39 The High Table [2/3]
"All of you," Albert then turned his head and looked at the remaining treasure hoarders that submitted under the High Table.
"Since you've all submitted to me, you shall now classify yourselves as "Under the Table." He said with a dignified and impartial tone. "You shall not say anything about the High Table and you shall continue doing your operations as usual. However, when you are summoned, you must answer."
His tone became cold and heavy at the end. Everyone nodded frantically at his words and dared not to reject him.
As if seeing their actions through his blindfold, Albert nodded before changing his aura. He then smiled brightly at them. "Now that's out of the way, do well to serve me in the future. Alright, everyone?"
He then walked over to a cage and opened the locked cage with ease with his fingers. Afterward, he picked an unconscious person up and carried him on his shoulder.
After doing all this, Albert started walking away, heading east. However, as if remembering something, he comically jolted before turning his head with a smile.
"By the way..." He looked at the treasure hoarders looking at his back and spoke, "If any of you dare to betray me... Know that even your remains won't be found. An excellent servant I have shall quietly dispose of you as quietly as possible."
"Are any of you aware of the Baba Yaga?" Albert smiled enigmatically yet the others felt a sinister feeling from his smile.
"Baba Yaga? The Boogeyman?" One of the treasure hoarders said in a quivering voice.
"You know what that means?" The others looked at him, intending to inquire more.
The treasure hoarder nodded his head. He then put down his crossbow and explained, "I-I used to go to Snezhnaya with my father when I was a kid... There, I learned a lot of myths... And Baba Yaga is one of them."
"It's supposed to be the Boogeyman— something that crawls from the darkness and takes away children who disobey their parents." The man explained.
"You learned well, but you got one point wrong." Albert joined their conversation with a faint smile. "My servant is not the Boogeyman..."
"...He's the one I send to kill the Boogeyman," Albert added with the same faint smile.
[+5 Credits]
[+5 Credits]
When others heard Albert's words, they subconsciously shuddered. Even those among them who have a strong build and a brave nature felt an inexplicable chill run down their spine.
[+5 Credits]
[...]
Seeing the fine results of his little scare, Albert smiled with satisfaction before turning around and continuing walking.
The treasure hoarders, still stunned and slightly frightened of Albert's various threats, didn't move and only watched his figure disappear into the darkness of the night.
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"Uhh..." The previously caged person, who was unconscious, finally started showing signs of waking up. "Huh?"
He woke up and saw that he was tied and was facing a campfire. Not far away, a man wearing a blindfold was eating, and beside him, an eagle was pecking on a cooked chicken thigh.
The sky was still dark and the wind was cold, but the heat from the campfire kept him somewhat warm.
"...I suppose you're my savior?" Seeing the man continue eating even though he showed signs of waking up, the man guessed that the person in front of him was the mysterious figure in the darkness previously.
The blindfolded person continued eating without speaking, and so was his eagle.
The man saw this and observed the blindfolded man. He noticed how dignified and clean the man eats, not letting anything he eats get on his clothes, and making sure to eat everything cleanly. 'Must be a well-off guy...'
Seeing that the man has no intention of speaking for a while, the man spoke. "Well... I'll introduce myself first... My name's..."
"Kun Jun." The man said before adjusting his glasses with difficulty.
"Wha—" Albert heard his head and stopped chewing. The reason he had been quiet was that he wanted to act like those silent types that save you and act enigmatic during the whole conversation.
However, after hearing the man's name, Albert jolted a bit and stopped what he was doing. 'Kun Jun? Are you serious? What are the bloody chances...'
He would have never thought of meeting someone like Kun Jun here. Not when it's still far too early for... "that" to happen.
"I'm sorry... is something the matter?" Kun Jun inquired as he noticed Albert stopped eating. "Also... could you please untie me? It's really uncomfortable..."
'...what a huge variable...' Albert thought with a faint sigh. However, he was a man that can see the silver lining in grim situations like these. 'Still... having a connection to Kun Jun...'
It's quite obvious that Kun Jun is important to the story of the game. That's because, in the future, the will of Azhdaha— an ancient dragon sealed below the Earth— would awaken inside of him.
'Just to make sure...' Albert had his suspicions, but still decided to ask the system anyways. 'System, did Azhdaha's will already enter Kun Jun?'
[50 Credits needed. Proceed? Y/N]
Albert clicked yes and soon, the answer was presented right before his very eyes.
[Yes, however, it is very faint and is still weak enough to be awakened.]
'What a great surprise...' A new actor entered Albert's stage and an interesting one at that.
Having done all of that, he decided to introduce himself. "Sorry, I'll let you off those ties later when I'm finished. For now, address me as Qin Shi Huang."
"Alright...?" Kun Jun nodded his head at the strange man that just saved him. He has some questions, but he felt like the blindfolded man wouldn't answer any of them.
After ten minutes, Albert took out a handkerchief and wiped his face before finally finishing. He then stood up and quickly slashed the ties covering Kun Jun in an instant.
"...wow..." Kun Jun was speechless at what he witnessed and just let out one word. He then stood up while stretching his sore muscles. "Thank you very much. If not for you, I would have been taken somewhere else by those treasure hoarders."
"Which... By the way, how did you deal with them?" Kun Jun noticed that they were in a completely different area and there were no traces of the treasure hoarders.
Albert smiled leisurely before replying. "I just taught them a lesson, that's all."
"...Uh-huh..." Kun Jun didn't inquire further and just became glad that he was freed. However, out of all the questions he had now, he has one that he has been really meaning to ask. "If you don't mind me asking... Are you from the Ministry of Civil Affairs?"
"I serve no one," Albert scoffed. He was currently acting as Qin Shi Huang from Record of Ragnarok. Being proud and not bowing his head to anyone are his hallmarks. "You can view me as... a passerby who saved you out of convenience."
"I-I see..." Kun Jun adjusted his glasses after hearing Albert's reply. 'He must be an adventurer... no, with those manners he showed earlier, he must be a private mercenary? Maybe something else...'
Albert saw Senu finished eating and spoke, "This is where we part ways. Head south from here and you'll soon reach Dunyu Ruins in half an hour."
"Ah, is that so?" Kun Jun said. He then continued. "I'm sorry, but is there any way for me to repay you? My family are famous artisans, so I'm wondering if I can repay you in some way?"
"...If you insist, then would it not be of bad courtesy of me to refuse?" Albert said with a bright smile on his face. He then stated what he wanted from the beginning.
Taking into account that the man he saved was an important figure in the future, Albert's plan changed.
"In the future, if I were to go to Liyue Harbor... can you help me? A favor, if you will." Albert states what he wanted.
"Are you sure?" Kun Jun said. He really wanted to repay his benefactor. "Would it not be better for me to repay you now?"
Albert waved his hand and smiled leisurely. "If you satisfy my wish in the future, then that alone would be reassuring for me."
"...if you say so..." Kun Jun subconsciously scratched the back of his head when faced with Albert's answer.
Soon, the light of dawn started parting the dark clouds of the night. Dawn was arriving.
Kun Jun bid farewell to Albert and the latter just nodded. Pretty soon, it was only Albert and Senu alone on the road once more.
"Now that all of that's done..." Albert placed his hands behind his back and looked northeast from where he was at. Being on a mountain, he was on a vantage point.
He lifted his hand and pointed with his two fingers adorned with golden claws. "It's time for the Emperor to clean the scum of this world."
"From here on out, I am not Albert nor Ezio..." He lifted his arm and brought it closer to his face. He then took off his blindfold.
He opened his eyes, which revealed his stunning and unique eyes. His eyes adorned a five-pointed golden star that seems to be able to pierce through anything.
If one were to look closer, one might be able to see them illuminating a faint light-blue light.
Together with the break of dawn's light highlighting his figure, Albert looked very enigmatic, dignified, and majestic at this very moment. All qualities of someone like Qin Shi Huang.
"From now on, I am Qin Shi Huang..." He spoke with pride, fully immersing himself in his role. "I am Emperor, a king among kings. And a king only takes pride in protecting his people."
Today was the day the high-ranked treasure hoarders of Minlin shall be forcefully placed under the High Table!
And if war is needed, then he alone shall face them head-on!
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Meanwhile, inside a majestic yet illusory palace, two people sitting on chairs were looking at a system interface.
One of them, who was sipping tea, saw what Albert did and smiled. "You've been acting like a kid until now..."
The man then smiled joyously at the sight of his disciple. "Now, I give you permission to run amok under my name."
"One who never doubts... never yields... never relies... and always stands as the leader of his people. That is what makes a king." He muttered to himself before drinking another tea.
