The Kingmaker System-Chapter 396 - 395. Preparing For The Counter Attack (2)

After breakfast, the Lords departed for their respective residences, leaving the hall quiet once more. I, however, found my steps leading me toward Kai’s room. He had looked tense all throughout the meal—his smiles were there, yes, but too polished... too forced.

I knocked twice before quietly pushing the door open.

Kai stood near his desk, carefully arranging books into his satchel. The soft rustling of pages was the only sound that filled the room.

"Master," he acknowledged, his voice gentle but distant.

I walked over, halting a step behind him.

"Are you still troubled by what I said at breakfast?" I asked. frёewebnoѵēl.com

He paused for a moment, fingers lingering on the spine of a book, then resumed his packing—though slower than before.

"I’m fine," he said, not meeting my eyes.

But he wasn’t. I could tell. That air of calm around him was paper-thin, and the weight on his shoulders... too heavy for someone his age.

"You don’t need to worry, Kai," I said, my voice calm.

Still, he remained quiet, his lips pressed into a thin line.

I sighed, stepping forward and gently placed my hands on his shoulders, turning him to face me. He didn’t resist.

"What is it?" I asked softly, searching his eyes. "You’ve been like this for days. You’re pushing yourself too hard, staying up late, overtraining... I can see it."

His eyes welled with unspoken emotion, and he looked as if he were holding back tears.

"Won’t you tell me, Kai?" I asked, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Whatever it is that’s eating at you, please... let me carry some of it."

He trembled slightly before I could even finish.

I pulled him into my arms without waiting for a reply. He didn’t resist, just leaned into me, wrapping his arms around my waist as though afraid to let go. I felt him sniffle against my chest, his breathing uneven.

I didn’t speak. I just held him.

The world outside was already beginning to shift—the internal war’s shadow was looming, threats creeping closer—but in this room, I wanted him to know there was still a place where he didn’t have to be strong.

I closed my eyes for a moment, my chin resting lightly on his hair.

I’ll shield you, no matter what it takes. But please, Kai... trust me enough to let me in.

There was a knock on the door and I turned my head finding Lyall opening the door.

"Master, the leaders of the security teams are here." He informed me while looking at Kai and me.

"All right, I’ll be there." I said and he bowed before he gave us one more glance and then left.

Kai stepped away wiping his face while I searched for his eyes. I kept holding his shoulders for a while before I sighed.

"Tell me when you feel like it, all right?" I said and he nodded.

I ruffled his hair softly and walked towards the door, "I’ll send you second guard before you set out so wait here with Asher."

He looked at me with his bloodshot eyes before nodding again and I left his room.

I made my way towards the training ground behind my mansion and opened the back doors to find the exact twenty people outside all dressed in black assassin’s outfits apart from my mansion’s personnel.

All of them stood in four rows facing the other side where Lyall, Enora, Remi and Roan stood, and turned simultaneously as I arrived.

I walked past them and stood in the front facing them. They kneeled at once. Each of the underworld city and the residence had two teams for protection and these two leaders had the teams of twenty trained assassins under them.

"Greetings, Master!" The merged voices reverberated in the surroundings.

I crossed my arms at my chest as I observed them all.

"At ease," I said and they stood back up facing me.

"Have any of you had any disturbances in these past two weeks?" I asked.

Alyssa, the leader of the security team stationed in Herot raised her hand.

"Yes, Master. We found around four infiltrators who tried to break into the information guild." She said.

"Even we had some arsonists who tried to set some shops in Syndrill ablaze." Yugo said.

It seemed like almost all of them had the experience of infiltration.

"Have you caught anyone alive?" I asked and some shook their heads.

"I tried to," Slater said, "but he poisoned himself and died before I could ask him anything."

"Same with me." Alyssa said pushing her olive green hair behind her ear.

"More will come from hence that’s why I summoned you all here." I announced making them all to tense up.

"Well... It’s not like we haven’t had such nuisances before." One of them said and I shook my head.

"This is a full blown thing now, the Golden Serpent won’t hold back and her targets will be each place that’s affiliated with me, then may it be the underworld cities, Oasis, Sylvanreach or even my home. I want you all to be alert at all times that you are in your areas. If you feel someone is suspicious capture them or eliminate them." I instructed and the assassins stood straight in front of me.

"Yes, Master!" Their response made the air tremble.

"Good, also, I don’t want any unnecessary sacrifices so, try not to lose, if there any trouble call for back up immediately and focus on protecting instead of offense. Do you all understand?"

"Yes, Master!"

I looked at Ryujin’s personnel for a moment before I gave some more instructions to the security teams.

"I hope you won’t do anything that would make me come for you so, do your duties properly. This will last for a while and I know it will be hard that’s why you are all allowed to rely on each other and even on me at times so, don’t let anyone through our defenses. Got it?" I asked.

"Yes, Master!"

"Any questions?" I asked and no one spoke anything.

"Good, if you have any questions go through with Lyall and remember whatever I told you." I said.

"Yes, Master!"

"All right. Teams Dismiss!" I spoke loudly.

The twenty men and women kneeled before me for a moment before they all rushed away.

I watched them all disperse and then looked at the leaders of my household’s security.

"Lyall, I’m changing your position for the time being. You will be stationed in Aurelius along with your family if they want to go along."

"I’d like to go alone, Master." Lyall said and I observed his determined expression.

"All right," I nodded and then looked at the rest three.

"Enora, you are in charge of the security team here. Roan, my office is in your hands and Remi, assist them and make sure they don’t overwork and also keep an eye on the surroundings. If anything happens report to me immediately, if I’m not around." I instructed them.

"Yes, Master." They responded and I sighed before I pulled out the teleportation device.

"Where are you going, Master?" Enora asked.

"I am arranging one more guard for Kai, I have to go pick them up." I said before I casted the teleportation spell.

The light disappeared and I opened my eyes looking at the forest in front of me. I started walking feeling the eyes on me, I walked a bit ahead and then stopped hiding behind a huge tree as I saw two figures dressed as assassins hurrying forth looking for me.

"Looking for me?" I asked as I appeared behind them and used my Frost magic to freeze their bodies before they could make any move.

Their whole bodies stayed frozen leaving only their eyes, I stepped ahead facing them and their terrified eyes widened as they saw me.

"Feast on the view, this is the face of the person who’s going to drag your Master through the mud." I said and then looked around.

I let out a shrill whistle and four assassins from my team landed around me within the time span of two minutes.

"Master?" They all kneeled.

"Stuff some cloth in their mouths and take them to Ryujin. Tell Lyall I caught them snooping around, he’ll know what to do." I instructed and they nodded before they walked over to the frozen assassins who were grunting to free themselves or rather to grab the poison that was in the capsule around their necks. I reached out and snatched those capsules making their eyes grow even more terrified.

"You’re not dying easy after getting caught by me." I smirked before I turned and walked ahead towards the forest.

I looked at the two capsules before putting them in the pockets of my coat and made my way towards Eldarf.

The Elves and Dwarves noticed my presence instantly as I appeared in the clearing and they rushed out as usual. They all jumped on me as usual and I held them feeling their love and affection.

In this place, they were far, far away from anything that was going on int he world. And I hated it but they couldn’t stay here in this sheltered environment for long, I hadn’t trained them to let them stay in this place.

"Sylvia?" I called and the said girl looked up at me with a smile.

"I want to talk to you," I said and she tilted her head.

I sent all the kids inside except for Sylvia.

"What is it, Master?" She asked.

"I have a favor to ask." I said and she chuckled.

"Master, you’re our God, God never asks for favors, just give me the command." She said and I pursed my lips.

"I want you to accompany Kai for some time. I can’t tell you how long but for that time, you couldn’t leave him alone. It might be dangerous." I said and her playful expression faltered before a firm smile took its place.

"Is it already the time then?" She smirked.

"Yes, and I want you beside Kai to assure his safety. Can you do that?" I asked and she chuckled.

"You don’t need to ask, Master. Kai is important for all of us, I’ll lay my life to protect him."

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