Chapter 113: Oh well

Chapter 113: Oh well

113:

Tom found himself oddly intimidated by the interiors of the Nezaria Manors. Nether Beasts and murderous assassins he could deal with, but the rich and the influential had a battleground that was far tricker to navigate, their nebulous rules and codes kept privy amongst themselves.

Tom, Aleph and Zirel stood near the entrance of the manor, not wanting to step in any further than they had to. Even he wasn’t fully confident of taking on a Noble Family head in his own manor, for who knew just how many powerful artifacts were stashed within its walls.

A grand crystal chandelier lit up the reception room, a short flight of stairs leading up to a long marble table that dominated the center of the room, easily fielding a dozen chairs that were placed around it’s perimeter.

Tom let his eyes dart around the paintings decorating the powder blue walls, taking in a mix of family portraits, depictions of what he recognized as the Syrelore Kingdom, but from elevation and a single portrait that depicted a man wreathed in purple flames battling a three-headed beast.

Then, his attention shifted to the scrolls, tomes and scrolled up charts neatly arranged on the marble table, alongside a basket of colorful fruits. Only after did he take note of Lord Ramav Nezaria, who was seated directly facing Tom and his daughter, Valeria, who seemed far more tense in comparison to the calm facade her father was maintaining.

“Will you not take a seat, honored guests?” Lord Ramav Nezaria asked, his words slow and deliberate, a heaviness to them that even the king’s right hand could not conceal.

“Nope,” Tom replied. “Don’t plan on staying long.”

“I see,” Lord Ramav Nezaria replied.

“Sorry to disappoint,” Tom replied nonchalantly, seeing no need to prostrate himself before the Nezaria family.

He granted them a favor worth that was worth much more, after all.

“So, your grand plan,” Lord Ramav Nezaria began, letting his bitterness leak into his tone. “Is to foist this information on me, leaving me with no choice but to plunge the kingdom I am responsible for governing, the kingdom generations of my ancestors have lived and died for, into civil war?” He asked, his gaze boring into Tom.

“Well, that part is up to you,” Tom replied with a shrug. “Would you rather I not have saved your daughter and let the Zenari take the blame for it?” He pointedly asked. Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com

Lord Ramav Nezaria remained silent, letting his index finger tap against the marble table as he evaluated Tom’s words.

“No,” Lord Ramav Nezaria replied. “I merely wished to show my daughter that your actions do not come from the goodness of your heart,” He explained, the usual calm returning to his tone.

His anger had been an act.

“You’re good,” Tom replied, begrudgingly impressed.

“Play hard to get all you want, Synrak. But every man has a price. Your strength is a mystery to me, but your actions are not. I do not sense hatred in your gaze, for if I had, you would have willingly joined me in my war against the Nottrakon Family and their allies. So, just what is it that you want?” Lord Ramav Nezaria asked, his tone calculating as he gazed in Tom’s eyes.

‘Terrifying old geezer. This is why I hate politicians,’ Tom thought, not knowing how much more he had given away.

“Well, funnily enough, I really don’t want anything. I mean, powerful cards or artifacts would be nice, but you’d probably want that for the war you have ahead of you. If it wasn’t clear already, I do want the Nezaria Family to win. Why? Because better you than those assholes,” Tom replied with a shrug.

Silence reigned in the reception hall, giving Tom more time to admire the artful rug that ran up the staircase and likely stretched across the reception hall’s floor.

“You are a very interesting man, Synrak Veralis,” Lord Ramav Nezaria replied after some thought. “But no, you needn’t worry about my finances. Regardless of what your confounding motivations are, the fact remains that you saved my daughter’s life, slayed the enemies of our Nezaria Family and opened my eyes to an enemy I was blinding myself to. Ask what you want of me, you do not have to stay.”

Just as Tom was going to respond, a loud, booming voice that had to be amplified by a card of some manner interrupted their conversation.

“Lord Ramav Nezaria, you are suspected of collaborating with the fourth and now estranged prince of the Nottrakon Family, Zirel Covan Nottrakon. Surrender him to the Royal Knights now, or be considered an enemy of His Majesty!” The decree came, bold and thunderous.

“Oh right. That... is the biggest reason why you do not want us around,” Tom explained dryly, his lips curling up in amusement.

Lord Ramav Nezaria and his daughter, Valeria, watched with abject confusion as Aleph and Zirel undid their masks before tossing them onto the floor.

“Finally. It was getting stuffy under there,” Zirel declared.