Free Web NovelChapter 1629: Story From Within
[I’m going to do you a favor and tell you that I will not be giving you any good answer as to why I know this little tidbit of information,] Jade informed Levante. [But it’s the same reason I know that your fun little corpse warriors out there are actually being puppeted by a strange slime-like aether beast on the precipice of becoming an Aether Beast King. So I suggest you go ahead and shush up until I ask a more relevant question.]
Surprisingly, this little demand actually worked.
Legante looked as if he had more to say, but he was also the type to know that silence would probably be more fruitful than empty words of accusations. That said, the fact that this horned woman and her master were able to just casually drop this kind of information added some credence that she actually was some kind of all-knowing demon.
"..."
[...]
"..."
[Good.]
In that brief interim of silence, Nepherage had been fed additional lines of questioning by Zhen Liu and curators. As such, she managed to smoothly move the conversation along without any additional interruptions.
[Well, with that out of the way...other than this First Prince Lofarro, it’s safe to assume his siblings, some of the other imperial princes and princesses, are going to be making appearances soon, yes? That their dear old dad is going to be in tow, yes?]
It should be noted that from Legante’s perspective, these were not simple questions. To him, it sounded like Jade was presenting rhetorical ones that they already knew the answer to and that he would be called out immediately if he attempted to lie.
Which...wasn’t entirely wrong.
"That is...correct. Prince Lofarro said that after his arrival, two of his younger brothers and one of their sisters would shortly arrive after the establishment of the forward base," Legante answered. "And they would indeed be bringing his Imperial Majesty shortly after. THey figured that with the new Hearth Tender being weaker than her predecessor, they could try and intimidate her into giving up the flame."
[Bold...] Jade said in an amused tone, as if she thought that it was the most adorable thing she ever heard. [In that case, I will wait until after they arrived to make my offer.]
"Wait, what?!" Legante exclaimed. "I thought you appeared before so that you could offer me a deal to do just that!"
[ No, I said that I would be able to facilitate a meeting with my master and that he could help turn the tide of this war in your favor...or against,] Jade corrected. [He could even force a peace or annihilate both sides. Depending on how the wind blows...and whether or not your own masters are willing to wheel and deal.]
"..."
[So with that clarified, I think I will take my leave. Good luck with establishing that base of yours. And I do hope your masters are the flexible type,] Jade said without even making an inclination that she was about to get up from her seat. Instead, she simply chose to disappear in a puff of smoke that simply flowed out of the tent.
Legante had hoped to be able to track that smoke cloud, but when he tried to sweep his senses over it, he found that his efforts were simply being erased before they had a chance to do anything.
’It’s just like with my attack earlier...’ Legante thought to himself.
Once the smoke had fully disappeared, Legante let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding until that exact moment.
"By the ashes...what was that?!" Legante whispered to himself. "Wait..." freewebnσvel.cøm
In that exact moment, he realized that the monster known as Jade had been releasing an aura that had been actively messing with his head.
"Why did I share such sensitive information?!"
...Meanwhile...
’Well, that went smoother than anticipated,’ Zhen Liu said. ’I figured a general from a battle-hungry empire like that would be more...honor bound. Willing to die for King and country before spilling the beans like that.’
[It’s probably because of our ambient Chaos that got him to talk like that,] Nepherage guessed. [Our whole thing is making people more casual, more emotional, and more honest with themselves, yeah?]
’Yes, but I figured a veteran general of all people would be immune to my ways. Can’t help but feel a little overpowered.’
[To be fair, this old general never experienced Chaos before,] Hurricroak offered. [I don’t think Father Free Love and Father Murderballs are gonna be that honest.]
’Fair enough...’
[So, who’s next?] Razorstella asked. [Us or... Blazejudicator, do you and the twins have a group name yet?]
[We’re saving that until after they fully develop their abilities as kaijin.]
[Fair enough.]
’Mysticlassic, you’re up next.’
[Sweet.]
’That said, I think you guys are going to need to be ready for violence...’
[Leave that to me,] Springerdermain chimed in.
...Let’s see what war-hungry has to say...
A little after he and his rival had a discussion about dealing with a possible new partner/opponent, Feroxxa had returned to his chapel in order to finish up some paperwork. After all, he needed to maintain a proper habit so that people wouldn’t pry too deeply into his business.
However, to say that he was distracted would be an understatement.
’The False Guards are moving more fluidly thanks to the recent conflict, and the response time from the sects are getting better at the sudden invasion drills...’ Feroxxa noted as he looked over the reports of the recent conflict at Mercenary Town and the battles that occurred elsewhere in the city. ’But it’s still not enough!’
Feroxxa’s recent conversation with his benefactor had inflamed his desire for more power more than ever. He had taken to listening to the End Ballads once more after that moment and began to imagine what it would be like to have such power at his fingertips.
To be able to stand above empires and saints and force them all to cower as they remade the world in his image.
It was...an intoxicating thought.
Evidently, it was such an intoxicating thought that he failed to notice that sitting across from him was a spring-limbed magician with a snake-like disposition who had appeared from out of nowhere.
The magician watched Feroxxa continue to gripe and mutter to himself as he looked over the paperwork until he finally got bored and spoke up.
[You know desiring power that isn’t your own is a surefire way to get your ass killed, right?]
"What the—[Inquisitor’s Blade]!"
As soon as it registered that there was an intruder in his office, Feroxxa released a blade of aether faster than a lighting bolt.
The blade, in practice, should’ve pierced right through the intruder and instantly kill them via the severing of their spine and organs. freёwebnovel.com
Unfortunately for him, that didn’t happen.
[Really? You want to play with swords?]
Before the attack could pierce the magician, the magician suddenly grabbed the blade with a pair of manifested hands and quickly disappeared before reappearing directly atop Feroxxa.
The blade that almost pierced the magician was now hovering inches above Feroxxa’s eyes.
To his credit, he didn’t yelp in alarm or surprise at this turn of events, but he was staring daggers right back at the magician and the stolen sword.
[Well, that was a fun trick,] the magician said in an amused tone before crushing the blade in his hands and sitting back down in the seat across from Feroxxa. [But I’m not here to play games. Nor am I here to kill you. If I was, I would’ve jammed that blade into your eyes. Or, you know, not have you notice me in the first place.]
’You..."
Feroxxa knew better than to run his mouth and risk the ire of a bastard who may very well just rip his head off in a single movement. Hell, he had been that bastard before. As such, he wasn’t a big fan of being on the receiving end of such treatment.
Alas, the spring-limbed magician didn’t care and proceeded to essentially talk over the militaristic priest.
[Now, you should probably know that I am painfully aware of the fact that you and Hulna have been conspiring and cavorting with an offshoot of the Sacred Flame, and that you have been using its power to create undead soldiers. Soldiers that you not only employ for active defense of the city, but that you have also been using to actively attack the city yourself in order to refine them. Attack drills, as it were?]
"That-! Grk!"
It was one thing to be exposed to a secret conspiracy; it was another thing entirely to have said secret just dropped upon your lap by a complete stranger. Well, not a complete stranger.
[And you should probably know that my master and I are aware of how you and that little offshoot have plans to try and rope us into being on your side. Or, was it to take my power for your own in the case that I prove to be a liability?]
At this question, Feroxxa learned that he was more or less fucked.
