A few hours passed since the attack on the Jade Palace. With Zhen’s evacuation procedures most people managed to evacuate, and the fire was eventually extinguished. The vagrants were long gone, and many palace guards returned back to the palace to extrapolate the casualties.
Everyone, including the evacuees, were escorted into the Al-Bashwa Hôtel, not too far from the docks of the city. The hôtel immediately transformed into a pseudo-infirmary and camp, as the number of injured were higher than the total death toll. Medics, workers, and government officials rushed in and out of the automatic sliding doors, while palace sentries patrolled the premises.
Tens of room suites lined the hallway. Ayai sauntered down the long corridor, no footsteps being heard on the elaborate carpet below. Eventually she turned to a door on the left and knocked on it. She announced her presence. A few mumbling voices sounded along with an unlocking of chains.
Zhen, ‘Mister’ Xiong, Kwa, Suruj, Tvuj, Izdaha, along with the Izato Logistician and Liaison were huddled around the private room. A large sliding glass panel made up one side of the wall, while couches and beds were arranged in the left and right sides respectively. With great silence everyone all turned their attention to her, as if they were cut in the middle of a discussion.
Ayai gave a slight bow. “Excuse me.”
“Gong Dongye, you’ve come just in time.” Seung-Hyeok finally acknowledged her as she closed and locked the door behind. “We are beginning to do a debrief of the current situation.”
“Seems like it. Status of the palace?”
“Most of the militants have been either killed or apprehended. But it couldn’t be said the same for the Laoyuang residence.” Seung-Hyeok recited some information on a hologram, “After the fire was contained, the following buildings have been destroyed by the conflagration: the Gate of Eastern Wind, the Meridian Gate, Pearl Pavilion, Department of Internal Affairs, Hall of Eternal Knowledge, and the Xinggong Imperial Library.”
Ayai came at a loss for words, until she regained her composure a few seconds later. “Casualties?”
“Still waiting on a report. However there are a couple dozen injured, mostly gunshot wounds and burns.”
“I see.” She folded her arms in dismay, sighing at the utmost oddity of how the situation turned out. “The people that attacked us were disorganized at best. They only sought to cause as much chaos as possible to the Jade Palace.”
“Thou art right. However I wish to seek a motive.” Zhen moved forward with an opening gesture. Bandages still covered his arm. “We were not the only ones that were attacked.”
“Yes, I’ve heard. Seung-Hyeok, Suruj, and the others were targeted right out in the middle of the city, is it so?”
They all nodded. Zhen moved to the sliding glass wall, and opened it to the balcony ahead. “Thou must see outside.”
Ayai walked over and joined him on the room’s balcony that overlooked the city. In the distance of the urban outskirts, smoke rose into the air. Giant holograms broadcasted the news amidst the skyscrapers of Yuanmen, visible from the balcony. Then she heard a voice echo.
Zhen paraphrased the news anchor. “Multiple places from around the world were bombed and set ablaze by these ‘terrorist acts’; The Azu National Diet, Katipunan Square, and the Laoyuang Jade Palace. Although they were disorganized, these people managed to launch a coordinated act upon all three desert nations.”
Ayai looked out at the city. The attack on the Jade Palace was only one part of a larger plan. She couldn't shake off the feeling that they were missing something, some vital piece of information that would tie everything together. Her number one theory would be Al-Wa, but there could be a ploy hidden deep within the details.
Ayai headed back inside. Zhen closed the sliding glass panel and turned to face the group. “Mister Xiong.”
“Yes, m’lord?”
“Lead us to the vagrant thou hast captured.”
“As you wish.” ‘Mister’ Xiong bowed before urging everyone to exit the room. The bodyguard pulled Kwa tightly in his hands, leading the child along. Together they went out into the hallway and down a couple of doors before stopping. ‘Mister’ Xiong focused his hand towards the lock, and it unlocked itself. They filed in one by one.
The room had the same layout they were just in. An erected chair sat in the center, with a man strapped to it. Special cuffs tightened around his wrists as he struggled tiredly against it.
“This reminds me of a familiar scene back in Buhanggilog…” Suruj scratched his chin.
“That reminds me. What of Her Royal Highness Hojun and Jorge?” Seung-Hyeok questioned him with a serious face.
Suruj put up his hands. “They weren’t with us during the time of the attack.”
“Nevermind that.” ‘Mister’ Xiong coughed with a sarcastic voice. She turned to the man in the chair. “Answer our questions, vagrant. The Crown Prince Laoyuang Zhenbyoung will now probe.”
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
The man stopped squirming for a moment and panted. His hoarse voice could be noticed with his breath, with the grizzly undertone pervading his cough. “The Crown Prince? Praise be to Kibuthan, for they have blessed me with his guidance. Only through them we see the truth within the lies of this generation.”
“I ask that thou removest thy beliefs at once and answer me sincerely, please.” Everyone cleared the way for Zhen. “Why have thee assaulteth the Laoyuang residence? Why can’t we live in peace and harmony?”
“‘Peace and harmony’?...” The man croaked in raspy laughter, as the others began to tense up. “Tell that to the people you Laoyuangs invaded up north. The Máak Tribe. Why couldn’t they live in ‘peace and harmony’ with you guys?”
“Thou shalt not ask me of any.”
The vagrant turned to Ayai. “Right? Miss Toya? Your tribe was conquered and sent to the Dineh Kazaàd by the Laoyuangs. Right, huh? Right?!...”
Ayai kept her arms folded and let Zhen walk up closer to him. “State thy reason for attacking all three government buildings in Azutami, Buhanggilog, and As-Z̆onghu̐a.”
The man did not respond.
Zhen’s face showed no emotion. "Who dost thou serve?"
The man sneered. "I serve no one but Kibuttohan no Mikoto."
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. "And who hired you to attack the Jade Palace?"
"I was guided by what was written in the Scrolls."
"Thou art neurotic. We possess ways of extracting the truth, and thou wouldst not like them." Zhen stepped closer to the man, his eyes narrowing. He snapped his fingers with a sigh. "Very well. Mister Xiong, take him away and prepare him for inquisition. I need to briefly step outside."
‘Mister’ Xiong did his bidding as he brought two guards to untie him and take him away. Everyone became silent as Zhen excused himself. Ayai followed him outside.
The Crown Prince stood among the glass windows overlooking the sea. The sun grew dim in the distance along with Zhen’s facial expression. Ayai observed him from behind, recalling what the man had said to him. Ayai decided to speak up.
“I-”
“I know thou art disappointed in me. And I am displeased with myself.” He spoke in a tone that she had never heard before. “Because… the Laoyuangs’ responsibility is to uphold diligence, benevolence, and righteousness.” He went silent again, before wiping his face with a handkerchief. “Why did my ancestors throw away their responsibility to the people, and betray our values as Laoyuangs?... Why was my father left with the aftermath of my ancestors?...”
“That shouldn’t matter to you.”
Zhen turned around to see that Ayai was behind him, still keeping her arms folded with a bit of attitude.
“Gong Dongye, thou art perchance angry still for what we, the Laoyuangs have done to thy tribe-”
“It doesn’t mean anything if the Laoyuang’s are trying their hardest to reverse what has been already done.” She closed her eyes, joining him in the vista of the city docks. “Your ancestors that have betrayed your values are already long gone. And you are a Laoyuang of now. So you should be able to instill what the Laoyungs should be to the people.”
The Crown Prince of the Laoyuangs went quiet after her statement. Ayai noticed in her peripheral ‘Mister’ Xiong and Kwa appeared to be waiting for them. She smiled fondly as she pivoted towards the two until stopping at Zhen’s response.
“I thank thee for thy kind words, Gong Dongye.”
Zhen and Ayai returned back to the original briefing room, with Kwa in her hands. For the first time she had felt comfortable enough to scoop him up without thinking about it, her body confused about the natural inclination. She had forgotten that even Zhen, who seemed a whole nother level above her social circle, could be swayed by something as sensitive as the Laoyuang’s northern conquests.
‘Mister’ Xiong closed the door behind them.
“I apologize for my quick absence. Now we must attend to our current dilemma; With these major setbacks our plan to Shikot may be jeopardized.” Zhen presented the current problem. To be honest, Ayai was fine with whatever was to happen until convinced otherwise.
“If I may butt in.” Seung-Hyeok, the Izato Liaison, raised his hand. “I suggest that we should head to Shikot now. Time is of the essence, and the longer we stay here the more of a threat Thiệu Addja will become.”
Karam, the Izato Logistician, stood up from one of the beds. “I refute that.”
“How so?”
“We shouldn’t make impulsive decisions when confronted with multiple problems. The operation to Twintail Peninsula isn’t fully set in stone, and it requires more time to map out our every move.”
“I also agree.” Zhen nodded, gesturing with his hand. “I don’t want to have to repeat what occurred in 1978.”
“Why not? The quicker we get to Shikot, the sooner we get to search for Thiệu. Less time wasted.” Suruj, the leader of the Izato Vanguard, spoke a few lines while sitting atop one of the beds.
“Suruj, you know very well what happened in 1978 and you wouldn’t want it to happen again with the Peninsula.” Karam placed her hands on her hip. She was one of the Rebellion that helped Izdaha escape from the tournament in the first place two years ago. Just as everyone seemed to enter into a heated argument, they noticed a man that cleared his throat. At the doorstep, ‘Mister’ Xiong had already opened the door to a man that Ayai had spoken to at the lower docks.
“Sorry for interruptin’ you guys’ debate, but I would like to give my side of things.” Yulduz, the sailor Ayai had hired, kowtowed down to them. His dialect clearly perforated through his standard accent. “I think the ship should leave for Shikot as soon as possible. The forecasts predict a sandstorm heading this way pretty soon, an’ it’ll only be delayed more by waiting.”
Whispers came about, asking for a clarification of his position and who he was. Eventually it settled, with Zhen coming forward with an ultimatum of his own. He proposed a voting system, in which the majority ruled. With the topic of ‘for’ and ‘against’ going to Shikot immediately, each person would have to raise their hand to which they advocated for. But Zhen did not bring that up until after a heated discussion.
“All persons that do not wish to travel to Shikot, raise thy hands.” Zhen, Karam, and Tvuj raised their hands at the same time. The Crown Prince gestured them down. “Next, all persons that wish to travel to Shikot now, please raise thy hands.”
Suruj, Yulduz, Seung-Hyeok, and ‘Mister’ Xiong all raised their hands in unison. As the ones that voted ‘against’ looked at them in disbelief, Ayai lifted her arm, along with Kwa’s tiny arm as well.
Izdaha abstained completely.
Zhen closed his eyes, void of any reaction to the result. He looked up with resolve brewing in his eyes. “‘Tis be six to three. Majority states that we shall head to Shikot immediately.”