The council hall within the depths of the Zephyr palace was currently in a war of its own. Papers, curses, and disputes alike were tossed back and forth across the hall.
"The full payment still has not been completed yet..."
"Didn't we already send the last payment yesterday after selling away more of the lower district property?"
"Yes... But due to the war and state of things... The estimated revenue was less than half..."
"What do you want us to do? Sell the whole damn kingdom?"
"Now these greedy bastards think we're just a bunch of pushovers!"
Rage filled the hall again for a few minutes before entering a dead silence. The only noise that broke this momentary peace was heard from the head of the table as the flipping of papers swished.
"Ramon."
A darkly dressed soldier leaning against the far wall behind the large table and group of councilmen stepped forward.
"Yes head councilman."
The elderly man who summoned the soldier casually slid the papers in his hands across the center of the table. The scattered papers slid to a halt and covered a majority of the long table.
"Wha-"
"What is this councilman?"
"A- Are you serious?"
The soldier with a dark complexion smirked with a sickening grin as he peered at the content sprawled over the table.
"I expect the same payment as usual." Murmured the dark knight before disappearing from the hall.
"Of course... My friend here will take care of the problem for us gentlemen. What we must focus on now is regaining the lost ground." The head of the council calmly stated with a slight gesture of his old hand.
"But councilman..."
Another official finished his companion's sentence.
"We are already stuck between a sword and a spear. How do you plan on regaining any of this?"
"Not to mention the many daggers hidden in the slums... And they're continuing to grow in number!"
Added another councilman as they all stared at the profiles drawn on the scattered papers.
"Not to worry gentlemen. As you are all aware, the web of my network covers this entire kingdom."
The old councilman at the head of the table comfortably sank back into his seat after sensing there would be no further questioning.
The momentary silence that had been achieved before now settled into the room again, with the unspoken tension from the anxious officials stirring only within themselves.
In the mentioned slums these officials debated over, a similar tension began to grow. However, instead of only anxiousness residing within the peoples' hearts, a fierce anticipation for change clouded any misgivings.
All residents of the underground kingdom were currently gossiping amongst themselves as to what their next moves could be. A certain group of criminals that had just received access to the subterranean world bickered bitterly around a lit pile of trash.
"Those rotten officials are getting out of control!"
"I lost my house just the other day when they forcefully seized all my property!"
"Pfff! You had a house? They took my sons into military enlistment and kicked me off the streets!"
"Hey, weren't you selling Arcana on the streets?"
"Yeah... That got seized as well..."
"I'm sure you still have some stashed somewhere."
"Nah... I had to trade it in so that the Slum King would allow me to stay here."
"What's so great about that brat anyways?"
"Well I heard somewhere that he just struck a deal with those mercenaries..."
"Yeah, probably after trading in all the paraphernalia he's taken from us!"
Suddenly a large rough looking man in rags stomped over to the huddled group of criminals.
"I'd watch your tongues if you don't want to be added to the skulls littering our sanctuary!" The large tan skinned man said in a gruff voice.
One of the criminals, who's narrow face made him look like a mutated rat, leaned closer to the fire and snickered.
"Hey we aren't threatening the peace here or anything. It's all just some minor ramblings and complaints. Ain't that right boys?"
The group of criminals all agreed with a similarly disgusting laugh.
"You're lucky that the man all of you were disdaining is such a kind hearted person... If it were me... The blood from your slit throats would currently be feeding your fellow residents." The large man sneered as a short sword from his waist pointed towards some rats scuttling through the heaps of trash.
"We-We'll keep that in mind..." Responded the sly criminal.
Without wasting another word on the trash gathered in front of him, the large man sheathed his most prized possession and walked off towards the Slum King's chamber near the back of the underground sanctum.
The rat-like head of the group of criminals snickered at the back of the departing man.
"Just you wait, the council will solve all of this..."
The Slum King in question was currently in the midst of trying to put all the disorderly pieces within this crumbling kingdom together, as he flipped through the stacks of papers on his desk.
Aaron's eyes glazed over the piles of torn papers now covering his entire broken desk and the floor surrounding it.
"Is there really no other option..."
At this moment, the door to the small chamber flew open with the large tanned man entering.
"Ah Marcus! Please tell me there's some good news..." Asked Aaron as the light in his eyes returned with a small glimpse of hope.
Marcus looked towards the busy young man with a sigh before slowly shaking his head in frustration.
"As I expected..." Sighed Aaron as well.
Although he had control over the majority of the slums, whose population was no small number, it was only comparable to commanding a group of starved animals.
Even with leadership, they would still be unable to completely overturn this kingdom filled with corrupted soldiers and politics. It would be like sending sick lambs to the slaughter.
'We have the numbers but unfortunately not much capability.' He determined.
Without support from another party, Aaron knew their rebellion would simply be smothered. He had received some unwanted support from Amira and the mercenaries, but Aaron knew better than to trust such a cunning person.
However, without any other viable options being presented, her proposal was beginning to gain more weight in his mind.
"Ugh! Do I really have to fall into a damn honeypot?" Complained Aaron as he kicked back in his chair and turned to rest his feet on a nearby crate.
After the very first week of the mercenaries arrival, he had "stumbled" into Amira during one of the slum's food raids. Originally he had assumed there would be an absolute slaughter since he had already known of her position beforehand thanks to the slums extensive information gathering abilities.
But surprisingly, she merely greeted him with a cunning smile and only captured the other raiders from the slums.
In order to get them back unharmed, Aaron agreed to have a discussion with her. This little conversation had a much deeper gravity than he had anticipated.
Amira had explained her plan on overthrowing the current government of the Zephyr kingdom and how vital the slums cooperation in this was. They even eventually had became more intimate as they began to meet frequently for such discussions as a result.
'Just the idea of an uprising at that time riled everyone up here though.' Thought Aaron as he slumped back in his chair once again with a huff.
Until Amira's arrival, the slums had been merely unhappy and frustrated with their current situation, but never had the idea of a coup been feasible. Even the residents of the slums knew with their strength alone, such an uprising could never be successful.
However, Aaron still felt uncomfortable with how Amira plotted and did things. Even if it benefited his people. He was more concerned with that vixen's hidden agenda.
'Even if we accept her proposal... I still don't know what she wants...'
As a person with greater responsibilities, this decision had been even haunting him in his sleep. Although him and Amira were more like an item now, he still couldn't trade off the wellbeing of his people for her.
Suddenly, a great commotion rose up from the sanctum. Curses and protest rattled the old stone walls of the catacomb.
"What's with all the noise?" Grumbled Aaron as his headache increased.
"I'm not sure... I go take a look. It might be from those annoying criminal bastards I've been dealing with." Responded Marcus as he raced back through the door.
"See to it." Sighed Aaron as he prepared to get up himself as well to clear his head.
At the metal sliding door, providing entrance to the sanctum, a young soldier was causing a commotion.
"No Roman Bastards allowed! You're the reason we're down here in the first place!" Shouted an angry voice from behind the door.
Strom could here the angry man's spit even hit the inside of the metal door as he spoke.
"Hm, yes... Well I'm sure my friend here will vouch for me." Slyly commented Strom as he kicked the brat he had found when trying to find the location of the slum faction.
"Let go of me asshole!" Kicked Sigexe who was currently stuck in a tight head-locking grip.
"Look kid, I'm just trying to have a talk with your boss, alright? No need to raise a fuss."
The grip around Sigexe's neck tightened slightly as Strom further locked in his elbow.
"Go- Alr- Alright! You sick fuck! Let me at least breath, damn!" Coughed Sigexe as he tried to regain his lost breath.
Realizing his resistance was futile he decided to take a different approach.
"You know, I'm sworn brothers with the king down here, so I'd let me go while you still can... Geuuuhh-"
The constricting arms of the Roman soldier tightened again.
"Oh, really? I didn't realize there was a king down here... And you know him? Perfect, this will be a lot easier than I thought." Chuckled Strom as he rubbed his free knuckles in the kid's messy hair.
At that moment, a low sounding thud resonated from behind the metal door before it opened.
"What business brings you down here Roman? Death?"
A large dark skinned looking warrior appeared from behind the opened door. The man who was previously spitting curses at Storm could be seen behind him frowning, while rubbing his slapped head.
"King's business apparently." Calmly stated Strom as he stopped rubbing the brat's head with his knuckles.
The large warrior sighed while shaking his head.
"You really led this bastard straight down here, didn't you?" He lectured Sigexe without paying much heed to the Roman's words.
"Hahahaha, well I figured he wouldn't be much of a problem for you Marcus." Nervously laughed Sigexe from underneath the Roman's grip.
Strom tilted his head to the side and peered past the large man into the so-called Paradise of the Slums.
"Wow, you guys got a lot of people in there... Is it even possible to feed that many mouths?" Questioned Strom as he tried to reign the conversation back in.
"It's nothing of your concern. Just let this troublemaker go and I'll consider you were never here. It's our fault he's such an idiot anyways." Shrugged Marcus while shooting a death glare at Sigexe.
"O- On second thought... I think I'll stay with my Roman friend here..." Nervously murmured Sigexe.
A young but strong voice interrupted the group before it could escalate any further.
"Ah, the Roman dog from before... Looks like your little escape plan wasn't bullshit after all." Spoke a man adorning a familiar filthy cloak.
"Hahaha, and it seems you're much more than just some common thief." Retorted Strom with an inquisitive look hidden in his eyes.
"Sir! Why did you- I told you I could handle it." Complained Marcus upon seeing Aaron's disguised appearance.
"Calm down Marcus. Me and this guy are already somewhat familiar with each other." Aaron explained before looking back towards Strom and specifically what he currently held.
"Huh, you really can't give me anything but trouble can you? Ya little shit." Sighed Aaron with exasperation after seeing the usual instigator for his troubles in the Roman's grasp.
"It's not what it looks like!" Argued a muffled Sigexe from beneath Strom's arm.
Aaron waved the brat's words away with his hand before addressing the Roman again.
"Alright, as you've guessed. The King is here; Now what do you want?" Loudly proclaimed Aaron with a violent voice.