Chapter 86 - The Baron Now King
I feel good helping that broken family, but its just a drop in the bucket in terms of people who need help. I bring my mind to something less sad, I wonder what mom and dad are doing on their adventures. I bet Marcus is proving to be a handful, but teaching him what the school would will be easier now that they are always together. He will try and find a way out of it, but I personally don't believe you have to know algebra to succeed in life. While I'm good at math, I've never had to use more than addition or subtraction after I graduated. I'm sure mom and dad will teach him better about life than any public school ever could.
I open my friends list and I see that both of them are online, as well as the rest of the family. I could send them a player message, but they are probably busy. Just seeing that they are okay and are having fun is good enough for me. "Young man, were you the one that helped that poor mother back there?" I look towards the direction of an old female voice and see an older woman dressed in rags. I don't know how she could possibly know that since it just happened, she sees the confusion on my face and smiles with wisdom.
I walk over to her and look at her to see if she has any magic hiding her identity. "How could you possibly know about that? I just did it a few minutes ago." All she does is look at me with the same wise look that she has worn this entire time. I don't sense any magical power coming from her, and she doesn't look like a mage. Whoever this lady is, she is doing a great job about hiding her methods. "Why did you want to know. I doubt that I can do much for others." She just fiddles with her hands and stays silent. Since she isn't going to talk I might as well leave.
I turn and start to walk away, then I hear her speak again. "You have already done enough young man, just remember she is always watching." I turn around to look at her, but when I do she is already gone. I question my sanity for a few seconds, I know she was just there. She seemed to have vanished into thin air. What did she mean by she is always watching, sounds like something that is caused by my class and life rating. Unique encounters like this happen the better the class, perhaps this was one of them. I start on my way back towards the palace, I walk for a few minutes and I eventually hear a world announcement.
[World-wide Announcement: The monster armies have begun attacking the borders of Kroria! They are being stopped by the church and the coalitions soldiers for the time being! The outcome of this fight will determine the fate of Kroria!]
Looks like the monsters have decided to attack Kroria, I bet the alliance is moving to intercept them and stop the fight at the borders. Kroria is important for weapons and armors, they will defend it fiercely. I don't think the monsters will get Kroria, but many lives will be lost in the process. I wonder what Zeniths role in this war will be, with reconstruction there wont be much they can contribute. If anything Jackson should ask for help rebuilding, but I don't know how to run a country so I should keep those ideas to myself.
I'm getting closer and closer to the palace, and the presence of soldiers are increasing as well. Some even look at me and wonder what I'm doing so close to the palace. I keep walking and ignore the looks I'm getting, eventually I'll be stopped. I walk for some time and I meet a gate that is keeping people from getting to the palace, I can see a line of nobles and merchants looking to get in. They must want to speak to the king about business and ranks, when a new king is crowned and anything below the rank Earl and Countess needs to be reworked.
Politics is a thing I don't want to get involved in, but I'll have to tolerate it till I can get Jacksons help lifting Sam's curse. This line isn't moving and I don't look the way a person should when meeting a king. So that means I need to sneak in, but I'm betting they have detection magic to determine where in the perimeter a breach occurred. So that leaves me no obvious options of getting in, and I doubt he'll be coming out here anytime soon. This is going to be harder than I thought, I wonder if there even is way in. Unless, I intentionally get caught. If I can get close enough to Jackson or Charles before I'm apprehended then I'll be able to speak with him.
Now its a race to see how far I can get inside the property before I'm caught and the goal is to reach Charles or Jackson. I should find a private place to jump the perimeter and increase my odds. I leave the line and go back the way I came, and then I take a turn into an ally. I make my way to a secluded part of the perimeter and notice guards patrolling, I'll have to be quick. The goal is for me to get into the palace, but if I cant then I'm screwed. This is an all in gamble, and I don't like gambling. I prepare myself and get ready for a hot pursuit once I cross the perimeter.
I see a gap in the guards that are patrolling around here, I take it and jump the perimeter. I move as fast as I can. I get closer and closer to the palace before I notice I have some special guards behind me. "STOP! We are authorized to use deadly force!" I'm to close to stop now, I can see them getting closer by the second. These guys are powerful and it would be bad if I tried to kill them. I see no time to use the front door to the palace so I go for the closest window. I burst through it and scare the crap out of some maids.
The guards at the end of the halls see me, looks like I'm pinned. Guards on either end of the hall and some behind me. I also have no idea where Jackson or Charles are, so now its cat and mouse. I head down the right side of the hall and charge the guards that are in my way. They draw their weapons and I dodge their attacks. They aren't as strong as the guys perusing me, but I don't want to take a hit regardless. "Don't let him go any further!" One of the guards that was pursing me shouts out to the ones trying to impeded me. That means someone important is in this direction.
I rush down the hall and take the only available turn. "Don't let him reach the throne room!" Bingo, this is the way to the throne room. Hopefully Jackson is there, or I'm dead meat. I burst through the final doors and enter a massive and beautiful room. Some of the noble woman scream and guards begin to surround me. I look around and spot Jackson, I immediately head towards him. "STOP HIM BEFORE HE REACHES THE KING!!!!" Everyone's attention shifts to me and I see Jackson turn his head towards me. I smile and he gives me a look of questioning my sanity.
I stop once we make eye contact and let the guards tackle me. They bring me to my knees and prepare to cut off my head. "STOP THAT THIS INSTANCE!!! DO NOT HARM A SINGLE HAIR ON HIS HEAD!!!" I watch Jackson yell at the man with a sword to my neck, I could've activated my skills. My divine power would have given me away though, this was the only option. He quickly runs up to us and shoves the guys holding me down away. "HOW DARE YOU HARM HIM!!!" Everyone looks at him in confusion before he regains his composure. He must have remembered he is one of the only few that know my identity.
He helps me up and brushes the dirt and glass off my clothes. I smile and look at the new home he has. The guards are looking at me in fury, they are still in kill mode. I ignore them and turn my attention back to Jackson. "How have you been old friend? Surely being a king is better than being a baron." He laughs at my first question for him. We both know that it isn't an easy transition and that he probably hates it, that's what makes it kind of funny. Soon Charles shows up as well and I wave to the nice and well mannered butler. Looks like I succeeded in not dying, I look around and see that this is a party. Explains the line outside. I turn my head back to Jackson and give a big smile, he just sighs at my antics. Its nice to see a familiar face after all the crap I seen in Zenith.