The God of Jesters
Chapter 412 - 7.06.4 Beetle attack.

Chapter 412: 7.06.4 Beetle attack.

"Drag the truth out of him on your own and don’t depend on me for it."

Deimos was going to use this Prince named Ludwig as a test for Amir.

His grandson might be exceptional in many aspects, but where he loses is the interpersonal relationship, and lacks any worthwhile subordinates that can do his bidding. And as it’s in the Royal family, It’s not always the Knights of other noble families that can become your subordinates, but even your own blood can be recruited.

It’s a sign of capability and as it stands, no one in this world can fight on their own. You need to look for help, make alliances and even destroy others in the pursuit of your goal if some simpletons dared to stop you.

As for the fact that Ludwig was a pawn of Jester or at least influenced by him? Deimos didn’t care about this much, now that he was aware, he knew who and where to look for. Although it’s common knowledge that countless princes might carry the same hope, Deimos knew how to differentiate the ones who might have been potentially influenced by Jester and those who were not.

But all of that had nothing to do with Amir.

"Am I to be a General or a Lord?" Amir wondered, as fighting and leading an army, he knew the value in it. He knew why he was being in such skills and the hopes his grandfather initially had for him.

But from asking him to take Ludwig, a man with tall ambitions under him. That was different. He was a nerd whose social skills were crushed under the bullying he suffered in his youth. Now he barely values such relationships to begin with.

"The two are one and the same and I believe you would appreciate someone like that boy who can help you manage certain annoying things while you focus on your hobbies." Hearing his Grandfather’s response, he had to turn silent and contemplate.

Although the responsibilities of a Lord and a General differed, the fact remained the same they were positions of power with high requirements in leadership skills. And Amir would appreciate someone who can carry on his burden in times of need.

"I will see to it." Amir nodded his head in agreement while having no idea how he was going to accomplish such a goal.

From what he understood of Ludwig, there was little chance Amir would succeed.

Ludwig was the kind of guy who dreamed of the seat of the Emperor, it’s rare for someone of his kind to come under anyone, more so someone like Amir who had no background or political presence in Cynark at all.

He was a nobody with no value. So why would someone like Ludwig bother t come under him?

*****

Leaving the secret chambers under General Vera’s office and then nodding his head to General Vera, who was enjoying his electric fan, Amir left the scene without much dialog with the old General.

He knew that if good days were to continue with Faust, he had to fulfill the requirements that his grandfather had put forward.

’Can’t live in peace.’ He went ahead and met with Lavana, who was in his usual spot as always, right next to him.

"I want you to go and arrange a meeting with Prince Ludwig... Three days from now should do." With Hemant’s problem behind him, Amir felt lighter and could see a clearer picture that he hadn’t been able to do so before.

The bait that Ludwig threw at him, Amir chose to bite it. He is going to enter a cooperative relationship with this cousin of his and do what this cousin of his asks him to do.

*****

Since coming out of General Vera’s office, Lavana Centi noticed the oddity of his master.

He appeared a bit happier. This sounded odd considering this was the very same Amir who rarely bothered to show his emotions and usually kept it to himself, but usually failed due to all the marks son his forehead and stern look which made it obvious that he was worried and stressed over something.

Such a look became the reason why Amir, having little to no existence among the normal soldiers, still ended up earning the nickname of Monk Prince. Which sounded kinder on paper, but held nothing but contempt for Amir, who appeared to have a holier-than-thou attitude on his face.

But now?

That stern look was gone.

"As you say, Lord." Lavana bowed his head and left Amir to his happiness.

He might not know what happened in General Vera’s office, nor did he care. As the time has come for the thing Lavana had been waiting for all this time. It was time for him to visit this other Prince, who appeared to hold a much higher position than Amir in the barracks. But he was still a Prince all the same.

He hated him as well and wished to kill him like Lavana wished to do to the whole Noble bloodlines. But for now, he has to hold in his bloodlust and approach Ludwig in a subservient manner.

For Ludwig was not only Amir’s goal, but Lavana’s as well.

Ludwig was the only one who could get his hands on the blueprints for the barracks. He was the only one he could depend on for this matter.

’Hopefully, Amir didn’t call him to start a fight.’

"I would like an audience with Commander Ludwig." Lavan bowed and entered the camp where Ludwig was dealing with some papers without much of an issue.

Ludwig had been waiting for this moment for a long time, for which he had put many eyes on Amir’s movement, so he as well as his men were well aware of who Lavana was. They even went as far as to dig out Lavana’s history, knowing how pathetic this man used to be. But for some reason, he was able to become Amir’s subordinate.

’Interesting.’ And this was the first time Ludwig had seen this man in person.

And Before Lavana can speak a word. Ludwig smiled and said. "You are a woman, aren’t you?"

******

"The World is an interesting place, don’t you think?"

"Not interesting, it’s a painful one. I wish for it to end."

"Not interesting, it’s a boring one. I wish for it to become wonderful."

"Not interesting, it’s a predictable one. I wish for it to turn chaotic."

"Not interesting, it’s bleak."

One question four answers. That was the current state of me.

"Oh god of Inspiration. Inspire the ignorant ones."

"Oh god of Entertainment. Help our circus troop."

"Oh God of...’

And then there were these chaotic whispers, who came and went. Making it harder for me to concentrate.

"Just what is going on," I spoke through four of my heads, but none of the heads could actually answer this question.

This was a dilemma that I had to break out of.

’These anchors can be considered the lines of faith that had dug into my skin.’

The three requirements for a totem. I now know what they are.

The First was the easiest, the requirement of immortality, or just a long-lived species, which I fulfill due to my undead state.

The Second was Followers, which I fulfilled due to the little covers I used to use. Accumulating followers in many different parts of the world, resulting in the current me.

As for the third and last one?

It was the will of the world, which was the most esoteric and hard to fulfill. But if you succeed in earning the right, you can be sure of one thing. ’Am I needed in this world?’ I wondered, looking around the area.

From what I can understand, these four heads signify the four aspects of whom I am.

The Rat, the Jester, the faceless, and the Druid. And the last one was Druid, which was a tad bit dangerous considering that such a mask was never worn by me nor did I ever hold any skills or knowledge in this department.

And the only one I can think of where this aspect of mine comes from is Krotal’s body, the bloodline of Max.

’My soul, it’s been influenced by whatever is in that blood.’ I knew that things wouldn’t be simple when playing with the blood of a dead god. And now I see the results of it.

That blood has corrupted my soul to a higher degree than I could have ever imagined.

If not for this weird totem transformation, I would have never learned of such a deep level of corruption.

But no worries, this was to be expected when I chose to play with fire. "Ho, you succeeded in a month’s time? This was probably the fastest I have ever seen someone achieve ascension."

"Lord Emotion, you kept watch over me all this while?"

"Of course, why won’t I? I can’t have you die so easily... not after your ascension brought you under the scrutiny of someone interesting."

"Hmm?" As I wondered what Lord Emotion was talking about. I felt a tight pain in my chest before I opened my eyes to the real world and saw something absurd right in front of my eyes. "This?"

A beetle the size of a cat had sat on my chest, ready to crush my neck with its large pinchers. "Oh, seems like one slipped into reality."

A laugh came as I hurriedly caught the pinchers of the beetle between my hands, stopping it from crushing my head.

But was it the lack of food this past month or water? Whatever it was, I lacked the energy or any muscle mass to speak of. Barely holding the beetle’s pincers at bay before I activated my bloodline.