Sensing the impending slap to my hand, I simply moved my hand away before ducking, leaving me face to face with the sitting Zhao Mei.
I heard the others snicker from afar but one glance at them easily shut them up. Ignoring them as I sensed Zhao Mei's erratic expression I continued to observe her.
"Is your bloodline acting up again?"
I asked her. Not even bothering to pick a bone about that what could have been lethal slap she just tried to pull. It was easy to notice that the slap was directly aimed only at my hand and there wasn't even a shred of killing intent to it. Though hearing my comment, made her face contorted in rage somehow. Is her bloodline sentient somehow?
Not even a second later, her anger 'retracted' transforming her face back to the abnormal cold and icy demeanor she usually carried.
Unstable... for lack of a better word. Was the only thing I could describe her right now. If not for our plans to build up connections, I would have left then and there, maybe even have killed her right before she could even finish her attempt to slap.
Taking a deep breath I sighed. Why do I have to get dragged by all of this antics. Is her bloodline really that uncontrollable? My mind swept back to what happened to Rhaegar earlier. How bodersome really. Well whatever, you can't expect to have real allies if you're not there when their daughter's bloodline act up. That sounded weird but, well whatever.
Seeing my tired expression, Zhao Mei quickly explained.
...
... ...
"So that's what it is... Unfortunately there isn't really a way for a way for me to revoke anything. Seeing the *permanent* modifier in the description, I doubt it would be removed even if you asked your family to kill me. That really wouldn't turn good for any of us..."
Seeing her shiver I gently rubbed her shoulder to ease her. Her brow furrowed before transforming back to that cold look. She then grabbed my hand and placed it back to my side. My hand slightly frozen upon returning to my side.
"Fine, I guess I deserved that."
A bunch of snickers again sounded from a far, upon seeing the scene. Though a flick of a small rock to the forehead that knocked out the person easily shut them up. Some even succried away after feeling that they've violated my initial warning.
We continued chatting as time wilted away, with the both of us agreeing to be wary of the implications of all of this. It can only be their down fall if the said luck extended to her whole clan. Come to think of it, that would spell the same end for me and Orathoria.
Though we both doubted that was the case, if the debuff spreads, through connection after connection wouldn't that just Implicate the whole world, then other worlds and even realities. The description said Reality 'Level' Anomaly, not reality 'Ending' Anomaly. Zhao Mei in the end assured me that she'll keep this in secret as thanks, not for saving her but thanks for helping her create an opportunity to fight back her bloodline for control over her emotions. It turned out that her bloodline acted far worse than Rhaegar's. Siphoning all of her emotions including both extreme ones like love and hatred and had literally turned her into a mindless husk than can feel pain but not react to it.
It was a weird feeling, she told me. She knew that she shouldn't be afraid of something that's apart of herself but what her bloodline did to her during that short span of the first wave pushed her to the point that she felt that there was no difference between dying and living.
That she simply existed and even that didn't really mattered.
Even I shivered at the though. I know for a fact that what she let out was far worse than she's making out to be. There were simply no words to describe it. It was a different kind of pain. And not even the things he encountered in his visions could even compare to that.
"Just what kind of game is this..."
She muttered before we both stayed in silence. We both knew that this really wasn't a game. We leaned back at each other for a few more minutes before finally joining the others to help out.
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... …………………………
Arriving at the center of the town we headed towards the acting leaders standing next to the teleportation archway, I faintly heard muted grunts of disapproval but of course none of them really dared to voice out their concerns. Without any hassle he gave as a few things we could help off mostly right outside the town like using the pried off wood to barricade as well as digging pitfalls to create trenches and fox holes that we can take on, as well as using the mountain of earth we dug up to create walls just tall enough to hide a crouching person and even maybe block a projectile or two.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"Prestige really is a wonderful thing." I chuckled to myself, easily digging through both grass and earth using my mana enhanced body.
Zhao Mei simply shook her head upon hearing this. A hint of disdain stretched across her eyes, which immedietly vanished as the icy demeanor took over her again.
'I keep forgetting that nobles particularly didn't like it when people try to use them.'
Thinking about that, I paused before continuing...
"Not that I plan to utilize your clan's prestige. But I do enjoy our friendship. You're like an old friend that doesn't really get mad if I use the wrong words..."
Zhao Mei rolled her eyes, upon hearing my obvious lie. Seeing that she didn't really mind. I'm pretty sure that she knows it herself. Being friends with her comes in a big blue bundle. A bundle directly given to you by the Madame herself. You don't know what you're gonna get, but you definitely can expect it'll be more than you bargained for.
You see, other than the bigger picture Edizon was so keen on talking about, having powerful connections really is beyond convinient. Sure enough there would be mindless punks that would create trouble for me every now and then but openly antagonizing a friend of the Madame's daughter specially when she's with her... That's simply is a surefire way to make your life miserable.
And for the doting Matriarch, this is especially so. Not even nobles are an exception to this.
For now atleast.
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We talked about random things, well... like how to deal with various types of situations, possible builds based on what we have and what we've encountered so far. After a while Zhao Mei took it upon herself to establish our relationship properly. And while
"I still don't know much about you for me to call you a friend."
"That makes sense, anything you want to know about me?"
She paused before continuing...
"Then a prospective friend, then William. Tell me. What is your motive."
"What is the reason you want to establish relations with my clan? From your winnings alone, you should have amassed far too much money for any single normal person should have. And seeing as you helped developed several styles for the public library I doubt you lack World Contributions as well."
Everyone paused waiting for my answer. Some bewildered, more curious about the styles I published, some surprised at the estimate Zhao Mei has given. But the majority of the people were of course more interested in my answer as well as how it will all turn into.
Some of the more daring players inched closer and closer, all ready to curry favor from the Madame's daughter in the case of my mistake. A hint of oppression filled the air as the will of everyone around me demanded a truthful answer.
'I certainly can't lie in this situation can I?'
Chuckling to myself, I told Zhao Mei the reason why we picked the Zhao Family as one of our allies the first place.
"You see, a friend told me about a certain clan."
Zhao Mei tilted her head.
"Yes, the same friend you mentioned earlier."
"He told me about a certain clan. A clan founded by those of ancient times, A clan that rose to prominence by will and virtue."
Zhao Mei was about to ask something but she stopped herself.
"With the pledge to protect the weak, the clan nurtured it's members making sure everyone is strong and steadfast. They honed their skills in the blade so they can protect everyone they possibly could."
A dangerous glint can noe be seen on Zhao Mei's eyes but she still didn't stop me.
"The said clan saved as many as they could, they even tried to foster jobs as many as they could possibly afford, whether it was the simplest of tasks like watering the garden and feeding the horses. Just so they can help everyone earn a living, but as the clan's territory grew, it became clear that such approach wouldn't work in the near future."
Everyone was still as they listened. Some of the onlookers seeing as we didn't really mind, even sat down to listen nearby. We were long finished preparing the town at this time, so many welcomed the story as a form of entertainment to take their mind off the wave to come.
"As peace came to the lands, the clan become more and more restless. Food shortages became apparent, and the price for food became too high even for the said clan to continue their mission to provide."
"But that didn't deter the clan from committing to their pledge. They used up everything they had to get the people through the winter from the favors they accumulated to selling artifacts and even mementos of their fallen great warriors. All so that the people they saved do not starve."
"A lot of people pleaded to join. Some tried to donate money to them but they all rejected it."
"And to the surprise of everyone, as soon as the last snow dropped to the ground. The prestiged Warriors of the clan, undefeated for generations, picked up farming tools for the very first time."
"Their land never starved again after that and generations later... The World."
Zhao Mei's eyes briefly turned red as she heard a familiar story. Some of the people around us had their tears falling. Some openly crying. While others were questioning the story itself, probably knowing a lot more than majority of the people around.
It wasn't everyday that you get to hear unwritten history unravel right before your eyes. Not to mention the history of a clan who's known for being cold and tirranycal being the driving force that ultimately ended food shortages to all communities in the World.
Silence resumed as everyone needed time to process what they just heared, only for an artificially cold Zhao Mei to break their much needed silence. It was her bloodline again.
"And what does that have to do with establishing relationship with us?" Zhao Mei asked nearly emotionless. If not for my keen senses I would've missed the seething rage that was instantly devoured by the cold.
Sitting to the ground. I took a look at the sky as I continued...
"You see... when the truly hard times come..."
"As they're about to..."
"I'd like it if I can fight side by side with an organization who genuinely care for the people of our world."
"I also like helping other people you see."
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... ...
To be continued.