Chapter 410: A power play
"No, you cannot take the boy away... I have some vested interests in him and intend to hold him here on Juxta until I please," Charles began, as he could see the color drain out of the Elders’ faces the moment he made that statement.
"If there’s something else I can help you with... please let me know, but as for me returning the boy, you can forget about it," Charles refused flatly, as both the First and Twelfth Elder began to visibly fume at his words.
"Monarch Charles!" the First Elder spoke ferociously, before immediately catching himself and softening his tone, doing his best to reduce the aggression in his voice.
"Like we said, the boy is a Dragon Candidate. You’re required by Cult law to allow the Elder Council to train him. You cannot simply hold him here at your whim," the First Elder protested, as Charles chuckled out loud at his words.
"And what if I say no? What are you going to do about it, Mavern? Are you and Noir going to team up and beat me into submission? Do you even have the capability to do so?" Charles taunted, as for a second, the tension in the air seemed to reach its peak.
Nobody was allowed to refer to the Cult Elders by their names, as their real names and faces were only known by very few, however, Charles dared to defy that rule casually.
"Hahaha... I’m kidding, don’t tense up under that mask of yours, come on, have some humor," Charles joked, as he slapped both of them playfully on their backs and urged them to continue walking with him.
"I know the Cult law, and I know the current political climate as well.
The law says that the ’Dragon’ is to be trained by the Elder Council, not a ’Dragon Candidate’... and last I checked, your precious council hasn’t named the boy as one.
I also know that the boy isn’t the only one who can become the next Dragon.
The sneaky Fourth is raising a candidate of his own..." Charles said lazily, as he displayed his knowledge of both the Cult laws and the current political environment.
"I know you think that I do not understand politics, Mavern, but I know a few things here and there.
I know that you’re losing influence within the council, and that this boy is your tool to consolidate power once again.
But truth be told, I find the whole idea of you and your council using the Dragon over the centuries as a tool to appease the masses and give them hope as something utterly spineless.
If you were a real leader, you would go alongside the Dragon on the same death missions that your council sends him to complete.
But you’re not one, are you?
You’re just a spineless coward, just like every other Elder in the council, this young buck Noir included.
So, no, you’re not going to take the boy away until he’s named Dragon, and you can cry about it to anyone you wish, and it’ll still change nothing.
Soron told me to train the boy, and last I checked, both he and I outrank your authority within the Cult," Charles said, as he stunned both the First and Twelfth Elder to silence.
"Lord Soron personally took notice of the boy and asked you to train him?" the First Elder asked in doubt, as he had no clue as to when this development took place.
"Of course he did... You think I have time to visit some distant planet like Vorthas otherwise?
Soron summoned me for the first time in seven years, and that too for this brat.
I don’t understand what he sees in him, but I guess I’ll find out with time, won’t I?" Charles said, as he turned and faced the two Elders while puffing his cheeks, crossing his eyes, and making exaggerated pouts, as he waved them goodbye.
"I know it breaks your heart, but you can go fuck yourself, Mavern.
The boy’s staying with me.
You can instead use that time and energy to send me supplies here on the front lines, and I’ll appreciate that greatly.
Maybe if you do enough, I’ll give you day visitation rights to meet the boy.
So do your best to please me," Charles said, as he blew the two goodbye kisses before waving at them again in his usual, irritating fashion.
"Go... your time here is done!" he said, as the Twelfth Elder’s face began to contort with frustration under his mask.
This was his first time personally dealing with the Monarch, however, he finally understood now as to why the man was called a giant asshole by everyone inside the Council.
The man clearly had a talent for annoying others.
However, despite his annoying actions, the First Elder did not snap or verbally curse him, as he simply bowed his head in respect before leaving.
"Thank you for your time, Monarch. I will come retrieve him later then," he said, as he tugged at the Twelfth Elder’s arm and turned to leave.
’Pretentious fuck. He clearly hates me, but won’t say it to my face... That’s why I hate snakes like him,’ Charles thought, feeling annoyed, as while he would have laughed and revelled in the face of curses, had Mavern actually spoken his mind before he left...
Him bowing so politely irritated him to no end.
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"Arrogant fuck! That rotten shit! One of these days I’ll strangle him to death!" The First Elder cursed as soon as they were alone on the craft back to Tithia, as he finally let his frustrations surface with a clenched jaw and narrowed eyes.
"I still don’t understand why Lord Soron ever named that pompous fuck as Vice Sect Master.
Or how a blockhead like him ever managed to become Monarch?
But by Lord, he’s a giant pain in the ass!" the First Elder complained, his tone sharp, filled with years of buried resentment, as the Twelfth Elder nodded his head in agreement, still trying to mask the sting of humiliation beneath an awkward smile.
"I think we should cut his supplies! That’ll teach him a lesson!" he suggested, his voice carrying the false confidence of a man who didn’t fully understand the stakes, however, the First Elder immediately turned toward him and corrected him without hesitation.
"No! Never be disrespectful to him or push him to your bad side.
Never EVER make that mistake.
You don’t understand how petty Charles is, so if you think he’s a giant asshole now, try cutting his supplies and you’ll see just how bad he can really get.
He’s the type of man who holds grudges forever, and enjoys turning small slights into long-term punishments.
Like him or not, he’s the Vice Sect Leader, and he’s loved more by the masses and the military than you or me can ever hope to be.
In the end, the only option we have is to do as he says and send him more supplies, because that’s the only way he will even take meetings with us.
Without it, you can expect to wait 7 days on Juxta, and still not catch a glimpse of his shadow," the First Elder warned, his voice now calm but heavy, as he taught the Twelfth Elder about the one political blunder he must never make in his entire career.
As nodding, the Twelfth Elder took his advice to heart, realizing that sometimes monsters weren’t meant to be defeated, but were rather meant to be bribed, flattered, and fed just enough to stay quiet.