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

'Yes, my lord. Tumbu and his alliance have been harassing the Northern Border since Lord Loki set his foot to the Northern Plains. But Lord Loki has managed to repel them and has inflicted many damages to the Confederacy of the Northern Plains.'

Azief nodded and gained another understanding of the enemy plans towards him and he smiles maliciously though none of his officials sees his smile, hidden by the shade of his hood

'Send another order to the Seven Fairy to send three of her fairy to the Northern plains and the others to the Eastern Plains. I imagine that Athena and Freya alliance also has begun attacking our eastern borders right? Harassing but never truly attacking right?'

Azief said confidently

'Yes, my lord, you are right.'

'Humph' Azief snorted.

So, you want to play it like this, huh? You think I am afraid of dispersing my force. You're forcing me to choose huh? You underestimate me too much. You wanted to play? Let's play! Azief thought to himself

'Anything else?'

The other officials did not say anything so Azief get up and he realized it has been nearly afternoon.

'I'll end the morning court here.'

Saying this Azief then walk down and walk outside the throne room while his councilors walked behind him asking him and informing him of other things high above the pay grade of normal officials.

All the other officials waited until Azief has disappeared before the tension in their heart disappears.

But then a servant begin announcing someone arrival.

'Announcing the arrival of Marques of Peace Sina and Lady Sofia'

Then two women enter the throne room and walk to the center of the room, looking at the waiting officials.

With each steps, power radiated from these two women.

Clothed beautiful and deadly, Lady Sina enters the room; her eyes scan the room, looking cold and detached

She was like a warrior woman, merging strength and elegance, with long black and gold dress accented with yellow gold faux mail inserts, with a matched sleeve on one arm.

Lady Sofia on the other hand could be described as sleek, stunning and stylish. Her attire has a touch of medieval fashion and fantasy.

But each strand of fabric is enforced by magic. She was like a femme fatale right out of a fantasy setting.

With a bow behind her back, she looks like a huntress.

”Give her a bow and she could conquer a nation”

That was the evaluation of Hirate when he clashed with the Divine Archer during Sina imprisonment.

But combine that with her beauty she looks like a noble lady. Such contrast in attire and personality only serves to heighten her charms.

She wears a purple tunic dress with a lace-up closed neckline and an attached baldric strap, as well a stunning hooded shoulder cape that closes via chain drape around the neck.

It is an understated and subtle look, suitable for the Divine Archer.

The officials all look down, suddenly studying the floor intently.

'So, how did it go?' Sina was the first to ask her tone was impatient and severe as her eyes matched with one of the officials.

The officials quickly avert his gaze and look at the windows, asking himself, why look at me?

'My Ladies…..the City Lord….rejected the pro..position' one official answers, his teeth chattering.

The reason why this Official answer Sina question is because the official couldn't withstand the suffocating pressure emanating from Sofia and Sina.

The officials fear Sina and Sofia more than they fear The Prince.

This is because at least their lord exercise reason. They would not be punished without reason.

But Sina is different. The people she doesn't like she poisons. The same could be said for Sofia.

Both of them are capable of attacking any of the officials inside here and they could not fight them.

Sofia also has the ears of the City Lord. All of the officials know that even the Inner Palace has their politics.

Considering that the City Lord has no other lovers other than Sofia, one could even say that Sofia words could be a death sentence for some.

And Sofia herself was a very formidable woman. Having the Houyi Bow, she is one of the dangerous threats to many forces in the world.

Not to mention a few days ago, Sina has also stepped into Energy Disperse Stage Low Realm.

Many experts believed that Sina would be stuck at Energy Disperse Stage for eight years before she would step into Seed Forming.

Since Sina is not a unique class like the Prince, her leveling is slow and the only thing she could do is to accept it.

Her unique class is not like Azief which focus primarily in stealth and combat.

But her pill making abilities has been acknowledged as number one in the world.

Sina look at the officials and snorted.

'Haish. Bunch of worthless people. You are all-' And Sofia manages to stop Sina from begin cursing all the officials.

'That's enough. It's not their fault. I will try to convince Azief.' Sofia said, while consoling Sina who is incensed

'Fine, but you better persuade the shit out of him. Loki was innocent.' Sofia shakes her head and said

'Don't worry. I'll persuade the shit out of him.' Sofia looking at the terrified face of the officials then said

'It's ok. Thank you for trying' the other officials finally gained a little bit courage and nodded.

Then they both exited and finally all the officials could finally take a deep breath and release the tension.

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IMPERIAL RESIDENCE

IN THE CITY LORD STUDY

FELICTY PALACE

Azief was closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He then opens his eyes and look at the operative in front of him.

'You are sure?'

'Yes, my lord. The location that my lord has given us has been compromised.' Azief look at his hand.

On his hand is a grain. He then stores the grain inside his storage bag with a sigh.

'You can go.'

'Yes, my lord' and the operative immediately melded himself with the shadows and disappears.

Azief was in the Felicity Palace one of the Palace in his Imperial Residence. Even though he was a city lord, he was no different than an Emperor.

The only difference is that Azief never declared himself as Emperor.

He sighed.

'He is besieging me from all sides. HAHAHA' Azief laugh. Azief knows a plot when he sees one.

All corners of his territory is suddenly rife with problems….that is too much of a coincidence.

Azief knows this must be the World Government plans and the disappearance of Lily only serve to cement Azief conclusions.

Will has been captured.

Will is not stupid nor is he slow. The only reason he could get trapped is that the World Government manage to construct a trap capable of caging him.

This is where the Inventor takes center stage.

Other than the mysterious Inventor of the Merchant Association, Azief could not think of any other personage in the world that could create a trap to chain a Speedster.

Loki also once sends him a few secret message saying that the World Government make a visit to one of the Patricians in the Merchant Associations a few weeks ago.

That must be when they hire the Inventor. But for the cage to fulfill its purpose, they must lure Will.

If they just simply summons Will, knowing him, he would bolt the first moment he felt something is wrong.

And Azief knows, if Will runs, there is no one that could capture him unless that man is Warp.

Even that is debatable.

So they must lure Will with something he could not ignore or leave behind.

Lily.

On those dark days, Will confessed to him, that the only reason he still keep going forward was because of Lily.

His little sister…..who suffered from Guillain Barrre syndrome before the Fall.

After the Fall, he manages to find herbs that helps her paralysis and manages to make her healthy again.

But just because she is healthy doesn't mean she is strong. With a world full of monsters, Will had to protect her.

'Lily' Azief muttered under his breath

That kind of lure…how could Will dodge it.

'Will…..you should have…inform me or something' but Azief knows, they are a million ways to make sure Will would never contact him.

Because Azief knows, if Lily life at stake, Will would do anything to ensure no harm befalls her.

But Azief also knows, that Will must be anticipating his response. They know each other too well.

But knowing Raymond and the reports Azief had on him, Azief is confident that Raymond will not torture an innocent kid to force Will to talk.

So, their primary objective was only trapping Will.

And since they already have a Mind reader why should they torture an innocent kid unless they were psychopath?

To read Will mind is not easy….but it was not impossible. Weaken him enough and his mind activity will be slow, slow enough for Hirate to works his magic.

Of course this is all Azief conjecture but he is quite confident in his conjecture.

'What should I do, Will? The trees want to remain quiet, but the wind will not stop '

There is still the matter of Sasha and Sina secret.

The secret that Sasha knows was important enough that Azief pardons him. Not to mention Sina would not let him kill Sasha.

Regarding Will however...Azief knows there is only one choice and that is to head out to the World government and ask them to release Will.

Will…..is his brother. Azief fought back to back with him, lived with him, bled with him, and shares good and bad times with him.

Will became his brother in both battle and life. His family. And Azief will, never, ever turn his back on family.

It is his fatal flaw.

But by doing this, he will effectively expose Will involvement with him.

But if he comes to the World Government demanding Will, that also shows how important Will really is to him and Will could be used as leverage.

That's the reason why the World Government is inciting this trouble on his borders. Testing him.

They might have left the Plains but that doesn't mean the World government has lost all their influence or resources they amassed.

Azief closes his eyes back and rub his fingers on his forehead.

Hirate expected this.

They don't want a full blown out war with Azief which is why they only sat at the back and not participating directly.

They forced him to send all of his Energy Disperse Stage experts to strengthen the border. Now the only Energy Disperse Stage expert residing in the city is Sofia.

If he brought Sofia along with him, then….he left his city undefended from other regions experts.

Sina…..was never a combat expert. Bringing her would only fuel back the desires of the Quorum to capture Sina.

Azief don't know how far does the World Government influence reached.

Azief could handle the fort alone even if a dozen Energy Disperse Stage expert come knocking but that could not be said for other people.

He is the sole Seed Forming Expert in the world. He is a one man army. The strongest man in the world

And the reason why the World Government orchestrated all this plots and scheme…all of this is just to negotiate with him in equal footing.

That is how hard to make sure they stood at equal footing with Azief.

They had to mobilize many secret forces, resources and make many alliances just to force Azief to negotiate with them.

If they do not do this, and Azief knows that the World Government is holding Will, a Lord Shadow without any external threats to his territory, a World Government without any backings, Azief might have gather all of his Energy Disperse Stage expert and initiate a devastating attack to the Island of Peace.

After all, if he could not mobilize all of his experts, Azief had to contend with Eight Energy Disperse Stage of the World Government.

(Explained before in Will speech. Azief don't know about the Bracelet of the Sage of Eight Path)

Not to mentions millions of troops.

And weapons. And tamed beast. That is a tall order to go through. Even Azief at his current level could not defeat a million troops by his lonesome.

Unless Azief is willing to kill all that stands in his way and risk humanity in the long run….Azief has to negotiate.

There is also…..the secret inside the Closet. Will has confirmed it a few days before he went missing.

It exists.

It's in there.

The World Government might have seemed weak compared to Azief growing power in the Plains but that was just because people don't know what they were hiding in that Closet.

'Humph.' He got up from his chair and straightens himself up. He had already made a decision.

But this time….and remembering Sofia….he smiles.

This time, he would be truthful. Since all is out in the open already, Azief had to tell the truth about Will to the gang.

And tonight after he had time to explain everything to Sina and Sofia, next morning he would go to the World Government.

'It seems Raymond really does make the best of his situations. Since his headquarters is right in the fucking middle of the Vast Sea I could not really deploy my troops there.'

'A fortress disguising as a large island. HAHAHA! Fine! If you think I am afraid and I don't have plans of my owns, then you will be sorely disappointed.'

Somewhere in the Vast Sea, inside an invisible cage, an emaciated man with body full of crackled lightning was smiling

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