CHAPTER 51: NEWS ABOUT PRINCESS ALANAR

Gideon clearly heard what Norton said. The third princess of the Moko Kingdom had been kidnapped? Seriously? Was there no one in the kingdom capable of handling it?

He was truly exhausted. The journey from the Lamia village to Nemora village had drained Gideon and his team of their strength.

Now, Norton planned to bring Gideon and his team into helping the kingdom rescue their royal family member kidnapped by rebels.

"We’re tired, Norton. Wait two or three days until we’ve fully recovered," Gideon replied.

"That’s impossible," Norton answered, making Gideon and his team halt their steps.

"What do you mean?" Gideon asked.

"Princess Alanar was kidnapped a week ago. The rebels keep moving from place to place. But they gave King Moko an offer."

"What?" Gideon asked briefly.

"If the Moko Kingdom is willing to pay two wagons full of gold and swords, the rebels will release Princess Alanar," Norton explained.

"They always set a deadline in hostage cases like this. Tell me, when is it?" Gideon asked.

Norton fell silent for a moment, glancing back toward his aide. Then, gathering his courage, he said the deadline was tomorrow night, at 10 p.m., outside the city of Mischo.

"Hmm."

"Why do you think only my team and I can carry out this mission?" Gideon asked.

"Because one of their conditions is that no soldiers are allowed at the negotiation site," Norton replied.

Gideon stayed quiet. Slowly, he began to understand why Norton wanted his team instead of Moko soldiers.

It was because of his team’s skill in killing from a distance, just like when they had killed the main commander of Moko’s southern forces the other day.

He turned, looking at the exhausted faces of Luke and the others. Gideon told them to return to the inn and rest. He would follow later.

Lena and the others agreed. Now, only Gideon remained in front of Norton, who still looked at him with hope. Why he was hoping so much, Gideon did not know.

"Let’s say we succeed in rescuing the princess. What’s the reward?" Gideon asked.

"Simple. The king will grant you a special noble title," Norton replied.

"Special noble title?" Gideon asked.

"Either an Earl or a Marquess."

"Woah... that’s definitely a promising position in the Moko Kingdom," Gideon remarked, and Norton nodded.

He had seen how significant the power of a noble actually was. He saw Norton and Duncan in their noble status. With just their words, it was easy for them to do whatever they wanted within their lands.

With that status, Gideon would hold significant power. He could form an army, gain wealth, and gather people. That could help him reach his goals.

Gideon glanced around, looking specifically at Nemora village. He could reject the noble title, but the road toward peace without conflict would be long and winding.

What Norton offered today was one of the best shortcuts for Gideon to gather strength.

"Tomorrow night is the negotiation deadline?" Gideon asked.

"That’s right."

"Stay here tonight, Norton. I’ll tell you the decision tomorrow."

"Now, I want to sleep!"

"Understood, Captain Gideon."

Gideon walked from the village entrance toward the inn. When he reached the second floor, he saw Lena hadn’t entered her room yet.

But from exhaustion, she had sat down in the hallway, leaning against the wall as if waiting for someone.

Yes, Lena was waiting for Gideon. That was part of her duty, to watch over him ever since she learned about the trauma he carried.

Gideon’s heart softened. He took Lena’s M4A1 rifle and put it away in his room. Lena stayed silent and did not resist. Once her gear was stored, Gideon carried her in his arms and brought her into her room.

Lena lay sound asleep on the bed, resting with a soft pillow and warm blanket. Gideon smiled for a moment while looking at her face, then left the room and went into his own to rest.

The four of them slept soundly that evening until they woke the next morning, just as the roosters crowed through the village. Lena was the first to wake.

How am I here?

It was not without reason that Lena acted that way. She knew very well she had fallen asleep in the inn’s hallway, waiting for Gideon. But when the morning light came, she was surprised to find herself in her room.

Did Gideon carry me here last night?

Lena quickly got ready, pushing aside that thought. She showered and changed into a regular tactical shirt. Not long after, she went to Gideon’s room and found him still lying on the bed.

Her rifle was there in Gideon’s room, along with her backpack, vest, and belt holster. Right! Gideon was the one who carried her into her room last night.

Lena smiled, gently pulled up the blanket, and tucked Gideon in. She decided to let him rest longer while she prepared food and clothes for him.

Three hours later, Gideon opened his eyes and saw clearly that he was still in his room. A plate of MRE sat on the nightstand, and a tactical shirt was hanging in the closet.

No one else was there, neither Lena, Luke, nor even Lyra. Only Gideon.

He remembered what Norton had said the night before, explaining another mission that could change their status for the better.

At first, Gideon had rejected the idea of a noble title, because he saw nobles as politicians who wasted money, greedy and cunning.

But his view of nobility shifted after seeing the influence of Norton Ashfield and Liam Duncan.

That was because Gideon needed authority to protect many people. He already had strength and a team, but without control over land or people, he would only be seen as a rebel.

"I need to discuss this with Lena and the others."

Without changing clothes, Gideon stepped out of his room to look for Lena and the others. Right outside the inn, he saw Luke, Lyra, and Lena already speaking with Norton.

Norton was talking to them, trying to convince Gideon through them. From the looks on their faces, it seemed Norton had succeeded.

"What do you think, Captain?" Luke asked.

"Becoming a noble isn’t a bad thing if we can use that authority wisely," Gideon replied.

"So, you agree?" Norton asked.

Gideon stayed quiet. Luke and the others kept their eyes on him, their expressions full of anticipation. They clearly wanted to start something they found exciting, and becoming nobles was one of them.

"Well?" Norton asked.

Sigh.

"Tell me the details of the negotiation plan."

Norton smiled and clapped his hands once. "Excellent. Let’s discuss."