"I still wonder why you allowed me to come." the little boy said calmly while sipping his juice. He looked excited, his smile barely contained.
"Why not? I can destroy your puppet anytime, so it does not matter." Jacob replied with a bored expression as he watched Ah Chu walk into the arena. Ah Chu wore no armor at all. Only his arms were wrapped in heavy chains, which made his entrance look even more dramatic.
Jacob's lips curled the moment Ah Chu began his act. He clutched his throat as if he were dying, stumbling forward like a man on the verge of collapse. It was his signature move, Wah I'm Dead, and as always, his opponent panicked and rushed toward him to help.
The instant the poor man got close enough, Ah Chu snapped his eyes open. He jerked himself upright with sudden strength, twisted his body like a slippery eel, and slid behind the government agent before the man even understood what was happening. The chains whipped around the agent's neck in a smooth, practiced motion, and Ah Chu pulled with every ounce of force he had.
The pressure built fast. The man clawed at the chains, his face drained of colour. His eyes swam, rolled back, and finally the struggling stopped as consciousness slipped away.
The guests watching the fight grimaced in disgust, staring at Ah Chu as if he were some kind of walking contamination. To outsiders he was filth. To Moirai he was the champion. Every opponent who entered the arena with him left humiliated in one way or another, so of course it was entertaining.
"How disgraceful." the boy muttered with a frown. He tilted his head as if trying to understand how this madness could be considered a sport.
"That's my boy." Jacob replied with a loud laugh.
Ah Chu threw his head back and laughed in triumph. Then, in true Ah Chu fashion, he grabbed a stick and jabbed it into the fallen man's ass. Half the guests recoiled in horror. The other half cheered like lunatics.
Ah Chu had won again. He was victorious.
He was also still an absolute piece of shit.
But Jacob's and the boy's attention was not focused on him but on the young man who was eating popcorn with a straight face, the crystal monocle on his right eye gleaming with an unsettling luster. Next to him sat a beautiful young woman with pale snow white hair, skin as dark as a starless night, and eyes the deepest shade of red like blood.
"Why would you destroy your daughter's happiness? That is something I do not understand. You may act like a corpse whose heart is cold enough to freeze hell but your love for your daughters is still burning like the sun. So why would you ruin young love, Ki Song?" Jacob asked, his expression a bit melancholic as he stared at Amon and Luna.
The boy smiled mysteriously, his small form slowly shifting and then completely changing, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful woman in a regal red dress. Her skin was pale like that of a corpse, and a light smile played on her crimson lips. Her raven black hair fell like a lustrous waterfall of darkness, and there was something eerie and vaguely appalling about her beautiful, enchanting eyes.
"Let us say I was inspired." Ki Song said with a smile, now in her original appearance, as she poured wine into her cup and took a sip.
"Inspired? By whom or what?" Jacob narrowed his eye, glancing at her with suspicion.
"By your heir." Ki Song laughed. She felt genuinely pleased about something, but Jacob couldn't tell what it was yet.
"Amon, huh?" he said, sighing and leaning back in his chair.
"Why, of course. I often wondered how a mere dormant human managed to outsmart every person on this forsaken shore, including my daughter, how he manipulated the course of events with such fine precision and defeated his adversaries despite his lack of strength, and how he eventually stole an entire region for himself. Don't you think his story is quite inspiring? Sheer madness to gamble everything, including your own life, on success for nothing grand but your own pleasure and elation. It's ridiculous, truly. Yet, Many underestimate him but I will not." Ki Song stated with a calm smile.
"Still, he is young and arrogant. He believes that just because he was able to deceive Vale he will be able to do the same with me. But I assure you, a young cub like him is far from my level. You could even say that this time the deceiver was deceived." She covered her mouth, chuckling.
"That doesn't answer my question. Why do you want to ruin your daughter's happiness?" Jacob continued to press her, refusing to let her distract him with useless flattery. Amon was amazing, yes, but this generation had produced many Awakened just as remarkable as him, some even more glorious and powerful.
Ki Song sighed when she saw he wasn't relenting. Then she looked at Luna, her expression remaining unreadable for a long moment until she finally averted her gaze for some reason.
"Kneel before me and I will allow them to be together." she said, her eyes cold and piercing.
"Hahaha, and why would I care about that? People fall in love but they can move on." Jacob burst into laughter, slapping his lap.
"I would have believed it if someone else had said that, but it is you. If people can move on that easily, you would have forgotten your dead wife and child already, isn't that right?" Ki Song's gaze was unyielding as she spoke.
Jacob's face darkened as he looked at her, his eyes turning bleak and unsettling, as if they were dead, even more so than Ki Song's, who was actually an animated corpse. "I don't think you wish to test my patience. The last time someone tried that, things turned ugly rather quickly."
"Oh, I admit it. You are a troublesome enemy. But you have a weakness now. Those children you are taking care of are exactly that. Isn't that why you are so adamant about this? I mean, why else would you ask me to let Luna go?" Ki Song's smile widened.
Jacob remained silent, but it was crystal clear that his heart was boiling with fury.
Ki Song shook her head. Jacob was a stubborn man. He didn't care about traditions or the trends of the times. The only person he had ever concerned himself with was himself, or at least that was how it had been before. Now he cared about his students, which made dealing with him a little easier.
"I mean, it was quite a tragic event. There wasn't much you could do anyway, not in the dream realm without any healers to help you. Save your wife's life or your son's. It was an unbelievably difficult choice. What did you say back then? I respected my wife's wish, right? In reality you were a coward who couldn't make a decision even when you knew which one was correct. You let your wife die to save your son when, deep down, you already knew that child was dead. Do you think that if you help your heir this time you can atone for that sin? Don't be ridiculous. They are already dead and nothing will change that."
Ki Song knew that Jacob saw himself in Amon. Their situations were truly similar. A young man in love with a girl who carried his child, forced to make a choice and take a risk without knowing if he would succeed. The resemblance was as clear as a mirror.
Perhaps it was fate that Jacob found Amon. Two individuals from different generations, yet with the same resolve.
"As I have said before, I was inspired by your heir. Originally I planned to hold back and maintain balance, but the war will start soon and balance can be damned. The only thing I need is victory. If you don't join my side, I will destroy you and everything you cherish. But if you kneel and acknowledge me as your sovereign, then I will spare your life, I will let you keep this little kingdom of yours, and I will also let Luna go. It isn't that bad of an offer, is it? One way or another you will be forced to sacrifice your neutrality and choose a side anyway, so it is better if you do it now." Ki Song stated her terms calmly, waiting eagerly for Jacob's response.
So that's how it is... Jacob thought grimly. He didn't have the power to challenge a sovereign, not yet at least. And judging from her words, Ki Song had figured out Amon's plan, which was why she said he wasn't on her level yet. Beyond that, all the heavy hitters of Rose Redemption were under Amon. They weren't that strong yet, but in the future they would become the deadliest cohort this world had ever seen.
In other words, Ki Song wouldn't let Luna go. There was another factor at play as well, and that was the Beast God's lineage that Luna had inherited from her. With that, Ki Song had effectively turned her daughters into her puppets too. She would use it as leverage to force Amon into submission. If Ki Song hadn't become as fierce as she was now, Amon's plan might have had a good chance of succeeding, but now it was useless. She had seen through it.
What would Amon choose if Luna and the child were in danger?
What would Jacob choose if the lives of his students were endangered?
Both of them would accept Ki Song's terms. They wouldn't have any other choice. The gap in power was that great. And Ki Song wasn't considering letting them go.
Sovereigns were usually not interested in mortal affairs, but by the looks of it, the Raven Queen had decided to take matters into her own hands. If she had been like that dull idiot Anvil, then things would have been easier, but it was this insidious woman instead.
It was checkmate.
Jacob considered his situation, his brow furrowing in thought, then he looked up and asked, "Hmm, that is interesting, I admit. But I have to decline."
"Then I will kill your heir's unborn child. Nothing is stopping me." Ki Song replied, her voice cold.
"You are bluffing. You love your daughters, you will never do such a thing." Jacob raised an eyebrow, leaning back.
"Try me. I would rather make such a sacrifice to win this war than lose." Ki Song was adamant, her resolve unshakable.
"Fine, we agree. But not as a vassal clan, my fair lady. We can act as mercenaries and assist you in the war that is coming. I am sure that will be more beneficial for you as well, if you understand what I mean." Amon entered the room, bowing gentlemanly before Ki Song with a focused, calm gaze, then he straightened and adjusted his monocle with a faint smile.
Jacob's eyes widened in surprise as he saw Amon, and even Ki Song had not expected this.
As for Amon… damn it, what monstrous pressure. Is this the will of a sovereign? He gulped, feeling chills crawling up his spine. But he also felt frustrated; he had let his guard down. Just because the great clans had left Nephis and Sunny alone didn't mean he would enjoy that privilege as well.
Despite Nephis being an obvious threat, the sovereigns had left her alone after the events of the Forgotten Shore in the novel.
Amon had thought he would also be left alone, that the sovereigns would remain indifferent. But reality was different. Ki Song considered him a threat and had decided to make her move before it was too late.
Shit… Nephis, lend me some of your plot armor, will you? Amon thought, joking to himself to fight back the nervousness crawling under the pressure of the Raven Queen.
"That is an intriguing offer." Ki Song smiled gently. She had to acknowledge the advantages of Moirai remaining as mercenaries. She knew Amon was offering this so he could remain as independent as possible. This was his last‑ditch effort for freedom.
But that did not mean she would refuse it. She understood that if Rose Redemption's position remained ambiguous, there was a good chance they could infiltrate the Valor Clan under the guise of mercenary work and deal damage from within under her orders.
She couldn't help but laugh at how greedy this boy was. He would certainly act as if he would choose whoever paid more, all to drain the Valor Clan dry in the midst of war while still betraying them to aid her. Even so, it was beneficial for both sides. Even if she saw right through his scheme, she wouldn't disagree.
"Let's say I agree… what would you like in exchange?" Ki Song asked, an amused smile playing on her lips.
Amon bowed his head, his palm on his chest like a proper gentleman, and replied, "I want Luna."
"Oh? My daughter?" Ki Song raised an eyebrow in mock surprise.
Amon's expression darkened, but he forced himself to remain calm. "She was mine from the very beginning, just as I am hers."
The Raven Queen let out a soft laugh, resting her cheek on her palm. "I see… fine, I will arrange everything. After your second nightmare, you will become Luna's consort. I expect great things from you… blasphemer."
Amon's blood ran cold as he heard her words, his eyes widening in disbelief and horror. How does she know about the nightmare? This doesn't make sense… or does it? He frowned, his expression growing more thoughtful.
Ki Song's original body was merely a puppet, just like the body she was possessing now and the countless pilgrims in her service. She was animated by the power of her Aspect rather than truly being alive. She didn't reside in a single vessel. Instead, she existed through her countless puppets, present anywhere her pilgrims were.
So what was stopping her from learning secrets? She had more than enough power to do that. Even the corpse of a mere ant might be her, after all. In other words, one of his subordinates or he himself had screwed up and unintentionally leaked information. They might have spoken among themselves thinking they were alone. After all, why would anyone be wary of a fly or an ant?
Wait… an ant? Amon felt chills crawl up his spine as he swallowed hard, his pupils contracting in horror as he remembered the time he went to the theater to watch a movie.
Wasn't there an ant on his shoulder that he flicked away?
Don't tell me…
I let my guard down this time… fuck. I never thought she would pay this much attention to me. Because of my arrogance, she learned about my plan and my second nightmare, which means I have been dancing in her palm from the very start… shit.
"If that is the case, then there is no need to take such a risk. We can wait for Luna to give birth to the child and then-" he was interrupted by Ki Song, her voice emotionless and bleak.
"No. She will challenge the nightmare as she is now. Wasn't she trying to do that from the very start? Behind my back? Scheming against her own mother? This nightmare will be her punishment." she stated calmly.
"But she might die, what do you-" Amon was cut off once again, his eyes filled with confusion and a hint of anger.
"She might die? That is the life of legacy, boy. Legacies always let the seed of the nightmare bloom in their children's souls, risking their lives just so they can awaken. That is how it has always been. Do you know how many children have died because they were unable to pass the first nightmare? This is the world of the nightmare spell. The weak will always die, and this time, Luna has to prove herself. That is the decision I am making." The Raven Queen left no room for argument as she sipped her wine.
As for Amon, his heart boiled with fiery, murderous fury. He hadn't felt this angry in a long time.
Yet, despite his rage, he tried to remain calm and compose himself, clenching his fists until blood began to flow from his palms. "I… understand."
She was right, everyone was in the same boat. Amon knew that children never chose this life, their parents did. The same applied to Ki Song's daughters. All of them were forced to face nightmares and grow stronger, just as Luna was being forced right now.
"Alright, alright. That's enough. We can be considered partners now, so there's no need for threats." Jacob sighed, trying to lighten the mood and change the subject.
"Amon, you can leave. I will take care of the rest." He nodded at Amon, who closed his eyes for a moment, bowed once again, and left the room.
Jacob cursed under his breath, staring at Ki Song as if she were a piece of trash, then snorted. "Happy?"
"Indeed, I am." The Raven Queen answered, her smile soft and gentle.
***
[A/N: Well, if you guys expected that Amon could deceive Ki Song with only a year of experience, then sorry to disappoint. I'm not planning to make Ki Song an idiot. This time, Amon lost, and he was outsmarted. Ki Song is a sovereign who can control Luna with her blood; she has countless puppets and enough information to corner Amon, lol.
Anyway, that's it for now. Enjoy the meal, guys. Hope you're all doing well.]
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