Jack followed Water Lily until they arrived before a large door guarded by ten soldiers. Violent Blizzard was among the ten. Jack waved at her. She didn't even respond with a glance.
Water Lily informed that the ten were the personal protectors of the ten lord chiefs who were meeting inside. Direct followers were not allowed to enter. Inside was another team of elite guards exclusive to the palace.
Water Lily told Jack to wait outside. She had informed Four Winds about their arrival via a message. The council was still in discussion. They would be let in once the current discussion was over.
It was almost half an hour before the door opened. An orc soldier came out from inside. He looked around until he spotted Water Lily and gestured for her to enter. Jack followed her in.
Inside, Jack saw a huge horseshoe-shaped table in the middle of the room. The table was occupied by ten orcs. At the center sat Kabaka Proudtusk, the grand chief, and an elderly orc woman. Four Winds sat at one of the ends of the table.
Everyone in the Verremor council already knew Jack's disguise. Jack saw some of them frown.
"What are you doing here again?" Jinga Loudmaw asked after sawing Jack.
"King Storm Wind has asked for an audience. He is my guest," Four Winds informed.
"How dare you let another country's sovereign barge into our meeting without permission?" Jinga said.
"I've given the permission," Kabaka told Jinga. "King Storm Wind wished to not make his visit a big deal. He just wishes to speak with us."
"Grand Chief, we shouldn't trust these outworlders. You've seen what happened to Liguritudum and Aurebor. For all we know, they could be plotting–"
A loud sound stopped Jinga's speech. Four Winds had stood up and slammed the table. "I don't mind if you keep on saying bad words about me throughout the meeting, but I won't stand by if you disrespect my guest!"
Kabaka raised a hand asking everyone to calm down.
"Everyone, please be silent. King Storm Wind has arrived. Why don't we just hear what he has to say?" Kabaka said.
Jack had changed back into his real self as he walked to the table. Two orc soldiers stood in his way indicating that was how close he may approach.
"Thank you, grand chief," Jack began. "And thank you to everyone for sparing me the time. I won't waste much of it. We all have important matters to deal with, so I'm going to cut to the chase. I've recently learned that it's not only Themisphere that had an underworld portal. Your country also has one."
Jinga immediately turned to Four Winds. "Did you tell him about this?"
"F*ck you! I don't even know there is such a thing in this country," Four Winds replied.
The portal's existence was a secret kept by previous council members. As a new member, Four Winds was not yet told about this secret. Jinga assumed one of the old members had told Four Winds.
Kabaka sighed and again signaled for the two to calm down. He was getting fed up with these two's constant bickering.
"What do you want with our underworld portal, king Storm Wind?" Kabaka asked Jack. "Have you learned of its location?"
"No, I don't know where your underworld portal is," Jack answered. "I'm here to inform you that the underworld portal in Themisphere has been closed. We no longer have an underworld portal in my country."
The nine old council members frowned upon hearing it.
"Are you here just to gloat about it?" A council member who sat beside Jinga, Kale Strongbone, asked.
"I'm here to offer you a way to close the portal in your country as well," Jack said and took out a small stone.
Everyone used their Inspect and learned that the stone was the portal-closing stone.
"That's…," Everyone was wide eyes after learning about the stone.
"Aren't our records said that such a stone can only be found in the underworld?" The elderly female lord chief beside Kabaka, Mifu Longsight, said.
"How did you get your hands on that stone?" Kima Mountking asked.
"It doesn't matter how. Just know that this stone can close the underworld portal," Jack answered.
"What do you want in return?" Woga Braidedbeard asked.
"A promise," Jack answered.
"Promise?"
"Promise that Verremor will stand with Themisphere against Liguritudum and its ally."
The council members looked at each other.
"I'm not requesting an alliance," Jack said. "Just a cooperation to stop Liguritudum's expansion. This is for our mutual benefit."
"Do you think Liguritudum has the ambition to come our way?" Kabaka asked.
"That's absurd," Jinga uttered. "Liguritudum is the farthest country from us. They will have to go through Hydrurond to get to us. Those outworlder rulers in Liguritudum and Aurebor just use tricks to conquer the two countries. They won't succeed if they clashed directly with Hydrurond."
"I won't be so sure about it," Jack said.
Kabaka and Mifu had a private talk in a low voice, while the other members also talked with the ones next to them. Jack let them discuss. He continued holding the portal-closing stone in plain sight.
After some murmur, Kabaka said, "Please give us some time to discuss this, king Storm Wind."
Jack nodded. He wasn't surprised. This was the weakness of the council system. They took time to come to a decision. Jack stored the portal-closing stone back in his inventory. The soldier ushered Jack and Water Lily to a small waiting room beside the meeting room.
Jack sat there quietly and practiced mana manipulation. Water Lily who had advanced mana sense was surprised to learn of Jack's improvement. She had also started touching mana manipulation. Motivated by Jack's advancement, she also sat cross-legged and trained.
It was more than an hour before a soldier came in and called them.
When Jack was back before the council, Kabaka said, "We agree that we will send our armies to help if Liguritudum or Aurebor ever comes to invade Themisphere."
'Only a defensive pact?' Jack thought.
He pondered for a bit. He was hoping he could take the fight to Liguritudum, not just play defense. But he supposed he had to take things step-by-step.
He handed the stone to one of the orc soldiers who then brought it to Kabaka.
"Grand chief, can I follow and make sure the portal is closed?" Jack asked.
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