Primordial Villain with a Slave Harem

Capítulo 1182: Displeasure

When the last of the troublemakers had fled or been put in their place, the mood came back like a tide finding its shore. The crowd closed in again, hands reached up to touch his cloak, fingers combed through his hair, children pulled at his sleeves. The cheers restarted, but rougher, louder, packed with teeth and laughter.

And, yes, there were some opportunistic women in the crowd who, similar to the men before, were more than happy to get a few grabs of him. However, they did not have the audacity to reach for his privates; most were only touching his biceps with blushing cheeks, so he decided to let it slide.

Just like this, the brief but heartfelt cheers ended. Maelstrom’s army arrived.

Maelstrom’s army filled the fields beyond the walls. Rows of banners moved in the wind, armor caught the light, and the ground between the lines was a map of ruined wagons and fallen men.

He moved at the head of the huge army. When the gates opened, the troops waited in ranks outside the stronghold while only he entered.

Rynne got off from the ramparts and moved forward to greet him.

She bowed deeply. Maelstrom looked at the woman with satisfaction. “Good job holding out, Captain Rynne. No, that’s not quite correct, is it? You defeated the enemies and forced their retreat. Outstanding job-”

The man was visibly brimming with pride and joy at the achievement of his subordinate.

But then his eyes narrowed into slits when they found Black Fang.

“What are you doing here?”

Black Fang did not even glance at the man, let alone respond. She walked next to Quinlan and the crowd with the same slow, certain step she had used in the battle.

The sight of her pulled gasps from the assembly. Maelstrom’s eyes moved to the tall and imposing man walking next to the oriental woman, and his already narrow eyes became even narrower. “You…” Recognition and accusation arrived at the same time.

Quinlan inclined his head. “Lord Maelstrom,” he said, formal and calm. He kept his tone even. The assembled men and women leaned forward when they heard it, whispering. The crowd that had cheered seconds ago fell quiet again. Every ear wanted to hear the contents of this conversation.

“Rynne, explain,” he ordered, and the Veil Walker-ranked spearwielder did just that.

She explained how the siege had almost broken the stronghold until Devil and his allies arrived, together with Black Fang, Raika, and Vex. She described the aerial clash between the Scarlet Lilies and the duo of Devil and Black Fang, and how Scar had been cut down.

The words hit the field in waves. Maelstrom’s face shifted from surprise to something colder, making Quinlan raise an eyebrow. The man did not seem to be happy one bit about the news, despite his being so proud in his praises toward Rynne before.

Though it did not take a genius to figure out what was going on, Rynne was his own; her achievements were his own.

Black Fang was his equal in rank and a person he did not get along with. In his eyes, they were akin to rivals in a sense, even if Black Fang herself couldn’t care less about the man.

“Any high-value targets left?” he demanded. His hand tightened on his weapon.

Rynne met his gaze. “Kaede fell to Black Fang’s blade, but some unknown force has her alive. She was taken out of combat and is likely still being healed because she did not join in on the siege after sustaining the heavy injuries. The Lilies pulled back together with the rest.”

Maelstrom’s pupils tightened. “Then we press.” His officers readied their orders. The general wanted blood and closure by chasing down the defeated and demoralized army.

But before they could roll out, Quinlan spoke up. “Lord Maelstrom, there is another possible path we could pursue,” he offered. “We might be able to kill Queen Morgana today. I can open a portal, and if you take your fresh elites with you, there’s a good chance of success thanks to having the element of surprise.”

“Portal?” the old general asked, confused.

Quinlan quickly displayed the ability, making the man nearly paint his clothes brown. Maelstrom visibly struggled to retain his composure.

“… You could open a portal all this while?”

“No, of course not,” Quinlan deflected, feeling he was about to be scapegoated for something.

“…” Maelstrom was visibly unhappy and once he collected himself…

The offer of the ambush held the field silent. Maelstrom stared as if Quinlan had suggested walking into a pit. Suspicion hardened his features.

He shook his head once. “No. Pushing after the weakened Fujimori buys us a decisive victory faster. A direct strike at Morgana is risky and expensive.”

Black Fang’s expressionless voice came next, full of accusation. “You are afraid.”

The color drained from Maelstrom’s face. “How dare you?! I serve the Consortium with all my heart! I will not stand for such baseless slander!”

Black Fang was not one bit impressed with his defense. Her previously empty tone found itself full of venom as she declared, “You fear the Queen, yes, but the King as well. You’re afraid for your life, but also of the possibility that Alexios will personally join the war if Morgana falls.”

Officers shifted their weight. Some swallowed. Maelstrom’s jaw clenched. He drew a breath, then forced a smile that did not reach his eyes. “You’re trying to use me to kill a woman you hate, aren’t you? Queen Morgana has already secured the smaller stronghold she was besieging; that fort is as good as gone. Yet you want me to fight an uncertain battle? You’d risk the Consortium losing its Army General and his top officers for this?”

Quinlan had to give it to the man; he flipped the table quite well on Black Fang. It did not take a genius to guess that this man has been part of the political aspect of the Vesper Consortium for a very long time. He had the tongue of a seasoned politician.

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