Lord Shadow

Sasha look at the Head Keeper; her eyes seem to be very penetrating while the Head Keeper is still looking at her with an amiable smile

With one look it appears like the perfect picture of a harmonious colleague. 

But those that knows the true story, knows that this colleague is not that amiable nor are they harmonious.

The Keeper of the Palace that is not adept in the matter of the Palace did not know that there is a tension forming between these two. 

It is like sparks flying between them, but none of them are losing ground.

Then the Head Keeper said with a joyous tone

‘We meet again, Your Excellency Sasha. Thank you for sending your people to help us earlier’ he said that like he was truly grateful. 

But only he knows the sour feeling in his heart.

This woman would not stop unless he knows all the secrets of the Palace. He is quite sure that Sasha did not just send the Shadow Guard to simply save them

He believes that this woman that did not know boundaries have a more nefarious reason to send her people to his place.

If the shadows are her dominion, then the land of this place, every tile, every inch of it, is his territory.

As many people knows, in the palace there is many secret structures. 

And while Sasha herself is in charge of the many secretive departments and structure scattered all across Pandemonium, she is not in charge of the security of the Palace. 

During the battle between Death Monarch and Demon King she did enter the palace. She at that time was searching for something. 

This probably relates to the secret weapon that changes the towers in the distance into a gun-like weapon, shooting bullet of concentrated energy that could phase anything that is not their target and strike true to any target that it had chosen.

But Sasha herself did not know of the other secret of the palace. During that time while she was in the Palace, he did not say anything.

The reason is simple. Whatever she wanted to do at that time was related to the safety of Death Monarch.

It was an emergency period.

As such, he did not want to nitpick it that much. But, After the battle ended, she sent someone inside the Palace. 

Now, that is not something he could overlook. 

He dares not ask an explanation from Death Monarch, but he will want an audience and he will spoke of the promise that Death Monarch had promised him when he took the position.

He was worried that when Sasha send her men, it was for her to seek the Anywhere Room. 

Anywhere Room is one of the secret of the Centre Palace. While it is one of the important secret of the Palace, it is not the only secret. 

The Palace is his grounds. And the shadows are Sasha territory. When this was established, when this understanding was reached, a line was created.

She wanted to cross that line. This is not something that he could easily allow.  Give an inch and then she would ask for more.

Until in the end, she might even control the Palace. But, he still smiles amiably.

Sasha waves her hand. Her face did not show joy but it did not show any feeling of dislike either.

It was a neutral expression as she said

‘I am doing what is expected of me. The people of the Centre Palace is Death Monarch people. How could I let you and your people be worried?’ she said as her face finally cracked a smile.

The Head Keeper then said

‘The gesture is appreciated but the people of the Palace have their ways of protecting themselves. By the grace of our Lord, he did leave some measures. There is no need for the Shadow Guard to…for the lack of a better word, meddle with the matter of the security of the Palace’

‘Of course, of course. Death Monarch surely have left some measures. As expected of our liege’ Sasha said, laughing slightly. 

‘But, Lukas, do not be that distant. We are colleague serving the same lord. If not for the fact that we are serving under the same lord, I might even think you were threatening me just then’ and she laughs again.

Everyone could feel a cold wind passing by. She laughs but not one of the Keeper of the Palace wanted to laugh with her.

Even the most obtuse could feel that there is something wrong with the words Sasha had just said. 

And then, some of them understand why they feel unease hearing the words of Sasha just then. 

It is the excuse that the Shadow Guards always use when they wanted to arrest the officials of the court.

Threating a high official could be a small matter. But if one wanted to pursue this issue, it could be blown up to be a huge matter.

A High official is an official that is acknowledged by the highest ruler of Pandemonium. And there is influence attached to this honorary title

It depends on people. There are not many officials in Pandemonium that is given the title of High Officials.

This is not a position of power but a position of honor. Death Monarch himself establishes this position of honor.

And there are only a few people in Pandemonium that is given this high official title.

One of them is Wang Jian, the leader of the military faction. There is also Sina who also have her own faction in the court and possess one of the largest pill and potion refinery in Pandemonium.

She had a monopoly on the potion making business and with other Alchemist, she also controls a controlling stake on many of the pill company.

Then there is the Immortal Couple with both of them given this title for their contribution during the battle against Sithulran. 

And Sasha as the Shadow Guard leader, the hidden blade of Death Monarch was also rewarded with this title, adding to her untouchable status in Pandemonium.

Even Sofia and Loki, the closest person to Death Monarch was not awarded with this title. 

Sasha knew the reason. 

She had once asked Death Monarch about this matter. 

He replied saying that Sofia did not contribute much to the founding of Pandemonium hence it would not be good if he gave this title to her.

Giving her the title would not make people respect her. 

Instead, she might even receive scorn and mocking behind her back. That would not be a good gift instead would only bring more problem for Sofia.

And the other reason was that Azief understood that if he gave her that title, it would then make her a part of the court, whether she likes it or not 

That is not something that should be given to her since it would only restrain her. 

If one-day Pandemonium falls, and he was not there to hold up the sky for Pandemonium, he did not want Sofia to sacrifice her life because she is restrained by that tittle.

As for Loki, Azief simply said

He is a wanderer. 

Giving the title would not help him much and instead it might be him that would give him headache with the problems that he might cause.

Loki had many schemes and plots and not all of it is beneficial for Pandemonium. She always believes that Loki had his own objective and his own path.

The Trickster is unlike Wang Jian who is loyal to Pandemonium or like her who is loyal to Death Monarch.

Marching to his own beat and moving according to his own pace, Loki is not someone that could be controlled.

And Death Monarch had never wanted to control Loki. He did not like forcing someone to work for his government.

It is because he never thought that the government that people created under his name could last this long or become as it is today. 

It is like he is an objecting father that said to his son that he would never succeed only for the son to succeed tremendously well and return home, showering him with all kinds of benefits.

It is this reason of why Death Monarch did not feel good trying to force people to enter the government. 

The fact that the Pandemonium stay strong and sturdy as year passes by is because they rest under the shadow of Death Monarch might.

And as he began to care more and spend more of his effort for Pandemonium, he created the High Official title.

The title is only given to the loyal people that Death Monarch had no problem of entrusting task with. 

For example, there is Wang Jian someone who is very loyal to Death Monarch and Pandemonium.

He is a general that loved the people and the people loved him. 

When he establishes the Southern Court, independent from the Central Court during the schism between the central government and the military, the people under him prosper and obey the general.

Even his wife is loved by the people as she opens up charity for orphans and help opening shelters for new arrivals from other places. 

Every once in a while, she would also go to the sea to fight off against the sea monsters that would try to sink down ships that sail toward Pandemonium.