Building An Empire Starting From The Labor Camp In Exile-Chapter 263: Food before death

"So you don’t want me to join you and serve under you. It is death that awaits me then if I should join you." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Thrain was breathing hard. The peaceful and calm expression he had been wearing was wiped away, replaced by something ugly and twisted. "Only one captain can fly a flying ship."

Atrox closed his eyes. "So you do love the Clan in a twisted kind of way—your way. You think you are the only one who can save it. Some kind of savior."

"I am! I am the Clan’s savior, the genius! The prodigy! Oh, you tried, but you never did reach me. I remember when you would sneak into my training room to watch me! Yes, I am the savior born to save the Clan!"

Atrox smiled sadly and replied, his tone gentle. "But I did reach you. Even after I was thrown into prison for three years, I still reached you. We are both Errant Knights and... both the Clan leader."

Thrain’s eyes widened, and he flinched as if Atrox had punched him in the face. As if Atrox had forced him to see things he had buried deep in his mind. His face was now covered in hatred and killing intent. "You bastard, just how do you do it? How do you climb so high in such a short time? What do you do? Does it have something to do with Forbidden Knights?"

Atrox smiled ruefully. "So many questions. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought this was a reunion in truth. But this is far from the truth. You planned all this to kill me, right? You do love the Clan, but you want to be the one to forge its glory.

"You want to be the glorious Clan leader who saved his Clan where others couldn’t. You want to make war with the other Clans to show our strength, and for all that, you need us to stop fighting. That is why I am here. A small, private battle to decide."

Thrain stared at him blankly for a moment before he started to laugh. "Ah! Sometimes I forget that you are a Soryu. We have snake’s blood running in our bodies. I forgot. Forgive me. But you are right.

"Now, here, between the two of us, let us know just who is the Clan leader."

Atrox smiled. "A plan to fight between the two of us. But you are the one to make such plans with a location of your choice and how it will go. You already know about this and set up this plan... trap. A death trap that I am supposed to die in.

"Cut the bullshit. Since you know about all this, then you probably planned it all in your favor. And that feeling... that’s a real Master Knight."

Atrox didn’t feel fear because he knew no matter what, he would be able to escape with the tower’s help. Unless he stupidly let himself get trapped in a way that even he couldn’t get out of.

Thrain smiled, and his eyes shone. "When I was told you died, you can’t believe how sad and disappointed I was. Sad that my father gave birth to a weakling who would die just after a few assassins. Disappointed that the second contender for the Clan seat wasn’t strong enough to fight for it.

"But then I heard that you are alive. You faked your death with a monster’s body. Oh! My whole body came alive, and I began to hop around the room in joy! My brother isn’t dead after all!"

Atrox smiled. "You are crazy. I like it. I wonder why we were never close."

"I know! We have such craziness in common, but you seem to add stupidity to yours, Atrox. Because why do you take the bait when you know all this was a trap?"

Atrox smiled sheepishly. "Let’s just say I’m curious. But who would have thought that you would be the one I would find here? I thought I would be facing a Master Knight!"

Even Thrain couldn’t conceal his surprise. "You thought you would be facing a Master Knight, and yet you came here?

"You are far too interesting to be my enemy, brother. Come. Let us eat and drink. Then we will kill each other after we warm our bodies by the fire."

Atrox paused and then nodded. "That is reasonable. What are brothers if they don’t kill each other now and then? Just don’t poison the food."

Thrain did not poison the food. Or at least if he did, then he was keeping an antidote for later because they cooked the food together.

It was a sad affair. That was the only time the two of them spent at least more than one hour in each other’s presence. It was the first time they talked that long to each other and did things together.

It was sad. But it was what was demanded from them. They both wanted something the other wasn’t willing to give. So they had to take it by force. And at the center of it all was their Clan.

It was simple food. Roasted meat, a small monster bird with seasoned leaves and vegetables. And then the wine.

The soldiers in the tents were still there, pretending that they didn’t hear what was going on. Only the two of them stood there with the fire between them.

And above Atrox was the small tower spinning gently.

After they finished eating, they stood there and just enjoyed the crackling fire between them. They stood there for a long time before Thrain shifted. "Is it time to finally kill each other?"

Atrox sighed. "Alright. We can do that much now. It’s tiresome, but it’s something that must be done. This is even better. The Clan will remain while we clash. But what happens if the two of us die?"

Thrain paused. "Well, I didn’t think of that because I’m going to win. There are already policies and laws laid down, ready to be made official. I was only waiting to join your army with mine."

Atrox frowned. "Are you sure you are not underestimating me? I’ll tell you this as your brother. It will be very sad for you if you were."