Chapter 364 356: Tumultuous East



What comes after a surprise attack?

Sitting cross legged in a room with his long hair waving down to his back, the lord of Asahi thought on the question.

He had conversed at length with Eugene, Albert and Irina about the directions he could take for the war. And the demon of the battle(field) was more than happy to answer him.

The first step.

"Lord, these are all the spy bastards."

Dozens kneeled in front of the lord of Asahi and the seven warlords around him. The seven warlords looked at some of them with their jaws agape and some with eyes of acknowledgement.

People expected and unexpected had popped up as spies.

"Lord Asahi," the oldest amongst the warlords spoke. "We should extract all the information we can from them and kill them!"

"No!" Another intervened. "Would you tell a spy anything about you? Would you trust someone who's only role is to betray?"

Being a spy required great faith that was answered with disbelief.

"We shouldn't waste our resources on these bastards! Let's kill them all."

Asahi grinned.

"Ok, release all of them."

"Yes! Very wise! Release them all—Wait what?"

It seemed everyone had a similar reaction. Lord Asahi shook his head.

"Go. I will let you free. But in return, you must tell everyone in your lands of how powerful my army is! Tell each and every person you meet, that this land will soon belong to me! Tell them, not an ant nor a hare in the East should be ignorant of my might and my intent!"

Whispers went asunder at the lord of Asahi's words. People all around him prepared to say just one line.

"The Asahi has gone mad."

Completely mad, total whacko.

The people were left alone and they dashed off like ants chasing after their food. History was good enough a source to let them know that mad people cared little for trash like opinion. They could change their mind and go back on their word like they changed socks and no one could say anything to them.

All left. All of them charged out of the house and into the wood, behind them the people of Asahi screaming at them to scram and tell every soul of what they heard and saw.

Informants were going to become announcers and their secret ramblings were going to spilled out like horns of war.

The Lord of Asahi turned in his seat.

The door behind him, that heralded the end of the room, opened up much to everyone's surprise.

Behind them was another group of informants from lands that were in the Dark Moon's hit list.

"A-a-are you going to… let us go to…?"

The Lord of Asahi smiled and nodded.

"Of course I am."

***

The Lordship of the land of Ketam held a strong rein on its people.

Deep in the sandy plains and beyond the lines of rivers and trees, nestled around a lake was the capital city of Ketam. Walls stood tall outside its perimeter while roads of sand passed through the ground to go to its vassal cities.

The lord of Ketam was pretty popular even amongst the tumultuous East where people had no choice but to run die most of the time.

How wouldn't he be?

His was a land so famous for being one where anyone could step in but no one could step out of.

Its people were no better than slaves for the soldiers and the rich. Rich was an exaggeration, for if you took away Ketam, you took away everything any of them held.

The people were kept tied and away if they were lucky. Many were tortured on the streets, many had their children and wives taken.

A small well in a giant sea. The perfect case of what happened in war and tyranny.

A few people did go out, though, the spies.

The lord of Ketam was cautious. He had heard more than enough of war. And when one became too comfortable, the mere thought of losing it all was enough to push them into paranoia.

The guards of the city of Ketam were standing with their spears at their side as they eyed the road ahead.

A wave of dust like in a sea was emerging from the distance.

The sky that was bright mere moments ago had turned dark as clouds clogged up the horizon in the distance.

"Oh?"

"Isn't that… one of the spies?"

The guards at the gate watched with jaws dropped open as not just one, but more than fifteen spies came running toward the city. They were the people assigned to the warlords and the distant and lofty lord of Asahi. A person powerful enough that he could afford to send his children to study in the kingdom of sages.

"Why are all these guys here? I have a bad feeling."

"G-general! Call the general!"

One of the guards ran past the door and went inside the kingdom while the other one grabbed his spear.

Banners flew in the midst of the wave of dust.

And so did the sight of hundreds of people, their figures blending together into a sea of warriors.

The closer the spies came the clearer became the state of their wound riddled bodies. Blood dripped from their feet while their nails were plucked out.

Eyes stabbed or sewn shut.

Lips torn apart and teeth plied out.

On the stony rugged path, they were forced to run in such a state.

The general came out, and so did many other soldiers.

The horns of war tooted from within but it was useless, the army was too sudden.

They loaded their cannons in hopes fire. But before the flames could set off, larger explosions fell on the walls and broke the cannons apart.

And then.

"Ahk!"

A kick landed on the back of the spies as they fell face first in front of the general of the army.

Behind him, was the Lord of Asahi.

The spy grabbed the general's feet and looked up.

"Asahi… Asahi…"

The general took a step back.

"The Asahi have come… to take over the East…"

Ketam was wiped out of the map that day.