Chapter 6: Kaal Ambition
After taking a bath, Kaal sat comfortably in his chair, sipping the tea Jane had prepared. The aroma was rich and soothing. A soft chuckle escaped him as he watched Mia from the corner of his eye, pretending not to notice how she kept stealing glances at the plate of cookies. Her subtle movements couldn't escape his newly enhanced senses.
Knock... Knock...
The gentle knock at the door broke the peaceful air.
"Come in," Kaal said calmly, taking another sip.
The door creaked open, and General Ruke entered. His eyes landed on Kaal's relaxed posture and the tranquil atmosphere of the room. The contrast between that and the chaos they'd just experienced unsettled him.
Without another word, the General stepped forward and dropped to his knees.
"This slave deserves punishment for his failure to protect the Young Master!" General Ruke said, his voice heavy with guilt as he bowed and slammed his head onto the floor.
Despite the bizarre scene of an Opening Realm expert kneeling before a Rank 3 warrior, Jane and Mia remained unfazed. This was the status of Kaal Kilvish, the Young Master of the Kilvish Clan. And behind that title, there was another identity, one just as powerful, perhaps even more.
"Your sin isn't mine to judge," Kaal said, rising slowly from his chair. His steps were calm, yet carried the weight of someone with absolute authority. "It will be Elder Alvin's judgment that matters... since it was his grandson who died because of your negligence in guarding Mist Valley."
"This slave knows his life is not enough to atone..." General Ruke said, producing a ruined scroll and handing it to Jane, who stepped forward.
Jane unfurled the scroll and read aloud: