System's POV
chapter-208

When the artifacts on the altar started glowing, the first thing Arthas did was grab Thirteen and Netero and drag them to run away as fast as they could.

But the City Lord had only managed to grab hold of the two of them when he found himself locked in place.

It was as if some kind of enchantment was placed on the Altar, preventing anyone from going in and out of it after it was activated.

Because of this, the three could only helplessly stare at the Round Mirror, waiting for what was about to come. The mirror's surface rippled before showing a face that almost gave the three people a heart attack.

"Zion, is that you?" Paven blinked in surprise after seeing that his collaborator was on the other side of the mirror, looking back at him with a dumbfounded look on his face. "What are you doing there?"

"P-Paven?" Thirteen looked at the Tigerkin in disbelief because he never expected that the one who would appear before them was the City Lord of Parania City instead of the Majin Prince.

"Yes, it's me," Paven said before smiling. "My meeting with Arundel had just ended a while ago. But the round mirror suddenly activated a second time. I thought that he still had something to say to me, so I waited until the connection was established. This is indeed a pleasant surprise."

Thirteen patted his chest in relief because the worst-case scenario didn't happen, and he looked at Paven with great interest.

"This saves me the trouble of contacting you," Thirteen stated. "You said that you just finished talking to Arundel. What did the two of you talk about?"

Paven's expression turned solemn after hearing Zion's question. After taking a deep breath, he recounted everything they talked about, making Arthas and Netero frown.

"So we only have two months." Thirteen's face turned grim after hearing Paven's report. "Did you, by any chance, feel that Arundel would personally make a move during your discussion?"

"Although he didn't say it explicitly and only gave me an ultimatum, I believe that he will personally make his move in two months," Paven replied. "He had the look of someone who would personally solve a problem in order to meet a deadline.

"I can say with confidence that even if the Tigerkins and the Barbarians don't go to war in two months, Arundel and his army will march to the Valbarra Archipelago."

Thirteen clicked his tongue. Two months was not enough to convince the Barbarian King and the Tigerkin King to work together and fight against a common enemy.

For the first time, Thirteen felt that he didn't have any means to make it happen. The only method he could think of was to kidnap the Barbarian King and the Tigerkin King and convince them at gunpoint.

But he was just a seven-year-old, and the two people whom he must kidnap were as strong as his Grandfather, Arthur, who was a Throne.

"Sh*t," Thirteen cursed before shaking his head helplessly.

He thought that he would be able to delay the war for three months, giving him enough time to worm his way toward the upper ranks of the Nobility and gain a private audience with the Barbarian King.

Thirteen wasn't too worried about the Tigerkin King because on that side, he had General Stark, Briella, Anwir, Paven, and Brigham.

These people already had a high enough standing in the Sumatran Kingdom, not to mention that Briella was also a Seer.

If she told the King that something was going to happen, there was a very high chance that the Leader of all Tigerkins would believe her and act according to her visions.

'Two months,' Thirteen thought as he closed his eyes. 'I still have two months.'

The seven-year-old knew that now wasn't the time to give up.

Since he was short on time, he decided to just wing it!

"Paven, no matter what happens, the Tigerkin Army must be ready to move in two months," Thirteen ordered. "Also, there is something that I need you to do from your side."

Thirteen explained his plan to the City Lord of Parania City, making the latter blink in confusion.

"Well, I don't think there's any problem with this request," Paven commented. "In fact, the next shipment will be done in a week, just as scheduled."

Paven then glanced at the Barbarians, who were listening to their conversation. "The Barbarians will do the same on the same day. It's one of the extremely rare activities where both sides don't openly antagonize each other.

"But, Zion, both sides have Shamans stationed to protect that place. Anyone who disturbs the peace will become their enemies."

Thirteen nodded. "I know. But if it's Shamans, then I'm sure that things will be fine."

Paven chuckled. "Well, if you weren't this daring, then you wouldn't have been able to make me become your partner-in-

crime. Very well, I'll handle things on this side. Is there anything else that you would like to add? Perhaps a word or two to Anwir?"

"Tell Anwir that I need him to become the King of the Underworld in the Sumatran Kingdom within a month," Thirteen replied. "I will need all the manpower I can get, so I would really appreciate it if you can help him in this matter, Paven."

"Consider it done," Paven nodded. "Zion, right now, I believe that Gael still has no idea that Lord Arundel wishes to start the war in two months. It will be best if the two of them don't contact each other again."

The Old Tigerkin looked at the seven-year-old, making the latter scratch his head.

"I don't really know Gael, and I have no idea what he will do if he sees that I ransacked everything that belonged to him," Thirteen said. "So, what do you think will happen if he loses contact with Arundel? What do you think he will do next?"

Paven didn't answer right away. Instead, he took off his glasses and wiped them with a piece of cloth.

Half a minute later, he returned it on his head and smirked.

"He will do the last thing that Arundel ordered him to do, and that is to prepare for war," Paven replied. "But since he has no idea when the war will start, he will be left in the dark. But I'm assuming that he will try to send someone to contact me so that we can work together."

Thirteen nodded in understanding. "Understood. I will try to contact you again using Vassago and Poca. Do not, in any way, try to contact me through the Round Mirror. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Paven smiled. "May the Fortune of war shine upon you, Zion."

Paven cut off the connection, making the artifacts stop glowing, allowing Arthas and Netero to move again.

"What now?" Arthas asked the boy, who was deep in thought.

The City Lord of Gronar City was still trying to digest everything he had heard, and although he didn't want to believe it, he found himself unable to refute Zion's earlier statement that Gael might be manipulating the war from the shadows.

"What else?" Thirteen sighed before making a hissing sound. "It's time to loot this place!"

Suddenly, Rocky rose up from the ground and devoured the entire altar, leaving nothing behind.

Of course, the Rocky Bal-Boa was not going to stop this soon. After storing the altar inside his body, he then went to devour the rest of the treasures inside the room, leaving nothing behind.

Gael, who was in the Arena, immediately stood up because the ring on his hand started to feel hot.

This was a warning that someone had touched one of the artifacts in his hidden treasury.

Thirteen knew that Gael would be informed if he started stealing his treasures, but so what?

By the time the City Lord had returned to his residence, there would be nothing for him to see. He, Arthas, and Netero would have been long gone and on their way back to Gronar City, bringing with them all of Gael's treasures.