The God of Jesters
Chapter 424 - 7.10.1 Ghouls.

Chapter 424: 7.10.1 Ghouls.

The last month we had been eventful for Amir.

Ignoring his activities in Sector 32 among other researchers and Faust, Amir had learned a great deal of things about his fellow young nobles all in order to be ready for the upcoming meeting.

Not the best way to use his precious time, but it was mandatory considering the objective his Grandfather had thrown at him along with cousins who wouldn’t mind killing each other for the throne or whatever their purpose was. In Amir’s eyes, this was all a childish dream of some youngsters that could never come true.

Of course, he thought the same for his good cousin Ludwig. Who remained oblivious to his position and dreamed too big.

But that was life, you have to dream big and strive for it if you hope to come close to your goal. Even if that goal is impossible to achieve. By the time you stop, you will always be in a better position than the time you started.

"Lord, Prince Ludwig is wondering if you would go to the venue with him?" Lavani on the side asked and Amir just shook his head. Going there together would mean that he is completely in Ludwig’s camp, which can cause some misunderstanding.

It’s better if the problematic ones think that Amir can be bought off or be forced away from Ludwig. That way, Amir would be able to lighten some early load as the opponents would be careful to not push him so hard that he really comes under Ludwig.

"There is no need for such a thing. You will drive me there, that’s it." The event that seemed like a small gathering of nobles turned out to be too big in Amir’s eyes.

Even Faust had been made aware of it. A man who didn’t even bother if the war was on the horizon. So the importance of this meeting in Amir’s eye has risen by a level.

As for the attendees? They were mostly the young nobles from Cynark who had too much free time on their hand to do whatever they wanted. While for the older Nobles? Their drive for such parties died due to constant experience with life and death, and such gatherings didn’t interest them. Making the gathering exclusive of the young people who still had a lot to learn.

But as there were three Princes that were coming this year along with two famous Mages, the gathering this time was considered a bit special, which required stronger security than the last Noble gatherings, causing the Military to dispatch Three commander level Knights, while for the Mage Institute to oversee the whole operation considering Two of the main attendees belonged to them.

"Sure sir." It’s why Lavani bowed his head, agreeing with whatever Amir had planned before visiting Ludwig one last time, letting him know of Amir’s decision, which did make the smile on his face pause for a bit before he resumed his usual tirade.

It was also then, finding this as an opportunity, Lavani asked. "Lord was also curious over the layout of the barracks and surrounding Camps, in case there is an ambush."

Hearing such words, Ludwig mused for a bit, before asking. "If he has such worries, then it’s all the more important that she should go there with me."

"I can’t make any decisions for my master, I am just requesting what he asked me to." After a bit of back and forth, Ludwig was tired and gestured Sarlen to hand Lavani the map that is a closely guarded secret for the military.

But this was Amir we were talking about, a fellow Prince. And considering the danger that was a few miles away from them, it wasn’t bizarre for Amir to look for such information in case something bad did happen.

So Ludwig allowed it. To him, this felt natural and on point with Amir’s personality.

Amir had already asked for detailed info on the attendees before, so he didn’t find anything wrong with the information given this time.

’Sector 32 is in the middle of Camp Alpha, Bravo, and the Barracks... so this should hold something useful.’

The map was built by Ludwig using some connections as well as personal experience. Built specifically to leave the camp if it ever gets compromised by the enemies in any shape or form.

Most of the pathways that were drawn on the maps were something that Lavani knew well about, though there were many more that were inaccessible to him due to an identity issue. Then there were some where the identity was not even needed.

’With this, I am closer to leaving this hellhole.’ After conforming some of the details on the map, Lavani visited Amir after he was done with his work in Sector 32 and informed him of his meeting with Ludwig, before leaving once again and waiting for tomorrow.

*****

The next morning Amir woke up as usual and got ready for the meeting.

There were no servants in his room, nor any guards at his door. He lived just like any other soldier with the added benefit of a personal room and nothing else.

It would be harder for people to even think of him as royalty, or so they might have thought if not for his current clothes that exuded luxury and a hint of dangerous aura.

’I hate gaudy clothes like this.’ A simple Kameez lined with countless runic characters that added a level of protection to Amir’s body.

Followed by a Coat that added physical protection due to the leather it was made with. If they were to know the kind of clothes Amir was wearing, they might think that he was going to war. And the truth was not so far from this.

But this war was mostly a battle of minds, or so he hoped. Otherwise, things might get ugly in there. And if things were to go that way, then it would be a drag to solve them.

"Is General Vera sending any guards on our way there?’ Opening the door and turning Lavani Speechless with his looks, Amir asked a simple question. Which took Lavani a bit to properly respond to.

"No, I haven’t been made aware of such ascription. Should I go and request for it?"

"There is no need, I asked just in case.’ Amir stopped Lavani. His reasons for asking was simple.

If General Vera had sent someone, he would have denied their help on the spot as bringing soldiers who worked under General Vera would have caused many questions to arise among the nobles.

To the Nobles, he was just a very talented Prince who attracted the goodwill of the General, nothing more.

And he should be nothing more, at least for a while.

*****

Their travel started early morning and in three hours they were at the Barracks, where General Vera was. But this was not their destination. Their destination was the city that the Barracks protected.

Usually, the checkpoints would barely take a minute or so to pass, but today, something odd was going on.

’??’ Looking out of the Jeep, Amir with his ID in the face of the guard asked. "Why such delay, I believe you should be aware of where I am going?" Speaking in a cold tone that caused the soldier to sweat, Amir walked out of his jeep as he saw a couple of more Jeeps arriving at the same checkpoint.

However, the occupants of these jeeps didn’t seem that important from the aura they carried. Not to mention the arrogance where they snickered at Amir for having next to no attendants next to him and wearing clothes that appeared too simple in their eyes.

Of course, none of them dared to speak a word, as they might be foolish, but they were not so foolish to antagonize a stranger whose identity they couldn’t be sure of.

Who knows if it’s someone at a higher rank than them?

But for the soldiers next to Amir? There was no need to keep any hint of civility for the commoner soldier. "Once again... do you know how delayed we have gotten due to you?" he screamed at the soldier, causing the soldier to drop his head down further in fear.

Of course, this might be the case with him, but his superior who also guarded the checkpoint calmed the nobles who seemed jumpy for obvious reasons, and explained the issue. "There had been some sightings of Ghouls scurrying around the border, we only stopped you as our crew is doing a cleanup operation ahead."

Hearing those words, Amir’s face collapsed. "Ghouls so close to barracks? Are the checkpoints so worthless now that even an animal can walk past them?" Amir asked, showing some disappointment with the security of this nation of his.

Followed by the fools that stood behind him, who had turned worried after hearing about the ghouls. But as Amir spoke his words, the arrogance was back on their face, as they blamed the soldiers for their negligence.

But Amir didn’t stop them, he didn’t intend to stop them.

"Commander, this is no fault of ours. The ghouls got in so close due to the tunnels they dug, it’s what the cleaners have been looking for so long." The explanation was simple enough and those who understood how Ghouls lived also understood what a Ghoul tunnel signified.

But Amir didn’t speak much after it, his silence was enough to tell the soldier that he understood what he meant, but he wouldn’t be speaking about it in the open.