Building An Empire Starting From The Labor Camp In Exile-Chapter 299: Akatsuki throne

"The Akatsuki Desert is very large and connects into the rest of the Hinterlands. At least from your Soryu Clan point of view, it’s one of your gateways into the Hinterlands," Svenjar said.

It was two days after the battle and he was ready to fulfill his end of the deal. The street was still buzzing with the news of the battle. It was as if the whole capital was finally awake as they shed their fear. Do you see our Clan leader? He’s going to protect us. Why should we be afraid?

Atrox didn’t know how to feel about those sentiments. His goal and dream hadn’t changed but recently he was looking at things slightly differently and it was making him restless.

Should all paths be taken to power no matter the cost?

Since he’d taken the path to becoming an Emperor, he knew the cost of his ambition wouldn’t be carried only by him. It would be shared by all under his banner.

’...is this what Nadia meant? The overwhelming thing that’s my ambition...’

Then if it comes down to it, those under my banner and the banner itself, ’...which will I choose...?’

"Are you listening, Clan leader Atrox?" Svenjar asked. He’d taken to calling him Clan leader since his defeat.

Atrox blinked. He was indeed listening, but not just to Svenjar. Then he quickly recalled what the man said. "It’s our gateway. The Akatsuki and the Ito."

Slya gave him a look. She and Eryndor were the only ones there. Tiber had departed the day before to the Eastern army where he would be learning how to care for an army as its Commander.

Svenjar nodded and shot a suspicious look at Atrox. "Honestly, I don’t know how a Clan that’s snuck between two Clans like your own managed to grow. And not only grow, you are strong enough to be known and, for some time, feared by the Hinterlands."

"My Clan has stable leadership, for the major part. We only have one bloodline of rulers, unlike most that change their rulers in decades or centuries. Anyway, tell me what you can," Atrox said.

They were in Atrox’s study, which was a wing unto itself.

The Master Knight that came with Svenjar was also there, sitting quietly in one corner.

Atrox noted that Svenjar had introduced her to them, but she was always following him around even though they didn’t speak to each other that much.

Svenjar began to speak. "Our capital is the center where everything revolves around. Anyone who rules the capital technically rules the whole desert. And my family is currently ruling the desert."

"Currently?" Atrox asked.

He nodded and pointed to the woman. "Their family ruled it some four hundred years ago before another took them out, and then my family destroyed those families."

Atrox blinked. "Wow. But your Clan’s name is Akatsuki."

Svenjar snorted. "The name of the throne is Akatsuki. Any who sit the throne have the right to call themselves Akatsuki."

Atrox twitched. In four hundred years, they’d had three ruling Clans. ’...and I thought my Clan is troublesome...’

He looked at the woman where she was sitting, but she didn’t so much as blink.

"The throne is an artifact. In fact, it’s the strongest artifact in the Akatsuki Desert. None come close. That’s why others can’t and won’t ever know the way to the capital. Even me, I don’t know it. Only the Clan leader knows the way to the capital.

"The people living in it have no clue where they are living."

Atrox narrowed his eyes. ’...there’s something like that... no wonder we were never able to truly find out where they are... it’s because even people living there don’t even know...’

"But why?" Atrox asked.

"Because the Akatsuki throne is unique. With it, you can control where water will sprout. You can use it to gather all the water in the whole desert and then distribute it as you want," Svenjar said.

"Ah!" Atrox’s eyes widened.

Svenjar’s eyes glittered. "Yes. That’s the way to make the other Clans fall in line under the Akatsuki. And with that, you can even control the movement of animals and monsters."

Atrox’s eyes gleamed and he had a new respect for the Akatsuki’s Clan leader. They were brutal and they had the right and direct means to act as a tyrant.

But something was still bothering Atrox. "If the throne has all that power, then how did the others carry out their coup? It doesn’t make sense if they didn’t know where the capital is, and yet they managed to take it."

Svenjar shrugged. "I don’t know as well. That’s the only thing I can tell you. So every other city had to fall in line and play nice. Also, they have to pay a lot in resources before they can drink and eat."

Atrox digested that silently. It was even more difficult than he expected. The Akatsuki Clan leader was even stronger than he expected, and for someone like Svenjar who isn’t favored to know this much...

How much does he not know about the Akatsuki throne?

Svenjar shrugged and stood, stretching his body. "Alright, that’s all I know. I’m going tomorrow. Time to return to the desert and return to training so I can beat you next time."

"Wait. I have a question for you, Svenjar. Why did your father let you come here? I can tell you are not favored."

There was a small smile on his face. "Oh? You can tell? Well, it’s because I’m not interested in ruling. I’m only interested in fighting and training. I know power can be achieved in different ways and I’ve chosen to only get the power of my fists."

Atrox sat up. He couldn’t help it, he was liking the guy. "Power of your hand, eh? Look around, Svenjar. All this is also part of the power of my hands. I took it with my bloody hands."

Svenjar nodded. "Exactly! But I’m not interested in all those ruling and things. Politics? No. And you, Atrox, you are strong, very powerful. Why have you stopped? You should be in some isolated place trying to be a Master Knight."

Atrox blinked in surprise and then he started to laugh. He stood up and clutched hands with Svenjar. "One day we will have another fight."