Chapter 223: Blood River
With the sun rising over the horizon, the Navy Town started waking up.
The same thing happened in the Kindforth residence as Serah and John woke up to start their day.
They started making breakfast, some bacon sizzling on the pan, while they started to prepare for the long day ahead as both had work.
In one of the bedrooms, Adam stared at the ceiling with Alice nudged up against him, still sleeping peacefully.
However, Adam couldn't get a single wink of sleep.
There was just too much to think about.
"Mmh..." With a soft moan, Alice also woke up and turned to face Adam, her eyes heavy with sleep.
"Good morning." Adam said and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Did you sleep?" Alice asked sleepily.
"No," Adam replied. "I was too busy thinking about everything that happened yesterday."
"Oh..." Alice rubbed her eyes and let out a soft yawn.
She felt bad, as she thought it was because of what she said, but she didn't know that Adam had quite an eventful day yesterday.
"What're you planning to do today?"
"I've got some things to do at Mortal Online." Adam said. "I will be very busy..."
"Oh..." Alice whispered with her lips curling down. "When will I see you again?"
"I'll make some time every day, I promise." Adam messed with her hair and then said. "Your parents seem to be awake. You should get going before Serah finds you here."
Alice's eyes popped open, and she realized that she wasn't in her room.
She then quickly hopped back on her feet, pulled up her oversized shirt because it was sliding off her shoulder, then planted a quick kiss on Adam's lips before rushing out of the room.
Adam stretched his arms, and during the night, he had time to think about a lot of things.
However, for now, the biggest issue was the war.
It was going to happen soon.
'I'll need to go talk to Digby and others.'
...
While dressed in his Deceased Paladin Armor with his longsword on his back, Adam stood at the meeting room alone.
With apathetic expression, he moved the places of the quills and paper to the side of the table. Then, he also made sure that they were straightened out before sitting down to wait for everyone to arrive.
He told everyone to gather in the meeting hall before nine in the morning, but since he was quite nervous, he came quite early and had been there waiting, trying to keep his hands busy.
After a short while later, the double doors finally opened and the core members of the Crimson Hounds swarmed in.
They gave a courtesy bow in Adam's direction before taking their seats around the table.
This meeting room was the largest room in the whole building. Bigger than the lounge. It only had around four square-shaped windows, the large circular meeting table with twelve seats, and a chandelier above the table.
Since he arranged this meeting, Adam was allowed to sit at the head of the table.
It was pretty unheard of a rookie mercenary sitting at the head of the table during any guild meetings, but no one here complained.
They heard about Adam's current strength. He had become shockingly strong in just a year.
In another year, maybe it wouldn't take even that long, he would've already surpassed most of the people that were sitting around this table.
The last people arrived by the meeting hall. They were Digby and Valora. They took their seats across from Adam.
The double doors closed behind them.
"Thank you all for coming." Adam said, and bowed in respect.
"Is this about what happened yesterday?" Morial asked with his rough voice. "Those Wild
Sons trash infiltrated this place but died like the rats they are."
"We were informed about it." Digby said. "It was something every guild needed to know because there is now a threat of Wildlifers digging their way here."
All the eyes stared at Adam.
"It looks like you all already know." Adam nodded. "I was the one who discovered them."
Everyone nodded, some having smiles on their faces. It made them happy that it was someone from their guild that foiled their plans. It was revenge for Zahn's death.
Adam then recalled the events of yesterday about what happened with the Wild Sons. When he told about killing Victor, many looked surprised before grinning through their white teeth.
Digby nodded sternly and said. "Good job. It sounds like Victor was indeed the leader of the Wild Sons, but he wasn't the strongest member. Those that are backing him might try to get
revenge."
"Any idea why they came here?" Lucette asked.
"No," Adam said.
"They came here for us, apparently." Digby said. "That family that survived said that Victor was asking directions to here. It seems like they were searching for something."
"Any idea what that could be?" Adam asked.
"No." Digby shook his head. "There's nothing that is really valuable with us. Their reasoning stays a mystery."
"Why did you gather us here, Adam?" Valora asked. "Was it for this?"
"No." Adam shook his head. "Guild master, have you already decided the faction that you will
back up?"
A silence fell over the room.
"No," Digby said. "While my father is part of the Royal Palace, he isn't associated with the Imperial Order. However, that could be a strong faction to support."
"We were actually waiting for your input." Valora said as she stared at Adam. "The whole New World is waiting for your decision, and honestly, we don't want to make that decision for
you."
"Children of the Fair is also a very attractive faction. They're a strong faction that could win the war between the Seven Ancient Guilds, and after that, their strength could've risen high enough to challenge Imperial Order."
One of the people around the table suggested.
"Nightshade as well." Another one said. "Ambrose Hawthorne has the Pro-Strong faction in his pocket already, and that makes their core strength one of the highest. Death Mercenaries are also backing them, and they have two S-rankers, Mauricio and Calamity!"
"What about the Smilebacks?" Someone said. "Bartholomew as leader is someone you want to follow. He is the greatest tactician of the New World, and while their numbers aren't as high as other factions, they make up for it with unparalleled strategy and cunning. "Battle Maidens is good as well." Lucette said with a smile. "Athena is a true battleborn, and her army of fair maidens is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. They're faction with
the greatest weapon arsenal."
"What about Dying Star Guild?" Morial said. "They already have Sapphira and Arkham, two S- rankers, and if we add Adam there, three S-rankers in one faction is an extremely formidable
force!"
"Darkstar Guild is a very attractive choice." Another one said. "If they lose the war, their
faction might still survive because of the close connection with the Imperial Order. If they win, they might not go for the throne and ally with themselves with King Moriarty, making
the strongest alliance in history."
"What do you think, Adam?" Digby asked.
Adam took a deep breath and said.
"What about Zestruction?" Adam asked.
"Hmm, Zestruction is an only-male guild and has the strongest magicians in their ranks, but
they're not very versatile in battle." Digby said. "Zephyr, the traveler, is also not that well-
known as a leader, so it will be a gamble."
"Since all of you will hear about this later, Zephyr is my uncle." Adam said with a heavy look.
"I just found out about that recently."
"Your uncle is part of the council of mercenaries?!"
A shocked expression crossed everyone's expression.
"That... changes things." Digby said. "When others find out, they believe that you're already sided with Zestruction, and if you join another faction and cross them on the battlefield, they might think that you don't have what it takes to fight at full strength!"
"That's also good, no?" Lucette said. "If Zestruction wins the war and Zephyr's takes the throne, we can make Adam his heir. Zephyr is also old-48 years old-there aren't many years
left for him to rule!"
"Crimson Hounds would then become Royal Guild like the Imperial Order is right now." One
of them said with a greedy expression.
This plan could lead them straight to the throne!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Hmm..." Digby looked at Adam and asked. "You want to ally ourselves with them?"
"I..." Adam took a deep breath and nodded. "I do."
Digby nodded sternly. "Once we've sent our letter to them, the other guilds will find out, as
Zephyr will use your name to gather more support from guilds that haven't chosen their side
yet.
"When that happens, the ball will start rolling, and we get one step closer to the war." "The war is already here." Adam said and looked out of the air. "I can feel it in the air. The tension is clear. You can see in the faces of everyone on the street that look of anticipation. "When the war starts, the blood river will flow from Imperium City to Ebonreach's gates. The Originals can't hide from the war either. They will also be forced to choose a side." Digby picked up his quill and parchment paper and then started writing a letter for Zephyr. This letter inched the world closer to the war.