A day had passed since the Frost family’s resounding victory in the first phase of the Trident Summit.
Yet the waves of that monumental victory were still rippling across the Nine Realms. Everywhere, glowing orbs projected images of the battle, capturing the breathtaking sight of Kent leading the Frost army to a one sided victory.
The might of the War God inheritor was no longer a secret. It was a reality. And the people couldn’t get enough of it. From bustling markets to grand palaces, Kent’s name was spoken with awe, fear, and, in some corners, envy.
At the Frost family palace, the sudden influx of visitors was overwhelming. King Ragnar found himself besieged by nobles and envoys from various families, each begging for an alliance. They brought lavish gifts, promised military support, and even offered their daughters’ hands in marriage to Kent.
Ragnar, however, dismissed them all with his usual stoic resolve.
"Kent said he is not looking for any marriage interests. Also, accepting allegiance will disrupt the pace of Frost army. So, don’t make any proposals." he declared to all the ambassadors, waving them away.
Meanwhile, Kent was nowhere to be found. He had secluded himself in the far reaches of the Frost family estate’s herb garden, plotting his next moves. There were two crucial tasks he needed to execute in secrecy. He had no time for the whirlwind of proposals and politics brewing around him.
---
While the Frost family basked in new found glory, the Stick family was crumbling under the weight of their failure.
In the grand hall of the Stick Palace, voices of other family kings clashed in heated arguments.
"You let him win, Sony! You went easy on him because you want to marry him!" accused Dayal Ding, the Ding family’s chief strategist, slamming his fist on the table.
"That’s ridiculous! Do you think I don’t know what’s at stake? Beating Kent is the only way to secure any chance of marriage! I fought with everything I had!" Princess Sony shot back in a frustrated tone.
Maxwell, the royal family’s first prince, immediately rose to feet with clenched fists. "Clearly, it wasn’t enough. Now the entire realm mocks us. We had ten times the forces, and we still lost. Do you know what they’re calling your family? The Toothpick Family!"
"Enough." Sony clenched her fists, her heart burning with humiliation and rage. She had fought Kent with every ounce of her strength, yet he had outmanoeuvred her at every turn. And now, instead of praise, all she received was blame.
In the Lin family’s treasury, Prince Scott Lin was preparing with single-minded determination.
"I won’t let him overshadow me again," he muttered, picking several treasures from the dark treasury. Beads of sweat dripped down his brow, but he didn’t stop.
Scott’s thoughts were consumed by Lily. The second phase of the Trident Summit was his last chance to prove himself worthy of her hand. Losing wasn’t an option.
In contrast, the Doom family moved silently but effectively, forging alliances with smaller families and consolidating their power. They had even begun secret negotiations with first prince Maxwell, seeking to undermine Kent and theStick family in the next rounds.
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Early Morning…
Kent was calmly eating his meal in the Frost Palace dining hall.
King Ragnar sat across from Kent, watching him intently. After a moment, Ragnar broke the silence.
"So, what have you decided?"
Kent set down his fork and looked up. "There’s nothing to decide. The second phase is the day after tomorrow. I won’t be participating."
Ragnar’s expression turned serious. "So, what’s the plan?"
"We discussed this already, uncle. While everyone is distracted with the summit, I’ll take the task of learning the Sun-Moon Eclipse Art. You’ll take Grandfather to the Blue Planet to distract him from the ancestral hall."
"The realms are watching us. You’ve become the face of the Frost family. If you disappear now, it’ll raise questions and doubts… why don’t you think again…" Ragnar continued to speak while leaning close to Kent.
"Let them doubt," Kent interrupted Ragnar. "We’ve already secured the spear. And I will win this trident summit during the blood duel. That’s all that matters. The rest is irrelevant."
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Ragnar sighed, rubbing his temples. "And what of your grandmother’s tomb? Tell me the location. I will take my father for a tour to the blue planet during your visit to five mountains."
"Silver Leaf Town, in the Golden Bamboo Province. There’s a common burial ground there. Her tomb is marked with an antelope symbol." Kent replied.
"Fine. But finish your task quickly. I’ll hold my father as long as I can, but…"
"I’ll be quick," Kent promised.
Before Ragnar could respond, the dining hall door swung open, and Princess Lily entered with a cheerful smile.
"Who’ll be quick?" she asked, approaching the table.
Ragnar forced a laugh as he tried to shift the topic. "Just discussing battle strategies."
But Lily wasn’t so easily fooled. Her eyes darted between Ragnar and Kent, narrowing suspiciously. "You’re hiding something. Tell me."
"You’ll be leading the army in the second phase of the Trident Summit." Kent said in a serious tone abruptly.
Lily froze. "What?"
"I will be absent or I’ll arrive late," Kent said while finishing the meal. "You’ll command the army in my absence. Avoid unnecessary fights and focus on defence. Don’t try to grab the spear. Just hold your ground."
"You’re avoiding the summit again? What’s so important that you’d abandon us in the middle of this?" Lily’s face turned red with anger.
"Things you wouldn’t understand," Kent replied with a stoic face.
"This isn’t fair, Kent! We’ve all worked hard for this, and now you’re just walking away?" Lily asked in protest.
"I won’t do this unless necessary. Just do as I said." Kent declared as he stood up from his seat.
Her anger faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained it. "Fine. Do what you want. But if this blows up in our faces, it’s on you."
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As night fell, a knock echoed through the Frost Palace. A servant opened the door to a messenger dressed in royal insignia.
"I bring a message from Her Majesty, the Queen," he announced, bowing deeply.
The news quickly reached Kent, who met the messenger in the grand hall.
"My lord, The Queen requests your presence. She wishes to discuss matters of great importance." The messenger spoke in a respectful tone.
Kent studied the man for a moment. "Tell the Queen I’ll meet her on the day of the second-phase of the Trident Summit."
The messenger blinked, momentarily stunned by the swift reply and time hKent quoted. But then he quickly bowed.