It was a chilly night when Arthur Cedricstan was walking down the street going, his destination was a resident building in Pathford that bordered the center of Union’s Rising. Instead of taking a carriage he decided to walk, reminiscing of his past involving his family. Although he felt a small bite that was compared to an insect biting him in the heart, then grabbed it crushing the insect between his fingers and threw it away to be left in the dark past moment of his life.

He was taking his mind to just stare down at the bitter painful memories, he didn’t relive them in his mind but rather stared down like a fearsome hawk that stares down at his prey from the sky above. He continued to keep this mindset till he reached the residency.

The resident building had been accommodated to the people of wealth, politics, and power. Painted white, three floors, and looking as if even the king himself couldn’t know what happens there. It was called Den of Treasures, the gossip around city was that the Den’s activities was gambling. The rich men of Den would often gamble on things like horse races or firearms shooting, then there are times the gamble was ridiculous like a common gossip of two men betting on which cup would get hit by a rain drop first. Arthur and his master stayed there when they’ve arrived, though some gamble that did occur it was mostly compromised of men conducting businesses, or a leisure stay. Only approved members can be allowed to stay, a person someone high in the royal court, and the king.

He knocked on the door, then someone spoke: “Whom do I open to?” “Arthur Cedricstan, under Eldrian Barnnett. Occupation: Foreign works for the Anglox nation from the east continents and Pheuropa.” The guard behind door would ask who you are, then look up your name in his records that he kept, and ask something specific only written in the record he kept. “Which company?” “Sea Lion Company, provides food, military, and colonial expansion”. The door opened as the guard welcomed him back. The inside of the building was only a few could witness, fitted for people of wealth. Making his way to the central lobby to find his master conversing with the other members of the Den, his master noticed him approaching and introducing him to the people he was talking to. His master had been telling the other members about him and Arthur’s experience in A’sun, it was common of stories that where in Pheuropa but A’sun stories were much more interesting.

Eldrian told them of the stories of Rhosvosia a country up north of A’sun that connects to Alsahra. The climate there is twice as cold compared to Scotiterran, and the country has a large land mass to cover, considered by many to be a country not be trifled with. He talked about Zhong’guo’s dragon bolt a type of fire arm that shoots out an explosive bolt of fire which can devastate entire battalions of infantry, even cavalry. Though it would sometimes miss but if it does land on the target the damage would devastating! The men around Eldrian were amazed and asking why hasn’t this type of weaponry issued in our armies. Eldrian’s reply “Though devastating indeed to launch, the risk of getting your whole head blown off is not worth the chance! The armies has Grenades, Blunderbuss to deal with infantry, and cannons that have far better reach than the dragon bolt though it does have some benefits I’d think the soldiers wouldn’t take the risk.” He spoke again of Asahi, which his master referred to as the isolated nation.

Before he could start he saw Arthur patiently waiting and excused himself from the group, “Come Arthur, I have heard some news that may need our attention”. Master and Apprentice went upstairs to their rooms at the third floor of the building, privacy was a policy in the building. Entering the room they sat themselves at two chairs within the center of the room, two doors were at the right of room which were their beds. Eldrian stood up opened a chest nearby to open a bottle of wine pouring himself a glass and offered Arthur.

“What is it master? What news have you heard from the council?”

Eldrian drank from the glass, Arthur thinking the news must not be pleasant so he drank as well.

“You do know of Marie of Austar?”

Arthur nodded, she known as the Empress who inherited the title started the ‘Ascension of Austar’ which expanded her nation.

“Have you heard of Fridurick the warrior king of Gaelish?”

“Of course, he was the one who rebelled against her with Galrance at his side. Though Marie did expanded her territories almost close to Gaelish, he was quite the leader of his men that he was renowned by many by his people and adversaries”

“Good now, Loïc of great Galrance?”

“The current king of Galrance, the country is now expanding their territories in Hurence”

“Elyabeth?”

“Queen of Rhosvosia”

“Why are we talking about these leaders? The war started by Austar ended years ago. Remember master we even helped the people of Gaelish during the aftermath of the war to further strengthen bonds between Anglox and Gaelish because Anglox sided with Marie. Why are we leaving for Pheuropa yet again to manage the supplies and govern some villa or part of the city? Because you and I know that we just wasted our time-”

“War may come once again” Eldrian bluntly said as he gulped his glass of wine which Arthur followed.

“I need some stronger wine” Eldrian said signaling Arthur to get another bottle from the chest. “Ah good, that’s the wine from that Villa in Neari.” Arthur refilled the two glasses as they returned to the subject.

“How can there be war?”

“Anglox sided with the empress during the Ascension, she knew it was a costly alliance but agreed to it, because of the alliance her empire’s reach is has greatly expanded even with the ‘Treaty of Aix’, Anglox diplomats even pressured her to give some of it to Ispavia”

“Now that she a vast resources under her added with the Anglox pressuring her to give up part of it, I don’t expect an alliance to be any time soon”

“Very likely, Galrance as well is expanding and growing quite powerful” Eldrian said in a worrying tone which Arthur understood, the countless historic war tensions of Anglox and Galrance.

“Though Gaelish is as well expanding their forces, it has gotten the attention of Galrance and Austar.”

“It’s almost determined, we helped their nation with food and supplies.”

“Yes they mentioned it at the council meeting of having Gaelish as an ally if war happens at all”

“Don’t you mean when the war happens, we could use this opportunity to get ourselves higher by assuring that Fridurick is Anglox’s ally”

“An opportunistic plan that should be done swiftly, Galrance and Austar seems to be threatened by Gaelish’ expansion as well. Galrance may align themselves with Austar, Gaelish will be Anglox’s ally on this war I’m certain. Speaking of Galrance how is our informant”

“Miss Blaine is quite ambitious, she had maids in some houses threatened to expose them unless they tell her everything that she asks them to do. I can see potential you see in her.”

“If she does have any notion to return to Galrance, she could possibly a good spy for war to aid Anglox”

“Now that you mention it, she does have goal to return though on the terms that she won’t be sent away. I clearly see that she wants power”

Eldrian gave a look intrigue, he took a sip once more from the glass and said “If she manages to prove herself, she could even expose to-”

“Are you serious master!” exclaimed “A woman ambitious, sly, and cunning with that access of power can lead to uncontrollable mayhem. She could even turn on us”

“That’s why we make sure that we guide her in the right path, another person like that to ours with provide us many opportunities in the future, don’t you see it apprentice?”

“Yes I do see it, though we must be wary of any downfalls that might occur in the future” he said as he took a sip.

“The times are changing Arthur, whatever may come we must see it that we must take all opportunities to take it. To securing our supremacy for unity as the others has done”