Western plains people. City Lord, as the Lord of the city you can send one of the seven fairy to head the expedition to the Western Plains and it will not make a difference.'

Wang Gaojun does not want Wang Jian to accumulate too many merits in the Western Borders.

'Wang Gaojun!' The official shouted at Wang Gaojun no longer being able to control his emotions.

'If City Lord summons back Wang Jian and the expansion of the Western Plains is halted how will you explain yourself?' the official said as he countered Wang Gaojun logic.

And he began listing the disadvantage of calling Wang Jian back.

'What if the Mountain Clans fail to defeat Phillipe troops and instead allied itself with the Western Plains forces? What happens if suddenly the Western Plains with the aid of the Mountain Clans grew a backbone?'

And the other official nodded.

While the amount of Energy Disperse Stage in the world is not many, that doesn't mean there isn't some hidden experts hiding in the Mountains.

If Azief enter the fray of battle he could win as he lead the army but that would also cause the World Government to interfere.

They might accept that Lord Shadow would be the inevitable ruler of the Plains but they also warned that if Azief take s the field himself, they as the self-proclaimed defender of humanity, would not make it easy for him.

This is because Azief enters the battle and unleashed all of his ability, thousands would die.

This is also the reason why those forces that reject their rule would also not attack the Capital city of Eden.

As long as Azief did not interfere, the other hidden forces and experts will also not interfere.

After all, if Azief started participating in battles between people below his levels, what's to say that he would not set his whole sight to the whole world?

That's not something anyone wanted to happen.

As long as Azief could honour the agreement between him and the World Government, the whole world will not move against him.

If he broke this agreement, then the whole world will be his enemies.

World Government has threatened him that if he ever broke the agreement, they would allied themselves with all the heroes of the world to put him down no matter the price.

The world Government might be willing to pay that price but Azief don't.

Not when he knows that threats from the stars are coming that would determine the fate of the human race in this vast galaxy.

That was the warning Azief receive when he took the title of the Prince of the Central Plains.

Not to mention Azief could not left the city while they are doing the expansion of the land in fear of external threats.

As Azief was thinking about a lot of things, the official keep countering Wang Gaojun arguments.

'The only reason why the Western Plains is not hostile towards our forces is because they knew if they fight us they will lose. They have no great unifying leader after the Seven Fairy left.'

The other officials hearing this also nodded. With the addition of the Seven Fairy, the Western Plains has already lost their strongest backbone.

But Wang Gaojun continues

'But if Duke Of Western Eden return home and bolster the support of the Southern Plains and suddenly the Mountains clans stretch out their hands to offer alliance to the Western plain people, do you still think the Western Plains will not unite itself? By then, we will have another bitter fight.'

Azief was just listening on his throne weighing the pros and cons.

'Who is defending the Southern Border right now?' he suddenly asked the official and the official immediately answered

'General Wu Yan, my lord.'

'Is he capable?'

'Yes, but he was never truly tested in a truly big battle. He served with Duke of Western Eden during the white Tiger troops was still active.'

'Hmm.' Then making his decision Azief commanded

'Send my orders to the Seven Fairy. Send two of their sisters to the Southern Plains to help General Wu Yan. As they are an Energy Disperse Stage I know they can help Wu Yan hold down the Fort.'

Azief didn't like spreading out his forces to much.

For some reason Azief already knows the reason why there is a concentrated attack on all of his borders.

'They know' Azief muttered under his breath.

'What about the Northern Plains? Is it the same?' Azief asked, confident of his own conclusion and conjecture.