Arc 1: Kumoshima Hierarchy 7
1351 Words
The lively and colorful celebration inside the Minister’s tent in the barracks of the main force of Great Lang was halted with bad news.
“What did you say? Kumoshima's main force was advancing towards us?” Prime Minister Idjimo asked.
“Yes, My Lord. Our first force had already fallen. General Wen sent a messenger to ask My Lord to be the backup.”
He waved his hand, “Send the messenger back and tell that useless General Wei to hold the front lines. I’ll send men in a few hours.”
Just as the soldier left, Minister Idjimo ordered his attendants, “Quick! Put the most valuable items in the carriages. We need to leave here soon. We don’t have time.”
“But what about our men, My Lord? They are waiting for—”
Before the attendant could finish his words, Minister Idjimo already slit his throat.
Fear struck everyone who witnessed the violence of the Prime Minister.
The women inside the minister’s tent begged to be saved. They did not want to stay there. They wanted to return to their families. They hated their blood. They could not disobey the minister because of their blood.
“Stay here and help the soldiers hold the line,” then he turned to a new attendant who was still frozen in shock. “Pick the prettiest girls and bring them along.”
Without looking back, Prime Minister Idjimo left the tent and went to the stable. He did not worry if the attendant would follow him or not. They will never disobey him. As long as they did not see both of the Princes, people of Great Lang will follow him blindly.
That’s why those princes should just die. They were the only block in my path.
A few steps away from the stable, Idjimo heard a commotion from where he had been. He turned reflexively but all of a sudden, an arrow struck the soil in front of him. A little step ahead and it would have thrust on his leg.
Prime Minister Idjimo gritted his teeth but before he could react, someone sneaked and attacked him. He wasn’t able to see his perpetrator as his consciousness was swallowed by darkness.
Where the hell are his shadow guards? The last thing that came to his mind before he fainted.
_________
“Greetings, Prime Minister.”
Prime Minister Idjimo moved his head towards the direction of the voice. His eyes blind-folded while arms restrained by some cold, heavy metal tied on a tree. He could only guess the direction of the culprit.
"Who are you? Don't you think my people won't be able to trace you?" he warned.
The person did not speak but instead took off his blindfold.
They were in the middle of a forest.
“Y—You!” Minister Idjimo struggled to turn, “The Sigma Prince! You’re still alive? Why did you return here?”
Chunan did not respond. He stood across him, arms crossed, while staring at him. After a while, he asked, “Why did you do it?”
Idjimo sneered, “Which ‘it’ do you mean?
“You...Why did you do everything? Why did you harm us? My father, you were his closest subordinate. Why do you need to do all this?”
At the mention of his father, Idjimo started cackling.
Chunan frowned.
“Your Father! Who wanted to be your father’s subordinate this whole life? Every time I see him, all I could think of was I will be second to this person forever! Who would be happy about that?”
“Am I not working hard? I even need to travel to different places more than him! Dealing problems on my own while he only sat at that throne!”
“Why does he need to live life comfortably? Just because he was born from that bloodline?”
“Because of those things?” Chunan gritted his teeth, “Only because of that, you decided to kill my father and still wanted to kill me and my brother. Just because you wanted to stand on that pedestal?”
“Why? Is there anything wrong with wanting that spot?” Idjimo smirked, “Why, did you never desire that throne? You were supposed to be the crown prince as first born. But because of that curse bloodline, you can’t!” Chunan only stared at him blankly. Idjimo continued, “Do you really think you really did not want to own that throne? If not for your blood, you probably killed that brother of yours yourself to get it back!”
Idjimo laughed. Laughed like there’s no tomorrow, Laugh like he’s the devil’s incarnate,
“Are you done?” Chunan’s voice was ice-cold. Idjimo suppressed his laugh. “Whether it was my blood or not, I’m just thankful I don’t need to be like you.” He looked at Idjimo disdainfully, “Yes, it might be unfair that not all people could fight fairly for that spot but every position requires responsibility. That position bears the heaviest responsibility, something that not all people could handle. Do you think it's unfair? It really is. Not just for those who could not attain it but even for people who received it without the right to refuse.” Chunan walked towards Idjimo, “You had the highest position for five years, what did you do? Could you bear the responsibilities for your actions? Or do you really think that position gave people rights to disrespect the law?”
Chunan stopped three feet away from Idjimo, “General Wei.”
Wei Xingyun appeared out of nowhere, with two more guards carrying a bunch of scrolls.
Wei Xingyun kneeled towards Chunan’s side, “Prince Zhuangjin, here are all the report.”
Chunan took one to read. Soon, he frowned as checked each of it.
Idjimo looked like he could vomit blood, “You! General Wei, you—traitor!” Idjimo was angered so badly he did not know how to curse Wei Xingyun.
General Wei stood up and looked down at him, "Traitor? My loyalty is always for Prince Zhuangjin. It was my carelessness not to discover the things you did earlier."
Wei Xingyun can’t stop himself. His disgust for Idjimo was already overflowing.
“You people, I should have just burnt down the whole barracks at that time.”
Wei XIngyun was about to stand beside Chunan when he froze. Getting the reaction he wanted, Idjimo continued, “then I would have gotten ridded all useless people like that noisy Wei Yanxin...”
General Wei saw red, “W-What did you s-say?” His hand gripped the hilt of his sword tight that his knuckles turned white.
Idjimo ignored what he said, “and stupid people like you.”
General Wei ignored his insult, "It was you who started that fire!” He shouted at Idjimo, his veins popped out on his forehead and neck as his anger suddenly erupted. His vision darken as he drew his sword and tried to hack Idjimo. However, Chunan blocked between them in time.
Idjimo used this situation and used the hidden blade on his shoes to attack Chunan.
“Xingyun-ge!”
Yet, who knew Chunan already saw through the plan and stabbed Idjimo’s feet without an eyebat.
“Your Highness!”
“Xingyun-ge,” Chunan repeated calmly, but each word contains heaviness, “Don’t let his provocations manipulate you.” He looked at Idjimo, eyes filled with disgust.
Ging arrived, “Your Highness, a letter.”
Chunan read the letter. After a while, he gritted his teeth, “Bring Idjimo back to the wolf palace. Don’t let him get away. I’ll return in four days with the Crown Prince to pass judgement on this criminal. Interrogate him for now.”
As Chunan and Ging left, he asked the latter, “They still haven't found Young Master Keisuke?”
“Kurokami was still searching for him.”
Chunan gritted his teeth, “It’s a big problem if Kuro could not find him. Let’s go back fast.”
- Writer
