"You want to do what now?" Pablo asked the man.
"I want to join your team." The man said again.
"I don’t have any team. What are you talking about?"
The man motioned his hands around the room. "Whatever this is, I want to join in."
"What are you on about? Why do you even want that? And I just ordered your execution if you remember." Pablo said.
"And moreover you are from the slums, the badge says it all. And you are in the house of the Count of this city. Slum people aren’t allowed here." Miss Herald spoke as well. She was calm as ever.
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’I am from the slums as well.’ Pablo didn’t say it out loud.
The man, on the other hand, sighed and sat cross legged on the floor. "Hear me out."
"Make it fast and short." Pablo gave permission. The man was risking his life to talk so Pablo could at least listen to him.
The man nodded and started speaking.
"My name is Draxus Maverick and I lived the previous eight years of my life in the slums."
"What about the years before that? You look like you are eighteen and since you lived in slums for eight years then where were you living for ten years?" Flashy asked. He was not in the corner anymore. He was sitting beside Pablo now and far from Sera.
"I am sure you all know about the Blood Fest war that happened ten years ago and I was living in the Glory city. The capital city of this Kingdom Forza."
"What?" Flashy exclaimed.
Even the Count’s daughter leaned forward. She was taken aback too.
But Pablo was clueless. He knew there were ten Kingdoms in Seraphim and there were only cities and slums. The concept of Countries didn’t exist here.
Luke, the man in the slums had told him that they live in Kingdom Forza and it was the smallest kingdom of all the ten kingdoms present in Seraphim. It only has two hundred cities.
However Pablo didn’t know why the mention of Glory city evoked such shocked reactions from Flashy and the Count’s girl.
So he asked, "I am weak in geography and history, can you tell me what is special about Glory city and the Blood Fest war?"
"Oh. Sure, Boss. The thi-"
"I will tell him. You shut up." Miss Herald barked at Flashy.
"Yes, maam." Flashy accepted easily. He didn’t want another roasting.
Pablo just wanted to know so he didn’t care who was explaining.
Miss Herald turned her head at Pablo and her face was that of a maiden in love.
"First you should know my name," She said. "I am Seraphina Herald. But you can call me Sera."
’Oh. The same name as this world. And her face, is she trying to make me think that she is in love with me? That won’t work on me, girl.’
"Sera is a nice name." Flashy liked the name.
"You are not allowed to say that. Don’t ever take my name again." Sera instantly retorted.
"Okay." Flashy could only say that. He wasn’t even sure why Sera was cold towards him.
Pablo rolled his eyes. "Just tell me the damn thing."
"Yes, sure. Sorry for making you wait."
’What? She apologized? Her attitude changed at Boss. I will learn this as well from him.’ Flashy made a mental note and Sera began the story.
"The Glory city is the biggest city of this kingdom and king Damascus, the King of this Forza kingdom, lives in that city. And not only that, only the people related to the Royal bloodline can live in that city. Not even the richest Nobles or Counts or the strongest Dukes can get a house there. Only people who have a bloodline connection with the King or his family can live in Glory city."
"And that’s why you were shocked to hear Draxus was a resident of that city once. I understand. What about the Blood Fest war? The title sounds good."
"It was a war that happened ten years ago between our kingdom Forza and the poorest kingdom called Hollow." Sera revealed.
"Why did it happen? Who lives in the Hollow kingdom? And who won the war? Also, does the Forza kingdom have any allies with them?" Pablo asked.
Sera came closer to Pablo, which she already was, and answered his each question.
"The Hollow kingdom is the poorest of all places. There is no money there. Only a few people could afford a full day meal. And as time went on, the situation became too dire. And when they couldn’t control their hunger anymore…" Sera couldn’t complete her sentence as Pablo spoke the next part himself.
"They began eating each other."
Sera’s brows shot up. "How did you know?"
"It’s logical. When people can’t find food no matter what, they eat themselves or others. You just continue the story." Pablo said and Sera obliged.
"The residents of the Hollow kingdom became cannibals and one by one, they ate each other. The population started becoming less and less and their King then decided to acquire more flesh to eat. Human flesh, that is.
And since our kingdom is the smallest and closest to the Hollow kingdom, they declared war on us out of nowhere. Thousands of cannibals invaded our land and wreaked havoc.
They first attacked at the slums so no one really cared that much but when the cannibals reached the Glory city and started eating the Royals only then did the King make a move.
He deployed the military and the Dukes to fight off the cannibals and they prevailed, we may be the smallest kingdom but we are stronger than Hollow. Still, the cannibals ate many of the military men but the people from the Abyssal Butchers division were no less deadly than those eaters.
They too began eating the cannibals in return, there was blood everywhere. Hence, the name, Blood Fest war. In the end though, we prevailed and all the cannibals that came from Hollow to attack were dead. They had sent very few cannibals to attack but it still acquired the title of a War as there was too much blood and flesh scattered around the kingdom after the battle.
And to avoid such war again, our King Damascus decided to lend free food to the Hollow kingdom regularly. Only food though, no money. Hollow is still the poorest. Things are going smoothly for a while now but there is still a constant between us. The future is uncertain, that’s for sure.
And about the allies, well, no kingdom has any allies for them. Everyone wants more land, money and other things. They don’t trust each other. Therefore, no allies. I hope I answered all your questions. Feel free to ask more."
Sera explained everything Pablo had asked and now her face was very close to Pablo.
’She is in the heat. This is bad.’
Pablo moved a little far from Sera, creating a breathing space for him.
Sera didn’t show any retorts and Pablo focused back on Draxus.
"So you were born and raised in Glory city for ten years. It means you are related to the royal family bloodline. How are you related to their bloodline though? Just asking."
Draxus was serious from the moment he arrived with Pablo and in that same seriousness, he told how he was related with the royal bloodline…
"I am the true crown prince of this Kingdom."
Silence ensued inside the room and everyone stared at Draxus.
"Yeah, right." Flashy broke the silence and stood up.
"And I have slept with your mother, the Queen."