75 The Next Phase (1/2)

”My lord I have gathered them all in one place, we can move forward with our plan now” Gael communicated with Don and Knight through the Khal while sitting on his bed.

”Good proceed to the next phase” Gael heard Knight's voice in his head.

”Yes my lord”

The next day after Gael's contact with Knight, he was sitting on his throne and looking at the worried as well as terrified faces of his ministers.

”Your Highness it's not our soldiers' fault by the time we got to the location of the said resistance's place the place was empty ” General Hozai said in a worried tone.

”Why do I have to feed those idiots if they couldn't even catch a bunch of rebels?” Gael's shout echoed through the silent hall.

”Punish them by giving every soldier in the army hundred whips that'll teach them a lesson and General Hozai you will now personally search the city for those rebels I want them captured and brought to me soon as possible DO NOT FAIL ME” as Gael said he stood up and walked away from the throne room towards his chamber.

”Your highness!!” General Hozai couldn't get the attention of King Hedor.

”What the hell is wrong with him our army has already become very weak by all his punishments and now he is punishing us even further”

Over the next few days, the barracks were filled with soldiers crying and hissing in pain while General Hozai ravaged through every single place in the city in the hope to find the rebels but he simply couldn't find a clue.

”My lord the soldiers have become very weak and angry towards the king and according to Joel more and more soldiers and people are joining the rebellion I've heard even some ministers looking to fly the kingdom” Gael said.

”Hmm it's a good thing Emir doesn't have any big sects or powers in play or they would have already made their move Joel's already working on his little project you should be able to give them a blast on the day after tomorrow hehehe” Gael heard the evil laughter of Knight before the connection with Knight broke.

Meanwhile in the middle of a dense forest a group of people sitting around a campfire.

”Don't get me wrong but how couldn't even General Hozai find us till now?” Loren asked as everyone sitting beside her went silent.

”We should thank Joel for that he's the one gave us the idea of splitting us into smaller groups and gave us the coordinates of the hideouts ” Warren said as he raised his mug towards Joel.

After joining the rebels Joel was helping Warren in organizing the rebels and keeping them from being captured by the soldiers as well as recruiting new rebels. Even though Joel was doing everything discreetly and cleverly as possible, he had a feeling deep down that General Hozai didn't put much effort as it looked while searching for the rebels. Joel knew the reputation of the infamous General Hozai while he was working for the real King Hedor before, General Hozai was a powerful low-level great master who played a major role in capturing nearby kingdoms through war but even when the face of a great victory General Hozai wouldn't even a tinge of joy on his face which lead to many speculations about General Hozai around the kingdom.

Also, Joel was slightly terrified at the plan that Knight and Don put together as everything was happening just like they had planned. Just when Joel was about to raise his mug towards Warren he felt a tinge in his brain.

”Excuse me gentleman” as Joel said he stood up and walked away from the group.

”It's creeping me out seeing him talking to himself ” a bulky man sipping ale said while looking at Joel's walking figure.

”He said he has some kind of magical item that let him talk with his employer” Loren replied to the bulky man. Joel didn't reveal every detail about Khal but let out small hints to prevent any suspicions from rising when they see him talking to Don and Knight through Khal.

”My lord”

”Joel, how's your thing going?” Knight asked.

”I've found a few abandoned places and placed it just like you've said”

”What's the status of the people there?”

”My lord the punishments and the taxes made people's lives a living hell as for the soldiers more and more of them joining the rebellion against the king I think even General Hozai want the rebellion to succeed”

Joel said and waited for Knight's reply for a moment

”Hmm that's expected of him he's a good guy he's probable stuck between his morales and duty but that's aside me and Don think it's time to proceed, gather the rebels and make your move Stodemar will meet you with the supplies you will need at the place I've told you good luck” as Knight said he cut the connection while Joel let out a long breath of a sigh.