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AUTHOR NOTES:
Hello Everyone,
I wanted to make a little explanation to clarify things. If you guys confused about why they think he is special, you should remember that he is labeled trash and useless. But, when they met him he is different than the rumors. Also, his golden mask wouldn't let them see his cultivation or examine him a lot making them think he is special the same as Old Black. Don't forget that the mask doesn't work on hiding the sword aura for unknown reasons! I tried to explain as much as I can in this chapter. If you have any questions or suggestions please tell me in the comments.
Thank you for your wonderful support,
Bader
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Third Elder Nel Von Vermilion, examined as he said: " Nice to meet you Veldora. Thank you for saving Prince Liam. We are grateful for your assistance, I will reward you when we get back. Your eyes are quite sharp for becoming his bodyguards, you can see what we see in him, huh?"
After exchanging a few flattering words between each other, Count Audari Von Lynch said: " Let's go to Secluded State, Duke Renard Von Holt is waiting for us there with his army to take down House of Lamonia who helped in your assassination attempt. As a prince and the governor of Secluded State, you should be the one leading us!"
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Liam's POV:
Hearing the old men's words, I became stunned in my place. Why are they helping me? I don't remember doing anything that can make them stay by my side! Originally, I planned to make Old Zhu's fall to be my way to convince them to support me. I had many ways to make them stay by my side.
In my novel, these three old men, Empress Dowager, and the two elder princesses were the only people who asked the emperor to investigate more before my execution. Because in the novel they took too many benefits from this State that they felt bad for old Liam. They sided with him until the end and tried all they could to help. However, all the nobles were siding with the emperor making their requests useless.
Third Elder Nel Von Vermilion screamed as he said: " You fool cat were, are you? Come here before I beat the hell out of you!" Then big smoke appeared in the distance. Soon, a huge spirit beast with 7-meter height and 15-meter length that looks like a lion and a cat appeared in front of us behind him was a gigantic carriage made of pure gold!
Count Audari Von Lynch looked at the "Cat" with sympathy as he said: " A rare spirit beast like you would be treated with gentleness by other nobles but this old pervert is making you drive the carriage! Sigh, Prince Liam please enter this humble carriage."
Humble carriage? This is a humble carriage? This is a moving house! No no this is a moving mansion!! Sigh, I am a prince now I should get used to this by now...
After getting into the carriage, we soon left heading to Secluded State. Leaving anyone who sees the carriage stand in the road amazed, stunned, and speechless.
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{~~ After 10 Hours~~}
We arrived at a large camp with many soldiers and horses covering the distance. A man wearing a full blue armor with weird lines and drawings on it came toward us while riding a horse that emits cold air. Soon, he arrived at our location and said: " You two old men what took you so long? All you had to do is go and find the brat? Hmm… Is that him? Hello kiddo, I am Duke Renard Von Holt, you can call me uncle Renard or old Holt. Don't worry I and my horse don't bite. Come here you cute little thing, let uncle take a look at you. I have got you a toy here come and take it. What's wrong little Liam why are you not coming? Hey, old men is he scared or something?" He took a wooden sword toy shaking it around while making funny faces.
Hearing his words I get annoyed for being treated as a kid, I feel like taking my sword and cutting him into small pieces. On the other hand, Old Nel and Old Lynch couldn't stop laughing as they fell on the floor screaming and laughing. Even Kurma and Veldora were barely able to hold themselves from laughing. Old Nel and Old Lynch already understood that I am not some 4 year old useless trash,( according to the rumors in the palace), from our conversations while coming here. They were shocked by how wise I am compared to other children my age, they even doubted that 16 or 17 year olds would be as smart and wise as me. When they talk to me, they treat me as a young man which only proves there respect towards me.
Looking at my followers hold their laughs, I couldn't hold my anger as I can't allow such behavior and insults. If I am going to be a leader and make these old men follow me, I have to show them what I am capable of. Otherwise, they will only look at me as a smart 4 year old kid! They will never be willing to follow me just because I am smart. Who in his right mind would follow a 4 year old just because he is smart? I must eliminate the 4-year-old label thing!!
I walk forward and take the sword toy from Duke Renard Von Holt, then I focus my full aura on the sword toy. All of them looked surprised as I can locate the place of the sword without looking at it. I raise my hand upward as I make a vertical slash with my full aura at the horse. During my time practicing sword aura, I reached a level that can overwhelm other people but can't harm them much as I don't have any Qi. My sword aura is very pure and dense because of Sword Maniac's inheritance.
The moment my slash ends, the aura slashed at the horse scaring him which made him fall on the ground. Duke Renard Von Holt jumped from the horse as he covered himself with qi canceling my aura effects, he looked at me as if he saw a monster. Old Nel, Old Lynch, and Veldora looked at me surprised as they didn't know I can easily manipulate my sword aura using a sword toy!! Kurma looked proud as he saw me practice my sword aura and he knows what I am capable of.
My sword aura is different than other swordsmen aura because Sword Maniac's inheritance makes the aura originate from my own body, not from the sword. Other swordsmen have to refine their sword aura within the sword for years before they are able to use it except for talented ones.
Duke Renard Von Holt looked serious me at me as he started to examine me, he stayed calm for several minutes before saying: " Prince Liam, please forgive this old man for looking down on a genius swordmaster like yourself. Hahaha… It has been a long time since someone made my horse fall! You are a genius, Prince Liam. I understand now why these old men were laughing now hahahaaa. As for the sword toy, I shall take it back and get you a true sword as an apology and a gift for our first meeting."
Hearing his apology made me calm down, I looked at the sword and then said: " I am the Sword, I don't need anything else. Old Holt, don't look down on swords. A sword is a sword and it's deadly. There is nothing called sword toy! There is a high-grade sword or a low-grade sword! But, since you gave it to me, I will accept this sword as a token for our first meeting and the start of a new friendship. Now, lead the way to your tent!" After hearing my words, Old Holt's eyes shone as if he saw a rare gem. He looked at his two other friends as he sent them a satisfactory smile. Which the other two sent back.
Arriving at the general tent, Third Elder Nel Von Vermilion said: " Prince Liam, before we talk about dealing with House Lamonia. Let me explain the situation first! House Lamonia followed other dukes commands as they destroyed our business and planned your assassination. We three brothers had made an investigation and found about their plans which are….." Elder Nel Von Vermillion started to explain why they came with these claims and why they wanted to help me.
Count Audari Von Lynch, nodded his head at Old Nel as he said: " We three brothers are not cowards who hide when provoked. Since they want us dead so bad, then we will play with them. They want us to clash with you and be the cause of your death since we don't support any prince. Initially, we wanted to provide you with some assistance to fight them back, but after meeting you I changed my mind. Prince Liam, we made our own investigation about you. You rarely talk at the palace and was never taught anything at all. However, you are smart, wise, and have a rich pure sword aura all around your body which only proves that you are a genius. All princes at your age were only playing around and would never be able to do what you just did. Prince Liam, I will provide you my full assistance, expertise, and support to rise through the ranks and get the throne!! What do you say?"
Hearing that they are already willing to by my men. I looked at him as I said: "Get the throne? That's a dangerous claim! It could get you killed!... Old Nel and Old Holt, are you two also willing to follow me and support me the same as your friend? Be careful with your answer!"
Old Nel and Old Holt kneeled on one knee as the said: "We are willing to follow your lead, my lord. But, your should prove to us you are worthy of having us!" Then, Old Lynch kneeled on one knee as he said the same.
I can't believe they are willing to follow me!! They made everything easy for me. With their assistance, I can focus on growing strong while leaving politics and managing my wealth in safe hands. These three old men are would be my most precious treasure hahahaha. Even that trash emperor will envy me Moahahahahaaaa.
Looking at their determined faces, I said with seriousness: " Since you want to by my men, I will accept you. However, you must follow all my words and commands and never betray me. From this moment you are mine! If you ever have thought of backing down, I will cut your head with my own hands!! Don't you ever underestimate me because I'm young and weak!! There are millions of ways for me to kill you!! Veldora!!!! Kurma!!!!"
I know very well that these three old men would never betray me because I wrote an extra chapter about how loyal they are to the old emperor to the point of quitting politics after the old emperor's assassination by the current emperor. The moment they say they want to support me they will never change or take their word back. However, I must show them I am worthy of their loyalty and respect. I can't have them look down on me in the future.
At the moment of hearing my command, Veldora turned into a gigantic western white Dragon covering the sky and Kurma appeared as he turned into a 10 meter high white nine-tailed fox. All the soldiers in the area passed out from Veldora's cultivation stage pressure. I wasn't surprise seeing Kurma's appearance as he already explained that his 9 tailed fox bloodline allows him to change his size and appearance as long as he has enough strength.
THIRD PERSON POV:
The three old men had sweat covering their faces. They have never thought the kid that was abandoned and labeled as trach by the whole empire to have two strong divine beasts following his orders. All their thoughts of having him prove himself vanished. They were looking at each other's eyes as they felt that they just signed a deal with the devil!