Chapter 51- Conflict

Chapter 51: Chapter 51- Conflict

Chapter 51- Conflict

It was as if the entire room were submerged in freezing cold temperatures. The kind of cold that would seep into the bones and leave nothing behind intact. Nobody uttered a word, their eyes locked onto the princess as they waited for her to speak again. They could not believe what she had just uttered.

"What are you talking about, Venera?" The king asked with a deep frown; his aura leaked slowly out of his body as if he couldn’t contain his emotions for a moment.

"I’m saying someone has betrayed you, and they’re more than likely sitting at this table right now," Venera said as she stared into each and every single official’s face, perhaps searching for the culprit of this attack. However, naturally, that was easier said than done, so her attempt was fruitless.

"... This is a very serious accusation, Venera. Do you have proof?" Theodore asked coldly.

"Ask them all to leave and let’s talk. I will tell you what you want to know, and you tell me what I want to know." Venera said. "Is that a deal?"

"..." Theodore looked at her and then at the people in the room before he clenched his fists subtly. "Everyone, could you please give us a moment?"

"..."

The men and women stared at each other in confusion before they obliged and started walking out of the room. Each one of them stared at Venera in silence before the door closed and the room was submerged in silence again. Venera looked over her shoulder and then at her father.

"Who are the Zathari? And why do they want to take you down?" Venera asked.

"I need to know where you got this idea that someone here is a traitor. These accusations can’t be said easily, Venera. I don’t have time for-"

"I’m not here to waste time either. I’m on a timer, and if I don’t find Rize in time, he will die. Now, father, I will ask again. Who are the Zathari and what do they want?"

"..."

Even though the king usually could pressure someone with ease and put them in their place, Venera was one of the rare few who could stand up to him without fear.

’She got her mother’s strong personality.’ He exhaled as he turned around and stared outside. He wished he could just leave this matter hidden from his daughter, but with her being this stubborn and these serious accusations, he was left with no choice.

"I will tell you, but you must promise me one thing... Keep this matter here. I do not want your opinion on it, nor do I want you meddling in it. Understood?"

"I won’t. I’m only looking for Rize."

’What is with her and this boy? She never goes out of her way so much for someone...’ Theodore squinted before he shook his head.

"The Zathari are... A small tribe of people, natives to the northern mountains... The wall of Sagardia."

The northern mountains, or the ’Wall of Sagardia’ as the people would call it is a mountain range that spanned thousands of kilometers and separated Sagardia, the nation they were in, and the blizzard seas to the north.

It also worked as a natural barrier for monsters that came from that area and also... Due to the fact that it’s a mountain range, the minerals and ores found there were practically priceless.

"They have been living there for a few thousand years. As your great-grandfather was expanding our reign and sovereignty, he discovered that mountain range and the sheer riches it held." He explained. "We tried to strike a deal with the Zathari to mine the ores there, and in return, we would give them a share of it and help improve their lives. But... They refused."

"..."

"They see those mountain ranges as a sacred place that must not be touched. But your great-grandfather could simply not ignore the wealth that came from that region. So, he decided to try and mine there anyway..."

"Let me guess, that didn’t sit well with them, and it created a conflict?" Venera asked coldly.

"Essentially. However, we did not seek that conflict, nor did we want it to reach that point. However, we are not people who would accept threats to our prosperity as a nation. We had to take care of them." Theodore said coldly. "Your Great-Grandfather tried his best to talk to them and find a peaceful solution, but they would rather die than leave us to mine that area. Years passed, and to this day, they are still fighting us tooth and nail."

"..." Venera frowned. "So, we came there uninvited, took their lands to mine the minerals and ores, and killed them too? No wonder they hate us this much."

Venera sucked a deep breath as she closed her eyes. Now, all of a sudden, their hatred made sense. Their sacrificial nature also made sense, and the spiteful words that man said to her were all logical. They held a grudge against Sagardia. Their desire to destroy it came from all this brutal conflict that took God knows how many of them.

"Why did you hide this from us? From the people?" Venera asked.

"Because as a king, there are things that the people must not know of not to become... hostile. This is a matter that they don’t need to be concerned with."

"They shouldn’t be concerned whether their nation is killing innocent people or not?" Venera asked.

"Listen. I told you, I don’t need your opinion on this. I told you what you wanted. Now tell me what I want to know." Theodore asked.

"..." Venera stared at him coldly; the disgust in her eyes was visible. But she didn’t want to start a pointless argument, so she sighed. "I’ve seen how armed and ready those people were. It is impossible for them to have brought that kind of weaponry with them, if they even had it. They also were able to plant bombs within the tunnel system of the amusement park, so they had a thorough layout and financial backing to pull this off."

"..."

"That could’ve only been possible if someone helped them do it. Someone who knew the ins and outs of the capital. Someone who had access to all those weapons and bomb parts. Someone who knew the way to stir the people and make them change their view of us." Venera said calmly.

"That..." Theodore’s eyes only became more and more filled with anger.

"I’m sure you can figure out the rest. But the point is, you have been tricked, father. One of your trusted people has dirt on his hands." Venera said. "Watch your back. You might get a surprise you never wanted."

Venera then turned around and walked to the door.

"Venera."

"What?" She stopped when her father called for her. She could see the sheer fury in his eyes. Whoever did that won’t escape for long. That man was the king of the strongest nation in the world for a reason. He was not an idiot.

"Keep this matter between us. The culprit is aware that I’m suspicious now but... If we are patient enough, we will catch him in the deed."

"... Do whatever you wish for." Venera said as she walked out of the room, leaving the king alone with his thoughts.