The Returned of the Dual Bladed Ninja - Part 1

Emperor Zhēngfú clicked his tongue after trying his drink. It was bitter but smelled sweet, he had mixed feelings about it. "You can say you don't like it, you're not the first Ninja that didn't like it at first." assured King Alexios, they were in the gardens of the Spartan Palace.

"I assume he didn't like it either." guessed Emperor Zhēngfú as he put his cup down.

"She," corrected King Alexios as he set his cup down as well. "She wasn't a fan either but will have some to be polite."

"I think you misheard me," stated Emperor Zhēngfú.

"No, I heard you correctly and if you think he'll be allowed in my house, you're mistaken." interrupted King Alexios.

"Then where is he hiding in your empire?" asked Emperor Zhēngfú.

King Alexios looked up and saw Zhen coming with her friends to them. "Former Princess Zhen, thank you for coming." he greeted as Emperor Zhēngfú stood up and faced them.

"Brother," exclaimed Hannah, and she and Xing stood in front of Zhen with swords drawn.

"Come, come, my dear sisters, do you think I would come to attack you." questioned Emperor Zhēngfú as he approached them. The sisters turned to Zhen who nodded for them to stand down. They backed away and allowed Emperor Zhēngfú to come closer. "I see you have grown accustomed to the Spartan Empire. Your dress is beautiful, Lady Zhen." he sneered.

"Mr. Zhēngfú, thank you for the compliment." stated Zhen as she bent her knees breathly in a Spartan dress. Though it had been a month since her duel against Zhōng, she was still adjusting to her new life.

"That's your majesty to you, cousin." stated Lord Sensou, lord of the border fiefdom and second in command of the Ninja Empire's armies. He came with Emperor Zhēngfú to the Spartan Empire.

"My mother gave you a powerful fiefdom and this is how you repay her?" questioned Zhen.

"She gave me a fiefdom that hated her, it was either I joined them and their cause or be the first to die. Besides I hated her for keeping her fiefdom after she took over, it should have been me to inherit it." answered Lord Sensou.

"My lord, I'll remind you that if it wasn't for her, you wouldn't be here as my second in command." pointed out Zhēngfú.

"Of course, your majesty, I am honored that you spared my life and have me lead your strong and powerful armies." thanked Lord Sensou.

"Hate is an interesting emotion," began Emperor Zhēngfú as he turned his attention to Zhen and walked closer to her. "It drives people to goals unachievable to a person who could only dream it to happen. For example, I lost everything to your mother and traveled to find people who shared my hatred. After working so hard to rally thousands, I am rewarded a crown and an empire. Another example is my brother, his hatred of your mother in his early teens shook grown men awake. His terror and anger was unrivaled to anyone that legends about him were pale descriptions. And you, you hate me because of all the things that I stretched my hand into. Did you honestly think he'll be welcome here as well? I bet he's very close isn't he?" He was now very close to Zhen's face. A dart flew between them and struck the stones nearby.

"He isn't but I am." stated Tony as he came out of the shadows with a loaded crossbow.

"The Poisoner, finally we get to meet in person. I thought my brother had killed you." stated Emperor Zhēngfú as Tony approached Zhen's side with the crossbow still pointing at him.

"Well he almost did, twice," growled Tony, he was aiming for Emperor Zhēngfú's heart with the same poison he used on Zhōng years ago.

"Stand down, Poisoner, can't you see they aren't armed?" ordered King Alexios, it was the first time it dawned on them that the only one armed besides them was King Alexios. Tony dropped his crossbow and put it away sensing there was no danger. "Former Princess Zhen, I request that your friends and the Poisoner leave along with Lord Sensou. I have something to discuss between you and Emperor Zhēngfú privately." requested King Alexios.

"It's okay, go," assured Zhen as she handed Xing her new Roktavor-Valtryek hybrid sword. Her friends turned around and returned to where they came from.

"I don't trust this," whispered Tony.

"You have no choice, his majesty has spoken and I command you to." stated Zhen. Tony sighed and then followed Zhen's friends out as Lord Sensou brought up the rear.

"With all due respect, why must you take away our weapons when we could give you our word not to kill?" asked Emperor Zhēngfú.

"Because I am not a foolish king as you were told if you dare to strike for blood either one of you, I will use these." threatened King Alexios as he pulled the Spartan Sword out and revealed the Ninja Sword from a box.

"So my brother was here," exclaimed Emperor Zhēngfú.

"Speaking of him, where is he? The Poisoner hasn't told me anything." said Zhen as she took a seat by King Alexios.

"As a matter of fact, I happen to receive a letter from someone who's keeping an eye on him." announced King Alexios, he saw confused and curious looks on both Emperor Zhēngfú and Zhen's faces. He pulled out a letter and read aloud, "Greetings King Alexios, king of the Spartan Empire and wielder of the Spartan Sword, I can guess that you are quite surprised to see I wrote to you considering our relationship out on the seas. I've been requested by someone to write this in his stead as he's been busy working for me. He arrived just a couple of days ago from the time I wrote this and I admit seeing my nephew come off a spartan ship made me confused. I won't go into detail since you already know. I see that he's different from the last time I heard about him. There's a new fire in his soul that is very dangerous to be around, even I hesitate to call for him now. He wants you to let the former princess know that he's safe for now and warn his brother when you see him that he should have finished the job. I also hereby offer him family sanctuary while this means nothing to you, it will make you aware that he's protected in my empire. Sign, Pharaoh Ay, king of the Egyptian Empire and wielder of the Egyptian Khopesh."

"So my brother thinks he can escape my clutches and hide far away." mocked Emperor Zhēngfú as leaned back.

"I thought he couldn't claim sanctuary." said Zhen.

"Family sanctuary is different, the empire can protect the family members of another. But if something happens to that member only that empire will fight against the empire responsible." explained King Alexios.

"Basically, my brother is allowed to live there with no consequences." summarized Emperor Zhēngfú.

"And there's no way you can get him." stated Zhen.

"He won't be there for long, he just warned me I should have finished killing him." stated Emperor Zhēngfú.

"Well then perhaps you should block Egyptian ships as well at your port." suggested King Alexios.

"I faced my brother and defeated him, his threat means nothing if he isn't wielding the Ninja Sword." declared Emperor Zhēngfú.

"Then I suggest you do nothing till he comes to you. However, what Zhōng is doing is not the reason why I wanted to speak to you guys alone." stated King Alexios.

"Then what is the topic you wish to speak about with us?" asked Zhen.

"What I'm going to tell you could change the fate of Zhōng by either strengthening him or destroying him." hyped King Alexios.

"A secret weapon?" asked Emperor Zhēngfú.

"An ally that taught you and him long ago." began King Alexios as he drew both the Ninjas' attention.

"How?" demanded Zhen after Emperor Zhēngfú left to make his way back to the port.

"He never told me how but the reason I told you and him is because the Lone Bandit requested I should." explained King Alexios as he led Zhen to his study.

"Why shouldn't we tell Zhōng? He must know that he's…" began Zhen.

"But how would Zhōng take that information?" interrupted King Alexios. "I'm sure he'll be angry to know about this. The time to tell him will come but now it should remain a secret."

"What about the journal he carries? What's inside it?" asked Zhen.

"I was hoping you or Emperor Zhēngfú could tell me. I am curious considering I saw him shocked, angry, and torn by what was written in it. Perhaps I should ask Lord Tyron if I ever meet him." said King Alexios.

"You can call him, right? Have him come and I'll have him tell us." suggested Zhen.

King Alexios chuckled, making Zhen confused and angry. "One, he'll be in no mood to tell us anything if I order him to come. And two, we are going somewhere immediately. It's time for us to check in on our friend and how he's been." he reasoned.

A month later, in the Egyptian Empire, people were traveling through the marketplace. There were spices, carpets, pots, and other goods sold at stalls for the merchants to make a profit. A man was running through them in a hurry, he looked back as if he was being and saw now. He continued to run as he heard his chaser never let anyone go if caught. Suddenly he tripped over a foot, and all of his coins and goods he stole spilled out from his chest. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, you've been doing these kinds of jobs for how long and you constantly fail to escape." asked Zhōng, his cowl was over his head as a mask hung around his neck. His armor plate dipped low enough to protect his rib cage while the rest of his torso was exposed. He wore Arabic pants with sandals that wrapped up to his lower calf as his Valtryek sword hung on his left hip along with his knife. His forearms were covered in thick leather gauntlets which he had throwing knives stored.

"Dual Bladed Ninja, I see his majesty has sent his heir to stop me." stated the man as he got back up.

"You're not even worthy of my time, Ramesses." stated Zhōng.

"Then why get in my way of escape?" demanded Ramesses.

"Because my uncle has had enough of your failures. You have gotten away from so many sentences that he had enough of slapping your wrist. He has declared that you shall die." stated Zhōng as his black eyes stared deep into Ramesses's.

"I assume there's a bounty and you took it." stuttered Ramesses as he stared deep into the cold and fearful eyes.

"On the contrary, I'm here to distract from the one who actually took it." stated Zhōng as a sinister smile came across his face.

"You're not talking about Cobra, are you?" realized Ramesses.

"Turn around and see," suggested Zhōng. Ramesses began to pounce away from Zhōng but he collided with a khopesh blade and his head came off. "You could have let him feel some hope." Zhōng suggested as he approached the killer.

"Didn't you say that fear is best when there's no hope of escape?" said Cobra. His cowl was down as his black hair and green eyes were visible to the people. "Shall we go?" he asked as he noticed guards trying to make their way toward them.

"Might as well," agreed Zhōng, and he led them deeper into the market. They jump over stalls, pull up on the edges of buildings, and leap over alleys. They ran as far as they could before climbing a tower that overlooked the Egyptian Capital. From the view, they saw the stadium where members of the black market trained and was home to the black market games. The port where merchant vessels came with fresh catch and foreign crops. The final landmark was the palace as it stretched out to the desert and as wide as the Spartan Palace. It was also home to Pharaoh Ay and his family and towers taller than the one they stood on.

"This view is definitely the best." gasped Cobra.

"Considering you're out of breath, it is breathtaking." agreed Zhōng.

"How come you are stronger, faster, and more endurance than I am and it took you a month?" asked Cobra.

Zhōng lowered his cowl to let his blond hair flow in the breeze, it was long enough to style it back. He smiled as he looked at Cobra with his blue eyes. "You forget cousin, I've had training for eight years and was on my own for six. Not all my muscles are back yet and I'm still not satisfied with my endurance, perhaps an adrenaline rush would be good to test how much farther I am from." he said.

"Do you have to call me cousin?" complained Cobra as he sat down.

"Would you prefer I call you Ichika or Cobra instead?" asked Zhōng.

Ichika shook his head and said, "You know how my father feels about me." 

"Just because you're the half-brother of three sisters, doesn't mean I see you differently. You're my cousin, you have the same blood as I, I won't treat you differently because you came from a different mother." said Zhōng as he sat down and joined Ichka.

"Thanks, cousin." thanked Ichika they looked out at the view in silence for a couple of minutes as the breeze blew through their hair. "Speaking of my half-sisters, didn't you have a date with one soon?" he asked. The gong ranged five times to indicate the time as Zhōng looked down at his watch he pulled from under his right gauntlet.

"Yeah, thirty minutes ago." sighed Zhōng, he knew he was going to hear about it.

Zhōng and Ichika peaked their heads through the door to the throne room. It was barren as no guards stood at their post and there were no people to list their complaints to the pharaoh. They looked at each other before entering and hurried across it to another door. "Stop right there you two." ordered a voice and they froze. They turned around to see the pharaoh coming in from another door as if he was expecting them. "Cobra, go to the tailors and make sure your measurements are correct." ordered Pharaoh Ay.

"Yes, your majesty," replied Ichika as he bowed. He soon left, going through another door leaving Zhōng and the pharaoh alone. 

With a gesture, the pharaoh walked away and Zhōng followed in pursuit. When he caught up, they didn't talk for a while as they walked down a passageway to his studies. "I know you're going to lecture me, uncle, but if I didn't listen to my other uncle, what makes you different?" stated Zhōng before they entered Pharaoh Ay's studies.

"Perhaps you make sure your watch is set on time that way I don't have to cry in your ear how you never show up to my daughters' dates." suggested Pharaoh Ay.

"Ichika needed a hand, I was just trying to help him. Besides, we're still looking into this strand of poison. If you have me check for the blood, I could definitely figure out what it is." requested Zhōng.

"And risk us being cursed? Surely by now, you've heard all our superstitions." said Pharaoh Ay.

"Then it looks like I'm going to continue running late because I'm trying to solve something to stop the spread." stated Zhōng.

Pharaoh shook his head and sighed, in front of him, he saw a man with black eyes looking at him. He's seen both sides of Zhōng, the real and the fake. His real was who stood in front of him as he could see the hunger for pain, fear, suffering, and revenge. His fake side would show his eyes blue and he'll bury all the negative energy away. "You know why I'm pressing you to marry one of my daughters." he said.

"Because you promised your wives that the first child who gets married will be your heir. You made this promise specifically to your first wife who was queen and bore you three daughters." said Zhōng.

Pharaoh Ay chuckled and then got up before opening a drawer. Inside was a mech-type Egyptian khopesh sword and he handed it to Zhōng. "It was your mother's before she wed your father. She was cheerful and kind, curious about what lay outside our walls and borders. She didn't want to be caged and after the wedding, she wrote to me and I can feel her sadness." said Pharaoh Ay.

"I wish I had more memories of her." stated Zhōng, he marveled at the condition of the blade as it was taken care of daily.

"I love my sister more than as a sister, I mourned for months after her death. I know I wasn't the only one and I am glad your father didn't find someone to replace her." stated Pharaoh Ay.

"And if he did find someone, what would you do?" asked Zhōng, he hadn't told his uncle about Hannah.

"Then I will bring him back from the dead and have him watch as I'll torture his second and any offspring they'll have. There won't be any mercy as I'll march my entire armies to the Ninja Empire to kill them all who stood in my way against him." vowed Pharaoh Ay.

Zhōng looked away from his uncle, he couldn't tell him Hannah or else he'd be in the way of Pharaoh Ay's revenge. "I see you do love my mother dearly even after her death." said Zhōng as held out the khopesh to the pharaoh.

"Keep it, you can't call yourself the Dual Bladed Ninja if you had one sword. It's a Roktavor type, your mother knew how to make a battle drag." said Pharaoh Ay.

"Thank you, uncle, I'll treasure it as you did." promised Zhōng as he tied the Roktavor sword to the right side of his waist.

"Now go find the tailor and see if he's done with Cobra. Make sure your size is correct for tonight, you're not wearing those clothes." ordered Pharaoh Ay.

"Do I have to make an appearance?" asked Zhōng as he turned to the door and waited for a reply.

"It doesn't have to be grand." replied Pharaoh Ay. Zhōng nodded then left the study to find the tailor.

Later that night, in the Egyptian Palace, there was music and entertainment bringing the place to life. Guests wore the finest clothing possible to the Egyptian Empire as they came and greeted visitors from a different land. "Hail, King Alexios! Wielder of the Spartan Sword, and king of the Spartan Empire!" greeted Pharaoh Ay as he approached them.

"Your majesty, Pharaoh Ay! Wielder of the Egyptian Khopesh, and pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire! I'm surprised you allowed me to come." replied King Alexios, he and his party were the only ones wearing the finest spartan clothing that came with them. "May I introduce to you Former Princess Zhen of the Ninja Empire." he introduced.

"The pleasure is mine, it's good to see you again and this time it isn't under a different name." greeted Pharaoh Ay as lowered his head to Zhen. 

"Thank you for letting us come, your majesty." thanked Zhen, she had her sword on her waist as Jack and John stood on each side of her.

"Well you're always welcome here, however, I'll remind you my nephew is here as well." warned Pharaoh Ay.

"Is he here?" asked Zhen before she could stop herself. She knew her public relationship with Zhōng was distant but being by his side since the fall of the capital made her feel closer to him.

"He should be, I don't know where he could be." stated Pharaoh Ay, he couldn't spot Zhōng but he knew he was close by. "May I introduce my daughters to you?" he suggested.

"So that's Former Princess Zhen?" asked Ichika, he was with Zhōng by the balcony.

"Yup," replied Zhōng as he stared out into the city.

"She's beautiful, it's a pity she's already promised to someone." sighed Ichika.

"Extremely," stated Zhōng before taking a sip of his wine.

"I heard she was shy and timid after the first civil war in your empire. Do you think she has matured a lot with you?" asked Ichika.

"If I remember correctly, you're a guard and I'm a guest. Perhaps you should find a post to stand guard with someone instead of discussing things with the pharaoh's guest." suggested Zhōng, he was getting annoyed that he had to stay for this party. Ichika understood and left to go back inside, leaving Zhōng by himself. He sighed as he looked down at his cup before dumping what remained out. "This was not part of the plan," he stated.

"It's a better excuse than having me sail up here then continuing down south to the Ninja Empire." stated Tony as he joined him.

"Did you have to bring her? If King Alexios wanted to, he could have talked with my uncle over trade lanes between the lands. I'm sure you didn't need to have her and them come along." sighed Zhōng.

"Well, I wasn't sure if you needed them so why not have her here?" asked Tony.

"Because I'm here, we're supposed to be enemies." stated Zhōng.

"But not yet," pointed out Tony.

Zhōng sighed as he looked over at his friend. His black eyes came to life as he wanted Tony to feel his frustration. "Is everything ready?" he asked.

"Ready to sail when you are finished here." answered Tony.

Zhōng walked up to his friend and before passing him, he said, "Don't tell them anything, if they ask, tell them I've found a better option." He handed Tony a piece of paper and left him alone on the balcony.

"Hey, Zhōng! Where are you going?" asked Cleopatra as she clung to one of Zhōng's arms tightly. She was one of the three daughters Pharaoh Ay had with his first wife.

"I have to finish some things tonight," replied Zhōng, trying to get away with an excuse.

"But are you going to dance or serve us? It's a party after all," stated Nefertiti as she grabbed Zhōng's other arm tightly.

"You're too tired to do any of that," accused Cleopatra.

"You would skip and offer to go to bed together." accused Nefertiti as they Zhōng back and forth. They couldn't see that Zhōng was annoyed by their childish actions towards him.

"Zhōng," stated someone, they turned to see the oldest sister, Hatshepsut, looking at them. "Tomorrow in the gardens, you better not be late." she finished.

"Can't promise to be on time, I have a reputation for being late." said Zhōng as he shook his arms free. He looked into his cousin's eyes, they were cold and serious almost like his or his brother's. She barely smiled or showed joy as she worked hard on everything tasked to her. 

"Perhaps you should use your reputation for surprises," suggested Hatshepsut.

Zhōng smirked then said, "I shall try my best." He turned to walk out before stopping and turning his head to look at Zhen. She noticed the commotion as he feared and looked confused about him.

In Zhen's heart, she felt a stab as she watched the scenes played. Never before had she felt this and it made her confused as she looked into Zhōng's black eyes. She was glad to see him but was still in pain from losing him. She wanted to approach him but was supposed to listen to a conversation she was having. She took too long as she watched Zhōng continue onward out of the gardens and she nodded her head in understanding.

Zhōng was analyzing the flowers in the gardens the next morning. They were healthy and the soil was rich and fine. "Your flowers are in fantastic health," commented as he stood up and looked across the flower bed. There were spots amongst it that were barren and the soil was drying up faster.

"And yet I keep getting weeds in my bed." sighed Natshepsut as she looked over her flower bed. "They're a disease and vicious, spreading their roots out to my flowers' I just wish I didn't have to deal with them."

"Not all weeds are terrible, there are some that protect them from unwanted critters." pointed out Zhōng.

"But at the cost of many of my flowers, my father wants us to take care of our flowers as they represent the people we'll rule. I love my flowers and I will care for my people as long as they aren't like weeds to spread their dark ways." said Hatshepsut.

"But if your flowers are like the people, why will you pull so many to pull just one weed?" asked Zhōng as he looked at the barren spots throughout the flower bed.

"They're tainted with the weed's filth." answered Hatshepsut. Then in a whisper voice, she said, "Surely, the black market fears me to ascend the throne. I know you enjoy your time amongst it but if I catch a whiff, I will destroy all of it."

"You can't get rid of weeds entirely, what makes you think you can get rid of thousands of years of a fortified business option? The black market always comes back, I'm living proof of that." said Zhōng, his blue eyes turned black revealing his true colors. He turned to see up on a balcony above the gardens a group exploring the palace.

"Here we have the royal family's gardens, one of the wonders of the seven empires." said Pharaoh Ay as he led King Alexios, Zhen, Jack, John, Tony, and two spartan guards throughout the palace.

"I've heard not every generation is the same, your garden is also the only one in your empire with a vast variety of flowers." complimented King Alexios.

"Well, King Alexios, you're correct. My daughters as you can see are growing and taking care of their own flower bed. Surprisingly, they all decided to grow flowers found in the Egyptian Empire." explained Pharaoh Ay. The group looked down to see three flower beds full of flowers. There was one with spots covered throughout where exposed soil baked in the sun. There was one where they saw workers tending it with carelessness as they pulled flowers and half of a weed. The final one looked to be hardly worked as weeds tangled amongst the flowers choking some and killing others.

"I thought you said he had a son?" muttered Jack to Tony.

"What did you say about a son?" demanded Pharaoh Ay, overhearing Jack's question.

"Forgive his wording, your majesty, I believe what he meant to say was nephew." began Tony, gritting his teeth for the last part. Jack tightened his lips and stared into the gardens to avoid the pharaoh's glare. "I was a great associate of his when he was in the Ninja Empire and these two were his strong allies for the second Ninja Empire civil war." finish explaining Tony.

"Why do I get the feeling you know more than you let on?" asked Pharaoh Ay as he approached Tony.

Tony shrugged and said, "I guess I forgot to mention I was the captain of the spartan ship that arrived at your capital."

"You can drop it, Pharaoh Ay, getting him to speak would be just as difficult as getting your nephew to as well." stated King Alexios.

"There's only one man he fears and will answer to," began Zhen, they all turned to see her red eyes flare like fire and the heat could be felt. "His name is the Dual Bladed Ninja." she finished.

Pharaoh Ay stepped back from Tony as he looked at Zhen with interest. He could see she shared the same determination as his nephew but unlike him, he could see the pain she bore didn't weigh her down. "My nephew does have a garden but he keeps it to himself, even though I don't know what's behind the walls. He told me when the time is right, he'll take someone in there to see his flowers." he said.

"If I may know, does he live with you guys in the palace?" asked King Alexios.

Pharaoh Ay chuckled then said, "I'm sure you noticed he wasn't very fond of people when he was with you. He has his own place where he can be alone to do whatever."

"Where is this place? Can we go there next?" asked Princess Zhen.

Thirty minutes later, the group was going through a sand storm that picked up through their travels to Zhōng's place. "We should wait till the storm passes." suggested John as he tried to calm his horse that they traveled on.

"Sand storms typically last as long as other storms, also we get buried if we stop." said Tony. He was helping Zhen with her horse as it started to get wild and she almost let go.

"How close are we to his place?" asked King Alexios to Pharaoh Ay.

"There," stated Pharaoh Ay. He pointed in the storm and they could see a small silhouette of a hut. They tied their horses to a lean-to before banging on the door and entering. Inside they found it cluttered and dirty as dishes, papers, and different colors of liquid.

"What a mess," exclaimed Jack as they looked around.

"His sister would be very disappointed in him." said Tony as he analyzed the liquid on his fingertip.

"What was this place before it was Zhōng's home?" asked Zhen as John tried a door on the other side of the room.

"An old bandit home, typically it's one that raids and stores anything valuable in that back room." replied Pharaoh Ay.

"I assume they're pretty greedy unless their life is endangered." said King Alexios.

"They're mostly part of our black market, they don't raid till they have a job that's worth their wilds." answered Pharaoh Ay.

"Is that how the Dual Bladed Ninja runs?" asked John after seeing no other rooms or secret compartments.

"No, he's a typical…" began Pharaoh Ay before the door opened. Entered from the storm was a man, as he removed his headwear and pulled his face mask down, they recognized it was Zhōng.

"Zhōng," awed Zhen as she looked at him. Zhōng was staring back at her before looking at everyone else, then he walked past them and into the locked room John tried to open. He closed the door behind him so that no one could follow behind. Whatever he was working on, he didn't want them to see.

"You know they're here to see you longer than your appearance at the party and now." said Pharaoh Ay. There was no response as they heard jars clinking together and a strong smell went into their nose. "Perhaps you could at least serve us?" suggested Pharaoh Ay.

Gears of a machine clanked around, and four glasses rolled down a ramp before being stood up. Four small holes spit out deep red liquid into the cups, the smell overpowered the stench and the new smell Zhōng created. When they were filled, a tray underneath the cups rolled them forward to the center of the group.

"I recognized this smell," said King Alexios as he took a cup and took a sip. His eyes widened in shock as he realized what it was. "This is from one of the vineyards that grows by the river, you can never find such a sweeter taste than there."

"I agree with King Alexios, this is the sweetest wine I come across. Of course, it was hard to get since it comes from your empire." said Pharaoh Ay.

"I assume you didn't pay for it nor request some through trade." guessed King Alexios.

"It came through trade, just it had to be moved from a spartan ship to an Egyptian ship." replied Pharaoh Ay as he shrugged.

"Forgive my manners and hospitality, but I am extremely busy managing something dangerous in the black market." interrupted Zhōng. He burst through the door and started to march back at the front door before Tony stopped him. He glared at him as his black eyes went darker the longer he stared.

"You think I haven't tried to find a shortcut? I've searched for a cure for a long time in case of an accident." stuttered Tony.

"You should have tried harder," said Zhōng, he shook off Tony and began marching to the door before Zhen stopped him.

"He's doing his best, what can I do to earn your respect?" demanded Zhen, matching his tone and his strength with hers.

"Take the Ninja Sword," growled Zhōng, he marched past her and back out into the storm.

"John," said Jack.

"Yup," said John, and he began working on the door that swung shut behind Zhōng.

"I don't think we should go into a room he owns that's locked." advised Tony.

"Relax, he's too focused on a mission, I'm sure your majesty doesn't know what he's doing." said Jack.

"Indeed I'm curious as to what my nephew is doing." confessed Pharaoh Ay. They watched as John picked the lock. When he opened it, he opened the door and they went inside. What they saw was more of what was out of the room.

"Why keep a room locked that is no different to the one outside?" asked Zhen. They explored and Tony found a vial containing a potion he was too familiar with. He tucked it in his cloak but his actions were seen by Jack.

"Pharaoh Ay, do you know these people?" asked John, he had a book in his hand and gave it to the pharaoh. The page John was on had three names that were Egyptian.

"Indeed, I know them very well." began Pharaoh Ay, he saw they were curious as to who they were. "Perhaps I should have explained in the letter I sent, but these names are my daughters and Zhōng agreed to marry one of them." he explained and he watched their faces go into shock.