Ian looked briefly at Shi Sera. Her expression was a mixture of worry and confusion. Ian cleared his throat and spoke-
"We have to alert the capital city. The plan must be known to them. They'll do the rest."
Lee wasn't satisfied with this answer. His thoughts were running strange.
"Four Illians will come to the Black Desert Plains to meet with the bandits. This meeting will be with bandit's representatives. Why don't we catch these Illians by disguising as bandits?!"
Ian was stunned by his naive and crude method. Lee continued-
"I can tell how powerful they are from all the narrations. But that doesn't mean they are all-powerful. I'm confident in my ability to catch them. Are you??"
Lee posed a doubt that shook the foundation of their hearts. He literally questioned their fight spirits. Their brows frowned as they felt a sense of seriousness in his voice.
"You might be able to, but everyone cannot. We must convey this message and take down the 4 simultaneously. First, let's go to the capital city."
Ian spoke and rose up from his seat. Shi Sera and Lee followed his lead. They went out of the Army headquarters and mounted horses. Those former war-horses galloped to the city of Yeuvis.
----------------------------
=====
5 P.M.
1620 Essence harvested.
=====
The horses were more energetic than any ordinary horses. Lee only noticed them slowing down once, that too, for a very short period.
From afar, the city walls of Yeuvis looked majestic. They were taller and sturdier than other cities. The gate was a lowering one, like those in the medieval periods. On both sides of the gate, there was a flag painted on the wall. The flag was pale blue that resembled clear sky and indicated serenity. At the center of the flag was an orange circle made surrounded by olive leaves. Inside the circle, a strong and healthy looking hand was helping a weak and thin hand to get up. This simple flag proclaimed the foundations on which the kingdom is built upon - Grace & Unity.
The trio headed towards the gate. As they neared it, Lee noticed a big wooden plank hanging above the entrance, with a few words on it - "WE LIVE BY EACH OTHER'S HAPPINESS, NOT BY EACH OTHER'S MISERY."
An admiration bloomed in his heart. Even D felt that.
"To have power , pride and goodness simultaneously, is a rarely seen combination."
Ian spoke as he saw sparkles in Lee's eyes. He couldn't help but be amused by this youngman's expression. Ian stared at the words with admiration as he spoke-
"King Aizil and his father and previous king, Athan and their forefathers before, all believed in this notion. They reminded others that the power that's bestowed upon us is not by the heavens, but by the people.
When King Aizil was throned, he said this and I quote, "My father used to say bedtime stories to me. Every story he said was unique and different, but had the same moral - One wins because the other loses. The winner has a moral obligation to help the loser, then drown in his happiness."
Everyone in this city applies this concept to their field of expertise. No one would be in need of half-baked foods or incomplete products, would they?!"
Lee nodded as they entered the city. The sheer width of the streets was mind-boggling. 4 carriage lanes ran through the streets all around the city. Pedestrians had walking space and rail guards to prevent tripping on to the wide road. Soldiers in full attire are seen roaming regularly. Whenever the soldier glanced at someone, the person would smile back and the soldier would give a nod with a smile. Hotels, Inns and houses were all built with precise city planning.
Lee observed that no building was taller than four storeys. An exception is the guild buildings, military headquarters and palace. Lee noticed lizardfolks and kobolds among the crowd. He was expecting it as the concept of unity includes all beings.
The horses slowly moved on the brick-paved roads as Lee scanned his surroundings. He saw an Auction house and a Farmer's Guild for the first time after coming to this dimension.
=====
6 P.M.
1620 Essence harvested.
=====
Before he realised, the horses had reached in front of the Army headquarters. This building was about 2 miles far from the gate. They got down from the horses and walked towards the main door. Seeing them oncoming, the guards opened the doors.
The large twin wooden door opened up. Lee saw a reception desk at the first glance. A youngman and a young woman stood at the desk and smiled at them. Ian took the lead and walked towards the desk.
"Is Brigadier Zhang Suyin available?!"
The youngman replied with a smile-
"She will be at her office. Let me notify her."
The man turned around and walked towards the wall. It was then that Lee noticed a board fixed on that wall. It was a complete blueprint of the building with each room and it's presiding officer's name labelled on it. The names were in different colours. It might be indicating the ranks - Lee thought.
The man pressed the name of Brigadier Zhang Suyin and her name lit up. He stood there for a few seconds. Then he nodded his head and walked back to the desk.
"She is currently in her office. She has allowed you to meet her."
Ian thanked the man and told Shi Sera and Lee to follow him. On either side of the desk were stairs to go to the upper floors. They went up to the first floor and walked towards a room. Ian knocked thrice on the door and a response came-
"Come in!"
From the voice, Lee can tell that the person is a middle aged woman. But what Lee saw was a beautiful woman with a seductive stature. She was standing near the window and scanning the recruits training and practicing at the ground. Upon seeing them, she walked towards her chair and spoke-
"Good evening, Major Ian. Have a seat."
The trio promptly took a seat and the woman leaned on the table on her elbows.
"What made you rush over here with the Guild-leader and an adventurer?!"
"Illians!"
The atmosphere became serious by the answer. Ian glanced at Lee to narrate the incident. Lee nodded and began the storytelling.
-----------------------------
11 minutes later.
Brigadier Zhang Suyin was in deep thought. The trio thought that she's deeply pondering on the Illian plan. But in actuality, she was wondering how this guy took down 196 bandits all alone. She was flabbergasted to hear about his shooting proficiency.
"So....you took down all of them with arrows?!"
"Yes."
Lee was expressionless. His answer was plain and simple. Zhang Suyin stood up from her chair and muttered-
"Three of you, follow me."
Brigadier stood up and guided them to the training grounds. She was partially doubtful on Lee's skill, so she decided to test it. Ian saw where they were heading. He could only sigh with sympathy. Brigadier might look good and beautiful at the outside, but she's ruthless when it comes to sparring.
They entered the ground and the recruits and soldiers lined up at the side. Suyin walked to where the weapons were kept and took a bow and a quiver of arrows. She came back to Lee and stated-
"Your shooting skills are too great to believe. So I'm going to give you a test. I will fire an arrow in any direction. What you have to do is to hit that arrow before it touches the ground, with yours. If you can hit half of the arrows, I'll believe it."
Suyin wasn't an expert in archery, but she was confident in her ability to shoot arrows. Lee nodded and took out his bow from his Spatial ring. Suyin raised her brow at the first glance of the ring.
"You may proceed."
Suyin was visibly confused at Lee's reply. She didn't see any quiver of arrows in his hand.
"Where are your arrows?!"
"Ah….don't mind me. You can fire."
Suyin turned to the ground with a frown. She didn't get his intention. Holding the bow vertically in front of her, she glanced at Lee over her shoulder as she took an arrow from the quiver. He was standing like her, but with no arrow in the bow.
*sigh*
Since Suyin couldn't figure out his trick, she could only see how he hits her arrow. She pulled the arrow back and swoosh…...the arrow flew straight up into the sky with excellent speed. Lee saw her releasing the arrow and he pulled his bow. The arrow materialised from thin air, which terrified everyone around him, including Ian, Sera and Suyin. The arrow shot into the sky and Suyin's arrow was struck half.
*gasp*
It was total silence. It was the first time they seeing an arrow materialising from thin air, and what's more is, it went homing onto the first arrow with accurate precision.
Suyin's arrow fell into two pieces. The arrow Lee shot went further upward and came back to thrust the ground. Suyin can see his talent, but she wasn't ready to believe it. She looked at the recruits standing in line and nodded. Many of them went and took a bow and a bunch of arrows. Upon Suyin's signal, they fired arrows at one at a second pace. They flew in multiple directions.
Lee saw her intention to test his limit. Sadly, he had the homing arrows. He shot the arrows one after the other and the broken arrows fell around them. Ian and Sera had their jaws fallen to the ground.
=====
7 P.M.
1620 Essence harvested.
=====
The day light was almost gone and Suyin still didn't signal to stop.
The notification disrupted Lee's shooting parade. D sounded to act like you're tired from the test. Lee quickly faked an intense enervation and heaviness as he quickly squatted on a knee. His action caught their attention. The archers stopped and looked at him. His action hit the spot. Many including Ian, Sera and Suyin thought that it was due to some sort of backslash.
Ian knelt and supported him to stand up. D manipulated his blood vessels in the mouth to bring out some blood to boost the act!
"Going 100 in a single go is too much to bear."
Lee's words made the scene clear. This was a backslash from the bow usage.
"Then you should have told us before. And by the way, what is this bow?! It can produce arrows!"
Lee looked at her. D gave him a prompt and he repeated-
"This is no ordinary bow. It only works with the person it has contracted. Apart from me, no one else can fire an arrow."
His words intrigued Suyin. She took the bow and tried to pull. The bowstring came backward, but no arrow formed.
"What's a contract?! The arrow, how do you produce it?!"
D gave him help to respond.
"I found this bow stuck in a big ice The arrow comes at the cost of my own energy. Everytime an arrow is pulled, a small amount of energy is drained from me. If I fire over an amount, it could bring pain and torture."
Applause. Lee had to applaud to D's creative imagination. Never in his dreams have he thought of such a reply! It spoke three things. One, I own it bitch! Two, feed me well, or no arrows. Three, don't try to misuse me!
..........
==========
Name: Lee
Age: 20
Title: Grim-reaper, Soul Liberator
Fame: 1815
Essence: 29072 (6 PM)
Money: 989 Gold, 0 Silver, 31 Copper
----------
Partner: An
----------
Health: 320
Strength: 320
Vitality: 320
Agility: 320
Defense: 320
Endurance: 320
Sense: 320
Intelligence: 320
Resolve: 320
----------
Immunity:-
• Greater Poison Immunity (191/1000000)
• Medium Lightning Immunity (3217/10000)
Affinity:-
• Medium Poison Affinity (289/10000)
• Medium Lightning Affinity (821/10000)
• Lesser Fire Affinity (0/100)
• Lesser Water Affinity (0/100)
• Lesser Ice Affinity (0/100)
• Medium Rock Affinity (399/10000)
• Medium Metal Affinity (399/10000)
• Lesser Sand Affinity (0/100)
• Medium Nature Affinity (399/10000)
• Lesser Air Affinity (0/100)
• Medium Sound Affinity (399/10000)
• Medium Dark Affinity (236/10000)
----------
Mastery:-
• Absolute Blade Mastery
• Absolute Nunchuck Mastery
• Medium Bow Mastery (778/10000)
----------
Cultivation: Peak stage Core Formation realm
Qi: 0/1100
Mana: 0
----------
Innate Skills:-
• View
• Foresight
• EsGen
• EsConv
• Curse Remover
----------
INVENTORY:-
QUESTS:-
MAP:-
SHOP:-
RE-MODEL:-
==========