While the intense duel between Armad and his brother Sufa continues, significant events are unfolding in distant parts of the world. In the bustling town of Montaj, a grand palace stands as a beacon of power and authority. Within its opulent walls, a messenger arrives, bearing urgent news for the king.
The king of Montaj is seated majestically on his ornate throne, a symbol of his long-standing reign. His presence is commanding, and a keen observer can sense the depth of his cultivation; he has been at the third stage of Deva for several years, a testament to his formidable strength and wisdom. His eyes, sharp and piercing, carry the weight of countless life experiences and untold secrets. A resplendent crown, studded with precious gems, adorns his head, signifying his royal status. Though the king is slightly overweight, his physical prowess is undeniable. His body, heavily muscled and robust, speaks of a life dedicated to both strategy and combat.
“Your Highness,” the messenger begins, his voice tinged with urgency, “over 100,000 people are approaching our town. These individuals are not ordinary; they are elite warriors and dignitaries, including members of royal families from the neighboring seaside region. They bring grave news that confirms our worst fears: the region is under severe threat. The son of Emperor Ayrion has orchestrated a brutal campaign, killing the kings of neighboring towns and bringing them under his dominion. If we do not act swiftly, all the towns will fall under his control. Even now, as I deliver this report, towns such as Fida have already been subjugated. The king of Fida perished in the recent conflict.”
The messenger pauses, allowing the gravity of his words to sink in before continuing. “Your Highness, despite the combined efforts of neighboring towns, which included a formidable battalion of over 40,000 cultivators, 25 Devas, and the kings themselves, they were unable to vanquish him. This tyrant, Emperor Ayrion’s son, single-handedly secured victory against such overwhelming odds.”
The King closed his eyes and frowned deeply. “What is happening?” he demanded. “Is this not Prince Armad, the one said to be the weakest among his siblings? I have given you an order to investigate him ever since he was sent to our neighboring region. Anything happening in our neighbors’ lands is like it is happening to us. Don’t you think the results of that investigation you gave me are incorrect? How could he muster the power to vanquish all his neighboring kings despite their collaboration? Don’t you think there is a mistake in the report you submitted?”
The king’s mind raced as he spoke. He had long been wary of Prince Armad’s assignment to the neighboring region, a place of strategic importance and abundant resources. Since Armad’s arrival, the king had ordered his council members to keep a close watch on him, aware that any instability in that region could ripple into his kingdom. The region was not just a neighbor but a vital economic partner. The king procured metals, foodstuffs, and other essential goods from them at affordable prices. In some instances, they even sold him servants under the table, a testament to their secretive dealings. The king had much at stake: he benefited from the region’s prosperity and, in turn, provided them with vital support.
For instance, he had connections with elite individuals who supplied him with rare cultivation artifacts, such as Seals that could awaken the core of cultivators. He would share a portion of these artifacts to bolster the neighboring region’s military strength. Their relationship was built on mutual benefit, and many of their transactions were conducted in secrecy, away from prying eyes. The king’s economic and strategic interests were deeply intertwined with the help of the seaside towns’ leadership. Now, with those kings vanquished, the king’s carefully constructed network of benefits and mutual support was at risk of collapsing. What would become of his business ventures and strategic plans?
“Your Highness,” the reporter spoke up, “indeed there is a mistake in the report we submitted. Perhaps Prince Armad hid his power. According to the report we received, no one helped him in that battle; he used his power to eliminate those kings. This confirms that he initially concealed his strength so that people would not know it. Perhaps he had already planned this long before he left the palace of Emperor Ayrion.”
The king’s face darkened further as he absorbed this information. “What does this mean?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
The council member who had spoken hesitated, his mouth opening as if to speak further but then closing again. It was clear he was afraid to voice his thoughts openly.
The king thundered at him.
“Your Highness, leaving Prince Armad to continue living is dangerous. Even if he poses no immediate threat with his current limited power, as time passes, his power will undoubtedly grow. Given his Wilberforce bloodline, we cannot predict what he might become in the future. He is exceptionally cunning, able to conceal his abilities until he chooses to reveal them. Your Highness, we still don’t know all the secrets he’s hiding. Perhaps his maternal family is aiding him, but our investigations have found no evidence of this.”
The king was silent for a moment, his face betraying a deepening frown. “What do you mean by saying that he is dangerous?”
The reporter smiled slightly but said nothing, knowing the king had already grasped his point.
Indeed, the king understood what the reporter meant. He took a deep, heavy breath. The suggestion was fraught with difficulty and even if executed, the consequences were uncertain. What would happen if it became known they had killed Emperor Ayrion’s son? Even if the emperor took no action, one vengeful member of the Wilberforce Empire could annihilate his entire town. The king would not kill the emperor’s progeny unless there was no other option left.
“Delay launching any attack or bad plot against him. Our relationship with those Kings is purely business. What’s the problem if we shift our business dealings from them to him? They sell us goods at affordable prices. We pay only five percent of the initial price and then sell the goods at full price, essentially getting them for free. We don’t just receive their goods for nothing; we also secretly protect them. We give them the seals we sometimes acquire. What’s the issue if Prince Armad agrees to this arrangement? You can go yourself, or take others with you, and inform them of all the resources we need from their metal reserves, farms, and other assets. If he agrees, I think we should not eliminate him. We should wait until his conflict with his brother becomes so intense that his brother will eliminate him. It’s their family conflict. If you, as an outsider, get involved, you will suffer and achieve nothing.”
The reporter nodded and turned to leave, but then returned and bowed before the king again. “Your Highness, there’s a problem. There’s a great possibility that he will agree, but also a possibility that he may not. The issue is, if he agrees, it will appear as if we collaborated with him, which will anger his brother, Prince Ikenga. Right now, Prince Ikenga is one of the most powerful people in the capital city of Wilberforce. Provoking his anger won’t benefit us. Your Highness, despite this, do you still think we should seek collaboration with Prince Armad?”
The king closed his eyes in thought, his mind racing through the implications of his previous decision. He had already considered this before giving the order, but hearing it articulated by the reporter brought a fresh wave of concern.
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Ideally, Armad wouldn’t eliminate those Kings. If the Kings remained in power, the king could continue his profitable business with them and watch from a distance as the brothers destroyed each other without any involvement from him. This would allow him to maintain his current advantageous position without risking the wrath of either prince.
However, the situation had now evolved to a point where he had to make a definitive choice. On one hand, he could lose all the benefits he derived from his current arrangements. This included not only the direct economic gains but also the social and political capital he had amassed. The economy of his town heavily relied on the steady flow of resources from the small region controlled by the Kings. This influx of goods supported various local industries, including the associations of seal makers and medicine producers. These associations were pivotal to the town’s prosperity and the king’s prestige.
Furthermore, the king had cultivated a reputation for bravery and wisdom among these associations, receiving artifacts and other tokens of respect and allegiance in return. His leadership was tied to the resources he could secure, and failing to maintain this supply would undermine his authority and influence.
On the other hand, collaborating with Armad could potentially secure the resources he needed, but it came with significant risks. If Armad agreed to the arrangement, it would inevitably draw the ire of Prince Ikenga. Ikenga’s power in the capital city of Wilberforce was formidable, and his anger could lead to dire consequences for the king and his town.
The king is acutely aware that the vast resources he receives almost for free from the region where the town of Tiriba is located have been the cornerstone of his town’s unmatched strength within the region. He understands that these resources are what fuel his town’s dominance. However, he also knows that ceasing to send these resources to the associations that have been his allies will sever the relationships that have kept his town at the top. He realizes that this could lead to the towns under his rule rising against him and potentially overpowering his authority. Every option before him carries significant risks.
If he chooses not to collaborate with Prince Armad, he risks losing access to these crucial resources. This would inevitably lead to a decline in his town’s influence and power. On the other hand, if he decides to collaborate with Armad, he could incite the anger of Prince Ikenga. The king is caught in a precarious situation, where any misstep could lead to disastrous consequences.
After much deliberation, the king finally makes up his mind. He instructs his messenger with a carefully crafted plan. “Go to Prince Armad,” he says. “If he agrees to our terms, we will offer him just 3% of the initial price of the goods. This is non-negotiable. Prince Ikenga has not yet ascended the throne, and even if he does, he will likely be cautious. He will hesitate to provoke the people we have connections with before he has fully consolidated his rule. Moreover, the associations of seal makers and medicine producers are currently enough to protect us. We must also consider that Emperor Ayrion’s reign is not yet over. It is uncertain when he will pass the throne to Ikenga, so for now, the conflict remains among his progeny. Our primary focus should be on ensuring the continued flow of the resources we’ve been obtaining from this neighboring region.”
The king’s messenger listens intently and then pauses thoughtfully before nodding. “I understand, Your Majesty. However, don’t you think 3% is quite low? Prince Armad is young and may still possess the arrogance and naivety typical of youth. Should he perceive our offer as unfair, considering we are keeping the remaining 97%, he might feel insulted and reject our terms. Would it not be wiser to offer him the 5 to 10% that we used to give other kings before he overthrew them?”
The king firmly shakes his head. “No, we will not increase the offer beyond 3%. If he agrees, well and good. If not, we will let him be. He is currently in a vulnerable position, entangled in conflict with his brother. The reduced percentage is a reflection of the risk we are taking by offering him our support. The kings to whom we previously gave 5 to 10% did not present the same level of risk. In Armad’s case, we must consider the potential backlash from his brother, Prince Ikenga. Therefore, we cannot afford to offer him the same percentage that we gave to those other kings. The situation is different, and our offer must reflect that. We are also providing him with crucial support that can turn the tide in his favor, and that itself has significant value.”
The reporter paused for a moment before nodding in understanding. The king’s words carried significant meaning. Indeed, Prince Armad had to pay a price for the support they would offer him. As the reporter left the palace, he was fully aware of the importance of the mission he had been assigned. Hence, without wasting any time, he immediately rallied a small battalion of cultivators and set off towards the town of Tiriba to deliver the king’s message.
Tiriba was located in a different region from their own, and the journey there would be arduous. Even with the aid of enchanted earth to hasten their travel, it would still take them three days to leave their region. Once they reached the region where Tiriba was situated, they would need at least two additional days to reach the town itself. Tiriba was one of the most remote towns in the area, located by the seaside. Arriving promptly was crucial to quickly deliver the king’s message.
Meanwhile, in the town of Tiriba, as the small battalion departed from Montaj to deliver the important message, a fierce duel was taking place inside the palace of Tiriba.
At that critical moment, Sufa drew his sword, and Armad received an urgent message from the system. “The skill of mind control is being used against you. The skill of mind control is being used against you.” The system repeated the warning up to ten times. Despite the rapid delivery, Armad grasped the gravity of the situation. Surprise and confusion flooded his mind, but he understood that this was not the time for questions. This alert from the system felt like a cheat, a hidden advantage given to him against the mind control skill.
Armad struggled to comprehend how the cloud, which had previously seemed like a sticky substance that adhered to the body of its victim, could now be identified as a mind control skill. He vividly recalled the last time the cloud was used against him; it had felt like a substance with a lot of gum, which gummed up the body. However, the system’s warning suggested otherwise. Was the cloud not real? Was it merely a magical illusion that controlled the mind of its victim rather than physically immobilizing the body?
As this thought crossed his mind, he clenched his teeth and tried to move his hand and surprisingly he did. Armad knows that There was no time for astonishment; he had to act swiftly. He didn’t waste a moment of surprise and instead used his fist to strike his brother, who stood before him with a drawn sword.
Armad was not the only one taken aback. At the very moment his brother stood before him, contemplating the ways he would humiliate him, he noticed something shocking: Armad was able to move. Armad’s entire body was engulfed in a cloud designed to bind him, making it impossible to move even a finger. This cloud was supposed to immobilize him completely. Nevertheless, Armad had already clenched his fist, emanating powerful lightning, and launched a fierce attack. His brother understood the power of this strike better than anyone else, having faced it not once, but three times during their duel. Despite his experience, he couldn’t react in time—the punch had already connected with his stomach, sending him flying. Blood began to trickle from his mouth before he even hit the ground. When he finally landed, he fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Despite his weakened state, he managed to lift his eyes and gaze at Armad, as if looking at a fearsome demon.
The questions raced through his mind: How was Armad able to move? When did Armad destroy the immobilizing skill and counterattack? For the first time, fear and terror were visible on his face and in his eyes.
It could be said that the initial skill that made him start to fear his brother was the Kaban Shisu skill. This ability allowed Armad to teleport and appear wherever he wished, a power that was both unpredictable and formidable. Adding to this, Armad had begun using another skill that elevated his cultivation to the level of a deva, a significant enhancement that he had witnessed multiple times. This skill, too, drew his wary attention. However, despite these impressive abilities, he had never truly believed that Armad could win. After all, he possessed the demon of the cloud, a seemingly invincible entity that should have guaranteed his victory.
But now, even his cloud demon had failed. Armad had somehow broken free from the immobilizing cloud and retaliated with devastating force. This was a turn of events he hadn’t anticipated. The realization that his ultimate weapon, the cloud demon, had been rendered ineffective was a crushing blow. It was only natural that fear would etch itself onto his face.