“I’m sure that’s not everything, right?” Maverick felt that Matthias’s plan was lacking.

“I will need the Mercenary guild to protect the Strom household as well,” Matthias replied.

“To protect them from being capture?” Maverick guessed the reason behind it.

“Yes, we need to wait for Prince Kane to set the stage before the Emperor declares war on us. This will make the public side with us. If Zachariel charges first because his family was arrested or captured, we will lose the support from the public.” Matthias explained.

“How will the public side with us if we wait for Prince Kane to be abducted by the Fleeting Shadow? Wouldn’t that even make us more suspicious in their eyes if we wait for it?” Kent questioned Matthias’s plan.

“Emperor Marcus will side with the Fleeting Shadow,” Matthias said a statement that baffled the rest of them.

“This getting more ridiculous, Matthias! Why would the Emperor ever side with them? Do you think it’s a joke when the Circle established the notion of kill-on-sight against people that are associated with the dark underground factions?” Maverick slapped the table.

“Oh, you don’t understand even if I try to explain it right now.” Matthias closed his eyes, acting like a mysterious person.

“Bullsh*t!” Maverick shouted back.

Matthias snorted and continued.

“You just have to prepare until the time comes.”

“Matthias, if you keep on hiding things from us, we will have no choice but to back away from this ridiculous plan of yours.” The middle-aged man that resembled Edward retorted.

“I am not on the losing end, Mr. Tyson Ellison. You all are.” Matthias did not try to explain himself.

The rest knew that what Matthias said was true.

Matthias came from a common background, while most of them were in the nobility. The Emperor has long laid his eyes on them when they sided with the revolutionary faction.

Furthermore, they have their own household to tend to while Matthias didn’t have any of that.

What was the point of backing out now? They would still be implicated by the revolution regardless of what they would do today.

“Wait.” An old man with a bald oval head hurriedly interrupted.

“What is it, Inquisitor Rolan?“ Maverick and the others looked at him.

“Matthias, wasn’t Zachariel was helped by one of the Supreme Elders during the school selection event?”

His question made the others realize another factor with regards to Zachariel’s background.

“Yeah, Matthias. Why would the Emperor mess with someone who has the backing of a Supreme Elder from the Circle?” Kent asked.

“No, Zachariel is not backed by the Voids. Otherwise, they would’ve taken him during that time and left to the Ingradium continent with the power and authority that they have. The Higher Elders and the other Supreme Elders do not have a say on that matter. Furthermore, that is a personal affair between the two individuals, not between the Great Human Imperium, the Tripartite Alliance, and the Circle.” Matthias pointed out.

“I see.” Inquisitor Rolan sighed.

`I guess we have no choice.` The 15 people who were seated looked at one another and nodded.

There was absolutely no way that they would disregard Zachariel in their plans. The Emperor was unto him and losing a very good talent like that would be a waste of an opportunity for the humans to rise.

They might have a plan on their own, but to include Zachariel without deeply knowing him would be a foolish move on their part.

If they tried to contact him, it would invite suspicion, which was something they didn’t want to happen.

Matthias was the only one who could contact Zachariel without drawing attention from the Emperor and the loyalists. He could gather a lot of information about Zachariel and train him at the same time.

“Fine, we’ll go with your plan. I just hope that it would go your way.” Maverick took the lead.

“Don’t underestimate the Uncrowned Emperor, Mr. Maverick.” Matthias confidently replied.

Maverick nodded. “If there is nothing else, we’ll adjourn this meeting now.”

…

“Do we believe in Matthias’s plan, Sir Maverick?” Blake Ross exited the building alongside Maverick.

They entered a plain-looking carriage.

“We don’t have a choice, Blake. Also, Matthias came from the Supreme Academy unlike most of us. Even the current and previous Emperor who were great Prospects during their time did not have a chance to enter that Academy.”

Maverick replied with a frown on his face. He was also a Prospect before, but entering the Supreme Academy was the hardest thing he had ever experienced.

Blake gulped.

He knew how hard it was to enter the Supreme Academy because it would require one to be a diamond-level fighter before turning 25 years old. And that was just one of the many other strict requirements that they imposed upon enrollment.

“The CPL might be working with him that’s why he was able to gather a lot of information about the plan on how the revolution might go.”

Maverick guessed where Matthias’s confidence was coming from.

“Anyway, prepare the Guild to set up new missions in the board across the entire Imperium. We need more materials and cultivation resources. Also, increase the quota depending on the group size. Make sure to not draw any attention, understood?”

He ordered Blake.

“Yes, Sir Maverick.”

Blake acknowledged his orders.

The carriage peacefully drove by the streets of the Imperium Capital City.

Maverick looked outside and enjoyed the scene while it lasted.

`Sooner or later, this place will be bathed in blood, and a mountain of corpses will be made. I just hope my body isn’t part of those mountains.`

…

Zachariel woke up on a cold stone floor.

`Where am I?` It was dark. A light came from a torch that was inserted on a sconce.

{Note: Sconce is a candle holder that you would see in medieval movies and games.}

`Where is this? Am I captured or something?`

He stood up and looked around. There was a black wooden door in front of him that had a small door handle.

`This must be the doorknob, but it looks weird.`

He pushed down the door handle and pulled it towards him.

The door opened.

He was shocked when he saw a guard patrolling right outside where he came from.

`Oh no, I’m found out!`

He was about to say something to the guard but he realized that the latter ignored him and continued walking.

`He doesn’t see me?`

He inspected the guard.

`A steel-plated armor and a spear. Those crests, I don’t think I recognize those.`

There was a horse inscribed on a crest on the guard’s shield and in his armor. There was also a flag on top of it with the symbol of Solus, or what he thought it was, inside it.

`This is a yellow-colored one. What’s the meaning of this?`

Solus was yellow-red, but this one was very different. The guard walked away.

Zachariel observed the area.

`This is an underground prison. Also, that door on the other end is different than the rest. It must be for the special prisoners.`

On the left side was a huge black wooden door that was twice as large as the door where he came from.

Zachariel followed the guard and tried to draw his attention but all of it was futile.

`He really can’t see me but I can open the door? What’s going on?`

He was confused, but his thoughts were interrupted.

“Hey, Erman, how’s the prince?”

Another guard came and talked to the guard that passed by earlier.

`The prince? Is he talking about Prince Kane? Don’t tell me he was also imprisoned?` Zachariel was shocked. He looked at that huge wooden door on the other side and narrowed his eyes.

“Call me Captain when we’re on duty, Warrick. Now, get back to your work. The status of the prince is none of your concern.” Erman reprimanded the guard named Warrick.

“How strict! No wonder you were appointed to patrol around here.” Warrick replied.

“The king is here!” Another set of guards entered the dark area.

This time, they wore golden-plated armor and a golden cape on their backs. Their brought great pressure when they entered and Zachariel could feel their bloodlust when he looked into their eyes.

`Veterans, and a strong one at that.`

In the middle was a middle-aged burly man who had a crown on his head.

`That’s not Emperor Marcus. What’s going on? Just where is this place?`

The crowned man carried a stern expression on his square face. His narrowed blue eyes looked at the huge wooden door on the other side of the area.

The two guards bowed when they passed by and joined the group of elite guards. They simply passed Zachariel and continued walking.

Zachariel followed after them.

“Open it.” The middle-aged man ordered coldly.

Captain Erman and Warrick went in front. Captain Erman took out the large and rusted prison keys. He inserted into a keyhole right under the door handle.

A click was heard and the two prison guards opened the door.

It was slow and noisy.

Inside was a handsome young man who was chained on all four limbs. He awkwardly kneeled on the cold stone floor as his long black messy hair covered his face.

He raised his face and opened his sky-blue eyes when the group of people entered.

“So, the Great King Naredar has visited me. Should I be honored? Want me to offer you gold and women and slaves as well?!” His hoarse voice sarcastically remarked their arrival.

“How dare you talk to the king with such an-!” One of the golden-armored guards reprimanded the prisoner.

“Stop it!” King Naredar signaled the guard.

He walked in front of them but was warned by his guards.

“Sir, be careful, the prince is-!”

“You will address him as Prince Nerval, the son of Naredar the Mountain King! Do you understand?” King Naredar reprimanded them.

`Prince Nerval? King Naredar? Who are they?` Zachariel couldn’t recall who these two people were.

“Ha! Would you hear that? He said I was his son, but clearly, I’m not! I would rather die than call someone like you my father!”

Hatred emanated from Nerval’s eyes.

“You shut up, you bastard! If I didn’t kill that witch on behalf of you, you might be the one who is dead now! You should be grateful to your father who saved you!” King Naredar slapped his son.

Nerval crazily laughed.

“Grateful? If anything, I would be grateful to her instead! You’re nothing but a mindless murderer! No! You’re worse than that! You piece of sh-!”

“You son of a b*tch!” King Naredar became angry when his son insulted him and his efforts to help Nerval.

He punched his son in the face, causing it to bleed. Nerval, on the other hand, spits the blood on the face of his father, King Naredar.

“You-!” King Naredar wanted to strangle his son so bad that his body trembled and his eyes widened. The bloodlust behind those eyes had started to materialize.

“You failure of a father didn’t even save me! It was her who saved me from this hellish life that you gave! She brought me peace, she brought me happiness! But you, look at this. Is this the kind of treatment a son would receive from their father? Answer me!” Nerval also wanted to strangle his father to death.

“Your Majesty, we must return. Scouts have reported that the Black Witch is on the move.” A guard interrupted their warm family reunion.

“What?! That witch is still alive? Let’s go!” King Naredar left the area.

Nerval was dumbfounded when he heard that ‘she’ was still alive. He laughed again and shouted back at his father.

“I will never accept you as my father! Never! Remember that! I will kill you when I escape from here! Do you hear me?!” Nerval’s voice reverberated as the guards slowly closed the huge prison doors.

…

At the same time that the doors were closed, the entire surrounding became black as well.

`What’s happening now?` Zachariel was shocked by the huge turn of events.

An ajar door and a light coming out of the room appeared in front of Zachariel.

`What’s this?`

“I don’t care what happens to him, even if he dies!” Anabella’s voice rang.

`Mother? She wants me dead?`

A slap was heard.

“How dare you say that to a kid?!” A middle-aged voice also rang out.

`Is this father and mother?`

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Zachariel!” Her mother’s weeping voice made Zachariel realize something, but before he does so further, his surroundings changed once again.

He was strapped on a bed, and Amelia slowly walked in through the door, carrying a knife.

“Zachariel… how dare you kill my brother!” Amelia raised the knife in her hands and stabbed Zachariel.

“Amelia, no!” Zachariel shouted, but it became black and empty again.

“Survive!”

“You must survive!”

A manly voice echoed in Zachariel’s ears.

`What is this? What do you mean by I must survive?!`

“Zachariel… you must survive!”

A bright light flashed.