BELLUM PRAESINTIA

Not Only You Afraid

Garlan's POV:

The silhouette I see before my eyes seems to lead me toward a path often referred to as the realm of the afterlife. The gaze it carries is just like most, filled with a sarcastic air laced with a vengeance.

"Your Majesty!" The man in front of me kneels, his back showing utmost sincerity as he dares not lift it. "I have returned!"

"Oh... Prime Minister Gizor, I've been waiting for you!" Castelo said, his gaze filled with delight.

He instantly looked at me with hope, and I couldn't understand why everyone who saw me would display this.

"Who is behind you?" Castelo asked curiously.

Gizor stood tall, stretching his hand towards me and said, "Your Majesty, allow me to introduce him. He is the leader of the Black Dragon, Lord Garlan!"

A name that terrifies some people. I could hear them whispering various things, strange incantations weaving foreign words. I tried to maintain a calm expression, ignoring what was happening here.

"Mister, are you truly Garlan, the leader of the Black Dragon?" Castelo wanted to confirm if what Gizor said was true.

"Yes, I am indeed Garlan, the leader of the Black Dragon!" I answered, the loudness of my voice bringing an uncomfortable heartbeat.

As they looked at me, their fear grew. They tried to hide it, but the aura emanating from their bodies was already palpable.

"I see. This is truly an unexpected event. I see you've come here with grace to save us!" His eyes sparkled with every word he uttered.

I continued to stare at his face without turning away. This man's gaze was just as penetrating, and I could sense all his desires through my body.

"Do not misunderstand!" I said firmly, crushing his hopes directly. "I came here for a clear reason. If there were no reasons, I wouldn't have involved myself in this matter. I received a promise that you would provide a suitable reward for us if we helped with this problem."

"Of course, this kingdom would never ask for your help without offering compensation! Tell me what you desire," he asked in a soft tone.

First, I lowered my gaze, took a deep breath, and released it visibly.

"At present, I find that everything happening here is quite complicated. From the battle earlier, I request payment of 2000 gold coins from you."

Their eyes widened as they witnessed the easy utterance of 2000 gold coins from a man without manners. The murmurs of annoyance filled the room, shattering the calm.

"Be quiet!" Castelo who seemed surprised, tried to maintain a casual demeanor like it had no effect. Unfortunately, a large bead of sweat rolled down his left temple, dripping off his chin.

The atmosphere returned to its previous silence as everyone waited for Castelo's decision.

I didn't care about their gaze. Among them, they must have already considered me a robber. 2000 gold coins were a substantial amount that could sustain life for over ten years. But, the main goal wasn't to perform foolish acts.

Castelo began to speak, "Mister, may I know what made you ask for a large amount from this kingdom? If you don't mind, can you explain the purpose of that money?"

The atmosphere more intent became silent. Their eyes continued to gaze at me cynically, worried about every word I would utter. I glanced at the marble floor of the palace, a beautiful white marble that I continued to stare at, but I bravely lifted my gaze toward Castelo.

"I have a purpose, and of course these 2000 gold coins are for my survival. Everything is in accordance with your agreement. The minister of this kingdom offered me a condition to be able to drive out a kingdom that has long been disturbing this kingdom, and they dared to offer anything in accordance with my request!"

Gizor instantly faced a question from Castelo, "Is what he says true?"

Gizor's face tensed with this question, his gaze lowered as he hoped his answer wouldn't be disastrous, "Yes, it's true. I had no other choice. If we don't take action quickly, the situation will only worsen. By seeking help from Mister Garlan, we can resolve all of this."

From the beginning, I already knew it. This man's tone grew more uncertain as he explained. But, the most important thing here is the response from the kingdom's leader. What decision will he make in response to my personal desire?

Castelo seemed to let out a long sigh, feeling overwhelmed by the many problems that kept emerging and spreading.

"Alright, I will provide two thousand gold coins, but here I want to offer a condition!" Castelo replied, surprising many with his decision. "Are you willing end to the war between this kingdom and the enemy that has been trying to conquer all these years?"

"As agreed, I will do it, but I didn't expect you to suggest that I get involved to the extent of stopping this war. Are you intending to destroy the enemy down to its roots?" I asked using a piercing gaze. Most people would easily be frightened by it.

However, Castelo who appeared resigned to whatever would happen, lowered his head and intertwined his hands in a strong tremor.

"Yes, what you said is indeed true!" He replied, lifting his gaze. "At this time, the kingdom is crumbling. The continuous two-year war has claimed the lives of many soldiers and left us restless. Only a few thousand soldiers remain, and they will likely only be able to hold out for some months, while our enemy has a large troops."

It was a reasonable source of fear, but I considered it too commonplace. Almost everyone I met would express similar concerns—fear of defeat and a facade of acting for the people.

Then I responded, "Alright, I think this is fair enough. However, agreements are unpredictable. When you seek my help, you must be prepared for the considerable cost it entails."

Castelo nodded. "Of course, we are prepared for this. You don't need to worry; everything that happens will be taken care of!"

This didn't bring me any sense of joy. The warm air pierced my cold skin, and their deep hopes tickled my hands. But it doesn't matter. I don't need to ask many questions here.

__To Be Continued__