“Recall Noella’s brother from that island,” Jack instructed Isoldea.

“Noella’s brother?” she was confused.

“Yes. Tell Leofric to bring him here as soon as possible.”

“Should we stop Ravem’s head from being delivered to the Black Grass tribe?”

Jack shook his head. He didn’t want to get involved in the squabble of two tribes just yet.

Isoldea and Pec left soon after. Now Jack had to be prepared to talk to Noella’s brother.

His heart was racing. What if his fallback plans fails?

He was essentially winging stuff now. There was no set plan, just a vague idea that pointed to a goal in his mind. Whether things will work out, only time will tell.

Jack returned to his room to get himself prepared for the arrival of Noella’s brother.

Erzilla was lying in bed.

“Come, let’s play,” she waved him over.

“Not now,” he groaned. Jack walked in front of the large mirror in his room. He checked out the clothes he had in his [Inventory].

He wanted to wear a simple but semi-formal attire. His [Inventory] had mostly formal robes. He could wear a shirt and baggy pants. But that looked too informal.

“I think that purple robe you put on earlier was good on you,” Erzilla advised him.

“I think it’s too much. I’m not trying to dazzle Noella’s brother.”

“Who’s Noella?” she asked.

“Noella. The [Maid] that works here. She was the one who brought you here.”

“Oh, her. Do you like her?”

Jack turned away from the mirror to stare at Erzilla, “What are you on about?”

“I think she’s pretty. Don’t you?”

Jack rolled his eyes and ignored her.

“How many times have you slept with her?” she pressed him.

“If you’re bored, Erzilla, you can go to sleep. I don’t have time to entertain your silly imagination.”

“Then why do you know the name of this [Maid]? Do you know the names of the other [Maids] in the palace?”

Jack refused to answer.

“I thought so,” she clicked her tongue. “You must be sleeping with her. What do you even see in her anyway?”

Jack smiled. He found the right item of clothing to wear. A red cloak with a hood. It had silver embroidery etched around the chest.

So he put it on.

Now he had to wait for Neolla’s brother. He wanted to wait for him hin his room but Erzilla was becoming erratic for no reason.

He was going to wait for him in the throne room.

“Goodnight, Erzilla,” he said to her with little emotion.

Erzilla was about to respond but he used [Gate] to get out of the room.

…

…

Jack sat on his throne chair in silence. The throne room was a large place. It had many torches to illuminate the area.

Any sound produced would cause an echo due to how empty it is right now.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

So Jack waited. And waited.

Then a portal opened up in the middle of the room. First to come out was Leofric. Then a human who followed behind him.

Leofric bowed at the sight of Jack, “My lord, to return back to your presence is an honour.”

Jack motioned for Leofric to stand up again.

“It’s good to see you again, Leofric,” he told him.

The human however didn’t bow. And Leofric also noticed.

So Leofric punched Noella’s brother in the stomach. He fell to the ground in pain.

“You won’t disrespect my liege in front of me,” Leofric growled.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” the man cried out loudly, clenching his stomach tightly.

“We all make mistakes from time to time,” Jack said softly. “I forgive you. Don’t do it again. Now stand up.”

The man wobbled as he tried standing up. Maye Leofric punched him harder than Jack realised.

He eventually straightened himself up.

“Introduce yourself,” Jack commanded.

The man nodded, “Well… I’m Bujunith, son of Ravem and my tribe is the Yellow Moon.”

“Bujunith… welcome to the palace. I understand this isn’t your first time being here. But I think it’s proper to introduce you here formally.”

“I thank you, Lord Zodark,” he said.

“We have much to discuss. Unfortunately, I must begin our conversation with unfortunate news.”

Bujunith looked concerned

“Indeed some unfortunate news,” Jack continued. “Your father is dead.”

“Dead?” Bujunith croaked.

Jack nodded. “Yes. And he was killed by the [Elders] of your tribe.”

“Why? That makes no sense.”

“ARE YOU SAYING LORD ZODARK IS MAKING IT UP!” Leofric shouted at Bujunith.

“Calm down,” Jack reprimanded Leofric.

Bujunith took a step away from Leofric.

“Your father died because the elders feared an attack from the Black Grass tribe. They had accused your father of plotting to kill High Prince Dvuid”

“My father would never do such a thing.”

Jack nodded, “I know. But the Black Grass tribe are warmongers. They’re looking for any excuse to attack your tribe since it is weaker. I believe the Black Grass is very interested in the charcoal I gave your tribe.”

“You think so?”

Jack nodded again. He was lying through his teeth. But that didn’t matter, he had a mission to complete.

“I’m willing to help you take back your chiefdom and avenge your father.”

“My chiefdom? A [Village Chief] is not inherited in my tribe, Lord Zodark. The [Elders] are the ones who appoint the chief,” Bujunith clarified.

“Come again!” Jack leaned forward.

“Yes. The chiefdom is appointed by the elders. They are the ones who are wise enough to find the right leader.”

In other words, Bujunith was useless to him.

“Very well,” groaned Jack. “You may return to the work camp. You’ve served your purpose here.”

“Please, Lord Zodark. I don’t want to go back there. It’s so cold and we work long hours without rest. Please spare me.”

Jack waved him off. Seeing the signal, Leofric grabbed Bujunith by the hair and dragged him into a portal that led back to the work camp.

Jack sighed. His plan B has gone up in flames.

…

…

“You could just attack them. Who will stop you?” said Erzilla as she rested her head on his chest.

Two days had passed. There was no Plan C.

“Tempting, but no,” he replied. He needed a casus belli and without that, he wasn’t willing to wage war.

Noella arrived and brought them breakfast. He hasn’t told her that her father was beheaded. And he wasn’t planning on telling her anytime soon.

Jack and Erzilla got up from bed to enjoy their breakfast.

The breakfast they had consisted of bread, cheese and fruits.

“Where are the eggs?” asked Jack.

“Finished, my lord. That’s what happens when you consume a resource that doesn’t replenish itself,” Noella said in her usual off-putting tone of voice.

They didn’t have chickens to lay eggs. And even the fruit they had no longer had a fresh taste to it.

“If only there was a supermarket to buy things,” he sighed.

“Why don’t you buy the things you need in the market?” Noella asked.

“The market? I don’t recall seeing a market in your village.”

“My tribe is too small to have a large market. But you can go to the Black Grass tribe’s main settlement. It has a good market there. I believe there are even elves and dwarves who trade there.”

“You think they want to trade with demons?”

Noella shrugged, “Maybe not?”

An idea popped in his head.

Maybe there was a way to bait the Black Grass.

The idea in his head could backfire but it was his best shot to get a casus belli.