The Kingmaker System
Chapter 183 - 182. Devil’s Advocate (3)

Chapter 183: 182. Devil’s Advocate (3)

The trial ended with the accused getting arrested and I quickly turned on my heel after giving Lord Oberon a nod. Grand Duchess met my gaze as I stepped up the stairs, she rose from her spot and joined right behind me as I walked up the stairs ignoring the people who were calling for me.

I and Lady Dahlia exited from the courthouse and got inside the carriage which was ready with Roan at the coach driver’s position.

Roan waited for a while as Lord Oberon and Lord Clive walked out and got inside the carriage as well before we took off. Lady Dahlia sat beside me while Lord Oberon and Lord Clive took seats in front of us.

"Lord Clive, thank you for your help." I spoke making him smile.

"It’s nothing in exchange for what you did for my son, Baron Ocean." He said and I smiled and then looked at Lord Oberon who spoke up with a pointed look.

"I was scared at first when you didn’t show up for the whole hour. I thought I’d lose my head this time."

"It would have been useless and not quite impactful if I had come earlier, My Lord." I said.

"You came late just because you wanted to make it impactful?" He scowled, "What were you going to do if the judgement was passed before you came?"

I chuckled waving my hand, "Don’t worry, Lord Oberon. That trial was progressing at the pace that I wanted, everything was planned and executed accordingly so don’t be anxious about it now."

"Please keep me informed if something like this happens again, Lord Dragon. At one point, I really thought you weren’t coming or..." His gaze met mine, "the Queen had realised about the plan done something to you."

I chuckled, "A snake can be poisonous and deadly all it wants but when it comes to the superior species it has to know its place."

Lord Oberon sighed, "I really thought I was going to lose my head though,"

"It’s fine, it’s fine. Nothing like that happened, right? So, rest assured. If I would have come earlier then it wouldn’t be as dramatic and even the people won’t be as thrilled to see it."

Lord Oberon gave me a look and Lady Dahlia chortled beside me as she leaned ahead.

"You should keep this in mind for future references Lord Oberon that Master Ocean loves dramatic entries. You can trust him to come but not the timing of his arrivals. He likes keeping the people on the edge of their seats."

"Why are you addressing him as Master, Your Highness?" Lord Clive asked.

"Because he is," she said, "Most of the people who have received help from him address him as Master since he takes the place of a Guardian for them."

"Is he like a guardian for you too then?"

She chuckled, "What will you do if I said even the Queen of Mordino addresses him as Master and sees him as her Guardian?"

Both Lord Clive and Lord Oberon stared at her as if she had grown an extra head. I wasn’t quite surprised as I heard that since even in her letters Miri addressed me as Master.

"Pardon? Did you say Queen of Mordino?" Lord Oberon asked.

"His feats are not that well known that’s why, you’re only seeing him as a normal person. Take it as an advice from someone who has seen a hint of his potential, don’t see this man as a normal human being. He’s beyond our perception."

"Now, now, Your Highness, you’re flattering me a bit too much." I said.

"Well, we have seen a bit of that potential this time." Lord Oberon prompted.

"Destroying two allies of the Queen in just a couple of months isn’t something an ordinary person can do." Lord Clive commented.

"You just made it seem quite easy." Lord Oberon said making me shake my head.

"It isn’t quite, if it weren’t for the people who are ready to do anything for my word then I would have had a lot hard time." I said.

"Every single thing had to be calculated quite carefully, including my outfit."

"Speaking of your outfit," Lord Oberon said, "Are you still going to keep that mask on though?"

"It’s fine to remove it since it’s only us, you don’t need to be so shy. I do know you have a really beautiful face, Master Ocean." Lady Dahlia said making me chuckle.

"You don’t want to see the face that I scared the King and Queen with."

The two looked intrigued as I said that and Lady Dahlia turned to look at me with an inquistive gaze.

"Now, I’m even more curious to see it." She said.

"Fine then, don’t blame me if you have nightmares later." I said as I unstrapped my mask and revealed my face.

The three gasped loudly and Lord Clive covered his mouth facing away quickly covering his mouth. Lord Oberon blinked as if trying to wipe out the memory that was burned into his brain while Lady Dahlia just stared at me.

"What did you do to your face, Master Ocean?" She asked.

"It’s the masterpiece created by my maid and Remi."

"Remi? You mean that kid from Mordino who is managing your house right now?" She asked and I nodded.

"I thought I might need to show my face, so just in case, I had asked them to put this on," I explained and put the mask back on to save the gentlemen’s stomachs.

"It’s... really well made." Lord Oberon commented while Lord Clive who couldn’t hold back anymore asked for the carriage to be stopped so that he could puke out his lunch.

Lady Dahlia seemed quite normal even after seeing my horrifying face while the two men were shaken. That would be the difference of seeing the harsh realities of battles on everyday basis and the people who lived their lived in luxury.

"I see a new side of you everyday, it seems." She mumbled.

"Every person has more than one sides of their faces, My Lady. Each person is unique on their own."

"You are quite an indiscernible person of them all though," she concluded.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

We rode back to the Ryujin mansion and from there I went to Oasis Hospital where Zach was getting a treatment.

He must be dying to know what happened at the trial and if his stepbrother was punished or not.

"Stay put, Master will be here soon." I heard Doc’s voice before I entered the ward where Zach was kept.

"I know but I can’t help it, I must know what happened at the trial." I heard Zach’s reply which sounded a bit desperate and anxious.

Just as I thought.

"Peter is very cunning, what if he did something to Baron Ryujin? He’s sided by very strong allies!"

I heard Doc snort at Zach’s subject of concern, "You’re worried that something will happen to Master? Master Ocean is the strongest person in the kingdom, even stronger than those so-called allies of Peter Erkens. I would believe it if someone said they saw elephants fly but not the silly thought of Master getting hurt by the likes of Peter Erkens."

I couldn’t help but smile at Doc’s words as I stood outside closed door of the ward.

"Rest assured, if you’ve put your life in Master’s hands then he will protect you... just like he’s protecting countless people here."

There was a minute pause after Doc’s comment and I wondered if it was the right time to enter when Zach spoke up.

"That’s quite right though, I didn’t even know that he had sent someone to protect me even when I rejected his offer of becoming his ally."

Doc chuckled, "Master never lets a person with potential be sacrificed, he must have known your potential that’s why you’re still here."

"It seems like blood ties aren’t that strong now, one cannot trust their own brother... Peter... didn’t even think twice before sending his attackers at me."

A bitter chuckled followed suit as he added, "Well, he didn’t even hesitate before poisoning our father so... I can not expect anything else."

"... This goes not only for family but also for the men who swear camaraderie," Doc said.

"Sometimes the people with whom you’ve spent years and fought back to back with also betray you... And you keep wondering where you went wrong... At that time, it’s a blessing if someone comes to you and tells you that it wasn’t your fault but the greed of others who chose their desires over you."

I could sense the hint of sadness oozing from Doc’s voice, Zach’s story must have reminded him of his own story. He was a pirate captain who was betrayed by his own crew who took his treasure and his ship before tossing him to his enemies. If I hadn’t found him at that time then he might have become fish food.

I had destroyed his enemy’s ship and all of their crew but Doc’s crewmates managed to escape. He might still have some lingering feelings of bitterness for them but I guess all I could do was wait for the time to stumble upon them again.