Lucian woke up to the sound of the bar's bell, opening his eyes to see Ash standing at the door. The sack on his shoulder moved slightly as he tossed it onto the bar's counter. He didn't even look Lucian in the eyes, his gaze fixed on Penny instead.
Lucian untied the sack, revealing the person inside. Black hair covered most of the Varia woman's face, hiding the crystal on her forehead. She was wide awake, but remained silent. Her eyes were on him, her emotions missing.
Lucian covered the lead-lined sack over her head and got ready to depart. "Great job, Ash. You saved her life."
He walked past him, expecting Ash to follow. Which he did, carrying the woman over his shoulder. Penny followed behind without word.
'Are they communicating secretly with each other?'
It would explain how Ash had been able to backstab Lucian without him noticing.
A cart that Lucian had sent earlier was waiting for them outside. They climbed into it and made their way to the port, where the Woodheart ship was anchored. The ship set sail the moment they boarded, leaving Black Heart behind.
────────────────────────
After a week of sailing, Lucian finally stepped out of his cabin, his clothes changed into something more presentable. An easy to move in white shirt and beige pants, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
"LAAND!" The ferals jumped into the water, swimming to the shore. They kissed the sand beneath their feet, rolling on it like children.
Dozens of Glory's people were already on the shore, waving at them. They were the ones Lucian sent to prepare for his arrival. It was a remote shore, connected to the North Sea, close to Lost East Walls, far enough to not be noticed.
"Boss," Cansan greeted him with a bow, "The preparations have been completed as you requested."
Lucian walked down the ramp to the sand, "Restock the ship, the Woodhearts will leave at nightfall."
"Understood." Cansan signaled the people to get to work.
"NUUUU!" The ferals groaned, holding onto the ground, "No more sailing! We want to build a house and raise pigs! No more fish! We want red meat!"
Lucian let Goblin manage the ferals, walking past them toward the caravans where his horse was waiting for him.
He lost connection with Celine's curse three days ago, and it only increased his vomiting. He was sure she was close to the Lost East Walls with two of his ferals, but his intelligence reports were having difficulty with getting any proper information.
His Green House business had been collapsing due to the war, and Jax's brothels were running dry. His debt collectors were pulling their hair out due to the death toll rising.
Glory's trading business though was blooming. His people were working non-stop to meet the demands. Money was flowing in, and Lucian had been using it to send aid to the Diamante Kingdom.
Lucian mounted his horse. He rode through the forest, the trees and bushes becoming denser as he got closer to the war zone.
Jax joined him at a crossroad, riding at Lucian's side. "Boss."
"Take me to the Crown Prince," Lucian said, his eyes scanning the surroundings with his third eye. He didn't see any camps or trenches, or any sign of war at all, but the Lost East Walls spanned far and wide.
He knew neither side wanted to give up the Lost East Walls, which held the most precious resource in the whole region: the lead. It was essential against astral powers, and therefore, a huge advantage in battle.
A lead-tipped arrow could pierce through gravitational force moves, and lead-lined prisons could hold the most powerful astral users captive.
The lead was brought to the Lost East Walls by the sea. A past event had caused a large wave to cover the whole area, and when it receded, it left behind the lead. This material came from deep sea, and only eight zone reavers (8 ranked Easterners) could reach it.
The shackled beasts of the sea also didn't make it easy to mine it. Most shackled beasts resided in lead-rich zones, which made hunting them a great risk. They also contained deep intelligence, making them hard to track and defeat. Many people went hunting for them, but few returned alive.
The lead in the area Lucian was passing by (where the competition had been held) had been mined to the last inch. The royal army had to go further and further into the forest to find more, while also protecting the borders.
A campsite appeared through the trees, a royal flag waving high on a pole. Hundreds of tents were scattered around, soldiers patrolling the area. It was further away from the main front line. A supply base for the army, where wounded soldiers were brought to rest and recover.
The commotion rose as Lucian entered the camp. They recognized Jax as a Glory member, and let him pass without much trouble.
"I didn't expect the Glory's founder to be so young," the guard said, his eyes on Lucian's face. "Are you really him?"
Lucian offered his hand for a shake, "The one and only."
The guard shook his hand and grimaced at the strength of Lucian's grip. "Y-yes, it's you...um, welcome, Sir."
Lucian released his hand and walked into the camp. The soldiers stared at him, whispering among themselves. He was the only hay head in the whole kingdom with a knight rank. They were simply that inefficient in absorbing the ores and minerals from the blessings, and his strength shocked them.
Most knights' looks matched their ranks. Their harsh training and strict lifestyle made them look older, scarred, even deformed if they were unfortunate enough.
So even though Lucian's sharp features and muscular build showed his prowess, he still looked soft like priests (who also trained their bodies) rather than a knight.
"I can see why the ladies love him." One of the soldiers sighed when a group of sainteses came out of one of the tents, their faces lighting up at the sight of Lucian.
Jax led him to the biggest tent, "Why's everyone tripping over themselves to get a look at you? It's not like you're some god walking among mortals."
"You think I'm ugly?"
Jax waved his hand in front of his face, dismissing the idea, "Men don't usually drool over other men's faces. So don't ask me. You are not the only one though. The Crown Prince is the same deal. He walks into a room and suddenly everyone's forgetting how to breathe. Men, women, doesn't matter."
"You seem immune to it. What's your secret?" Lucian asked. He noticed the people's fascination with the prophecy's love interests' looks. He could confidently say that it was worse than Mathieu's and Heroine's effect on others sometimes.
It blinded people with his shiny exterior, so much that it was the only thing they began to see in him. Glory's face, not its brain. A man so lucky to have stumbled upon riches, not a man who worked hard to build his empire.
"Being ugly helps with hating pretty people. If I had your face and body for just one day? I'd make it count, that's for damn sure." Jax successfully made others believe that Lucian was his best buddy, and not his boss, "I'd have women lining up for miles to get a piece of me."
He made it seem like his standing in Glory was higher than it actually was, adding, "All I would have to do is... what? Breathe?"
Chuckling softly, Lucian opened the flap of the tent after receiving permission from inside. A pair of cold blue eyes froze him in place for a moment, his jaw clenching at the sight before him.
'What is she doing alone with the Crown Prince?'
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
It's a start of the new month, so please, don't forget to share some of your powerstones, golden tickets and gifts with this story. Thanks! 😁🙏
╚═════════════════╝