In the first two decades of settling into Stone Claw City, the Zhen Clan made a lot of moves in terms of establishing a power base, raising their reputation and most importantly, recruiting manpower.
While patriarch Zhen Shi did have his seven sons to help him lead the clan, and each of them were gifted practitioners in their own right, it wasn't enough. It didn't matter how powerful or wise the heads of a business may be, they still needed a retinue of capable people in order to facilitate even the mildest of actions or the biggest of tasks.
It was during this recruitment spree that a particular person stood out, a young man named Moka.
Applying first as a guardsman, Moka quickly made a name for himself among the rank and file for being a surprisingly strong and clever fighter on top of being charismatic. Due to his prestigious skills, Moka was eventually promoted to being a squad captain and then promoted again into being a personal bodyguard/attendant to the patriarch, Zhen Shi, after the former saved the latter's life during an incident.
Since then, Moka had managed to breakthrough to the Aether Master rank and has served as a faithful servant for the clan ever since. However, there was one thing that was rather odd about Moka: The man had no past or background prior to joining the clan.
A few members of the clan who were jealous of Moka's success or were suspicious of his existence had invested their own resources in an attempt to find anything on this man's past. They found squat.
No family, no friends, nothing.
They only thing they could confirm was that Moka was an orphan from the streets.
However, this lack of information wasn't by accident or coincidence, it was engineered.
While on the surface Moka was indeed the loyal retainer to the Zhen Clan and it's patriarch, in reality, he was a spy meticulously raised by someone who had a vested interest in maintaining a certain equilibrium in Stone Claw City.
They didn't mind sharing power with the other two factions, they were locally grown, but they didn't like having a foreign fourth power in play.
For years, they had used Moka to try and subtly sabotage the Zhen Clan in their endeavors. Sometimes it worked, Sometimes it didn't, but eventually, they had decided it was time to destroy the Zhen Clan once and for all.
But they wouldn't use outright warfare to do so, instead, they would sow the seeds of strife and destroy them from the inside out. Starting with the death of a young master...
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As Moka returned to the main courtyard where the wake was being held, an elderly man caught sight of him and called out to him.
"Moka! Where have you been?"
"Patriarch."
Moka was all set to drive off whoever had the nerve to bother him, but immediately switched to a more servile tone and posture when he saw that it was the clan patriarch who called out to him.
The Zhen Clan patriarch, Zhen Shi, was a surprisingly burly elderly fellow with a bushy beard and dressed in a long flowing robe. If one were to look closely at the hems of collar and sleeves, they would notice the beginnings of tattoos in the shape of sea monsters.
"Apologies patriarch," Moka began while cupping his hands towards him, "There was a small matter that I had to attend that took longer than I expected."
"Hmm," Zhen Shi hummed while scratching his beard, "Very well then. Just be sure our guests feel welcome and our family members do not argue." Having said his piece, Zhen Shi left to perform his societal duties.
"Of course," Moka said verbally, while adding the word "not" mentally.
As Moka made his way through the crowds of bereaved clansmen and polite guests, he made sure to keep his eyes locked onto a particular pair of clansmen in the crowd.
"Time to crack the foundations."
Walking up to the two clansmen, Moka cupped his hands in greeting and bowed his head.
"Third Elder. Fourth Elder."
"Moka," a middle-aged man wearing spectacles acknowledged. He was the Third Elder, Zhen Lao, a man of a cool intellect and calculative demeanor. By his side was a purple peacock-like aether beast known as a Typhoon Peacock.
"Moka!", a round man with a red face added uncharacteristically jovially, "It's good to see you!" This guy was the Fourth Elder of the Zhen Clan, Zhen Xi. Standing by his side was a weird pig monster with gem-studded skin, a Bejeweled Boar.
Zhen Lao and Zhen Xi, as their titles imply, were the third and fourth sons of the patriarch, Zhen Shi. In terms of familial politics, they were part of the group that wanted to help Zhen Liu deal with his problem.
It's time to lay the first seed, Moka thought to himself.
"How are you two, my esteemed elders?"
"About as well as one can be at a funeral, I suppose," Zhen Lao answered first, "though Xi here is already drunk."
"It's how I grieve big brother-hic-you know that," Zhen Xi replied, "And yes Moka, were fine if not a little sad at Xiao Liu's passing."
"Indeed Xi, it is a terrible shame such a horrible accident befell our dear nephew."
"Yes," Moka echoed in a different tone as he downcasted his eyes in a somewhat obvious manner, "an accident..."
This sudden change in tone didn't escape Zhen Lao and Zhen Xi's notice.
"Hmmm? Moka is something the matter?," Zhen Lao asked, "It feels like there's something you're not telling us."
"Well...,"Moka hesitated, "It's just...I don't want to burden you two..."
"Oh come now, we're all friends and family here, you can say it to us and we'll understand," Zhen Xi replied with a smile and a pat and a Moka's back.
Hook, line and sinker, Moka thought.
"Very well then," Moka began carefully, "I haven't been completely honest about the matter of the Fourth Young Master's death."
"What? What are you talking about?"
Moka looked to his left and right before motioning for Zhen Lao and Zhen Xi to lean in closer. After they had done so, he began to whisper.
"Zhen Liu didn't die in the wandering ruins. Someone assassinated him."