The Golden Throne

"Wait what?", Liu Feng was shocked. He did not expect this sudden decision by the kings. he glanced at the students.

They were as shocked as he was.

"Weren't we supposed to be training or something for the next few days? Well, whatever. We just go to the front lines and take care of who comes at us.", Lester told Brooks.

Liu Feng shook his head. "If this is what the students think the demons are going to be, then we clearly have a big problem.", he thought to himself. He walked out of the tent to look at what was happening. There were a bunch of people who were walking all around the tents and giving these announcements. 

He also heard a lot of chatter, but this was all normal considering the weight of this decision. As recruits, they were not prepared to do something like go to war after just a few days of normal drills. Liu Feng even thought that this was too hasty a decision.

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In the War Room

"Fine. I was hasty. But it is necessary. I have reports that the demon army is increasing as we speak, and training the recruits and the students aren't going to help much. We need to take concrete action and who knows? After we go to war, they will learn through trial and error, and seeing the things that normal soldiers face.", Liu Man said, as he was confronted by Damascus and Balor.

"If you keep taking decisions on your own, I think that this alliance is useless.", Balor shook his head.

"Oh please. I only told Liu Feng to get you into the alliance because I knew that your kingdom would collapse if it faced the demons alone. Only together can we face a force this big.", Liu Man said.

Clap! Clap!

"Good. You know this right. Ironic coming from the one who knows least about the demons. Then why the hell are you taking so many decisions on your own?", Damascus said.

"What do you mean? Do you think that this decision was easy to me? I have a causality. Some disgruntled soldier or recruit killed a Marquis. There is unrest among the higher officials because of the fact that the soldier has a gun, and can kill any of them. But still, I let that go because this got the soldiers in a higher morale than ever before. Even better than after winning this city.", Liu Man said.

"That only shows how lax you were and that you were unable to keep your constituents on a leash. To think that the army would celebrate the death of a senior officer. Pathetic. If someone like that was in my army, he would be beheaded immediately.", Damascus spat out.

"This isn't a discussion about how my nobles did something wrong. It is on how we must proceed. We will be leaving tomorrow. All the soldiers had indeed made sure that they were in proper shape, and they conducted drills in cooperation with your soldiers, and they're in good shape. We will be leaving and that is final.", Liu Man said.

"What about the students? The recruits? What will the recruits even do? They know nothing.", Balor asked.

"We will have them carry all the supplies, and we will have a few of them in the front lines with armour and shields. They were brought in as cannon fodder anyway, why not use them as such.", Liu Man shrugged.

"It is this disregard for other's life that I hate about you humans.", Damascus said as he turned around and looked through the window. There were soldiers moving around. Clearly, the newest announcement hit everyone.

"There is nothing I can do that will ever change your perception of humans. You are just impossible to please.", Liu Man shook his head. 

"Tomorrow, Goerge will be giving the instructions to all the soldiers on what to do. To the recruits as well as the students. Do not worry, I have prepared for this well.", Liu Man said.

"You are dodging the subject of the conversation again!.", Balor slammed on the table in front of them. "This is about trust. About respect. About whether or not the alliance shall remain."

"Alright. I will inform you about the decisions that I will take in the future. Now, I have some things to do.", Liu Man conceded and he brisked out of the world.

"Damascus. There is something very strange about Liu Man. I cannot place it, but I just want to make sure that he won't back stab us."

"This is a war that will determine our survival. He definitely won't backstab us.", Damascus chuckled as he left the room as well.

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In Liu Man's room

Liu Man entered the room and closed the door. He closed the drapes of the windows. There was no one else in the room. Then, he took out the black pendant on his neck.

His expression turned eerily dark.

"I have instructed the army to keep moving as you have instructed.", he said with a solemn voice.

"Good. The recruits will not be a problem right?", the pendant buzzed all of a sudden.

"No, they will not. They are just villagers that have become cannon fodder. They will serve your purpose. And as for the Dragon King, he has seemingly left the camp, and will only join the last fight.", Liu Man reported.

"Have you found the reason for his early appearance?"

"Not yet.", Liu Man replied.

"Well then. I have one last thing for you to do."

"Forgive me. The kings have already almost broken off the alliance because of what I did. It will be difficult to influence them any further."

"I see. Well then. We shall see how this shall progress. Let us hope that all you have done in the past shall work out for the best.", the pendant started vibrating more furiously.

"Of course. Why else do you think I made sure that all the good students in the kingdoms died before they matured? All will help the final cause.", Liu Man smiled.

"All will help the final cause. Hail the true king."

"Hail the true king.", Liu Man let go of the pendant. It swung back to place, and Liu Man covered it with his clothing.

"Well, let us hope that all of this works out. I have sacrificed way too much.", he sighed as he fell onto the bed.

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