973 Chapter 973 That Stupid Son of Mine
Bodeir sucked in a deep breath, clearly a delaying tactic as he worked out how best to phrase exactly what it was he wanted to say. After a few monts of silence, he spoke, “My son has decided to be… difficult. It is sothing that does not surprise … but does disappoint . In the case of the servants, I have told them to serve as my son wishes unless it goes against one of my direct orders to them. As I gave the order to move here temporarily to my son and not them… well when he insisted on staying elsewhere they followed them,”
Bodeir walked over to a nearby display table, picked up one of the ornantal balls that was there and started to pace as he rolled it around in his hand. The ball looked to be carved bone of so kind. It wasn’t particularly elaborate, but it was nice enough. Bodeir continued speaking, “I do not fault them for this. In fact, this is exactly what I want them to do in situations like this.
“It is not there fault my son is being difficult, and it is there job to serve him. To give him a taste of what it ans to be responsible for n and won under his command… yet he seems determined not to learn any of the lessons I am trying to teach. The biggest source of contention, and the reason he is avoiding you and your absent friend, is that I needed to step in and ensure his safety at the tournant…”
Bodeir let out a long sigh, throwing the bone ball high in the air as he did so, not even looking at it as he juggled it between hands, “You see. He is of the belief that he is old enough to make his own mistakes. That I am being overbearing and interfering with his life. To that… I say… OF COURSE I DAM WELL AM!” Bodeir bit of a growl. “Sorry, this is dangerously close to becoming a heart demon for .
“My son… he does not understand. I believed him ready to make and learn from his own mistakes years ago. I have given him ti and space to grow, where I offered only minor bits and pieces of advice alongside help when requested. I didn’t stop him from doing a number of frankly moronic things, as he was not a child anymore. As he said… he is old enough to make his own mistakes…
“But after nearly a decade of ‘making his own mistakes’ I’m getting increasingly frustrated with his inability to own up to said mistakes. Often tis he lies to about minor things instead of owning up to them. I let him get away with such lies because for so reason he doesn’t seem to think I’d have a spy set up amongst his servants. Yes, just the one spy. I want the others loyal to him, and I try not to order them around…
“But I still put a full spy into his entourage. Their mission was to be as blatant about it as possible while still doing half decent spy work. It’s a retirent assignnt for one of my most loyal n. He’s slipped up hundreds of tis, been reported by the other servants at least six, and still NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT! I an really, how can my son say to he’s old enough to do things by himself when he can’t even notice one obvious spy that follows him around ALL THE TI!”
Bodeir made to hurl the bone sculpture into the wall before pausing mid swing and breathing in deeply, centring himself. A few ‘calming’ breaths later and Bodeir continued with a slight inclination of his head, “Sorry, my son vexes with his incompetence. I’ve given him so many chances to ‘grow up’ as it were and he has failed every single one. Now, an important dinner for our sect alliance is coming up and the threat of assassination is high. I NEED him to be safe, not just because he’s my son, but also because of the political complications that would occur should he die,”
Bodeir sighed again, “My son doesn’t seem to understand that his death would complicate things. I’d be forced to retaliate, wasting resources I frankly don’t have lest I be attacked by both enemies and allies because they think I’m weak. His death could break my sect… and he is apparently to thick to understand that fact. Instead of accepting that for the first ti in nearly a decade I need him to be as safe as possible… he has chosen to be a brat about it,”
.....
“Um…” Kat said, before waiting on a reaction. Bodeir simply raised an eyebrow, waiting for the question. “As soone that really isn’t knowledgeable of sect politics can you explain it to why it would be such a political issue?”
Now, Kat wasn’t sure if she expected a proper answer. Perhaps a diplomatic dismissal, perhaps a vague generalisation as to the risks involved. Heck, even just a short answer of ‘it’s complicated’ would have been less surprising than the truth. Bodeir burst out into laughter. Full body laughter, as he bent over as chuckles wracked his body. Eventually Bodeir recovered, wiping away a few tears that were not clear, but instead a thick, milky white. “Ah, truly my son is a moron.
“You see, he has not once asked what the consequences of his own death would be. He has not asked , asked the servants I have pointed him towards, he has not asked his friends. He has not questioned this at his mother’s grave. He has thought NOTHING of what his death would cost . And it is truly a grave cost.
“I’ll need to explain a bit of background though, is that ok?” Kat nodded and Bodeir continued, “Right, you see, as a sect patriarch, if sothing were to happen to my offspring I would be required to retaliate. This is because children of sect masters are supposed to be sacred here. It is encouraged by all the big players. Thievery is fine, and so is so light maiming. Oh sure we’ll send assassins or bounty hunters after them in retribution, but never anyone strong.
“It encourages heirs to grow you see. The problem is… it can’t be taken too far. If a young master, or mistress dies? Well in that case it’s a matter of hunting them down personally, as well as all their friends and family. Brutal yes, but if I did not do so then the other sect masters would attack , for failing in my duty to defend the ‘honourable sect heirs'” Bodeir spat on the floor, in the corner. “A bunch of nonsense. Useful nonsense, but nonsense and one I don’t particularly like. Still, I cannot defend myself from so many…
“Thus I’d need to retaliate. Heavily. As my wife is dead and I have taken no second, my retribution must be swift, and practically genocidal. It would be such an unbelievable waste of life and ti on my part, but I’d have no choice if I wanted to get my sect intact. Now, this would be fine… if it was just one person. But an assassin? Sent by another sect?
“Well then it’s WAR. A war that’s ‘Terribly personal and I cannot hope to interfere’ or that’s what my allies would say. I was… not the kindest individual when I was reaching for Rank 4. So while I have allies now… so of them have not forgotten old grudges. They would not help . Of course, whatever sect sent the assassin would allegedly not receive aid either… but under the table dealings would be common, and they’d get great prices on resources from the allies for a ti. Totally unrelated to them supporting my son’s assassination of course,”
“Of course,” answered Kat with a nod.
Bodeir nodded, “Indeed. Now, that’s why I need him safe, and I needed a demon to do it. He cannot die. The problem is the blasted brat is trying to make it as hard as possible for . Sotis I hate my wife for the problems she shouldered with…” Bodeir noticed Kat’s wince and waved her off. “I married for love instead of politics. My wife was a brilliant cultivator… much better at it then . We trained together for decades growing closer and closer until we married.
“When she fell pregnant unexpectedly, she was… overjoyed but a little sad. I should’ve known there was an issue… but she never told . Simply said she was sad to put her cultivation on hold. Lying bitch. The birth killed her, and she knew it was going to months in advance. It was an issue with her cultivation technique. SHE KNEW it was an issue. She’d known her hole life. Instead of warning about it, or getting rid of the baby… she gave a son, and died for it.
“I still love her of course, and I love my son… but I HATE that my wife did not see fit to inform of this issue. That I was given no ti to look for solutions, and that I had to raise my son by myself… and seemingly failed in that task. Still... as I said, I do love her and I loathe the idea of taking another wife. As such… I must do what I can for this foolish son of mine,”
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