Chapter 28.1- And so the Dragons Danced

It was quite impressive, in the end. That Kinvara felt so loyal to his friend that he was going to refuse the chance to get away scot free. Of course, he would not have. The offer was a smokescreen because I would never really have allowed the attempt against my life to go so unpunished, but the fact that he could say no to that almost made me want to keep him alive. Almost. I nodded at the guards on the Compound’s outer walls and made my way within.

Looking up at the sun for a few minters told me it was only an hour or two past noon so that meant I would probably be interrupting lunch. Just as expected, I walked into the Manor and ended up being guided by a servant to the family’s dining room.

“Major General Natsu of the Fire Nation, Governor of Gaoling” the servant announced as I walked in and I inclined my head at her in thanks as she skittered away. Even the serving class here knew to fear the Fire Nation. Hopefully, that would change in time.

“Major General Natsu. What a surprise. Please come join us, come join us” Lao Beifong looked almost like he did in the cartoon. A thin man with a long moustache and no other facial hair to go with his long black hair. The composure he’d worn with ease in the cartoon was nowhere to be found. Just like with Kinvara, I’d had his guards replaced with Fire Nation soldiers, and that seemed to be a state of affairs that affected him more severely than his counterpart.

By his side, his wife remained quiet, but she had put both arms around their young daughter, Toph. I gave the young girl an assessing look. A powerful bender. She would be the Avatar’s tutor in a different life, maybe even in this one if my plans failed.

“Thank you. I do hope you are adjusting properly to the changes”

“Yes, Major General. Poppy, please take Toph and excuse us” He answered me, and then turned to his wife to deliver orders. The woman made to leave but I coughed deliberately.

“Please do not let me interrupt your lunch. I won’t be staying long so there’s no need for that” I said.

“But please General Natsu. Let them leave so we can discuss,” he was practically begging.

“No. Whatever we say will be said in front of them.” I said to him.

“Now sit” I turned to the woman, Poppy, as I spoke. I could already see Toph’s fists tightening. She could attack me here, I realised. It would be stupid though. I’d kill her if she tried it, and kill her family as well. She had potential to be a great tool for my purposes, but I had no use for one without the brains to identify a lost battle.

“Whatever you want, I will do it. I promise. Please. Just don’t hurt them” Lao said next after I allowed the awkward silence to stretch for a few seconds. I was beginning to feel sorry for him.

“I have not come to kill non-combatants” I said, with my eyes on Toph’s clenched fists. I had to make sure I was ready to move the moment she did. Letting her get the first attack in uncontested could mean my death because of he surroundings we were in.

“Please. I will do anything.” Of course, my words did little to convince him.

“I gave Kinvara an offer. I will give you a similar one. You will publicly confess to the assassins you sent for me-“ Poppy, his wife, interrupted my words with the way she wailed on hearing them. Even Toph looked shocked. I guess she hadn’t seen that one coming.

“And you will confess the Mayor’s involvement. You will lie and say that it was all his idea and you were pressured to using your finances to secure the assassins. He will be sentenced to death, and you will prevent any rebellions, uprisings, or anything of the sort from the general populace using your influence, and you will forfeit two-third’s of your wealth to my war effort” I told him.

It said a lot that it was only the last demand that made him shake.

“Of course, you could always say no” I said, eyes still on Toph. I knew exactly what he would interpret my actions to mean so it did not surprise me that he was falling over himself to say yes in no time. Especially when his wife turned to him with fire in her eyes.

“Now, go start writing your speech. I want to speak with your daughter”