Chapter 22 – Ploy (3)

“Your presence here is disturbing,” said Shig bluntly. He didn’t hide the grimace on his face. Leiko as well didn’t pretend she liked the Heiress of Alva.

“Oh my, am I hated?”

“Yes, you are.”

“I didn’t do anything to you two didn’t I?”

Her sweet smile was so disgusting to them. It was the smile of a she-devil. Leiko would like to claw her face out. But she was here as a messenger and her status as a noblewoman was too high. If she was alone she would have gladly murdered her on the spot.

“You didn’t.”

“So why am I being treated like this? I did not mistreat you two when you were slaves. I didn’t hit you. I didn’t use you two like what my degenerate relative did.” She twirled her hair around her fingers. “In fact, the only slave I had time enjoying myself with is that man named Joshua. Where is he? I heard that he did something impressive. What happened to him that made him face an assassin from the Bali and live? Or is this man different from the man I know?”

“He’s the same.”

“Is that so?” she smiled as if she was excited. “Has he been fed something? How come that weakling suddenly was able to tackle someone out of a window and survive? Was he fearless? Was he fooling me all the time? Hey, did he grow some muscles? Does anyone try to obtain him? How many women had he slept since we parted?”

Shig creased his brows. “You speak as if you own him.”

“I do own him. I was supposed to buy him out of my degenerate relative’s hand. He was supposed to serve under me.”

“Too bad then,” Leiko sneered. “You cannot buy him anymore. He’s a free man and a disciple of Old Gale. Not to mention that he had contributed to this city by killing an invader. I believe you do not have any right to do so.”

“Oh, I will have that right soon.” She smiled flatly. “Do you know why the Cagan and the Bali attacked?”

Shig kept the angry look on his face. “No.”

“The City is prosperous, isn’t it? Sending and receiving traders from the Holy Midland. Effectively supplying the Knight Templar’s their needs. We the Alva had sent many products to this city. In fact, if we had this city then it would be ten times more prosperous than it already is. Ammunition, food, and construction materials are carried here over here to be traded. The trading post we have here earns us over thousands of gold in revenue. And the Warlord here earns millions just by trading with the Holy Midland. There’s a tunnel here that leads straight to the Holy Midland. West here, that tunnel connects to various networks that allow this city to be called the gateway to all trade routes. This city had been sending supplies to the Holy Midland. Now imagine the Bali and Cagan hearing about this route?”

“They would be worried,” Shig answered.

“That’s right!” she pointed at Shig. “They would destroy it. But how could they do when the tunnel is protected by the Freeland Commandos? The Scoped Rangers that effectively hides like shadows? Even getting near that place is damn impossible without being blown away by the recently installed artillery. Not to mention you have Knight Templar’s patrolling now.”

“So?” Leiko sneered. “What are you trying to say?”

Dolce’s face went cold. “What I am trying to say you disgusting cat is that the Bali and the Cagan have decided to cut the head of the snake. Injuring the body will be hard. But once you cut the head the whole thing falls apart.”

“Impossible!” Shig slammed the table. “The Bali and the Cagan are far away! They can’t come here by boat either! And even if they start an invasion near the ocean we will spot them!”

She laughed devilishly. “You aren’t thinking that much! Have you heard the rumors of creating machines that can fly above the sky?”

“You mean,” Leiko sweated.

“At the eve of the 11th month last year, a person with eccentric interests discovered how to make people fly!” She stood up with her hands spread. “That’s right! The Shonis native used this invention of his to build things that would change warfare forever! Who said that rune magic was done? Who said that they can’t be used anymore when faced with rifles and cannons?” She slapped a drawing of a ship tied to a giant balloon. “Behold you simple minded fools! A floating warship that can carry armies up the air! And behold!” She pulled another paper out of her pockets. “And this is a device that allows anyone to fall from the sky without harm!” It was triangular or pyramid-like device. One look at it made Shig’s heart tremble.

It was easy to understand really. Warships that could fly above the sky and men armed with a device that allows them to safely fall down from the sky. Avilla City has big walls and the right artillery. But can they shoot down everyone with that? The time needed to load cannons. And even the distance of these ships would make any rifle useless.

Shig can imagine hundreds of men bypassing the walls and heading straight down to the stronghold. “Why are you showing me this? How did you get this information in the first place?”

“Easy there, we the Alva have many spies in many different places. So take this information that I showed to you and deliver it your warlord. She may have the blessings of the Gods and the spirits. But even a warlord faced with hundred men armed with rifles would die.”

“Shit!” Shig took the papers and went out of the door. Leiko glared at Dolce of Alva.

“What are glaring for you stupid cat?” she smiled madly. “Aren’t you worried?”

“So this is what you meant? Are you expecting this city to fall into the hands of the Bali and the Cagan forces?”

“Yes, but maybe a miracle will happen. Though I expect this place to be bloody and filled with corpses. But do not worry. The Alva will clean the place up.”

“I see. And here I thought you were interested in him?”

“Interested?” she laughed softly. “I am merely wanted to see if that thing would survive. You see, I am a spectator of these grand events. Whether people die or live means nothing to me. I cannot mourn them all, can’t I? But I’d be disappointed if he dies too fast. So don’t die too miserably Cattus. Maybe if you survive I’ll buy you as a pet too.”

Dolce played with her lips as she strides out. Leaving those words made Leiko hate that woman more than she already does.