1416 All Hail The New Monarch
Top 4-Tier Guards.
They weren't hidden guards, but those walking about the place out in the open to all to see.
Of course, the biggest difference between them and regular guards was that they had access to more assassin-like skills and also had access to a range of hidden skills taught by their Veinitta Barn household.
These men were the ones guarding his office and places he considered sacred.
Additionally, they sometimes handled business for him when he wasn't around.
One could see them as caretakers and estate managers of the highest orders, running all his vast wealth for him.
They worked in his interest like spiders creating a perfect web, expanding his influence across the empire.
And to keep them completely loyal, they were all poisoned by a one-of-a-kind poison provided by the T.O E.P.
Yes.
As a member, he had this privilege.
The poison's cure was in the hands of the Morgs.
And even if a person someday found or developed a cure of their own, they would still die.
Why? Because without the T.O.E.P's orders, anyone who dared to detoxify these people would have to face the wrath of the T.O.E.P.
How dare they work against the Morgs?
Every 4 months, tiny clay vails would get sent by an unknown source to these Top 4-Tier guards.
What was sent was enough to relieve the poison, keeping them alive for another 4 months before it started acting up again.
With the Morgs on Sebastian's side, these people dared not betray Sebastian... Even if they secretly hated him to the core.
Of course, the feeling they got from Sebastian was utter fear.
The youngster was cruel, not letting a single enemy get away.
His methods were truly dreadful. And not many wanted to cross his oath after seeing him in action.
That being said, these Top 4-Tier men were the ones handling his affairs when he wasn't around.
And even now that he was back, they still continued doing the same thing.
However, with him in the estate, they had quite a few rules to adhere to.
Rule number 1: Except the news is deathworthy, no one was to disturb the master.
Sebastian had no time for rubbish.
If they dared to bother him, then they better be prepared to die for whatever reason they barged in.
Meaning that if he judged the news to be a waste of his time, he would kill them on the spot.
Why did he have them if they couldn't have simple tasks?
Just because he was here didn't mean that they should start bombarding him with these menial tasks that, by the way, they had long been doing.
All he wanted to see were the reports.
And if there were indeed something that caught his eyes, then he would actively question it.
Oh?
Since they dared to disturb him, then it better be worth it!
.
"Come in," Timothy responded, while Sebastian still had his eyes gazing at the document in his hands.
And soon enough, a guard hastily marched in, leaping for Sebastian as fast as he could.
"Speak. What is it that has got you running mad?"
"My lord! It's urgent! A letter has just arrived from a Scarlet Messenger!"
What?
Scarlet Messenger?
Wait!
Could it be?
"Give it to me." Sebastian took hold of the profound brownish parchment letter that had been rolled and secured with 3 Scarlet ribbons.
Timothy looked at the 4-Tier guard. "Leave."
"Yes, my lords."
The guard responded, taking off in his flash to continue his estate management.
Now, his job title had switched from a guard to one of the many m estate Caretakers within the vicinity.
Bam!
The door was tightly shut, and Timothe calmly sat opposite his friend, carefully looking at his friend's facial expression.
Was it good or bad news?
Thrip!
Sebastian undid the Scarlet ropes, feeling very overwhelmed.
This was the moment of truth.
It was now or never.
Unraveling the scrolled message, Sebastian diligently read every sentence word for word, not daring to miss a single thing.
Scarlet messengers were a higher trained messenger legion scattered across the world, all belonging to the T.O.E.P.
Again, they were an elite messenger group tasked with delivering Absolute Orders from above.
This meant that Sebastian would have no right to refuse or question them.
Hopefully, it was what he was thinking of.
.
"Well? What does it say?"
Timothy felt his heart thump dangerously the heavier the silence within the room.
That's right.
He too was a T.O.E.P member. But he was taken in as Sebastian's aide.
He and Sebastian were, as they say, in the same pot of soup.
So if anything went wrong on Sebastian's side, he too would lose ruthlessly.
Maybe it was because of this and many other factors that would never allow them to betray each other.
United they stood, divided they would fall.
Gulp.
Timothy's apple nervously bobbed up and down his throat.
"Dammit, Sebastian. Can't you speak up?" Timothy was about to impatiently curse at this friend of his when he suddenly saw him reveal a deep and cruel grin.
This... This...
"Bahahhahahahaha~"
Tonight quickly burst into laughter.
Good. Good...
"Old friend, I know that look. With this, we're good to go, yes?"
Sebastian nodded, still carrying that grin on his face. "Yes. The envoy we sent to Arcadina arrived safely."
One should know that the moment the envy reached the coasts of Arcadina, he sent a message to the TO.E.P, who in turn had sent him word now.
Anyway, the envoy decided to sail up to the Capital using one of the massive and vast river routes in Arcadina.
It's said that the moment the envoy arrived, the Arcadians were shocked and in awe, giving face to them as though they had never seen such magnificent ships before.
.
Though they had no way of knowing whether the envoy was safe after arriving at the Capital city, the reaction of the Arcadinians had allowed them to estimate and envision what would've gone down.
After all, who in their right minds would dare to stand against the T.O.E.P?
If his guess was accurate, that cousin of his should be fleeing towards Baymard now but wanting to die in his hands.
But how was that possible?
For his grandfather's reputation and loss, he would kill and hang William on the city walls.
Yes. Arcadina will continue to be riled by Barns... Barns from his grandfather's lineage!
Sebastian smiled cruelly.
All hail the new monarch!
"Good! Inform the men who were on standby.
Well, leave for Arcadina in a month!"
