In Kingdom of Power
Ashoka and Luna entered the palace through an underground tunnel.
Luna asked Ashoka,
"So, Ashoka, should we go and meet the Queen?"
Ashoka replied,
"No, Luna. I already told you. First, I have to discuss some important matters with Radhagupta."
Luna said,
"Then do you know where the Prime Minister is?"
Ashoka was about to answer when he suddenly heard footsteps. He quickly pulled Luna behind a wall to hide.
A few moments later, two soldiers walked past them on their way out of the palace.
The first soldier said,
"I don't know. Commander Arthur is so strong. He broke both of our bones with a single hit."
The second soldier replied,
"Obviously. He's a commander. But I don't understand why he hasn't taken any side in this civil war."
The first soldier answered,
"It's obvious. He doesn't want to lose his power."
The second soldier looked confused.
"Power? What do you mean by power?"
The first soldier replied,
"What? You don't know? The Prime Minister tried to oppose the Queen's orders, but then the Queen ordered Commander Kan-ki and his soldiers to arrest Prime Minister Radhagupta."
The second soldier was shocked.
"What?! Seriously? I didn't know about this."
The two soldiers continued discussing the matter as they walked away, while Ashoka and Luna listened from behind the wall.
Ashoka said,
"Luna, I have to meet Radhagupta quickly, and I also need to free him from prison."
Luna replied,
"Then I'll go with you."
Ashoka shook his head.
"No. I have to go there alone."
Luna asked,
"But why?"
Ashoka replied,
"Because I have a job for you."
Luna asked,
"A job? What kind of job?"
Ashoka ordered Luna to find Miyamoto.
Luna frowned.
"Miyamoto? Why? What happened to him?"
Ashoka replied,
"Arthur is not with me, and Mom, Albert, and Vikram are currently in the Kingdom of Light. Kan-ki and Tangen are our enemies now. The only people who can stand with me are Miyamoto and Radhagupta.
And obviously, I'm not here to play hide-and-seek. I have to rescue Radhagupta, and I also need to meet my mother and my stepbrother, Tangen.
So go and find Miyamoto. I need his help and the support of his soldiers. Miyamoto commands 500,000 soldiers."
Luna nodded.
"Okay."
He turned to leave, but Ashoka stopped him.
"Don't go alone to find him. Go with him and help him."
Luna looked confused.
"Who?"
Suddenly, John appeared behind Luna and said,
"Me."
Luna jumped in surprise.
"Bastard! You scared me! My heart was about to jump out of my chest!"
Ashoka interrupted them.
"Stop wasting time. Go. I have things to do as well."
The group split up. Luna and John went to find Miyamoto, while Ashoka headed toward the palace basement prison to rescue Radhagupta.
In the Palace Basement Prison
More than one hundred soldiers guarded Radhagupta and the five ministers.
Ashoka thought,
"Wow... Kan-ki left over a hundred soldiers to guard this prison. Releasing Radhagupta from such heavy security won't be easy."
Then Ashoka smirked.
"But not for me."
He released his magic power and concentrated it into his legs.
{Ashoka's speed increased tenfold.}
In the blink of an eye, Ashoka drew his sword and beheaded every soldier guarding the prison.
Radhagupta and the five ministers stared at him in shock.
"King Ashoka! You've returned! But why are you alone? Where are General Albert and Vikram?"
Ashoka replied,
"I came here alone, and no one knows about it yet. I gave Albert and Vikram an important task.
But for now, tell me what happened while I was away. Explain everything."
Prime Minister Radhagupta immediately knelt.
"I'm sorry, King Ashoka. I failed to convince the Queen. Actually..."
Radhagupta then explained everything that had happened.
After listening carefully, Ashoka said,
"So I was right about Kan-ki and Tangen."
Radhagupta respectfully replied,
"Yes, King Ashoka. But your assumption was only half correct."
Ashoka frowned.
"Half correct? What do you mean? Why was I only half right?"
Radhagupta answered,
"I know this will shock you. It shocked me as well when I discovered the truth.
We believed Kan-ki was behind everything because of his desire for power. However, the person truly hungry for power is not Kan-ki.
It's Tangen.
Kan-ki is merely a pawn. In fact, I believe he is doing all of this to save someone."
Ashoka and the five ministers were stunned. They had always assumed Tangen was the pawn, not the mastermind.
Ashoka stepped forward.
"Radhagupta, you know something, don't you? Tell me. What do you mean when you say Kan-ki is a pawn and that he's trying to save someone?"
Radhagupta nodded.
"My King, when I investigated Kan-ki's past and researched how he first met Tangen, I discovered..."
In the Kingdom of Light
Albert and Vikram sat in the meeting hall, waiting for Elara to arrive.
Albert asked,
"What exactly is written in this letter? Tell me."
Vikram replied,
"King Ashoka instructed us to meet Elara. She'll explain everything."
A few moments later, Elara entered the meeting hall and took the seat at the center of the table.
The meeting began.
Present at the meeting were Albert, Vikram, Elara, and the Head Weaponsmith of the Kingdom of Light, along with several master weaponsmiths who worked under his command.
Elara spoke first.
"I know this is an emergency meeting, and I understand that everyone is confused about why it has been called.
King Ashoka, who currently rules both the Kingdom of Power and the Kingdom of Light, entrusted me with an important task during his absence.
We need to manufacture magical weapons for 30,000 people within the next two months."
The Head Weaponsmith immediately stood up.
"My Lady, we respect you, but that's impossible. Producing magical weapons for 30,000 people in only two months cannot be done.
And even if we somehow manage it, the weapons would be useless because ordinary people cannot use magical weapons without possessing magic."
Elara calmly replied,
"I'm not making a request, Mr. Head Weaponsmith.
And don't worry about the users. Within the next week, more than 30,000 people will arrive in this kingdom. We also have the second-strongest person in the Kingdom of Power and one of the greatest strategists alive to train them."
One of the weaponsmiths stood up.
"My Lady, please help us understand. At least tell us why you need so many weapons within such a short time."
Elara took a deep breath before answering.
"I didn't want to reveal this because Ashoka ordered me to keep it secret.
But in simple terms..."
She paused and looked around the room.
"We are preparing to start a war against two kingdoms simultaneously."