Only one hour had elapsed since the previous short combat when Abalu ordered Nura Bayajidda to be awakened. Abalu had already interrogated all of the more than 200 members of the Bayajidda tribe he had captured. Surprisingly, none of them provided the special information he desperately sought—information so significant that it would make him believe this was the reason his brother had ordered him to bring the members of this tribe. Nura Bayajidda was nearly the last person Prince Abalu needed to interrogate before presenting them to his elder brother.
By now, almost all of the wounds on Nura Bayajidda's body had healed, which greatly intrigued Prince Abalu. What was particularly astonishing was that the wounds healed without any remedy. From the moment he approached Nura Bayajidda, Abalu had spread his spiritual sense and detected that the wounds were healing at an unusually rapid pace.
The two young men stood facing each other. It was clear from a mere glance that Nura Bayajidda was older than Abalu, yet the age difference wasn't significant. If someone claimed that Nura Bayajidda was no older than 25, no one would be surprised, given his youthful face and skin.
After a tense moment of mutual appraisal, the prince broke the silence. "Do you know who I am?" he asked, his voice carrying a tone of authority.
Nura Bayajidda shook his head. "No, I have never seen you, Your Highness," he replied.
Accepting his capture, Nura Bayajidda decided that his best course of action was to remain obedient until he could find a way to escape. Revenge could wait; for now, his priority was to survive and bide his time. He resolved to address Abalu with the utmost respect, using "Your Highness" in every statement he made.
"Hmm, do you mean the tales of my bravery have not reached this part of the world?" Prince Abalu asked, a frown creasing his brow.
Upon hearing this statement, Nura Bayajidda was taken aback. It was apparent that the young man standing before him was the kind who exuded arrogance and pride. Throughout his extensive travels around the world, Nura had encountered many such young men who craved praise and admiration. These individuals often hailed from affluent backgrounds or were the progeny of influential members of prestigious associations like the Medicine Producers Association, Seal Makers Association, or even the King’s Legion. If they did not belong to such families, they were almost certainly the offspring of royal families from the significant tribes. The progeny of these families were often born with an innate need to be praised to affirm their bravery, even though some of them lacked genuine courage.
Despite his initial thoughts, Nura Bayajidda felt a sense of happiness. He knew that young men of this sort could be easily swayed with a few words of flattery. A little praise could go a long way in establishing a mutual understanding.
“Your Highness, I am a person of limited knowledge and not one who enjoys wandering. I typically confine myself to a room for meditation. Because of this, I seek your forgiveness for not being aware of your heroic deeds, especially since I do not read newspapers. I am quite certain that those who do read newspapers are well-informed about your exploits. There is no way that people residing in this part of the world would not know about you,” Nura Bayajidda said, making every effort to ensure that his words were seen as complimentary to the young man before him. To his surprise, the young man seemed to appreciate his remarks. He paused in contemplation for a moment before nodding his head in agreement.
“That is correct. I too would be surprised if the tales of my bravery had not reached this part of the world. However, that is not your fault. As a cultivator who has reached the level of Deva, you should stay informed about the events happening around you, no matter where you are. If you do not stay informed, something significant could occur right where you are, and you would remain unaware.”
Nura Bayajidda could not hide his surprise; his mouth opened slightly in astonishment. Even though he had been somewhat disingenuous, the prince agreed with him. Nevertheless, Nura did not mind as long as the prince accepted his words.
“Very well, Your Highness. I will make it a point to correct this in the future. I assure you, I will make the necessary changes.”
Upon seeing that he agreed, a small smile appeared on the lips of Prince Abalu, and he nodded appreciatively. “No problem, this is not a great deal. Such things are common knowledge if you keep up with the news. My name is Prince Abalu. I am a son of Emperor Ayrion. I’m quite sure you know this name even if you are living underground.”
“Your Highness, Your Highness, I did not know before whom I stood,” Nura Bayajidda quickly stood up and bowed deeply. “Pardon me, pardon me. I did not realize I was in the presence of the progeny of the Emperor. Had I known, I would not have been so impolite as to sit on a chair. Please forgive this sin that I have committed.” As he spoke, his body trembled slightly. Despite his outward display of reverence, internally, he harbored a deep resentment towards the prince. He was well aware of Emperor Ayrion and his progeny, but he did not concern himself with their names or titles. The only progenies of the Emperor he knew well were Prince Ikenga, the crown prince, and Prince Armand. Even Prince Armad had only recently known him when news spread worldwide that the Emperor had granted him independence and a town to govern. This town was in his region, which is why he had taken note of him. However, he had no information regarding the remaining progenies of the Emperor. Nevertheless, since the young man before him seemed to crave praise, he would not reveal his ignorance.
Prince Abalu checked his hand dismissively. “No problem, go back to your chair and sit.” Although his voice lacked any genuine warmth or satisfaction from Nura Bayajidda’s display of respect, his face betrayed his pleasure, as if this was exactly how he wanted people to treat him.
“No, Your Highness, my status does not allow me to sit on a chair. Just being in the same room with you is enough for me.” Without wasting any time, Nura Bayajidda pushed the chair aside and lowered himself to the ground.
Prince Abalu remained silent for a while, sighing heavily as he nodded his head. It was as if he had exhausted all efforts to make Nura Bayajidda sit on the chair, but Nura Bayajidda had steadfastly refused. “No problem,” Prince Abalu finally said. “If you continue to maintain your obedience, it will not be surprising if one day I decide to teach you one of my skills.”
Upon hearing this, Nura Bayajidda was lost in contemplation for a while. The prince’s words confirmed what he had long suspected about the prince’s behavior. There was no mistake in his assessment: the prince desired praise and relished in it.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
“Thank you. I thank you a lot, Your Highness. I will do nothing but pray for your status to be elevated and your power to dominate everywhere,” Nura responded earnestly.
At that moment, something surprising happened. While Nura Bayajidda was trying to praise the prince, Prince Abalu gestured with his hand, indicating that Nura should continue and not stop. Though he did not explicitly say it, the way he moved his head and hand made it clear that he wanted Nura Bayajidda to keep praising him. Nura was taken aback; something strange enveloped his body. It was evident from his demeanor that he was both surprised and shy. Nura himself felt awkward about what he was doing, let alone the prince. It was unusual and somewhat embarrassing to find someone who not only enjoyed being praised but also encouraged it.
However, Nura Bayajidda did not spend much time in this state of contemplation. He quickly regained his composure and focused on recalling any statements he had heard people use to praise royalty.
In a short amount of time, Prince Abalu had already forgotten that he had summoned Nura Bayajidda for an interrogation. Instead, they spent more than an hour engaging in activities completely unrelated to the interrogation. The guards at the door exchanged puzzled glances as they heard Prince Abalu’s laughter echoing in happiness and enjoyment. They had no idea what was happening inside the room, but they could hear the prince’s laughter. To them, the difference between themselves and Prince Abalu was as vast as the difference between the sky and the land. Beyond his arrogance, the prince also possessed powerful cultivation, which justified his haughty demeanor. Hearing such unrestrained laughter from someone of his stature was surprising to them.
After some time, the guards merely shook their heads and resumed their duties. They understood that people like Prince Abalu were not cultivators they could easily comprehend. Accepting this, they decided to set their thoughts aside and focus on their responsibilities.
Inside the room, to everyone’s surprise, Prince Abalu had already risen. He was rubbing his jaw as if he were stroking an imaginary beard, although his face was clean-shaven. Prince Abalu was a young man, barely out of his teens, and had not yet started growing a beard. Despite his youth, the way he rubbed his jaw was reminiscent of a grand king with a full, regal beard. His demeanor was marked by an air of arrogance as he looked around the room, much like the esteemed Emperor Ayrion.
“Alas, Your Highness! I yearn for the day when I will see you adorned in the grand royal attire that once belonged to the great Emperor Aldaima. I dream of you riding a splendid horse, leading us with unmatched pride. Alas! If that day comes, it will compensate for my regret of not being born during the reign of Emperor Aldaima. Your Highness, anyone who gazes upon you is reminded of the magnificent Emperor Aldaima.”
Upon hearing these words and realizing that he was being compared to Emperor Aldaima, Prince Abalu’s heart swelled with happiness. Since his birth, he had never experienced such profound joy. He burst into a fit of joyous laughter. “No, stop comparing me to the great emperor, my grandfather. My status does not reach that extent,” he said. Despite these words, his face was bright with happiness. He subtly gestured for Nura Bayajidda to continue his praises, even though his words were asking Nura to stop. There was a clear disconnect between his spoken words and the elation evident on his face.
At that moment, Nura Bayajidda felt a wave of shyness wash over him. He knew that none of what he had said was true. Throughout his life, he had never lied as much as he had today. He felt embarrassed by how readily the prince accepted his false praises, despite the prince’s verbal insistence to stop. The prince’s facial expressions encouraged him to continue, creating a confusing and awkward situation for Nura. His shyness was compounded by the internal conflict between his honesty and the prince’s pleasure.
Before he was taken into the room, Nura Bayajidda overheard the guards whispering that Prince Abalu had single-handedly eliminated Commander Silaini. Before their previous battles, Nura had read extensively about Commander Silaini and knew that he was a formidable cultivator. Realizing that Prince Abalu was able to defeat Commander Silaini made Nura understand that the prince’s level of cultivation was significantly higher than that of Commander Silaini. If not for this revelation, Nura would have dismissed the young man as nothing but arrogant. This was because some elite progenies from noble families are often born without any significant talent in cultivation. However, Prince Abalu was not one of them. If asked to describe the prince, Nura would say that he is a powerful cultivator who also enjoys being praised, even though these two traits do not usually go well together. Typically, powerful cultivators do not seek such validation, but it is not surprising if one of them becomes an exception and enjoys it.
At that moment, a particular thought struck Nura’s mind: had Commander Silaini stopped and praised the young man, the young man might not have captured him.
Nura Bayajidda had no choice but to continue praising the young man. Without much delay, his statements turned into songs of admiration. Prince Abalu began nodding his head slowly as if a guitar were being played for him. They spent more than an hour in this state before the prince thundered and ordered the guards to bring food and drinks for them.
Before long, Nura found himself presented with an array of fruits, chicken, and other foods. He was captured and expected to be tied up and interrogated, yet here he was, seated before a feast. He began to think that it was fortunate he had stopped and not attempted to flee. Despite this unexpected hospitality, the fear of why the King’s legion was seeking members of his tribe still lingered in his mind. Initially too shy to eat, he eventually relaxed, feeling more at home, and ate the food, filling his stomach. He thought, at least whatever would happen to him, his stomach should be full.
By the time the sun reached its zenith, Nura Bayajidda had already exhausted all the words he could muster to praise Prince Abalu. He had no more praise words unless he would repeat what he said. His throat ached and felt parched from the relentless talking, even though he had been sipping fruit juice throughout the ordeal.
When Nura finally fell silent, Prince Abalu seemed to come back to his senses. The prince remained quiet for a moment, seemingly deep in thought, before he turned his head to glance at the watch on his wrist. It was only then that he realized how much time he had squandered. He should have already started preparing for his return to the capital city of Wilberforce. Instantly, his mind began to race as he contemplated what he had been doing in the room. His gaze fell upon Nura Bayajidda, and the events of the last few hours came rushing back to him. He had initially felt an urge to punish Nura, but he quickly reconsidered. Everything Nura had said in his praise was true. If Nura had any fault, it was in not fully revealing all his virtues. Recognizing this, Prince Abalu decided against any form of retribution.
“Everything you said is correct,” Prince Abalu finally acknowledged. “However, I have some questions for you. My elder brother, Prince Ikenga, tasked me with gathering all the members of your tribe. You are one of the individuals from that tribe, and I was informed that you were living in this region. You were fortunate to survive the previous combat with another one of my brothers, Prince Armad. My question to you is this: why is my brother so intent on locating members of your tribe? What did your tribe do to warrant his attention, or does your tribe possess some secret skill or knowledge that we are unaware of?”
Nura Bayajidda snapped back to reality, realizing that the prince had shifted his focus back to the matter at hand. He took a deep breath before responding, ensuring his voice was steady and respectful. “Your Highness, our tribe does not possess any special skills or secret knowledge that I am aware of. My knowledge is limited because, when I was a child, my mother took me away from the tribe due to poverty. We traveled extensively, moving from one town to another across the world, before finally settling in this region. I have spent my entire life here, far removed from the affairs of our tribe. Therefore, I have no insight into why your brother is so interested in us. If any transgressions were committed by members of my tribe, I assure you that neither my mother nor I were involved in any way.”