89

The territory of Count Seblan was surrounded by soldiers. They were readying their forces. The Count was part of the nobles that had a meeting with Duke Saraza. They had a conference and decided that they would help the Royal Family. They would send their reinforcement, tomorrow they would travel to the frontline.

However, right now, the Count was swallowing his saliva. A knife was pointed at his neck. Donovan smiled, the infiltration succeeded.

"What do you want?"

The Count slowly said. He was shaking, his fats were vibrating, and sweat poured out.

He didn't want to anger Donovan. Donovan was famous in their region as a bandit. The Count tried to hunt him but he always failed. Donovan was slippery and they couldn't touch him, his forces almost annihilated when he fought him that's why he knew that Donovan was dangerous.

"Relax, I don't have any bad intention. My friend just wants to ask your help."

Christopher uncovered his mantle.

"You…!! I thought you are dead!?"

The Count was shocked, he was part of the aristocrat that went to the Capital. He knew this man, almost all of the nobles knew him. He was the man that saved the Princess twice.

"Count Seblan take us to the Teleportation Gate."

Christopher replied. He didn't talk about his death because he wanted to avoid that topic. Count Seblan was a stranger and they were not close anyway.

"T-tha-"

Donovan had his life and the Count would die if he said no. Donovan put a little pressure on his neck. The Count was getting sweaty and his saggy cheeks were sticky.

"T-the Gate? What are you going to do there? That artifact is not working!"

No one could use the Gate, it was just junk. Though many Intermediates were still guarding the place.

"Don't ask, okay. Just take us there."

Donovan cut his neck slightly.

"No, Donovan I have to talk to him."

He looked at Christopher.

"What? So you are serious when you said that you want him in our plan?"

Christopher nodded. Donovan shrugged and released the Count. Seblan panted and touched his neck, he found a little cut but it was not deep. He tried to move around but Donovan forced him to sit.

"Listen carefully or else you will die."

The Count didn't have a choice, so he said yes.

Christopher stared at him eye to eye.

………………

The Count was dumbfounded. It was too good to be true. If the plan would work then they could reach the frontline immediately. However, there was a chance that maybe this plan would flop.

"Look I know that you have this Hero's descendant or whatever but I think this plan will not work. I mean, I heard information that the Goddess of Light can control the Gate. There's a chance that we will disintegrate to nothing. "

He had a point. But Christopher had more information about the Gate. Yes, he was shocked too when he heard that the symbols were from the four Goddesses but not enough to fear it. In fact, it gave his story a cover for his plothole.

"Count, if you are afraid then we are the only ones who will use it. I'm confident that we can use the Gate."

The Count was not sure, he began to think about the win and loss if he accepted it. Yes he was a greedy man but this was different, it's a gamble and he was not sure if he could win it. He wanted money, women, vices, or anything that gives pleasure but he gave most importance to his life. He calculated everything, he realized that all of his pleasure would be gone if the Royal Family lose.

After some time of thinking, he sighed with a large tone. He groaned and nodded.

"Thanks."

Donovan chuckled and Christopher breathed a relief. It looked like their conversation finished in a good way.

"Haaahhhhh, so when do we start?"

The Count said taking a lot of air. He hoped that his decision would not be wrong.

Donovan glanced at Christopher.

The man closed his eyes for a couple of seconds. He smiled when he found the outcome that he wanted.

At last, his name was written in the Auburn War again.

"Let's start now."

…………………

The Count went to the platform, four people were following him behind. Dozen of Intermediate blocked them.

"Count what are you doing here? I thought you are arranging the soldiers."

"Yeah, about that… Please forgive me."

The four people behind him unsheathed their weapons, they were Donovan and his trusted men. One of them cast a sleeping smoke, he was an Air Mahikero.

The closest people began to stumble while the others covered their noses and mouths. Donovan and the other two dashed and put them to sleep.

Christopher insisted that he didn't want anyone to die. Donovan found it annoying but he still agreed.

'They are really brothers, you can't change their mind when they decided.'

The guards fell and the platform was quiet again. A minute later, 2 hundred people appeared. They consist of bandits and soldiers. Christopher arrived, Ben and the others were with him. They wanted to go where Rachel go, they were siblings and they always protect each other.

Donovan yelled.

"Okay, I want all of you to listen. Obey every word that this man said. If I found that you didn't follow it…"

Donovan made a gesture of slitting his neck. The people nodded, even the soldiers could feel that Donovan was dangerous. Everybody stared at Christopher waiting for his commands.

"First, we must ready a lot of Mana Stone."

"You heard him, guys! Get the Mana Stone."

The people charged up the platform. They interrogated the guards about how to do it. The Gate needed large energy to operate, Mana Stone was valuable but it was worth using it.

Time passed and the Gate was fully charged. A little girl was standing on the center of the platform, on top of her head, a cute chick was sitting.

To activate the Gate, the platform must acknowledge that Rachel was qualified. The Runes glowed, they were examining Rachel's soul.

...... And at last.

The Gate became stable, Rachel was allowed to use the Gate. The Gate was now safe to use. Christopher made a gesture, he punched the air and said…

"Yes!"