Hero of Darkness

The next day, Kahn received a message through a transmission artifact and decided to depart in one of his warships. And the destination being one of the most remote areas of the Verlassen; namely… The North.

The North of the Verlassen was a region mostly covered by snow and only winter season existed in this part of the fiefdom. And the main reason being this area was inhabited by the Frost Giants.

These creatures were simply gigantic and they lived in hordes. And to fend off against them, there was a 500 meter tall wall made of dense ice created more than a century ago.

The protectors of this region were the two prominent military houses who led all the clans and natives living in this area. And both of the leaders of these houses themselves were semi-saints.

House Stark and House Mormont. The two houses who fought to protect the lives of the common folks despite so many adverse conditions.

And today, Kahn had secretly come to visit the House Stark after receiving key information that he had asked their head to gather on the very first day of his arrival after he threatened all the top brasses of the fiefdom including the other semi-saints.

His warship landed far outside of Winterberg, one of the important cities of the north and the main headquarters of the House Stark.

After his arrival, Kahn was given a black cloak to cover himself and then secretly escorted by an envoy of masked men. Using many secret tunnels, he finally reached inside the main castle.

Even so, there was no grand welcome or celebration but only silent paths filled with grimness.

When Kahn finally entered a room in the basement of this castle where a dozen of people were already waiting for him.

"All pay respect to our lord!" ordered Commander Stark and everyone including himself knelt on their right knee and fist on the ground.

Kahn took out the hood and revealed his tyrannical aura. Although he was here as their guest, he was still their sovereign and he had to establish his authority lest someone dared to question it because he was simply young and new here.

"You may stand up." spoke Kahn.

Commander Stark gestured him to sit on a throne around a round table. Kahn took a seat and signaled everyone else to sit down.

"So, did you get it?" asked Kahn to his subjects.

Commander Stark nodded in response and the next second, he took more than a dozen big and heavy books out of his space ring and placed them in front of their lord.

Kahn quickly grabbed one of the books and started shuffling through its pages. After spending a minute to read the contents, he revealed a satisfied expression.

One by one, repeating this action as he went through all the books and finally heaved a content sigh.

"You did good, commander Stark. This is more than what I asked for." spoke Kahn as he glanced at the old swordsman semi-saint.

"Thank you, my lord. I was nearly caught during the process and it could've possibly alerted the others. But I guess luck was on our side." spoke the old commander.

"But what do you intend to do with these, my lord? Releasing them to the public won't make a big difference in the long term. And not all the people of Verlassen are that free to pay attention to these things." he spoke in a solemn tone.

"Don't worry about it. I have already made a few plans. It's in due process and when it's done.. The whole fiefdom will see it with their own eyes." spoke Kahn with a grin.

"My lord… don't tell me… are you planning public executions as you warned about that day?" asked commander Stark with a dumbfounded expression.

To his question, Kahn only grinned and replied in a coy tone…

"Even better…" he spoke and in front of all these people, he revealed the next step he was going to take.

Gobsmacked!

Flabbergasted!

Dumbfounded!

All the top members of House Stark were rooted on the spot as soon as they heard Kahn's wild idea.

But one thing they all came to realize…

That the young man in front of them wasn't just a capable and talented fighter in the whole empire… but a mastermind who knew how to control everything from behind the scenes.

"So what do you all think? Are you with me on this?" asked Kahn to the strongest people of this military house.

However, the next second something that even surprised Kahn happened.

All the members seated around the round table got up from their seats and put their right fist on their hearts and vowed in a zealous tone.

"From this day forth! House Stark pledges complete loyalty to our lord, Kahn Salvatore!!"

Declared all the members of this house that protected millions of people living in the north.

Shocked!

This time, it was Kahn's turn to get shocked. Because he hadn't truly expected them to suddenly accept him as their master.

Serving a lord out of customs was one thing but completely pledging loyalty by themselves was a different story in itself.

This meant that even if he were to go on a war against someone who was an enemy, the House Stark would stand behind Kahn without a second thought.

In simple words.. House Stark had officially become Kahn's vassals.

"Wait a minute! Don't you think it's too early? I haven't even begun yet." spoke Kahn in a bewildered tone.

"To be honest, my lord. The reason why we are doing it is because you're not the first person who has thought of such a way. Many of our clans have proposed such ideas in the past.

But there was no such thing as honesty in the government. They only care about maintaining their rule and not the lives of the people.

What you proposed just now shows that you're a leader who wouldn't mind getting his hands dirty or his life put at risk for the sake of the greater good.

And coming up with such an idea that exceeded our hopes and expectations from you is more than enough for us to pledge our loyalty to you, my lord." elaborated the old swordsman.

"I see. Then I hope I can count on you in the future. I've already talked with commander Mormont and he has already joined hands with me. So let's hope things proceed as I have planned." spoke Kahn as he nodded in acknowledgment.

But before he could speak more, two of the masked men who escorted him to this room suddenly took off their masks and knelt in front of Kahn and spoke loudly.

"We request our lord to allow us to directly serve under you!" spoke two young men, one of whom was a thin man while the other was of tall and ripped build.

And surprisingly, the aura both these young men emitted was that of a peak grandmaster.

Kahn had his eyes wide open as soon as their faces were revealed as he found both the men in front of him extremely familiar.

"What the hell are you two doing here?!"

He spoke with a shocked voice…

"Elijah and Niklaus."