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Chapter 345: Harvesting Resources
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Siva left and Zelga was also left out by the knights in the gate. Though they are only gatekeepers in this pace, they are still noble knights. And being a knight who went on the drills and indoctrinations, the fact that they were made fool by this so called King Candidate was insulting.
What made him think he can get out after insulting their intelligence just like this?
The leading knight, the leader of the gatekeepers who exchanged that verbal war with Siva, walked forward.
Seeing him made the leader of Zelga’s retainers frown as he stepped forward to stop the man.
“Do you have business with his highness?”
“His highness?” the knight was ticked by this but he didn’t explode since he was going to ‘rebuke’ the King Candidate in official terms.
The knight was stalwart and only gave the man a fleeting glance and told him, “You are not a part of the Order of the Wall of Jeremiah so you have no right to intervene in our business. If you don’t step aside, we will brand you as an element of an attempted treason and not even your boss’s lofty status can save you… or even himself…”
Of course, the man was a real-world retainer of his charge’s family and so he also understood that he does not have the ability to meddle on official businesses of the knight orders.
This gatekeeper really knew how to play with the rules of the kingdom to enact his own justice and once the enemy is targeted, he wouldn’t let it go without accomplishing his mission.
Seeing that the retainer couldn’t even reply to him nor even do anything anymore, the gatekeeper looked at Zelga with disdain.
“You have tried to coerce noble knights into the pits of sin and tried to offend a dignitary of another country, with the tendency to sparking a war that might have burned our kingdom down just to fuel your personal feud. This is a sin that warrants capital punishments under the category of treason. Using rank and status for a personal benefit is also a crime carrying a punishment by administrative sanctioning. With all of these on the table, do you know that even with a Grand Knight backing you up, the other two Grand Knights will not sit idly by because of this? You have almost offended a major power just for personal revenge and vendetta. In consideration to Grand Knight Draco’s status and presence here, this incident is not going to be reported. But rest assured, even if you are a King Candidate you can be sure that none of my fellow noble knights will follow you again.”
Zelga was fuming with hatred.
“How dare you talk to me li—”
“I do dare to talk to you.” Before Zelga could even finish, the gatekeeper interrupted him, “Recall this incident when you sleep and think of the position you are holding. I am saying this to you as your subordinate talking to a superior. And even if your rank and your status are higher than mine, we are all still just names in The Kingdom’s ranks. Act like your status. That’s an advice from a subordinate.”
The retainer was also furious. How dare a lowly NPC talk down to a real-world Prince like this? He was clenching his fist. He really wanted to punch him out and even kill him. in the real world, he had the authority and license to, but here, he was only a retainer, a private bodyguard, an unaffiliated outsider the King Candidate acquired somewhere.
First there was Siva who didn’t even look at them in the eyes as he berated, rebuked, and scolded his charge. Then there’s this gatekeeper who was ‘advising’ a prince on how to act properly befitting his rank and status?
Insolence!
But they can’t act. They understood their master’s plans in the future and they needed his status as a King Candidate to freely act as they pleased.
A mission was on their plate and they are waiting for when the King Test officially commenced to act against one of their charge’s enemies.
But right now, because of Zelga’s status as well, they were bound by the rules of The Kingdom where he is affiliated. If they lose his status, they also lose their liberty and as well as backing.
Also, he was regretting the fact that he didn’t insist on them being officially part of The Wall.
Right now, they are nothing more than Zelga’s [Household] which only has a shallow paint of the colors of the flag of The Kingdom on their chests.
Against outside forces, it is an invincible deterrent but inside the walls of the kingdom, it meant no significance at all. This was such an incident that that matter became a hindrance. They couldn’t even exert the fact they’re close to a King Candidate as an excuse to beat down that mere gatekeeper.
They were clearly trampled.
Zelga’s entourage could only watch as the group came back to their stations, quietly standing there like the Foot Guards in the Buckingham Palace, unmoving and stalwart, firm like the very walls that protects the city.
Their group was completely and utterly isolated, disdained, and despised upon by these NPCs.
No one dared to blame Zelga for miscalculations.
Unable to bear it any longer, Zelga turned around and with the flashing of him changing equipment, flew into the skies along with his retainers.
His ears burning red from anger, he didn’t want to linger any longer on to where that white knight is located because deep in his heart, he had already sworn to kill that NPC at all cost.
“Heed my orders. Buy as many NLD as you can and recall all of my retainers on mission outside the kingdom. We will not let this slide. Never! Log in with the same instructions I’ve given you when you first came. Establish a guild and wait for my orders. But remember that no one is allowed to know of our secret.”
The leader of his entourage understood it well and so he affirmed, looking back at the direction of the warehouse, then asking, “And that NPC?”
Of course he was also angry.
Just now, he had failed his charge so he wouldn’t let things slide as well.
Zelga clenched his fists hard and through gritted teeth, uttered with hatred, “We will prepare.”
“Understood.”
As he was burning with hatred in his chest, Zelga didn’t even realize that the fact that he was going on a scheme to get revenge on a mere NPC is a clear sign that he was already a sore loser.
But his pride had been trampled, his ego crushed, Zelga was burning with hatred that all he thought about was how to kill the ‘person’ that caused him this humiliation.
In a side note, the retainer who’s supposed to be looking at the bigger picture for Zelga is also on the same page as him.
Thus, their group began to traverse a road which will become the primer for the new era in Terroa to explode in the most spectacular of ways.
*****
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Is it not quite to your liking?”
Draco’s voice awoken Siva from his surprise as he saw a pile, no, a mountain of the resources he had kindheartedly received from Blue Draco.
35 Mega-crates of Black Ironwood Alloy…
500 Megatons of Tesla Coils…
20 Billion NanoCubes…
Seven disassembled Cryo-modules with wires still sticking off to some of its parts…
And a NanoMachine Converter…
The Mega-crates were 2.5m square meters in size while the Tesla Coils were bundled into a pile of rolled up platinum-coloured bronze-radiating wires, with hundreds of them stacked into one of the corners as if categorized.
And then 20 Billion NanoCubes… this was a very large amount of NanoCubes that even in Draco’s computation is enough to actually support an army for 6 months in the frontlines of battle.
As for the Cryo-modules, there were clear signs that they were in use just a few hours ago as the heat of their electronics and the way they were carefully placed in stacked-up frames to prevent damages were very visible.
“Not bad. You truly are capable.” Siva praised the Grand Knight but Draco, in his heart of hearts, is not in the least happy nor was he flattered by this compliment. “You even added one more Cryo-module just to show your sincerity. I’m really quite impressed.”
He had lost too much in this ‘bribe’ and if he does not get what he wanted, he would really lose it and may perhaps bring down the entire Terran Civilization with him just so he could vent his anger at this knight with an attack.
But he controlled himself and smiled gratifyingly.
Draco scratched his head, “Oh, you praise me too much, Sir Knight. This much is nothing.”
—curse you, curse you! This is too much!!!
“Is that so?” Siva, of course, thought otherwise as he chuckled while still looking straight at him, “Do you really have nothing to do with what happened back there in the gates?”
Draco felt his heart racing.
—this guy doesn’t slide the smallest of wrongs to him! He’s dangerous! Damn it, we really landed on a landmine this time…
Through gritted teeth, Draco wore his smile and told him repentantly: “Aye, Sir Knight, you are in the right. The kid is young… very young, in fact, and is still immature. He does not think about his actions and thinks he is already the king. In your place, I shall impose a heavy punishment to him so please just leave this matter to me.”
Siva, through his faceless mask, stared intently at Draco who started to lower his head as a sign that he was really asking apology in Zelga’s behalf.
“While I do understand that you are really sincere with your apology, I don’t believe a foolish kid that thinks he’s already king with a small lift of a status is worthy your support. This matter and the matter he had caused to my wife are separate events. I am understanding and is willing to compromise his disrespect to my wife earlier today, but—”
SWOOSH!!!
Without any warning, Siva released his intent to battle in the vicinity and though there is no visible change in the temperature, everyone here, those NPCs working to arrange the items as well as the workers assigned in the facility, and as well as the ones outside… they all felt a chilling cold touch their nape at that moment.
Draco, who had battled a True Dragon before, also felt that if the two of them battled it all out, he might not actually lose but he might not win either.
And Siva… Siva spoke straight to the point.
“—my patience is limited. Your Order is harboring and is even nurturing a cancer such as that kid. I am not a fool, Draco. Through the decades, my blade and my fists had battled monsters and as well as Demons in the forest and even the secret dungeons. I have spent more time in the wilds than I have in the city, but I am not a fool who is not aware of the world I live in. I’m not one to care about your dispute for the throne but through the years I’ve lived, I’ve never seen a corrupted system such as yours. Tell me, if I do not mention you your blunder and rub it off your face, do you think you could have escaped with just this much of bribery?”
“…!!”
“You tell me, Blue Draco of the Wall of Jeremiah, should I or should I not make you pay another bribe to me with this provocation of my intellect?”
Draco raised his head and this time, he also let go of his restraints as he released his own intent. He is a Grand Knight of the Wall of Jeremiah and for his organization to be disdained, scorned, and looked down upon in front of him; that is a crime that his pride wouldn’t be able to take.
But Siva only felt amused by him, “Ho? Are you going to attack me now, Draco? Was I wrong in my words? You tell me... must I just let this night’s events slide just like that?”
Draco… as much as he was furious… could only grit his teeth and clench his fists.
No matter how much he denies it, Siva was right.
This pile of resources was proof of it. For a smart individual, it was all enough to speak of how Blue Draco handles things he can’t resolve righteously.
And Draco… as someone who had plotted against the last generation of Grand Knights, this sidling event caused by his desire for Dragon Resource had now caused him not only to lose face but for his dignity and status as a Grand Knight to also be trampled by Siva.
But he can’t move.
For someone who has been wronged, Siva had the right to let out his anger. Also, out of official reasons, knowing he was from the Enchantment Temple, Draco also couldn’t lay his hand on him or the scheming bastard Pistareen —no, just his ‘wife’ alone was already enough to rouse the people from hating not only him but the entire Kingdom of Jeremiah.
“I’m deeply sorry.” Draco could only say. “I shall arrange a proper compensation for this night’s blunder. This is my fault for not being able to handle my subordinates well.”
“Hmp. At least you are sensible.” Siva dismissed the knight as he stared at the pile of resources in front of him, especially to the NM-Converter. “I will not make hard on you and will only require at least 600k Plasma Smoke Screen Grenades, 100 Megatons of liquid-ready Cryogenic Elements, 30 of your biggest actuators, 500K Stun E-Grenade, and an additional 10Billion NanoCubes. Then stock them all up in here by tomorrow noon…”
At this part, Siva looked around him and asked Draco to change the topic, “So… where are the people I required from you?”
Draco’s face twitched. He expected to exchange a few more words with Siva but the notion was thrown off the floor even before the package he had prepared in his heart was unboxed.
—he really didn’t even put The Wall in his eyes.
Siva’s lack of interest to Draco’s opinions is all the signs of it. Siva was only in Jeremiah to get the items on the deal he had made but Zelga ruined it and not only had he lost his bid money, he also lost valuable time.
In the end, they offended a Magic Knight who is not someone from Jeremiah but is under a force subordinate to the Enchantment Temple, and also offended an Archmage… which was the sole and only reason why Draco was forced to bribe him to stay silent of the matter.
But that’s not all, tonight, he also failed to realize that Zelga had coerced the knights and so sinned against him once again.
One blunder after another… and in the end, he was the one who was going to pay for it all. All of this happened just because of a King Candidate who is blinded by his arrogance and his, Draco’s, own doing to gift Zelga what he wants in exchange for his precious Dragon Resource.
Draco is really nearing his limits.
He looked to the side and a trembling knight gave a bow as he ran off towards the outside.
When he came back, there were six middle-aged men who looked like they were forced to come here, looking around them and to Draco with the look of fear and anger.
Siva took note of this as he faced Draco, “Is their skills in disassembly that noteworthy?”
“They should be. They owned six of the many underground Monster Warehouses in the city and in terms of the Kingdom Laws, they are criminals that should be sentenced to death. But… you will not mind their background, right?”
“I do indeed not mind their background.” Siva says, “But I will mind their work ethics and their skills and abilities.” As he spoke, Siva faced the men and asked, “Do you have families?”
The six scared men looked at each other and as no one spoke, Siva told them, “Don’t worry. While this country might not treat you well, my country will… I asked if you have families because I plan to bring you and your families to my country and live there peacefully while you continue your work, with a chance to also earning more than that if you perform well.”
Draco looked at Siva with a glare from behind, but Siva ignored it as he focused only on the six. One of them, the oldest and someone from the Maven Race with grey hairs on his temples, raised a hand and asked Siva, “I don’t have a family of my own but the business I ran is for the sake of the orphans I am supporting, can I bring them along?”
Siva nodded, “Yes you can.”
The man became ecstatic and this ignited the rest of the five to raise their hands and request for the people they care for to be brought as well.
In fact, four them lived alone and was solely and purely businessmen, and they requested that if it’s alright to bring their facilities with them.
Siva agreed.
Thus, six facilities two families, and the resources he needed to build his Asgard’s security were all successfully procured. He had finished half of his tasks here in Jeremiah in no time at all.
When Siva faced Draco, he caught sight of his ugly expression that quickly repaired itself as he gave Siva a firm stance.
“I’ll be getting this facility. Is that okay with you?”
Draco was startled and confused, but he nodded his head, “This is but a normal facility, there is no importance in this thing than being a warehouse.”
—you’re the one who chose this place so you should know it better.
“Good.” Siva gave him a nod, “Now, I want all of you to get out of this place. Now.”
There was a second of silent confusion then the moment of simultaneous “eh” from the knights and the workers in the facility.
“Didn’t you hear me?” Siva repeated with a voice louder and deeper than before. “I said. Leave.”
“Everyone get out.” Draco finally gave the signal and they all cowered off and scrammed outside as if their life depended on it.
The only ones that remained inside were Siva, his entourage, and the six Disassembly Masters.
“Scarlet, bring five people to look outside and be as close to Draco as possible.”
“Yes sir.”
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Played with like a hamster in a wheel…
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Next chapter: Someone asks for another beating!
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