Chapter 245: The Sleeping Young Master
At the very center of the Heroic-Paws village, a man sat on a makeshift throne as he oversaw the event preparations. Dogs of all ages would busy themselves in order to receive their guests properly.
Next to Josh, a girl was standing and looked incredibly stiff as her face kept twitching. Her gaze was on a nearby bone that laid on the ground unattended. She was currently living a profound dilemma.
She was currently fighting the urge to pick up this bone. For her, it was blasphemy to let it in such a shabby place. But, she knew that if she followed her instinct and picked it up, she would need to hand it over to Josh, who'd throw it back.
As they worked, many discussed the scene in hushed voices:
"What is he thinking, leaving such a valuable bone on the ground?!"
"I heard he's playing fetch."
"Fetch? This is crazy extravagant!"
"I don't envy her current position."
"I'd pick it up just to be able to touch it."
"Yes, but think about it. Then it would be thrown again. What if it cracked?!"
"Why do you think he's doing that? Torture?"
"What if he's teaching her self-control?"
"That's it! Still, this mental strength is something else: as expected of a hero! I wouldn't even have the guts to throw something so precious!"
Josh wryly smiled as he saw them look his way with veneration. Teaching? Nope, he was just bored. Today was the day that the representatives from all the dog clans arrived. There were 12 of them in total, but who they were didn't matter much to him.
"Husky girl. I'll be taking a nap. Only wake me up when all of the participants are here. Is that understood?" Josh instructed.
She seemed to want to protest, but she ended up swallowing her objections and silently nodded. He closed his eyes and feigned falling in a deep slumber. He then heard her sneakily make her way toward the bone.
She then trotted back as Josh lazily opened an eye. She was clutching the bone to her bosom as if it were the most precious thing in the world. That's when they made eye contact— she froze.
She exuded a mix of despair, embarrassment, and horror. She was embarrassed from failing to sneak, horrified that this was perhaps all a plan to play fetch once more and despairing that she had so easily fallen in it.
Josh smiled, closed his eye again, and waited. The seconds turned into minutes and the minutes turned into hours. He just remained there and casually listened as one representative after the other arrived.
They would all have something to say about him, and while they talked, he feigned being in a deep slumber…
****
"It's been a while, Old Bernard. What made you ask for the selection ceremony to be moved forward? The others will be pissed for sure! Still, it will be a pleasure to compete with you, my friend."
"You're mistaken, Old Dalmatian. This year our representative is my son, and he's right there."
"Why is he sitting on a throne asleep?"
"Probably because he was tired."
"…"
****
"Haha, where are you, old coot? Old Bernard, I really need to thank you for giving up on the competition in such a stupid manner! If you can't even be patient, then no one will follow you!"
"It's alright. I don't hope for anyone to follow me."
"You wouldn't give up….wait a minute. You're not the competitor. It's that guy sitting there, right? He looks so young! Hey kid, wake up!"
Josh could hear him move toward him in an attempt to shake him, but his 'maid' stood in the newcomer's way.
"I have orders only to wake him up when everyone is here, not before." She spat out coldly.
"Old Husky's prized daughter is acting as a subordinate?! Why?!"
****
"I heard that guy is the representative for the Heroic-Paws village. He's so arrogant and stupid. There is no way anyone will trust him with such a display!"
"I agree, but I also think there is more than meets the eye here."
"What do you mean?!"
"Old Bernard isn't foolish. How did he allow him to take his place as representative? This doesn't make any sense."
****
"Hey, Old Napolitan. How did the Heroic-Paws people convince you to move the ceremony forward? You normally wouldn't budge over tradition no matter what!"
"The Heroic-Paws Clan, you ask? I would never show favoritism to a clan, and you know it. The man right there is the one that convinced me!"
"That sleeping youngster?! How?!"
****
"Hey, Old Husky. With the arrogance of the Heroic-Paws, there is no way they can win this. This makes you the most likely to win and also my rival!"
"I actually dropped out of the competition. There is no need to participate since I believe he will win either way."
"What?! Are you really talking about the sleeping youngster?! He doesn't even have the decency to welcome us! There is no way anyone will ever vote for him!"
"Maybe. We'll see."
****
"Psst, did you hear? Old Husky dropped out of the competition. He seems to be serving the Heroic-Paws clan now. Can you believe it?!"
"Not really, but it is what it is. The reality has little to do with me believing or not."
"I guess you're right. It just doesn't feel right to me."
"How could it feel right? He's only been sleeping there. Of course, it feels wrong! Anyway, I guess we'll see soon when he wakes up."
****
"I'll wake this dumbass. Let's see how cocky he can be once awake!"
"Old Boxer, I cannot allow you to come any closer. If you insist, I will be fighting you."
"You think you can defeat me, girl? Ah, whatever. Old Husky, stop glaring at me! I'll just do this!"
???????????????!!!
"That was so loud!"
"He didn't wake up nor twitch. How?!"
"This is next-level sleeping. I wouldn't be able to do this."
"There is something wrong with this kid, terribly wrong even."
****
"Old Bernard! Come welcome this Old Doberman!"
"Ah, this will be the last one to appear. With this, all the 12 representatives are here. This lady will finally wake him up and— oh god."
"What is it? Why are you so shaken?"
"Look at his smile. As soon we were ready to proceed, he began smiling. Why?"
"Maybe he's had a good dream?"
"Nonono, he's been impassible this whole time! Could it be he wasn't sleeping at all?!"
"So? It wouldn't be that big of a deal, no?"
"It would mean that he voluntarily appeared weaker and angered us to see our true personalities!"
"Get to the point."
"Not only is this extremely scheming, but it also requires extreme confidence!"
****
Josh couldn't help but smile. It seems they weren't stupid. Many had noticed how Old Napolitan, Old Husky, and his father treated him. They were still outraged at his attitude, but their curiosity was stronger than their aversion at this moment.
He waited for the last participant to reach the village plaza. Josh then suddenly opened his eyes and gave the crowd a deep glance. He made eye contact with each one of them quickly.
Just as they were about to speak, he cut them all off. He did it in the most natural manner while smiling confidently:
"Thank you all for coming all the way over here to select the new leader for the dog clans. Let us start without any more delay. Old Napolitan, if you could please guide us to the actual venue for the event."
The mediator nodded before addressing them: "If you would please follow me, everyone!" He then began leading the way, following Josh's plan.
Josh was the first to follow along with the husky girl. She had a determined look in her eyes as she resolved to witness history, no matter what. He could only chuckle at how serious she was taking this all. Then again, for her, this world was real.
The various candidates looked at each other at a loss. What was happening?! A few opened their mouths to ask questions, but Josh once more cut them off. "Do not worry. I believe Old Napolitan will explain everything once we reach our destination."
Old Napolitan? This youngster had obviously been pulling the strings all along, but how?! Old Napolitan was known for being incorruptible. Part of them wanted to call foul, but they were also so damn curious.
Josh couldn't wait to see how they would soon react to the surprise he had planned…
Creator's Thought
Respect is everything in leading, but many care way too much about making a good first impression. It's not about good, but mysterious. You let them badmouth you while letting them believe there is more to be seen. Then you use their curiosity to wrestle control away while treating their previous disparaging as the ramblings of children.
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