“So you are the child named Zion, correct?” asked a Tigerkin, who had a scar that crossed his forehead and part way down his cheek, in a cold tone.
Thirteen stared at the Tigerkin in front of him, who seemed to be in his early forties, with a curious look on his face.
Ages were a bit hard to tell in both Pangea and Solterra. Someone who looked like a teenage boy might actually be someone already in their early thirties and only had a youthful appearance due to having a High Rank.
The seven-year-old might not be able to tell how old the Tigerkin was, but he could tell what his Rank was.
‘A peak Champion,’ Thirteen thought. ‘Someone similar to Grandma Callista.’
He had already expected that the General, whom Dixon was referring to, was someone who had a high rank, so he wasn’t too surprised by this development.
Dixon himself was a Champion, so it was only natural that the one he was taking orders from was someone stronger than him.
“Yes.” Thirteen nodded. “My name is Zion. Zion Leventis.”
The Tigerkin nodded. “I am General Stark. My family name is Evander. According to my subordinates, you were with a Drow, right? Is she your Master?”
“No,” Thirteen replied. “My Master is a High Orc named Jubei.”
The boy made sure to keep his story to match the narrative that he had made in Gronar City. Any inconsistencies might come to bite him later, so it was in his best interest to stick to the background he created.
“Then why were you with the Drow?” General Stark asked. “Dixon said that you were riding with her when they found you.”
“My Master had asked me to go to the Furvus Grasslands to hunt some monsters alongside other slaves,” Thirteen answered. “The Drow, Lady Adira, was there to keep watch over us, and supervise the hunting operation.”
“Other slaves?” General Stark arched an eyebrow. “When my men found you, there was only you and the Drow. Where are these other slaves that you speak of?”
Briela, Dixon, Alina, and Anwir, who had entered the office just a few minutes ago, perked up their ears to listen to the boy’s explanation.
“Originally, we were all together in the camp we have made in the Furvus Grasslands,” Thirteen explained. “But something unexpected happened.”
The boy explained about the Monster Stampede, which forced them to evacuate their camp.
He added that, knowing that they would be overtaken by the enemies, he was forced to distract the Golden-Eyed Hyenas by acting as bait in order to draw their attention away.
General Stark and the rest of the Tigerkins inside the room listened to Thirteen’s tale without interrupting him.
When the boy was done, General Stark snorted.
“You expect me to believe that story?” General Stark asked in a cold tone. “A Drow, who is only a supervisor of a Slave Hunting Party, would actually dare to risk her life in order to save her slave subordinates? I find this hard to believe.
“Also, the part where the two of you acted as bait in order to help the Purple-Furred Honey Badger ambush the Leader of the Golden Hyena is an amazing feat. If it were true, I would have commended that Drow and you for your bravery.
“But I’m finding it hard to believe that your story is an actual fact, and not just a fabrication by your delusions. However, I have to admit that it is an interesting story, especially told by a child of your age. You have a talent for telling stories, Zion.”
Thirteen remained calm despite the contemptuous gaze that was being shot in his direction, coming from one of the best Generals of the Sumatran Kingdom.
“Whether you believe it or not is up to you to decide,” Thirteen commented. “But if a General of your caliber can’t even distinguish fact from delusion, then I guess the Generals of the Tigerkins are more incompetent than I thought. No wonder you lost to the Barbarians.”
A pin-drop silence descended inside the room as Dixon, Alina, and Anwir looked at the boy in disbelief.
“Boy, are you speaking so boldly because you know that we Tigerkins don’t hurt children?” General Stark narrowed his eyes. “Are you testing whether I will uphold our Warrior’s Code or not?”
“Yes.” Thirteen nodded. “For you to figure that out, you’re not as dumb as you look, General.”
Dixon and Alina felt a chill run down their spine because they could feel that their General was starting to get angry.
They couldn’t understand why a human boy could act so brazen in front of a Tigerkin who could easily twist his neck in a heartbeat.
Anwir, who didn’t like Thirteen from the start because Briella had introduced the boy to him as her “adopted son”, was laughing inside his heart.
‘Fool.’ Anwir sneered. ‘Out of all the people you dared to mock, you chose my adoptive father. Simply courting death.’
Just as everyone thought that the seven-year-old would get his just desserts, a giggle echoed inside the office as Briella, who was General Stark’s wife, giggled.
“You’re amazing, Zion,” Briella praised as she walked toward the younger boy and hugged him from behind. “What do you think, Stark? Our adopted son is quite funny and brave, right?”
General Stark, who was very tempted to torture the boy, frowned after hearing his wife’s words.
“What are you talking about?” General Stark asked in disbelief. “Briella, are you mad?”
“I will adopt Zion,” Briella stated in a firm tone. “Whether you like it or not.”
Briella’s gaze was firm as she faced off against General Stark’s own gaze which was filled with disbelief and confusion.
“Um, do I have a say in this?” Thirteen, who was being hugged from behind by the Tigerkin Lady raised a hand.
“You don’t,” Briella patted the boy’s head before glaring at her husband. “From this day onward, Zion is my adopted son. If you have a problem with my decision, make sure to find Percival first and bring him back to me. If you can’t do that, then shut up and keep on looking for him. Let’s go, Zion. I’ll get you something good to eat.”
Just like earlier, the seven-year-old had no choice but to get dragged away by the Tigerkin Lady, whom even General Stark was unable to defy.
Earlier, he was provoking the Tigerkin General on purpose because he wanted to confirm a few things from him.
One of the things he didn’t understand was the title that Dixon and the others had referred to him by, which was Death’s Chosen.
This title was given to him due to Tiona staying by his side.
His purpose for angering the General was to know if being the Death’s Chosen would allow him to remain unscathed, even with the fury of one of the highest ranking Tigerkins in the Kingdom.
He truly wasn’t really worried about the General killing him.
Sure, the General could’ve broken one of his bones or hurt him a little, but there was no chance of him dying in that place.
The worst that could happen to him was to be imprisoned, and it would end at that.
Every word that has escaped the boy’s lips was all calculated, bringing out the result he wanted.
Tigerkins followed the Warrior’s Code with their life.
As a General, he must set an example to his subordinates and not break such an important rule, which could cause him to lose his position within their army.
Also, Thirteen was testing whether Briella would interfere if her husband really attempted to hurt him.
The seven-year-old didn’t mind pain.
What he wanted was facts.
Facts that would allow him to know what the bottom line of the people around him was and calculate how he should use it to his advantage during his stay in the Sumatran Kingdom.