novelModified Link
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[Modified Human-Beast link: A technique to create a link between a human and the beast. Strength and pre-requisites for formation of link vary depending on factors such as presence of blood derived from same ancestor. If there is no such matching blood, only a suggestive link can be formed between host and a beast on the same level as host.
Modifications:
1) Formation of link in the absence of the biological organ. This modification requires a higher presence of common blood to be established.
2) Installation of back door for control of beast: This modification requires the assent of the beast in question when the link is being formed. ]
This was the spell used by Daneel to form a link between Faxul and the Protector Raven, which had led the two to connect and leave the prison together.
The modifications worked like a sliding scale. If one thing was altered, then another needed to be stronger to take its place.
In this case, the modification to not use the physical part of a beast's body required the person forming the link to have a higher presence of shared blood.
Thankfully, Faxul had been the perfect specimen to use this technique, as the true blood of the Black Raven which was inside him was much stronger than anyone else for some reason.
As for the back door, it was another afterthought of Daneel which he wished he would never have to use.
Although he trusted his friend highly, he would not have been able to sleep at night without being haunted by those he had killed using his carelessness if he did not place some countermeasure to ensure that this Kingdom would be under his control if the time came.
After all, as there was no oath between him and Faxul, he never knew what might happen. He needed some way with which he could control the Kingdom if worst came to worst.
Although he felt guilty at doing such a thing behind his friend's back, Daneel endured it and put it to the side, knowing that it was necessary.
Besides, there was one more thing which had driven him to take this decision.
There were too many variables and questions that he had in regards to everything that had happened that had led his friend to take the throne.
For example, what was this true blood and why was it present only in Faxul's family? What was special about them?
How had it helped his friend level up to become an Exalted Human Fighter in the midst of battle?
How had it allowed him to circumvent all the formations and teleport to the Ancestral Grounds?
Daneel hated not knowing. It almost felt as if he was in someone's spider web, and the feeling of being unaware of just who it belonged to irritated him to no end.
Of course, he did not voice his concerns to anyone as he would only cause panic.
With so many variables at play, it was only natural that he would be content only if he placed such drastic countermeasures in advanced.
[Achievement: Puppeteer 2- Grand Puppeteer obtained.
Grand Puppeteer: By placing a figure on the throne who will follow your commands and also placing countermeasures in case he doesn't, you have obtained control of another Kingdom. Congratulations on steadily progressing on the path towards World Domination!
30, 000 EXP awarded.
30 Kingdom Points awarded.
Total EXP: 43, 000
Total Kingdom Points: 50]
As this notification resounded in Daneel's mind, he raised his eyebrows with pleasant surprise.
If he remembered correctly, the first level of the same achievement which he had obtained when he placed Eldara on the throne of the Kingdom of the Elves had only given him 10, 000 EXP and 10 Kingdom points. Those numbers had tripled now.
It was a good thing to know that subsequent awards would be multiplied instead of just being incremented by a little bit.
The upgrade of the system which cost 100, 000 points did not seem so far away now at all.
Yet, the statement about him placing countermeasures in case Faxul didn't listen to his commands stung, making the guilt come back.
Realizing that he would have to live with it, he made his way back to the Palace.
...
Meanwhile, in the throne room of the Black Raven Kingdom.
Faxul, who had just entered and asked for some time alone, stared into the eyes of the enormous Black Raven statue that covered most of the room.
Just like the previous King had said, these eyes seemed to contain some sort of sentience that made him feel as if they were looking back at him.
Walking forward slowly, Faxul first looked everywhere and let all the memories which he had remembered on seeing the image of the throne room on the display trinket before flood through him.
The corner where he always used to hide when playing hide and seek with his father.
The place where he had stubbed his toe when running around while being chased by his grandfather.
The wall where he had tried to scratch his name but failed because it had been to sturdy.
Finally, he reached the seat where his father always sat, chuckling at his antics.
Looking at it for a few moments in silence, he slowly sat down and closed his eyes.
It felt... right. As if his entire life's purpose had been to achieve this moment, Faxul smiled as he reveled in the feeling of taking back something that was his.
Wait... taking back something that was his?
This actually puzzled him, as he had never thought of the throne as his. He had indeed aspired to ascend it, but this feeling of possessiveness hadn't been present in him before.
Wondering where this thought came from, he first suspected the entity but it had long been suppressed by the true blood in him.
Shrugging and putting it to the side, he called for the Council which was waiting outside.
After entering the room, the same old woman first handed him another parchment without saying anything.
Going through it, he received his first shock as the King.
"How can the Treasury be empty?!", He asked, shocked at this finding.
Shaking her head, the old woman said, "The previous King spent everything in order to search for Ker Gems. To my knowledge, he also used funds meant for serving specific needs of the people. Hence, there is also an uncounted deficit in the money that is used for running the Kingdom."
Damn that old man.
This thought crossed across Faxul's mind again, before he sighed and considered about what to do.
The Black Raven Kingdom was truly in a dire situation. They needed to buy the resources to make the connection trinkets. Also, they needed to increase the funding for the Army so that those who had perished in the Lanthanor Kingdom could be replaced.
Their army was severely hurt, but the reserve forces would be enough, for now, to defend themselves in case someone chose to attack. Of course, invading by their own was out of the question.
"What other pressing issues are there?", he asked, deciding to listen to all the bad news at once.
"My King, a part of the ancestral grounds have been ravaged due to the plants grown there by the previous King. Unless something is done to get that land back to normal, the rearing of ravens which has already decreased in the past few decades will go down even further. Right now, there are enough Ravens for each citizen of the Kingdom. In the near future, this might not be so. Finally, although the complaints haven't been very loud yet, the tax rate is very high right now. It must be decreased if we want to put dissent at a minimum."
At this moment, Faxul felt as if he had taken the throne of a broken Kingdom.
Their coffers were empty, they might no longer be able to grow the ravens which were their trademark and they were at risk of being invaded by any Kingdom who might wish to make use of their plight.
He was at a loss about what to do. So far, all he had needed to worry about was his own power. Now, with the responsibility of millions of people on his shoulders, Faxul felt so weighed down that his mind started to go blank.
Quickly, he turned to the one person he trusted who had experience in dealing with these things.
Touching the communication trinket discreetly and sending this information under the guise of thinking deeply, Faxul waited for a response.
Finally, after a few seconds, Daneel sent his reply.
"Have you considered taking a loan in the Bank of Angaria?",
If he listened to himself at this moment, Daneel would definitely have been reminded of the irritating people on Earth who repeatedly berated anyone and everyone to take a loan no matter if they needed it or not.
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