Chapter 121 - Important Mission targeting Count Alderhine
Somewhere inside the harbor of a small city, but who was constantly developing from how the people worked on its building.
Inside this small city, a young man with black hair and brown eyes with below-average facial features walked around with a beautiful tanned girl who had long black hair and a pair of mesmerizing dark blue eyes.
Her clothing was similar to the ones the people of Kaysang would wear, a pair of black trousers displaying her curvaceous legs, and on her upper body was a white buttoned shirt that was buttoned in such a way that she was showing her garments.
At the same time, the young man who was walking with the tanned beauty was wearing the army uniform that would make some citizens of the city look with some respect at him, but most of them were focused on the tanned girl since they had never seen someone of different skin color, still being welcoming to her.
"Valen, this place is so nice. They have so many things and such beautiful clothes. After seeing the clothes your kingdom has, it makes me feel a bit bad for the women in Tamuin, for always having to wear those rags." said the young woman while her hands were busy holding on to some bags.
The young man who looked around the city, hearing the woman saying that, commented in a light tone.
"I doubt they will miss it because Cheif Zeke seems to be in the Prince's good hands and wants to especially trade and collaborate with Kaysang. Our traders are always quick for some change, so once they have the license to go to Tamuin and trade, they will swarm your island."
"Are they really that greedy? The people of Tamuin didn't do the trade your people do or were the ones who focused much on this aspect as sir Velomer and the others on the ship showed to be."
"Hah, I can't comment about the internal things of Sol, but the merchants in the city I live, are like this, sharp and calculative when it comes to profits. But they are always just because His Highness placed rules and tariffs they need to respect. As for their greed, I think it is something each merchant needs to have to survive." added Valen while chuckling at Maisha's question.
Yet this didn't stop the indigenous princess's curiosity, which made her say.
"Are their prices as high as in Esvir? I really feel sorry for your pockets thinking you had to spend that high sum of money for my clothes."
"Actually, the prices in Sol are lower compared to the other islands neighboring Kaysang, because they didn't unify yet with the kingdom, and so they use their own prices for their goods, adding a small percentage to the goods they buy from Sol and the territory controlled by the Prince. Also, don't stress about it, I only spent 55.000 𝔅. My monthly salary is 35.000 𝔅, for that, I really have to thank Captain Flex for giving me a reward."
"I'm really sorry, Valen. You have to spend your money on me, and offer me all these new clothes and accessories. I will make sure to pay you back after I manage to get some money." said Maisha while her blue eyes looked a bit down on the stone-paved road.
"Why do you consume yourself on this, Maisha? Just take it as me giving you a gift. How could you have stepped on Sol using those rags of clothes that were so ripped and bloody? Would take make the other people look down on you and ridicule you, even if it's rare to see this in Sol."
"I don't care what others say about me, Valen. As long I know who am I, this is what matters the most to me. Also, don't try to stop me from paying you back. I was raised knowing how to give back the warmth from others, especially from you."
Valen just gave a slight smile and continued his walk on the city of Esvir, the capital of the Esvir Island, one of the main islands closer to Kaysang, who joined the integrating system established by Vlad and his councilors.
This is the 3rd time he came to this city and island and could swear it changed so much since his last visit. The architecture and clothing shifted more and more toward the style of Sol, to what Kavos envisioned for the main cities of Kaysang.
'Sigh, things have changed so much since I last came here. The governor of Esvir will for sure join the island to Kaysang, but when? There's also the civil war between the noble faction of Duke Lacilet and Royal Highness. Tsk so annoying, to have such a stop here, what is in captain Flex mind to stop it here, when there's a chance of a war being sparked out of nowhere?'
'He wants to let us relax a bit after the war with the indigenous warriors? Well, if it's this you have my respects, captain, I can spend some time alone with Maisha without having Bors and those other fools intervening in my conversation with her like moths or flies.'
Looking a bit at Maisha and peeking at her for a bit, he said to himself with a satisfied mind.
'Our clothes go so well with her skin tone. It makes even more beautiful compared to the rags the women there would put on their body.'
"Is something wrong, Valen? Is something wrong with my body?" asked Maisha when sensing that Valen looked for a brief moment at her.
Valen turned his head at Maisha, and seeing how well those clothes matched with her figure, he gives a small cough before saying.
"Not at all. What could be wrong with your body? You are fine just like that. I thought that our Kaysangian clothes fit you like a match, making you especially beautiful." ending that, Valen's cheeks turned a bit rosy, but he masked his slight embarrassment with another cough.
Maisha, who heard Valen confess that, also had her cheeks turn a bit rosy, and looking at her new clothes and her body which she found a bit weird, made her more confident. After that, she got closer to Valen as they walked toward the harbor and give him a small kiss on his cheeks.
"Thank you. It means a lot to my confidence, especially when journeying out of home knowing nothing about your culture and country."
Feeling the soft lips on his cheeks made him even more embarrassed, and after Maisha got away from him and saw his reaction, she could only giggle a bit and say to him.
"You are so weak, Valen."
"What? I'm not weak at all. What are you even trying to say?" asked Valen while he tried to calm his embarrassment, giving Maisha a stare.
"No, you are quite weak. Do you want to see?" asked Maisha while staring at Valen with a smug on her face.
Seeing her smug face, Valen trying to put on a serious expression, said stoically. "Try me."
Getting Valen's confirmation, Maisha nodded her head and, getting back to Valen, she leaned her head to give him another kiss, however this time on his mouth, yet it was at that time that the sound of the dial snail started ringing.
Taking the snail from his pocket instinctively before Maisha could kiss him, he responded, breaking Maisha's momentum.
"Sergeant Valen, you are summoned to go back to Valor immediately. Case doing any activity you are doing, and make your way back to the ship. There's an important mission from His Highness."
"Yes, sir? Wait, what? Weren't we on a break? Ahhh, right away, captain, I will be back in 5 minutes."
"Good, you will get more information after gathering at the ship."
*Gotcha*
At the end of the call, Valen's face that had all the embarrassment from not too long vanished, and staring at Maisha, who listened with attention to his call, said to her.
"We need to get to the ship. It is an important mission from His Highness. Let's go, Maisha."
'Tsk, why did you have to call him now? I was close to giving him a kiss. Do you even know how important those things are in the Tamuin tradition? Sigh, now if we go back, I can't get closer to him because of those annoying guys. I lost the chance, but at least I have to experience what it is like to be one of them and in dangerous situations.' thought Maisha feeling a bit resentful of how badly timed Flex was to call Valen.
Yet, her curiosity for what was to happen was intrigued and followed after Valen, who increased his walking speed.
.
.
As they walked toward the harbor of Esvir, they could see many soldiers walk from other directions of the city and moving to the ship, while on the ship, the other soldiers and sailors were stationed in raws, disciplined and organized.
Getting on the ship with Maisha, they heard Bors call him and her from a back row.
"Come here, you two sweet birds. Did you manage to do something with your lady Valen?" asked Bors, Valen's friend, and teammate, making a sign for him to get to the group.
"Can you stop saying those dumb things, Bors? What would you expect to happen in such a short time? Even last night, you idiots were sticking so close to me like moths. Do you have something against me? You don't like Maisha?"
The 9 soldiers looked at one another and then turned to stare at Valen with sharp gazes as if subtly telling him.
'You lucky fucker, do you think we will let you fuck this beauty? While we are without ladies. No chance, mate.'
"No, no. It is your impression. Anyway, good that you got here in time. Captain Flex, Lieutenant Levon, and Yetty seem quite serious today. So we should expect the worst for this mission." said Bors, putting Valen to peace while giving a shrewd smile to the young man.
"That's something from His Highness, so it should be crucial. We should take this mission seriously because if we fail, it could affect him. But if we succeed, we will return to Sol with glory."
Before not long, the people stopped coming and climbing on the ship, a sign that everyone arrived on station, and just like most expected from the captain's cabin, Flex, accompanied by his brothers, walked down to where the soldiers gathered in ordered rows.
Flex, who was wearing the officer's clothes on him with the silver crowned eagle's emblem, looked sharply at the soldiers. After getting on the main deck and stared for a short period at the soldiers and sailors, he opened his mouth and said.
"Soldiers, we have an important mission from His Highness Vlad. It will be something detrimental to the future of Sol and our respective future. To not boil you, I will start telling you what this mission consists of."
"Our next stop will be Alderhine County. The territory of Count Alderhine, one of the arduous supporters of Duke Lacilet, the traitorous Duke. The mission from Prince Vlad is this. Try to infiltrate inside his territory, and try to grab hold of him and then take control over his county while.
We should avoid alerting Alderhine City guards and target the Count's mansion. We should also try to avoid killing the nobles of this region, but if the mission is endangered by them, we can kill them on sight."
Looking at the soldiers and this silent ship, Flex asked them.
"Is everything clear, soldiers?"
"EVERYTHING IS CLEAR, SIR!" responded the soldiers and sailors, part of which Valen, Maisha and the others were part off.
However, Valen raised his arm after things calmed down.
"Yes, Sergeant Valen?"
"Sir, I have a question if I may. What's the infiltration plan? Is it up to each team freedom, or there is a common plan that each one of us must attend to?"
"Good question and point you brought, Valen."
Because this mission will be of high importance, Levon, Yetty will lead one group, 40 people, meaning 4 teams will be led by one of us officers. After we reach close to the Alderhine region, the teams will be formed. However, I tell you this, you will only listen to what your superior tells you from your group, but our targets would be the same."
"That is all, soldiers, you can go grab your stations. Sailors, your job will be the same. Don't bother with the merchants and their attendants. They took their goods and wouldn't feel bad since they are close to home. Now, get going, boys. Unfurl the sails and raise the anchor." said Flex while staring at the group of soldiers and sailors.
He received a positive answer, and the soldiers walked down on the lower deck while the sailors began preparing the ship for the sail.
Valen, Bors, and the others who got on the lower deck started talking with one another while Maisha began assimilating new information.
"Brother, isn't this mission too dangerous? If things go wrong, we will not be able to handle 4000 or how many soldiers Count Alderhine has at his disposal." said Morloc, the young man who had the features that would make one associate him with a frog.
"What are you whining, you lucky bastard. You are worrying? I'll be damned if something happens to you, Morloc." added another soldier of the team while giving a scornful look to the young man who asked that.
"Heh, why the worry boys. It's just an infiltration mission. I will teach you what to do to seem normal in those noble territories. But until then, we'll have to wait. Alderhine County is the first port city on the noble side, and the count is quite wealthy for that. Since most of the trade going from the noble ruled kingdom territory and out passes through his city and port." said Bors to the rest of the guys.
"It's still a small city compared to Valent or Sagletius. However, it shouldn't be too hard for you, those who lived under the syndicate's iron fist." added Valen while staring at the group, while moving toward a corner of the lower deck and taking a seat, where Maisha followed along, sitting next to him.
She asked him out of curiosity.
"Valen, why do you call the part we will go part of the kingdom controlled by the nobles. Isn't your kingdom a whole land?"
"Hmm, not really. The shape of the kingdom is a bit weird because the Blue Jewel Great River is flowing in the center, spilling into the sea, which also splits the kingdom or, better said, until the capital city Sagletius. The access toward the other part of the kingdom controlled by the nobles is done using the bridges from Dawn District and Noble District.
There are other access routes toward the territory of the nobles that oppose Prince Vlad, but because of Axteros Mountain Range makes the passing hard, and aside from that hardship on passing the mountain, it is said giant beasts are living there, very powerful ones that could eat us easily."
"He is right, Maika. Axteros is a dangerous place. I've heard many stories in Sol about how criminals and migrants wanted to reach the side controlled by the nobles and choose that route. There's never a sign from those who use the mountain." added Bors to Maisha while using the wrong name that got stuck in his head.
"What beasts could lurk inside that would kill anyone entering the mountain?" asked Maisha, feeling curious.
"No one knows, because like the Forbidden Forest, no one returns to tell the story when they journey out deep inside." said Valen while shaking his head.
"Who knows, but after this war ends, maybe we will find once and for all what's there. Until then, get a rest, guys. We need to be fresh and clear-headed for this upcoming mission. Hey Maika, I really look forward to seeing what you can do." said Bors while taking a piece of wood and a knife, starting to sculpt something on it.
"Prince Vlad's powers healed most of my wounds, especially the deep wounds. You will for sure see what the heiress of one of the ruling families of Tamuin can do. Just don't make a fool of yourself."
"Hoh, confident, are we? It remains to be seen if you can get inside our team. It depends on your performance on this mission."
.
.
Meanwhile, in another region inside Kaysang, in a big mansion inside the center of a decently sized city, a tall, middle-aged man who was about 1,92 meters, with blonde middle-length hair and green eyes, talked to a dial snail and seemed a bit angry in his tone.
"What do you mean I should prepare for war? Since when do I, Alderhine Grigos, have to listen to what a single person has to say. Does Lacilet think he is a king already? We didn't even elect him as king. So what do you want now from me, Grailly?"
"Calm down, brother Alderhine. While it is true that His Grace wasn't elected by the Council of Nobles, the period we live in doesn't allow for such a long process. We need a strong leader to take the reigns of the kingdom."
"Hmph, cut the bullshit, Grailly. Do you remember why we built the council? It is to make the decisions as a gathered group and never have the power inside a single hand. Now, if you don't give me a good reason for this blatant request from me, we will cut our ties immediately."
"Brother Alderhine, this isn't the time to throw a tantrum now and flex your influence in your region. His Grace said that if you bring your retainers to help in his campaign, he will exempt your territory of taxes and also confer you the title of Duke after the war is over."
"Ohh, Duke, you say? Exempt from taxes, you say? Interesting, but you make me doubt your words. In the first place, you guys didn't even hold true to the pledge we made in the Glory Cathedral inside Sagletius. How can I trust you that you will hold true to those promises."
His angry voice lowered down, and with an evil smile, Count Alderhine touched the cable of the dial and said to Count Grailly.
"Your situation is quite difficult, am I right? See what have I told you in the past that you should stomp of the peasants' heads and also kill that Blood guy and that peasant old man Aldenis. Now you made yourselves a crown pretender who, from what I understand, has the favor of the ones who didn't attend the council of nobles."
"I really don't wish to offend such a powerful person. What if he comes to kill me if he knows that I started summoning my soldiers?" asked Alderhine with a smirk on his expression.
"You are worrying too much, brother. Also, His Grace is a person who holds to his promises." said the other noble from the dial snail, with an overconfident tone.
Snorting at this comment, Count Alderhine Grigos only responded to Count Grailly with a sort reply.
"Grailly, tell this to Lacilet. I will think about his offer. When war is at his hottest, you might see me on the battlefield."
The other noble sounded slightly happier than before, and with a still respectful voice, Grigos heard Grailly say.
"Brother, I will see you on the battlefield. Take care of your health until then."
*Gotcha*
Alderhine Grigos closed the dial snail, and from his private room, he started laughing out loud, which made someone knock on the door not too long after.
"Daddy, is everything fine?" asked the voice of a young girl, who entered inside the room Count Alderhine was.
Grigos stopped laughing, and with a smiling face, he looked at the newcomer. A little girl was about 9 to 10 years old with golden hair and light blue eyes, with a face similar to a dool.
"No, my little princess, what could happen to daddy? Daddy is just amused by something." said the count while walking to the little girl and taking her up in his embrace.
"Something funny? Can you tell me?" asked the little girl with curious eyes and in a cute tone.
"There are some bad guys who want daddy's help." replied Grigos to the little girl.
"That bad uncle?" asked the little girl in a whispering tone to Grigos ear.
"Yes, that bad uncle wants my help Aria. Should I help?" asked Grigos while looking at his daughter with fatherly love.
"No, no. I've heard from Stella that uncle did very bad things to grandpa Tius. He is bad, daddy is a good person. Good people don't help bad guys." said the little girl while looking at Grigos green eyes and warm face.
"That's right, my little princess. Then daddy will not help the bad uncle. Come, let daddy give you a candy made of cacao and milk from Picodras."
"Ahhh, candy. What is cacao?" asked the little girl with a confused expression.
"It is that black bean that Stella used to make the dark paste and which she added to the milk, making it dark brown."
"That is cacao? Wow, let's go, daddy." said the little girl as she got off from Grigos embrace and moved to the door.
"Slowly, my princess. No need to hurry. We got all the time in the world."
