"Grand Chief, please wait," Four Winds said.
"Shut your mouth!" One of the council chiefs, Jinga Loudmaw, hissed. "You are a traitor who has aided an enemy. We should just hang you and your entire guild instead of giving you a seat in the council!"
Kabaka waved at Jinga. "Jinga, we've discussed this. He won the tourney. If we deny him his right, we are denying the tradition handed down by our ancestors. The two of them fight fair and square. Even though his helper used a false identity, his helper was registered by the world as his tribe. He is not at fault when it comes to following the tourney's rules."
Kabaka then turned to Four Winds, "That being said, depending on how things go, I might still need to punish you for smuggling an enemy into our midst. Your seat on the council is secured. Do not worry about that, but be prepared for a different penalty."
Kabaka finally turned to Jack. "Now, do you wish to show yourself on your own accord, or shall we?"
Seeing things had come to this, Jack saw no choice. He transformed back to his real self.
"It truly is you!" Jinga uttered.
The orc guards around immediately adopted a more hostile pose. They were ready to strike.
"Hold…!!" Kabaka called out. "No one makes any move!"
"Grand chief! This is our chance to capture the leader of an enemy country," Jinga uttered.
"I said hold!" Kabaka repeated with a sterner voice.
Kabaka looked around to make sure everyone abided. He then said to Jack, "Honestly, I'm still surprised that it truly is you. When Umeza came to me with his suspicion. I asked the mages to prepare rune diagrams inside this room. Nothing fancy like dispelling a disguise since we do not have much time, but something that tells us that someone is using a disguise. The rune diagram marked you the minute you entered this hall. We know you are in disguise, but I still can't believe it is the king of Themisphere himself. Why do you come here, all by yourself, into the hand of the enemies using such a covert and disgraceful manner?"
"Honorable grand chief, I come in peace," Jack said. "I come in this manner because I have no choice. I have been trying to get in touch with you, trying to get an audience with you in a proper way, but you keep on rejecting my messengers," Jack said.
"I did…?" Kabaka turned to the side.
Jinga, who saw the glare, immediately said, "Gra–Grand Chief, it's true that there are delegations from Themisphere, but they are enemies. We do not need to listen to whatever they say."
Jinga was the council chief responsible for foreign matters.
"Fool! Whether they're enemies or allies, messengers should be respected! Are we now a dishonorable race who captures or kills messengers, or captures or kills an enemy who comes willingly and presents himself before us? There is no glory in capturing or killing an enemy outside of combat!"
Jinga dropped his head after the scolding.
Kabaka returned his attention to Jack. "That being said, it didn't mean that we will just let you go. You can blame yourself for being so brave in coming here. But I will let you say your piece, why do you want to meet me?"
Instead of answering, Jack took out something from his inventory. Makubwa and the other guards were agitated when something suddenly appeared in Jack's hand. They almost attacked, but they stopped when they felt the aura emitted by the item in Jack's hand.
"That's…"
It took a few seconds before someone finally identified the item. "It's… It's the Totem Banner…!"
Most of them never laid eyes on the legendary artifact. This artifact was already gone before they were born. All they knew about their national treasure were from history books. This banner that Jack was holding was identical to the descriptions and illustrations in those books.
"I came here to return this totem banner to its rightful place, as was desired by Themisphere's fourth king, Thebalder," Jack declared.
Everyone was silent. They were confused about Jack's purpose in coming here, but this totem banner was the last thing they expected.
It was Jinga who spoke first, "The thief has finally returned the stolen item. Guards! Seize the banner and apprehend the thief!"
"You stay your tongue!" Kabaka scolded. "I am the grand chief here. You are speaking out of turn!"
Jinga winced at the words.
Kabaka then walked forward.
"Grand chief…," Makubwa who stood between Jack and the council chiefs tried to block Kabaka's path.
Kabaka put a hand on him. "It's all right," he said. "I don't sense any hostility from him, and I believe in you if he tries anything."
Hearing that, Makubwa moved aside. He followed closely beside Kabaka as the grand chief approached Jack.
"May I?" Kabaka said and extended his hand, asking for the totem banner in Jack's hand.
Jack felt a dilemma. As long as the totem banner was in his hand, he had a chip to bargain his way out. No one could steal the things in his storage bag if he stored this artifact inside. But once it left his hand, then he had nothing to stop these orcs from attacking him.
But if he used this totem banner as a bargaining chip, it defeated the whole purpose of his attempt. He was trying to make peace with this nation. Peace needed goodwill. Peace needed trust. If he couldn't show these orcs his goodwill and trust, then he should forget about expecting the same thing from them.
So, he extended his hand that was holding the totem banner and released his hold. The totem banner was now in Kabaka's hand.
Kabaka held the banner as if it was the most precious thing. The guards were getting ready again. They were expecting the grand chief to give the order to apprehend Jack now that the totem banner was in Kabaka's hands.
While they were waiting, an apparition suddenly appeared above the totem banner. It took everyone by surprise, including Jack. Some of the orcs even thought this was part of Jack's ploy, that an enchantment had been placed on the totem banner and it was now activated after Kabaka took the banner.
But before they could do anything, the apparition above the banner spoke. The apparition was the image of an orc in battle armor.
"Greetings, my fellow orcs! My name is Mojuto Raretooth, son of the great Ajabu Raretooth!" The apparition declared.
