[Duke Ryan, while it’s true that in the past I was an addict. But I have changed now. And my reason for calling his meeting is completely different. Whether you like it or not, I am the King and I will protect this Kingdom.] The last part of Aditya’s words was an indirect threat to both Dukes. He was saying that if two Dukes didn’t submit, he would have to use violence.
[It was your Kingdom. It is your Kingdom. But in a wee time, it won’t be your Kingdom. Being a dragon won’t give you privilege everywhere in life. You’re not worthy. I don’t even understand why that Old man chose you as his successor. I don’t see anything special about you. Duke Sarlus also thinks that you’re not fit to be the King. I will give you a chance. Why don’t you surrender? I promise I will let you escape. Maybe you can start a new life in some other part of the world.] At this point, Duke Eastgard was mocking Aditya and insulting him openly. But strangely Aditya didn’t look angry. Instead, it was Watson and others who seemed very angry.
Aditya didn’t lose his calm. He can’t lose his calm here and act rashly. A mistake is a mistake. There is no use in crying over spilled milk. Instead, it would be best to think of a way of solving the problems.
[Duke Eastgard, I assume you’re determined to stand against me.]
[Not just stand against you but also to kill you with my own bare hands. This is war.]
[Since both of you’re going to start a war, the house of Sarlus won’t be joining in this meaningless fight. I have to defend the borders. But just because I am not participating in this war doesn’t mean that the house of Sarlus is not condemning the house of Eastgard. I am equally disappointed in King Aditya. In my opinion, you’re not fit to become the king.]
[It looks like I have we have no other option. Duke Eastgard, tomorrow, I will be attacking the house of Zraka city with my generals.]
“What?”
“Young Master?”
“Aditya, you can’t?”
Ignoring everyone, Aditya continued on. [After I defeat your troops. I will enter your city and in front of the crowd, I will cut your head and place your head on the city walls.]
Shock!
Silence!
Even Duke Sarlus was not expecting this kind of bold words from the young dragon’s mouth. Everyone standing in the hall turned silent. Watson, Amber, Julia, and others were completely shocked. Going to face a powerhouse like Duke Eastgard and his thousands of troops with just 7 first-order body cultivators was no different than committing suicide.
At this moment everyone didn’t know what Aditya was planning by saying something so crazy. This was pure madness. Even a fool wouldn’t dare to go against an army of more than ten thousand troops.
After 3 minutes of silence, Duke Eastgard couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore. [Hahaha! Since you have dared to say these words then I will wait for your arrival. Tomorrow, I will place 5,000 troops in front of the Eastern Gate. Let’s see if you can actually fight your way through.] With that Ryan, left the meeting leaving Duke Sarlus and Aditya.
While Amber and the other six generals looked at each other with determination. Since Aditya had given them their lives, they were going to follow their King till death. Tomorrow will be either death or victory.
After another 5 minutes of silence, Duke Sarlus sighed and asked. [What are you planning to do your Majesty?] This time everyone noticed how Duke Sarlus addressed Aditya.
[Duke Sarlus, are you also going to rebel just like Duke Eastgard?] Instead of replying, he asked back.
[I was never planning on betraying my motherland. I swore to protect this land. And we Sarlus noble house value promise more than anything. I won’t hesitate to give up my life for this land. But that doesn’t mean I recognize you as the King.] 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒆𝓪𝙙.𝒄𝙤𝒎
[If you want to gain my recognition, you will have to prove your will. I want to know just how far you’re willing to go for this Kingdom.]
[I see. I wish Duke Eastgard was a person like you. Though I don’t wish to shed blood. That doesn’t mean I don’t know how to kill others. Duke Eastgard, if you manage to take over Zraka City tomorrow, will I gain your recognition?] No one knew how Aditya was going to kill an army of 5,000 troops. Each troop will have the power of first-order. Even Duke Sarlus can’t think of a way.
After another minute of silence, Duke Sarlus replied. [If your Majesty manages to survive and take over the Zraka city, then the house of Sarlus will swear their allegiance to you.]
[Duke Sarlus, let me clear this. I don’t want your house allegiance. I want your recognition.] Duke Sarlus, was one of those legendary People who managed to defend the borders of the Istarin Kingdom for 39 years. Under his power, no invader from the Nepoca Kingdom has managed to enter Istarin Border.
While the house of Eastgard robbed people with taxes just to increase their military power, the house of Sarlus has never done anything that violated the Kingdom’s rules. Although Duke Sarlus didn’t pay the tax for years, Aditya feels the reason for not paying the tax has something to do with the past Aditya who spent money like crazy.
‘More importantly, from reading the records of the past, it was clear that the house of Sarlus always has been more loyal than the house of Eastgard. All the kings of the past highly valued the house of Sarlus over the house of Eastgard. Loyalty was in the blood of the Sarlus family.’
[Your Majesty, I don’t know how you’re going to defeat an army of 5,000 troops without any help but if you manage to survive, I will personally come to the capital and have a conversation with you regarding this Kingdom’s future.] It was Sarlus way of telling Aditya that the Duke wants to know his plan for rebuilding the Kingdom.
[Then, you better clear your schedule for the day after tomorrow.]
[Hahaha! From your Majesty’s tone, I can feel the confidence. I will wait for the day when I finally get the chance of meeting your Majesty.]
The more Duke Sarlus talked with the King, the more he came to like him. At the beginning of this meeting, Duke Sarlus had a bad impression of Aditya. But as the meeting progressed, Duke Sarlus was increasingly beginning to like Aditya. The Duke liked the mentality that this young man had. He had gathered his courage to face an enemy knowing that his chances of losing were 99.9%.
Sitting on a chair, Duke Sarlus stroked his long white beard. “I am impressed. When I was of his majesty’s age, even I didn’t have the courage to face 5,000 troops alone. Without meeting me, you already have earned my recognition your majesty. This Kingdom needs someone who is ambitious and courageous like you. I can’t let anyone kill your Majesty.”
“Haku?”
“Your orders Sire?”
“You already should know what to do.” Haku simply nodded his head and disappeared.
–
Scene change
“What the hell are you even thinking? You can’t face an army of 5,000 by yourself?” Julia furiously walked up to Aditya. She grabbed his shirt and looked very furiously. This was the first time Aditya has ever seen Julia lose her calm.
“I am not going. I have my 7 generals with me.” Aditya knew that anyone in this situation react the same as Julia and others.
“Your Majesty, even though you have the power to kill even a mid-second-order, taking on 5,000 trained soldiers is suicide. Even if you take them without, the outcome of the battle won’t change.”
“Listen, everyone, I know what I have said might sound crazy, but just me, I am not going there to die. I have a backup plan. Nothing will go wrong. Just trust me this once.”
“Young Master, this is crazy. This is too dangerous.”
“Watson, do we have any other choice. Without Duke Sarlus’s help, we can’t defend the capital. So it’s better to follow my plan.”
After somehow calming everyone down, Julia proceeded to repair Scott, Tyler, Josh, Nathan, Eleanor, and Henry’s crippled heart. Now all of them had recovered a part of their cultivation. It might them from 2 weeks to even a month to recover their lost cultivation.
For the rest of the day, 7 of them spent their time training the slaves who now are called the recruits.
Next day,
Just when the first light of the morning came, brightening everything, Aditya and his 7 generals left the castle. In the early morning, the streets of the city were empty. Everyone was still sleeping. Riding a horse, the king and his 7 generals left the capital.
“Watson, I think you should have gone with him.” Julia asked while looking out of the glass window.
“Milady, you should just wait for the good news. Nothing is going to happen to his majesty.” Watson replied with a mysterious smile on his face. Only Watson knew what earth-shaking event was going to happen today.
——
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Updated from 𝑖𝑟𝘦𝒶.𝒸𝘰𝘮