Henry arrived at the mansion and went straight toward his study room. When he got there he saw Jericho waiting there for him.
Jericho stood up and then saluted his father like a good soldier.
"I'm back Father."
Henry nodded and said "Good job on coming back. Report!"
Jericho was expressionless but deep inside his heart ached. Compared to the Villagers, Henry was like someone he could only regard as General Henry. Even though he was his father and he calls him father, it didn't feel that way to him. Compared to the villagers who were much closer to him on an emotional level, Henry seemed like the stranger.
Jericho knew that his father cared for him but he couldn't say if his father loved him. He was the only child of his father because his father was too busy with the affairs of the Empire. Henry didn't have time having another child or even having another wife. Henry's marriage was a political one. After he and his wife got married they immediately consummated and had Jericho and after that they rarely met again. Jericho grew up by his mother's side so he didn't turn out like Henry. But when his mother died Henry took him in and started training him. Jericho endured because he wanted to be strong like his father. Every child wanted to be acknowledged by his parents, Jericho was no different.
Even though Henry was never like a father to him he still wanted to gain his approval. When he was a teen Jericho looked up to his father like one would a hero. He was amazed how his father could order high ranking soldiers around and his physical strength was also topnotch. But when Jericho finally joined the army, he learned how cruel reality was. He saw his father ordering soldiers to be sacrificed just to obtain victory. He saw how his father ruthlessly massacred the innocents justifying it by saying that they were to be blamed for being there. And that they were weak to not survive.
He remembered what his father said to him when he first started training. He was crying, begging his father if he could take a break, he was just a kid after all. He didn't want to train, he wanted to play and have fun like other kids. But the only response he got was a punch to the face.
"You have to remember, engrave this into your head. You are weak! That is why you do what I say! Only by becoming stronger can you do whatever you want!"
As time passed by, Jericho began to accept that this was how his father really was. He was no devil, he was no monster, he was just a human with ambition and he was prepared to do anything to achieve it. He accepted the reality that he once wanted to become like his father. But even so, Jericho knew that what his father is doing was wrong. Wrong for him that is. He still wanted to become powerful and respected but he wouldn't do it like his father. He would do it by doing what he thought was the way to do it. Not because it was good and not because it was bad but because that's how he wanted to achieve his dream. Some might view it as evil like how he viewed his father's method previously but in the end it would still be up to him if what he's doing is right or wrong.
Jericho reported what happened during the ambush and what he encountered afterward. He mentioned the village but left out their ability. There was no knowing what his father would do after learning this so he didn't say it. He already knew that the Tribe Pact wasn't actually a group of terrorists but a group of Tribes that refused to be part of the Empire. He knew it but he still massacred them. That was because even if not him as long as those Tribes refused the Empire they would be killed so he might as well do it and earn some merits. Others might view his action as evil and unjust but even if he refused, that wouldn't save those Tribes. He knew that he was only an ant compared to the Empire so resisting it was futile. He was a soldier so he would do what a soldier does.
"They were mostly hunters and farmers, they only numbered around 500 people and most of them were elderly or children." Jericho said while portraying the village as a weak group of people unless Henry felt threatened by an unknown Tribe.
"I will send someone at the village to take over then. That village would provide a good base when we start searching for the Artifact." Henry said after assessing the information.
'Shit!' Cursed Jericho inwardly. He never thought that the Empire was planning something on that mountain range.
"Searching for an Artifact? That's the first I've heard of this." Said Jericho, probing at what the Empire was planning.
"It's only been decided a week ago. I can't tell you the details of the operation yet. But I'll let you in on something interesting." Henry was in a good mood today. Not only did his son return but he wouldn't have to do some paperwork and assign a new Commander.
"Something interesting?" Asked Jericho as he pondered what kind of Artifact the Empire was looking for.
"Yes, you see, an old scholar was in the Royal Library when he stumbled upon an ancient secret. He found an old book that tells the tale of an ancient Tribe." Henry began with a smile. But when Jericho heard the last part, his heart skipped a beat! He didn't show anything on the surface so Henry didn't notice anything strange.
Henry continued "The book tells that every generation a Shaman would be born with the ability to communicate with the dead and have visions of an upcoming disaster that would befall the Tribe."
'SHAMAN!!!' Like a bang in his head, when he heard this he started getting a headache!
"The Tribe managed to survive for millennia because of this. They were able to preserve ancient knowledge and certain Artifacts so it could be passed down on the next generation. And one of those Artifacts is believed to be a black Crystome!" Henry exclaimed.
"It was said that the black Crystome contains the purest and most concentrated radiation to have ever existed. Our empire had found some traces of it near the planet's core but we've never got a sample of its existence."
Henry proceeded to tell Jericho the rest of the book's content and after a couple of minutes Jericho excused himself and then left but before he could exit the door he stopped and turned around.
"I have a request." He said.
"Go on." Replied Henry.
"I want to be the one who is sent to the village to create a base of operation. I already know the villagers and it would be much faster if I talk with the village chief." Said Jericho as he turned around and looked at his father in the eye.
"What's your motive for volunteering?" Henry knew that Jericho had some kind of motive.
"I feel grateful to the villagers for saving my life. So I want to be the one to do it. If others were sent I'm sure they would take over the village with force and I want to avoid that as much as possible that's all." Jericho wasn't lying. He really wanted to save the village but he said it as if he was only returning a favor so Henry wouldn't think that Jericho was too close to the villager. Henry doesn't like anyone outside of the Empire. He views them lowly and if he learned that Jericho were friends with such people he would definitely distance Jericho away from them.