Western Warlords Palace
Aaron's mansion, Main hall!
" Give her away? Death or betrayal? "
The suggestion given by the general was too difficult for officers to digest!
After all the word betrayal was never thought to imperial army and they felt a bit amass, it's as if their general was wantedly provoking them to test their loyalty.
" General you jest... Are you testing our loyalty? "
Hahaha...
One officer who felt the situation getting tensed has joked out, trying to make situation awkward enough to lighten up the mood!
War was right at the corner, yet their general was suggesting them to betray at last moment?
Is that a joke? It's not funny old man!
Few started laughing to make situation better, but deep within they actually know that the significance of suggestion proposed by General!
Though the suggestion seems treasonous, if executed well they could probably save their lives or even preserve their reputation if a backer of high background supports them.
After all a dead princess was dead princess, and with first princess supporting them, they could easily pass over any accusations which might be imposed on them!
The one who would bear the blame would he beastmen, and they could easily pass over tide under first princess banner, cause they made a contribution for her right?
So the suggestion made by general was optimal for those who were desperate enough to survive out the predicament they were put under currently.
Still the possibility of General weeding out traitors were high, so many officers who had thoughts for betrayal decided to play safe as they were not entirely sure about what their general was really thinking about?
" Jesting? Is your general the type who loves to play jokes? "
" Hey, hey! I know you may think I am testing your loyalty! But if you think as such... I should apologize that I have really disappointed you by then! "
The general chuckled a bit before glancing at the officers and unveiled a scroll which had insignia of a Beastmen race that couldn't be faked!
A soul contract!? So it's all real then!
Looking at the officers who had a sudden change in their composure, the general was observing them one by one to find one such officer who could become his accomplice.
" General! It's treason! "
The vice general standing next to him were frightened as his actions could very well be regarded a treason!
Even the execution of his entire family might just be a blessing by then! The punishment of harming imperials was gruesome, much less killing them which was of highest offense!
They know that their general was very much loyal, and unlike those profiteers who sulk up to nobility for riches he had sacrificed his entire life for the welfare of imperials.
Making deal with Beastmen? It's treason worth getting punished for nine generations!
The bad history with Beastmen invaders who appeared out of no where was still evident them.
As such, the empire which controls majority of continent had many of their capable subjects being purged in a grand war which made any relation with beastmen a taboo!
Still irrespective of their gazes, general made a resolute face to justify his actions.
" Treason? I call it being forced! More like I feel disappointed that I don't want to sacrifice my life for foolish princess! "
Damn!
" General tell me that you're lying! Old pal are you really rebelling? "
The tanned vice general who got emotional roared angrily as his best mate was rebelling and proof was evident before his eyes!
" Old pal... Yes, I really am rebelling! "
" More than anyone in this room, I know the character of Xena the best, that ruthlessness and savagery... Don't you think she's basically abusing her authority a bit too much? "
He then clenched his fist in anger and released his pressure which almost suppressed the entirety of officers breathless for a second!
Peak order aura emperor?
A drastic change of emotions could be seen over their faces as general was currently strong enough to escape with princess all alone, yet he refused to acknowledge princess at last minute!
They felt rather depressed instead, as the initial happiness of their General's break through was quickly replaced by despair!
Resisting peak order aura emperor as high order was by itself difficult, let alone them who were all at initial and mid order to begin with!
Still the deeds of Xena were evident and they could only blame her for facing retribution at last moment!
Even the officers who were loyalists of imperials weren't ignorant of Xena's deeds!
Thousands upon thousands were in fact affected by her and the number of loyal servants who lost their lives had even exceeded hundred, so one could only imagine what sort of person was Xena in officers mind?
Because of her misdeeds, even imperial knights who were all of Transcendent realm cultivation had straight out refused from serving Xena, which even Empress was helpless to force one!
If not for that, what beastmen? And what undead? Everyone would have been mercilessly slain by Imperial knights who were apex experts of continent!
If imperial knights were present, would these officers still had a need to bang their heads to find a way now?
Retribution!
Few officers had such thoughts in their mind and spark of betrayal could very well be seen in their eyes undoubtedly!
Still they decided to play safe as nothing was certain and betrayal meant fall out with loyalists!
Looking at general's eyes which turned red and a bit emotional, the officers felt strange as the general was too true to be a fake!
" Her selfishness has no limits and for disobedience she would rather whip a person to death to make example!
From the moment she crippled by son's arm and later dissolved his cultivation I have seen her growing disappointing! "
" And within the couple of years she's grown vicious, I could no longer find her promising to empire! "
" She's nothing but a tumor, a source of endless trouble which would drown her subordinates to death! "
" Even at present, the terrifying army standing at the gates of ours are demanding... Presumably she might have provoked certain someone whom she shouldn't have! "
" And what if this woman becomes our crown princess through empress, that's unquestionably the thing which I would seldom want to imagine! "
The crowd could very well understand his intentions and some had even decided to go with flow and join the general.
After all, facing beastmen was plain death, and since being alive was more beneficial than death itself, why not sacrifice princess for good?
Still they weren't sure about the credibility, so decided to observe before anything!
" I know that little bitch's attitude the best, she wouldn't even frown if you were to sacrifice your arm or even your life for her!
At most she would spare a glace at us and might comment... He did his job and that's his duty, why should I rather bother? "
General paused for a second before continuing with a rather sarcastic tone explaining!
" Reward? Honour? Three generation pension? Shouldn't he rather be thankful that he died in name of imperials and ensured a prosperous future for his next generations?
Sorry, but I have only one daughter left as offspring, and I want to believe on imperial shitty policy and leave her behind all alone! "
Listening to the cold statement of general the soldiers want to protest, but the words exclaimed by him runs in synchronisation with princess character!
And there even a time where Xena commented such during a military funeral of general!
If not for her being princess, the soldiers under that general would have long since tortured her to death or even peeled her skin in anger!
Both the loyalist and swaying minds were sure about Xena's character as they even had one day where they were whipped over face just because she was in a bad mood that night!
" Though I wouldn't want to betray empress' trust, I would for sure want to get rid the tumor growing by her side! So who's with me?
Choose between the lives of thousands of blood wigg or that Xena? "
" The choice is yours and I have already decided to hand her over, so give face to his old general and support me! "
The voice of general was so resolute that even his loyal retainers felt influenced.
Yet, thinking of how he acts usually they felt a bit strange as if the general before him was not the general they use to remember!
Few officers felt like joining their general and openly voiced their opinion!
" If we protect her, we all die and the princess gets snatched! But if we hand her over, we could at best save thousands of our brothers who wouldn't have to die unjustly! "
" After all the end results coincides with princess getting snatched away so why fight a meaning less fight to death? "
General's words were resolute, soul contract was evident... So why bother wasting any time?
" This humble officer Rue agrees with lord general! "
" This humble officer Deitrus agrees with lord general! "
" This humble officer Feral agrees with lord general! "
...
...
Looking at few that knelt before him, general laughed loudly before stating
" Seems like few wise men had these eyes opened, is any one among you still wants to join this general? "
Surprisingly a brave officer among the protestors still voiced out his suggestion which ignited the fury of others.
" General if I heard correct, you said we could escape from the palace and preserve the reputation?
What reputation would we really have if we give away the princess to save our bloody a**? "
Shortly following him, the tanned vice general who was always supportive of general voiced against him which brought in more support to get courage to voice against the general.
" Old pal! You said our princess is too ruthless and her actions are savagery?
If I remember correct, your younger son forced a woman of humble background and almost raped her in public, when princess passed by those streets, she found him outrageous and carried out justice!
So don't bring the stuff of your younger son to tarnish princess' reputation! Your son... He deserved it! "
"..."
The hall turned silent for a second shortly following which many decided to join vice general and protest!
After all fighting general who was at peak stage warrior realm was impossible!
Since he could not be defeated, at least shouldn't they prevent others from joining their General?
" Absurd! Foolish! My son was framed damn idiots! That humble woman? She works at a damn brothel you ignorants! "
To create bad blood between Xena and him, certain someone had flawlessly plotted against his son, which was evident to many!
Yet the situation was such that officers had to prevent others from joining general as a third had already decided to betray any more and it was just a blind dream for them to complete mission!
The voices of loyalists were high which overshadowed the words of general itself!
Roar!
Soon the main hall broke into an endless roars of dissatisfaction, with the general who felt situation worsening as his face turned more colder with passing seconds.
" General, before I thought marshal to be c**t, a f****** bastard for dispatching us to this place. But guess what I found, you are just a damn hypocrite! "
...
...
" You serve one master but choose to serve the other when situation is unfavorable, I think the one ruthless at here is you, and you don't have the rights to call our princess a savage! Cause you don't deserve the rights to do so! "
....
....
" Bastard! I really respected you once, who knows that the real tumor in empire was the bastard you!
" You even dare to bring in our poor empress to play emotionally, you really deserve death! "
...
...
" General... I really respect you, but if you really know our princess the best then you should know what changes she gone through to become the current self? "
" If not for the incident at imperial place where the our grand general was framed to death and she Xena being to used as a core chess piece, would she become the present her who's completely different from her past self?
It's not that she's ruthless, it's just that she needs time to recover from her past trauma! "
Recover!?
" After we all die and empire become extinct, would she recover by then? "
" Fools! Wake up, she's irrecoverable! "
Quick enough the entire group was separated into two factions who became hostile without a doubt!
One group wanting betrayal and the other still remained loyalist!
Still the power of general was overwhelming, and a fight would entirely cripple blood wigg itself.
So both sides were hesitant yet unsheathed their swords as if they would fight any second sooner.
" Fools! The once mighty brigade is merely reduced to unit! Do you want to really end our blood wigg lineage within our generation? "
They had almost grown immune to his words and vice generals who unsheathed their swords had made their last attempt as they were already prepared for worst!
" Old pal! Please reconsider for a minute, we couldn't put much of our hopes against the enemies and even if you by yourself abandon the princess, who could really save her? "
" And even if we really did die, it meant that it was our fate, the fate of a proud imperial soldier when he took his vow to protect the imperial lineage! "
Shortly following him the eyes of everyone were focused on their general who call the final shot!
Looking at the officers who were persuading him, general laughed viciously and proposed his last offer which made them shiver to death.
" Haha! What honour? I still give you a chance to reconsider! Join me and live, oppose me to die! You officers know the temper of this general right? "
Boom!
The general swung his arm and a huge red pillar manifested above the brave officer who questioned him first.
Crash!
The officer's body crumbled at once, multiple bones got fractured, his organs were crushed under unresistable might as he breathed his last moment following it.
General killed him?
" What? General... He really started killing his men! "
" Crazy! He really gone crazy for survival! "
Author's notes:
Comment or review my book if you like the chapter.
Power Stones are luxury which I can't ask casually, and thanks for reading my chapter dear readers, I am awaiting your responses.
Status:
# Mark - 6th stage of refinement! ( Mid order aura emperor equivalent )
# Wendy - High order aura emperor!
Wendy's undead forces
1. Initial order aura king - 20,000
2. Middle order aura king - 5,000
3. High order aura king - 1,000
4. Peak order aura king - 600
5. Half step aura emperor - 480 ( mostly from half mutants and green rank base leaders )