Bring it to me
The Pharaoh finally returned to the palace when everything at the frontline was over. He left Cape in a grand procession of guards and guards, heading west. Pharaoh sat in a huge golden chariot. On the roof of the chariot was not a canopy, but a golden eagle with wings spread out. The craftsmanship of the craftsmen was superb, making Lasith Ii look majestic, like a god descending to the world.
Pharaoh's chariot occupied the entire official road, and pedestrians had to stay far away from it. Countless people saw the golden eagle on the roadside, and they all knelt on the ground and kissed the soil. The chariot was double-decker, and Pharaoh sat on the top. He specially invited Ah to ride in the chariot. Ah sat in the front seat of the lower layer, like a symbolic driver, which reminded Ah of Enkidu who drove for Gilgamesh.
Where else on the continent could one find a driver who could surpass the fame of Enkidu? Pharaoh let Ah sit in the front of the chariot because he was looking for the feeling of a hero!
Pharaoh's first stop on his return to the palace was Montefiore, the capital of Eygut, where he would board a ship and sail upstream to Thebes, the capital of Eygut. Ah was nineteen years old when he crossed the Nile River again. He was already the honorable Supreme General of Eygut. He was only seventeen when he crossed the river for the first time. He was chased by Julien's men and almost lost his life. It was Maria and Gabriel who saved him.
And now, Urhiya had died on the battlefield, in the midst of the army commanded by Amon. And Enkidu, who had killed him with a single punch, had also died under the mysterious "trial of fate, judgment of the end of days."
It was said that Enkidu became a ninth-level warrior at the age of twenty-one. Ah had seen several ninth-level supreme mages, but the only famous ninth-level supreme warrior on the continent today was Enkidu. Abel himself was also a rare genius. He had become a supreme mage and a supreme warrior at the age of 18, and it had been exactly one year since then.
At that time, he was sent by Maria to the Plains of Duc on a reconnaissance mission, and after encountering the Scorpion King and the two-headed snake monster, he finally crossed the inland lake and set foot on the land of his hometown, attaining the seventh level. But now, he had become the famous General Eygut, sitting majestically in front of Pharaoh and returning to Montefiore. But he had lost all his power, and the memories of the past seemed like a lifetime ago.
…
Of course, they had to take a boat to cross the river. Pei Jian stood on the bow of the boat on the second floor, while Pharaoh sat on the balcony of the cabin on the third floor. From a distance, he could see Holy Nv Maria leading the subjects of Eygut to welcome them at the pier. Ah's eyesight was excellent, and he could see Maria's face clearly in the middle of the river. She wore a golden crown on her head and held a staff in her hand, exuding an invisible divine brilliance, but her face was so beautiful, and her delicate figure stood on the misty bank of the Nile, like a dream.
Of course, Pharaoh also saw Maria, but he did not have as good eyesight as Ah. He gave an order, and a court mage placed a magic artifact in front of him, and the light and shadow it emitted was like a mirror, clearly showing the situation on the shore. Pharaoh whispered to the voice beside him: "This Holy Nv is so young, but she is already a supreme mage. The gods have given her such amazing beauty, no one in my harem can compare to her."
The voice laughed and said: "Your Majesty has taken a fancy to the Holy Nv?"
Pharaoh laughed twice and said: "I'm just saying, the Guardian Holy Nv of the Temple of Isis, after all, represents me, and symbolizes the protection of the gods to the Eygut. … I'm just a little puzzled, the Goddess of Isis is also married, her husband is the first king of the Empire of Eygut, Pharaoh Osiris, and he also gave birth to a son, Horus, who became the king of the Empire. Why can't the Guardian Holy Nv of Isis be touched by men? "
The voice laughed and said: "The Holy Nv of the Temple of Isis is also the Holy Nv of Your Majesty, and symbolizes that Your Majesty has the authority of the gods to rule the Eygut. You are the spokesperson of the great Horus, and she is the Guardian Holy Nv of Isis, and nominally also the woman of Your Majesty. "
Pharaoh laughed and said: "That's true. Seeing this Holy Nv, I really feel a little sorry for the tradition of the Temple of Isis."
The voice added: "If Your Majesty really has any ideas, you can secretly pass a message. Your words represent the oracle of the Eygut, and the Holy Nv also has to obey the call of the gods, maybe …"
This was a joke between the Pharaoh and his favorite ministers. Naturally, it was not as serious as it was usually in the court, and there was no need to hide anything. Their voices were very low, and the whole ship was protected by a magic formation, so they were not worried about being heard by outsiders. But Ah was standing under the balcony, and his hearing was excellent, so he heard everything clearly.
Hearing Pharaoh's unscrupulous joke, an inexplicable impulsive anger rose in Ah's heart. He almost couldn't resist the urge to jump up and punch Lasith Ii in the nose!
This impulse was like a desire, as if he had returned to a long time ago, when Crazy 'Ole had awakened the power of two sides, and when he saw the repulsive priest Shog in the town, he also had the same feeling. No matter how repulsive Shog was, he had died in the flood. Ah's memory of that time used to be ridiculous. But now this feeling was awakened again, and it seemed so real.
Ah 'Ole couldn't help but straighten his body, his hand on the hilt of his sword. He really wanted to beat Pharaoh, but he could only stand there without moving. He asked himself in his heart: "Is this rationality or cowardice? Why am I standing still? Is it because I am afraid of Pharaoh's power, or because I have lost my power? … If the person behind me who is talking nonsense is not Pharaoh, then who is he? And what will I do? "
… …
While Pharaoh was talking and laughing with the servant, he suddenly heard Ah 'Ole cough heavily from below. The hilt of the sword in his hand knocked on the armor, making a crisp sound. He was startled and stood up, asking: "General Ah, what's wrong?"
Ah 'Ole turned around and replied coldly: "Your Majesty, please conduct yourself with dignity!"
Pharaoh was startled, realizing that Ah had heard his words. The servant beside him also paled, wanting to scold Ah but not daring to open his mouth. If anyone else had heard Pharaoh's joke, they would have pretended to be deaf and mute. He didn't expect the General to not give him face, and actually scolded him in front of his face. This put Pharaoh in a difficult position.
The atmosphere was a little awkward, but Pharaoh immediately laughed and said: "I was joking and spoke without thinking. Thank you for the reminder, General! You are the pillar of the Empire, and I admire you for your frankness. "
This sentence resolved the awkwardness, but Ah still pointed at the servant and said: "Your Majesty, this kind of person is blasphemous to you."
It was hard to tell if Pharaoh's face was red or white. He coughed and said to the servant: "Did you hear that? Go down and slap yourself! " Then he turned to Ah and said with a smile: "You are really a dignified General. How should I reward you for your frank and frank advice today?"
Pharaoh's words sounded like a reward, but in fact, it was a rebuke. The servant had already retreated according to Ah's order and slapped himself. Ah should know when to stop. Ah 'Ole didn't expect Ah' Ole to take advantage of the situation. He pointed at the divine artifact in front of Pharaoh and said: "I have also experienced the second awakening of my power, and I am very familiar with divine arts. Your Majesty, this artifact is very magical, can you give it to me?"
Oh, so he wants this thing! The Pharaoh waved his hand generously and said, "Men, bestow this Black Eye Mirror to General Ah!"
Ah Cheng expressed his gratitude and received the disk shaped magic tool. After the artifact's light faded, it became a mirror the size of his palm. He put it into his bosom, then turned around and continued to stand solemnly at the bow of the ship.
Pharaoh looked at Ah's back and his heart was in turmoil. Ah dared to talk back to him and even directly asked for a precious artifact. He shouldn't have any ulterior motives. People with ulterior motives usually wouldn't go against their superiors so straightforwardly. But on the other hand, this General is really arrogant. It is necessary to cut off his military power to dampen his spirit. Otherwise, it will be hard to control him in the future.
From a bystander's point of view, Ah should bear with it. There is no need to offend Pharaoh over such a small matter. But Ah only said what he wanted to say and reminded Pharaoh to behave himself. He also took away the artifact that Pharaoh used to spy on Maria.
The fleet slowly sailed across the Nile River. General Ah and the ministers surrounded Pharaoh and went ashore. Maria led the crowd to welcome them. Lasith Ii went to the temporary imperial residence in Montefiore to listen to Eygut's military and political reports before continuing his journey.
They only stayed in Montefiore for two days. Pharaoh came to the temporary imperial residence, and the officials were busy with various things. Ah also didn't have the opportunity to meet with Maria alone. He was an honorary warrior of the Temple of Isis. Now that he had made the greatest contribution on the battlefield, he naturally had a lot of situations to deal with. His temporary residence was filled with an endless stream of congratulatory guests. Ordinary guests were dealt with by the servants, and important guests had to be personally received. He received a lot of valuable congratulatory gifts.
The Holy Lady didn't come to congratulate him. She only sent messengers to encourage and reward him. This was normal etiquette. The wealthy merchant of Montefiore, Sio, was personally appointed by Ah as a quartermaster. Not only did he make a fortune during the war, but he also received the title of nobility. Naturally, he was very grateful to Ah. The gifts he sent were extremely valuable, even more than the gifts from the lord of Montefiore.
But the most valuable gift didn't come from the lords of Eygut. Instead, it came from Princess Issie of the Kingdom of Bablon, who specially sent a messenger to Montefiore.
The Kingdom of Bablon and the Empire of Eygut had just finished their war, and Princess Issie actually came to send a gift. Her reaction was too fast. She sent the gift in the name of a human to express her respect to General Ah. But with their status, it was also a symbol of submission.
Princess Issie's gift caused a great sensation. It turned out to be Humbaba's four tusks and a piece of snake tendon! Along with the gift was a congratulatory letter. It wasn't a secret letter, but a public one. The letter praised Ah's achievements and fearless spirit, and thanked him for saving her life in the past. The last part was a pile of blessings and words of admiration.
Princess Issie naturally had a reason for sending these gifts. Ah had personally asked her for them! In the town of Arcade in the Kingdom of Bablon, after rescuing the kidnapped Princess Issie from a highland tribe, Her Royal Highness asked him what he wanted as thanks. At that time, Ah replied, "Not long ago, I went to King's City and saw your fiancé, Gilgamesh, entering the city with gifts. He gave you three pieces of Humbaba's snake tendon and twelve tusks. It is said that they are the best weapons for warriors. If there is a day in the future when I can do more for you, I hope to receive a piece of snake tendon and a tusk. "
Princess Issie's reply was very interesting. "I agree to your request. If there is a day in the future when you can be thanked for your actions, I will give you a piece of Humbaba's snake tendon and tusk. I will also explain to Gilgamesh what happened."
Now that Ahmet had become the commander-in-chief of the Ejyptian army, his personal guard captain was Metatro. Countless people in the Uruk legion had seen their faces, so it was impossible for the news not to reach Princess Lilith. She should also know who they were. There was no need for Ah to say anything more. She took the initiative to deliver the gifts, and not just one, but four tusks and a complete set of tusks from each of Humbaba's heads.
Since Ah could send a letter to mourn for Enkidu and praise his achievements, Princess Issie could naturally write a letter to express her admiration for Ah, even though they were once enemies. The contents of the letter were made public halfway through the journey, and it spread throughout Montefiore in no time.
Pharaoh and the other lords were very interested, and specially came to see Humbaba's tusk and snake tendon. They even asked Princess Issie about the 'life-saving grace' mentioned in the letter. Ah could only explain that when he was still a hunter in the mountains, he encountered Princess Issie being kidnapped by a tribe of giants, and joined the local rescue team. At that time, he had not yet arrived at Eygut, and he did not know what happened later.
The ministers laughed, especially the generals who had fought under Ah's command. Their laughter was especially unbridled, and when they thought of the words in Princess Issie's letter, they found that there was some ambiguity. Pharaoh teased, "I heard that as soon as Gilgamesh returned to Uruk, he sent an envoy to the capital to cancel his engagement with Princess Issie. Our great general Ah defeated the strongest hero of the Bablon Kingdom, and won the heart of the princess!
I fought against the Hittite Kingdom, and in the end, I married the princess of Hittite. Now, great general Ah fought against the army of the Bablon Kingdom, and won the admiration of the enemy princess. Great general, why don't you just send an envoy to the Bablon Kingdom to propose? I heard that Princess Issie is also a famous beauty. You should have seen her, right? Marry the princess of Bablon to Eygut as well! "
The crowd burst into laughter again, and Ah could not help but wipe his sweat. He could only smile bitterly and say, "I'm just a warrior. After the war, I just want to retire and live a peaceful and leisurely life. Your Majesty, please don't make fun of me."
Princess Qian's gift and the letter did not only add to Ah's glory, but also pushed Ah's reputation to a new level. The commoners loved to spread such gossip, and the more they exaggerated it, the more exaggerated it became. Ah became a legendary hero, and in some people's exaggerated discussions, he was even vaguely comparable to the Pharaohs or the gods.
This was not a good thing. On the surface, Ah seemed to be full of glory, but he shivered as if he was lonely at the top.
He was now just a warrior who had lost his military power and strength. Being so eye-catching would also cause him to be hated. Princess Issie's words were also like roasting him on a fire, but it was even more brilliant than the King of Hittite praising him as the greatest warrior in the continent. Ah could only express his gratitude.
In addition to Humbaba's snake teeth and tendons, when Princess Issie's messenger passed by Uruk, someone asked him to deliver another item to Ah. To everyone's surprise, it was the divine bow that Gilgamesh had used on the battlefield. This hero had actually given his invincible bow to his enemy. Gilgamesh did not write a letter, but only asked the messenger to convey his gratitude for Ah's mourning for Enkidu.
Those in the know tried to guess Gilgamesh's intentions. Some said it was a sign of submission to Ah and that he had admitted defeat. Others said it was a declaration of war, and that he would get revenge sooner or later. Some went further, saying that Princess Issie was jealous of Gilgamesh and challenged Ah to a duel.
Only Ah Fei could understand the complicated meaning behind this gift. Gilgamesh was still as arrogant as ever. His temperament did not change, but his heart had changed. He no longer pursued the achievements of a hero and wanted to live in seclusion. Breaking off the engagement with Princess Celebi and giving the bow to Ah Fei was a symbol of silence. This bow was a mourning for Enkidu, a reflection on fate, and an encouragement or warning to Ah.
Ah did not say anything else. He packed up the things and returned to his territory with a large pile of treasures. His newly acquired fief was on the outskirts of Herak, the closest bank to Mount Horeb, by the Nile River. Pharaoh's fleet was passing by there, and it just so happened that they were escorting Ah home.
Ah wanted to use recuperation as an excuse to stay in Montefiore. There was already a manor here that he had bought under an alias. With his status as an unemployed person, it was convenient for him to do anything now that no one could control him. There was another reason he wanted to stay in Montefiore. Maria was also here, and he would eventually have the chance to meet her alone. Even if it was just to sit face to face and chat about family matters, it would be good.
But Pharaoh did not give him this opportunity. He still ordered Ah to set off with his fleet. Since the Supreme General himself said that he needed to recuperate, Pharaoh, in order to express his concern, ordered the guards to send him back to his territory. He also reminded Ah to recuperate well and not to leave without orders. He also told Ah to wait for the Empire's conscription at any time. There was an even more glorious mission waiting for him, and so on.
Although it was said cordially, it was in fact an order and a warning. Ah had left his territory without permission, and he had to report to Pharaoh. This was a 'treatment' that influential ministers could only receive when they retired. Ah was still young, and Pharaoh had already asked him to return to his hometown to 'retire'. Unless the Empire of Eygut was invaded by a powerful foreign enemy, it would be very difficult for him to have another chance to leave his mountain.
Ah returned directly to his territory, and Medanzo had already arrived with 36 guards. They had tidied up the manor.
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