Fallen Prince, Risen KingThe Black Market Games

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”So from the town of the job, to another town with a murder scene, to the cave, to here is the reason why you
e this late. ” summarized Lord Tyron.

”Pretty much, can we get some sleep now? ” asked Zhōng as he nestled back into the bed.

”What part of, come here immediately did you not understand? ” asked Lord Tyron.

”The come here immediately part, ” replied Zhōng.

Lord Tyron sighed and said, ”I know this is perhaps just a show for you, but people look up to you to set the example. Running late cause you found more, or because you gave a helping hand, or you decided to stop to say hello, is not a good look to your reputation. ” he then pulled all his stuff set on his bed off and crawled into bed to get some sleep as well.

”Its not just for show. ” thought Zhōng as he nestled deeper in the bed.

The next morning, Zhōng went to Princess Zhen and her friends after breakfast. Behind his back, hidden underneath his cloak was his present to his friend. He explore around the campgrounds till he spotted her. ”Truman! ” exclaimed Princess Zhen, seeing him approach her and Lord Zào.

”Happy birthday, princess. ” greeted Zhōng, taking a bow.

”May I ask why you
e late? ” asked Princess Zhen.

”Would you like the boring one or a better one? ” asked Zhōng.

”Well, either way, you
e late Dual Bladed Ninja. ” sneered Lord Zào, he didn like Zhōng ever since they met. He was careless and didn like people getting into his personal life. However, thats what Zhōng did, two months ago, Zhōng uncovered a hidden truth about Lord Zàos heroic deeds in the Eight-Year War. This angered Lord Zào as it stated he was a coward and wanted nothing else but a girl to sleep with.

”Its good to see you again, my lord. ” greeted Zhōng, though he despised him as well, he must show some control and respect.

”Wish it wasn , ” stated Lord Zào, not caring about respect at all.

”Could you entertain us with the reason why you
e late now. ” suggested Princess Zhen, trying to break the tension.

”Well, your majesty, the job I did took longer than expected. I had to ride throughout the night and during the day till I made it to a town to rest and resupply short rations. I then was stopped at another village due to an incident and once it was all settled, I arrived here late last night. ” explained Zhōng.

”That sounded more like an excuse than a story. ” insulted Lord Zào.

”Do you have more friends than him, your majesty? ” asked Zhōng, he was starting to feel annoyed.

”What
e you implying, crook? ” demanded Lord Zào, he grabbed Zhōng and immediately regretted it as a knife was stuck out at his stomach.

”This blade was seen a lot of action in the last two weeks, my lord. Killing all who got in my way, if you want to stand in my way as well, I won hesitate. ” threatened Zhōng.

”Truman! Put the blade down. ” ordered Princess Zhen. Even though he was right, she didn want to see blood spill. Her red flared with her anger, she was starting to become an assertive and determined leader. The more she tried to chase him down, the more confident she became.

”As you wish, ” obeyed Zhōng, spinning the knife before putting it away. ”I don belong here anyway. ” he said as he walked away. ”Not anymore, ” he thought, he still had her present with him.

”What is wrong with him? ” accused Lord Zào as they watch him go.

”Thats a man that seen too many fights, and is on the edge for another one. ” stated Captain Howin, joining them with a spear in hand. He saw what happened and felt on edge afterward.

”Another fight? Here? ” questioned Princess Zhen.

”We might need to keep that in mind, he has seen things that he might not want to talk about. He might know something that we don , if it weren for someone pushing his buttons, we might know why he is late and whats coming. ” stated Captain Howin.

Princess Zhen could never find Truman again as she was always talking to people while he was roaming around. When their paths cross, it was brief as someone came to speak to her and hell disappear around the corner. It was almost evening as Zhōng was up in a tower with his present still in his hand. He was leaning on the railing, hands netted as the present was firmly in them. His mind was scattered from what was given to him, to the assassin nearby, to making the princess mad at him. ”Where is he? ” he said to himself as he decided to search the ground below.

”If you
e going to hide from the princess all day and perhaps tomorrow as well, then you probably shouldn have come. ” stated Captain Howin behind him.

”Captain, ” greeted Zhōng, hiding the present.

”Dual Bladed Ninja, ” said Captain Howin, joining him. ”Would mind telling me whats got you nervous? ”

”Just busy, nothing else. ” stated Zhōng.

”Even when you were busy, you had a calmer mind than now. Something seriously has shaken you. ” stated Captain Howin. ”Or Lord Zào knows how to make you explode better than I could. ”

”What do you want? ” groaned Zhōng.

”To bring you back down so you and she can apologies and you can give her your present. ” answered Captain Howin, he notice something going into Trumans cloak after he revealed his presence.

”But I bet you first want me to speak my mind. ” assumed Zhōng.

”Well, if something has shaken you, then yes I want to know what we could be up against. ” confirm Captain Howin.

”Assassins, ” replied Zhōng, they went quiet as the word made Captain Howin quiver.

”How many? ” asked Captain Howin.

”Ten spread across the empire and one of them is here. ”

”What are they after? ”

”Im not sure, but I would feel safer if I knew. ”

”They can be going after the royal family if they
e so spread out. ”

”Agreed, they could be spying on us for weaknesses. ”

”Do you think they
e preparing to go to war and this is a declaration? ”

”Depends where the other nine are, if thats the case, then itll make sense why they
e here. ” They stood in silence as they watch the sun beginning to set.

”Ill give you my and my mens support after you come with me to talk to the princess. ” declared Captain Howin.

”Fine, lets go then. ” sighed Zhōng as he and the captain left.

They walked through the grounds and towards the gardens with other people. The gardens were set up to host the partys dinner tonight. ”Your majesty, look who I found. ” shouted Captain Howin as he approached Princess Zhen.

”Who? ” asked Princess Zhen.

Captain Howin looked behind him to see the Dual Bladed Ninja was gone. ”He was just with me, where did he go? ” he said. As a silhouette of a man scampered across the roof.

The dinner was about to begin as the empress prepared to make a toast. Just above them, a black coat assassin was perched waiting for the princess to come in his acquire spot when he saw her sit down, prepared to jump. He flew over their heads before diving for the princess. Suddenly, a blue and silver mech intercepted him and they crashed into the tents outside of the gardens, causing a ruckus.

Zhōng tucked and rolled after he deactivated his mech. He armed himself with his Longus and the Ninja Sword as he looked at what happened to the assassin. He didn search long as the assassin was already in the air with his blades unleashed. He came down on him as Zhōng just barely dodge. They locked blades as tried to get the angle but the assassin blocked him before throwing a stab at him. He barely escape the plunge as it scratched his shirt. ”Impressive, ” commented Zhōng as he brought his blades back up.

”You
e the one they call the Dual Bladed Ninja, I see your reputation is true about you. ” stated the assassin.

”Does my reputation says anything of me being late? ” joked Zhōng. ”Who are you? What are you after? ”

”You
e going have to beat me if you want to know. ” stated the assassin. He charged with quick speed and strike one of his blades at Zhōngs left thigh. The deep cut was painful, but Zhōng was still able to stand. He changed his fighting style from overwhelming on all sides to constant stikes in the middle. The assassin was forced to block as Zhōng push him back. Their blades locked but before the assassin could react, Zhōng pushed his blades down and out before tackling him to the ground. With his left hand holding the Ninja Sword and the assassins right arm, Zhōng threw punches to the assassins face with his right.

The assassin, noticed Zhōngs error as he unsheathed his hidden blade on his left and prepared to plunge it deep into Zhōngs side. A foot stomped on his hand preventing him from carrying the deed. ”I don think so and Dual Bladed Ninja, thats enough. ” barked Captain Howin, sliding his spear close to the assassins throat.

”Very well, ” panted Zhōng as he got off the assassin when guards hold him down. The cut on his thigh throbbed with pain, it first time he felt pain but it was uncomfortable. He looked up to see the empress, Princess Zhen and a crowd with terror looks on their faces. He pulled up his hood since it came down during the fight and picked up his Longus before putting both blades away.

”You want to know what we
e after, Dual Bladed Ninja. ” cried the assassin just before they took him away. ”Our king wants Princess Xing, Daughter of Emperor Huo, he wants her to come and take her rightful place by his side. ”

”Why her? ” growled Zhōng turning around to face the assassin. The blue eyes under the cowl lit up like flames as he walked towards him.

”Thats none of your business, you didn beat me fairly. ” stated the assassin.

”Permission, captain? I have a reputation to keep. ” stated Zhōng, when he made it to them.

”In front of the princess, you sure you want that? ” asked Captain Howin.

Zhōng pondered what was asked, he wanted this assassin dead since he won speak anymore. They were going after his sister, but the words of the captain rang through his head. ”Then get him out of sight. ” he ordered before turning back around and walked towards the princess while the guards took him away. When approached her, he reached behind and reveal his box gift. ”Happy birthday, princess. ” he said as he gave it to her.

Princess Zhen opened the small little box, inside was a crystal necklace. It sparkled in the setting sun revealing interesting shapes of light. ”Thank you, ” she said before she notice he was gone.

Zhōng was finishing saddling up Yáo when Lord Tyron came to him. ”You are not serious. ” he stated.

”I have to get home, shes in danger. ” replied Zhōng as he tried to get up.

”Shes safe, they don know where she is. Besides, Tony and Darius are with her and her aunt is close as well. ”

”But they don know what we
e up against, these assassins, they
e not what we describe when we talked about them. They
e greedy and more aggressive. ” explained Zhōng.

Lord Tyron sighed and said, ”Well you
e going to start a reputation of arriving late and leaving early. ”

”Like that bothers me, ” stated Zhōng, he then was off, riding back to School Town.