(Back to Drake's POV)
It seems that things went well, we had managed to get inside this dangerous sect. The Sect Master, named Thaletus, was a distrustful man, but after showing his kid's soul, that I was a Death Mage, and that I could revive him, I easily bought him over.
Also, my terms of service to join my Empire are very lax. Of course, I will ask for taxes and a large share of their production of food and materials… but that's for later, we cannot tell him the little letters yet.
Because our floating castle is like a floating Empire, we cannot produce many things ourselves, and we must sustain ourselves by using other sects as our "Vassal Nations" in a way, making them the major producers of our food and materials.
The Ice Moon was already mine, and its effects on my Empire were very easy to tell, the amazing amount of food we get daily now, and the materials constantly being delivered from the dungeon… it is all quite amazing.
And now, with the Winter Lotus Sect and the Jade Snake Sect recovering in the future and beginning production once more, we will get even more.
It is never enough as our population slowly increases, so we cannot easily give up on this, the more food the better, especially because the people of the sects also increase over time… Ah, this is beginning to feel like a Civilization Simulation gam now…
Anyways, we are here already, the palace. The Sect Master of the Jade Snake Sect, Thaletus, greeted us properly this time around.
Unlike the Winter Lotus Sect, there were seats and a table here, so we sat around the table, and we were even served drinks.
I analyzed them and they didn't had poison, so we drank them. These drinks were bitter but had a fruity an aromatic flavor. It was wine, a very good fruit wine, I had never taste done like this before… I want more.
I will probably ask them to make me more when they're in the palm of my hands… but for now, let's hear what the has to say.
"I welcome you to the Jade Snake Sect, Lord Drake Winter Dragon." said Thaletus.
"Thanks for your hospitality. These drinks… I had never tasted such a colorful and tasty wine." I said.
"Oho, aside from being experts in assassination, we have also improved over thousands of years in the fermentation of wild fruits, combining their flavors and making the best wine of the region. Way better than the plain rice wine of the Winter Lotus Sect! I am glad you've understood how wonderful it is." Said Thaletus, giving a mocking smirk to Mikohime. His smug face offended her a bit, but what offended her the most was the insult he gave to her sect's precious endemic wine, the rice wine named Sake.
"How dare you say that this fruit punch is better than my precious Sake! This man is an uncultured swine!" said Yukihime's soul, nobody could see nor hear her, her rage was for nothing.
"Shut up for once." I said to Yukihime through Telepathy.
She shut up and sighed, moving away.
I was surprised that Mikohime fell silent, however, she didn't said a word. She was intelligent enough to suck it up for now and don't make more problems for herself.
"Now, stop comparing things. I believe both wines are pretty good, they both have their own uniqueness. But certainly, yours is more attractive to the eyes and more impactful to the palate." I said. I praised the sect so the Sect Master could have a better impression of me.
Forgive me, Mikohime.
Mikohime felt gloomy out of the sudden, as she looked down into the floor. I think I just broke her heart… Ugh.
"I see. I am glad you got a better insight. Now, Drake. Let's go to the point. You said you can revive Zephyr?" asked Thaletus.
"Yes, I am confident on it. However…" I said.
"However?" asked Thaletus.
"I first want you to hear Shouta's words, even if you don't forgive him." I said.
"…Very well. Make the boy speak." Said Thaletus.
Shouta stepped forward and began to speak everything that had happened how he remembered it.
The entire sect fell into silence as they looked at the boy with scornful glares.
I petted his shoulder as I gave him the strength to continue despite everyone's hateful stares.
I had not noticed it, but Zephyr's father was at the side of Thaletus, he looked like an older Zephyr, with a black beard and sharp purple eyes, he was looking at Shouta as if he was containing himself the desire to strangle him…
"And that's… how it was." Sighed Shouta.
"You're lying."
"He's obviously saying bullshit!"
"How come our young lord would be so barbaric?"
"Indeed, his father is a masterful warrior and an honorable man…!"
"What kind of insipid lie is this?"
Those thar didn't knew how Zephyr truly was couldn't believe it.
But those that really knew him…
"I see… So that's how it is. I have to admit it, Zephyr is quite a flawed child. Talented but his father is an irresponsible man that never taught him any values." Said Thaletus.
"…"
The father surprisingly enough stood in silence, he didn't refuted the words of the old man, he knew he had committed a mistake in raising his son so badly, and perhaps had come to this realization as he sorrowfully cried like a baby when his son died out of being an idiot.
"I-I am sorry…" sighed Shouta.
"Be sorry all you want. This doesn't change the fact he died by your hands. At the very least take pride in how you killed someone so strong compared to you." Said Thaletus, his assassin's pride came out indirectly.
Instead of being sorrowful he killed someone wrongly, be prideful you killed someone so strong… I guess it is quite the flawed thought process as well, but I suppose it his own way to cheer up the kid.
Although it didn't really worked, Shouta still felt bad.
