With a smile plastered on his face Jamtoe, walked in to his bed Chambers
Just then Cloud-Strike emerged from the shadows, his eyes gleaming with a cold intensity. "You stupid idiot," he hissed, his voice low and menacing. "Why didn't you have him executed instead of exiling him? It would have been a lot easier to have it over with and done."
Jamtoe's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Don't worry, Cloud-Strike," he said, his voice smooth. "After he leaves the outskirts of the Kingdom, he's yours. You can kill him then."
Cloud-Strike's smiled , as he nodded in approval. "Good, that works nicely as well," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "But remember, after the job is completed, I expect to be paid. Otherwise, the next person I kill will be you," he said, narrowing his eyes at Jamtoe.
Jamtoe's face paled, and he stuttered to speak. "D...d...don't...don't worry," he stammered. "Once I am crowned King, you will have your payment."
Cloud-Strike's smile grew wider, and he nodded. "I'm counting on it," he said, before vanishing into the shadows, leaving Jamtoe to breathe a sigh of relief. But the prince knew that he had just made a deal with a devil, and he would have to deliver on his promise if he wanted to stay alive.
As Cloud-Strike returned to the Scott Ninja Alliance tavern, he was approached by the innkeeper, who looked like he was afraid of something. "Lord Cloud-Strike, there is someone here to see you," he said, his voice trembling slightly.
Cloud-Strike scratched his beard before speaking, his tone annoyed. "Who is it? Take me to them at once."
The innkeeper led him to the back room, where he saw two figure seated with angry expressions on their face. Cloud-Strike recognized one of them - Master Alexi. "Master Alexi! It's an honor to see you," he said with a smile.
However, Alexi's response was far from warm. He looked at Cloud-Strike and spat on the ground. "I should kill you," he said, his voice cold and menacing. "What gives you the right to accept a mission that Trifectus has turned down? Didn't you receive my orders not to interfere with the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Wolfect?"
Cloud-Strike's smile faltered, and he bowed his head in respect. "Forgive me, Master Alexi. This is new information to me.
Cloud-Strike's voice trailed off.
Alexi's gaze intensified, his eyes seeming to bore into Cloud-Strike's very soul. The air in the room grew thick with tension, and the innkeeper took a step back, his eyes fixed on the floor.
Alexi's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with a mixture of anger and disappointment. "You say you have no prior knowledge as to what I'm talking about," he said, his voice dripping with skepticism. "Well, that's funny, because your innkeeper was told to pass on a message to you."
Cloud-Strike's eyes narrowed, as he turned to face his innkeeper. "What message is he talking about?" he asked glaring daggers at the innkeeper was looking at foor.
The innkeepers face turn peeled and he swallowed hard his eyes fixed to the floor. I....I..I apologise for withholding information from you, My lord. I just wanted to make us a little more gold that's all.
Cloud-Strike's gazed intently at his innkeeper, his eyes narrowing. "You put our entire operation at risk for a little more gold to line your pocket?"
The innkeeper cowered, his eyes welling up with tears. "P-please forgive me, Lord Cloud-Strike," he begged. "I didn't mean to cause any harm. I just thought it would be a good opportunity for us to gain some extra gold."
Cloud-strikes expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with anger. "You fool," he spat. "You think gold is more important than the trust and loyalty of our organization? You will be dealt with accordingly."
The innkeeper trembled, his face pale with fear. "P-please, Lord cloud-strike, have mercy," he begged.
Cloud-Strike's expression was unreadable, but his voice was cold and calculating. "I think we've discussed this matter long enough," he said. "Innkeeper, you will be taken care of. Master Alexi, if there's nothing else, I will take my leave." He said as turned and prepared to walk away.
"Wait! There is one more thing that needs to be dealt with," the man next to Alexi spoke. "From this moment on, the Scott Ninja Alliance will disappear. You will return home to Scott family ninja Island. Do I make myself clear?"
Cloud-Strike looked at the man with a frown. The man's words hung in the air, and Cloud-Strike's face darkened with anger. "You think you can just dissolve the Scott Ninja Alliance?" he growled, his voice low and menacing. "You think you have the authority to tell me what to do?"
"Don't push your luck," he said, his voice cold. "The only reason you are even able to be here is because of Master Alexi. You have no say here." He gritted his teeth, then snapped his fingers. Twenty shadow elites jumped out from the shadows.
The man next to Alexi smiled coldly, his eyes glinting with amusement. Then he shouted, "Cloud-Strike and his twenty shadow elites, all of you prostrate yourselves!" He spoke with a voice of compulsion. As if gravity had borne down upon them, Cloud-Strike and his twenty shadow elites began kneeling on the ground, unable to control themselves.
The man's words were like a spell, and Cloud-Strike and his twenty shadow elites were powerless to resist. They felt an unseen force bearing down on them, compelling them to kneel. Their bodies seemed to move of their own accord, their knees buckling as they sank to the ground.
Cloud-Strike's face twisted in a mixture of anger and humiliation as he felt his body betray him. He tried to resist, but it was no use. He was forced to prostrate himself, his forehead touching the ground as he submitted to the man's authority.
The twenty shadow elites followed suit, their movements eerily synchronized as they too knelt and prostrated themselves. The man next to Alexi watched them with a cold smile, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Ah, the power of true authority," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "You see, Cloud-Strike, some people are meant to lead, and others are meant to follow. And you, my friend, are most definitely a follower."
"Who... who are you?" Cloud-Strike stammered, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he tried to resist the compulsion. The man's laughter echoed through the room, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You are not worthy to know who I am, but I will tell you," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "I have many names, and my favorite is Shadow Lightning. And I am Alexi's benefactor."
Cloud-Strike's face was filled with shock and fear, his eyes wide with a mix of terror and awe. He struggled to comprehend the extent of Shadow Lightning's power and influence, and the realization that he was completely at the man's mercy sent a chill down his spine.
"Damn it, what has that foolish Prince Jamtoe gotten me mixed up with?" Cloud-Strike thought to himself. "L-lord... Lord Shadow Lightning, I ask for your forgiveness. If I had known who you were, I would not have acted out of line."
Cloud-Strike's words were laced with desperation and fear, as he tried to appease the powerful Shadow Lightning. He knew that his life hung in the balance, and he was willing to do whatever it took to avoid further provoking the man.
"For...F-For give me My lord."
"If you want my forgiveness, there's only one thing you should do. Go home to the Scott family ninja Island. From this moment on, the Scott Ninja Alliance is no more. Do I make myself clear?" Shadow Lightning said.
Cloud-Strike nodded solemnly, feeling a weight settle upon him. "Y-yes, Lord Shadow Lightning. I understand. The Scott Ninja Alliance will be disbanded, and we will return to the island."
Shadow Lightning's gaze seemed to pierce through Cloud-Strike, as if searching for any hint of defiance or deception. Satisfied with Cloud-Strike's response, he nodded curtly. "See that you do. I will be watching. Any further disobedience will not be tolerated."
With that, Shadow Lightning turned to Alexi, his demeanor changing to one of familiarity. "Alexi, there is something I want you to do. kill every single member of the Scott ninja alliance except cloud strike.
Alexi nodded, his face expressionless, as he received the orders from Shadow Lightning. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and charged towards the members of the Scott Ninja Alliance. The sound of clashing steel and screams filled the air as Alexi carried out the brutal task, his sword slicing through the ninjas with deadly precision.
Cloud-Strike watched in horror as his fellow ninjas fell one by one, their bodies crumpling to the ground. When the carnage was over, Alexi turned to Shadow Lightning, his sword still dripping with blood. "It is done, Lord Shadow Lightning," he reported. Shadow Lightning nodded, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Good. Now, see that Cloud-Strike is returned to the Scott family ninja Island." Alexi nodded and turned to Cloud-Strike, his grip firm as he led him away."