Chapter 199: An obvious trap, a generation of pain
To [The Zhen Clan],
You have been cordially invited to the Wolfe family estate to celebrate the return of our beloved Grand Elder from his trip across the Alloy Republic.
Food and drink will be provided, please leave any weapons and/or ill intentions at your respective domicile and/or houses.
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“Welp, I’m ninty percent sure this is a fucking trap and a half…divide and conquer thy name is thee…who wants to come along?”
“A captive audience? I’m game.”
“I’ll stay and keep their eyes on the protos and the other clan members.”
“I’ll…go…”
“Balanced…game on.”
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In the meeting room of the Zhen Clan estate, Zhen Shi and his sons were looking over the invite, several levels of disdain and distate plain on their faces.
“A welcome back party? And in the same week as her death anniversary? What cruel joke is this,” Zhen Shi said with an angry sigh as he looked over the invite, “now I know this is a conspiracy.”
“Father, what should we do?,” Zhen Long asked, “Do we refuse the invitation? Do we get revenge?”
After several weeks of investigating, making use of the confession of a certain cowardly would-be thief, the Zhen Clan could now come to a reasonable conclusion that Moka had been a plant from the Wolfe Family, more specifically, a spy planted by the Grand Elder of the Wolfe Family.
And now he was back as an Aether Lord.
“Etiquette dictates that we cannot refuse such invitation from another family such as the Wolfes. It would only bring dishonor to ourselves to turn down such an invitation of surface merriment.”
“Hang the etiquette!,” Zhen Xi exclaimed while slamming a palm against the table, “You all heard the rumors, that old mutt has broken through to Aether Lord rank! The Wolfe family’s been aiming to take over Stone Claw City for years and they have been sabotaging us and the other families for years in order to make us heel. Can none of you see this is a trap?!”
“Calm down Zhen Xi! ,” Zhen Hou shouted back, “We’re well aware that they’re using this party as an excuse to declare dominion over the city, but what can we do about it?! It takes at least three Grandmasters to hold down a Lord and we only have father and maybe the Grand Digger but that isn’t enough, especially if the Corradas get involved!”
“Exactly! Then why should we stick around and possibly die?! I say we bail out of this city and go elsewhere”
“Run from a fight?!”
“You cowardly pig!”
“And run to where exactly? It took us years to establish our place here in Stone Claw. If we leave, we’ll be leaving everything behind. We can’t afford to do that! Not with a fucking wedding around the corner!”
“Enough!,” the patriarch shouted while slamming a palm on the table, making the loudest show of force so far. The elders, his son, quieted down once they heard their father’s palm.
“The…’celebration’ isn’t until next week. Instead of complaining, I suggest we all get back to business as usual and maybe find a way to break through ourselves. Zhen Long, Zhen Jin, Zhen Yan, last I checked, you three were still at the fifth ring, correct?”
“Yes father.”
“In that case, I want you three to go talk to our new alchemist, see if he knows any recipes that can help you three breakthrough, or at least raise your power temporarily. As for the rest of you, return to business as usual, but have plans in place in the event we need to evacuate. I want plans proposed by tonight. Understood?”
“Yes father!”
“Good. Dismissed.”
The elders made their way out of the room and into separate parts of the estate, formulating their own plans about how to deal with the upcoming events. Once they had all left the room, Zhen Shi proceeded to slouch back into a chair, his muscles twitching with tension and burdened by all sorts of stress.
“Ai… I’m not even sure if I can break through in time for this party. Lotus flower, what do you think we should done. Should we have bailed the moment we saw that letter?”
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Exterior: A certain apothecary’s alleyway.
The old man sat and waited for the arrival of his co-conspirator, awaiting good news. Well…news that was good for him at least.
A moment later, the side door to the apothecary opened, the young lady arriving with a serious look on her face.
Young Lady: It’s done. You should be hearing a funerary procession in three days time.
Old Man: Three days? What kind of poison did you add?
Young Lady: A good apothecary never shares their secrets, but I can say this. All medicines are poisons, in the right dosage.
Old Man: Ah…I get your meaning.
Young Lady: It also give me insurance that you’ll keep your end of the bargain. Plenty of time to send a messenger and warn them of a “mishap”.
Now then, are you going to keep your end of the deal?
Old Man: Young lady, I am a man of my word and our family always settle their debts. Just tell me where and when she’ll be.
Young Lady: Tomorrow night is the full moon, that when she leaves to gather a particular herb that grows in the vicinity of an abandoned aether mine north of the city.
Old Man: A full moon at an abandoned mine? Why a place like that would absolutely be lousy with a myriad of ways one can end up having an…accident.
Young Lady: Why yes. Yes it can.
Having confirmed the deal and the events that were about to take place, the old man left the alleyway while the young lady returned to the inside of her apothecary.
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Interior: Apothecary
The woman who owned the shop was keeping stock of her herbs, making sure that nothing was missing or askewed. She could have left such a task to her subordinates, but something like this she could only trust with her own eyes.
As she kept counting, a side door opened, revealing that it was the young lady entering. Noticing the arrival, the woman paused from her count.
Woman: “Ah, daughter of mine, would you mind watching the shop tomorrow? We’re out of Moon Drop Leaves so I’ll have to go pick some new ones tomorrow.”
Young Lady: “Of course, mother. Whatever you need.”
