Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 330: Chapter 330. Forewarning

Amon didn’t find this shift in ranks surprising because he had been occupied by many matters. He hadn’t taken many missions, and thus, his academic points collection speed was lagging. Not to mention, he was also deducted 10,000 academic points due to the time when the Royal Academy learned of his connection with the underworld.

With all those setbacks, it was impressive that his rank was not lower. He started doing missions more aggressively. Unfortunately, Sima Fang kept up with his pace.

It was now the last year of the Junior class. He didn’t have much time to reverse the result. Even so, he wouldn’t just sit back and accept the result. He decided to go to the tutor’s main office building. It was time to ask for a favor.

He went to Li Niang’s office, but she was not around. Fei Wung and Lao Zen were also not in their offices. Before he moved to the Practice Building to look for An Guan, he first visited the mess hall for teachers. He found Lao Zen among the teachers hanging out at that place. He was sitting at a table with Li Shi and Ha Gild.

Li Shi noticed Amon when he entered. She greeted, ”Student Lin Mo, it was rare seeing you in this building unless you are summoned... for disciplinary issues.”

Ha Gild chuckled at Li Shi’s words. He asked Amon, ”Considering you approach us directly, I assume you need assistance?”

”Yes,” Amon answered. ”Do you have any special mission I can join?”

”Hm, I see someone needs academic points,” Ha Gild teased.

”Being competitive is well, but please understand that losing rank is not the end of the world,” Lao Zen lectured.

”I disagree. I think we should praise his competitive attitude. Wasn’t the reason we established the rank system to encourage competitions so every student strived to be the best?” Ha Gild argued.

”We do encourage competitions, but we still need a limitation,” Lao Zen explained. ”We don’t need someone who strived for the best at the expense of everything. Our kingdom needs someone willing to sacrifice most things to achieve a target. However, we don’t need someone who sacrifices everything. Because if so, then there is a possibility that such a person will sacrifice even the kingdom and the people they care about. Someone willing to sacrifice everything is not only useless but also dangerous to us.”

Amon silently snickered in his mind.

”Hm... I guess if you explain it that way, I can’t say I disagree,” Ha Gild uttered. He turned to Amon and said, ”That said, I don’t have anything that needs assisting at this moment.”

”I don’t have any special request submitted to me,” Lao Zen added. ”We only have the standard missions, which you can take from the mission center.”

Li Shi shook her head at first, but she suddenly thought of something. She told Lao Zen, ”Head Tutor, what if I make a special request for him to accompany me to the capital for that dignitary visit?”

”The one from Oredolia?” Lao Zen asked.

Li Shi nodded. ”Lin Mo here was the one who first discovered the mural. He will be perfect to be present when the Oredolia representatives inspect the murals.”

Lao Zen rubbed his beard in contemplation. ”Well, if you can submit this as an official request. I will approve it for a special mission.”

”How many academic points can you spare?” Amon asked.

Lao Zen gave Amon an admonishing look. He said, ”You are rather pushy, aren’t you? Well, we did penalize you for 10,000 academic points years ago. I can put that amount as a reward for the special mission. That should help you gain headway.”

”What about the mission’s period?” Amon asked again.

”The representatives will only be in the capital for two days,” Li Shi informed. ”Oredolia representatives are known for their haughtiness. They are not willing to spend much time in places that are not under their influence. We will be at the capital one day before their arrival.”

”I can lend you my great eagle for transport,” Ha Gild offered. ”You will only need two days to reach the capital. I will instruct the great eagle to wait for you to bring you back after you are done.”

’This means the mission takes only one week to complete,’ Amon thought. 10,000 academic points for a one-week mission was profitable.

”I will take this special mission,” Amon said.

”Good, I will draft the official request,” Li Shi said. She stood and rushed out of the mess hall.

”She seemed excited,” Ha Gild remarked.

Lao Zen chuckled. ”She had been nervous about this visit,” He told Amon. ”Oredolia was not known to be friendly with those who challenged their belief. I guess knowing you will be there with her gives her a slight boost of confidence.”

”Funny if we consider she gains assurance by getting the company of someone weaker than her,” Ha Gild said, before adding, ”No offense, kid.”

”None taken,” Amon replied. He then asked, ”When will this dignitary visit take place?”

”Five days from now, so you will have to leave the day after tomorrow. Will that be a problem?” Lao Zen asked.

”No problem,” Amon answered. He excused himself from there afterward.

*

A day before the departure, he had a close meeting with Xin Wuming, Yang Li, Gao Lan, Qiang Dan, Lu Fei, and Ah Bin. He considered these six his key personnel.

”Is it time to deal with Yan Clan and the corrupt kingdom officials?” Xin Wuming asked. Those two were the remaining parties responsible for the demise of Amon’s clan and his mother.

”No. It’s not time to deal with them yet, especially the kingdom officials,” Amon answered. ”I’ve gathered you here because I have something I need you all to keep in mind. I have a plan for us. A plan that will take a long time to realize. Due to the time frame, there is no guarantee that everything will go our way. Problems will always arise. Some big and some small. If we are unlucky, we can even get hit by such a misfortune that may seem like the doom of us.”

Amon paused as he stared at his six followers one by one. The six stayed silent. They knew Amon well enough to understand that his speech was not finished.

”If such a thing ever occurred, I want you all not to give up,” Amon resumed. ”Unless you see my dead body in front of you, nothing is over. Force can be reassembled, wealth can be reacquired, and empire can be rebuilt. As long as we are still breathing, we can push forward.

”Now, please understand I don’t say this to alarm you or anything. It is, however, important to prepare for any contingencies. If one day something happened that forces us to split and run for our lives, gather everyone you can find and go to the capital, Golden Stone City. Keep a low profile and wait for me there. If, for any reason, the capital is inaccessible, go to White Cloud City. I have bought the Lin Estate, so it should be vacant. Stay there until I come.”

The six looked at each other. Amon might tell them not to be alarmed, but it was difficult not to think that after hearing him say a forewarning like that.

Amon didn’t try to appease them. He added, ”Also, if you hear me say these two words, scorched earth. Leave everything behind and run. Go into hiding. When things calm down, go to Golden Stone City or White Cloud City and wait for me there.”

”Scorched earth...?” Gao Lan asked. They were unfamiliar with the term.

”It is our codeword. Do what I told you if you ever hear me say that. Do not hesitate,” Amon said. ”That is all. Everyone is dismissed.”

Before he left, he asked Lu Fei, ”Have you and your people packed?”

”We are heading to the sky stable after this,” Lu Fei answered.

Amon nodded. ”Tuang Yin will be there. She will help you use the service there.”

*

Later that night, Amon was with Tuang Yin. She knew Amon was leaving tomorrow and she was not invited, so she came to spend the night here. She was sleeping naked in his bed. Amon was standing next to the bed, also naked. He was staring at her peaceful sleeping face.

He thought about Madam Lin as he looked at her. As much as he wanted to deny it, he felt something when Madam Lin passed away in his arms. It was an unpleasant feeling, and he didn’t wish to experience it again.

He didn’t understand what he experienced. He thought he was past all these craps about feeling. What he experienced with Madam Lin was roughly similar to what he felt with Tuang Yin. He thought this should have something to do with his body growing up. Perhaps it was the growth hormones. In his past life, he went through that growth phase by pillaging, raiding, and raping. He was past all that. He didn’t have the same desire as then. Maybe this caused his hormones to find a different outlet.

Whatever the reason, he didn’t like it.

The swan dagger appeared in his hand. He placed the dagger right above Tuang Yin’s head. If she was gone, he would be free of this restricting feeling.

*

Tuang Yin opened her eyes. She saw Amon sitting on the bed. He seemed to be deep in thought.

”You don’t want to sleep?” She asked.

Amon glanced at her. He stood and said, ”I’m not sleepy.” He walked away and entered the basement.

Tuang Yin looked at him disappearing down the stairs. Now that she thought about it, she never saw him sleep. She didn’t think too much about it. She was tired. She returned to her sleep.