Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 198: Reunion of old friends

1016 SEEDMONTH

ARRANDY, ACRO, GRAND HALL

Arial is nodding.

He is in his grand hall hearing the general report of the state when a messenger came into the Grand Hall and informed the Hall that the representative of the Blood Brotherhood has come after their invitation was received.

Many of Arial vassals is here, knowing of his plan to supply the rebel of Vern. Of course this will remain a secret to other foreign powers, even to Adrian.

This is to help Adrian from not being implicated if Arial plot is discovered.

'Liao Bao!' He called Liao Bao. He has just returned from Zettel yesterday after meeting the royal family of Zettel.

Arial manage to talk to him in the morning, and he said he have quite the crazy adventure in Zettel.

'My lord.'

Liao Bao came in front of me and kneels.

'You know your task.' He already spoke to him, informing him that he will be elected as the Supervisor to the North if today meeting is favourable.

'Yes my lord' he nodded in understanding

He stands beside Arial as Arial sit waiting for those representative to announce their arrival. The herald came and shouted

'ANNOUNCING THE ARRIVAL OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF BLOOD BROTHERHOOD, FROM HOUSE OF CHU PRINCESS ZHENGPING AND HER GUARD ZHAO LU.'

He nodded and gestures

'Bring them in.'

It was at that time, Arial look at Liao Bao and his face show a pretty peculiar expression. It seems that he is shocked.

'Liao Bao?'

'Yes my lord' he said looking at him dazed.

'Are you fine' Arial ask. He shakes his head.

'Yes, my lord. I am fine. Fine.' He said like he is convincing himself. Arial only shakes his head.

Then the representatives enter and they bowed their head. They consist of a man and a woman. Both of them seem to be from noble descent.

'We are the representative of House of Chu and the Blood Brotherhood' the girl said.

'I am her guard my lord' the young man said cupping his fist 'Zhao Lu' he said. Arial nodded.

The girl looks young but she is clearly older than him by two years. She has beautiful green eyes, a long hair and an appearance of a noble upbringing.

She is wearing a regal dress that has an intrinsic simplicity. It features an attractive dress and a matching headpiece.

The brown dress is vertically gathered and has an almost ruched appearance. The neckline and centre of the brown section have an elegant golden trim.

Lacing fastens the dress over her bust and torso which Arial realized Liao Bao is staring at intently.

Arial wanted to smack the back of Liao Bao head seeing him so entranced with the bust. It is covered by a ruffled chemise-styled collar.

Her sleeves are slit and tied at her shoulder and end in a wide cuff just under her shoulder. Her headpiece matches her dress gold patterned trim.

It is a high quality works and without a doubt he knows she is a daughter of great noble house.

The man beside her look refined but Arial can sense his internal energy. He is wearing a leather armour, and is built for flexibility.

His internal energy is also noted it in Arial memory. While it is not the strongest he has ever encountered for his age that is formidable enough.

They looked up to look at Arial but suddenly the girl yelped, looking at Liao Bao withlonging? The man on the other hand looks shocked.

'Liao Bao!' the girl shouted a scream of excitement.

'Princess!' the guard admonishes her.

'How have you been doing my lady?' Liao Bao asks his face is blank of expression.

'You know this people Liao Bao?' Arial asked, looking puzzled at this unexpected event

'They are the acquaintance that I've met during my journey my lord.'

'Is that so?' Arial said as he looks back and forth between Liao Bao and the Princess of the Chu family

It seems there is something more between them. Arial could see that the Princess keep stealing glances at Liao Bao.

Anyway to the matter at hand.

'Do you know why I invite you?' Arial asked the Princess. She nodded.

'My lord wanted to supplies us with training and gold' and speaking about this suddenly her eyes changed, more resolute, the nave appearance disappears.

'Yes, I am, my lady. ButI too want something in return.' And the expression of the guard change.

'What could our family give that would satisfy the rich family of Vermont?' he said being defensive.

'Before I give you any assistance I would like to ask a few questions. Can I do that?'

'Please ask away my lord.' The Princess said.

'Why is the House of Chu tangling with the rebellion movement? Answer this and depending on your answer I will decide what to do with my offer.'

The Princess nod.

'As you know my lord, my father is one of the general of the Empire. However, he lives far away from the south and at the most northern border of the Empire.'

Arial nodded. He already knows this.

'I know this' he said.

'Yes, I suspect you do.' Then she continues her story

'The Emperor receives intelligence that the House of Austen is having a thought to rebel. Since the Emperor doesn't believe the Qin family or Han family by Imperial decree my father is asked to march to the South, to Shanhai Pass to bring the Austen family to Chongyang, the capital. However, anyone with even a little bit of acumen or knowledge in warfare knows that if my father ever reaches Austen he would be decimated. Combined with the tiring march, it does not help that the Austen family is all great generals, defending the Pass for thousands of years. So, my mother sends us to join the Blood Brotherhood and seeing as our position and wealth supplied the rebel, my father has been halted from marching to handle the rebel attack in Qin. We supplied the rebels with troops and because of that my father reported that the amount of troops he had deserted when in truth they joined the Blood Brotherhood. If it is known that his own troops joined the Blood Brotherhood, it might be the Emperor would have his head. With that excuse, my father had delayed fighting a battle with the Austen'

Arial nodded and then she continued.

'But now my father has been supplied with thirty thousand troops from the imperial Capital, my father has no reason to defy the Imperial decree anymore. If he marches he will die. If he does not march he will be branded a traitor and he will be executed. And in Vern the mistake of the Head of the family extend to his family too.'

Arial nodded

'Does your father know about your involvement?'

'No, but I think he knows. He just pretends not to.'

'Hmmm.'

'So. what is your objective here? I know of the charge of the Blood Brotherhood. To enthroned an Eastian ruler on the throne. Is that your father?'

The Princess looks at Liao Bao and nodded weakly. Arial vassals all whispered among each other

'HAHAHAHA'

Arial laughed and the Hall quieted. They are all waiting for his word.  Even Liao Bao felt the tense atmosphere in the room as no one wanted to laugh

'Is that your plan? Fine. Good plan. Great plan. I approve' he said.

'You will give us assistance, my lord?' the Princess look up, her eyes widened

'Yes' they looked at each other, overjoyed because of the news

'But...if your father succeeds in his rebellion then Vern will be a protectorate of Aetherland. Can you accept that? If you can accept that then I will give you all the assistance you need.'

The Princess glances around looking at her guard.

'I will discuss this with- 'Arial slams the handle of his chair and the entire hall could hear the sound of the handle breaking as the pieces of wood explode and split into fragments and falls to the ground.

'No! Decide now. We are accomplice now my lady. If people know I actively seek the destruction of Vern Imperial family they may wage war against Aetherland, and I have no intention in engaging in another war.'

'What will you do if we refuse?' The guard said.

'Then I will make the Emperor my hammer. I will send him a letter detailing your involvement with the Blood Brotherhood' Arial threatened

The Princess hesitated.

'Decide!'

'My lord' Liao Bao said suddenly, his face is full of concern to the girl, almost like a lover, but he holds his tongue.

After a few moments of silence, she nodded.

'We will accept the conditions my lord.' Arial smiles and nodded

'Then our deal is made. Please topple the Montblanc Dynasty.' Arial said smiling his most pleasant smiles to the Princess.

She nodded weakly.

'And to make sure that the training of the rebel army is done in a diligent manner and to make sure there is no embezzling of the gold and goods we will supply to the rebel army, I appoint Liao Bao as the Supervisor of the North' he said and suddenly Lord Daniel quickly come into the front of Arial chair and kneel.

'My lord, please reconsider!'

'Lord Daniel! Why are you doing this?' Lord Daniel looked at Liao Bao.

'We know exactly to nothing about this man and your trust to him is something I do not understand my lord. Choose other people to go supervise the rebel army and I shall have no objection '

He sighed.

'I trust him Lord Daniel.'

'How can you trust him my lord?'

'How can I not? He has risked his life, walking thousands of miles, experience many dangerous adventure to fulfil his promise to a maiden in danger, risking everything even execution. What if he were caught by the Imperial army?"

Arial asked to the vassals who are all beginning to lean towards Lord Daniel proposal.

Arial know that if Liao Bao succeed in his work certainly he would grant him a title which he certainly deserves and other minor lords also want that opportunity.

To gain glory and riches. Arial continued his words.

'He would have been tortured before dying. His deeds in informing us what happen have made us ready to face any opposition from Beyond the Sea. His deeds must not be forgotten; his suffering must be repaid." Arial said as he looks at his vassals.

Some of them avoid his eyes, while some other nodded. Kyle and West just remain silent

"If it's not for him then maybe we would not have strengthened our defence on the Bleeding Wall. Maybe we will lax our guard on the Wall, and remain in the dark about the impending danger. So my decision is final."

Lord Daniel looks at Arial and can only sigh.

'As you wish, my lord.' He said and he returned to his seat. Arial know he said it because he is worried about him, but Arial trust his own judgement.

"Is there anyone else?"

The Hall is quiet.

'Then it is settled' Liao Bao then rushed to the in front and kneels in front of me.

'You have honoured me, my lord. I will not disappoint your trust.' Arial just nod.

'You will be accompanied with ten captains. They will be your guard and the one responsible making the rebel army a trained military. It will be your job to supervise them.'

'Yes, my lord' he said enthusiastically.

Arial then said to the representative to go to the banquet hall since he has prepared a small feast for them. Hearing this they excuse themselves to prepare to the banquet.

Liao Bao quickly insinuate himself with the representatives. The fact that they are acquaintance is also an added benefit.

Liao Bao will be Arial eyes and ear at Vern, reporting the progress of the rebel army. Arial have cast his lot and he hope he have made the right choice.

Arial will also tell the representative tomorrow before he departs to Vangua to save the Princess of the Dark Lands when they stormed the capital.

Finally, the matter of Vern is solved.

The vassal all excuse themselves seeing the meeting has ended. When all the other have exited the Grand hall, Arial sit himself down on his chair as he clutched his chest.

The pain is getting stronger by day.

Arial need to be quick to meet "him". Thankfully he is always there, waiting. But he need to make his journey there in secret. Else his enemy know about it.

That "person" is in Vangua.

That man may have the answer to his affliction. He may be his last hope, probably the only one that can translate the full text other than Michael.

Tomorrow, he will depart to Vangua and hopefully his hope will not be dashed. With that, he stands up and open the door of the Grand Hall as the light of the candle cast his shadow.

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Third chapter of the mass release. There will be more chapter in a few minutes