Lord Shadow

‘Ehem’ the man gulped. Then he looks anxiously at the man sitting in the chair reviewing some document, fearing that the man would find his anxiety unpleasing.

He was sweating bullets.

He was only an Orb Condensing User. Being in the same room with an Energy Disperse Stage user of course, he would be anxious and fear almost envelops him.

The natural suppression of higher being.

But he summons his courage. He is a soldier. And soldiers must be brave. But, truth be told he was too young to a soldier.

But desperate times calls for desperate measure.

The room was tense with negative feeling. Even though the Ice Fragment function is to cool the room, for some reason, the man still sweats.

The room was spacious, beautiful and full of beautiful design but for some reason, he feel the room is small, and no matter how beautiful the design he could not calm his heart.

The General of the Army and now the Acting Admiral and control both the Admiralty and the Army was looking at a him.

Raymond was seated in the chair of his study looking solemn. He was wearing his uniform instead of his armour.

But even wearing his uniform he look as intimidating like he was wearing his battle armour. Full of dignity and has an aura of a King.

He creased his eyebrows as he look at his left side.

‘You chose this man, Commander?’ Raymond ask as he sized the man up. Instantly he could feel the Orb inside the man body.

Jesse nodded not explaining anything.

‘Yes, Sir.’ Beside his left was Commander Jesse in charge of the Golden Division.

‘He is neutral and his opinion carry weight’ as Jesse look at the man waiting orders from both of them.

Then he slowly leans to Raymond and whispers to his ear.

‘And low possibility of being controlled by the Quorum.’ Raymond nodded clearly satisfied. Then he lay back at his chair as he just stares at the man.

The man was nervous indicated by his sweat on his forehead and the many time he has gulped his own saliva.

But Raymond was still contemplating

After Lord Will uncovers the great conspiracy involving the League of Freedom and Budiman, the World Government was sent into a state of panic.

The Quorum wanted to handle this as fast as possible and they also wanted an explanation.

The White Witch Acolytes, the Raijin Army belonging to Lord Oreki, The Lotus Order belonging to the Chinese Faction, Dangun Army belonging to Han Ji Woo the Demonic Berserker, the Knights of William headed by the King of England, King William all is asking him for an explanation.

One problem and they all come to him, screaming for his head.

Sometimes, Raymond wanted to challenge all this faction heads to a fight.

They did not want to integrate their own forces into the World Government Army but they all want the benefit of joining the World Government.

And then there is the Quorum.

The Quorum is always hounding him with their envoys, asking confidential secrets and urging him nonstop to end this matter so that they could placate the public.

And the Quorum is impatient.

And highly suspicious towards President Hirate and him. Not that Raymond could blame them for thinking like that.

After Pandikar was arrested and sentenced to house arrest by the army backed by the President Executive Order, Raymond seize the Admiralty and cordoned of the Battleships.

President Hirate on the other hand begun arresting Pandikar supporter under the banner of investigation.

There is a lot of unease in the World Government. Dark forces hiding amongst them, wearing mask, hiding their intention.

Then there is the matter of Lord Shadow.

The fact that Lord Shadow is in conflict with Sasha is widespread by now. After all, the World government is also in the Plains regions.

It was not like they were deaf. Everyone could hear the names. They could hear the explosive shouting even through here.

Though Raymond don’t think that Lord Shadow would find an easy enemy in the Forest Region.

Arrayist Master Lee Sangmin is there after all. Even Hirate with all of his Mind Search could not pinpoint the location for Lee Sangmin.

Still, Lee Sangmin is a necessity and an important person not only to the World Government but also to other factions out there.

Lord Shadow might be powerful but the importance between Lord Shadow and Lee Sangmin is different.

They would rather offend Lord Shadow and gain Lee Sangmin favour.

Because what Lee Sangmin could offer is more enticing and more valuable than what Lord Shadow could offer.

‘Ehem’ Jesses coughed as he taps Raymond back and Raymond was brought back to the situation at hand. He then said to Jesse looking slightly embarrassed

‘Explain it to him Commander.’

‘Yes, Sir.’

Jesse then began to explain the matter to the Sergeant. He talked about the not only the robbery of their Hyperdrive but also the existence of a network of sleeper agents in their organization

‘A spy, Sir? I thought Lord Will has identified the spy.’

‘I don’t think that is the last of them.’ Raymond said as he fiddles with his fingers. Then he sits straight up and relay his command.

‘I want you to open an investigation. No stone left unturned. I want to find out how spies could break through our security and how they manage to infiltrate us.’

The Sergeant gulped and then he said.

‘Sir, there has been a lot of accidents. The breakout of the Genius Alchemist Sina, the robbery of the Vault by Loki and Sofia, and now this. Whatever the League of Freedom wants with the Hyperdrive, it will not be beneficial for us.’

Raymond looks lazily at the Sergeant.

‘Your point being?’

‘I need authority. The authority to follow evidence no matter where it leads me.’

‘Is this you asking me or the Quorum?’

‘The will of the quorum is the will of the people.’

‘Heh. The will of the people huh? Fine. You’ll get it.’ Raymond said with a hint of sneer in his smile

‘Thank you’ the Sergeant said as he relieved a relaxed sigh.

‘That will be all Sergeant. You’re dismissed.’ Jesses said as he dismiss the sergeant

‘Yes, sir.’ The sergeant then exited the office as fast as he could. Raymond then lay back on his chair and it creaks. Jesse still stand beside Raymond not saying anything.

Raymond then turn his head back and look at Jesse and he ask

‘Jesse. What do you think?’ He no longer addresses Jesse as Commander. When they are alone together, they do not speak according to ranks.

‘About what?’ Jesse said as he moves to the cupboard cabinet behind the chair and bringing out a bottle of white wine.

He also brings two wine glasses and put it down on Raymond table. Taking a chair, he sits opposite Raymond as he pours the white wine inside the glass.

He offers one to Raymond and Raymond nodded, taking the glass. Taking a relaxed posture, Jesses gesture him to continue with his eyebrows slightly lifted up.

It is his habit to ask people to continue with that eyebrow thing.

‘The Quorum.’ Raymond said, clearly in his tone he does not like the Quorum.

Jesse only smiles bitterly as he takes a sip and closes his eyes like he was savouring the taste.

‘Hah. I don’t really know what to say about them. I told them that you are no threat…but you know how they are. They are wary of you. Wary of President Hirate too.’

‘ As I suspected’ Raymond said as he drinks the wine in his wine glass in one shot. It seems that Raymond is not in the mood for drinking considering he finish the wine that fast.

‘Who is the most vocal voice in the Quorum?’ He then asks. It is better if he knows who he is facing.

‘Lord Oreki and Lord Hikigaya…among many others. Dangun army and the Chinese also doesn’t really like a Westerners calling the shots. They clearly don’t like that you are putting your fingers on to many pies. Even now, at the brink of humanity execution, they still care about race.’

‘Yeah.’ Raymond agreed.

As a species, it almost seems like humanity is incapable of nurturing, instead humanity is like a cancerous cells, devouring the Earth, until it dies of pain.

Even now, they still differentiate themselves like they were before the fall. They are still conflicts in the Quorum between Japan faction and China faction.

The Russian faction also has problems.

‘They will not let rest easy, would they? I guess this thing could not be solved by me alone. Jesse, get me the President. I have something to discuss with the White Witch’ and saying this Raymond stomp the tiles on his office and burrowed into the ground, leaving Jesse all alone in the office.

Jesse sighed as he finished his wine and slowly get up.

‘Today, going to be a long day too’ he complained as he exited the room.

***