The five finished off their wine and Trevor gave Berith and Coran orders to monitor and instruct the three birdmen who were now the slaves of the antiheroes.
"I do not trust these three yet, and so they have not received any enhancement from my skill. Ensure that they are trained to become proper members of our village- in both terms of military strength and in domestic labor. Assign them a role to play within the dictatorship as you see fit. I leave it to you, my trusted subordinates."
The two spiderlings beamed with bliss and relief at being praised by their master. With a short bow of their heads, they walked off with the birdmen in toe.
'This is a task given to us by their excellencies... I cannot let them down.', Coran thought.
'Their excellencies are always speaking about the important of intelligence... perhaps we should assign them to a role which improves our information relaying capabilities.', Berith considered.
The ticking of the legs of the spiderlings and the dragging of their bandages could be heard on the tile floors until they exited the building.
Hiru and Arlo also got up and followed the group out quickly, after Trevor gave them a hand motion telling them that they could resume their duties.
"Now then... I think it's about time we get back to the Empire. We were about to speak to the Legion Commander, and obtain mercenary status within the country. Sarah, could you transform us so that we appear as elves again?", Garett asked.
Samantha waved her hand again and the four once more became elves. Their clothing was once more changed from the bandage like armor to the elegant tunics as if they were angels, and their appearances were glorious.
Claire smiled and waved as the four fast traveled back to the empire.
'Ah... it seems I've done it again... once more I have failed to save anyone from fear and hopelessness... I hope I can do something to put those birdmen at ease.'
Holding her head in thought, she eventually decided to rest. She stood up and returned to where her room would be.
The throne now sat empty.
However, even with an empty throne, the Dictatorship lived on.
People worked, food was produced, technology allowed for efficient methods of production, and not a single person laid dormant.
It was because the villagers were so filled with respect and fear of their masters, that they did not even consider lazing about while they were gone.
For they would return on an unknown day, at an unknown hour. Only then would the fruits of their labors be revealed.
----
The antiheroes returned to the Empire, and were once more in the midst of the encampment.
Ashley's dark eyes seemed to be filled with excitement and insanity after seeing the terrified, and yet relieved faces of the birdmen they had subdued. There was a certain pleasure she obtained from raising others to a position of hope, and then dropping them into a pit of despair. It was likely because she too had experienced so much despair throughout her life that she enjoyed seeing others in the same position.
Samantha was filled with delight in seeing them look at her in awe. Even if it was out of terror and fear, she was able to hear their thoughts. It was much better for one to fear you than to hold you in spite or suspicion- like the people of this encampment.
That was when it hit her.
What if she were to simply make these people view her with respect?
What if she were to do exactly what she was good at, and outperform others at everything, no matter the odds?
Even these humans, these pathetic and weak creatures who were unable to resist her own mind control, would perhaps be able to see how great she had become. They may be weak and idiotic, however surely even idiots would be able to recognize just how amazing she was.
Knowing that their goal was to become mercenaries and raise their own reputations among the community, she giggled to herself.
'Ah... how simple it is... all I have to do is exist in my natural habitat, and they will surely bow down in awe soon enough...'
----
A large tent- the size of an entire building was set up not far from where the antiheroes were. Many smaller tents were pitched around it. The one in the center was made of a dark green cloth, whereas the surrounding tents were colored either dark purple or orange.
According to the information they had received, these were the tents of the Legion Commander, along with Colonels and Generals.
This was the main base of the encampment.
'If we kill all the people here, then this army will be significantly weakened...', Garett thought.
'No...Not yet... our goal is to gain information... just as Trevor said. Patience. Patience.'
Garett looked on the encampment with excitement.
It was a whole new country, a whole new group of people to meet and things to do.
A whole new group of slaves to take over and dominate. A whole new set of unpredictable actions and consequences.
How intriguing.
The four walked in between the Orange and Purple tents. There did not seem to be anyone walking about casually. This was because all the higher-ups were either currently out on orders or in a meeting with the newly arrived Legion Commander.
After making their way to the tent of the Legion Commander, the antiheroes encountered a platoon of soldiers, arranged in a line formation standing at the front of the massive tent.
"Halt! Who goes there!? Elves? What do you think you're doing near the tent of the Legion Commander?"
Ashley stood forward, squinting her eyes and staring down the guard who said this.
She looked extremely graceful in this elven form. Her hair was still messy, but it had a sophisticated charm to it and had turned white as a result of Samantha's illusion spell.
"We are here in order to apply as mercenaries to work for and defend the people of this great Empire. Is your job to prevent people from doing so?"
The guard looked somewhat stunned at her bold words, but stood aside politely.
"Ah, mercenaries. If you intend to become valuable assets to the country, then of course you may enter. However, the Legion Commander is a very busy man. He is currently meeting with many visitors, so I will ask that you take the back of the non-priority line."
Garett shot the sly man a look before walking past him.
The group entered the first room of the tent, which split into a left and right door-flap.
"The non-priority lane is on the left."
Garett wanted to say something about being directed as a non-priority, but he kept his mouth shut.
He had grown accustomed to acting as a dictator and ruler. If someone treated him like this while he was not incognito, he would have them burned at the stake. However, right now he was merely an elf who wanted to become a mercenary in the Empire. He kept his mouth shut, and the antiheroes made it into the non priority lane.
The rooms were only separated by a clear yet foggy curtain, however in the one which they entered, many people were standing and waiting around.
They all looked like grunts or scribes- peasants who were shoved into a single room. It was extremely tightly packed in the non-priority room, and Garett felt sweat bead down his neck due to the heat emerging from the excessive number of bodies within the room.
When this many people all wearing armor and helmets stood this close, it was nothing short of sweltering.
'Reminds me of the electricity production chamber, but it smells worse...', Garett thought.
Samantha was visually annoyed. There were no seats, no drinks, and they were being treated like commoners.
'Filthy...', Trevor whispered under his breath.
'It's filthy that there are such vastly different treatments based on the status of a person... it is as if these ones here are herded into a pigsty and treated as swine.'
Trevor said this looking over to the priority lane- in which only a few people were currently. The sheet was thin and somewhat see through, but he could only see the silhouettes of the people.
He saw someone- a large man wearing a fancy suit of armor and helmet- sitting down and being fanned with palm leaves by two women standing by him, while another was pouring him a drink.
How crude.. to do something so shameless in public. Trevor wanted to teach them some etiquette, however did not want to make a scene, as that would be troublesome.
Soon enough, he heard a rough voice call out a name.
"Colonel Aurelius. The Commander is ready to speak with you."
Trevor watched the silhouette disappear from view as the man stood up and left the priority room.
Only a few minutes later, another man came in and took his place in the priority waiting room.
After a few minutes, the same rough voice called out another name in the other room.
"General Tuskas, the Legion Commander is ready to speak with you."
The man who had replaced Aurelius in the priority waiting room also left.
It was getting cramped in the non-priority waiting room. The antiheroes were all standing close to each other as is, with many other guards standing next to them- breathing heavily.
Ashley did not look pleased either. Both her and Samantha were extremely pissed off, and stared at the ground while waiting.
'These insects had better not try anything funny', Samantha thought.
"Excuse us..."
Trevor shoved through before reaching the corner of the tent, and the four all stood with their backs to the corner together, patiently waiting.
'Good grief...'
Five or six more peasant soldiers without manes on their helmets had come in by the time that they had reached the corner.
It was getting really crowded.
Trevor was starting to think on how inefficient this Legion Commander was.
'Even though I understand the troubles of leadership, to have so many people waiting shows that he has gathered no capable subordinates, and only allows himself to take care of matters. Not only this, but he seems to prioritize those of higher status... well, I suppose I can understand that to an extent. I would certainly never keep Coran or Berith waiting if some random monster came begging at our gates. They would take priority. Even so, that is because of their merit, not because of something as silly as status. Well, I suppose the world revolves around social standing when you aren't a dictator, after all.'
A few minutes later, the same rough voice called out another person- this time in the non-priority area.
"Trooper Girald. Come forward to meet with the Legion Commander."
However, just then another figure stepped into the priority lane.
"Actually- scratch that. Colonel Harmol, right this way. Girald, back in line."
It was going to be a long wait.