While Chol was being eaten alive by the Shrillats, Shi Lang stood in front of her watching it all. The scene was so gory that even Darcx could not handle and had to puke, the rest had long ago stopped observing, they would ruin their appetite.
Shi Lang said, “Shrillats have an enzyme in their teeth that makes people numb, however, these one are specially treated, their enzyme glands have been removed, so they will chomp down on your flesh slowly and surely.”
Chol trembled and yell, “Demon.”
Shi Lang said, “A demon is better than an ambitious traitor. We have evidence that you were collaborating with an alien force to sell off the empire. You planned to kill her majesty and usurp the throne. You planned to give away the rights and lives of the people to someone else, who will treat than as slaves. Who is the demon? I am only cleaning up trash.”
Chol opened her eyes wide, she did not expect him to say such things. She asked, “How do you know?”
Shi Lang did not know that his guess will come out to be true. It was an arrow in the dark. Suddenly, a wail echoed in the room, this wail belonged to Abbey, he was shown what was happening to Chol, and his wail was the only thing allowed to be heard by Shi Lang and Chol.
Before the lady could ask, Shi Lang said, “What happened?”
He pretended to talk to someone outside, and then he nodded his head slowly. Chol asked in a worried tone, ignoring the pain in her legs, “What happened, who was that?”
Shi Lang replied, “Finance Minister Abbey could not deal with the guilt and chopped off his hand in penance.”
Chol’s pupil shrank into needle points, she could not believe what she just heard. She said, “Show me.”
Shi Lang shook his head, “You know that you are not in the condition to put forward any sort of terms?”
Chol maybe a traitor, over the years, she had geniuenely started loving Abbey. She said, “I will tell you everything, just do not hurt him.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “You will get to see him after you are done giving us what we need.”
Then he packed the Shrillats back in the cage and gave Chol some basic medical help. Her legs below the knees had turns to shredded meat, blood was flowing out as if water from tap. Shi Lang unhooked her from the binds and had her sit on the chair. Then he asked, “Who was that person you met today?”
Chol said with a haggard expression, “He was the third prince of the nearby Empire, Arcadia.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Eleborate Arcadia, and make sure that what you say is not fake intel. I have enough time to make you two regret your actions thousand times over.”
Chol glared at him and said, “Arcadia is a nation of a species of humanoid beasts. They are carnivorous, and even cannibalistic after some limits. Their physical fitness is higher than a well trained Neomonian, and even our special skill to preserve life in danger is useless against them.
Their industries are all militarized. From the intel we have gathered they outnumber Neomon army, two to one. They are strong.”
Shi Lang asked, “Why did the third prince seek out your help?”
Chol said, “The conquest of throne demands that the future emperor must capture regions of their own. So, the third prince came to me, and he gave me ana assurance that he will spare the innocent.
Shi Lang sighed and said, “You are a fool to think of such a thing. How can he possibly let us all go? Waste.”
Chol did not have an excuse to rebuke him. She was also not very hopeful but the dominearing prince had made it clear that if the coup did not end cleanly, he will rush over with his army. Thus she did all this.
Shi Lang asked, “If you were going to hand over the throne to that Prince, what about the Finance Minister? What about his dream of becoming the emperor, after all, he is the true ruler in the mouth of his faction, is he not?”
Chol said, “I would have taken him and fled the place, he would understand that life is more important than any throne.”
Shi Lang nodded and asked, “You mean, you kept all this a secret deliberately?”
Chol nodded and Shi Lang looked at the side and said, “Fool.”
Then he turned around and left the place in silence. Chol did not know why cast a gaze in the direction where this masked demon said fool. She saw Abbey, sitting in a chair, tied with shackles. He was smiling with an expression of mockery. The woman he trusted and supported with his all, betrayed him.
…
While the couple was facing questions inside the den. The Neomon empire trembled, half of the nobles were dead and their properties were ceased by the Palace. They were slaughtered, the people wanted to know why the Queen implied such a heavy hand, and they were given evidence, all the sins and crimes committed by the dead nobles.
The crowd had been in favor of the Queen, and now it was even more gung-hoo on her. What was even more, the rest of the nobles had rallied behind the queen. Those with neutral stance had came clean about whom to support. They were half scared and half convinced.
Masses gathered in front of the imperial palace, and they began to chant the Queen.
Nexalia was not happy, because they had to deal with her traitorous family.
…
Zysha asked, “What are you thinking?”
“About how to deal with the two of them.” Nexalia said, with her words referring to Abbey and Chol obuiously.
Zysha said, “Kill them. Make it simple. A bullet to the head will do. Do not try to put up the facade of the trial, we have a war to prepare for.”
Nexalia said, “You do not understand, he is my brother, I share the same blood as him.” her voice was tired.
Zysha said, “Fool, it was because of this bond, that your mother almost died in his hands. He did not even care for the one who gave him life, will he care about you? The one born after him? Give him a chance and this snake will bite again.”
The tigress was busy giving her wisdom to the queen, Shi Lang was sitting in the communication room. Quinn had gotten the president of the federation connected already. Shi Lang sat in front of the screen after saluting the man.
He said, “Sir, I request the intervention of the first fleet at the borders of Neomon Empire.”
The president sat up straight and asked, “Do you understand the gravity of this request?”
Shi Lang said, “Neomon will be facing an invasion from a force called, Arcadia, they outnumber the natives here two to one. After they have finished taking down Neomon, their target is us. This news is verified and witnessed by me personally. If we try to wait it out, Neomon will be in ruins. You can say goodbye to your ally, and also the peaceful federation.”
He stated the facts concisely. After this Quinn took over and naratted all the data to her father. The man said, “I will need to discuss all this with the general council.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Be quick, we have two weeks only. If you cannot have the first fleet move right away, then give me shadow executioners. Ten squads minimum.”
The president nodded and said, “I will have X visit you with the ten squads of shadow executioners.”
Shi Lang nodded and after a few more dialogues the connection was terminated. Amelia asked, “You seem to be worried. Is there something else on your mind?”
The young man nodded and said, “Call Darcx, have him contact the deputy of the department. But not before that guy has seen what happened to Chol and Abbey.”
Amelia nodded, Jenkins asked, “Do you want to use the intelligence department to scout?”
Shi Lang nodded, “By the time my old division gets here, it will be a week, we will lose time. Plus the intelligence department here has better familiarity with the Arcadians.”
Jenkins nodded and Quinn said, “Can I handle the deputy?”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Yes, do what you need to. I need to rest. This gore and stuff puts me at an edge. Also, ask the deputy if we can hold a diplomatic meeting with someone inside the court of Arcadia. Get an idea of their real strength.”
The people nodded and they were dismissed. Shi Lang sat in the chair, with his gaze locked at the ceiling. In his mind, the young man was playing scenarios of the future. He did not want this war to be the end of him and his friends.