met free Chapter 366: Akatsuki
Chapter 366: Akatsuki
Vale marveled at the single fact about Isolde. The woman was smart and resourceful, carefully placing herself before him, not appearing like a threat or anything formidable.
Impressive.
And the way she always spoke, not quite declaring support for him and yet not directly against him either. "Well, it’s good to know what to expect."
Impressive, and it would be a shame to kill her when he had to.
Her voice sounded curious as she asked, "Are you really content in the Hinterlands? Don’t get me wrong, this is a great place if you are willing to hide and rot away, but you won’t go far here. Even the Rifts and ruins here are subpar. You should see the world."
Vale frowned and thought about her words carefully. Indeed, he wanted to see the world. He always wanted more, but he also knew that he was going to use the Hinterlands as a footstone to step on, a foundation. If he couldn’t even get the Hinterlands, what use was the outside world?
And now that he knew what he knew about the Forbidden Order and the shards... who knew how many were out there waiting to devour him?
Vale smiled tightly. "The world will always wait."
Isolde seemed stunned by the reply, and it took her a while to respond. "The world will always wait.... Vale Athrimir.... that’s really arrogant!"
Vale chuckled and said nothing more.
He concentrated on the journey. Although the Matsumoto territories were not lush grounds, they were not deserts either. There were still farmlands here and there, but nothing sustainable enough to support the main city. Still, it was far better than the Akatsuki.
’...this must be how the Akatsuki was before they used that throne artifact to drain everything to their capital, using it to control their population. Really malicious but smart...’
By using the artifact in such a way, directing monster migration and water with resources, they could control all their Clans under them.
The travel continued undisturbed, and even though he had a little fear that the Hollow Grave might attack, nothing of the sort happened as they swept into the Akatsuki territory.
The desert spread below them like a golden sea, shifting as the wind rippled above it. Their ship slowed down, and they continued gently, only stopped once by a patrol of Errant Knights. Once they identified themselves, they were hurried along.
"They can’t even send Master Knights to patrol their territories. It’s either they’re arrogant or it’s worthless," one of the Company Captains muttered.
Vale raised his brows but didn’t comment, trying his best to unwind any and all nervous intent in him. It was time.
All the Company Captains were now out on the deck, leaning on the railing to get a better view as the capital came into view.
"To think the Akatsuki is keeping something like this under their belt! This is truly a capital worthy to be called one!"
"I wonder how many people are living here? The living conditions are far better than anywhere in the desert, I’m sure!"
"Look at some of the materials used to build some of the buildings! What an interesting place!"
They commented on the place. But what really held everyone’s attention was the number of Knights and Errant Knights in the capital.
"They have a lot of Errant Knights. I’m afraid Eirikr is not content with only taking Athrimir, he’s building an army here. Fortunately, the ratio of those that can make it to Master Knights is incredibly low," Isolde said.
But Vale only had a slightly thoughtful look on his face. And with no chance to reply, the ship got close to the palace and hovered above, waiting.
With one look, everyone understood something. First, there was a formation protecting the palace, and secondly, some parts of the palace seemed to be newly built.
The ship had to hover there for a while before a space was made through the invisible shield and they were allowed in, and they docked in the landing area.
Someone was there to receive them. Vale recognized him as one of the Master Knights that followed Eirikr, although he did not know the man’s name.
The man stood on a platform of glass, carried up by his power. He looked at them and then bowed slightly. "The Akatsuki throne welcomes the Company Council. I am Rowan."
Kaelthorn took a step forward and bowed in return. "We are happy to be here, the Council and our attendants."
Everyone gave a little bow, and Vale didn’t miss that he and Isolde were the attendants.
Kaelthorn continued with a smile. "To think we will be greeted by Rowan the Jade Glass himself, we are honored!"
Isolde’s voice whispered in his ears. "You should have heard of him, right?"
Vale shook his head shortly.
When Isolde’s voice came, it came with a high tinge of surprise. "Wait, you’re serious? You don’t know the Jade Glass Rowan? Are you truly the Clan Leader of Athrimir? That Master Knight is famous, and more so because he left the Athrimir Clan and joined the Akatsuki."
Vale’s eyes tightened as he looked at the man more closely. The man looked stuffy, like a scholar forgotten in the library, but his eyes carried a penetrating intensity.
’...seriously, why am I running into betrayals every day now?...’
By this time, they had already left the ship and were on their way to the palace. Decorations lined the way, the walls painted in bold colors and images of Eirikr and his victories. The empty space had been filled with chairs for those who didn’t have the status to enter the palace. Music, food, and entertainment had been provided.
Vale’s blood began to shimmer within him. At the same time, he kept his focus sharp. Among those who were apparently celebrating, he had already counted a Master Knight. It seemed Eirikr wasn’t taking any chances either.
Inside the palace was a different story entirely. It was solemn as they entered the throne room. Those who sat there were the most important figures in Akatsuki, both normal humans and Knights.
Vale didn’t see them, though. His eyes were immediately captured by the prisoners kneeling in front of the throne dais, essence-restricting cuffs around their limbs.
His eyes scanned every face, and the relief he felt was incomparable, so much so that it even surprised him. Of course, if it were Slya and Tiber alone, he wouldn’t be surprised because they were his, but the others.....
All of his Master Knights were alive. They even looked healthy. And some of his officers were just as healthy. But Slya and Tiber, although they looked healthy, had their heads bowed, and Vale could see that something was wrong with them.
His eyes narrowed as he passed them together with the Company Captains to pay respect to Eirikr.
It was then that he actually noticed the throne and the power in it. Eirikr looked just as before, wild and dangerous, just like the desert he ruled. But this time he was smiling, and his dark eyes even held a hint of warmth. His drake coiled around his throne, eyes closed as it slumbered.
When they turned to go, Vale’s eyes met one of his men, and he knew the man recognized him. A demon, one of his demons, Tong. Vale smiled slightly as they were led to their seats.
Vale took account of the power in the room.
The room was divided into two, with the throne on the dais acting as the split. On the right side sat the people of the Ito Clan, with who Vale thought to be the Water Lord still at the front, with every other chair arranged behind her. There were four Master Knights there, and Vale recognized his Commander Garran.
Just below the dais, the Master Knights of the Akatsuki sat, and with Eirikr, that made four of them. With the one outside, that was five. And there must still have been some in the palace, Vale was sure of it.
On the Company Council side, there were eight Master Knights, as one man had recently joined them. Isolde told him it was the man who led the Knights of Matsumoto to support Akatsuki.
This slight imbalance in power made the room slightly tense, but Eirikr on the throne didn’t seem to care. The power coming from him sitting on that throne made everyone wary.
The silence held for a while before Eirikr broke it, his voice booming. "Thank you! Thank you all for coming here to my coronation! Thank you all for joining me in this new celebration for the land that should have been mine to start with. I welcome you all to Akatsuki!"
Everyone rose to say some words of goodwill while they clapped gently.
Eirikr waited until everything returned to silence, and he nodded in satisfaction. "The Athrimir were arrogant, too arrogant, and for so long they had held the Hinterlands in fear and under threat of their forces! It took years to tear them down!"