VIIIth Century year 63, Fianary of Norman. Day 12; Capital of the Florenz Kingdom.

It was already the seventh meeting in only three days, everything was settled in that same room of the palace.

The few remaining nobles who had sworn allegiance to Ashkan were at the table, they were low-ranking nobles but had suffered the seclusion of the former high nobles, so they were willing and motivated to climb the steps of the nobility ladder with Ashkan guidance.

The Nobles kept looking at Ashkan, it was as if they had seen an another individual, he possessed calm, cunning and ambition. Unlike the "old" Ashkan. It was as if something had changed his soul and only his body remained. But nothing like this could exist at this world, so the thought soon faded from the minds of the nobles present, however that Ashkan that they could not deciphering correctly, was so calm...

But that was not the ideal time. The Kingdom of Austrelia threat was gone, but other nations saw it as an opportunity.

From the map displayed in the conference room, they could see the ravages in the Kingdom of Florenz. Although they could not react at the time of the invasion they managed to maintain a good part of territory, allowing recovery to be possible.

"I understand, the situation is not a bit favorable"

The bitter smile of the noble showed the small pessimism of the room.

"They managed to get deep into the battlefront. However they were still able to prevent Austrelia Kingdom forces from entering the industrial area of Maviem."

It is a small industrial area that organises two sectors of compact industry, a semi-industrialised model with small steam or coal powered machines. Machines that have little autonomy and are far behind the new machines powered by mana stones, however their capacity still had some strength in the economy of the Kingdom of Florenz, and there were many city states that depended on these small compact factories that could deliver materials at low cost and quickly due to their logistics chain.

From what the nobles had said Maviem Industrial Area was the only one in the Kingdom still able to hold some work and economic power, and the whole economy was revolving around it, with its total destruction Florenz's economic and war situation collapsed.

"What worries me and the Federation of Astros, there are ambitious camps in the northern region, I know because all my childhood I heard rumors of a possible invasion, but this has never happened because of the Youji Alliance"

"Well, this when the Youji Alliance still existed"

It was clear the desperate situation.

"We are being forced to make emergency fund transfers from the capital and create a new combat unit in order to compromise these units in the fight in stages."

The nobles were agitated cogitating that there really wasn't much solution to be done now.

But Ashkan remained with his majesty, listening to all of them and keeping he's cool, along with Quebelle by his side, everything seemed like a board game, a game so boring that nothing productive could come of them. Then it would be better to finish the meeting and pay attention to the visitor coming, who seemed far more interesting than these in.

"At that moment there is no reason to give more detail about this situation for you. I want you to organize as fast as possible people who still have enough strength to fight. And nobles willing to cooperate."

With this order the Nobles with a remnant of hope in their eyes left the house.And those who no longer have any hope after the meeting left in dismay.

"It looks like we're going to have an interesting visitor, correct your majesty?"

"It's been a while since I've seen someone exuding such enormous hostility in unfamiliar territory, fufufu"

"shall I lengthen the traveller?"

"No need Quebelle..."

"So this is the Kingdom of Florenz?"

"Affirmative your Honour Truz, apparently this area is one of the most suffered, as you can see the front is the Capital"

"I understand, I wonder what may have against the Kingdom of Austrelia. This more than clear that this was an annihilation by the Austrelia Kingdom"

Truz looked over the window at what was left of the Kingdom of Florenz, the crows were in high quantity flying over dead bodies,

"It's really a shame to see a Kingdom come to an end, your Honour. But not even cleaning up the bodies of its capital is not something-"

"Really, something out of the ordinary. You know, Adolpho, the situation of the Republic is also not improving, even if I do not accept the new Prime minister of the nation, I would not like to see my beloved Republic be destroyed as well."

"But your Honour, were not you one of those who had accepted to attack the Empire?"

Truz was silent, it seemed that his butler had spoken something that should not be said by a mere subordinate, but this time Truz give him a certainty freedom to speak.

The route from the Republic to Florenz was extremely tiring, passed through various types of terrain and was cleared that monsters and bandits are frequent, so the carriage was protected by the

♦♦ - Dark Claw - ♦♦

They were secret agents of the diplomatic force, they could hide among the shadow of a user of Magic. It was the best possible defense option for an unexpected visit to a Kingdom.

"We have arrived, your Honour"

The carriage of Truz for extra curricular assignment was really magnificently, it could catch the eye of anyone with ambition. But the survivors of this Kingdom had no more ambition, everything had been thrown downhill, it was a struggle to stay alive for another day, who would imagine in ambition in that aspect.

Everywhere human flesh, mixed with urine and shit, the smell was unbearable. In the middle of it all people fighting each other for leftover food.

Gold was no longer even considered among those who were outside the walls of the capital, but food, food was everything. Even if they knew that gold could buy food, they didn't want to use it, many believed that the fault of this invasion was the ambition of the former king, the evil Golden Gold that appeared before the most venerable. There was something emerging there that they called Religion. And this religion placed the centre of the blame for this suffering on ambition.

"Let me open for you, your Honour"

Adoplh was a dedicated butler and was always at the service of Truz, no matter what.

When Truz got out of his carriage, his feet automatically touched the puddles of blood and feces, but that did not seem to bother him, it was as if he'd been through it countless times.

But for Adolph this was not common, always raised in a cradle of gold, it was almost unbearable to hold back the urge to vomit on his face.

...

"Well then this is the capital of the Kingdom of Florenz, wide and well organized streets, it seems that this was planned from a long time ago to be a great Capital.Luckily they were unable to advance on the walls of the capital and still managed to hold on to a few things. That leaves the Kingdom minimally decent, of course, if you compare it to a city state. Hahahahaha"

Adoplh's act of mockery implicated Truz, even with every Freedom of speak that Truz give him.

"I believe you should put yourself in your place, a mere peon dares to blaspheme about the protocol of a nation on its soil? How foolish can you be?"

...

And then a small girl with a pale face approached Truz in long, nervous steps. His face was beautiful and his mouth red, his eyes showed a certain joy even in such difficult situations. Her sweet, nervous voice mingled with the sounds of crows and gave a melancholy melody to the place. Without a shadow of doubt for Truz, it caused a certain nostalgia, and that was evident by seeing his face.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a Florenz citizen and I've been in charge of guiding you, I'm sorry for showing you the slightest knowledge in manners. Please forgive me"

"No problem, could you tell me what happened?"

"Your Honour I do not know the most important details, but apparently the Kingdom of Austrelia, decided to expand its Western front"

"I see, and who is this resistance?"

"My lord, he will wait you in that palace"

"Ho, so they had already perceived my presence from so far away, and also managed to read me very well. What an interesting person, but such a dirty trick to test me makes me extremely angry."

It was common for experienced diplomats to gather information from the population itself, to improve their strategies. But putting a girl on the encounter, who in fact was helpless but educated as a courtesan to the diplomat would break all his intentions of obtaining better information, after all a child in such a defenseless situation had a very bad quality of information, after all she would be willing to lie and deceive to earn a bread. And for sure she would be more favourable to her nation. And if the diplomat tried to get around this situation his morals and honesty would be thrown to the winds for trying to induce a child of another country.

In fact a great tactic, besides helping his population, it would totally break the legs of a diplomatic expedition.

Truz was curious in part, who could be inside that palace, some noble with a private army? Or a very skilful noble? If it was this last option Truz would not spare the effort to get him to the Republic side, good men were always welcome.

"Forgive me, my lord, it is a pity that someone of your status walks on such a dirty ground, and I beg your pardon again for asking, but of what Nation is your Honour?"

"Umu... I think you should have heard of the Greenwot Republic before, am I right? "

That citizen did not seem to understand the maginitude of the nation he belonged to, but he knew that it was a Republic, which by itself already has a high level of Protocol and this caused a certain fear, what would a great nation like with this little Kingdom? They would be future allies or enemies present. His face was beginning to grow pale in imagining that this scene of massacre could occur again.

"Be..." argh

"I'm sorry, sir, I'm sorry ..."

She was so scared to make a mistake that she could create a diplomatic tension between a Republic that she unwittingly bit her tongue.

The girl's error caused a backlash for Truz, even though she was a visitor who did not report her arrival, using a courtesan who did not know the nation present was a grave slur on the nation's honour. At least in Truz's self-centered view.

And that increased curiosity more, what would this Kingdom do now? For him there were only two valid options

Decrease your protocol for city-state and live on the protection of some stronger country like the Republic.

Or, more boldly, to maintain its protocol to solicit investments from sympathetic nations, to reform its industry to a low-level sector, and to consolidate all its military force into patrons, as well as cede land to stronger neighboring nations amid avoiding new conflicts.

"Fufufu so you believe you are dominating the situation?"

Quebelle unleashed her bloodlust on that man, yet still moderating her strength a little so as not to cause a collapse.

"Well, here we are, my lord"

"" -Breathing breath-"

"Come on!""

That excited Truz, he had not felt it in a long time, the stranger ahead of him, the unexpected, the adrenaline in all his blood.

"T-that the feeling of death? It's been a long time since I've felt it. That miserable feeling that if I commit an error it is not only death that will torment me."

Truz looked intently at the window at the top of the palace, there stood the woman who had caused that sensation in him.

Long reddish hair, a delicate body, snow white skin and red lips like a river of crimson.

She reminded him slightly of someone from his past, but this one was much more frightening. And just making eye contact with her made him sweat a lot more.

"are you alright sir?"

"Anderson, what is that frightening being?"

"Sir! Sir? What happened?"

"Adolph, from now on be careful with your words. I believe I have made a grave error"

Faced with the threats ahead Truz did not notice the girl's disappearance.

As she disappeared in front of the citizens, a slight smile came out of her mouth.

"With that I no longer owe you anything fufufu, Ijin, or better Ashkan."