Chapter 13 - Episode 12-The News

"My lord I have news about the soulless." said a man in dark attire.

The lord who was just addressed looked at the man from the papers lying on his desk, and signalled him to speak, then he went back to reading the paper.

"The soulless has decided to enter the competition." Replied the man not even slightly bothered his lord his doing something else.

Suddenly the lord stopped what he was doing and looked up. Slowly a smile crept up his face.

"Oh, very interesting."

...

An old man was lying down on his garden, enjoying the sun basking on his skin. Suddenly a leaf rustled among the trees. This distracted the serene smile on the old man's face as he frowned.

"It better be important news or you know what will happen" Warned old man as he didn't even bother to look in the direction of the figure in the tree who was terrified of the warning. The messenger only hoped his message was pleasing to his lord's ears.

"John has decided to enter the competition?"

"He what?!" Astonished at the news received the old man sat up.

Then suddenly he turned towards the trees and asked: "Who is John by the way?"

The messenger nearly facepalmed, hearing his lords reply. 'What is with this overdramatic reaction if you don't even know who he is?'

...

"His Imperial Highness, you called for us?" A man in black armour asked as he and his fellow members of the squad knelt before the emperor.

"I have news for you and your teams Seban" Replied the emperor with his static face.

The group of 6 people suddenly perked their heads up. Seeing this the emperor laughed 'Look at you fools, where is the pride is and dignity you showed me 11 years ago is?'

"John decided to enter the competition."

"What!?" The shock was plastered over everyone's face.

"Oh I thought you all will be happy to hear this, he might even have a chance to enter the competition you know? I thought I would inform you guys as you were the ones who killed his mother."

'Bastard' thought every single one of the people kneeling down.

'John, just wait until we are done with this bastard' thought Seban, the captain of the squad, as he glared at the floor with anger and rage.

...

Inside a room, a man can be seen sleeping among the company of 2 women. Suddenly someone knocked on the door.

As if the shadows were stretching a hand came out of the shadows. A well-built and tall man. His brown hair, with his small stubble face, slowly came out of the shadow and opened the door.

"His highness is sleeping." Said the man that came out of the shadow.

"I know Tom, I have been informed by his majesty to inform you something."

Tom squinted his eyes. "Do you remember the person who has been ...?"

"Just say it and stop dragging it on. I don't have time to waste on you." Annoyance and anxiety flashed through Tom's eyes as he interrupted the man, while he kept looking back at the man sleeping amongst the women.

"John, the Soulless, has decided to participate in the competition." The messenger replied without being bothered by the reply from Tom. He knew that Tom hated staying more than 5 meters away from his Lord.

Tom nodded thoughtfully before closing the door and walking back to the shadow near the beds.

"Whoever he is, he won't lay a hand on you, my lord." Said Tom as he finally disappeared into the shadows.

On the footboard of the bed, a name can be seen. 'James the 3rd'

...

2 people were having coffee in a restaurant. A young person who was charmingly beautiful with his long silk smooth blond hair, and blue eyes. The person sat opposite him was not as charming as the young person, he was old and mature, and seemed to be in his 30's but the pressure and seriousness he induced around him were visible.

Then soon a waiter came forward to the young man and said: "Your highness one of your siblings has decided to enter the competition."

"Leave it, someone always decides to enter and then quits midway. You don't have to tell me about every single sibling of mine who decides to join the competition unless he/she actually qualifies for the competition."

The waiter struggled for a few moments, as if he wanted to say more but wouldn't dare to speak. Seeing the struggle of the waiter, the man opposite the youth asked: "Who is it?"

"John" replied the waiter, as he finally looked at rest after saying the name.

As soon as both of them heard the name, they stared at each other. Then the youth spoke "Last struggling's of a dying person."

The older person shook his head "I don't think so."

The youth's expression changed as he listened to what the other person has to say. But seeing the silence, he replied "Are you sure? He so far has shown no talent in anything except his studies. It's more of grasping at the straws that I can see."

"No Jack" Sighed the older man as he continued "What I see is more like the cub of the Tigress has finally decided to poke its head out of its cave, and see the world, after soo long."