Chapter 51.3- And so the Dragons Danced

“You’d be surprised at the kind of shit civilians can come up with when you give them the space and time to plot” He said leadingly. I sighed.

“For the last time, Toji. I will not be imprisoning your father and his friends because they rub you funny”

“I can swear that they’re up to something. Bet it on my own life”

“You’re not the best gambler out there” I said even as I watched people scramble to help rescue the survivors of the explosion. Toph had scrambled over there and was taking charge with surprising ease.

“That’s not the point. That man had tried to kill you with your back turned. The Agni Kai was over. Everyone knows that. The only reason he’d try is if he had some other motivation for your death. Assuming he’s not some jilted lover of Maki’s then him being paid would be the only explanation”

“Or he got embarrassed to be beaten so easily” I countered. I knew Spark Sparky Boom Man from the show, and this was the same man who rejected double the pay to stop pursuing the Avatar because he was embarrassed at having them lead him by the nose and give him the run around for so long.

“Let me investigate” he pushed.

“Feel free” it was easy to say yes to that. I doubted anyone would have the audacity to pay someone to kill me so early in my reign, especially considering I was yet to be anointed by the Fire Sages. I was saving that for after I had put an end to the war and dispatched all possible challengers to cement my rule.

“How many do I have left?” I asked.

“Doesn’t matter. You’ll put an end to it for today”

“And seem like I got scared off by a dishonorable coward”

“Better that than to seem like you don’t care about the lives lost to the dishonorable coward” He replied.

“If they see me as weak, then my rule is over before it even begins.”

“If they see you as cruel and callous then your rule will never even begin in the first place” he pressed.

“We stop for today and resume by dawn tomorrow then” I say.

“Also, see to it that every family who lost someone today receives adequate compensation— something like twelve gold pieces should be fine?”

“Double it”

“Twenty-Four gold pieces is a lot for an accidental death” I pushed.

“The treasury can bear the cost, and once you end the war, the Fire Nation will be making more money than ever. Just refill it then” He said.

“Fine. Thank you, my friend”

“You never need to thank me, Natsu. Now go help with the chaos. You’ve done enough standing around” He said. I nodded.