Chapter 435: Gaining The Kasok Clan Support
Damian’s eyes slowly opened, and the first thing he noticed was that the carriage had stopped moving. The gentle rocking that had lulled him into the strange dreamlike conversation with Lin Qui was gone, replaced by the faint sounds of night drifting in through the open carriage door.
Damian blinked a few times before turning his head toward the entrance.
Outside, Kan and Kor were already waiting with several other members of the Kosak Clan. They were all half kneeling with their heads lowered, maintaining the respectful posture expected when receiving royalty.
"Babe, we are here already." Rah repeated from beside him.
Damian glanced toward her before slowly sitting upright. The remnants of his conversation with Lin Qui still lingered in his mind, particularly everything he had learned about the seat of power.
"I see." He said simply.
He stepped out of the carriage, with Rah following immediately behind him. William descended after them, adjusting the dark cloak around his body before turning his attention toward the waiting members of the Kosak Clan. Damian, however, barely noticed them at first.
His attention had already been captured by the compound before him.
The Kosak residence was enormous, although it wasn’t the kind of excessive luxury he had come to associate with the Violet Palace.
The compound possessed a more practical grandeur, with enormous stone buildings arranged around spacious courtyards and carefully maintained gardens.
Damian immediately counted roughly twenty guards stationed throughout the outer grounds, all wearing matching blue armor that bore the insignia of the Kosak Clan.
Several wyvern fountains decorated the main courtyard, their stone bodies twisted into aggressive poses as water poured from their open jaws. Sculptures of various demonic beasts stood between the gardens, while smaller water fountains were positioned along the paved path leading toward the central building. The entire compound was clearly expensive, but it wasn’t ostentatious.
It was just... nice.
Damian couldn’t help but appreciate the difference.
"Your Majesty, it is an honor to have you here." Kan immediately raised his head, his eyes meeting Damian’s for the first time before he quickly lowered them again.
"We have been eagerly waiting for your arrival for a long time, Sire!" Kor added energetically.
Damian’s attention shifted toward him.
This was the same man who had once opposed his father’s decision to form an alliance with him because he had believed Damian would never survive Earth.
Now that same man was practically glowing at the opportunity to welcome him into his home. Damian couldn’t help finding the irony amusing.
"Let’s head inside." Damian said, already beginning to walk forward.
"Yes... Yes, Sire!" Kan and Kor quickly responded before hurrying after him.
Rah took the lead through the compound, guiding Damian and William toward the central building. They passed through several wide corridors before arriving at what appeared to be a miniature court chamber. It was clearly designed for the patriarch to conduct clan affairs, although someone had hurriedly transformed it into a place suitable for receiving royalty.
A makeshift throne had been positioned on an elevated platform at the far end of the chamber, with a large desk and several chairs arranged below it. The arrangement immediately made Damian feel like he had walked into a smaller version of his own court.
He climbed the short staircase and sat upon the throne while Rah, Kan, Kor and the other senior members of the clan took their respective seats below. William remained standing beside Damian, as always.
Soon afterward, a series of maids entered carrying trays filled with various dishes, fruits, wine and water. The smell of freshly prepared food spread throughout the chamber, and Damian’s stomach finally reminded him of something he had apparently forgotten.
He hadn’t eaten since breakfast at Olaf’s diner. The realization should have made him hungry. Instead, his expression slowly twisted.
The old man’s face immediately flashed through his mind, followed by Rah’s words from the previous night.
The change was subtle, but everyone noticed it.
Kan’s expression stiffened. Kor glanced toward Damian before looking at Rah, while several of the attendants became noticeably more cautious. Their eyes silently asked the same question.
What happened?
Rah could only shrug.
She genuinely had no idea.
"Is there a problem?" Rah finally asked.
Damian slowly relaxed his hand and shook his head.
"No."
He turned his head slightly, looking over his shoulder toward William.
"When Olaf’s son is pulled from the front line, bring him to me. I want to speak with him personally."
William immediately understood that Damian wasn’t making a casual request.
"As you wish, Your Majesty." He bowed slightly.
Damian returned his attention to the table. He picked up the nearest cup of wine and emptied the entire thing in one gulp. One of the maids immediately stepped forward and refilled it, her hands remaining steady despite the tension she could feel in the room.
Damian barely acknowledged her.
"Sire." Kan finally spoke, carefully choosing his words. "My family and I are grateful for the generous appointment you have granted us. But I am curious. What is your desired outcome for this case?"
Damian’s expression remained neutral, but inwardly he smiled.
That was exactly the kind of question he wanted to hear.
He needed people around him who didn’t simply accept every order with a bowed head. He needed people willing to understand the purpose behind his decisions and think about the consequences before acting.
"Nothing in particular." Damian replied. "I’m actually curious to find out the truth. Can you handle it?"
Kan immediately stood from his chair, cupped his fists and bowed deeply.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Damian nodded in satisfaction.
"Good."
He took another drink but the food remained untouched.
Eventually, Damian stopped even pretending he intended to eat and simply continued drinking his wine while the conversation around him progressed.
Damian listened quietly.
He didn’t need to dominate every conversation. For now, he was learning.
Then Kor shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Sire..." he began cautiously.
Damian’s eyes moved toward him.
"About your security."
Kor paused, seemingly unsure how Damian would react. After what had happened in the Violet Palace, the subject was understandably delicate.
"If you would allow me, I and some elites of my family would love to serve as your shield during these perilous times." Kor said.
Damian’s first instinct was to refuse. Then he stopped as a thought crossed his mind.
Kor was a Demigod.
He was also from a clan that had just been given direct authority over the Royal Police, and Rah was already deeply attached to him. As long as he maintained his relationship with Rah, the Kosak Clan had every reason to remain loyal to him.
Having a Demigod expert personally serving beneath him wasn’t a bad idea. In fact, it was exactly the kind of power Damian needed.
"Very well." Damian finally said.
Kor’s eyes widened slightly.
"Since I have no Demigods among my Royal Guards, I’ll make you its captain. Gather your men and report to the palace tomorrow."
Damian turned his head toward William.
"Have their armor and attire prepared tonight."
"Yes, Sire!" William immediately responded.
Kor’s expression brightened, while Kan’s eyes also revealed his excitement.
In the span of a single day, the Kosak Clan had gained control over the newly established Royal Police, and now Kor had been appointed captain of the Royal Guards. Meanwhile, Rah had become a woman the entire Velmora already knew Damian favored deeply after publicly appearing beside him at Olaf’s diner.
Damian accepting Kor’s request without hesitation could only reinforce what they already believed.
Their family’s fortunes were rising.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Kor stepped toward the center of the chamber and bowed deeply.
Damian casually waved him off.
"Enough."
Seeing people bow every minute of every day could become irritating surprisingly quickly. Damian released an exhausted sigh and leaned back against the throne, slowly twirling the wine inside his cup.
He was beginning to understand why rulers eventually stopped enjoying court.
"Also, Rah."
Rah immediately looked toward him.
"Move into the main palace. If the assassins ever target you, I need you close to me."
The atmosphere immediately changed. Rah’s eyes widened slightly before a light chuckle escaped her lips.
"Yes, Sire."
Kan and Kor both looked delighted by the decision, while several members of the clan exchanged subtle glances. It was difficult to interpret the order as anything other than another indication of how much Damian valued Rah.
For Rah herself, however, the reason was much simpler. Damian wanted her close and that was enough.
The rest of the feast continued with conversation flowing around the chamber while Damian observed everyone with increasingly tired eyes. He answered when necessary, asked questions when something caught his attention and otherwise allowed the Kosak members to speak.
Yet his mind wasn’t really inside the compound anymore. It kept returning to his conversation with Lin Qui.
His own subordinates had been restricting his access to the exact thing he needed to grow powerful enough to become a God and eventually free himself from their control.
That realization bothered him more than he cared to admit.
Once the feast finally ended, Damian rose from his seat and left the compound with Rah, William and the attendants following behind him. The night air greeted him as they crossed the courtyard toward the waiting carriage.
When they reached it, Damian stopped.
Kan had followed them outside and was already kneeling beside the carriage with his head lowered.
Damian looked down at the Kosak patriarch for several seconds.
"I’ll be expecting some good news from you in a week’s time." Damian said, his gaze fixed deeply upon him.
Kan’s body stiffened slightly.
The Kosak patriarch understood perfectly well what was expected of him. This was no casual investigation that could be dragged through months of bureaucracy. Damian wanted answers, and he wanted them quickly.
Kan maintained his calm demeanor despite the pressure.
"Be rest assured, Your Majesty. You will receive answers within a week’s time."
Damian nodded in satisfaction.
"Good."
He casually turned away and stepped into the carriage. Rah followed him inside, while William entered last after ensuring the attendants were ready.
The carriage door closed behind them, cutting off the sight of the kneeling Kosak patriarch. As the carriage began moving away from the compound, Damian leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes.
One week. That was enough time.