Lord Shadow

IN THE EASTERN PLAINS

WORLD GOVERNMENT

Raymond returned to his room late at night. The moment he enter his manor his tired face instantly morphed into a face of an angered man.

‘Tch’ he snorted as he remembers how he had to keep the façade.

He remembers today how in the Quorum Will was honored and could not help but wanting to smash the traitor face.

The Quorum has been stabilized as the Quorum members have resumed back their duties to govern the World Government.

The last time Raymond did the investigation to uncover any other spies he managed to find five spies from the Forest Region and three spies from the Flame Regions.

But not one spies from the Central Plains.

‘Will’ Raymond says the name while gritting his teeth in frustration.

He and Hirate have always suspected the Dark Speedster of double dealing.

During the last investigation, Raymond and Hirate tried to investigate Will but were unsuccessful

The reason why it was unsuccessful is because the Quorum members listen to Will suspicion.

Will suspected Raymond was using the military authority that the Quorum gives him to enact a purge of his political rivals and he shares this suspicion with the other Quorum members.

Will convince the other Quorum members, that if Raymond and Hirate come for him today, then tomorrow, it might be other Quorum member.

So when the investigation was about to commence on Quorum members many of the Quorum members stood up to Raymond led by Oreki and Hikigaya and forces Raymond to relinquish back the military power to the Quorum.

They all feared that Raymond will once again wield power as a dictator like he once did in the United States

Raymond and Hirate have no other choices then to relinquish the vast military power he possesses to a certain degree.

The other choice is an all-out war with the members of the Quorum. Oreki and Hikigaya have their own supporters and they are not without allies.

The Twin Sage of Japan is also very powerful, both of them is an Energy Disperse Stage Middle Realm like Raymond.

An internal unrest in the middle of a growing power in the Plains is not to the World Government interest.

Will has played his cards carefully.

After uncovering the Budiman plots and now proposing peace treaty with Lord Shadow, the Quorum was very grateful towards Will.

Hirate and Raymond then thought that the Seven Fairy Conflict could end Will unstoppable momentum in the Quorum but instead it only strengthens his position as an ardent supporter of the World Government vision of a world peace.

Will arguments were that since Lord Shadow momentum is unstoppable in the first place why not lend him a helping hand and put ourselves in his good will.

He answers the Quorum question regarding his aid of Lord Shadow in the Seven Fairy conflict.

All of the Quorum members they knew what League Of Freedom was planning and most of them unanimously agreed to not interfere with the matters.

The emergence of another powerful force in the Plains is not something any member of the Quorum of the World Government would like to see.

But Will passionately tell the Quorum members that after the conflict ended and if Lord Shadow found out that the World Government knew about a cover-up that makes him kill potential ally, then it is quite possible considering Lord Shadow temperament that he would set his eyes on destroying the World Government.

Will also explained to the Quorum members that Lord Shadow rise of power was inevitable considering his level.

He asks the Quorum to present him a man more powerful than Lord Shadow in the world right now and all of the Quorum members were speechless.

What Will argues was the truth.

There is no Seed Forming High realm in the world right now. Sasha is crippled after her last battle making Azief the sole Seed Forming Realm in the world.

Will then shows the videos of the battle between the Seven Fairy and Lord Shadow in large screen in the Quorum Meeting Room.

He pointed out that Seven Energy Disperse Stage user was played around like little children by Azief superior prowess.

Each Energy Disperse Stage user could defeat thousands of Pillar Forming Stage user and hundreds of Orb Condensing Stage user.

Then going by that logic, Azief who is Seed Forming High Realm user is equivalent to a walking natural disaster.

Many of the Quorum members agree with this.

Looking at the screen, they all drew a long breath and was relieved that they were not the one being attacked by him.

In the screen, the proof of his prowess can be seen. The impact of his punch circles the world and changes the weather of the Central Plains.

Will also pointed out even if the World Government went to war with Lord Shadow, the casualties that would be incurred would not be worth it and would be detrimental for the World Government in the long run.

Will then also shared his worries of not only Lord Shadow powers and strength but also of Azief other supporters.

Wang Jian, Loki, Divine Archer Sofia.

All of these people is an Energy Disperse Stage user and each and one of them are powerful and dangerous.

Wang Jian possesses the full set of Sun Wukong attire and weapons. With Ruyi Jingu Bang he could decimate thousands of normal soldiers.

Not to mention he is a genius in deploying troops.

Then there was Loki.

There is no one that is more slippery then Loki. He could sabotage you and create confusion since Loki is well known for his ability to change his face.

He also possesses variety of tricks. The conflict between Wei and Yue was all thanks to him.

And then there is Sofia the Divine Archer.

She possesses the Houyi Bow. With arrows that could shoot the sun down. Of course she never uses it but the threat is there.

With her torrents of arrows, she could kill hundreds if not thousands of lives. She specializes in AOE attacks.

The Quorum argues that the World Government also possess Energy Disperse Stage user but Will then said

‘Did you forget what I just said? I just said that Lord Shadow treated seven Energy Disperse Stage users like children’s. How many Energy Disperse Stage user we have?’

In the World Government the Energy Disperse Stage user is Raymond, Hirate, Erika, Holy Maiden Giselle, Arno who just turns to Energy Disperse Stage user low realm, Will, Oreki and Hikigaya.

‘Eight Energy Disperse Stage user.’ Will answered his own question and he continued speaking

‘But since Lord Shadow could handle seven with ease what makes you think he can’t handle eight? And while our eight could restrict Lord Shadow movement for a while, who will restrict Azief Energy Disperse Stage User like Wang Jian and Sofia from wreaking havoc and destruction?’

If the World Government really went to war with Lord Shadow, Will estimated that the World Government might be able to oust Lord Shadow forces with the World Government superior numbers of troops.

‘A pyrrhic victory’ he reminded the Quorum members

Will also estimate that the casualties of the World Government would reach a whopping 100 thousand lives.

Most of the troops in the World Government are either Pillar Forming Stage or Orb Condensing stage.

By then, the World Government will be too weak to face other external threats and forces.

In the end, the World Government will fall to ruins while Lord Shadow will once again make a return during the chaos.

It is then more profitable to ally with Lord Shadow forces and strengthen internal security while having a double protection against other external forces.

Raymond proposed that the peace treaty will not be an effective way to stop Lord Show if he ever wanted to expand to his eastern front but his arguments seems weak after Will lay out the pros and cons of stubbornly resisting Lord Shadow rise in the Plains.

Will and the other Quorum members argue that Raymond just wanted a war to fight.

Then what makes Raymond more incensed was because of the decision of the Quorum today.

The quorum today vote on a referendum signed by most of the Quorum representatives ordering that the WG to move to the boundless sea.

With Hirate artifact a new Island of Peace can be constructed.

It seems like a good idea since that island will be in sole control of WG but Raymond knows that the reason why many of the Quorum members agree on the referendum is because they did not want to clash with lord Shadow in the Plains.

Will manages to strike fear in the hearts of the Quorum members regarding Lord Shadow powers

All the Quorum members know sooner or later, Lord Shadow will pacify the Central Plain since the Central Plains does not possess any noteworthy forces and factions other than Eden right now.

Then, he will undoubtedly expand his land to the four corners of the Plains until he put all the Plains region under his rule.

With his strength, even Raymond is not confident that he could hold Azief down. Not to mention there is still Wang Jian to worry about.

Wang Jian could be said a genius in ordering troops and battle stratagems.

His personal prowess while impressive, Raymond knows he could fight Wang Jian and win. But it was his ability to lead troops that made Raymond shivers.

If Lord Shadow as the expert of this generation launches an attack here, people like Raymond are the only one that would stand any chance of stopping him killing the low weaker one.

But even then, Raymond knows he can just delay, not stop.

If Wang Jian and Lord Shadow both attack at the same time, then WG will fall.

As a sign of goodwill, the World Government has even decided to bestow the title Prince of the Central Plains to Lord Shadow.

It was an acknowledgment from many representative of the world that the Central Plains belongs to Lord Shadow.

World Government rarely gives acknowledgment of sovereignty through its history.

Even before the White Explosion, there are only a few nation led by people who were pro-WG that was approved.

A few days from now an ambassador will be sent to the Central Plains to bestow the title and to propose an alliance.

Raymond and Hirate during the meeting could not help but pointed out, that if they were to move to the sea, then this will show to other faction and forces a sign of weakness.

It was then Will replied

‘We are in a position of the weak. This is the truth of the situation. There is no point in pretending otherwise. We can either pretend or accept the truth and plan for the future of the World Government instead of sending it to an early grave. Instead of stubbornly rushing ahead to our destruction, we will bide our time and wait for the opportune moment.’

His words make the other Quorum member agree.

‘The soldier.’

Raymond spoke under his breath.

‘Where is the soldier?’ He asked.

After Will return to whatever places he disappeared from, this Will seems different.

Raymond knows that Will does not work for the WG and that Will worked for the Royal Family of Britain but usually the decision of the WG is also the decision of its members.

Even though Will shows a tough stance against other forces Raymond realizes that while the World Government did not lose any influence it also did not expand its influence.

Raymond was feeling like he was in the palm of some other people hands. And he doesn’t like it.

Raymond then walked to his study.

In his study there is a large bookcase.

He then takes a sip of his unfinished wine drink from before and finished in one gulp.

Then he move closer to his bookcase and pull the book titled the Origins of Species.

A creaking sound could be heard as the bookcase swings away from the wall to reveal a passageway.

The walls of the passageway were lined with runic markings designed to hide from the detection of divine consciousness.

Raymond walk down to the passageway as the bookcase behind him closed automatically.

The torches on the walls of the passageway automatically burns with fire that lights the way.

This is the secret passage to the secret room.

There is only a handful of person inside the World Government that knows about this passage.

As tonight requires absolute discretion and secrecy, Raymond has decided to meet Hirate to discuss about Will and how to trap the fastest man alive.

***

IN THE EASTERN PLAINS

WORLD GOVERNMENT

Hirate manor was full of servants. But the moment he returns he dismisses all his servants saying he wanted to be alone.

All of his servants went home to their houses leaving Hirate alone in his huge manor. Hirate went to his room and he could feel the headache coming.

Hirate then sit down on his bed organizing his thoughts.

He seems older than his age. He was not as joyful as he was during the time he founded the World Government.

It was different time.

A happier time. A more exciting time.

When things were not as complicated as it is today. Hirate intention back then was at least partially noble.

He is now six feet five; his hair reaches his shoulder, tied on top. His body while thin is packed with muscle.

On his chin are some stubbles of a beard.

He looks like a weary man in his late thirties when in truth he is only in his late twenties.

He was still wearing his official robe with his Mon.

Realizing it, he got up and went to the bathroom.

He looks into the mirror and realizes the face looking back at him and he smiles bitterly. He does not like who he sees.

Taking the shaver on the top of the bathroom case, he began shaving his hair on his chin. Slowly and methodically.

Finished he rubbed his face with water and put the shaver back. He changed his clothes and took out a candy.

And start consuming it as he sits back down on his bed, while combing his messy hair.

When he is nervous he likes to eat something sweet.

It has been his habits since he was a child, a habit he did not advertise since it look childish and inappropriate for someone his age.

But some of his staff knew and that’s why in each Quorum meeting there will be a bowl of candy reserved for him.

He was actually thinking.

‘Haish’ he could not help but sighed.

He put the comb away and takes a deep breath

It seems the more he tries to think, the harder the problem becomes. For someone who can read people minds, Hirate sure seems powerless right now.

‘Will have become a huge problem’ he said it to himself like acknowledging his own mistake.

Hirate has begun being suspicious of Will since he found out he couldn’t even hear nay stray thoughts of Will.

Like he was hiding something.

For someone that is higher level than him, Hirate could not read their minds.

They are exception of course.

For example people with higher levels that him but less focused on their mental strength.

And Will.

His thought process is to fast that to read his mind would require Hirate to also process thoughts as fast as Will and that was impossible for him.

Every time he tries to read Will mind, the only thing he could hears was a buzzing.

A loud buzzing. Like a swarm of bees. Sometimes it was like the sound of a lightning storm. Hirate could never read Will mind.

It was like his mind was shielded from him by some external force.

It seems that maybe he was being played.

‘Hmm’ he sighed as rub the temple of his head like he was having a headache.

‘I will discuss this with Raymond first. I need to know what he is planning to do. And if there is no other evidence to discredit Will, then I need to consult the Oracle.’

Hirate doesn’t like consulting with the Oracle.

That woman always gives him the creeps.

Every time she looks at him, it was like he was standing in front of her naked. Like she could see all about him in a glance.

That feeling of total and utter openness scares the living shit out of Hirate.

Hirate after all has many schemes and always keep his plot close to his heart.

Feeling all of his scheme seen in a glance…that is not a pleasant feeling for a person like him.

Even though the Oracle sided with the RA, she still accepts people coming to her Temple regardless of affiliation.

That what keeps the peace between the Revolutionary Army and World Government.

IF Revolutionary Army wanted to monopolize the powers of the Oracle by their lonesome, all the forces in the world would band together and march to the Ice Region.

Nobody felt safe if the Oracle started predicting other people forces and as such the Oracle herself restrained herself in making too many prophecies.

Revolutionary Army seems to allow people from other faction to visit the Oracle and as such there is no discontent.

Hirate making sure he is presentable gets up and went to his fireplace.

In the fireplace brick wall, there is one brick that sticks out a little only by a few centimeters.

Hirate push with all his strength until the brick become even with the brick wall and the sound of a click could be heard.

The fireplace slides upward and a passage revealed itself to Hirate. It was a narrow staircase that leads to an even narrower space.

At the end of that narrow space is the secret room for the selected few in the administration.

Adjusting his clothes he then stepped inside the passage as the passage behind him closed by itself.

***