Chapter 651: Meeting with the King
The place was exactly what Axel had imagined. It was like a big hall and there was a straight-line red carpet that ended into the King's throne which was a few steps above. On the right and left side, there were multiple chairs that looked luxurious. The walls of the hall were filled with multiple paintings which represented history.
Inside the hall, there were only 2 people. The first was the King himself who was sitting on the throne and the second was a tall, skinny, lanky man who was wearing a grey colored robe.
"Oh, Mr. Axel please come inside and be seated in one of these chairs.", welcomed the king with a smile.
Axel went ahead and first did a short bow and said, "Your majesty" and then went and sat on one of those chairs. This was taught by Frank and even though Axel said that he didn't want to bow to anyone, Frank said that this was compulsory.
"If you don't do this, then they will create a lot of problems for you. Remember Axel, they didn't call you just to get your help but also to dispose of you if you are not needed and I know for sure that you are going to reject their offer.", said Frank.
So, Axel did the bow but he didn't lower his head. He just lowered his legs and body. The king obviously noticed such a thing but he didn't say anything.
However, the man in the grey robe was fuming with anger. How could anyone disrespect the king? He wanted to speak out but the King raised his hand and told him to be silent.
"So, Axel, you have won the tournament. Do you have anything to request? If it is in the realm of our capacity, we will fulfill it.", said the King.
"Your grace, I don't have anything that I want to request from you."
"FOOL!!! You are denying when his grace is being so generous?", shouted the grey-robed man.
"I really don't have anything that I want to ask, Mr. Gray robed man."
"I have a name!!"
"I am sorry but since you didn't introduce yourself before speaking to me, I don't know your name."
The gray-robed man got silent cause it was his mistake.
"Angel, please keep quiet. If the boy doesn't have anything to ask, then so be it.", said the king and then looked at Axel.
Angel gave a polite bow and stopped talking.
"Mr. Axel.."
"Your grace, Axel is just fine."
"Ok then, Axel, although you don't have anything to ask, we have your help on something.", said the king.
This was the reason why Axel didn't ask for anything. Of course, he had a lot of things that he needed. Money would be one of those things but he also knew that if he requested something, the king would also request something more significant and he could not deny that.
At least, right now, he might have a chance to reject the offer.
"What would you like my help in, your grace."
"I know that you don't have a good relationship with the league. I heard about the tide battle of your city and how the league didn't do anything to help. I want to enter into an alliance with you to overthrow the league.", said the king.
Angel could not shut his mouth now and spoke, "Your grace, is that really necessary?"
An alliance could only be done with equal parties and since the king said the word, 'alliance', that meant that the king was implying Axel was an equal which was not acceptable to Angel. How could a kid from a middle-class family be equal to the king?
"Your grace, you should know that I am the successor of the Pokemon master and as his successor, I not only have to think about a single region but of the whole world. Yes, I don't like league and how they show off but you should also know that they are the necessary evil.
Most of my works are also connected with the league, so I believe there might be a conflict of interest."
"What kind of works?", asked the king.
"Like the mercenary team that I am going to register with the league very soon or the league battles in every other region or even the use of Pokemon centers and mart.
Even if you are able to solve that problem for me and we were able to completely overthrow the league one day from the Kanto region, I don't think that the royal family has the capacity to look after the whole region and protect it as the league does."
Angel could not stand the humiliation that Axel was giving to the king. He stood up, ready to smash the boy right there.
"ANGEL!!! I told you to stop. This is the third time. There won't be another.", shouted the king with authority.
For the first time, Axel saw the king shout, and his voice was mixed with aura. It was a powerful shout. Even Axel could tell that the king was not a simple man. Angel could not do anything after being scolded. So, he just sat down again.
The king then turned towards Axel and thought for some time. He started to think what Axel had said. If Axel was a normal person, the king would not hesitate to kill this boy for disrespecting him. However, Axel was the successor of Oak and even the king of the Kanto region was afraid of Oak.
After a few seconds, which felt like hours for Axel, the king spoke, "Axel, you are a brave man and I respect that. What you have told me is true. The royal family doesn't have enough support or influence to take care of the whole region.
You also might be thinking why do I want to overthrow the league? So, let me tell you the story of my father and his father and fathers."
The king stood up and then started to walk towards the wall and reached a painting of a young man who resembled the king.
"This is the first King of the Kanto region and also my ancestor. To this date, he is the most powerful king of the Kanto region and compared to other regions, he is still the most powerful.
His name was Andrew.
Before the formation of the league and the region, there were small kingdoms. The kingdoms were small as cities and there were many of them. My ancestor was once a slave and he lived in this very city. This was called the city of slaves. There were only slaves in this city and the rich people would come here to select and buy the slaves.
When the slaves had enough of slavery, some of them rose up to revolt and cause a coup. My ancestor was one of the prime members of it. They were successful and slowly my ancestor, with his friends started to take over the other kingdoms, and after decades of fighting they were able to create the Kanto region and my ancestor was the king of that region."
The king gave a big sigh and then continued, "At that time, the tide battles were frequent and the wild Pokemons were very strong compared to now. It was almost impossible to guarantee the safety of the citizens. After the formation of the Kanto region, other regions also took that example and started to form. Creating a region did help to fight the wild Pokemons but was still not enough.
That was why 'The Pokemon League' was created. The prime purpose of the league was to defend the tide battles. It was the collaboration of 4 regions (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh). At that time, only 4 regions were formed. The Pokemon league was very successful and soon other regions were formed and they also became the member of the Pokemon league."
Axel then asked a question, "Then how did the region and the league separate?"
"I am coming to that. After many years, the tide battles were not as frequent as before. The function of the league started to decrease. The kingdom didn't discontinue the league thinking that it might be needed in the future.
The kings of different regions could not look after the region and the league at the same time. So, the kings left their representatives to serve and support the league thinking that the league might be needed in the future.
That was when everything went wrong."
"So, the representatives betrayed the kings?"
"Yes, but it didn't happen immediately. It was a gradual process. The original people who were selected as representatives were very loyal to the crown but after 2-3 generations, their descendants were not. One of the reasons why the league was not disbanded was that they had separate forces and armies.
Slowly the league started to take over. At first, the kings didn't think much about it but the influence of the league grew and now they not only care about the tides but also everything that we do."
The king then turned towards Axel and continued, "Axel, I am not saying that the league is doing a bad job. They are doing an excellent job. Yes, there is favoritism in some places and there is also corruption in some places. That is acceptable cause even under my rule, it would happen. We cannot be perfect in everything.
But what I am afraid of is about their monopoly. They literally control all the regions now. The league had slowly started to affect the lives of average civilians at the basic level and that is what scares me.
Do I want to throw the league away cause I think that this region is my right? Yes, of course I think that but I also know that monopoly is not something good. If something bad happens to the league, then the whole world is destroyed.
I want the league to have only the basic function and that is to protect the civilians from the tide. This was why they were made but other things, they must not interfere."
Axel didn't know much about the king but he now knew that the king was a good talker. Because what he was saying was the truth. He didn't hide his intentions but he covered them with the risk of the league being in power.
"I understand your reason and your story but I still cannot be against the league right now.", said Axel.
"I am not saying it to do it right now. Just like the league did taking generations to control, it might also take us generations to get back what is mine. You and I may not be able to see it but our descendants can. I just don't want my region to be destroyed in the future.", said the King and it made perfect sense.
It could not be done in a few days or even in a few decades but it could be done in hundreds of years. The king wanted to play the long game and Axel understood that. Axel must say that the king was very wise and crafty.
"You are right about that but we don't have hundreds of years left.", said Axel.
"What do you mean?"
"I cannot give you all the details and the reason. I really cannot speak about it so don't force me but we don't have much time left."
"How much time do we have then?"
"I cannot say the exact number of years but a couple of decades. Maximum 30 years and we are all going to die."
Axel dropped the bomb and the king and Angel were surprised to hear it.
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