Koji Fights The World - Chapter 12 Hidden Dangers

With the death of the Snake Charmer, his Qi slowly dissipated from the bodies of the citizens within the marketplace. Soon, they regained control of their minds and bodies. The commoners looked at each other with confusion. They had no idea what happened. It was as if a dense fog covered their minds and erased their memories of the last few minutes.

However, some people who stood near the remains of the assailant noticed the smoldering ashes. They cried out in alarm.

The sound of heavy footsteps erupted as soldiers protecting Princess Zelea ran toward the source of the yelling. “Step aside!” the men grunted as they ran. When they arrived, the guards saw Commander Pai Peng carefully searching through the ashes while the Prince Consort watched nearby. However, the man found nothing.

Finally, Commander Pai Peng stood up and shook his head at Koji.

When Princess Zelea approached, the commander saluted and quietly explained what happened. “The Prince Consort located the hidden Snake Charmer and defeated the villain. But then this bastard used a hidden pill to commit suicide and avoid capture. These ashes are what’s left of the charmer’s body,” Commander Pai Peng explained and waved a hand at the charred remains.

The princess listened attentively to the report. She glanced at the ashes and sighed. “Have investigators question the peddlers and shoppers. We need to know if the Snake Charmer arrived with any accomplices,” she ordered.

“Yes, Princess!” the commander saluted. Pai Peng turned to his men and barked out orders. However, he kept half of them to remain as bodyguards for the royal couple.

Slowly, Princess Zelea turned to Koji. Without warning, she pinched his left ear!

“OW!” he blurted out and grabbed her wrist. “What are you doing?” he scowled.

“I’m disciplining my Bonder,” she answered with a furious glare at him.

“Huh?” Koji asked in bewilderment while rubbing his burning ear lobe. “What did I do wrong?” he asked.

“You are my Bonder. That means you must stay and protect your Bond Keeper. THAT is your primary duty, buster,” the lamia replied and poked a sharp claw at his chest.

The young man shook his head in disagreement. “None of your guards has the Qi Perception skill. They have no way of locating the Snake Charmer. That’s why I took action and ran toward him. Besides, I made sure the guards stayed behind to protect you.”

“You should have asked for my permission before you left me behind,” Zelea retorted.

Koji’s eyes widened. He took a deep breath to cool his anger. “Excuse me, Princess Zelea, but I’m not your servant. I make my own decisions,” he said calmly. Koji didn’t wish to start a public argument with her.

“Do you now?” she retorted.

“Yes,” he nodded firmly.

Abruptly, she turned away from him. “Guards! We are returning to the palace! Now!” she yelled.

“Yes, Princess!” they saluted and quickly surrounded the royal couple.

“At least some men around here know how to be obedient! Hmph!” Zelea huffed and prodded the commander to move.

One of the guards standing near Koji pulled him aside and said in a low voice, “Never argue with a lamia. Especially one who is part of the royal family.” The man patted Koji on the back. “Please follow the Princess, Consort,” he requested in a loud but polite manner.

Koji sighed helplessly and hurried to catch up.

***

The guards at the entrance of the Nephosian Palace somehow heard of the attack in the marketplace because the number of men milling about tripled. Additionally, the princess’ entourage passed by several groups on patrol. The men saluted Princess Zelea but maintained their march.

Koji understood this massive deployment of soldiers was intended to calm the citizenry and to show that the Royal Family was still in control of the city. The use of additional patrols worked in maintaining order because he saw many pedestrians walking about as if nothing happened.

With Commander Pai Peng at the forefront of the Zelea’s entourage, the guards lined up in the courtyard and saluted the princess. Soon, the group entered the main palace.

“Princess Zelea and her Consort have arrived!” a male attendant announced in the inner forecourt.

King Aphraphus and Queen Herecia sat in their seats on the raised platform at the center of the court. “What happened?” the king asked with a stern expression.

Commander Pai Peng approached and bent a knee. His head faced the ground as the old fighter delivered his report. “A Snake Charmer appeared in the marketplace. He enthralled the citizens with his music-laden Qi. However, the Prince Consort retraced the sound to its source, and he defeated the cultist.”

A gasp erupted in the court as guards and advisers stared at Koji in disbelief.

“What happened to the Snake Charmer, Koji?” Queen Herecia asked in a calm voice.

The bonder shook his head. “When I captured him, he committed suicide by immolation,” Koji answered with a frown.

Another gasp erupted around the court.

“I imagine that the Snake Charmer would hide among the shoppers. How did you find the cultist, Koji?” the king asked while rubbing his chin.

Before the young man could respond, the queen held up her hand. “Don’t answer this question, Koji,” she interrupted. Queen Herecia turned to face her husband. “Dear, it is imprudent to announce a Bonder’s special abilities publicly. This secret is between the Bonder and his Bond Keeper,” she reminded him.

King Aphraphus made a face. “So cheap,” he muttered under his breath.

His wife pinched him on the thigh.

“Sorry, dear,” he apologized immediately.

The queen smiled faintly.

“May I ask what is a Snake Charmer?” Koji spoke up.

Queen Herecia nodded. “Certainly. As a bonder, you need to know this. Snake Charmer is the name of a cult; its followers are religious zealots who believe their Immortal Medusa Queen would resurrect once they sacrifice all the living lamia. Since Nephosia is the ancestral home of the lamia, the cult would make periodic attacks to capture our lamian sisters,” she explained.

“This is why the Bonders bond with the lamians?” Koji asked a follow-up question.

“That’s part of the reason,” Herecia replied with a nod. “About 200 lamias are living in this kingdom. Nephosia was founded and ruled by a lamia. By tradition, the ruler of Nephosia must be a lamia. Thus, every lamia can be considered a princess of the kingdom.”

“Isn’t that too few lamias?” the bonder asked.

“It is,” the queen admitted. “But only the female offspring of lamias can become lamias. And the fertility rate of lamias is quite low. Otherwise, I would have many more children.”

Koji saw the regret on her face.

“How did you overcome the charmer’s musical attack?” King Aphraphus asked. His wife’s infertility was a sore topic, and he desperately wished to change the subject.

“For that, I must thank Queen Herecia,” Koji replied with a grin.

“How so?” the queen asked while raising her thin, delicate eyebrows.

“I endured your test this morning. The power behind the attack of the cultist was, perhaps, one-tenth of yours. Once I endured your Qi attacks, the ones from the Snake Charmer felt like a breeze in comparison,” Koji answered with a chuckle.

“How fortuitous!” the king joined in the laughter. Suddenly, he slapped his thigh. “You have done well to defeat the Snake Charmer, Koji. As a reward, I will teach you a secret technique today. After lunch.”

Koji bowed deeply. “Thank you, Your Highness!”

“Son-in-law, return to your room and rest. I’m sure you used up a lot of Qi at the marketplace.” The king waved his hand in dismissal.

Princess Zelea grabbed her husband’s arm. “I’ll take you to your room.” She led him around the throne and exited through the back door.

When the young couple was gone, King Aphraphus became furious. “Commander Pai Peng, use whatever resource you need to root out the Snake Charmers!”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the military officer replied with a deep bow. He quickly left the forecourt.

Queen Herecia placed her hand over his to calm him down. “I didn’t expect you to be generous and offer to teach Koji personally,” she remarked wryly.

The king’s thick brows furrowed. A moment later, he understood her comment. “Koji will become my successor as king. It is only proper that I teach him my secret techniques,” he explained.

“You view Koji as your successor?” Queen Herecia asked in amazement. She knew how much he loved his flesh-and-blood and placed high hopes on his two sons to earn respect and honor. As for Zelea, Aphraphus adopted her only out of his deep and personal ties with her father as blood brothers. Thus, he didn’t expect as much out of her.

“Our daughter chose Koji as her Bonder, and you gave your approval of his selection. Daethix will become the next queen. That makes Koji the next king. Also, I believe that he has the talent and stubbornness to learn my techniques. I’m ashamed to admit that our two sons match up poorly compared to Koji,” King Aphraphus explained with a sigh.

“Our duties as King and Queen of Nephosia supersede our responsibilities as parents,” Queen Herecia said softly. She was glad that her husband was objective in evaluating the talents of Hetetrios, Cyreas, and Koji, and Aphraphus chose to groom the most suitable person as his successor.

King Aphraphus’ expression became sour as the cumulative weight of his kingdom bore down on his back. At times, the man wondered if he made the right decision to pursue Queen Herecia and become her Bonder. But the smile on her lovely face wiped away his doubts as the king drew closer to kiss his wife.