Chapter 678: Chapter 678. A eting Between Leaders
In a vast grassland Northeast of Saint’s Rest, a massive army was making camp. The army numbered almost two hundred thousand strong. Tad beasts road the periter while battle puppets were scattered around the camp. The banner waving around the camp depicted an eagle with a blue background. All the soldiers wore blue uniforms with the sa eagle image emblazoned on their chests.
This was the camp of Gyleth Marx’s army. After retreating from Saint’s Rest, they made camp here. Reinforcents continued to arrive from Gyleth Marx, allowing them to grow to their current size. However, they hadn’t attempted another advance since they lost their main commander to the Holy Mother.
Today, the security was on high alert. This was because many high-profile guests were visiting. The main tent, where war etings usually took place, had been cleared to accommodate these guests.
The guests were leaders from other countries. Four long tables were set in a square. Hou Huang sat at one table. Her advisors sat by her side.
Dim Loog, the King of Farghous, sat at the table reserved for his country. He also had his advisors by his side. His face was dark. He had received the news about the destruction of his two cities. He had been restraining himself these past few days from giving his army the command to storm Saint’s Rest.
On Echos’ side sat King Huang San. He was flanked by Huang Ti and Huang Er. When they entered the tent, Huang Er was surprised at one of the advisors sitting beside Dim Loog. This advisor turned to her and greeted her. She didn’t say anything in response.
Huang Er’s army joined Huang San’s several days earlier. She never got the news about the attack at Golden Stone City during her march. She was devastated after hearing the news.
In this room, Farghous and Echos had personal vendettas to settle with Oredolia. The representatives from these two countries were filled with repressed anger.
"Damn it! Where the hell are the representatives from Kazhan? How dare they make us wait!" Dim Loog finally couldn’t hold his anger anymore.
"That’s right," said Dim Loog’s advisor, whose na was Gu Wen. "Kazhan’s current ruler is a greenhorn who just wrestled power from King Shou Zou. They don’t even have a Lord Stage cultivator. They won’t contribute much to our war against Oredolia. We don’t need to wait for them. Let’s start this eting!"
Hou Huang’s advisor, whose na was Hou Bang, made a hand gesture for Farghous’ representative to calm down. "King Dim Loog, Advisor Gu Wen. The fact that they managed to defeat Shou Zou, soone with a cultivation level of the Interdiate Lord Stage, proved that they are a force to be reckoned with."
"Nevertheless, they are indeed outrageous for making us wait," Hou Huang said. "We will wait another ten minutes. If they haven’t arrived, we will begin our discussion without them. They won’t make a difference anyway."
Hou Bang smiled wryly at Hou Huang’s declaration. He was familiar with his empress’ haughtiness. He knew he couldn’t persuade her to think otherwise, so he avoided making further remarks.
Gu Wen, on the other hand, was pleased to hear Hou Huang’s words. He praised, "Empress Hou Huang is indeed wise. Those Kazhan troops will just be cannon fodder. They should follow whatever arrangent we made, so there is no point in involving them in our decision-making."
To Gu Wen’s surprise, it was soone on his own side who opposed his opinion. The advisor who sat on the other side of Dim Loog said, "Master Gu Wen, I don’t think you should discount the Kazhan’s side so hastily. While their troops might not be anything worth speaking of, it is their ally whom we must take into consideration."
"Ally?" Gu Wen looked at the other advisor. He was not truly fond of this advisor. She joined Dim Loog’s retinue only recently. He didn’t know why his king valued this woman’s opinion so.
"For that, we will have to ask Echos." The woman advisor turned to Echos’ representatives.
Huang Er responded to the statent, "You have the gall to show yourself after what you did, Sima Fang. I should have you captured for your traitorous act."
"Sorry, Princess Huang Er. I am with Farghous now," Sima Fang replied with a smile.
"She is under my protection," Dim Loog announced.
Huang Er was peeved, but she restrained herself.
"So... About this ally?" Hou Bang asked.
"If Princess Huang Er is unwilling to say anything, let ," Sima Fang said. "The reason Kazhan’s new conclave could win the war against King Shou Zou was that they received the aid of an Echos General nad Amon."
"Amon...? I think I had heard of this na," Hou Bang uttered. His expression was that of soone trying to recollect a mory.
Gu Wen did the sa, but less conspicuously.
Sima Fang resud, "Before aiding Kazhan, General Amon led a campaign into Khode. There was no definitive report of how he did it, but the result was that Khode’s then-ruler was overthrown, and Khode’s governnt reverted to the old system of High Council."
"Ah, I rember now!" Gu Wen exclaid. "This General Amon was the one who aided General Jiang Tong to chase away Khode’s force that invaded Echos."
"Hm... Yes, I rembered reading a report about him," Dim Loog added. "Hmph! It’s because of him that we wasted so much ti and effort to keep Echos busy."
"You have the nerve to ntion that," Huang Ti said to Dim Loog. "Your invasion of my country cost us a lot of lives."
Huang Ti and Dim Loog stared at one another. Both hostility and respect were reflected in their eyes. They had, after all, crossed swords several tis during the war.
"Ehem!" Sima Fang interrupted before the two parties provoked each other further. "Anyway, about this General Amon. We didn’t know if he was involved in the political turmoil of Khode after his army entered the country. What we know is that half a year after the new High Council was ford, General Amon led another campaign into Kazhan. There, he aided Kazhan’s old tribes to defeat King Shou Zou.
"I had already parted ways with Echos by the ti the battle between King Shou Zou and the old tribes began, but the good Princess was there to witness it. She should know how King Shou Zou was defeated, but I suspect the main rit of the feat should be due to General Amon."
"Really? My last report before he marched into Khode put his cultivation level at the Interdiate Spirit Stage," Gu Wen said. It’s impossible to improve to a level where he can threaten an Interdiate Lord Stage in just two years."
"He is still an Interdiate Spirit Stage," Huang Er inford. "He managed to win against Shou Zou because he controlled two high-tier runic battle puppets and used a talisman that summoned a Higher Mythical spirit beast."
"A talisman that summoned a spirit beast?" Gu Wen asked. "That’s ridiculous. There is no such talisman!"
Sima Fang also frowned. She was an expert-level talisman master, but she also never encountered or heard of such a talisman.
"A higher mythical beast and two high-tier runic battle puppets...?" Hou Bang asked. "If this General Amon controls such a force, he is an asset to us. Our most critical problem is not the enemy’s army. It is their two Peak Lord Stage cultivators. If we don’t have the firepower to deal with those two, we have little chance of winning, no matter how many soldiers we amass."
"Is the Higher Mythical spirit beast he summoned a permanent existence?" Sima Fang asked Huang Er. "As far as I know, the effect of a talisman is not permanent."
"I can’t tell," Huang Er answered. "What I know is that the summoned spirit beast is still there by the ti the battle ended, but I didn’t get a report of anyone spotting it afterward."
"Even if he no longer has the spirit beast, he should still have the two high-tier runic battle puppets, shouldn’t he?" Hou Bang said. "Anything that can help us against a Lord Stage cultivator is a plus."
"This gets
thinking," Hou Huang said. Her words were aid at Huang San. "This General Amon is your follower. He invaded Khode and replaced their ruler. He then beca involved in Kazhan’s regi change as well. I must say, he is quite a kingmaker. Is this Echos’ attempt to subtly increase its influence? Are Khode and Kazhan now your puppet countries?"
Before Huang San could answer, the guard outside announced the arrival of Kazhan’s delegation.
A burly man with unhealthy bodily hair walked in. Followed behind him was a bald man in a wheelchair. A man in chanical armor pushed the wheelchair. The three walked to the table reserved for Kazhan’s delegation and sat on the provided chairs.
"You are...?" Hou Bang asked. Since Kazhan had new rulers, most didn’t know the representatives’ faces.
The burly man announced loudly, "I am Xan Chi! The Grand Chief of Kazhan’s conclave!"
The chanical man answered, "I am Zue Du. I ca from Khode. I represent my nation in this eting."
The bald man in the wheelchair said, "I am General Amon."
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