Warlord Khun was the first to speak up, "My Chief, there has been some unrest in the north. The Salvation has been setting some traps up there to prevent us from going further and ganging up on our people. If you would be kind enough to lend five Thunder Guards, my clan can clear the path for us."
Akira's eyes drifted in contemplation, and after a few moments of silence, she said, "You can have them but only for a day. If your clan is not able to clear the path within that time, my Thunder Guards will return."
Warlord Khun had a look of surprise, but he immediately bowed with a smile along with his wife, Rayna. Rayna patted his hand with a satisfied look before leaning back.
Damien knew that meetings like these usually start off with affairs of the city. However, it seemed like Khun was having a tough time in the north and needed help from his aunt.
"Just stop breathing for a while, will you? It's making my skin feel weird," Mira said with a piqued look as Damien's breath brushed against her nape since he was standing right behind her.
"Can you stop finding fault at everything I do? It's not like I am enjoying standing in such a tight space," Damien said in a low voice as he tried to adjust his body to give her more space, but he ended up accidentally pressing against her body.
"You!" Mira's eyes widened upon having her back pressed against his solid chest. She could feel the warm skin of his chest and with him standing so close, the smell of his blood was making her feel strange. She detested human blood since she ever came upon them, then how come his blood smelled different? Was it because he had ghoul blood in his veins as well?
"It's not my fault. I was just trying to make you more comfortable and accidentally ended up like this," Damien shrugged while thinking that her body felt quite cold, just like his aunt's. Were all ghouls supposed to have a cold body temperature?
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})But he had to admit how soft Mira's skin felt, and with his lower half dangerously close against the big, round, and soft part of her body, he felt like this was indeed a dangerous situation.
The sweet fragrance from her body wasn't making it easier for him as his draconic blood was being tested. But he took a deep breath and focused his thoughts on the meeting going on.
But he had no idea that his blood was distracting Mira as well.
Before they knew it, the air inside this narrow chamber was getting hot.
Discussions on some other general topics went on, especially with the fifty representatives voicing some of their thoughts.
After all these general affairs were done being discussed, Mehron, who was silently sitting with a subtle smile, finally spoke up, "Chief Godwin, this Warlord has something a bit unpleasant to discuss about. It isn't a big deal, but I am afraid we cannot overlook it for the sake of the stability of our city."
Damien saw Mira clench her fists the moment Mehron spoke up.
Akira leaned her head against her forefinger and said in a reticent tone, "I am well aware of the matter you want to talk about, Warlord Mehron. I accept the fault of my personal disciple of laying a hand on your son."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"}) Mehron nodded while maintaining the subtle smile on his name. His War Elder Ruhar brushed his chin as if he didn't expect things to proceed this smoothly.
However, Akira's tone became a bit cold as she asked, "But are you willing to admit that your son overstepped his boundaries by trying to lay a hand on my slave without my permission despite a warning from my disciple?"
Mehron's smile became smaller while War Elder Ruhar straightened his back and spoke up, "Chief Godwin, it is just a human slave in the end. How could it possibly compare to—"
"You will speak when I allow you to," Akira sternly said as her dark purple eyes shifted their gaze briefly towards Ruhar, who immediately swallowed his words and lowered his head. He could feel the anger in her words for switching sides all those years ago.
Lady Rayna, who was sitting beside Khun, softly chuckled as she looked at Ruhar.
Mehron nodded as he said, "You are right, Chief Godwin. My son is young and foolish and what he did was not right, especially trying to touch a slave owned by you. So to make him atone for his actions, I am willing to let him write an apology to you and make sure he never repeats such actions."
Akira narrowed her gaze as she said, "I don't want a letter. I want you to summon him here right now and make him kowtow before the Purple Thunder Knight," Akira gestured towards the giant statue of the Purple Thunder Knight, which was right outside the small chamber, Damien and Mira were standing in.
Mehron's lips slightly convulsed for a moment as his expression became inscrutable. War Elder Ruhar's expression became a bit ugly since this was an insult to the Nightshade Clan, making Mehron's youngest son kowtow in the hall before all these people.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})They came here, planning to regain the face they lost, and yet they ended up in a situation where they might lose more.
Akira added calmly, "If you truly accept the mistakes of your son, then I will accept the duel you proposed for the mistake my disciple committed."
Warlord Moldark finally spoke up with his gaze lowered, "Is that really necessary, Chief Godwin? Young Lord Lehron didn't even touch your slave. So were any of our laws really broken here?" He asked as he twirled the ends of his thick mustache.
Lady Rayna spoke up with an elegant smile, "Warlord Moldark, I am afraid you might have forgotten the tiny details of our laws after such a long time. The law states that any action or…intent to harm the slave of someone else shouldn't go unpunished. Even if it was an intent, it also proved how disrespectful Young Lord Lehron indirectly was towards our Chief. So things should be clear now, right?"
Warlord Moldark's expression darkened as he looked at this beauty and licked his lips before looking away with a snort.
Akira briefly glanced at Lady Rayna and gave her a subtle nod as if pleased with her response.
War Elder Ruhar's expression became taut as he immediately whispered to Mehron, "My Lord, maybe it's best we compromise here. It seems like we didn't expect the Chief to be on the offensive about this. Losing more face won't be good. She also doesn't seem to be bothered about letting her slave fight. Maybe we thought about it too much."
Mehron raised his hand briefly as if to gesture to him to stop talking and raised his chin as he said to Akira, "What you proposed is fair, Chief Godwin. I will have Lehron summoned here immediately."
'What the heck…' Damien mumbled as he realized that this guy was really determined about this duel.
