The Conference. What’s Next...

The room was a chamber of blue hues, casting a calming yet authoritative aura. The walls, painted in various shades of deep blue, displayed an array of weaponry and Armor. Swords gleamed in their mounts, while shields and spears adorned the walls like a tribute to ancient battles. Torches flickered, illuminating the space and casting dancing shadows across the oakwood furnishings.

At the centre stood a substantial round table, crafted from rich Oakwood, its polished surface reflecting the dim light. The table bore the weight of history, evident from the fine carvings etched into its edges, perhaps depicting forgotten tales of valour.

The intense atmosphere filled the room as General Setka, Commander Menes, Memnon, and Khonsu gathered around the table. Seated opposite them were two individuals from the Royal Nebu's army: General Amon Khaldun and the child prodigy Commander Kairo Tempest, only 12 years old.

Behind them, seated on red-cushioned sofas, were Ramon, Jack, Kamil, and Kasib. Near the entrance, Alfonse leaned against the wall, using his right foot for support.

The room was charged with tension, amplified by the clutter of expensive military equipment scattered throughout the space.

"They attacked again. We saw their commander; his power is something to be aware of," said Menes, a stern look on his face.

"I agree," replied Memnon, his legs resting on the table as he swung back and forth on his chair. "I believe some of the soldiers I fought last night may have been controlled by him. They were a bit stronger than the rest who weren't controlled. This is a clear threat."

"They haven't attacked the city itself, but we've fought them a couple of times on our trade routes as they stole some of our weaponry," General Amon added, concerned.

Kairo, trying to make light of the situation, leaned back in his chair, mimicking Memnon's posture and started swinging, annoying Ramon and Kamil, who were seated on the sofa, secretly boiling with anger.

"General, may I speak?" Kamil stood up from the sofa, seeking permission.

"Go ahead," replied General Setka.

Kamil placed a scroll on the table, catching everyone's attention, including Alfonse, who approached to see what was on it.

"This," Kamil began, "is an idea that Jack and I came up with regarding the mans power."

"Excellent. Lay it out on the table," Setka instructed.

The group gathered around as Kamil opened the scroll, revealing crude drawings and text on the papyrus paper, a joint effort between Kamil and Jack.

"So, the guy is named Commander Rahotep Nefer. I remember distinctly that he didn't or couldn't control Kasib at the beginning when he clearly had the chance. Both attacks that Kasib did were similar in nature. Firstly, the element of making eye contact to control people is out, as Kasib and him were looking at each other from the beginning. So, he could have definitely possess or control him from the start," explained Kamil.

Kairo interjected, "But he didn't."

Kamil continued, "Exactly. So, there has to be another way."

Jack chimed in, "Mostly from what I've gathered from various sources, whether fiction or nonfiction, Kasib wasn't possessed despite being touched by the soldier. Then, what about talking to him? Even I had a conversation with him, but he never controlled me. We tested all possible circumstances, and only one theory remained."

"What was it?" Menes inquired, deeply intrigued.

"Name," Jack said in a resolute voice. "He never knew any of our names, except for Kasib's. Kamil shouted it while he was fighting."

"I see, so his power allows him to control people by knowing their names," Menes gathered from the information.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

With concern in his voice, General Amon said, "This is truly dangerous. I believe we, as high-ranking individuals, are most at risk, as all our names are known."

"Now, what do we do?" asked Setka, seeking a plan of action.

"We'll have to refrain from saying each other's names if we ever come across him," Kamil suggested, contemplating the situation.

"But that would only be temporary, and it puts us at a disadvantage, not him," Alfonse remarked, expressing his concern.

Kasib, munching on some snacks from a cotton bag, added, "There has to be a way to avoid this, don't you think?"

"What if we change our names temporarily?" Ramon suggested, a spark of an idea striking him. He hesitated a moment, unsure if his idea was plausible.

After observing everyone's reactions, he quickly added, "Oh, I'll take that back," feeling uncertain about his suggestion.

"No, you're right. We can change our names temporarily when we confront him," Kamil reassured Ramon, seeing the potential in the idea.

"Can we?" Ramon asked, surprised that his suggestion might hold some merit.

"Absolutely, we can do that," Kamil assured him confidently.

Alfonse raised a crucial question: "What about the Royal Nebu itself? Do we confront them or not?"

Setka nodded in agreement. "We should strengthen our defence."

Menes, considering the implications, replied, "Indeed, but even with our strongest defence, a tiny gap could be exploited by their cunning leader."

Amon reminded Setka, "If you decide to fight, we'll send aid, as per our agreement."

Menes added a note of caution, "Also, we're currently short on soldiers. A full-scale invasion would be a massive risk."

Alfonse approached the table and offered insights from his research. "I gathered some information that might be of immense help."

Taking a seat beside Menes, Alfonse began to share his findings. "The Royal Nebu purchases weapons from the Merchants Guild. They've been doing this for a long time, even buying advanced machinery and several Chronotex units from them, albeit at a significant cost."

Khonsu, intrigued, inquired further. "What's the cost?"

Alfonse's reply carried a weight of disbelief. "They sold their own people to acquire power."

Kamil, visibly concerned, shared a connection with the people from the city of Saharan, akin to the citizens and soldiers of the Royal Nebu.

Alfonse continued, "Moreover, there's a distorted narrative surrounding the incident involving General Akil. They killed the informant who tried to expose the truth, rejecting it as a lie."

General Amon contemplated the implications. "Perhaps this explains the decrease in their attacks on our trade routes. They might not need more weaponry, especially if they've acquired substantial power."

Alfonse proposed a strategy. "We could disrupt their weapons trade first and then strike when they're vulnerable."

Menes, considering the options, responded, "While attacking the Merchants Guild might seem viable, they likely have a dedicated division for trade, heavily guarded with high security measures."

"I want to disrupt their economy and trade without resorting to violence," Setka proposed, laying the foundation.

"What if we try to make a peace treaty with them?" Alfonse suggested to Setka.

Setka responded with a sigh of denial. "We've already attempted that. The soldiers we sent were met with hostility. They're not seeking peace; they want to dismantle the Royal System."

Jack, deeply contemplating, furrowed his brow, his eyes taking on a squint as if pondering the waves of the ocean. Suddenly, an idea struck him.

"I've got it—the Coin Trick! That's the plan," Jack exclaimed, his energy palpable as he dashed to the table, drawing the rest of the group along with him. Kasib, however, remained unperturbed, calmly strolling in while still indulging in his snacks.

"Coin Trick? Is it some sort of magic?" Menes inquired.

"Magic doesn't exist," Kairo retorted with a hint of arrogance.

Menes, visibly annoyed by Kairo's reply, clenched his fists in frustration. Ramon and Kamil intervened, attempting to pacify him. "Commander, please calm down. It's all right."

"The Coin Trick—it's something my friend and I came up with," Jack explained excitedly, though suddenly, he couldn't recall the identity of that friend. All he could see in his memories was a featureless, shadowy figure standing before him.

Jack continued, "Well, the name of that friend eludes me, but I do remember the trick we developed together. Here's how it went: in the orphanage, we had a currency system based on silver coins. Most kids joined groups that offered facilities but taxed them heavily. The group leaders were tyrannical, always bullying us. One day, we'd had enough, so we decided to disrupt their currency and that of similar groups."

"How did you manage that?" Menes asked, intrigued.

"It was quite simple," Jack explained. "We started by purchasing toys with our own money. These toys were made of silver and, using a moulding technique and some machinery at the orphanage, we created fake coins. We'd make 10-12 fake coins from 1 toy, generating a significant profit. Then, we added a particular chemical to the fake coins."

"Then what?" Kamil inquired, captivated by the story.

"We distributed these fake coins back to the groups, replacing their old coins," Jack continued. "In no time, we had about 40-50% of all the real coins, and the groups we disliked the most ended up with the most fake coins. One day, we spread the news that many coins were counterfeit. To test them, we sold a cheap liquid that, when applied, would change the colour of the fake coins. People began realizing the situation and left the groups. Some groups went bankrupt, rendering them powerless. Eventually, we had the most coins."

"Due to this, the orphanage had to abolish the coin system, opting for digital currency, all thanks to me and my friend," Jack concluded with a sense of triumph.

"So, just like that, we'd have to steal the money of the Royal Nebu and replace it with our own fake currency, which we'll treat with the chemical. Then, we'll spread the word that it's counterfeit. In return, we'll use that money to recover what we lost, compensate those who lost loved ones, and rebuild their homes. I'd like this money we take to only be used for these purposes and nothing else," Jack proposed to Setka.

"Don't worry, Jack. You have my word. We'll only use that money for those purposes," Setka reassured him.

"But Jack, how will we transport tons of gold coins?" Kamil inquired.

"We're going to use a car that we'll create. Plus, with Khonsu's chronotex using electricity, we can have a stronger, faster, and quieter way to transport the gold," Jack explained.

"I see. Then I'll let my informants try to find the location of the gold vault. However, it'll be heavily guarded," Alfonse suggested.

"Well, don't worry. I'll just overwrite their memories. Their wills will be weak, so it will be an easy and quick job," Memnon said lazily, getting up and stretching his arms out.

"Great, then we have a plan," Jack said with a smile.

"What's that thing called... a car?" asked General Amon and Kairo, scratching their heads, trying to imagine what a car might be like.

General Amon envisioned it as a floating carpet, while Kairo imagined it as a fire-breathing bird with red scales all over its body.

"I'll show you when it's ready," Jack assured them, his smile lighting up the faces of everyone around. Alfonse observed Jack and couldn't help but wonder in his thoughts, "This man... he's not from here. He's different..."