Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player



Kaizen approached the guards outside the great door of the throne room with a confident expression, trying to hide his fear. He greeted the guards with a nod and a friendly smile.

"Good day, noble guards. I am here at the behest of the captain of the guard to check the security of the throne room. I need to make a routine inspection and make sure everything is in order."

The guards looked at Kaizen with serious expressions, clearly skeptical of his presence and his words as they had never seen him before. One of the guards crossed his arms and frowned.

"We have not been notified of any routine inspections. Who are you and why are you here?"

Kaizen swallowed dryly, trying to think of a quick answer that would convince the guards. He knew that any inconsistency could jeopardize everything.

"My name is Klaus, a new member of the security team assigned to this floor. I have been assigned to make regular inspections and report any problems to the superiors. It is possible that the communication has not reached you, as I am quite new to the team."

The guards exchanged glances, seeming to consider Kaizen's explanation. But they remained suspicious.

"If you are indeed a new member of the team, you should be accompanied by a more experienced guard. Protocol requires that all newcomers be supervised for the first few weeks. Where is your mentor?"

Kaizen swallowed again, realizing that his words were not enough to convince the guards. He had to act quickly to avoid arousing further suspicion.

"My mentor had something unforeseen and was called away on another urgent mission. He asked me to continue with the inspections and to inform him of any findings. I apologize for the lack of prior communication."

The guards exchanged glances again, seemingly more convinced by Kaizen's explanation. But there was still a hint of suspicion in the air.

"Okay, Klaus. We will allow you in this time, but know that we will be keeping an eye on you. Any suspicious movement and you will be killed and your family will get no compensation. Understood?"

Kaizen nodded firmly and thanked the guards for their understanding. So he and Xisrith passed the guards and entered the throne room, feeling a temporary relief when they heard the great roar of the door as it opened.

Inside the room they found a magnificent sight. The richly ornamented throne sat on a very high pedestal, protruding into the room. Kaizen and Xisrith looked forward and saw that the young King Walkul Dragonsbane was present. His hair was bright red and his eyes were green like an emerald.

[A Maximum Ruler figure stands before you...]

Kaizen did not hesitate for a second, knowing that he would be killed if this happened, so he kept his respectful composure in front of the king. Kaizen's heart was pounding, aware of the importance of this audience and the purpose of the mission. As the doors closed behind him, King Walkul Dragonsbane rested his chin on his right arm and gazed intently at Kaizen.

His throne stood five meters high, two meters above the seats of his two advisors, who stood to the left and right of the throne.

"Your Majesty, my name is Klaus."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Klaus. This is the first time I have seen you. What brings you here?" The king replied.

Kaizen looked back for a moment to make sure the door was closed so the guards outside would not interrupt him, and answered:

"I'm here to talk about Duke Frugold and the Descragons."

The king looked at Kaizen with a serious but intrigued expression. He seemed to want to hear more.

Kaizen felt a slight relief when he realized that the king was open to hearing about Duke Frugold and the Descragons. He knew he would have to present his information concisely and convincingly.

"Your Majesty, we have reason to believe that Duke Frugold is involved in suspicious activities and conspiring against the Descragons."

"Wait a moment. There is no clan of Descragons in our realm." The old advisor to the king's left said.

"You are correct. There still aren't any. However, through an intermediary, Duke Frugold has contacted a clan of Descendragons in the Kingdom of Tretidian to form an alliance. Since Tretidian does not officially recognize the existence of the Descragons, Frugold offered them official recognition, land, and protection in exchange for their valuable help in enriching the national culture and the power of his army. Kaizen explained.

King Walkul Dragonsbane frowned, showing concern at Kaizen's words.

"That's a good deal, but are you saying that my older brother created all of this and then failed to live up to his own words? Those are serious accusations, Klaus. Do you have any hard evidence to support these claims?"

Kaizen paused briefly, making sure to choose his words carefully.

"Your Majesty, I have no detailed reports or many reliable testimonies that indicate the existence of secret meetings between Duke Frugold and the Descragons. Furthermore, I can't even tell you what his true intentions are. However, despite all this, I have something that can be as much or more than many testimonies."

"And what would that be?" The counsellor to the king's right asked.

"I can ask the king's brother's own sacrifice to testify."

King Walkul Dragonsbane rose from his throne, walked slowly to the edge of his litter, and jumped down. For a second, he seems to float in midair, but falls quickly to the marble floor, which doesn't even crack at his soft touch. Facing Kaizen, he explains:

"If what you say is true, this is deeply disturbing information. However, a member of the royal family betraying an exiled race from another nation is not considered treason or conspiracy. In fact, some would welcome it. So, Klaus, as king, I must ask: What do you hope to gain by denouncing this? What do you stand to gain?"