The atmosphere in the tent was solemn.
"Sir ..... This …."
"Exactly". The picture on the portrait wasn't vague.
It was the exact same boy he had dispatched his soldiers to search for the moment he received the order.
This boy had managed to escape from Capital City Prison and evaded the troops securing the Fire Islands, even after word of his escape had spread.
It was simply a display of good capabilities.
And also, a slap to the face.
Imagine a mere prisoner, one who wasn't blessed with the gift of fire, capable of evading capture from numerous fire nation guards and fleeing all the way to the Colonies.
The dignity of the fire nation had been severely challenged with his actions.
This couldn't be allowed to continue, hence Ozai would definitely reward the one who captured him generously.
As long as he found the boy first, then a happy promotion was waiting in store for him.
Unfortunately, others had similar ideas.
The circle of Fire Nation higher command were more or less familiar with each other. As a result, everyone's surface character had long been displayed to each other.
Although they had never worked as a team, Han knew Zhao. Or rather, he knew what Zhao was capable of.
The man was a sneaky, cunning Lion Vulture, willing to exploit any possible loophole to further his glorious career.
Han knew that this was most likely one of his schemes.
Promotion in the Fire Nation was never based on seniority but ability and merit.
If this boy was captured under Zhao's name, then it was possible Ozai would directly promote Zhao to the position of an admiral. (General in the Navy)
And what truly annoyed Han to no end was the fact that he could do nothing to stop all this from happening.
The Fire Nation military was strict.
An order from an officer of higher rank must be carried out without question.
If not, then Han would risk the possibility of getting court marshalled.
What excuses could he give that would allow him to justify his refusal?
That he was worried Zhao was lying and had never received any instructions from Ozai?
Regardless of whether he was right or wrong, the punishment that awaited him was not something he wanted to bear.
If Zhao was lying, then his destiny was a dishonorable death.
But Han's fate would definitely not be much better for having the audacity to defy a possible order from the Fire Lord.
It mattered not whether it was true. Ozai wouldn't care either way.
Everything he had achieved after so many years, placed against the ethereal possibility of a promotion.
It was no contest.
With the odds stacked against him, Han wouldn't take such a risky move no matter what.
Zhao knew this.
Or rather, it was what any sane person who didn't have a mutually destructive mindset would do in his situation.
Han could only blame himself for being a rank lower.
The lieutenant folded the scroll back and placed it aside.
"... So what will you do now, sir?"
"..". The question made the Captain's eyebrows narrow.
At the moment, Han knew there was nothing he could do to stop this. However, he was unwilling to let this go just like that.
After all, no one liked being successfully schemed against.
'A rebel soldier is what he wants, huh?'
"Captain….". Seeing his leader silent, the lieutenant couldn't help but speak up again.
"I mean no disrespect, but I urge you to quickly come to a decision. The search parties have been out for hours. If the rebel is found and unfortunately killed…".
He didn't continue.
He didn't need to.
Zhao's scroll stated that the target must be captured alive.
Not just alive, but also captured silently.
Apparently, he wanted no one else to know that the target was already in his custody.
In that case, after he found the criminal, he still needed to make up a ruse.
The search parties wouldn't stop, continuously searching for a criminal already arrested, until Zhao showed up to receive him.
As for why ..... Han wasn't sure.
Was it to stop possible competition? Prevent others from intercepting the traitor before him?
'Alright ... '. Han thought inwardly as he rose from his chair.
"Ready the Rhinos. Send word to the scout teams". He uttered to his lieutenant with a solemn tone.
"To make sure no accidents occur ….". The sound of footsteps echoed in the quiet room as he walked towards the exit.
".... I will have to capture this rebel myself…".
Caw!
Peel calls resounded throughout the Jungles.
Also…. - Somewhere else -
Thud!
The ground was trampled upon by a large hoove creature as the sound of a moving cavalry emerged in the once silent forest.
In a certain part of the earth kingdom forest, stood a group of men.
Every single one of them in fire nation uniform.
No exceptions.
A sergeant dismounted from the Komodo Rhino with his feet landing firmly on the ground.
He moved his hand and placed it against the soil that had concealed traces.
"Sir, could it be …?" A soldier asked.
"It's definitely human".
He replied. "This time, the size, and depth matches. I can't confirm if it's him, but someone's certainly come through these parts".
The Sergeant replied solemnly. The frown on his face was hard to conceal.
The tracks were well concealed. From his analysis, probably a few hours old.
'Finally ..... All morning hunting ….'.
He wasn't worried that the target would have escaped. After all, human legs could only take you so far.
Without a fast mount, it was impossible to outrun a fire nation search party. Still, the Sergeant had to admit that this was one of the hardest missions he had ever been on.
'It's been several hours… This kid's good'.
After a whole day, they were behind the rebel by a few hours. It was appalling really to think this was the work of a seventeen-year-old.
"Release the bird". Thinking up to this point, the Sergeant no longer hesitated and gave an order.
A private obeyed and immediately went to work. Moments later, a large cage was carried over.
In within was a creature nearly three feet tall.
An Eagle Hawk. (Cross between an eagle and a hawk with much bigger size)
One of the very few that could be captured and successfully domesticated.
The bearded sergeant walked towards the cage and opened it. The creature immediately flapped its massive wings and flew out, prompting everyone to take a step or two back in caution.
It couldn't be helped. In the past five years, three privates had died while tending to this creature and more than a dozen wounded.
Despite being domesticated, its bloodthirsty nature was difficult to eradicate. However, its usefulness far outweighed whatever it did.
Its vision during nighttime was unparalleled, and its ability to understand human intentions allowed it to serve as a great long-range tracker.
"Go ..... Search". A scroll was handed over to the Sergeant, who unfurled it and displayed a portrait before the creature's eyes.
The eagle hawk took a good look at the scroll. Then....
Caw!
A boisterous Peel Call emerged from its throat as it took off into the air.
The Sergeant watched it disappear into the night and spoke.
"Get the telescopes. Follow in its general direction". The eagle would make a wide search in all directions within a ten-kilometer radius. Its large size made all other aerial predators avoid it as it surveyed with rapid speed.
Unless the rebel hid within a bush, under the earth or in very leafy trees, it was hard to escape its gaze.
Once the target was found, it would immediately report back and lead them in the direction it last located the target. He ad his team would take it from there.
The Eagle Hawk soared through the skies as with sharp eyes.
The western part of the earth kingdom had few areas with tree Groves and areas with plants were more of a green grassland.
The rest of the area had more yellow sand and barren earth than it did tall trees. In a place like the Foggy swamp, the reconnaissance value of the bird would be reduced.
Here however, was its domain.
Less than five minutes elapsed, and the eagle hawk spotted a target. Less than three kilometers away from the spot it was released from.
It swooped down, drawing closer to the earth for a better look.
Flying across a remote farming village, across a large area of scorched land with no trees, grass or any vegetation for that matter, and across a grizzly bear statue, it soon came to the edge of the black scar and rested on a tall tree.
As less than a hundred meters away, a male figure could be seen staggering into the greenery.
Dark hair, long black robes ..... Under its eyes, everything was as clear as day.
That this was the target it was looking for…
....
Luca staggered away from the burned earth with his right hand placed on his head.
Numerous images flashed through his head giving him a splitting headache he felt would make his head explode.
It was torturous, really.
Having an extra seventeen years of memories emerge in his head wasn't something the average human could bear.
At least, he summed it up to seventeen. After all, there were some fragmented images shrouded in darkness he couldn't remember clearly. From what he could understand, anything before four years of age just wouldn't open up to him no matter what.
Honestly, he was glad it didn't. Close to an hour had passed since he escaped the Hei Bai and the sorting of thoughts had never stopped.
Any more, and he feared his head would explode.
If not for his deep fear that the spirit monster would re-emerge from the statue to whisk him away, he wouldn't be able to muster the will to move at all.
His body and mind aligned this time as he moved as fast as he could to escape. Thankfully, Hei Bai's statue was far towards the other end of the scarred land so it took him a great distance. If not, he would still be far off.
As for Senlin Village?
Forget it. At this point, he didn't care if Aang was going to appear there in three days or even tomorrow.
Compared to meeting the protagonist group, he valued his life more. He wasn't willing to bet that Hei Bai wouldn't return at any time to kidnap him again.
Not to mention, he had bigger problems to deal with….
'Hiss!'
The sharp pain emerged once again, causing him to stumble.
The books made receiving memories sound so easy. Damn you Authors!
'I curse your works to lose followers'.
Seconds elapsed. And finally, the memory rush ceased and Luca collapsed to the floor with bathed breaths, sweaty neck and forehead and a rapidly beating heart.
Memories are here ...
Well, a famous saying, Better Late Than Never, right?
Yeahhhh …. No. Honestly, it would have been better if these damn memories never came at all.
Because now, he fully understood what the panel meant when it said lying low would be difficult.
Fire Nation!
Fuck! This body belonged to the Fire Nation.
Unable to muster enough mental strength to get up, he took it upon himself to open the status panel where he laid.
Name: Luca
Affiliation: Fire Nation ....
Attributes: Strength 10, Dexterity 9 Constitution 11, Chi 1, Perception 14, Spirit Chi: 1,785
Fatigue: 35/100
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Personal Perks: Density Shifting, Permanent Chi Absorption, Chi Manipulation: 186,
Mastered abilities: Stealth: 16, Blademanship: 16, Hand To Hand Combat: 13, Poison Mastery: 17, Disguise:16, Tool Creation: 15, Marksmanship: 16, Lock picking: 15, Earth Kingdom Culture: 16, Interrogation: 17, Battle Instinct: 14, Evasion and Escape: 16, Regeneration: 10
Assignable Achievement Points (AP): .....
Status: Otherworlder/ Rebel (spy)(Fugitive on the run)
.....
.....
Not surprisingly, the Panel had changed. Luca looked glumly at the status panel and noticed the race section that was once empty had been filled.
It's confirmed. Fire Nation.
'I'm screwed'. The thought appeared in his head and couldn't leave no matter what. Playing over and over and over with each passing second.
In the Avatar series, The Fire Nation was the well-deserved bad guy. Waging a war of aggression against the other nations with the goal of world domination.
They slaughtered the Air Nomads, making Aang the last of his race, devastated the North Pole and conquered earth kingdom territory.
Apart from the fire nation, they would be met with hostility anywhere else in the world. Now, Luca found himself on the side of the aggressors.
Just great. Now even if he wanted to get all chummy with the Avatar group, the difficulty would increase by several notches just on the basis of his identity.
Aang probably wouldn't mind. But Sokka and Katara would definitely not be so trusting. It wasn't impossible, but it was sure as hell difficult.
And if you think that's bad enough, then you're gonna marvel at what comes next.
Luca's gaze shifted to the Status column. Sure enough, that had also changed too. Besides the Otherworlder title, it had a new partner.
— Rebel (Spy)(Fugitive on the run)
....
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