In this room with these four giants present a matter of grave importance was being discussed. Eleanor had the attention of everyone as she spoke out about the topic at hand. She was standing next to Lothar as she said, "This can not be allowed to happen again Zephyr's attack on the Machinery Cult's base while successful was practically pointless because at the same time that was happening our storehouse was raided making us lose a large portion of the sealed shipment brought back from The Rim. Every loss we encore is just supplying those psychopath's growth. This incident may have weakened their influence in the capital, but it doesn't do much for our nation's other regions that have been influenced by them.
Apart from this, my department has tracked the movements of two of the Machinery Cult's core members. One has been spotted heading towards the northern regions of Osland while another was recently spotted in a newly built settlement in the new world. The one I'm most worried about is the one in the new world because most of the territories in the new world aren't stable. With the constant threat from the natives and pirates over there disrupting trade if the Machinery Cult's was allowed to build a stronghold there as they did here it would be complete chaos".
King Edward who was supporting his head up with his right arm looked unfazed by what he heard and after managing the country for so long he truly was. He expected disappointing news to reach his ears so when it did he wasn't surprised. Edward underwhelmed by all this calmly asked in an authoritative tone, "what information did we obtain from the Machinery Cult? Uprooting these misguided children will not be possible if we do not locate the main base".
Eleanor replied, "most of the records Zephyr procured was destroyed what was recoverable wasn't much. One thing we did find useful was proof that one of the five Warlords now operating in the new world known as The Dark summoner whose real name is Harrison Beck has been frequently trading with the Machinery Cult".
"Trading what exactly?". Edward voiced.
"That we are not entirely sure of, but considering the cult's unique tastes it's nothing we want in the hands of those animals. From what we can see the trades happen once every few months".
After Eleanor laid out her case she backed off and stood quietly to give the king time to think. Edward stated after a quick thought, "if Harrison is providing what I think he is to the Machinery Cult then how is he getting so much of it, where is he getting it, could he be traveling to The Rim, or perhaps he stumbles upon something he shouldn't have? Ugh, I knew this would eventually happen once we started exploring the new world. Step back you two I need to see something".
Lothar and Eleanor complied immediately both taking a few steps back. As they did Edward bit a finger on his hand. A drop of his silver blood flowed out and floated into the air. There it stayed as it began to glitter with a golden hue before bursting with a strange light that twinkled and weaved in the air forming a 3D holographic map.
Tears streamed down Nathaniel's face as this happened both from the flashing lights burning his eyes and pure joy. It took months of agonizing waiting but it was worth it because what was before his eyes was just that beautiful a forbidden fruit of knowledge that only a select few know about. A map forged from starlight that not only contained everything about the known world, but the new world as well as hidden islands supposedly never before discovered all the way to the world's end. This is what Nathaniel has been waiting for what he risked his future for. Now that he had it he was going to engrave every detail of the map into his mind.
After the map fully displayed itself Edward asked Eleanor, "what locations has Harrison been known to frequent".
Eleanor replied, "Harrison is mostly active on the eastern side of the new world controlled by Osland. We occupy the north so we can't touch him till he enters our waters or The World Navy decides to take a break from killing lanshi and apprehend him for us".
Edward zoomed into the area that Eleanor specified but found nothing remotely of interest along the eastern side of the new world nor any areas nearby that could explain what Harrison is possibly trading with the Machinery Cult. Finding nothing Edward replied to Eleanor, "I don't have the authority to command The World Navy alone. Waiting for them to act will take forever, so let's try to partner up with Osland on this to try and capture him alive".
Eleanor nodded her head at this and as she did Edward turned to Lothar and said, "Lothar did you acquire the funding for our new projects".
Lothar cleared his throat as a bit of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Ready to speak Lothar said, "not completely sir I've been redirecting funds from other departments to build what you need but I'm afraid this will have negative impacts on the reformation of the city. The amount I'm pulling away hasn't gone unnoticed either since I can fund an entire army with the amount you requested. My king pardon my ignorance, but can't we perhaps slow this project down I'm afraid we'll incur a bit of debt if we do this all in one go. The pollution from factories is getting a bit high if we deal with the problem now we could lesson the long term strain on our healthcare system the cost of which will grow exponential if ignored".
Edward fully understanding where Lothar was speaking from and said, "the 50 billion I requested is to lay the foundations of which is the most important and costly. Because we already have what's needed the later costs will only be a tiny fraction of that. This project has been delayed for 50 years, Osland began their construction 10 years ago, Logelon about the same theirs has probably neared completion. For the security of my country, I can not stall any longer. The health crisis will have to wait for a bit by letting the nation's industry cut corners for now I can speed up the industrial expansion. Hitting them all with fines now would create an increase of layoffs during a time where everyone having a job is most important".
Edward's words were steady but firm Lothar bowed as an apology. Edward seeing it as simply his job to ask such things waved him off to stop. Interested in a different matter Edward asked Lothar about the profits coming in from the new world.
"We've been able to hold onto most of the profits, but 4% of this year's earnings were lost to uncontrollable factors such as weather, rot, miscalculations, ... etc. 6% was stolen by pirates who fenced it all for a quarter of its actual worth. There's also- .
Edward interrupted Lothar to say, "I don't care about that what I mean is how much potential profit can we spare to lose without care".
Lothar a bit confused asked the reasoning for that question. Edward enlightened everyone when he said, "I wish to secretly support the growth of the Machinery Cult in the new world".
Eleanor and Lothar were stunned by what they heard. Eleanor in a flash replied, "my liege we cannot support these misguided hedonistic terrorists. They twist the words and teachings of The Iron Ring to trick our people. If we are found supporting them the repercussions would be enormous".
Lothar interjecting, "I have to agree with Eleanor on this the risk is too high discovery would leave us open to legal attack from all sides. We could be faulted for crimes we've never committed potentially forcing us to even go as far as to relinquish hold of what little land we do occupy in the new world".
"I am no fool I know what's at stake. I'm not saying we supply them with guns and food. I'm saying we force them into Logelon territory then buy them time to take root and grow there. Logelon is claiming the best land for itself. There pushing deeper into the new world by the day leaving us scraps I can't have this. An internal conflict sparked by the Machinery Cult would stop them dead for months perhaps longer. We can handle Osland without this tactic easily enough the problem is just Logelon. To help lower the chances of the Machinery Cult swaying our people I would like to send more clergymen from the Iron Ring to reinforce the people's faith. Free aid should be provided to all regardless of background".
"My king I still cannot in good consciousness fully support this plan". Eleanor stated.
"That goes for me as well" Lothar seconded.
An intense debate went back and forth in the room. Zephyr the king's right hand hadn't said a word since the start of it all because there was no need to he had already completed his previous task any further action was unnecessary. He was both a blade and shield while he could offer his opinion on the matter he preferred to only interject for matters we're the king's safety was of concern. As Zephyr stood in silence his sharp senses pick up on something. It wasn't the sound of creaking wood or scraping it was a sound you wouldn't expect someone to hear. What Zephyr heard was the sound of flowing blood pushed along by the tightening muscles of a beating heart. Though the voices of everyone in the room was more than loud enough to obscure what Zephyr heard Zephyr picked up on it because he was no ordinary person.
Alerted to this unknown threat Zephyr stepped forward and said firmly "Enough!". Zepher's voice was like a knife cutting through the air it demanded everyone's attention. Almost everyone looked at Zephyr oddly since no one expected him to speak except the kings who simply glanced over without a change of expression on his face. Edward not knowing why Zepher suddenly wanted to speak let him because he didn't just interrupt a conversation he interrupted the king. Edward trusting Zephyr's judgment allowed him the floor.
Zephyr walked forward and approached the two across from him with a ball shriveling momentum. Zephyr's presence in front of a lesser person is in short emasculating. Eleanor had seen and been through much in her life but even she subconsciously sweats when confronting Zephyr.
As Zephyr approached he said with a voice that sounded half natural and part mechanical, "The king has spoken to further disagree will not be seen as an act of duty, but defiance against the king". Like a hungry predator in a forest Zephyr stalked his prey he walked past Eleanor with his face close enough to sniff her hair.
"But, w-" Lothar trying to get a word in was stopped by Zephyr. "Did I say you could speak" Zephyr threatening tone made Lothar's skin crawl as Zephyr continued prowling around the room like a stalker?
"Consequences!?, you need not fear any such thing because I'll handle it before it gets that far. As for the Machinery Cult though they secretly grow by the day obtaining new followers they are nothing more than cowards that hide from us afraid of our power. No matter what rock they crawl under, what street they scurry to, ...".
As Zephyr was walking along the side of a wall he suddenly stopped talking, turned to plunged both of his hands into the thick stone wall, and ripped out Nathaniel from inside. Stone, wood, dirt, and dust flew everywhere and out of it was Nathaniel's surprised face. His mouth and eyes were wide open like a fish from the pure shock of what happened while his brain was trying to formulate a good excuse to save his life. As his brain was still firing blanks Zephyr finished what he was saying.
"or wall they hide in I'll find them and make sure that they all meet the same end". With that said Zephyr raised his fist and brought it down with the force of a sledgehammer on Nathaniel's face knocking him out cold.