Building An Empire Starting From The Labor Camp In Exile-Chapter 249: Lies?

Eamon’s castle was big, and it was crawling with guards.

Atrox and his group were invited inside, but only Atrox went to the great hall with Eamon. Instead of using his throne-like chair at the top of the dais, he dragged a normal chair closer to Atrox’s place to sit.

"We can begin now," Eamon said.

Atrox went straight to the point. "As you are now, do you think you can defeat my brother?"

Eamon shook his head without hesitation. "Of course not. Thrain Soryu has all the cards, except for my army and your own."

Atrox nodded in admittance. "But you have something planned. That’s why you are gathering your army. That’s why you have them outside your gate in sheer defiance."

Eamon didn’t say anything. He only shifted on his seat.

Atrox raised his hand and brought out his tower, letting it touch down on his right palm. "Do you know what this is? It’s called the Commander’s Tower, and one of its powers is to make short-time laws.

"Let’s test that out. No lies are allowed here!"

A faint ripple flowed from the tower, and something clicked in the air like an instrument was setting into place. Atrox pointed at the tower and let it float above them. "Of course, you don’t have to take my word for it. You can always test it out yourself."

Eamon’s face tightened, and he clenched his fingers as he was reminded of what would happen if he told lies. If it was only Atrox there, then he wouldn’t have been worried. After all, Atrox was an Errant Knight rank, but he came with two Master Knights.

Meanwhile, Eamon was his own Master Knight that his city had. No way he was going to risk that for something he started. "There is no need. You can continue with what you are doing."

"Then tell me, Eamon. Who is your backer? Why do you think you can win against my brother? Who is supporting you?" That had been the question that Atrox wanted an answer to. It was a question that had been bothering him since the time he flew above Eamon’s army.

Eamon shook his head. "I’m not answering that. There’s nothing that says I should answer all your questions. Unless you answer me a question too. Are you trying to propose an alliance to me?"

Atrox leaned back in his seat. "That’s the most obvious thing. What do you expect? We two can’t do anything against Thrain, and I won’t fight while I leave a big army behind me. The same could be said about you.

"But together? Together we can deal damage and push right through into that capital. Yes, I’m proposing an alliance," Atrox said.

After all, there could only be a Lord in the south.

"I thought as much. But there’s something you are missing, my lord. Have you considered me not needing you?" Eamon revealed a small smile.

Atrox froze. ’Is your supporter that strong? But even then, I know your end game, Eamon. You still need a Soryu.’

He narrowed his eyes. "Not needing me means we will fight for who controls the south. Thrain Soryu will crush us before then. And Eamon, do you think I don’t know what you are after? You want to enlarge your clan. You want to be like the Soryu.

"I can give you that."

What Atrox didn’t say was that the man wanted to replace the Soryu.

Eamon tilted his head. "You can?"

Atrox smiled. "Tell me, what do you think will happen to the two clans supporting Thrain Soryu when I take the seat?"

Eamon nodded hesitantly as he understood what Atrox meant, but his face was still impassive. "But what if I take it all by myself? What if I sit on it all?"

Atrox smiled like a cat. "You can, but can you? If it comes to that, then even I will turn on you. And even as we are, the Soryu clan can still build allies from the Hinterlands.

"Do not cut more than you can carry, Eamon, lest you become hunched while young," he warned. And it was the truth he was speaking.

Eamon smiled faintly, his eyes flickering to the small tower. "I should call that a joke. Why would I want to sit where the Soryu clan sat? I only want the expansion of my clan."

Atrox smiled, his eyes guarded, the glow in them a warning. "Yes. I know the Soryu clan also began like that. A small clan that felled a bigger one. But don’t worry, Eamon. You want the Soryu seat? Then I will give it to you. It’s a seat that’s becoming too small anyway."

Eamon’s eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"I will carve a much bigger seat for myself. The world is big enough to shape as you wish, but that’s not today’s matter. Tell me, Eamon. For now, will you follow me?"

Eamon’s face shuttered as if it wasn’t what he was expecting. He glanced around the room, his eyes not settling on a single thing, and shifted on his seat.

Atrox didn’t say anything. He simply observed.

’He must not have expected that. He must be waiting to bargain with me, driving it so high and putting me in an uncomfortable situation. But I offered him what he wanted without trouble. Now he must be thinking of how I’ll move against him. No matter, Eamon. Only one of us can really take the seat, and I’ll be damned if I let your chubby fingers near it.’

Finally, Eamon bowed his head. "I will follow you, my lord." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Atrox didn’t look his way. Instead, he focused on the tower to confirm that his law was still in place. It was almost unbelievable that Eamon was telling the truth, but that seemed to be the situation.

Atrox finally looked at the man and thought, ’You’ll follow me until you’re ready to stab me in the back, right? Let’s see who gets the longer blade.’

Atrox stretched his hand forward, palm facing upward, and Eamon slapped his own on it. That was the kind of deal-sealing when there was no document between each other. It was something based solely on words of mouth and such.

He leaned back on his seat and resisted the relieved sigh that tried to pass his lips. No matter his facial expression and confidence, Atrox felt lighter, a great weight lifted from his shoulders. For all his bravado, he had thought he would end up fighting Eamon.