Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 660: Chapter 660. Apprehend

True to Amon’s world, Huang Er was escorted under heavy surveillance. She was surrounded by soldiers on all sides. All these soldiers were Amon loyalists, handpicked by Xin Wuming. They were more loyal to Amon than to their country.

Though Huang Er was more powerful than they were, she didn’t try anything. She complied with Amon’s demand and returned directly to where her army was.

After sending her back, Xin Wuming told her, ”Prime Minister Huang Er, General Amon told me to inform you to refrain from letting your army travel within two miles of Bulo City.”

Hua Ling, Sima Fang, and Wu Di were there to welcome their commander’s return. Upon hearing Xin Wuming’s words, Wu Di burst into shouting. ”What do you mean we are not allowed to approach the city? We are on the same side!”

”Not really,” Xin Wuming replied. ”The First Demon Army is currently acting as a mercenary army for Kazhan’s conclave in their effort to reestablish their traditions. Your commander chose to stay out of this effort. Thus, your army should maintain a distance. Furthermore, we regularly practice our artillery bombardments for the coming battle.”

As if to hammer in his point, an explosion occurred a distance away.

Huang Er and Hua Ling didn’t know what caused the explosion. Wu Di informed them, ”That is a shot made by a Yuanxu Cannon. The First Demon Army secured quite a number of those cannons in the war with Khode.”

”Yuanxu Cannons? I read about these weapons from Jiang Tong’s report on the battle at Bright Rock City,” Hua Ling said. ”Apparently, this weapon can cause substantial devastation from very far away. I guess the report was not exaggerated.”

”It will be a shame if your soldiers are injured by an accidental shot. None of us wants that,” Xin Wuming said. He then excused himself and returned with his squad.

”What a prick,” Wu Di uttered. ”He is still as exasperating as I remember.”

”The elemental explosion from a Yuanxu Cannon is no joke. I suggest we don’t treat their warning lightly. We should keep our distance,” Sima Fang said.

”Have you dealt with that cannon before, Sister Sima?” Wu Di asked.

”No, I also only read them from books and war reports,” Sima Fang answered. She then turned to Huang Er and asked, ”From the way Your Highness is treated, I suppose the meeting didn’t proceed in our favor?”

”No,” Huang Er said. ”General Amon refused to remove himself from Kazhan’s power struggle.”

”How bold!” Hua Ling exclaimed. ”Was he not afraid of punishment for disobeying the Prime Minister’s order? Your Highness should assert your rank and remove his authority. Without his soldiers, he couldn’t wage a war.”

Wu Di wanted to tell them that Amon still had his puppet army, but Huang Er had already responded to Hua Ling. ”He presented a highly persuasive argument that I can’t disregard.”

”What argument?” Hua Ling asked.

”Let’s enter my tent. We will talk there,” Huang Er said.

A few tents had been erected during her absence. They were mostly for high-ranking officers. Huang Er told a soldier to relay her order for the rest of the troops to erect their tents. They would be camping out here.

Inside the tent, Huang Er told her three followers about the calamity. She also told them about the recording from the memory stone. She didn’t have the memory stone to prove it to them, but none of them doubted her words. If she believed the proof, then they believed it as well.

”A world-level calamity?” Wu Di muttered. ”If that is the case, then we must do something as well!”

”Do something? Like what General Amon is doing now? By causing an international incident?” Hua Ling asked sarcastically.

”Damn! He always keeps me in the dark. Why didn’t he tell me about this calamity?” Wu Di complained.

”Why? Do you regret that you are no longer working for him?” Hua Ling asked.

”Of course not, I prefer His Highness way more than that heartless man!” Wu Di exclaimed. ”Still, with the world at stake, we can’t afford to sit around and play politics.”

”I agree,” Sima Fang stated. ”I also understand now why the other countries do what they do. Farghous must have left our kingdom because they no longer see Echos as an enemy. General Amon’s act of invading Kazhan has made Farghous see Echos to be on their side.

”If we can avert this calamity by defeating the Temple of Divinity, then we should join forces with the others. The pact between Oredolia and Kazhan was made due to the invasion by Khode and Farghous. It’s not like Echos has a formal alliance treaty with the two countries. It is more of a temporary defensive pact against common opponents. With a reason as significant as the fate of the world, no one will blame us for rescinding ourselves from the pact. Our country’s reputation won’t be tarnished, and we will even be praised when the truth is made known.”

”You will want that, won’t you?” Huang Er asked her.

Sima Fang detected a change in Huang Er’s tone. She asked, ”Your Highness, I don’t understand. Did I say something wrong?”

”General Amon told me that he learned the truth from someone named Sima Zhuang.”

Wu Di and Hua Ling turned to Sima Fang with expressions of surprise after hearing Huang Er’s claim.

Huang Er maintained her sharp gaze on Sima Fang. ”He also told me that it was the Sima Clan who instigated and organized the other countries into a joint operation with the ultimate goal of defeating the Temple of Divinity. Do you deny all that?”

Sima Fang was silent. Her expression didn’t change. After a long minute, she sighed. ”I don’t understand how General Amon figured it out. All our agents sent to the other countries are using fake names. Anyway, I guess there is no point in denying it. Since things have progressed to this stage, I will come out and say it. Yes, it was the Sima Clan who is behind this war. As Brother Wu Di pointed out, the world is at stake. We do this for the sake of the world. The end justifies the means.”

”Justify? That was why you schemed? Do you know how many people have died because of this war?” Huang Er stood up. The tone of her voice rose.

”As I said, the end justifies the means. If we didn’t act, our world would come to an end, just like the recording you saw from the memory stone. We will be just another footnote to warn the next civilization that comes after us.”

”Do you remember how many of my soldiers died when we fought Farghous to liberate Cinder Ash Town? Your hometown!” Huang Er exclaimed. ”Come to think of it, it is probably your clan that aided Farghous in occupying that town. And remember our attempt to infiltrate that town using the secret tunnel that you proposed? How many people died in that failed attempt? You caused all their deaths...!!”

Sima Fang remained calm. ”I didn’t refute my sins, but as I said, they are necessary for the sake of the world.”

”You...!” Huang Er raised her hand. She seemed ready to strike Sima Fang to death.

”Your Highness!” Wu Di called. He hurriedly came in between Huang Er and Sima Fang. ”Please, calm yourself.”

”Hmph!” Huang Er lowered her hand, but she didn’t let Sima Fang go. She exclaimed, ”General Hua Ling, apprehend Sima Fang! Confiscate her space ring, and place her under confinement until we return to Echos, where she will be put on trial and punished!”

”Yes, Your Highness...,” Hua Ling obeyed. She turned to Sima Fang and said, ”Sister Sima Fang, please...”

The two of them had been working under Huang Er for a long time, so they had developed a mutual respect. Even though she was also hurt to know that Sima Fang had played them all along, she still didn’t wish her harm.

Sima Fang didn’t resist Hua Ling. She complied and went away with her.

Huang Er sat back in her chair and let out a long sigh. It had been a long day for her. To be disrespected by a junior and forced into a passive position, followed by a revelation that a long-time follower of hers was actually a spy with her own agenda. She liked Sima Fang ever since she recruited her. She was resourceful and reliable. She had high hopes for the girl. Hence, this revelation came as a painful blow to her.

Wu Di felt awkward there. Huang Er was evidently depressed, and he didn’t know how to console her. He wished so much for Huang Er to dismiss him, but the princess remained silent. After what felt like a long time, Wu Di finally said, ”Princess Huang Er, please don’t be sad. We...”

Huang Er interrupted him before he could finish. ”Do you think we should forget it?”

Wu Di had no idea what Huang Er was referring to. ”Sorry, Your Highness. I don’t follow...”

”Khode, Farghous, the Sima Clan. They all wronged us. Even though they did it for the right reasons, they have wronged us. Do we let them go? Or do we say bygone be bygone and join forces with them for the greater good?”

”This... I’m sorry. This is too heavy for my simple mind. Perhaps you should ask Hua Ling that question when she is back,” Wu Di said while laughing awkwardly.

”No, in this matter. I prefer the opinion of one with a simple mind. Let me know your opinion,” Huang Er demanded.

”Well... Since it is so, very well. Here are my thoughts. I think we shouldn’t forget their transgressions. However, there should be priorities. Justice and the good of the world should always predominate! After we ensure the safety of the world, we can then work on punishing the wrongs.”

”Hm... thank you for your input. You are dismissed,” Huang Er said.

Wu Di wasn’t sure if he made an impression with his words. He gave the princess another glance before he left the tent.