Second World

"When will this election tourney take place?" Jack asked.

"Five days from now, at Mjiku Maba. The main city that used to be controlled by the Raretooh tribe," Four Winds answered. "Once we win the tourney, we will be the one in control of that city."

"Control?"

"Verremor Nation's highest ruling body was the council comprised of ten tribes. So, you can see it as ten separate parties united to share control of the country. In the past, it was even said that the country's name was the United Tribes of Verremor," Water Lily explained. "Each of these ten tribes controls a region, with their seat of power inside the main cities. There are a total of eleven main cities in Verremor."

'Same number as Themisphere,' Jack thought.

"Each tribe controls one main city. For the eleventh, the capital, Magna Masat. It was where the grand chief resides after he was elected from one of the ten ruling tribes."

"So, the tribe who got their leader elected as the grand chief, hold control of two main cities instead of just one," Jack surmised.

"That's correct," Four Winds said. "But our objective now is to win the authority for one main city first."

"From the way you talk, you are aiming for the grand chief position as well?" Jack asked.

"A man has to dream for the highest position! That's how one is worth to be called a man!" Four Winds exclaimed.

'Ugh, is this guy mocking me?' Jack said in his mind. He had become a sovereign due to incidents, not by his own will. The thought of ruling never even crossed his mind in the past.

"Back to my earlier question, what can I help you with?" Four Winds repeated his question.

"I need a favor to get close to the grand chief," Jack answered.

"Damnit. Are you trying to use me for a chance to assassinate him?" Four Winds asked.

"What? No! Why do you think I will do that?"

"Well. You are the king of an enemy kingdom, which was recently invaded by this nation. Anyone will think that you are going for retaliation. What better payback than killing the leader of this nation?"

"I guess that makes sense," Jack smiled wryly. "That's why I can't request an audience through formal means. I've already tried, my messenger was chased out at first sight. I need to get to the grand chief in another way. I heard about this election tourney and I heard that your guild is participating. That's why I come to ask for your help."

"Hm... What do you want with the grand chief?" Four Winds asked.

"I want to negotiate peace between Themisphere and Verremor," Jack answered.

"I don't see how that can happen."

"You let me worry about that."

Four Winds was silent in contemplation.

"Wait, you can't seriously consider this, right?" Water Lily said to Four Winds after seeing his expression. "If we are found out sneaking an enemy's king before this nation's grand chief, we can be charged with treason. We can forget about getting control over Mjiku Maba. We might even be chased out of this country."

"Or, we can sneak him in and then presents him as our prisoner. We will be hailed as heroes instead," Four Winds said. He then turned to Jack and said, "All you want is to meet the grand chief, right? So, you won't mind us doing it that way?"

"Um, I prefer to meet him in an unbound condition," Jack said.

"Hehe. Tell you what. You do me a favor, and I will bring you to him unbound," Four Winds said.

"What favor?" Jack asked.

"Help me win this election tourney."

"What?!" Water Lily turned to Four Winds in disbelief.

"What?" Jack was also surprised by the request. "How do I help you win the tourney?"

"The tourney was an elimination match. The match was a combat between two pairs of combatants," Four Winds answered. "One of the combatants has to be the leader of the tribe who joined the tourney. The other combatant was any member of the tribe."

"I am not a member of your tribe," Jack said.

"I don't see any guild tag on you," Four Winds returned. At the same time, Jack heard a guild invite notification from Cipher Flight.

"You are serious about this, aren't you?" Water Lily said.

"Of course. Please show me one member of our guild that you think can beat this guy."

"He is using a beastmaster disguise, which meant he can't use any of his other classes' skills. In that situation, I'm pretty sure Master Murong can beat him."

"And where is Master Murong? She is gone somewhere without telling any of us after the war. She is not even answering our messages. Not that I think she wants to join this match even if she was available. You know how she is."

Water Lily sighed. Their master was indeed rather agitated after the war, saying she had found her rival during the war. She was going to look him up and finished their interrupted duel. She was gone after that. No one could persuade her otherwise once she made up her mind. Muilan followed her to who knew where.

"This election tourney is important to us. This is our chance to truly solidify our status as the number one guild in Verremor," Four Winds said. "We can't afford to lose. I have to go in with a partner that can give me the highest possibility of winning. He has offered himself, why shouldn't I make use of this chance?"

"There is still a chance that he means harm to the grand chief. If he does, then we are finished," Water Lily warned.

"For goodness sake, I will not do that!" Jack exclaimed. He accepted the guild invite. His orc status was now a member of the Cipher Flight.

"I trust him," Four Winds said.

"Thank you!" Jack responded.

Water Lily could just shake her head. "Blizzard will be unhappy about this. She has been looking forward to the tourney. She has been training fiercely to be your partner."

"Ah, well. Let's do it this way. You fight with Blizzard without using Blade Dancer's skills and Archmage's spells. If you win, you get to accompany me in the tourney," Four Winds said. "If you lose. Then, no deals. You find your own way to meet the grand chief."