Chapter 147: Roads to Lordship
In the middle of the secluded garden Ogras was grinning as he deftly dodged an enraged Emma MacHale, who was currently trying to clobber him with a champagne bottle.
A coffin? A COFFIN? What kind of asshole moves soone in sothing so ominous as a coffin? That wasnt what we agreed upon! Ill shove this bottle up your ass, she scread as she threw the bottle with full force at a laughing Ogras.
I didnt want you to feel uncomfortable, and the casket was nicely padded inside. I am a gentleman, after all, Ogras said with a smile as he snatched the bottle out of the air, careful to not let it break.
Zac was quite surprised at Emmas personality. It seed the person hed seen in interviews and on the stage of the auction was another role she played, just like in the movies. Her real personality was far more coarse.
He was also quite relieved that it seed that what Ogras did was not an abduction, though the exact details hadnt been quite agreed upon. Zac didnt want to have a falling out with the demon, but if Ogras truly had started kidnapping won he would have no choice but to do sothing drastic, as he couldnt accept such behavior. It would be on a completely different scale compared to just ssing around at the auction.
Emily giggled as she heard the exchange, which made the movie star look their way, imdiately focusing on Zac.
You! You let this horned mongrel just knock
out and carry
around in that god damn casket? What? Why are you just standing there gaping, you pervert? Are you the kind of guy who just finishes by himself in the corner?
Urh, Zac only managed to get out, not ready to beco the target of Emmas vitriol. I only found out Ogras had, uh, brought you here, after Julia Lombard told .
Jules told you? Where is she? the starlet said, quickly calming down.
Do you two know each other? She was quite angry. Angry enough to jump through the teleporter to co here, Zac couldnt help asking.
She did? she asked, her mouth slightly curving upward before refocusing at the demon. You cant hurt her, or I wont cooperate anymore. And you never told
you lived in the god damn jungle.
Hi! Im Emily, Im a huuge fan! Youre in Port Atwood. Its an island in the middle of nowhere! Emily chid in, clearly excited to et a movie star.
Hi pretty, Emma said, clearly more anable to the excited teenager. You should stay away from those two, sothing is wrong with their heads.
Emily only giggled in response.
Emily, tell Emma a bit about Port Atwood. Ogras, co with , Zac said with a sigh.
He needed to understand what the hell was going on. Soon the two stood so distance away while Emily peppered the movie star about questions about her old life, and Emma had turned back into the gentle personality you saw on TV back in the day.
So you created a huge ss. You were seen with that casket before you ca back here. And now we got a governnt official on the island, Zac said with an angry glare. I dont even want to imagine the kind of riot youve caused in New Washington. You better have a god damn good reason for all this.
Well, the casket was sort of a spur-of-the-mont thing, Ogras shrugged drawing another baleful glare from Zac.
I was only planning on visiting Ms. MacHale for the dinner I promised, but things turned out this way.
Shes not a prisoner. And no forcing her to do anything, Zac said with an even stare.
Bah, why would I do sothing like that? The chase is half the fun, Ogras spat back. Besides, thats not why I brought her here.
Explain, Zac said, still annoyed.
Didnt you say you couldnt understand how those useless bureaucrats are creating a Lord while you, the top spot on your Ladder, is fighting tooth and nail for the sa privilege? Well, Emma MacHale solved that puzzle for
yesterday, Ogras began.
The first clue ca from Ricky, the poor sap you left with . I asked him about the governnts plans after he spilled everything about their group. We missed one of them by the way, so watch your back. The Red rcenaries had done so nasty work for the governnt before it seed, even killed a Ranker who actively spoke against The New World Governnt.
Zac didnt much care about the last man who was still alive, but he was more concerned about the fact the Red rcenaries did Governnt wetwork.
So the governnt was behind the attack? Zac asked with a frown.
No, it seems they truly only did it to stuff their pockets a bit. Birds die for food, n die for money, the demon answered with a shrug.
I was more interested about what he told
about the governnts quests. He swore that there were no quests like defending New Washington from beasts to beco a Lord. He did, however, ntion that he had heard about a contribution Crystal, and that Emma MacHale was quite high on it.
Zac was quite intrigued by now, completely having forgotten about the fact that a storm might be brewing in New Washington by now. He only nodded for the demon to continue the narration.
While I was walking through the Bazaar I was listening for any gossip, and it turned out that MacHale wasnt the only star the Governnt employed. There were actually many of them visiting various towns, shaking hands and kissing babies so to speak. All while promoting the Governnt.
At first I thought it was just promotion to gain legitimacy before the Auction and get more to sign up for their little alliance. But I was proven wrong. I found out where MacHale was staying later on and went to visit her. Partly to find out more and partly, uh, for personal interests, Ogras said, drawing an eye-roll from Zac.
I invited myself into her domicile, and after she had cald down a bit we had a nice talk. I found out a lot of interesting things. Such as why they held their Auction, and why there were stars travelling town to town with governnt escorts. The Governnt needs the fa, Ogras said with a grin.
What? Zac couldnt help but blurt out.
Its their Lord quest. They need to generate enough renown, and soone among them will be promoted to a Lord. They are using the stars as mouthpieces to spread the plans of the Governnt and improve their renown. The Auction was partly held to gather a lot of forces, and gain a lot of renown in one fell swoop. Those who improve the fa of the Governnt would get contribution points, and Emma was one of those, Ogras said.
That still doesnt explain why you kidnapped her, Zac said.
She asked
to, Ogras said with a shrug. When I told her who you were she imdiately requested sanctuary. In the beginning, she was doing the work willingly, but after she learned so things she wanted out. However, they didnt allow her to leave. The governnt was essentially keeping her a captive to generate fa since she was one of their top earners.
Does it even matter if you snatched her? They still have the sa amount of fa as before, even though she isnt there anymore?
Well, according to Emma the fa was attached to those who contributed sohow. I dont truly understand it since Ive never heard of a quest like this before, Ogras said with so hesitation. But if those people defected or died, then the Governnt would lose progress on their quest.
Zac suddenly rembered the demon's words outside the teleportation building in New Washington and got a bad feeling.
You didnt? Zac said with a sinking feeling.
Well, a few people in New Washington had untily deaths during the night. But that was also a request from Ms. MacHale. She is quite ruthless. Though we only killed a few degenerates who used their status for disgusting things, Ogras said with a sinister glint in his eyes.
You know this might set
at a straight collision course with the governnt? Zac said angrily.
Zac wondered if he would ever be able to return to New Washington or their alliance towns without a cover. If the governnt made Zac an accomplice for what seed to be a murder-spree and a kidnapping there was no knowing what they might do. Perhaps his good na was being dragged through the mud as they spoke.
You already were. Soone like you cant coexist with a group like that. Better prepare yourself ntally and clear this wave quickly. They might be gunning for your sister as we speak, Ogras retorted.
Zac could only frown in response, knowing that the demon might be right on the nose with that remark. The governnt wanted to create a unified power, and people like himself might be considered a thorn in their side, even though Zac had no designs on their alliance. Perhaps they would have found so other excuse to create trouble for him even if Ogras didnt go berserk in the town.
You still havent properly explained why you went through all this trouble?
For my, uh our, interests of course, Ogras said. The Auction brought far more fa than the governnt expected, and they were extrely close to finishing their quest. It was to the point that they would probably achieve it before you. We couldnt allow that to happen. Becoming the first Lord of a world should bring great benefits to that Lords town and the Lord himself.
So you did that all for , you say? Zac asked skeptically.
Rember, our fates are tied together on this little island, Ogras said. Your prosperity is my prosperity.
Zac went over the information over for so ti. He wasnt really comfortable with the fact that the demon had gone off on a murder-spree in a human town without saying anything. What he said was true; their fates were tied together, and Ogras actions would impact Zac.
At the sa ti he had to admit he felt it was for the best. The governnts actions sounded quite shady, and more importantly he didnt want to cede the advantage of being the first Lord. He got the Creators shipyard from being the first to close an Incursion, so he felt that becoming the first Lord might give a huge advantage as well.
In the future, consult
first about stuff like this. If were going to have a working cooperation you cant go rogue at every turn. That doesnt only go for your nightly activities, but also your actions in the Auction, Zac said with an even stare.
Yes, mother, Ogras said while rolling his eyes. Well, you did show passable ruthlessness with the poison, so I guess I wont need to take all matters into my own hands in the future. But dont go squeamish on . Rember, your actions doesnt only impact yourself, but all your subjects and your family. A mont of softness can lead to a lifeti of suffering.
Ok ok. Also, the governnt official is your responsibility. She ca here because of your actions, so you solve the aftermath. Find out if she is part of this all, but dont kill her, Zac said.
Overall he had a pretty decent impression of Julia, but if she jumped through the portal to control the Governnts asset then she would likely beco a problem.
All these rules, Ogras said with a roll of his eyes, though Zac knew he acknowledged the request.
I told you, you cant hurt Jules, Emma suddenly said, having snuck up on them. If you do Ill start preaching again here, giving the governnt a large boost in reputation.
I told you, as long as she doesnt start breaking the rules shell be fine, Zac said.
Good. Now tell , where will I stay? The demon promised
a Mansion.
Reviews
All reviews (0)