Chapter 1268 A Feared Clan

Chapter 1268 A Feared Clan

Outside the city of Wisdom, Hikma, a fleeing boat struggled to cut across the desert. Atop the boat was a single man covered in a silver cloak, his shoulder bleeding profusely.

"What the hell was that?" asked the boat's driver, a young man in his twenties. "Did the kingdom ever build a dark knight like that?"

"I work at the factory. We created no such thing," said the man in the silver cloak. "And as a strategist of Sourna, I receive first-hand intel about any prototypes."

"Are you suggesting that the dark knight was created by the resistance?" asked the driver, sweat covering his face. "If that's true, then the entire kingdom of Sourna might fall!"

"Don't spread such rubbish, it was only one prototype."

"But sir... that prototype tore through our ranks with ease," said the driver as he gripped the helm tightly. "We need to tell the wisemen."

"Of course we will," barked the strategist while gritting his teeth. "What kind of creature was that?"

It appeared out of nowhere, a stark contrast to the ashen landscape of Sourna. None of his Force Knights could do anything against him, making the strategist cut a sorry figure as he fled for his life.

The boat sailed into the secret passages of Hikma, designed for military use only. A whistling sound echoed through the underground tunnel as their sailboat hurried to reach its destination.

It entered the locking mechanism with a resounding boom that shook the underground station. The soldiers rushed to their side as they saw the strategist holding his bleeding shoulder with a pale face.

"There is no time for treatment! Take us to meet the wisemen!"

The soldiers exchanged glances before carrying him to meet the wisemen. On the way there, some of the soldiers bandaged his shoulder lest the strategist bleed to death.

"Strategist Raheem requests an urgent meeting!" rushed the soldier into the meeting hall before they were allowed entry.

Raheem walked into the Wisemen Council supported by a soldier. As soon as he got inside, he realized that the wisemen were not alone. Two women were standing before them, turning toward the strategist as he made his entrance.

"Forgive my intrusion, wisemen," said Raheem as he used the soldier to support his walking. "But I carry urgent news from the northern parts of Sourna."

"As we believe, you were sent on a secret mission," said the wiseman with a strange glint in his eyes. The strategist closed his mouth, glancing at the two women.

"Nothing is a secret from your princess," said Princess Sapphire as she glanced at the beautiful woman next to her. "As for Rain, she is an ally, at the current moment."

"An ally that is unfit to hear sensitive matters," said the Central Wiseman with a frown. "Please leave us alone. Both of you."

Raheem threw himself on the floor, seeking their forgiveness. In his mind, this was not a mission, but a punishment. Before the Dividing War between Sourna and that clan, many tried to enter the uncharted lands but none of them resurfaced.

"This is not a banishment of any sort, Raheem," answered the Central Wiseman, addressing his concerns. "This is a mission that only the best of our men can handle. But you will not go there alone."

"Who is going with me?" asked Raheem as he raised his head. "Can it be someone from the council?"

"Even better," the Central Wiseman smiled at him. "We are sending Princess Sapphire and the Pirate with you. It just so happens that they heard news about Valeria Storm seeking to enter the uncharted lands."

"This plan is most ideal, right?" asked the Left Wiseman.

"Hitting two birds with one stone," answered the Right Wiseman.

"Go and heal your wounds. You will leave early in the morning," said the Central Wiseman. "We expect great things from you, Raheem."

Raheem wanted to object more, but he felt his body rising against his will. Before he could ask them to reconsider, he was carried away by an invisible force out of the meeting hall.

The soldiers carried him to the nursery, where someone healed his wounds but could not heal his mind. Raheem had one thought during his recovery: I will die.

Late that night, a visitor entered his recovery room while Raheem was writing his will. His mother and father were old, so he wanted to leave them everything he had before his death.

The visitor wore revealing clothes and a veil. Her figure was irresistible throughout the world, granting her the name of the Seductive Princess.

"I heard about the mission we will work on together," said Princess Sapphire as she made herself comfortable beside his bed, resting one leg over the other. "The Wisemen did not tell me the reason you will be accompanying us."

"I am forbidden from revealing that secret, princess," answered Raheem with a gulp. The princess was silent. "Please forgive me, but I have to consider my position and well-being."

"What were you doing to the north of Sourna?" asked the princess, poking at the secret he tried to hide. "What injured you and why did it require an audience with the wisemen?"

"I was scouting the area to the north when a strange creature attacked me. The wisemen suspect that the creature belongs to the clan living in the uncharted lands."

"The Netherborne Clan," answered Princess Sapphire while squinting her eyes. Although he could not see the rest of her face, her eyes were alluring enough to leave him sweating buckets. "I know the details of our mission."

"And I heard about yours, too," said Raheem while putting his will papers aside. "Valeria Storm has never been caught. What makes this time any different?"

"Because we have her former crewmate."

"Pirates can never be trusted," Raheem warned the princess. "I read the reports about Rain the Siren. It is said that she sleeps with a hundred men every month, stealing their essence."

"Men who are controlled by lust deserve that," said the princess as she rose from her seat. "Make sure she doesn't brainwash you, naïve sailor."