Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1596 - 1595 - Fools Rush In

Lind had little to prepare to leave but getting out of the city was not as easy as last time. He was able to fly, true but that was when the city was invaded and time was crucial. Normally, flight in a city depended on the ruler's laws and arrays set up.

He had not seen a single person flying by any method from his windows in the last month so that left the ground and it meant he had to somehow hide from the highly accurate senses of Divine Realm beasts!

While he could change his appearance, his aura was the problem. It was far too potent to be suppressed by him and he had yet to learn a way to do it!

Hiding completely was one thing but slipping through a crowd while hiding was an entirely different matter! Further, the guards had orders most likely to stop him from leaving.

Without further thoughts, Karu suddenly suggested asking the innkeeper to smuggle them out via a wagon. Lind had the distinct impression she was recalling a similar plan but there were 3 huge issues with it.

The first concern was impinging on the good will of the inn. They had been kind and kept them very safe. He would not reward their generosity by putting a target on them!

The second was the same as his disguise. Hiding his physical form did nothing if his aura leaked out. Even assuming they had a chest or barrel he could compress into, his harmony would leak out and be detected!

The final one was something Karu was shocked to realize it seemed. There was zero chance anything leaving by boat or wagon was not inspected for exactly what she thought to try.

The rumors alone meant he was being actively hunted and the recent attack made the guards very zealous in protecting the city.

They were eating in his room when the light by the door came on. He used the arrays to detect a surprising visitor. It was the daughter of the innkeeper.

Little Tau was only in the Shard Tier of the Immortal Realm but both she and her brother had gotten remarkable improvement from asking him questions.

When he opened the door, he found her broad frame, though smaller than her parents was larger than any human, was shaking with fury. Her face was covered in tears as well.

"What is wrong, Tau?" Lind was concerned but Karu was also truly surprised. It meant things were not unfolding as whatever future she had seen. He REALLY needed to get somewhere safe to talk to her about that!

"The councilors arrested old man Misham! They accused him of hiding you and removing you from the city!" Confusion flooded Lind. While he could see them holding the former City Lord accountable for letting him slip away, arresting him seemed a bit far.

He also had an impression that while Misham was a walrus, they were brethren to the Shadow Seal Cove residents so far as they seemed concerned.

"Impossible! There is no way senior Misham should be arrested!" Karu nearly screeched and her fur bristled. Her tails had a brief flash of white flames tipped in black.

Lind carefully stretched his aura. He had been practicing inside the inn alone and learned most Divine Realm auras were ignored so long as they were below a certain threshold. It essentially only extended his natural senses beyond his current location and no more.

For his current needs, it was enough.

At the center of the city there was a large crowd but they were not cheering as Misham was led up in chains to a platform of dark wood. It was clearly from the local forest and recently built near the plaza that usually had a kind of open market for fresh catches of the day or caravans looking to sell or buy products.

A shadow seal with a cane was standing there with fine dark robes and a younger version of himself not far away.

Lind picked up that at least half the crowd was raging for Misham to be released while the other side looked uncomfortable but was not backing down either.

[SILENCE! I have brought the accused here for a public trial. All actions will be in the open and without any deceit!] The finely dressed shadow seal had fine features as a human with gray hair extending down his back.

The smooth face showed he was still in his prime but Lind felt a tremor in his heart. The words seemed righteous but there was an Art underneath them! No deceit like Hell!

Such a subtle Art could change perceptions without notice and suddenly make the person reasonable no matter what they said!

"Councilor Kang! What is the meaning of this?!" A rather good looking woman with dark blue robes and an official symbol of office around her neck appeared. The scars on her face did not mar her beauty at all.

[Ah, City Lord Nera, I was hoping–] Kang was using his Art again when Lind had had enough.

[Disperse.] He used his Authority from the inn and it swept over the entire city. Humans and demons present felt a shiver but all the beasts truly trembled as the Heavens rumbled. Kang was shocked as his Art was shattered and many people shook their heads before many eyes narrowed at the stage.

"Who dares?!" Kang was looking around but then the air tore open and Lind with Karu stepped through. Kang was a Journeyman Tier shadow seal beast but suddenly he felt tiny in front of a mere Apprentice Tier.

Lind's aura whirled around him before he looked at the youth next to Kang. The younger shadow seal was in just as ornate robes but his aura was clearly in the Sovereign Tier of the Immortal Realm only.

The boy's dark eyes were daggers but Lind saw only coldness there. It was neither grief nor rage but cold calculation staring back at him.

Political games, again! Lind sighed as his arm transformed and emerald light flared bere all were shocked as the chains holding Misham not only shattered but lost all their power.

"Flawed isolation arrays and strength sealing formations. If you are going to imprison someone, find a better craftsman." Lind then lifted Misham to his feet as the man rubbed circulation back into his limbs.

"You have no–" Kang went to speak again but a crack of lightning made him freeze.

"You are slow, aren't you? What do you think you are feeling right now? I may not be of your race but my Authority has been acknowledged by Heaven and Earth. I was recognized under the auspices of the kraken and leviathan races. Thus, you can fall under my Authority if I stretch a bit." Lind's voice was calm but he was boiling as he examined Misham up close.

The damage to his meridians was not light and his crystal was cracked! That was not casual damage nor was it necessary to bind him!

It was clearly an attempt to cripple him even more!

A profound aura flowed from Lind as his Art of Defiance engulfed Misham. The damage to his body and dantian were healed nearly instantly. Only the Immortal Realm was well within his ability to quickly restore if he desired.

Kang's eyes went wide as he felt the pressure of the Heavens.

A True Lord's Authority! Most True Lords could have unrivaled power in their own species but in the Divine Lands, they had to be recognized by Heaven and Earth to expand that power!

Lind sneered at the clear thoughts on Kang as his son's own face drained of blood. They had crossed an acknowledged True Lord! The cost of his actions had been trivial but the blatant disregard from Kang has made the Heavens angry.

"So, I have some knowledge of your grievance but I already killed the perpetrators and rescued the survivors. If you want to gain some prestige by sending me out, young man, you should at least be sincere." The shift of the conversation made Kang flinch but a glance above only confirmed he was powerless at that moment.

A True Lord passing judgement, regardless of realm, could easily smite a higher realm foe. Heaven and Earth were fair and True Lords existed to keep the far more powerful beast bloodlines from running rampant.

The harsh requirements and stringent costs of their special status meant any beast chosen to become one was remarkable.

The fact Lind seemed to not age at all meant it was not costing him a thing! The Heavens had judged Kang as being on the wrong side of karma!

"I never schemed to–" The youth tried to deny but Lind's emerald eyes flared.

[Truth.] Both father and son went nearly white at that word! Neither dared to speak or transmit at that moment. It did not stop someone else from speaking however.

"She died protecting a little boy. She was brave and worthy of her name. Loren Shar was a hero. You dishonor her memory by using her to advance your own power, boy." Misham was enraged.

Those that had witnessed the actions of those that died also remembered her. Lind waited as the pressure was now on the pair.

Kang remained silent as he could still survive with it but his son was a fool.

"She should have let the peasants die! That is what they are for, as my father and grandfather taught me! A million commoners are nothing! They can easily be replaced but she was perfect to stand by my side silently and bear my heirs!" The boy was raging while his eyes were horrified.

Whatever he had intended to say had been superseded by Lind's Authority.

[Release.] The heavy pressure vanished and Lind's aura fell back to his true foundation. Yet, Kang knew if he so much as moved, the crowd would swallow him whole!

Lind looked at the youth as he collapsed. His face was empty of all hope as he knew what had just happened.

"It has been my experience that you have 2 paths ahead of you. Honest contrition and rebuilding your foundation to rise above your current petty self, or to delude yourself that you are right no matter what and wallow in mediocrity as your heart demons consume you. The choice, is yours." Lind collected Misham and Karu before tearing through space once more and vanishing from the stage.

He had moved like the whirlwind and used absolute power to quash Kang and his son. Not a scratch was on their bodies but their hearts and minds were riddled with lethal damage.

Not just a strong warrior but an experienced True Lord as well. Those that admired Lind Frey were now at fever pitch while those that had belittled him trembled in fear.