After she left some orders with Arahnia, Aurelia and I returned to the treehouse and waited for Red to arrive. We didn't wait long before he followed Rose inside with a grumpy look on his face.
"You'd better have a good reason to make me ditch that mission halfway through."
"Not to worry, I bear an important order from her Majesty so your hasty return wasn't wasted. I'll keep this short. We believe that Heather is outside the barrier and the time we have to prepare for the invasion has drastically decreased."
"So we will have to speed up our plans?"
"If we are to increase our speed we will cause many more casualties."
"That is sadly inevitable. Once the invasion begins the mayhem will be unthinkable so we have to prepare for when it happens."
After I had briefly explained the situation to them we discussed how we would proceed. I had the most to do since I still had a trip to the surface world on my agenda.
Red would start to clear out all the ruins in the vicinity at top speed. The loot would be turned into fertilizer by Rose and sold by Aurelia. Rose would stay in blossom oasis to keep up the defenses.
Aurelia would start to rapidly expand trade and devour smaller businesses throughout Saital. She was planning to approach various leaders who held influence over the realm to join an alliance against the invaders from outside. Naturally the gray empire would be leading this alliance.
Cooperative allies like the kingdom of Glacialis would even be offered to join the gray empire directly. If they chose to do so they would have to take some oaths to prove their loyalty but in return, they would be given the best resources we had to offer. Since we were in a bit of a hurry now we decided not to hide the fact that we could easily create equipment and weapons of the magic level (grade 4) and above.
The discussion concluded earlier than usual since we all had our responsibilities to fulfill. After watching the others depart in a hurry I opened a gate to the surface world and stepped through.
I had returned to Edward's mansion. Unlike before when the mansion was empty it was now filled with a flurry of activity. Maids were cleaning the halls, butlers were moving furniture into every room. I hardly recognized the place.
I expanded my mind to look for Edward and found him playing with a girl in her early teens in the garden. I teleported outside and strolled towards them.
I wasn't trying to be sneaky and Edward's senses were greatly heightened after his first transformation. He noticed me the moment I appeared out of thin air and pushed Lucy behind himself as he turned to face me.
Upon seeing that it was me he relaxed and let Lucy peek at me from behind his back. The young lass was curious and her talent in magic was good. A shame that she had already been claimed.
"Master, I apologize for not having noticed your return sooner. What can I do for you?"
He half kneeled and spoke with reverence.
"Well, you could start by introducing me to the charming young lady here. I presume that she is the granddaughter you care so much about."
Before Edward could answer another voice cut in as an elegant lady strode over from beneath the shade of a nearby tree. I'd noticed her sitting in the shade but had waited for her to join the conversation by herself.
"She's off-limits! You would do well not to lay your hands upon one of her Majesty's royal knights!"
I merely chuckled. Her Majesty's retainers were often the type to put up a stern front towards strangers.
"I believe she is only an apprentice for now. But rest assured I would never plan to poach from her Majesty's chosen retainers."
"May I ask for your identity?"
"Direct as ever. My name is Abel, I'm the left hand of her Majesty and head of the raven department. You may address me as lord Raven."
Needless to say that she was shocked. I would be too.
"Forgive my earlier rudeness! I am Marseille, the current leader of the royal knights on the surface world."
"Don't mention it. You acted in accordance with the rules of the royal knights and sought only to protect one of your members. Now Edward, about that introduction."
"Of course! This is Lucy. She is my granddaughter and was recently accepted as an apprentice royal knight. Lucy, this is my master. You must always be polite when you are in his presence."
Poor Lucy was intimidated by all the things happening but still nodded respectfully.
"Edward, seeing that her Majesty's retainers are here she must have contacted you before descending. What were her last orders?"
Edward looked over to Marseille hinting that she would be more suited to answer the question. She immediately took the hint and began explaining.
"Her Majesty felt the presence of someone called old fox and decided that some plans would have to be changed. We were both ordered to begin recruiting new members for our respective departments and keep a low profile."
"That's good. Soon a powerful entity will reveal itself and seek conflict. Avoid engaging at all costs and let me take care of it. Until that happens though, how's the recruitment going?"
Marseille proudly puffed out her chest and raised her head high.
"Not many are worthy of joining the royal knight. We operate directly under her Majesty and it is a great honor to be part of our ranks. Despite that, I have already managed to recruit one additional knight."
Marseille's expression revealed that she was eager to be praised but I just turned over to Edward with an expectant look.
"Master, I have recruited forty youths from poor families. Their talent in magic is hardly worth mentioning but they are very determined and willing to do anything you ask of them."
"Did you give them the technique?"
"Yes, and I believe some of them should be ready for their first transformations too!"