[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-142":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1100762,1437,"Chapter 142: The Need For Collateral","the-reborn-king-chapter-142",142,"\u003Cp>Mother walked down the halls of the meeting room. Aseel stood close to her wearing a hooded cloak. He was a wanted man right now and needed to hide himself. Mother knew that taking his mask off would be enough, but the way he was made it hard to part with it for extended periods of time so she had to use an alternative. They made sure to move quietly everywhere now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military had become more strict on who could be out and the two stuck out. But Mother was prepared for this. Secretly she spread the news that a new speech would be hosted in one of their warehouses. She knew it would attract Isra’s attention and was hoping for something to happen. Opening the doors to the meeting room she saw the inner circle sat ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two nobles were nervous, missing one of them, and looking at Saladin he gave a nod. It was enough for Mother to know he had been found. Taking her seat she called her hands and smiled. \"Now then. Let us begin. Saladin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a nod. Turning to the two nobles he put a sympathetic face on. \"Forgive me to break the news to you, but your friend is dead.\" He was blunt with his words and one of them showed a pained expression. \"I looked into it and asked some of the nobles I know. They gave me a name. A Count named Esmond has arrived in the city. Does this name ring a bell?\" The two froze hearing it and looked at one another. One took deep breaths and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. He is the top enforcer of the Emporer. His family, The Underwells are a mysterious bunch. I don’t know much but if it’s who I think it is then he is the one who does all the dirty work for the Empire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"An old man?\" Mother asked getting a nod. \"What do you know of him? Everything please, no matter how minor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Old Snake.\" The second noble spoke up, his voice grave. \"A man and family who for generations have made sure to keep all threats to the Royal family and Empire at bay. They hold information on every noble family within its lands and are the heads of the intelligence gathering of the Empire.\" He shook his head and the fear was evident on his face talking about him. \"He mainly exists as a rumor but everyone in the noble circle knows he is real.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother deeply exhaled. \"Are you sure he’s dead Saladin?\" She got a silent nod in reply and grabbed her head. Peeking towards Gregor she could only bite her lip. \"Can we get rid of him?\" She didn’t want to say such things in front of him, but it would be a massive blow to the Empire if they could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\" One of the nobles answered instantly before Saladin could. \"Even if you could find him, you would have to have the skill to kill him. He is a man who owns near to nothing. It’s why he is more of a rumor than anything. Finding him is nearly impossible. He would never dare be with the Empress unless necessary. He’s here only because he has absolute confidence he won’t be in harm’s way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kissing her teeth Mother frowned. \"Okay. A shame.\" Looking towards Gregor she smiled weakly, \"How has things progressed on your side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Terribly. The Empire has cracked down on our schools. Any record of your book is taken and destroyed if found. Our people who preach the truth are arrested if caught.\" Mother’s face scrunched but she silently celebrated inside. She was glad to learn how hard martial law was. It meant the people would get more angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay. We will of ahead with the speech.\" Mother stood up. \"Saladin, come with me, please. Gregor, I need you to make the preparations for me.\" He gave a nod and Mother led Saladin and Aseel out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred shook in rage as the council remained silent, unable to talk at the pure fury radiating from his body. \"They tried to kill my wife.\" He spoke in a low frosty voice and William could only weakly nod at his words. His breathing intensified as the paper crumbled in his fist. \"William.\" Alfred turned to him with a flat expression. \"Get Marcus to deal with this now. I don’t care how anymore. Enough time has been spent playing it safe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will.\" William gave a deep bow. \"Do you want me to send support?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give Adrian a message. Tell him to relocate what he can. I want the people to understand what it means to stand against the Empire.\" Alfred didn’t even wait for his counselors to finish. He got up and left, slamming the doors behind him. All looked at one another only now able to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>William looked down at all of them. \"Any matters you have, send to me for now. The Emporer currently is unable to deal with them.\" They gave meek replies and William got up leaving them alone. He grabbed his forehead in annoyance at Marcus’s failures. For Isra to come close to being killed was a massive failure. He was lucky it didn’t happen or only God would know what Alfred would do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred walked down the Palace halls in a fury. Everyone who saw him made sure to shrink away and keep out of his way. Only when he stopped in front of a large pair of double doors did he let himself calm. Opening it he saw his son, playing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred put on a nice smile and walked over. The sudden arrival of Alfred got a beaming smile from the young boy who reached out his hands towards his father. \"Daa.\" He tried to move over but was unable to. Alfred caught him and gently lifted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Edward.\" He spoke softly, kissing his forehead. He bounced him allowing himself to calm down. It was the only way he could think of. \"You must miss your Mother.\" He heard the blowing of bubbles in his ear and assumed his son agreed, causing a small chuckle to leave his mouth. \"She’s doing a very important job. But I’m sure she misses you dearly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He put him back down in front of his toys, and the small boy reached out for them quickly. Alfred sat down next to him, watching as he slammed the two dolls together. Each time they hit, he would laugh in pure bliss. With each hit, Edward would use more force, laughing harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking towards Daisy, she could read the confusion on Alfred’s face about how his son played and only shrugged her shoulders confused herself. He could only assume it was something a child would understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it this time?\" Saladin asked, standing before Mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do your people have enough weapons now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. The Commonwealth stuff is good quality.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\" She clapped her hands together with a bright smile. \"As you know I will be holding my in a couple of days. I’m sure the Empire has already gotten wind of this and will send people to shut it down. That is why, I need you to split your force.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Split?\" His confusion was evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. I need some men to protect our followers and the believers, but I need you to do something else. This may be our one chance to catch them off guard since Aseel’s attack. Lead a squad and storm the Empress’s lodgings. Take her by any means necessary. With the attack, we can only assume the Emporer will mobilize more troops here. If this Esmond you found out about is as dangerous as you say, we need a contingency so he doesn’t strike as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saladin was caught off guard by the request and froze. \"That will be... hard. I can only spare fifty men for this. If I attack, word will quickly spread and all forces will be called back. It’s a short window.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes but think about it like this. The general who came here will wish to redeem himself for his failures. It was a gamble, but I made sure to leak enough that he would send a force. With your men, who will be armed, there as well, his hand is forced. It’s not just a peaceful meeting, but an armed militia.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are not telling me to sacrifice my soldiers are you?\" Saladin’s tone became threatening and Aseel reached for his saber but was quickly stopped by Mother’s raised hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. they can choose to flee, but I need them to be there. You can give the order yourself. I hope they are truly dedicated and protect the people, but I understand that it’s not the time yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saladin let out a deep exhale and grabbed his eyes, rubbing them. \"When does your speech start?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Four days, at Midnight.\" His mind raced as he planned in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have a couple of people set fire to a random part of the city before it. I need their forces to be spread thin.\" Mother nodded and Saladin walked off to make preparations. He didn’t have much time, but he already knew who in his company was the most skilled. His response pleased Mother, who smiled cruelly but quickly hid it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to Aseel and grabbed his face mask. \"I need you to protect me. My life will be in danger.\" Aseel who was taking comfort in Mother’s touch, opened his eyes in determination and gave a heavy nod. Seeing this she hugged him. \"Thank you, my sweet boy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1611,"2026-06-03T11:17:48.774Z","2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z",1,"novelbin.me","c74e9d58eec8112abbb442e268fbe023abf09143adf29cdb6922c24f01f8bea9","the-reborn-king-chapter-143","the-reborn-king-chapter-141",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]