Armipotent

Chapter 1933: Securing Contracts

The night before, Tang Shaoyang set up a meeting with the sixth son, Volans. Or to be more exact, he visited Volansʼ residence with his spirits.

”I donʼt appreciate the intrusion, no matter who you are!” Volans had a deep frown when he entered the guest room with his sleeping robe. He saw the knight who killed Hector Willem standing behind a man whom everyone thought might be the weakest in the group. However, he could tell there was something different about the man, something that made him different from the other knights.

”And I will tell you that I will not betray my country for your stupid game with my brothers if what you want is those cowards who flee from the duel.”

Volans sat across the man with no fear. While they were strong, he had his guards as well. His grandfather was a God Rank, and he managed to poach a few God Rank mercenaries to be his retainer as well. He had more than thirty God Ranks, and eleven of them were currently standing behind him. He was not afraid of these mercenaries when he had his people.

”Forget about them. I am here for something else. I will help you take the throne from your brothers,” Tang Shaoyang casually made his offer.

Volans furrowed his brow deeper as hesitancy was shown on his face. His eyes glanced toward Gianni, having witnessed the man kill a God Rank as if killing a mob monster. Without a doubt, assistance from this group would help him in achieving his goal. They would increase his odds, which were already small.

”Do you want to serve me?”

Tang Shaoyang let out a chuckle, waving his hand at the young lord, ”It seems like you misunderstand me, Volans. I will never serve you, I will never serve anyone ever again. Itʼs a contract that will benefit both of us.”

”What can six mercenaries offer in the battle succession?” A rough yet vigorous voice chimed as one of Volansʼ guards sat next to Volans.

Volans called him grandpa, which told Tang Shaoyang who the man was and the reason why he had suddenly joined the conversation. It was Volansʼ maternal family that pushed him to succeed the throne, and this grandpa might play a huge role in Volansʼ succession.

Tang Shaoyang grinned, ”I can show you what I can do, but I hope that I will stay in this room… It actually doesnʼt matter, isnʼt it?” He then flicked his finger, and three shadows came out from Volansʼ shadow.

Volansʼ Grandpa startled, standing and sheathing his swords, so did the remaining ten God Ranks. They all stood behind Volans and were ready to fight as they faced three terrifying creatures.

”Donʼt worry about them, they are my people and have been helping to gather information about you and your brothers from your people.”

Rokian, Argon, and Artras slowly made their way to join the five knights, showing them that they were under Tang Shaoyangʼs order.

Volans showed a flicker of fear as his eyes were glued on the three creatures from the Inferno. This was his first time to see such a creature, and he could tell they were not a demon race as well.

Volansʼ grandpa was calmer than the others and motioned the others to step back after ensuring their guests were not threatening his grandsonʼs life.

”The people, you people like you and your eldest brother. It seems like they want your eldest brother or you to succeed the throne more than your second brother. I can understand their feelings, but I am surprised to find out that the majority of people like you more than your other brothers, but they donʼt mind your eldest brother inheriting the throne as well. But I will help the people to get the Monarch they want. I will help you.”

Tang Shaoyang flicked his finger again and summoned three more spirits. Arkanos and Malki, the two Blade Emperors from a different race. Arkanos was a human who mastered Elemental Swordsman, and Malki was an ant-beastman with scythe-like hands. The third spirit was an easy choice, Maldros the Stormbringer.

”That will make it eleven against eleven if you donʼt count me in the battle. They easily get rid of your guards if I want you to die. I can—”

”What do you want?” Volans cut Tang Shaoyang off. The nervousness was obvious on his face, and his chest heaved up and down as his heartbeat went up. He did not feel the pressure, but he would die if this man wanted him to die.

”To see your brotherʼs expression when they lose the throne to you. That will be a good price for what they tried to do against me. Thatʼs what I want.”

Volansʼ Grandpa shook his head, ”Even if you have twelve God Ranks with you, itʼs still not enough to face Benedict and Albinʼs forces.”

Tang Shaoyang summoned more spirits, the Archdemon and the Demon God, the two undead: The Demonic Slayer and the Spear Saints, Radiance the Primal Frostbringer, and the Golden Imp Calamity.

”I have more, but it will ruin your house if I call them.” Then they recalled them back aside from the original five knights that stayed, ”But again, we donʼt need that much force for you to win the throne. How is it?”

Volans and his grandpa exchanged glances. The latter nodded his head, telling Volans to accept the deal. Even if they lose the succession battle, these mercenaries might be able to protect his family and his grandson.

”Letʼs say I agree to work with you, whatʼs your plan to put me on the throne? You will not get what you want by killing my brothers,” Volans was interested despite his wariness against Tang Shaoyang. But this was a better choice than following their original plan.

”Letʼs stick to your plan. We will make you a hero and gain the mercenary and your peopleʼs support, as well as the other monarchiesʼ support. Isnʼt that your plan?”

Tang Shaoyang elaborated on how they were going to achieve the feat of becoming a hero.

Volansʼ eyes widened as he was about to call Tang Shaoyang crazy, but his grandfather spoke first, ”Letʼs do that. With our previous force, we will not be able to do that, but we can do it with your help. We have a big chance to achieve it with your help. Letʼs do it!”

”Thatʼs a deal, but I need you to make an official contract with the mercenary guild to hire me. Thatʼs another requirement, and you donʼt need to worry about Guild Master Alves. He will not interfere with our plan, I will make sure of that.”

Despite the weird request, Volans agreed to work together with Tang Shaoyang with his grandfatherʼs persuasion. They shook hands, and Tang Shaoyang left the room under a butlerʼs guidance.

”Ah, remember. What you see in this room, stay in this room. If the information leaks to your brother, I will kill all your people in this room but you and your grandfather.”

Volans slumped on the couch after Tang Shaoyang left. His sleeping robe was soaked in his sweat. ”Can we really trust him, Grandpa?”

”Of course, you canʼt trust him, but he is our best bet. This is for our family, Volans. We have to do it for them.”

Volans was not interested in the throne, nor was his grandfather, but his brothers forced him to take the challenge. His grandfather told him a dark secret about his older brother, Benedict, and Albin. They have killed their own siblings after their father died in an assassination. Even his nine-year-old and eleven-year-old little brothers were not spared, and also their family, until six of them were left behind.

Even when the Dominion attacked, his brothers did not even try to help their siblings. They would rather let the Dominion enter their land than help the brothers, which would become an obstacle to the throne. If he did not take the challenge, he and his family would be killed after one of them succeeded to the throne. They wanted to make sure that no one would challenge them anymore.

*** ***

Guild Master Alves watched everything from the start to the end. Tang Shaoyang did not bother to hide from him that he was plotting something together with Volans. Team Reds accepted the contract right after. The contract is a security contract, asking the Team Reds to protect Volans in the war. But there was more than just a security contract, as the contract stated Team Reds would help Volans in other matters as well. It did not say anything specific about what kind of help, but it was written on the contract.

The fox beastmen knew that contract would come back and bite him later, but he let it slide to gain a good impression of the player. He was sure that someone would use this contract against him, maybe his rival would replace his position as a guild master, but he put his bet on the players.

Alves did not know why, but he felt like whatever Tang Shaoyang planned, that plan would succeed even though he could not imagine a way for a group of six to influence a whole monarchy. He was interested and curious about what they would do, and he was willing to take a bet on Tang Shaoyang. The worst thing he would lose from this thing was his position as Guild Master. Not matter to him because he regarded the job as a nuisance.

”What about the contract to kill the Dominionʼs army? Do you have that contract?” Tang Shaoyang asked after finalizing his contract with his client. He was asking for a similar contract when they faced the ambush.

”Are you talking about the same contact when we fought the ambusher from the Dominion?” Alves was confused why Tang Shaoyang asked for another contract for him.

”Thatʼs right. We will leave tonight to ambush the Dominionʼs army,” Tang Shaoyang did not bother hiding his plan from Guild Master Alves.

Alves tried to recall yesterdayʼs court meeting. It was quite fuzzy because of the duel, but he did not recall anything about ambushing the Dominionʼs army.

”You know how the contract works, right? I can only issue a contract when thereʼs a request. I canʼt just make a contract when no one requests it.”

Tang Shaoyang turned toward Volans. He could make Volans make the request, and he would take the contract. He told Volans what to do, and Alves did not have a choice but to post the contract for his mercenary. However, he put a condition that the contract would be posted publicly, meaning the other mercenaries could take the contract as well.

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[Mercenary Contract]

Objective: Kill 10 of The Dominionʼs Army

Reward: 50 Credits & 10 Rank Points

Contract Type: Repetition Contract

Completion: 0 time

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[Mercenary Contract]

Objective: Kill a God Rank from the Dominion Army

Reward: 1.000.000 Credits & 2000 Rank Points

Contract Type: Repetition Contract

Completion: 0 time

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[Mercenary Contract]

Objective: Protect and Help Volans Marelli Forest

Reward: 1.000.000 Credits & 500 Rank Points

Contract Type: Exclusive Contract

Completion: Protect and Help until the war against the Dominion is over

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Just like that, Tang Shaoyang secured three contracts. This was his main goal when he approached Volans. Of course, he also could not wait to see Benedict and Albinʼs expressions when they lost their throne. But that was just a bonus; he would need these contracts to speed up his quest as well.