Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 659: Chapter 659. Warning

Amon told Huang Er, Xan Chi, and Fen Nu what Sima Zhuang told him about the coming calamity that would engulf the world, and the suspicion that the Temple of Divinity was responsible for this disaster. The three listened intently without interrupting.

After Amon was done, Xan Chi and Fen Nu glanced at one another, while Huang Er pondered the information quietly.

Xan Chi was the first to speak. ”General Amon, I mean no disrespect, but your tale sounds too bizarre. It sounds very much like a load of bull.”

Fen Nu slapped Xan Chi’s arm for his words. Xan Chi responded by saying, ”What? I’m being honest.”

”I agree with Tribe Chief Xan Chi,” Huang Er said. ”I can’t accept you using this excuse to involve your army in Kazhan’s internal conflict.”

Amon didn’t mind their response. He had expected it. He revealed the half-broken memory stone from Sima Zhuang and played the recording. They were surprised by the holographic image because Amon didn’t warn them.

They were not unfamiliar with memory stones. Although the method of creating this stone had been lost to time, some had been excavated from ancient ruins. Hence, they knew that the image currently playing was a recording of a past event.

They watched and listened to the woman inside the image as Amon had in the past. After the recording was over, the three went silent again. This time, the silence lasted longer than before.

Amon didn’t talk since he finished narrating. He let the three absorb the information at their own pace.

Xan Chi was again the first one to speak. ”Pah! I never liked the Temple of Divinity. It is their fault that Kazhan was turned upside down. I never expected them to be worse than I ever imagined. General Amon! I understand now why you wish to aid Gyleth Marx. Let me assure you, Kazhan will assist you in this endeavor! What say you, Fen Nu?”

”I... I don’t know. This all sounds a bit too spectacular,” Fen Nu replied. ”A catastrophe that encompassed the whole world? What could it be? And why did the Temple of Divinity want to do that?”

”I agree...,” Huang Er said. ”This is all a bit too far-fetched for me... Even with that memory stone as proof.”

”This is not the only proof that implicates the Temple of Divinity,” Amon finally spoke.

”Really? There are more?” Fen Nu asked.

”There are, but unfortunately, I don’t have them with me,” Amon answered. ”Why did you think Gyleth Marx, Khode, and Farghous initiated this war? They must have been presented with strong arguments and proof to warrant mobilizing their armies. This memory stone is one of them.”

”Give the memory stone to me,” Huang Er demanded. ”I will bring it to Golden Stone City and show it to King Huang San to plead your case.”

”Sorry, I must refuse. This memory stone stays with me,” Amon replied. ”If you want to plead my case, be my guest, but I won’t wait for your answer. Kazhan’s royal army will arrive in a few days. Whether you like it or not, I will face that army. You can either aid me or stand aside.”

Huang Er frowned upon Amon’s answer. She was about to say something, but Amon resumed speaking again.

”The fate of the world is at stake! I can’t wait to abide by normal procedure. If I’m to be punished when this is all over, so be it! But I will be damned if I let the world burn when I can do something about it!”

Amon’s proclamation took them aback. Xan Chi responded, ”Good! I am with you all the way, General Amon! You have the support of Xan Tribe!”

”Fen Tribe as well!” Fen Nu exclaimed.

Amon smiled. He, of course, did not truly care about the fate of the world. Even so, saving the world was something almost everyone dreamed of. Everyone wanted to be a hero who saved the world. Even if not for righteous reasons, but for fame and glory. He was now presenting this chance. Even for Xan Chi and Fen Nu, who possessed questionable morality, they were eager to join the crusade.

Huang Er, however, didn’t buy Amon’s proclamation because she knew what kind of man he was. She said, ”General Amon. Even for the sake of saving the world, proper conduct remains to be upheld. We can’t let you use Echos’ military power as you see fit. It is up to the king to decide.”

”That is bullshit!” Xan Chi exclaimed. ”If your king demands that you die, will you do it?”

”Of course. If it is for the betterment of Echos’ kingdom, I will gladly give my life to my king,” Huang Er replied.

”That’s why I can’t understand you, feudal people. We, tribal people, decide the path we should take through discussion among our wisest men and women. Certainly not because someone of pompous birth is telling us to.”

”I don’t assume primitive tribes like yours will ever understand the proper way we live,” Huang Er returned.

”Are you looking for a fight?!” Xan Chi made a threatening display, but Fen Nu stopped him.

”Prime Minister,” Amon called, drawing Huang Er’s attention. ”I have shown you my reasons. If you doubt my conviction, you are welcome to test it. Be warned, though, that I won’t show you mercy if you get in my way.”

”Are you trying to rebel?” Huang Er asked.

”No, I’m trying to save the world,” Amon replied. ”Seeing that you are adamant in preventing me from engaging Kazhan’s royal army, I assume you will next plead your way to Echos soldiers under my command. Let me warn you. If you do that, I will announce the coming calamity to everyone. I will show the recording inside this memory stone to my soldiers and the people of Kazhan. I will also have my people spread the news in Echos.

”I believe those who knew this secret keep the knowledge limited to avoid mass panic. It is unclear what will happen if the public is enlightened with this information. Many might volunteer to join the crusade against the Temple of Divinity, but many might riot as well. People are easily riled up when they are confused and afraid. There will be chaos everywhere. I don’t think you want that.”

”Are you threatening me?” Huang Er asked.

”You are the one who forced me to,” Amon replied. ”I would prefer you go back to Echos without causing any trouble here. As I said, you can punish me once I return to Echos after dealing with the Temple of Divinity. I will leave the decision to you. Try to use your authority to pull my soldiers away, and we will see if my soldiers are more loyal to the king or to the just cause of saving the world.”

Huang Er was conflicted. She didn’t expect to be put under such a difficult situation. She would be humiliated if the soldiers of the First Demon Army rejected her call after learning about the calamity. If she only had to fight against their loyalty to Amon, she was confident she would win over most of the soldiers. But throw in the threat of the calamity in the mix, and she was no longer as confident.

”There is nothing I can say to persuade you from avoiding a clash with Kazhan’s royal army?” Huang Er asked.

”There is, but it is equally impossible as persuading me,” Amon said. ”Meet Shou Zou and tell him to turn his back on Oredolia.”

Xan Chi and Fen Nu turned to Amon with alarmed expressions. What if Shou Zou said yes? Wouldn’t that mean their tribes were fucked?

Amon chuckled at their expression. ”Didn’t I say it is impossible? No chance that man will do that. He converted the whole governing system of Kazhan at the behest of the Temple of Divinity. Even if we show him the proof about the calamity, he will not change his allegiance.”

”Since I can’t change your mind, let me excuse myself,” Huang Er said.

”Please don’t linger inside this city. Xin Wuming will escort you back to your army,” Amon said. ”I don’t wish for our two forces to clash, but please understand that I am not averse to it. Do not test my resolve.”

Huang Er narrowed her eyes at Amon but said nothing. She turned and walked toward the exit.

Before Huang Er reached the exit, Amon warned her again. ”Prime Minister, I have one more information to share. The person I received this memory stone from is someone named Sima Zhuang. In fact, it was the Sima Clan who instigated and organized the crusade of the various countries against Oredolia.”

Huang Er paused for a brief second upon hearing the information, but resumed walking again soon after.

After Huang Er was out of the room, Xan Chi told Amon, ”If you think she will be a problem, let’s take her out before Shou Zou’s troops arrive.”

”No,” Amon replied. ”I am not ready to go up against Echos in the open yet. After my warning, I don’t think she will take the risk of provoking us, but I will have someone monitor her movements.”

”Yet?” Fen Nu asked. Her expression looked amused. ”You talk like you plan to face off against your own country sometime in the future.”

Amon smiled in response.