LUCEM
Chapter XXVI

“The old man will walk you through all things when your turn comes, and he will be able to answer most of your questions. If there was something he could not answer, it was likely beyond his reach. But you can use that way if you want, Mr.” That was all Rong got with the sheet he had obtained from Anna's hand.

Rong suddenly looked annoyed, but he did not say anything. 

________

There was no desus that flowed out in the secret group. But Rong always knew how to find the gap and put his ears and eyes there.

Rong hurriedly changed her clothes, wrapped her body in a clean white shirt and coated it with a dark-colored longcoat. Just in case, Rong draped the gun holster over his shoulder and familiarized himself with the weight of the steel object above his heart.

Entering the vehicle he was riding with the general to the palace. The streets were long and empty that night, although human traffic was seen crowded along the side of the road to the center of the kingdom.

Suddenly, the shrill sound of bells being strongly swung was heard, startling him. Rong seemed to be able to feel the muzzle of the gun firmly stuck in his longcoat layer. His breathing has increased.

“It's entering early winter, and you look a bit pale. Are you okay, Mr Advisory?” Ask general Panpan.

“My health is very good, General. Thank you for asking,” Rong showed a short smile that he used to use.

General Panpan just nodded his head.

General Panpan took a breath and exhaled it with a long, rough gust. “I always feel sorry if I have to get rid of talented people. But, the law does not belong to us, you are even one level above me in terms of determining policy, Mr. Counselor.”

Rong raised his gaze. “Kingdom will always be proud to have someone like you, General. By the way, what's it like to kill someone you've sat with and talked to over a long period of time, General?”

“Like the feeling of a traitor,” the general gulps his bitter saliva.

Rong smiled cynically. “We have been together in many years, what if I was the one who would later swing a hand at you?”

“We are no longer as young as we used to be, as when we first worked together. As a man of work and reaching his zenith, becoming rich and managing to ensure the bowels of my people remain full in all seasons, I. umm, I no longer refuse to be defeated,” the general looked at Rong.

Rong looked into the general's face to find out the truth of his words. 'Curtainly, I'm a whale and you're a hungry shark, ' her inner being.

General Panpan was a lowly servant son in an offering house. He grew up in a distant village, but was sent to the city center to pursue military education. His spirit flared up as he watched the grandeur and compared it to the hungry stomachs he often bore with his extended family spilling over. His adaptable young body and easy-to-herd mentality made him quickly develop in the rough warrior vortex into the sharpest spear. When the education period was over, he had become someone who was the most outstanding in the army. Amid growing radicalism, the kingdom gave him an important position on the border. His loyalty could not be doubted, his skills and also his abilities surpassed those expected. The Grimo King never felt disappointed by the young general's every action to pull him into the special forces as a trusted one. He will only move under the command of the king.

Rong knows that.

Rong looked at the old man who usually harbored himself in the basement, he looked different in his light hairy clothes, striking once. The old man walked slowly up the stairs, holding a carved wooden stick, he was accompanied by a young man in a white robe. Rong did not intend to say hello and chose to walk round to the park to buy time there.

It's an hour to the meeting.

_______

The Grimo King, sitting on his seat of greatness. Located on the end of a long table made of black velvet cloth with gold embroidery on the edge. His face was white as if it had no blood flow, highlighting the black and brown spots on both cheeks up to his neck, wrinkles piled up under his eyes and his gray hair made him look like an old man waiting for the angel of death to visit and snatch what was left of him.

By his side, Bababawanna stood slightly bent over his shoulders, whispering occasionally in the king's ear and nodding.

One by one the seats filled. Rong got a chair that was five counts away from the king. Some old faces and many new faces were present. Rong doesn't care much.

After a group of old men recited prayers, a young man in a white robe walked around all who sat giving sweet yellow balls as a blessing. The King Grimo raised his right hand and received his yellow ball piece, ate it a little then placed it back on the small plate before him, and everyone present followed.

“Where are they?” The Grimo King asked in a quivering old voice.

From the large open door, general Panpan walked in followed by a man and a woman behind him, bowing respectfully to the king before continuing his approach to the ruler of Grimoland.

“Give me the reels now!” The king ordered.

Bababawanna moved forward and gave some scrolls to the Panpan general.

General Panpan looked at Rong as a gesture, Rong stood up and joined them.

The Grimo King tapped the stick he held onto the floor. “Alright, it's time to start.”

Then the large group began to move out of the room towards the field by whispering to each other.

Rong and the two people beside him walked in the footsteps of general Panpan without taking out a word.

Rong condensed the scroll in his hand repeatedly. Staring with the anxious feeling he held on to the crowd.