The Book Of Flowers

Both Sides

-- The Main City of Xiang kingdom, Jade Palace ---

"Ah, so you're here?"

Shen smiled broadly as he flicked the fan he held onto his face. He had just found the person he had been looking for since

Some of his soldiers who followed him looked on standby as if the person he was looking for was a very dangerous person. But in fact, that person now had no power for now

"Go, your Excellency Shen. I don't need anything you want to give me that"

"Don't do that. I'm just kind enough to lend you some of my troops

Besides, you do need it, don't you, Walter Herb?"

Shen laughed sinisterly at Walter who had an irritated face

"The whole world is hunting me now. A lot of my crew members betrayed me. Rosalia Hortensia's cut off all communication with me now. After what I did to help him, he dumped me like I was a useless dog"

His frustration peaked at that moment. He even furiously destroyed every single plant that was before him. The entire courtyard of the palace was a mess as a result, with many flowers and land scattered everywhere

Not only communication, Rosalia did not even send a single bit of help. He instead handed Walter's fate into the hands of the venomous snake that stood behind him at this moment

Shen had indeed helped her all this time, by giving her supplies and temporary shelter. Even bother to give him reinforcements, because all the crew of his ship he shot all to death. Many empty places throughout Walter's ship became empty due to the unexpected massacre

Walter Herb is done. The chaos of news of him becoming a world-class fugitive is the main cause of it. Everyone slowly left him, just like what the human-skinned snake beside him would do

He's been forcing Walter to get out of Xiang for a while. As a king, he was certainly wary of the damage that could have been inflicted on Xiang later, until he had to take a follow-up and expel Walter

But of course, he had the hidden intention of providing reinforcements to Walter

Shen was even more happy to look forward to that. His wide grin could not even hide anymore

"Walters. If you survive later, you owe me. And I'll definitely charge it"

Walter's getting furious. He wanted to strangle the king who was staring ridiculously at him and standing right before him. But what is the power against dozens of royal soldiers who are near them at this time. What is, he will die on the spot

"Just calm. I won't ask much of you"

"... Then when you're done, you'll throw me away like Hortensia did...?"

Shen laughed again, but this time his tone broke out

"Eitherway! But for sure, I'll take the best position to see the end of all this"

"... You infuriated me, which Shen Xiang started"

"Ah, so? I don't know who cares"

Walter tried to suppress his anger as deeply as possible. There can be no more mistakes he made

...

He thought again, remembering why everyone had turned to him like this. Then, he remembered all the things that had happened all along. All the things he had experienced and done for Rosalia, but then just thrown away by her like that

"Everything's wrong that bastard....!!!" He muttered furiously

"... Take it easy, Walter. I'll help you destroy that man"

Shen's words immediately pierced Walter's ear and caught his attention

"How can you?"

Shen smiled widely, then started to close his fan

"We'll see. I'll let you know if you can survive"

Walter had expected it, and that was why he kicked a pebble into the face of a guard guard guarding the gate

"Prepare. I've taken everything into account. All of you also immediately change your uniforms into ordinary clothes like a sailor"

The people who were stalking the conversation the two of them then came down from their hiding place and gave their greetings

"Your words are an order for us, your Excellency Xiang!"

Shen immediately smiled happily. All the preparations are done, and all that's left is to send Walter out into the ocean

"My first target was Vainzel Alpensia"

......................

the -- Ship of Black Hunt's

"So, the point is, Walter will definitely go out of Xiang. We are not going to fight it on land at all" Cyth said, laying out a map of the world on a box

Everyone who surrounded the box immediately whispered. They had no problem fighting in the ocean, but they were at a loss as to why Walter would be able to get out of such a safe place

"The king of the Xiang kingdom did not want their actions that helped Walter to be discovered, while making sure they did not want Xiang to be cheated"

"... King Xiang will be working with Walter?" Veskal asked

It's likely that it will actually make things easier. They didn't have to bother hunting Walter down there

The king of the Xiang kingdom also seemed eager to keep his face in public. He doesn't want all his relationships with Walter to be too obvious. But in fact, it's not just him who's going to help Walter like this. Many empires in the world still needed such merchants

The smallest thing that King Xiang could provide right now was just supplies for Walter. Then, the worst possibility...

He sends troops to help Walter as well

"Their forces will not be underestimated if that happens. The chance of him helping out by giving away some of his troops is also very high" Veskal said

They were all experts in martial arts

"So, we should focus more on setting strategies against them. We are talking about the Xiang kingdom army here which is the worst case scenario right now" Cyth said after nodding in agreement

They were indeed not as strong as the Orion army, but they could not be underestimated

The Orion army is indeed much more skilled in magic, but if it has entered close range...

Xiang's army could be a terrifying monster...

They were also deft like tigers, and strong like elephants. As soon as the rumors were circulating and what the entire Black Hunt crew had heard. That's why they have to prepare for everything, including for the worst case scenario that could happen

"I, Hugo, Lock and Yu will be very weak compared to that royal army. I suggest that we don't mess around in close combat first. Julius has agreed that we surrender Xiang's army to them

But, I don't guarantee that they will all be focused on Orion's army, so I want us to do this kind of plan" Veskal explained

"... I think we're just discussing a plan right now. Since when have you discussed this matter with his majesty Julius?" Cyth asked

"Maybe next time, you should wake up in the early hours, Captain"

Everyone just nodded slowly as Cyth looked around with a confused look. Only he himself did not wake up when the discussion of the plan was done

Cyth also breathed a sigh of resignation

"Well, if we're gonna have to deal with Walter, we're gonna have to rely on my abilities and the other long-range fighters first. He also has a lot of good long-range fighters, so we have to make the most of those cannons. Close combatants who rely on muscles must control the cannons while the rest protect them later"

"Ah, so I'll be in charge of protecting?" Veskal asked

"so. You and Yu are quite agile. So, when the time is right and they're off guard, I want you guys to rush forward first to their ship"

"!!!"

...

...

"W-why are you so surprised?"

The atmosphere was filled with confusion

"... It's not usual for the captain to ask one of us to go forward like that"

Cyth immediately knew that the words were not wrong. During this time, he would usually be the first to advance first, without letting his men move too much so as not to harm them

"... I just wanted to improvise" He said later, coupled with a smile

"I shouldn't limit your moves. We're there to help each other, so I want to believe that you can help others, just like you helped me"

He played his necklace again. And at that moment, everyone immediately knew that he was feeling sad again

Erin held onto his shoulder and made him come back to his senses

"It's okay captain. We are willing to die for you, just like you who have fought desperately for our sake" Erin said, followed by a warm smiley face

"We'll always follow you captain"

"Nobody of us will disappoint you"

Everyone gave him a soothing speech. Cyth just stayed in the middle while smiling because he was happy. I am glad to have friends

No. gabe. Families like them...

Everyone then began to talk again while helping to develop the plan, while Veskal just silently looked at the 9 people who were gathering

"It's similar to us..." Veskal muttered with a small smile stuck

Perhaps he already regarded us both as his precious family as well. That's why he has a great desire to protect us