Chapter 22 Game Mode 3/6
Michael breathed the fresh air as he emerged out of the shadows. The Dark Lord have summoned him to the Allied Realm as his guide. He looked around him and saw the Dark Lord in his familiar armour but with a human disguise. He is standing with his back to him looking at the Rapid Sea flowing very fast. They were south of the river canal that connects the main Allied city to the Rapid Sea in the western part of the Allied Realm.
He stood there with his unusual armour. His armoured pants is covered by an armoured skirt like covering that is cut on both sides and ended half way below the knee. He have seen him many times already but he haven't come to terms yet knowing that he is a MagalaN. A Dark MagalaN. Although he have seen his deeds, his plans and actions. He now knew that this man no matter what he is, is good a person of character. That's why the Dark Lord have his loyalty until the day he looses it. "Greetings Da-"
"You will address me on my alias Michael." The Dark Lord cut him off. "In this avatar, I will be known as Sun Tzu. Here I am a merchant who came to open up a trade business." The Dark Lord is still looking at the Rapid See that separates the Allied Realm from the southeastern part of the Elven Realm.
"As you command Master Sun." He replied.
The Dark Lord shrugged as if forcing himself to stop from what he is doing and turned around to face him. He smiled at Michael, "Come, I have procured us with two horses from a stable merchant on the port where I landed. We will board the ferry to take us to the main city of the alliance."
He followed him and they both mounted their horses. He laughed to himself, well now he knew that the Dark Lord is not good in everything. He definitely paid a higher price than this horses normally cost. The Dark Lord bought pack horses which are good for carrying and pulling wagons. But they are not good for speed. They rode in a slow pace, trotting along the paved road. He followed in silence.
After a long while the Dark Lord spoke, "I'd like to see this world Michael, that's why I'm here. I'd like to see it's people. I need to get a merchant seal and pass. I'd like to see the Allied main city and to open up a merchant store there." he finished.
"As you command Master Sun, it will take us two days to reach the main city by boat" He replied. Then they rode again in silence.
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Bennett is busy running the list of fresh elven novices that he will train. His superiors where surprised when he took this job the moment he returned. They always knew him as the adventurous type who travels the world to seek knowledge through experience. Well, he'd have enough of experience that he will have to live for the rest of his life.
A knock on the door brought him back from his thoughts. "What is it.?" He asked grumpily not appreciating being disturbed while he is working.
Her right hand Linda answered, "High Sorcerer Bennett, someone is here looking for you. He said his name is James and he said he is an old friend."
Old friend indeed! It seems another one has come to ask for his help in enrolling their children to the academy. Well, it all depends if their child have the talent otherwise he won't be able to help them. "Let him in Linda and let's be done with it!" He went back to his work grumpily.
An elf wearing a cloak entered his room and invited himself to sit in front of his table. He ignored the elf for awhile. Let him sizzle on his seat.
It seems that the elf is patient enough to wait. After sometime he faced him. "And who would you be?" He asked
Name's Bond, James Bond" The elf answered with a quirky smile.
Bennett stared at him for a long time trying to place where he met him. "I'm sorry but I don't think I know you." He said.
The elf is still smiling, "Perhaps you'd remember me with this?" He snapped his fingers.
The dark rope encasing his heart started to throb. Bennett's face went white with fear. "D-Dark Lord." He breathed out in a whisper. "I swear I never betrayed our deal." He said, thinking franticly how to survive this encounter.
The Dark Lord laughed with out any hint of threat. "Of course not High Sorcerer Bennett, or else this meeting would have taken place on another location you wouldn't want to see again. I'm here because I need a favour. You wouldn't deny an old acquaintance with a small favour would you?" He ask in a very friendly manner which made Bennett even more nervous.
"Anything Dark Lord, just let me live in peace." he whispered with a quavering voice.
"Of course High Sorcerer this will be the last time you'll see me unless you do something that will make me want to. I just need a small favour, I need a sponsor to get me an elven merchant seal and pass." The Dark Lord pause looking at him expectantly.
"I-I don't understand Dark Lord, w-why would you need an elven merchant pass and seal?" he blubbered.
"Well, I'm starting a new life in this world that's why." The Dark Lord replied smiling. "I want to be a merchant and I'm going to open up a small store on an elven city far from here. The sooner you get me one of those the faster it will be for me to leave you alone." The Dark Lord finished smiling.
High Sorcerer Bennett tried his best to think very fast on how he can procure what the Dark Lord is asking. "It will not be easy but I will get it for you Dark Lord. Give me a week and you'll have you seal and pass."
"Goood.. Gooood..." The elf murmured while trying his best to look like a cynical maniac then he laughed. ""By the way I go by the name Lego from the house of Lass, please stamp that name to the seal and pass." The Dark Lord stood up.
Bennett stood too making sure he won't offend the Dark Lord. "I'll do that master Lego, give me a week to get it for you." He replied while bowing. In fact it will be his priority to get it as soon as possible so the Dark Lord will leave him be.
"Goood.. Gooood.." Lego murmured again with his eyes wide and both of his hands up with his fingers moving as if trying to scare someone who is already terrified from the encounter. Then he jestingly winked at him. "I'll leave you now then, see you in a week." The Dark Lord let himself out of the room.
Bennett stood there for awhile looking at the closed door. He never thought he would meet him again. He made sure of that by accepting the position as a trainer in this academy so he can avoid getting involved in any activities that might break his deal with the Dark Lord. Was that a joke? He smiled nervously. He remembered the time he was interviewed and he did exactly the same thing back then with his "Goood.. Gooood.." expression. He snapped out of his thoughts. He went out to the adjoining room where his assistant is sitting who is also busy in completing their work for this day.
"Linda, please clear out all my schedule for this day I'll need to go to the merchant guild." He left without waiting for Linda to reply.
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The ferry is full of people of different races. He learned that most are here to get a chance for a better life by joining the alliance. Some came here to join the army of the Gallan Wall and some would like to hunt and find riches in the untamed Realm. He turned and faced the east where their ferry is heading. He can see now the towering shining wall of the main city of the alliance known as the ancient city of Maeyon. This is like a vacation to him. The scenery of this realm is majestic. The lands in both side of the river are fields and farms. but the horizon in his left is filled with a vast forest and mountain ranges to his right. He saw farmers attending their crops, and armies marching in order on the paved road next to the river. He also saw people walking or riding a caravan towards the city.
He went down to the food pantry where Michael is waiting for him to get their first meal for the day. As he went down the stairs to the pantry he came upon a long line of people who are waiting to be given with free bread for their meal. He went pass them and seated on the table infront of Michael who is looking at the window.
"These people are starving Michael, I thought this is the greatest city through all the Ancient Realm?" The Dark Lord asked him. Michael turned to look at the long line of people waiting for their ration.
Michael looked at him, "Yes it is. But most of the people who is coming here belong to the poorest families from every light races. They come here for the opportunity and a chance to turn their fate around. To serve the alliance in defending the Gallan Wall. They will be provided with jobs according to their skills once they arrived in the city." Michael explained.
The Dark Lord pulled out a bag of coins and hand it over to Michael. "The Bread will not be enough, use it all to buy them more food Michael, do it discreetly." Michael nodded, stood up and walked towards the pantry owner.
"So, you're a philanthropist are you?" Someone spoke mockingly from his side.
The Dark Lord looked up to his right and saw a human standing looking down at him. He is dressed in an elegant silver plated armour. Every part of it is freshly polished with no dents "I'm a merchant. Master?" he asked.
"Lucas from the house of Adara" He replied with his chin up, and giving him a look of despisement. "And you are?" He asked
The Dark Lord smiled at him, "Sun Tzu, a simple merchant."
"Well a simple merchant won't hand out coins to feed this miserable fools unless they have an agenda." He sat down across the table in front of the Dark Lord. "Now tell me Sun Tzu, how did a simple merchant dressed in a strange armour travelled alone from the elven realm suddenly acquired a full fledged knight out of nowhere and started dishing out coins to feed nobodies." Lucas inquired his eyes penetrating and serious.
"Your making me angry Master Lucas." The Dark Lord gave him a mischievous smile, "I assure you, you don't want me angry." The Dark Lord added obviously suppressing his laughter.
"Is that a threat?" Lucas fainted a surprised and looked at him challengingly.
"Insult these poor people again infront of me and you shall see." The Dark Lord replied coldly.
"Then you and I shall continue our business upstairs merchant because I'm challenging you right now into a duel." Lucas stood up with his right hand on the hilt of his sword.
The Dark Lord heard several persons stood up as well and the place went silent.
"What is the meaning of this!" Michael barged in with his hand on the hilt of his sword facing the other knights accompanied by Lucas.
The Dark Lord calmly stood up, and gave him a signal with his hand not to interfere. "I have important matters to attend to once this boat reached the city, but I think there's enough time to teach you a thing or two." He turned around dismissing all of them and started walking towards the stairs leading to the spacious open platform on top of the ferry.
Several people have gathered to watch the duel. The Dark Lord has reached the platform first and now waiting for Lucas to emerge from below. Lucas came out with five sheathed swords strapped to his left shoulder.
"Are you ready to defend your life merchant?" Lucas declaimed as he stepped to the platform.
"No more chitchat Lucas I'm getting tired of it, unless you're just full of empty words" The Dark Lord replied coldly which caused Lucas to snarl in anger.
Lucas let go of the swords strapped to his shoulder. The swords suddenly floated in the air and begun spinning in a circle one meter distance around Lucas. Lucas smiled at the Dark Lord, "You didn't expect your opponent to be a battle mage knight are you? Well too bad you'd better be good enough to survive me."