Jack looked to Leslie and Verruca, then back to Lucius.
"Neolith wishes to betroth their princess to me, tying the two kingdoms together," Jack said slowly.
Leslie seemed unfazed, but both Lucius and Verruca were shocked. The longtime foe wanted to marry off their princess???
"I just had a conversation with the little princess, and while her views are skewed, I don't see any problems with her. The fact that she was sent here by her Mother, the so-called 'Spider Queen,' shows to me that she is either an overly ruthless undead if she is the culprit or someone in her kingdom."
"Are you going to accept the betrothal?" Verruca couldn't help, but ask; even Leslie to the side provided her full attention.
"...Not, at the moment..."
Verruca looked over the Lucius, who didn't make a comment, and then she looked over to Leslie. Leslie's eyes matched with Verruca... They seemed to agree with their eyes. They didn't like this response.
Jack continued, "So while The Grand Tomb of Neolith is still a possibility, I don't believe it's them."
The three nodded, this sounded about right. They all wanted to maintain some suspension of Neolith, anyway.
"Depending on how authentic the 'Bat Warrior' is... We can eliminate, for the most part, Stonedge and Borda." Jack paused.
"Based on location?" Verruca asked while Leslie nodded.
"Yes. With Stonedge land locked by us, and Borda being separated by Us and Neolith, it's fair to say I doubt it's them as well. Making them unlikely."
Jack was straining his mind's capacity remembering all the maps and locations he had studied in detail, while he took the longest road trip of his previous life or unlife from Souigak to Saigunrai... He had to find a faster way to transport people and goods for commoners. It wouldn't be hard for him to get around with his jumping trick, but as for the aforementioned...
"Dragon's Jaw?" Lucius spoke, thinking out loud.
"They are the last Country, I can think of that could be responsible."
Verruca picked up on a keyword, "Last Country?"
"Yes. We can't rule out the possibility of other Mafias, Trading Companies, or even radical militant groups."
"Radical Militant Groups?" This time Leslie spoke up. This wasn't something she had heard before... She was very interested in this term.
Jack looked to his Consort, "Yes. Radical militant groups are groups like-minded peo-undead who are fighting for a cause which is different than our own. It's only called radical because it's radically different than Our own. It doesn't make them right or wrong morally, just different."
"So... What makes them different than a Mafia?" Lucius asked because he was quite confused.
"Besides the structure of the organizations, a Mafia family and a radical militant group are different as Mafias are started for protection of the people, while radical militant groups are started for the liberation of the people. Kind of the same, but different goals."
"Oh, I guess that makes sense... So the Church of Three Gods could be considered to be a radical militant group?" Lucius asked this line of question because this was his backyard.
"Yes and no. They are a religion. So in their home Country of Borda, they are a peacekeeping group. If they invade local territories independent of their Country then they are."
"And if they are backed by their Country?"
"Business as usual." Jack couldn't help but think back to his previous world.
Lucius was slightly confused by the last answer but didn't push the questions more.
"So, it's Dragon's Jaw, for sure?" Verruca was ready to mount an assault, ready to use the princess ambassador as a means to threaten Neolith into allowing passage of her forces and make war with Dragon's Jaw.
Jack actually noticed a dangerous glint in Verruca's eyes, as he quickly commented, "Hold on now! Let's not go to war with Dragon's Jaw just yet!"
Verruca was slightly startled by Jack suddenly raising his voice. She looked to the ground because this was exactly what she was thinking.
Jack paused for a moment and felt his sudden outburst was a bit too much. After all, Verruca was only thinking for him, but he had to wonder to himself. Verruca was supposed to be a long time battle-hardened general of his forces, why would she be so rash in judgment.
While Jack's thinking was correct, Verruca was a lot more like Leslie and Vice versa, than either would care to admit. When it came to Jack, Verruca was overly protective. The reason she was known as the War-god of Deagoth was due to his entombment and the many years of warfare she brought against Neolith, and soon after Borda.
It was only as of late, that Borda even dared to cough slightly, but this was due to another event happening within their borders, that would soon cause concern for Jack.
"I'm saying that there are two most probably culprits behind this assassination. Dragon's Jaw, or an organization against me."
"So We don't know anything?" Verruca lifted her head. She couldn't fight an enemy she didn't know.
"As I once heard, there are known 'unknowns.' We know the unknowns, now. We need to know who We don't need to be pointing out spears at, and how We might need to." Jack finished.
"The known... Unknowns..." Leslie muttered under her breath.
Jack had heard this, as his senses were very acute. In fact... It was these very senses that saved his unlife. His connection with the Light, however heretical he was with the Light, was responsible for this.
"So what do we do?" Verruca was at a loss. All she wanted to do was find the enemy, and bash their skulls in... This always worked for her in the past.
"Tighten Our defenses, and prepare for war."
..."War?" Verruca sat straighter in her chair... This word she knew all too well. She was ready for war. She knew war. War was her life. War was her greatest confront when Jack wasn't there. War was always there for her.
"Yes. For all, We know... This assassin was sent by just one person wanting to incite all the nations to fight each other, just so they can play the fisherman."
While the three weren't sure about the phrase 'play the fisherman,' they could draw clues to think it was taking advantage of the chaos of fighting.
"Then why war?" Lucius asked.
Jack wanted a window in this room... He wanted to stand up and look out of it while telling his reasons for war... Alas, his office had no window. He had to get someone to install one.
So instead, Jack said calmly, "Because, I will it."
Lucius was taken back, while Verruca got that glint in her eye again. She was ready. Leslie made no comment from start to finish on war, but a smile played on her face.
*******
"What's got you in such a fine mood, husband?"
Again in a dark basement somewhere in Jakahn, Mark was studying over maps and names. His plan was starting to come together, and he had just received news of his latest 'gift.'
Mark looked over to his Wife, Princess Janet, and "I'm wondering how the Holy Witch King enjoyed his gift."
Janet giggled, "Was it a Bat Man assassin?
"Haha, It was... I bet Warmarshal Verruca has already turned Saigunrai upside down."
"And that makes you happier than the items, Jakahn has given you?"
His wife asked while she turned upside down on the bat-skin rug on the floor. She had a terrible habit of leaving her wheelchair as of late and simply lay on the floor staring up at Mark. She was glad she got to spend more time with him, as of late, ever since he left Deagoth. She hated that hypocritical Country.
"Well... I'm still waiting on one item." Mark sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.
"You're not even told me what they are supposed to be giving you... Why so mysterious?" Janet giggled again.
"It's all a big surprise. You're going to love it! While... The suspense is killing me too... Alright, alright, alright. Let me tell you what I'm doing, but the payment from Jakahn is still a surprise. How about that?"
Janet looked up at Mark from his upside down position on the rug, "Absolutely! Mmmmm"
Jack turned his chair to face his wife, as he began to narrate his plan, while excitingly moving his hands.
"All the chess pieces are on the table! Alright, So the Bat Man assassin will frame Jakahn. The Witch King isn't stupid enough to fall for that, so he's going to suspect either Neolith or Dragon's Jaw."
"Dragon's Jaw?" Janet was still the princess of Dragon's Jaw, and still had some feelings for them.
"Yeah, but I've received reports that Neolith has sent an ambassador to Deagoth! While the Witch King wouldn't want to make war with anyone, his Warmarshal's might not feel the same. They may persuade him into talking Neolith into allowing passage to Dragon's Jaw, either by negations or force, either way, they will make their way to them!"
"So you want Deagoth to make war with Dragon's Jaw?" Janet sequenced her brows.
"While that's what it seems like, but that would be boring!"
Mark clapped his hands together, making dull sounds that emitted an eerie sound of applause. Only with his wife, would he show such a jovial mood. No one else in the world to date had the privilege of seeing the true side of Mark. His maniacal laughing could be heard echoing through the underground base he had set up with numerous spell work of concealment.
"The Church of the Three Gods has been suppressed so hard for so long... They are just crying out for justice. The War god of Deagoth crushed them, and then browbeat their kingdom eight hundred years ago, remember?"
"Vaguely... I can't tell you what I ate for last week... but go on." She was now starting to feel exciting.
"A wonderful development has happened. Deagoth is going to be sending a prophet to lead the heretic tribes! Borda wasn't happy about this when certain information was leaked."
"I'm sure your people are the leaks! Haha go on, go on!"
"Yes, Yes! So the Church of the Three Gods had just appointed a new leader! An aggressive leader, who has decided she will lead the church to a new dawn!"
"A dawn in the underworld... They really covert the Skull of the Sun God... I bet the one in charge of the Church is one of your people, no less!" Janet giggled even harder! She was almost laughing as hard as Mark!
"Right you are! Even the people in the Heretic tribes have some of my people mixed in, which will bring me great joy to move inside of Deagoth, but I digress. So Borda should be getting information on the movements of Deagoth, as they send Ambassadors to Dragon's Jaw! Slaughtering them all! HAHAHA"
Pausing her laughter, "Ambassadors of Deagoth? Why not Army? Shouldn't they make war?"
"Unless the Witch King is someone else, he will never send an Army to Dragon's Jaw! He would want to talk it over with them first!"
"Why do you say someone else?" Janet thought this was odd.
"Think of this as a test. I want to see his reaction! If he sends an Army to Dragon's Jaw... Then The Holy Witch King is no more... It's someone else, but if he sends Ambassador's, Then it's the same game! HAHAHA"
"What about Jakahn?"
"That's the best part! Jakahn has been envious of that giant piece of Glow stone called the Skull of the Sun God for a long time! I've released half the information about all the relevant military bases of Deagoth in the southern portion of Deagoth."
"So while Borda and Deagoth fight, you want Jakahn to sneak in? Too Devious!"
"No! Not devious enough! We need more chaos! This isn't nearly fun yet! Stonedge hates being landlocked by Deagoth, so I've contacted the Kain Family of Stonedge to stir up some trouble! They should be peaking at the edges of the Country border, and should take the territory between them and Borda, as to gain free trade!"
"Even Stonedge has been involved!" Janet found it hard to breathe, even if it was unnecessary as she thought this was just too much!
"Yes! The whole continent will be in war, and when everyone is tired and resources are wasted... We can make Our move! You asked If I would give you the world... So I am!"
"Oh, husband... You didn't have too." Janet said soothingly while holding her arms out to him.
Mark slide off his chair to his wife, for yet another pleasurable encounter. While some of his planning hinged on a lot of "What Ifs," if everything went like he predicted it would be a fun show to watch until he made his move.
There were only two uncertain factors... The Holy Witch King, himself, and the one in the shadows of Deagoth... However, he was... He had networks everywhere, and was his number one source of headaches.