Nodding, Faxul said to Litwick, "I will announce the delay myself. Disperse the noise canceling formation."
Getting up, Litwick said, "As you wish, my King. I must say, it is refres.h.i.+ng to see someone who does not need to depend on others to make decisions. Would you like me to cast a voice magnifying spell?"
Surprised that his tactful decision was already showing results, Faxul said, "No need. I"ll do it myself."
Hearing this, Litwick became a little startled because he had never known that the new Black Raven King was also a mage.
The fight for the throne was meant to be between two equals fighting on the same playing field. Hence, it only made sense that the new King hadn"t used his mage powers then.
Stepping forward and casting the spell, Faxul began speaking to the crowds who were gathered in the streets of the capital city and outside. By now, even those who hadn"t followed him to the stadium and witnessed the match knew that the previous King was now dead. After all, Daneel was using the Network to full effect.
"People of the Black Raven Kingdom! Do you want a hasty ceremony, or a grand one which will be remembered for decades? I, for one, think that a new era should start with a bang! Hence, I"ve taken the decision that both the connection ceremony and the ascension will take place tomorrow at noon. For now, I ask you to either wait or go back to your homes if they are nearby. If they aren"t, you are welcome to stay in the capital where your lodging will be paid for by the government. If the inns become full, I hope the rest of the citizens of the capital will be gracious enough to give lodging to these people who have shown their strong support for me. You can also collect reimburs.e.m.e.nt later from the government if you do so. Thank you all for your steadfast support, without which I would not have been able to fight the battle and obtain revenge both for my parents and for the Kingdom. I will see you all tomorrow at noon."
Saying so, Faxul turned around and walked to the palace gates which opened on their own to welcome him inside.
Behind him, the people had started a cheer which made him understand just how his friend had felt when he had killed the previous King of Lanthanor.
"King Faxul! King Faxul! King Faxul! King Faxul!"
As these shouts echoed throughout the Kingdom, it almost looked like the connection ceremony would just be a formality.
In the people"s minds and hearts, Faxul was already king.
…..
"Took a line from my book, eh?"
As Faxul listened to this message sent in an amused tone by Daneel, he only smiled slightly in response.
He had seen how grateful the people had been in Lanthanor when Daneel had announced that those who came to the capital to see justice being served would be paid by the government to obtain lodging and food.
Hence, he had decided to do the same so that the ascension could take place as smoothly as possible.
The 10-minute walk through the grounds to get to the Palace went by quickly, with each occupied by their own thoughts.
Although Daneel was happy that his friend had obtained the throne, he was still very curious about how he had managed to skip levels so easily. Besides, he also hoped that he was not underestimating the old man due to his trust in the system.
As for the matter of the trinkets, he had just gotten an idea but he had placed it to the side to take a decision on it after discussing with Faxul.
At the doors of the Palace stood 10 people who bowed to Faxul as he made his way over.
After doing so, many of them looked suspiciously at Daneel and Elanev who were by Faxul"s side.
A woman with a scar on her forehead was the first to speak.
"Welcome to the Palace, my King. I know you must be tired from the fight, so you can go to your Chambers to rest. We have already given the orders to deploy everyone available to search for the Protector Raven. Please take this official communication trinket which will be used to contact you if there is any news. It also has all the confidential information that a King must know. Decisions regarding the future of the Kingdom can be taken after your ascension. Congratulations on becoming the King."
Taking the trinket, Faxul said, "Very well. Thank you for your service. Please find rooms for both of my companions near my Chambers. And send the design plans of the connection trinket to my room. "
Leaving this order, the trio entered the Palace while Faxul studied the trinket which he had just obtained.
In it, there was nothing much new. Just as Daneel had told him, the ancestral grounds were the place where the extinct herbs grew which let them train ravens to become powerful.
It was still early evening, but all three of them still retired to their rooms.
As the doors closed, the search for the protector Raven began.
…..
After hearing the order, the old woman had frowned because she did not know what this new King wanted to do with the design plans.
The plan of whoever had destroyed the trinkets was clear. Although they could be remanufactured, the only ones who could do so were in Eldinor.
If rival kingdoms got to know that not letting the Black Raven Kingdom obtain the trinkets would mean that their strength would go down by many levels, they would do everything they could to ensure that the trinkets wouldn"t be made.
Even Eldinor itself might reject the Black Raven Kingdom.
This would destroy the Kingdom without any doubt.
Besides, even if Eldinor did except, the money that would be needed would put the Kingdom under such financial stress that they might and up destroying themselves anyway.
This was why she had been so angry at the meeting before.
Looking at the others who also had perplexed expressions on the faces, she sent the message to send the plans as instructed before joining in on the search for the Protector Raven herself.
...
Meanwhile, in his room, Daneel was studying the plans for the trinket which he had just obtained from Faxul.
The reason he had asked his friend to do so was that he had decided to give a shot at making these trinkets. After all, with the system"s help, he was a very accomplished trinket maker himself.
True enough, after letting the system a.n.a.lyze the designs, he had gotten the notification that he could make the trinket.
Right now, the idea he had gotten before came back to him.
He had noticed the strain that had been placed on Faxul when he saw the Black Raven soldiers dying.
Although his friend"s previous words had put him at ease, he did not know if the situation might repeat in the future.
Right now, he had a chance to place a countermeasure in case it did happen.
But if he did so and Faxul found this out in the future, it might break their relations.h.i.+p entirely.
Still, Daneel thought back to the scenes of death that he had caused because he had been too soft.
It was these images which made him take the decision.
Hopefully, he would never have to use it. But if there came a situation where a need did arise, he would truly feel like killing himself if he chose not to go forward with his plan right now.
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he said to the system, "Modify the design and place a backdoor in the trinket."
…..
A few hours later, outside the forest in which the ancestral grounds were situated.
After walking here along with Daneel, Faxul took out the connection trinket he had stolen and sighed as he saw that it was ruined just like the others. Whatever method the old man had used to make them defunct, it had affected all the trinkets in the Kingdom.
Seeing him do so, Daneel took out a trinket from his pocket that was much more coa.r.s.e than the one in Faxul"s hands.
Handing it to him, he said, "it might not look as pretty, but it will get the job done."
Although Daneel had a slightly guilty expression on his face, Faxul did not notice it because his eyes were fixed on the trinket in his hand.
Taking it, he put it on his finger before walking into the forest with a determined stride.
It was finally time to hopefully free the protector Raven from its decades of suffering and loneliness.