Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 645: Chapter 645. The Next Target

Two months after Zee Whang’s defeat. Amon came to Council Pylon because someone requested an audience with him. When he entered the Council Hall, he saw Zue Du and Zue Siao.

He had seen Zue Du on the battlefield. As for Zue Siao, this was the first time he met the woman, but he knew her by reputation. He knew she used to be one of the few whom Zee Whang allowed into his council.

”What do you want?” Amon asked the two.

Zue Siao answered, ”General Amon, would you be so kind as to let Wai Kung and Wai Ling off?”

”No,” Amon answered.

Zue Siao was dejected. She had prepared some arguments since she expected Amon to refuse her request, but Amon’s tone contained such finality that she lost her confidence to present those arguments.

There was a long pause before she gathered herself and said, ”General, the Wai Clan is among the oldest and most respected Khode Clans. Executing its leaders won’t sit well with the clan members. I’m afraid this might cause a riot. This nation is still recovering from the war. We can’t afford another riot. It will cause instability.”

”General, I agree with Zue Siao in this matter,” Zee Min uttered.

”Wai Kung and Wai Ling are my captives, not Khode’s. If the Wai Clan opposes the execution, they are welcome to come for me. Khode is not involved in this. That’s why I stage the execution outside the city. It will be carried out on schedule three days from now.”

Zue Siao didn’t give up. ”General, the relationship between Khode and Echos has just begun mending. This execution will put a strain on it and cause a prejudice against Echos. It can become a seed for future problems.”

”I am willing to accept those problems,” Amon replied.

Zue Siao was at a loss. It seemed Amon was adamant about going along with the execution.

Zue Du voiced his opinion when he saw that Zue Siao was silent, ”General Amon, the Wai Clan is strong and its influence wide. Why make an enemy when you can gain an ally? By freeing the two, they will be in your debt.”

Amon chuckled. ”Haven’t you seen how Wai Ling behaved during the attack on Dabao City? Do you truly think that woman can ever let go of her vengeance?”

Zue Du couldn’t find a good response to that argument.

Amon had actually visited Wai Kung and Wai Ling before deciding on the execution. From the conversation he had with the two, he concluded that Wai Ling would never let go of her grudge, and Wai Kung would never abandon his daughter. Normally, he didn’t mind an enemy who might pose trouble for him in the future, but in this case, he had an additional purpose with the execution. So, he went along with it.

”If asking for their release is all you want, you can forget about it,” Amon told them. ”I have expected this to be what you want. I would have ignored your request to meet if I didn’t have another topic that I wish to discuss with you.”

”With me?” Zue Siao asked in surprise. She might be an important person during Zee Whang’s rule. But with the new High Council’s authority, her influence was as good as any other major clan in the capital.

”Aside from the Wai and Xuang Clans, your clan was the one that colluded with Wei Zhuang in the plan to assault Oredolia.”

Zue Siao displayed a surprised expression. ”You know about the matters?”

Out of the people inside the Council Hall, only Hong Zi and Ha Velet were oblivious to the issue. ”What matters?” They asked.

Amon gave the two a rundown of the prophecy and what he had learned from Sima Zhuang.

”An incoming calamity that will destroy the whole world...?” The two looked skeptical.

Amon played the memory stone that Sima Zhuang showed him before. He took the stone after killing the man. Seeing that stone in Amon’s hand caused Zue Siao to blurt out, ”You were the one who killed Wei Zhuang!”

”I was,” Amon didn’t try to cover it up.

After the image from the memory stone stopped playing, Zue Siao asked Amon, ”What do you want from me?”

”I figure you are still committed to preventing this calamity?” Amon asked.

”Of course, who would want their world to end?” Zue Siao asked back.

”That’s good. I assume you have contacts with the people at the center of the operation. The ones who have the ears of the higher-ups in Farghous and Gyleth Marx?”

”Wei Zhuang is the one who made the arrangement, but I was provided with the people to contact in case he is occupied. I never attempted a contact, though.”

”In that case, please make a contact,” Amon said.

”What message should I give them?” Zue Siao asked.

”Tell Farghous to pull out from Echos and aid Gyleth Marx with their invasion of Oredolia.”

”If they do, Echos may hit them.”

”Echos won’t,” Amon stated.

”Have you talked to King Huang San? Can he give a guarantee that he won’t order retaliation?”

”I haven’t talked with him, but he won’t attack Farghous.”

”How can you be so sure?” Zue Siao asked. ”I’m sorry, but I’m sure the people you ask me to contact won’t be that easy to persuade without a guarantee directly from the king.”

Amon grinned. ”In a few more months, I will move my army. When that happens, King Huang San will have no choice but to keep Echos’ force inside the kingdom while assessing the situation.”

Zue Siao didn’t understand what Amon meant.

Amon didn’t bother to explain further. He simply said, ”Tell Farghous to pay attention. Once they see my movement, they will know. When that happens, they must withdraw from Echos. Otherwise, they will complicate matters even further.”

”... Alright, I will convey your message,” Zue Siao said.

”General, I have a question,” Zue Du said with a formal salute.

”What is it?” Amon asked.

”From what you said, dare I assume that you will participate in this quest against Oredolia to prevent the calamity?”

”... In a way, yes. I will be targeting Oredolia next and get to the bottom of the prophecy,” Amon replied.

”In that case, I have a request. Please allow me to join your army!” Zue Du stated.

”Oh? Why?” Amon asked.

”I was late when I learned about this upcoming calamity from Zue Siao. By then, Xuang Feng’s troops had left for Echos. Otherwise, I would have joined. I want to do what I can to prevent this calamity. Khode has no viable force that can be mobilized at the moment. Hence, if you plan to tackle this quest, I very much wish to be part of it.”

”Hm... What happens after we are done with the quest? My army is not a place where people come and go as they please,” Amon said.

He heard Bo Wu’s reply almost immediately in his head, ”Oh, really? I remember a certain someone who left more than a month ago.”

Amon ignored Bo Wu. His stare remained on Zue Du.

Zue Du replied, ”After we prevent the calamity, I will dedicate myself to your service for another ten years, under the condition that you don’t undertake any offensive campaign against Khode. After these ten years are up, I will return to Khode.”

”Hm... Very well, I accept your terms. I look forward to your service,” Amon said.

*

Three days later, Wai Kung and Wai Ling were brought to an execution platform built outside Dabao City. Citizens gathered around the platform. Although the Wai Clan was widely known among Khode’s citizens, its reputation was not good. They were the main clan who supported Zee Whang, after all. Common citizens considered the clan as guilty as the Supreme Chancellor. Hence, many showed up to witness the execution.

Unbeknownst to the public, many Wai Clan members were also in the crowd. They looked around the place as the executioner announced Wai Kung and Wai Ling’s sins, which were mostly made up and tailored to justify the execution.

They didn’t see many troops. Only a handful of Echos’ soldiers stood guard around the platform. Aside from Dabao City, no force was seen for miles around them. The Wai Clan members came here planning to free their clan leaders. The lax security further bolstered their resolve.

They uttered a battle cry before charging toward the platform. The few Echos’ soldiers jumped onto the platform and formed a fence. This didn’t discourage Wai Clan members. They numbered in the hundreds. They should have no problem slaying those soldiers and had no reservations in doing so. They still consider Echos as an invader. The more they killed, the better.

While the Wai Clan members thought they took Echos’ soldiers by surprise, Amon was among the crowd. He had anticipated their move. Once they acted, so did he.

He released the Royal Puppet Army stored inside his black space ring. In an instant, everyone was surrounded by a countless number of battle puppets.