Smoke of deception - I

Feishu and I were currently in a wooden log in the capital of kingdom of Shulian. We were hiding from the masses because she was the crown princess but she was against her dad's radical expansionist philosophy for the sake of future that might not even happen.

"We will assassinate my dad... but there may be a big problem with that. Hughward's King got assassinated too rather recently and some duke named Philip DeMartin took the throne. Even he has some expansionist philosophy. So in case dad died, he might see it as an opportunity since hughward is our neighboring kingdom." Feishu sighed.

"Assassinate your own dad? Isn't that a bit too extreme?" I asked as I was concerned with how she was not even hesitating.

"You're a summoned one, right? I wonder how things are done in your world but when a king decides to wage war, he risks losing and his people losing life. Our responsibility is not to stay on top, it is to make sure those below us are taken good care of. Extreme measures needs to be taken with people in power. They rule the nation, hence, bears the most responsibility. Mistakes will be made but this... this is not a mistake. Wars are not mistakes that can be forgiven. The current regime is in favor of them and has caused civil unrest. Summoned ones are here to help us, right? So, I hope you help me with this. Before the king, we have to go after the faction that favors war itself."

"Uh-huh. But do you even know who the faction members are?" I asked.

"A few but not all. We have to keep in mind that these people do not care about people they're supposed to be serving. Getting rid of them and their families is the only way to deal with it." She said.

"WOAH! Entire family?!" I was flabbergasted.

"When we kill their leader, these families will hold grudges. It's best to weed them out when we have the chance."

"Isn't this too cruel?" I asked in a concerned tone.

"Taking cruel actions are necessary when you're in my position." She responded. "Aiya! It's about time." She put on a hooded cape and a mask. "Let's go!"

Right... I followed her with similar attire. There were some protests going on in the capital because people didn't want to go to war and somehow those protests were being shut down. Feishu had theorized that the faction that favored war had been the culprit.

We have to first figure out how the protests are being suppressed. As we neared a protests, I noticed some hooded people. Their movements were overtly suspicious. Common sense would dictate that they want to draw attention.... Attention from real perpetrators. I kept scanning the location after pointing out the hooded people to Feishu.

After about thirty minutes, a smoke bomb went off covering the entire area in smoke breaking the crowd apart.

"The bombs didn't come from the hooded people." Feishu said.

"I did see one individual. let's chase after him." I said before jumping down and running in the alleyway that guy entered. "Stop! We know you detonated the smoke bomb."

"Wait- Chen?" Feishu sounded shocked.

"Huh? Y'know each other?" I asked.

"My fiancé... The country has three branches system of government. He is son of the minister of executive branch. I thought you were against the war."

"My goal is to make his majesty's wishes come true. I'm against war but if it's what his majesty desires, then, it shall come to fruition with any means necessary." He responded. "I never once swore my loyalty to my family. It was always the royal family."

I wonder if he is really just that stupid. Since Feishu is the crown princess, I wonder if this Chen guy will have the same position as the king. But no matter, we have the defeat him.

I activated my spear but Feishu stopped me.

"It's best to avoid fighting here. Both of us are at a disadvantage." Feishu looked sad but quickly cheered herself up. "We will get back at him when the time comes. Godspeed." She waved at him and grabbed me and jumped onto the rooftops.

"Why did you stop me?"

"Oya? You wanted to fight that bad? He would've won because of advantage." She said.

"And why?"

"He is proficient with bows and we were in an alleyway. It was perfect place for him. He also uses thunder magic that would paralyze you for a couple seconds if they hit making you even an easier target." She answered.

"I see... I wonder how Kenji would've fought against him."

"Your boyfriend? I wonder what kind of man he truly is. Number four... he must be a force to be reckoned with."

"He has a habit of jumping for heights and stepping on people's face. It's funny and so cool." I laughed.

"Aiyaya... So disrespectful. But plan changed. I have my doubts changed." 

"Plans changed?"

"Chen has been too loyal to my dad. He wouldn't go against his wishes but for a proud man like him to do something so shady, I think there's more going on behind the scenes than I had originally thought."

"You think Chen is being manipulated?"

"Yes. Since he is siding with the faction that wants wars, he would've gone head first into the protesting crowds and dispersed them himself. But he was trying to be subtle about it. I wonder why." She sighed and sat on the floor.

"I see. I wonder if I can ask Kenji for help. Wait- no. I have to travel this world on my own. We will deal with it without his input whatsoever."

...

I woke up next day with Lizette sleeping next to me.

Ah! I was so embarrassing last night! Crying like that after just one lose. I sat up and woke her up too.

"Let's go. We have to go find the four people planted by the heavens. One is in the kingdom of Shulian." I shook Lizette

She woke up while rubbing her eyes. 

"Shulian?" She yawned. "Oh yea... yea... Right. Shulian." She got off the bed and walk out of the room going to her room, I guess.

I was still felling ashamed of myself. I've never cried like that. Not even once and yet here I was. Did I feel emotionally better? Yes. Was I still embarrassed? Also, yes.

I washed my face and changed my clothes and wore a mask. All twelve members had masks in case we didn't want our identities known. It wasn't like people could take these masks off. They'd need to be strong to do that. From our reports, the executive union's head was related to this guy.

I may even get to see Kristine again but I have to keep my distance from her. I've met her only once since I came back from the assembly roughly two months ago.

Two months now... eight in the assembly and half a year before that. Almost one and a half years in this world. I want to live here forever now.

I left my room to see Lizette waiting for me.

"Shulian... Well... Since we are trying to stop wars right now... Might as well save the king too."

"So mission is to protect the king and get in contact with the plant of heavens?"

"There has been some discrepancy in the information collected. It is best to assume that information circulating in the Shulian is incorrect too. Kristine is there so we have to move even more carefully. You wouldn't want her getting involved whatsoever."

"Any particular reason?" I asked.

"No. Just precaution. His majesty asked two of the strongest subordinates. There is a possibility that he doesn't want to take chances as one of ascendants recently passed away. Also Kristine is getting infamous for wrong reasons. She is involved in assassination of a diplomat of Commeiku and now she is involved directly in coup d'état in Shulian. When we put her on trial, her past actions will result in greater sentence or even capital punishment. We might let her off but if she gets arrested in kingdom of Dinavi, even the ascendants won't be able to do anything. Dinavi is a strict nation when it comes to their laws and they will put people in jail for breaking a law no matter their status. Even past kings have been ruled guilty in that nation."

"I know." I sighed. "Let's go."