CHAPTER 22 - MEETING THE CITY LEADER

Qin's mom and Yin had to explain what occurred before entering with the others.

They told him how they had been exiled, after a fight at the furnace peaks. They didn't go into too much detail of what exactly happened. Including the radiant alliance and the rift eaters.

The city leader wasn't too pleased, but was willing to hear them out.

“Why is it that you always have to bring me some kind of bad news? So far I'd say this is the worst to happen.”

A green alligator-like humanoid said, pinching his snout, closing his eyes.

He was sitting on a giant golden throne that was sitting on top of half a dozen steps up. The throne room was in a large underground space. The room was lit by magic torches lining the limestone covered walls.The others had marveled at the interior when entering. Red textiles lined the walls and floors. Golden alligator statues of past rulers could be seen lining the walkway up to the throne.

He finally let out a sigh as he opened his eyes. Before he spoke again. Everyone turned their attention back to him.

“Well you did a huge favor by getting rid of the Cerberus. So I'm willing to let you stay under a few conditions.”

He held up his fingers as he spoke.

“One, their presence is to remain secret until I can get more sway from tge public,” he said, pointing at Johnny’s group and Orion.

“Two, I would like to help rout out a new faction that has been causing major trouble lately. Your group will have to come up with something without them.” he said pointing back to Johnny and them again.

“Those are my conditions. I don't want the citizens to skin them alive or worse start a rebellion. Things are already tough here.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

There was a pause before Qin’s father spoke up.

“Very well, I'll see what we can do to clean up whatever is going on.” he just sighed. The others wanted to protest, but were cut off.

“Listen, I can't help with what is going on. It would have been easier to sway the public if I didn't have a certain faction trying to take over the city with their sneak attacks. They make it look as if others committed attacks and not them. It was fortune that one attack went bad and we were able to capture one of the faction members. Sadly, he had transformed and escaped when we tried to question him. Others were killed trying to stop him.”

The city leader spoke thinking of how the culprit died.

“Exactly, what was weird about his esacpe?” Orion asked.

The leader looked around Orion uncomfortably before speaking.

“He turned into this horrible beast that looked like the void itself. Others who tried to stop him were bitten and also turned into those horrid creatures. I had everyone flee the area. As it is under a quaritine zone.” The leader let out a shudder thinking about it as he spoke.

“Let me guess, did these being look wolf like in appearance and no weapons or magic could stop them?” Orion questioned the leader.

Their was a long pause as if the leader was thinking they were behind the attack. Orion decided to speak up before things could turn bad.

“We have dealt with those creatures in tye past. Rhey are called rift eaters and turn anything they touch into nothingness if left unchecked. Hoe long have they been here?”

The leader was still hesitant. So Orion pulled out a radiant weapon to speak more.

“They can onlt be killed by radiant weapons. We can help you deal with your rift eater problem if you let us assist you?”

The leader sighed, giving in. “Fine, I'll let you take a group with you to figure this out. Ill only let you take three of them woth you. The others will have to stay.”

“This shouldn't take long,” Orion said smiling looking at the others.

“I'll take Julia, Cleo, and Lisa with me. If it is just a few rift eaters. That should be enough for the job. Margaret and Qin can stay here to help Johnny. Besides I know Qin needs a little more respite.”

After making the choices, the meeting ended with everyone going into underground tunnels. Orion went one way with his three following the city leader about how to deal with the situation. The others went in the opposite direction to new living quarters.

“Looks like I'm babysitting you again Johnny,” Margaret complained looking at him as they walked.

Qin was also frustrated and thankful at tte same time hearing the news.