Chapter 1031: Accidental Inheritance, Night time Scouting
‘Logos, Pathos. What?’
<=Give us a minute..=>.
Incidently, Zhen Hai wasn’t the only one deeply confused about Tortallion’s words.
If Zhen Hai had any kaijin power on his person, it should’ve been due to Screamira tagging along in his head not some inheritance thing from a passed kaijin.
Thankfully Logos and Pathos had an answer this time.
=Milord, we ran the numbers and did a full body evaluation using Screamira as the main observer.=
‘And…’
‘Ah. That’s good…I think.’
=The “bad” news is, he does actually have remnants of Grand Fang on his person.=
‘Huh? How?’
<=We're not sure, but we're starting to think your great grandaunt might be lying about their connection with the Storm Knights...=>
…
<
At this statement though, Tortallion took a long look at Zhen Hai before explaining why he said what he said.
<[That shark tooth club of yours. Mind if I see it?]>
<
From his back, Zhen Hai drew the [Shark Fang of the Berserker], the shark tooth club aether treasure that he received from the Zhen Clan’s vaults.
Ever since he got it, Zhen Hai had been training and using it non-stop due to how damn compatible with his aether. Hell, even when Zhen Liu did the funky thing to his brain and gave him new means of expressing his aether, it still was compatible with it.
If such a thing actually belonged to someone as dangerous sounding as “Grand Fang” though…that would explain some of the quirks.
<[Hmm...]>
Tortallion walked up and stared at the Gold tier aether treasure for a couple of a moments before taking a finger and tapping one of the teeth on the club’s edge. When he did, a strange chiming echo filled the throne room.
The sound caused everyone to listen to it to enter a small daze, but only for a couple of moments. However, once their senses got back into focus, they were all shocked at the new sight that had greeted them.
“What in the-HOLY SHIT!”
<
<
<
<[Been a while, old friend...]>
Floating above Zhen Hai’s head was the vague form of a large shark man, covered head to toe in armored plating, with a large bastard sword strapped to his back.
To the Zhen Clan delegates, they were shocked to see such a sight floating above Zhen Hai’s head. Well, most of them were. Zhen Liu had been warned ahead of time, but he made sure to act surprised to keep up appearances.
…
‘So…that’s Grand Fang…holy shit.’
[Damn, he is huge!,] Razorstella commented. [I think he can give Frosttusk a run for his money in sheer muscle mass.]
[Wait, that weapon is definitely an aether treasure right? So how can it…do that?,] Screamira asked.
[I think it’s the tooth. One of the teeth on the club belonged to Grand Fang,] Blazejudicator guessed. [Is that right?]
<=More or less, yes.=>
[A perfect picture of furious chivalry…damn,] Nepherage couldn’t help but say in admiration.
…
The Undertow Council was just absolutely flabbergasted at this point in time, since it appeared that the Zhen Clan wasn’t just involved with one of their former guardians, but two of them. It was at this point that they realized Tortallion had good reason to let them into Undertow.
As for Tortallion…he was just happy.
Happy to see an old friend again, even in this state, several hundred years later. Even if it was just another ghost of his past.
Eventually though, all things had to come to an end, and the ghostly visage of the shark-like knight disappeared as quickly as it came.
Of course, the mark it left on everyone’s mind remained. Especially in Zhen Hai’s case, who was still staring at his sharktooth club in disbelief.
<
<[Alright, that's enough of that,]> Tortallion said as he placed a hand on Zhen Hai’s shoulder, patting on it twice. <[You take care in learning how to use that fang of yours. My old friend used to be able to break apart tsunamis with just a tooth. Maybe yours can still do that.]>
With those ominous words, Tortallion redirected his attention towards the whole room.
<[Undertow Council. Have you come to a decision about the Zhen Clan's proposal or do you need a night to think about it?]>
<
<[Very well...Zhen Clan delegation. Is it safe to assume that neither you nor your men have accommodations in the city?]>
<
<[In that case...Terra?]>
<[Yes, Sir Tortallion?]>
“What the-”
“All of these sudden appearances cannot be good for my heart.”
As soon as the name, “Terra”, left Tortallion’s mouth, a woman with swirling black tattoos, an extended mouth with external teeth and a black ponytail appeared out of nowhere, already kneeling with her fist on the ground like a ninja.
…
‘Of course there were more.’
[Hold up….why is this girl giving me the same feeling as those Strangeblood guys from the swamps?]
[Because…I think she’s one too, but with significantly stronger kaijin ancestry.]
[She reminds me of an electric eel…]
‘I’m worried about the lack of stealth detection on this…gonna need a tracker at some point…’
…
<[Councilmen, I hope none of you mind, but I'm in particularly good mood today. As such, I'm going to make use of the guests wings of the castle for the delegates,]> Tortallion declared. <[Terra, would you mind leading them to their quarters for the evening?]>
<
With politeness and grace, Terra lifted herself from the ground and gestured for the Zhen Clan to follow her.
<
<
<[A general who cares for her troops, always a good thing to see,]> Tortallion commented. <[Councilors?]>
<
<
<
<
<
With the issue of additional losing taken care of, the Zhen Clan delegates made their exit from the castle’s throne room and followed Terra to the guest wing.
The Undertow Council was silent as the Zhen Clan delegation left…but Zhen Liu could hear them mumbling in Chaos tongue.
…
[Two inheritors from the same clan? A clan that we were enemies with, no less?]
[How can this be?]
[Is this a trick?]
[I don’t know…]
…One short walk to a surprisingly lavish guest wing later…
“Oi, Xiao Liu, you got a minute?”
“Even if I said no, you’d walk in, yes?”
“You know me so well, grand nephew.”
At this point in time, the Zhen Clan delegates had disbanded for the evening to sleep and unwind in the privacy of the Storm Castle’s guest hall. It was a surprisingly lavish affair, but there was something about the rooms that felt…off. Not that any of them could provide an inkling as to why this was the case.
Regardless, as Zhen Liu was in the middle of turning in for the evening, Zhen Xun Tian had barged in to make a request of Zhen Liu.
One that was aligned with his innate talents, no less.
“Tell me, what do you think of our hosts? The people of Undertow and that kaijin, Tortallion?”
“Tortallion I trust to be as chivalrous as he carries himself to be. As for the people…they seem fine, mistrustful as all hell but I think that’s a consequence of being isolationists.”
“Fair observation…so do you have any qualms about sending in your ‘special puppet’s to go and spy on them and the rest of the city?”
“Funnily enough…I had already sent them out prior to your arrival.”
“Ah…well, that’s a pleasant surprise,” Zhen Xun Tian said with genuine surprise. “I figured you’d be hesitant due to wanting to leave a good impression.”
“Why I am leaving a good impression,” Zhen Liu said with a sweet tone of voice. “I’m just sitting here while others do dirty work.”
