Chapter 325 - Giving Warning
"The old rules have changed. So let go of your notions of the power and authority you once held. The sooner you accept it, the better.
As for me.. I will rule over this fiefdom in the way I see fit. So make your choice.
You\'re either with me.. Or you\'re against me." spoke Kahn as his insurmountable pressure cracked the bones in all of their bodies.
"I have already gathered more than enough information about all of you here.
Who made what kind of deals with the elites of the society.. Who swindled what kind of funds using their positions and authority… I know everything.
So all of you have only one week to make a final decision. After that.. Your fate will be sealed.
Because I don\'t want snakes in my house and I\'m not afraid of getting bitten in order to kill them either." he said in his tyrannical voice and delivered his final warning.
But in reality, Kahn didn\'t trust any of them at all. This intimation was something he was doing to succeed in his plans. .
"Except commander Stark, commander Mormont and my subordinates.. All of you, including the royal guards, may leave the hall." he said and lessened his aura to let everyone else move and breathe properly.
Under his orders, everyone else apart from the stated people left the long meeting hall.
"I wonder if you understand why I asked you to stay?" asked Kahn as he gazed at the two old men donned in armors.
The first of them was an old human swordsman while the latter was an old dwarven warrior.
To his question, both the old semi-saints gave him an understanding nod.
Both of them were battle-hardened warriors who understood politics in their field very well.
"We do.. My lord. What you seek from us is complete allegiance." spoke commander Mormont.
"With all due respect.. My lord. Although we know that you mean well…
It\'s still too early for us to pledge our loyalty to you. We\'re not the kind of men who take that word for granted." said commander Starrk.
However, despite their refusal.. Kahn nodded in response and had a content expression on his face.
"As expected of two great commanders who have been serving the Verlassen mountain range for more than three decades." he spoke with a soft smile.
Kahn signaled them to sit down as he sat back on his throne and continued their conversation.
"I won\'t ask you to blindly follow me. What I want you to do is protect your regions as you always have.
I already had my people investigate which commander actually ruled fair and just and cared about saving people\'s lives here. And that is why I have chosen to not make out an enemy of you unlike I did with them." he said and revealed his intentions.
"Just like you, my lord… this is our birthplace. We were born here and we will die here.
And unlike those people in the government and the other semi-saints sent here from the capital… We have a sense of belonging and duty to this region.
Our houses have protected this region even before the Great War when the Imperial Family was overthrown.
Our clans and armies are made from people who live here since birth so it\'s natural that we only seek to better their lives.
These are our people who suffer every year in the end.
If not for us being semi-saints.. Those people from the government and noble factions would\'ve brought some outsiders from the capital and only rule in the name.
The situation is much more dire than you know." spoke commander Mormont.
Kahn nodded at the response from the dwarven semi-saint as he shared his opinions.
"I know. And that\'s why, I will be needing your help and assistance. I was only born and raised here till the age of 5 but you have lived here far longer and know many things that I have no knowledge of.
And since our motives align.. I chose to speak with both of you first." iterated Kahn.
"But unlike before… you don\'t have to rely on those bastards just to get simple things done and protect the lives of our people.
From this moment.. Both of you have my full support." spoke Kahn in a solemn tone.
"Just list everything you need and who are creating obstacles for you.
Who is stealing money and who is controlling the criminal activities.
For now.. Although I don\'t trust you completely either.. I\'ll provide everything in my power to bring stability." spoke Kahn.
Both the semi-saints looked at him with skeptical eyes but still followed through with his commands.
And an hour of discussion, both of them finally left and now, Kahn and his generals were the only people left in this giant meeting hall.
"Master.. What\'s our next move?" asked Omega with a curious tone.
To his query, Kahn let out a chuckle and spoke in a carefree tone.
"Don\'t worry. We have already achieved our first objective." he replied.
"The fish has taken a bait." spoke Kahn and leaned against the royal throne.
Since the very beginning, Kahn\'s aim was to provoke them through his speech as soon as he landed in Aesir. And through his intimidating warnings in the meeting hall, Kahn already made them become wary of him.
And now, he was waiting for them to do something he expected them to do very soon.
He spoke again with an evil grin on his face after successfully completing the first phase of his upcoming plans.
"Now we wait for them to deliver themselves on a silver platter."