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Chapter 293: Game of Thrones

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[Lad, how about it? Are you interested?]

Thinking about it, once the [Form] is killed, it then becomes a carcass. Though he can still use the ability after four days after its death, it was still a fact that he had just given away a valuable Dragon Carcass……

—a monster resource!

Although he can’t summon the same monster [form] unless the former source was present with him, it was undeniably a very logical proposition.

The Mana source of this valuable Dragon Carcass was Elder Blue Draco. Zelga lacked the strength to harvest the resource while Elder Blue Draco lacked the resource itself.

In every translation of this language, they both need each other’s assets.

As much as he was surprised when Elementis had become True Dragon [Labrador], having the capability to destroy even Jeremiah in under a day, he was still helpless since he can’t control it to actually attack an intended target.

This was just a hair’s away from being useless. He regretted finding about this fact a bit too late.

—at least not anymore.

“So the secret lies on who is the ‘enemy’ huh…”

In terms of bodyguard quality, [Labrador] was the best he could imagine and this surprise was even greatly emphasized at the fact that he can maintain this summon without limits.

But thinking about it, the Labrador [resource] is indeed very tempting. But who can harvest this resource that needed a very powerful strength in order to kill, is a big question that Elder Blue Draco answered before Zelga could even begin to ask it.

At the very least, to harvest this [Dragon Materials Resource] needed a Division’s worth of S-Ranked strength…… and a Grand Knight such as Draco can provide such labor.

When he received this PM from Draco, Zelga was really surprised but at the same time, he was also delighted.

I can exploit this old man!

Zelga only glanced at the old man and pretended to be shocked by the missions as he replied, “70-30. I take the 70, and you also do me two favors.”

When he sent this message, there was a slight bit of frown that flashed momentarily on the old man and not sooner did Zelga receive a reply.

[60-40, you take 60 and I owe you three favors.]

Zelga felt like laughing out loud with this. He got the old man in the throat. This NPC’s greed was really something he was quite adept at controlling, despite it really very surprising.

“70-30, I take 70, two favors.” He displayed a fake adamant stance.

Zelga’s eyes met with the old man and he saw the old snake glare at him before he heard a DING on his ears that signified a reply.

[50-50, five favors, a Provincial Governor post in the capital region, six princesses as concubines, and a Battalion Commander Post in The Wall.]

“…..”

What?

Did I read that right?

He only wanted to tease the old man because it was something really fun to do. Actually, he was already in favor of the 60-40 split. Heck, he was even going to say okay if the old snake took 70 of the 70-30 cut.

What he was after were the favors because he was planning to ask the favor of becoming at least a Company Commander to lead his own Company to assail The Legion. But…

But he was instead made a Battalion Commander that was comprised of a standard array of eight fully equipped companies without wasting a favor!

The sheer number of the forces he could control was multiplied exponentially beyond his most and very optimistic imagination.

He was basically about to cry in happiness.

And not only that, he was also going to be a Provincial Governor not in a faraway place but in the Capital Region at that!

It should be understood that Jeremiah, amongst the continents of Terroa, is much like the Empire of Flowerion —an almost unified continent under a single flag.

To give away an important political position as if it was Christmas, only an esteemed Council of Elder member could do last second decisions like that.

He had no doubt the old snake was able to do it with just a flick of his toe.

And then finally… those six….

…six princesses as cum-dump?!!

“Fufufu…” Zelga couldn’t help himself and he let out a sinister laugh. Thankfully, the other seven were busy reading and planning their moves to go through the King Tests so no one saw and heard his scheming laugh.

He sent his agreement and raised his head to see the old man smiling and nodding at him.

DING!

The contract was sent over to him not soon after and he checked the details, the NDA clauses, the compensations, everything was in order and in its own proper places. Since the contract had already been signed by the old man’s Mana Signature, it was an authentic [Contract].

Zelga signed the contract and kept his own copy secured on his email database.

CLAP!!

Elder Blue Draco, having concluded his agenda in this meeting, clapped his hand to gather all their attentions towards him.

“The King Test’s screening will be ending in the next six days but because of the adjustments of my addition to The Testing Committee, it will be moved next week to give emphasis to the annual Crown Honoring Ceremony happening this week here in the Capital. During this time, you are given exempted privileges from your Knight Duties as you complete the given preparatory missions for the King Test. The official King Test will begin next month, 30 days starting this day, so you all better complete these tests to give you better chances to be chosen by the Throne.”

There was silence after his words were delivered.

Not including his own words, there were rumours circulating in the real world’s RPG: Terroa Portal regarding the fact that it was indeed true that a Council Elder which is a member of the Wall of Jeremiah will be presiding over the King Test but to hear this elder say that he was “added” on this task is an information not available to the real world as of this moment.

Meaning, not only other factions of pro-gamers in the real world have a way to extract insider info in the Council of Elders, it only meant that the real competition regarding this [King Test] is bigger than they could imagine.

Perhaps there are even organizations that’s been planning and pinning for this exact event itself for years now ever since it was announced by the pioneers of the game.

No wonder such information leak was already in circulation in the real world forums before it was even officially announced right here and now.

Longyun and Tabata looked at each other as they both gave a nod, and spat a side glance at Zelga’s direction.

To them, he was their biggest competition.

Lady Brea, one of the only two female candidates for the King Test, seem to be lost in thought as she knew that Longyun and Tabata were from The Union and was already her biggest competition, and yet, there was an addition of the just-now-Dragon-riding Zelga.

Originally, she never even wanted to be part of this competition and only wanted to fulfill a dream of hers, but The Wall gave her a condition that for her to be given the title of “Paladin”, she had to first join, and perhaps even win, the King Test for the next King of Jeremiah.

Not only that, she was even being rooted for by a Grand Elder Mage from the Enchantment Temple.

The pressure and expectation on her was being amplified greatly by these circumstances.

And, as if to add more to that, her pride and even her confidence were shattered just a few hours ago by Volt with just a simple tap on her shoulder.

“Yet, he’s not even part of this group…”

She was really feeling gloomy right now that even the shocking height of the preparation missions on her vision were not enough to affect her already sinking mood.

“The Wall won’t be adding more King Candidates on our list as of your batch but we don’t know if the other factions will be announcing theirs soon right after us. So, during this time, complete those missions as fast —and if you can manage to— as flashy as possible to completely suppress the tiny bit of morale the other factions have. Hohoho…”

There was no need to check the expressions on the face of the Senior Knights in the panel.

By this part of the Grand Knight’s speech, all of the other King Candidates in the room realized just how bias and unfair this Grand Knight is.

He was supposed to be part of the neutral and unbiased Council of Elders that manage the entire country that is called Jeremiah, but they all knew now that this NPC had a greedy AI algorithm.

With how the rumoured current changes in the world of Terroa is happening now, they knew that with this small event today, in this room, that this so called King Test is going to be one of those [events] that will affect the world of Terroa.

Especially these The Union Envoys, Longyun and Tabata, with the nature of the organization they two belonged, these two were sure to report this to their superiors and their superiors will be sure to make a move to monopolize this information to suite their aims.

This was a premonition of a storm with a scale not losing to the ones made by Siva.

“Do you have and question?” asked Draco as if he was a kind and amiable Sage.

A breath of time passed, no hand was raised but just as Draco was about to adjourn this meeting, a hand was raised from one of the eight.

“Speak your concern, Lady Brea.”

Prompted, Brea straightened her posture and bid to puff her chests. She raised her head and said with a reluctant yet steeled confidence, “Sir, I’d like to…. I’d like to promote another candidate.”

“Ho?” Elder Blue Draco found this girl’s sudden burst of idea interesting.

Although the King Candidate’s screening is being managed by the nine factions as a single unit, it is still a fact that these factions are rooting more for their own candidates to succeed.

Thus, today, the Wall of Jeremiah had already made their official announcement and introduced their own eight King Candidates.

So to promote another candidate, and someone that is even elected by another King Candidate is not out of the question, it’s just that, since the one who elected said new candidate is from one of The Walls own King Candidate, it goes to show that some complications might apply.

—especially now that they’ve already announced their eight official King Candidates.

Elder Blue Draco, perhaps driven by curiosity or trust because of Lady Brea’s backer, found this girl’s confidence and suggestion fairly interesting.

“Speak, young lass, who is this person you want to be screened?”

Brea swallowed her courage and then puffed her chest with resolve, saying, “He is called Volt, sir, and as far as I know, he is part of The Company.”

*****

After the meeting, estranged glances and eyes of ridicule were directed towards Lady Brea by six of the King Candidates.

When she spoke of the person she wanted to be screened as one of the King Candidates, not one of the people in the room was not aware of who was part of The Company.

It was Siva “The Destroyer”.

From the beginning, he gave himself that title and slowly, one incredible feat after another, although at first he was called “The Destroyer” by the Terrans, only after the incident in Dragona, did the world know that his name was actually Siva.

Thus, he became known as Siva “The Destroyer”.

With his latest feat in Alexandria, there were small talks about him being a selfish villain and that The Company, that he represents, is a criminal group that operates without laws and regulations.

After all, only during the events in the Walled City of Warjillis did the Terrans know of the existence of an organization called “The Company”, and that the name itself does not even exist in the Guild Name database.

Until today, not even the pro-gamers on exclusive gamer portals in the real world are aware of this organization…. what more are the Terrans?

For Lady Brea to actually promote someone in the company of that shady person and that shady-named organization...... isn’t she just plainly trying to insult the panel?

And yet, Elder Blue Draco actually gave her a tiny token to invite this person to the second stage of the three-staged King Candidate Screening in the open grounds of the Castle City… everyone felt that it was incredulous!

Brea proceeded to escape their glances and made her way towards the central region of the Castle City of Jeremiah.

Only a select few qualifications are allowed to fly in the skies of the city and being one of the King Candidates means that her status was one of those ‘few’.

She went directly towards the Main Headquarters of the Enchantment Temple. After showing her King Candidate insignia and a token given to her by Grand Elder Mage Pistareen, she walked at one of the rooms in the highest floor of the central mansion.

Opening the door, she saw there the back of the middle-aged looking Wizard facing a wall-wide glass window with flowers and plants in vases and pots decorating the bottom of the window.

A fresh smelling scent assaulted her nostrils and helped to calm down her agitated heart.

She entered the room and closed the door, knelt in one knee, and teary-eyed spoke to the elder who only kept on watching the scenery on the other side of the glass window.

“Please forgive me. I have failed you this time.”

“Hm?” Pistareen’s placating and pacifying one-toned reply spoke 70% of his good-natured and amiable disposition. He turned around and lifted a palm, and from the other side of the table, the kneeling and tearing Brea stood up while being helped by a gentle green vine from one of the flower vases. “Don’t be to agitated, little girl. Just try to breathe and relax your heart…. speak to me what happened.”

Brea, a (tall) little girl in front of Pistareen, sniffed and retold what had happened in the meeting.

Pistareen maintained a smiling face and sighed after she finished speaking.

“That old man, his ambitions really never stop.” He then turned his back to her and faced the wall-wide single piece glass window again. “And since you wanted to take back your pride, you wanted to compete with Volt for the throne during the King Test.”

“Yes.” Brea nodded in embarrassment. This NPC in front of her was just like a real person. He had his own personality and discerning ability to truly map out her emotions and how she thinks.

His [Magic Ability] wasn’t even something that can be classified in mere Tiers!!

“Hmmm… this is indeed interesting.” His voice sounded amused and playful.

“I… I have brought calamity to your intentions.”

“No, no, no. You did not. In fact, this is indeed an interesting turn of events… I actually planned on trying to make that guy join the ranks of the King Candidates but this development is not bad as well.”

“Do you mean…. Siva?”

“Yes. I actually invited him here. Hehehe…”

“….”

“Hehehe… he will be visiting us shortly whether he likes it or not. Hehehehe…”

This guy…

Brea’s thoughts jumbled.

Whether that scheming Grand Knight or this NPC with a weird hobby, both of these old bones were shrewd existences with their own games…. and right now, their chessboard is the King Test and she herself knew that she was just a piece.

Adding to that the pieces of the other factions, perhaps Pistareen’s greatest chess piece in this game of thrones could be Siva.

(A/N: LOL, I just had to say it… Xp)

Brea could only bite her lips and sigh.

******

In one of the executive rooms in The Wall-HQ…

Two people in the small sofas, facing each other, a table in the middle of them, a small-scale Dragon glaring at the elderly one, and two cups over two saucers of steaming blend in their fronts.

Draco wasn’t someone to wait until a chance slip by his hands and so he called for this Candidate immediately after the meeting had concluded.

“So, when do you plan to harvest the Dragon?”

Upon his words, the Dragon let out a low growl but Draco wasn’t afraid of it and only smiled as he lifted his cup and sipped the blend.

“After four days.” Zelga replied resolutely. “I am about to send this one on a mission.”

When he heard this, the old man’s expression flickered a rare look of alarm.

“You can control it?”

Zelga smiled sinisterly, “Of course. It’s my ability.”

It was a lie but Zelga was good at honesty game.

The old man looked at Zelga for a long time and only now did he take the growling Dragon behind Zelga seriously.

“I won’t take up much of your time, Grand Knight, my time is limited.”

Being addressed as if he was some same-level character as this young knight, of course Draco will be infuriated. But he has his own dignity and he has his own pride and so he controlled his face to hide his furious blood in his chest.

He originally wanted to propose to move as soon as possible but he didn’t expect that he will be treated as if he was some kind of low-ranked mob by a mere newly promoted knight.

He felt insulted but for the sake of his gains, he didn’t want to compromise Zelga’s hate. Between the two of them, he had so much to lose in this game by revealing his intentions.

As much as he regretted showing his cards, he had already ridden the Dragon, there was no more getting off.

Draco chuckled and wore a confidently relaxed smile, then put down his cup and leaned on the sofa to begin the talk.

“Four days is not a problem but I want to know, who are you sending….. that Dragon to?”

“Siva.” Zelga said with unmasked hatred on his grating tone. “I want him dead.”

“Ho?” Now this is something interesting. Draco’s fake smile became a true grin of curiosity.

Wasn’t Brea’s candidate part of Siva’s entourage?

“When are you sending the Dragon?”

“Now.”

Draco blinked. “Now?”

“Yes.” Elementis Labrador stood up and then Zelga pressed a button on his player panel. The Dragon’s body took a step then vanished in midair before they heard a loud Dragon Roar that echoed in the sky of Jeremiah. “And the reason I went to see you this time is to take that bargaining chip you offered earlier. I have some important uses on that Battalion Commander position.”

Sweating.

Draco’s forehead was sweating.

Earlier, he slightly regretted that he had shown his own face to this demon. But now, he was assured that he did make a mistake. Regretfully, there was no medicine to cure this case.

.

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Disaster is coming!!!

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