Chapter 724 - Hidden agenda

Chapter 724

(Unedited)

…

Inside a large hall at a round table, there are many people sitting while discussing with each other. Their topic is about the ongoing war and the next plan of the town heads. They are all helpless at the moment at all of them are trap inside the town unable to do anything while the combined forces of the High Elves and Zith'ra races are marching towards the gorge.

As they look at the map on the round table, everyone was a bit baffled on what to do as they could not break the large imprisonment barrier. As the scouts reported, the high elven race is using their divine artifact to channel their power to raise the barrier.

Ever since this battle started a few days ago, they tried to attack the barrier with all their might even using the cannons, but to no avail. It would not budge no matter what. But the problem is, the enemy outside can freely attack them as they can control the barrier at will.

As the discussion inside the hall heightened a few figures could be seen walking inside.

When the people noticed a particular person amongst the group, they all stop talking and with reverence greeted the man in unison.

"We greet the High Lord!"

As Ryujin Osmond enters with Shin Jiao and some other people in tow, the lords in the hall watch them, and many show confusion in the appearance of Shin Jiao. In fact, he is the only low-level person inside the hall.

Everyone in the hall are lords, even those gold armored protectors are unable to enter, so how could they not show confusion in their faces.

"I have heard the status outside; it seems that we should be pushing the plan ahead of time," Ryujin said with a frown as he sits down and reads the report in front of him.

"High lord, our scouts reported that the barrier is almost complete. But if you wanted you can still escape... there is still time." One of the lords suddenly blurted out.

"Escape? And then what?... Leave all of you in here? No… I will not be a coward, there is still hope." Ryujin Osmond said.

But some of the lords tried to convince him to think otherwise. If he escapes he could report to the fortress inside the gorge and they could prepare or send reinforcement.

However, if Ryujin Osmond leaves, then the town would lose a powerful fighter and would easily fall into the hands of their enemy. So this is a great dilemma for everyone.

"Alright… enough of this escape plan. We should think of the things that we have discussed so far, the attempt to break the barrier outside…"

Upon hearing Ryujin's words, everyone was quiet. This is because that plan is really hard and dangerous. If they send out their array formation expert, they are not sure if those people can break the imprisonment barrier plus the enemy outside is numbering by hundreds of thousands. So this plan is really impossible to accomplish.

The discussion inside the room suddenly arose and Shin Jiao just calmly stood to the side and listen to everyone.

He showed a faint smile on his face upon watching these powerful beings become fl.u.s.tered. In this room, Shin Jiao is the weakest but he is not afraid at all. He is confident that he could escape if ever something happened. This is especially true as of right now he could feel a faint killing intent being directed towards him.

In the midst of the cacophony of discussion, a dainty hand was raised in the air.

Ryujin Osmond noticed the person and one of his brows lifted.

"Yes… Lord Joanne Vine…"

Upon hearing the words from the high lord, a beautiful woman stood up with a proud disposition. She shifted her gaze from Ryujin and then to Shin Jiao.

"High Lord, this is not to disrespect you but may I ask… Why is a lowly person like him inside this room?" she said while pointing at Shin Jiao.

This question is also in the minds of everyone so some of them nodded their heads.

Ryujin turns his gaze to Shin Jiao and then showed a faint smile as he looks at everyone.

"Sigh… everyone might be confused at this time, but I know that all of you are also curious and knows that this person is the one responsible and the reason why many of our troops, especially the scouts are able to successfully accomplish their missions, right?"

Upon hearing the high lord's words, everyone in the room turned silent.

They could not deny the fact that what Ryujin Osmond said was the truth. Those artifacts which the soldiers and scouts bought in that small shop were the most useful items in this war. Ranging from healing Dao spell, stealth, and attacking spells, each spells those people using the items from that store are more powerful and effective.

Hence the town is able to preserve its forces.

"Humph! He is just a profiteer… he is selling those things at a sky-high price. In this time of war, he should just give everything to the military. In fact, I propose to take everything in that shop and distribute it to the soldiers who are offering their lives and freedom in the frontlines." Joanne Vine proposes while glaring at Shin Jiao.

Her words gained the attention of all the lords in the room. In fact, they all think that she has a point. Everyone is thinking that they could use this chance to bolster their own force in the town. They all witness the effect of those artifacts and found them really helpful.

Plus what made everyone feel a bit greedy is the spear that high Lord Ryujin Osmond wielded at the first sign of battle. The enemy at that time almost lost as three of their high lords were killed by High Lord Ryujin Osmond as the two forces clashed.

But who would have known that the enemy would have more experts? Even though they were pushed back, the enemy still lost a considerable number of soldiers. And this made everyone realized the reason why the high lord always visits that small shop.

In their minds, they knew that inside that shop, there are more divine artifacts and right now, they suddenly remember this due to what Joanne Vine said.

"Humph… Let me see if you can still escape your fate… Hihi… if I can have a divine artifact or two, then the Vin clan would surely look at me in a different light. My growth is sufficient and fast, with this accomplishment, I would surely get a higher position in the clan." Joanne Vine thought while looking at Shin Jiao.

But she suddenly noticed the young man looking at her, and then suddenly winks.

She was suddenly stunned and did not know what is happening right now. She suddenly finds herself feeling fl.u.s.tered for some unknown reason.

She is one of the youngest lords in the history of the human race. It only took her 200 years to reach this status, though there are also some geniuses that became a lord who is younger than her, still, she is already considered as one of those geniuses.

However, what differentiates her from the other young lords is her fighting prowess. Out of all the young lords, she could be considered as one of the top ten in fighting prowess and ability.

And because her focus ever since she was born in this world is in cultivation, she is somewhat innocent when it comes to other matters. But of course, she is schooled by the Vine clan in these matters and learned them by theory, however, who would have known that upon seeing a handsome young man winking at her would suddenly make her heart fl.u.s.tered. She did not know what to do next.

Because of this, Joanne Vine glared at Shin Jiao, and then shifted her gaze to the side with her face blushing.

Shin Jiao on the side just showed a faint smirk.

"Innocent yet proud…" Shin Jiao thought as he has already known that the young woman is different from the rest of these scheming monsters around him.

Although she has a bit of scheme in her heart, she is not comparable to these careful people around them.

"I agree with Lord Vine's proposal!"

"I also agree!"

One by one some of the lords in the hall raised their agreement.

Upon hearing those words, Joanne Vine was immediately elated. She knew that her scheme worked.

But before everyone could say anything else, Shin Jiao raised his hand and stood up.

"It seems that everyone covets the things that do not belong to them. If this is so, then what's the use of us staying in this place? High Lord Ryujin, it seems that we could not continue with our cooperation at this time… I will take my leave then…" Shin Jiao said with a smile as he cupped his hand towards Ryujin Osmond who suddenly showed a frown on his face.

With a piercing glare, he looks at every one of those lords inside the room.

"Sigh… Wait, Young Master Si Ji…"

Ryujin Osmond stood up and then waves his hand and the map on the table suddenly changes as if the thousands followed his command.

"I will tell you the plan first then you can decide if you want to cooperate with us or not."

Without another word, Ryujin began explaining their plan which was shown in the table. Shin Jiao was a bit surprised at the changing scene in front of him. The sands would form objects, ranging from trees, people, mountains, and etc. The scene is really fascinating and Shin Jiao's mind began analyzing the runes and glyphs that made this possible.

"So that is the plan…" not long later Ryujin said as he shifted his gaze to Shin Jiao.

"Hmm…" Shin Jiao said as he too is finished with analyzing the glyphs on the round table.

"Interesting…" he said subconsciously.

The people inside the hall turned towards him with a frown.

Shin Jiao shifted his gaze towards Ryujin as he showed a smile.

"So do you agree with the plan?" Ryujin asks with doubt in his eyes.

In fact, he has noticed that Shin Jiao is actually not paying attention but instead more of observing the table itself.

"Alright, we'll do as you wish, high lord." Shin Jiao said without a second thought.

This made everyone in the room a bit dumbfounded.