"What the…" Captain Robert Willicks of the Golden Thatch, a subtle nod to Blackbeards real name, Edward Thatch, couldn't believe what had been happening in the past few minutes.
He was suddenly moved from his ship which had entered a foreign space, going through hundreds of foggy portals that brought the ship over.
Looking around as Robert appeared and saw his crew around him, while hundreds upon hundreds of crewmen and the refuges looked around at the luxurious buildings.
Some people looked skittish and were thinking of making a run for it, however they stopped dead in their tracks once various people appeared from the buildings and streets.
All those that had come from the ships were dead quiet as a man with blonde hair and deep blue eyes walked over to a platform that allowed him to stand above the others and let his voice reach those at the back.
Part of the crewmen that were on the ships felt like the knew of the man before them, but they weren't sure until they heard him introduce himself.
.
"Ah, Hello…
I bet your all wondering where you have ended up suddenly…
Don't worry… I will answer all of your questions.
My name is Anton and for many of the crewmen of those ships you were on before… I was the one that called you…
There was a clear motive to get you all here…"
Nearly all of the crewmen froze on the spot, worried if this meant their lives were at stake or those of their loved ones.
Some regretted not being equipped with a weapon of any sort, not knowing that they wouldn't have been able to get a shot off in the first place.
"We want you all to join our… Empire…"
Anton created enough suspense with his words that some people were close to throw their shoes at his head in anger, but they were intrigued by what followed.
"For those that work for us can guarantee their children and families will live luxurious lives without any worries or problems about their future or loved ones.
All we ask is you join the Empire whole heartedly.
You'll come to learn more about the Empire during your orientation, after which you can make your choice.
I understand it might be a short time to decide but many of you have been abandoned by your own nations, sent into such poor states because of another's actions and you happened to be the one to fall.
Trust me when I say this… you won't be the first nor the last to be saved by the Empire…"
Anton left the platform and certain members of the residents that were part of the orientation team came forward to lead both the refugees and crewmens away.
.
Watching from above, one individual had his eyes on the people walking away while memories of a time in the past came to his forefront of his mind.
"Master… are you sure about this?
Remember what happened last time?!"
"Of course, I do Carter… but I can't believe everyone is the same!
You can't be such a negative nelly all the time!" a young and cheerful Esmond said in his mind to the voice that'd been with him from his first time being reborn.
By this point in time, Esmond was a cheerful child that'd been fighting through roughly fifty lifetimes, all of which ended miserably.
Carter didn't want to see his Master fall into the same trap once again as his family had sent him away to take care of a major issue which was far beyond his capabilities.
It was obvious to Esmond as well, but he chose to ignore the possibility of his death and tried to see what the benefit would be if everything succeeded.
"Let's get going Carter!
Time to show them what I am made of!"
However, the brutal truth was far worse than Esmond expected as he watched all that came to support him die around him while the fierce beast looked down at him.
The ghastly monster had blood and guts dripping down its face as it looked directly at Esmond, the young man that was covered in the blood of his only friend and knight.
"Y-Young M-Master… Run!" the last words of the Knight hoped Esmond would listen and leave but it was too late.
Seeing his friend die a gruesome death while being hopeless to do anything against the beast before him, some cracked in Esmond that day.
"Y-You were right… Carter…
Hehekekehi…"
Esmonds laughter was cut short as the beast swallowed him down to the waist before crushing Esmond dead with the power of his mighty jaw.
That day continued to haunt Carter long into the future and present day, blaming it to be the moment Esmond lost who he truly was…
.
"*Sigh* I really failed you back then… Esmond…" Carter looked over at the people below from the palace balcony with a glass of scotch in his hand.
There was a deep smile on Carters face that was remembering the smiling and cheerful Esmond that was innocent of the torture inflected on his soul.
"Thinking of the past… it isn't always the answer our hearts and minds are looking for…" Nedric walked over to the balcony where Carter stood, carrying a bottle of scotch in his hand.
Placing it down on the table that was out on the balcony, Nedric took a seat on one of the spare seats around the outdoor table.
"… You heard of the outburst…"
"Who hasn't at this point…" Nedric replied before taking a large gulp of his scotch, having removed his hood to show the modified pupils coloured a deep ruby crimson much like the Great Imperial Xoplis Essence.
The colour would signify the connection to the Xoplis Empire, especially the position the operative would have.
In Nedrics case he served the Imperial Family directly, so his eyes were similar in colour, though lightly diluted so to not be exactly the same as the Imperial members.
Carter had invited him because Nedric was one of the only people besides himself that was closely connected with Esmond.
During his time as the Crown Prince of the Xoplis Empire, Nedric happened to be present when Esmond had lost his mind when he learnt the death of a precious friend.
.
"When it happened last… I knew he would have some kind of reaction… but what happened was completely out of my expectations or the Emperors." Nedric had the unfortunate job of assassinating Esmonds friend who was the Commander of the 151st Fleet of the Empire.
The two were raised together since Esmonds nanny was the Commanders mother and that meant the two were constantly close from a young age.
Nedric planned out the assassination plan and performed the kill through poison, however he only found out later on that vial he gave to the Commander was especially deadly.
Over a course of 72 hours his body slowly burned from the inside, making his death especially gruesome and painful.
Esmond nearly had reached his friend in time to save him through certain means that he had at the time, however before that his life was over.
That day… Esmond left a mark through the Empire that began to worry the Emperor, the individual who'd ordered the assassination of the Commander, to begin to fear his son.
.
"Back then, Esy… slaughtered endlessly until he believed he found the people responsible…
Most of the Emperors secret network was crushed in a heartbeat under Esys might." Carter moved over from the balcony and took a seat opposite Nedric, refilling the glass for the two of them.
"Those truly were dark days for me…
*Sigh* I had no clue if I would die one day under this hand…" Nedric took another deep gulp of his drink before leaning back in his chair.
Those days, Esmond constantly smelled of death as wherever he went, all fell to his sword and strength.
Constantly covered in the blood of those he'd killed by his own hands, Esmond had left his mark on noble society, scaring all that saw him into believing that he was a monster without any compassion.
.
"*Sigh* urgh… what are your thoughts, Carter?" Nedric grabbed a few pistachios and started snacking on them while listening to Carter's thoughts.
He didn't have the same level of experience dealing with these outbursts.
Thankfully Isabelle had managed to stop Esmond otherwise they expected him to not leave the members of the Envoy alone until they were utterly broken and crushed, spiritually.
"… We can only be there to stop him…
Somehow try to intervene and push him back…
He will come to his senses eventually… but its best to try and remind him of who he is…" Carter wanted to know the answer more than anyone since he'd seen the outcome Esmonds actions when nobody could stop him.
Those times… nobody was spared…
All fell to his blades…
.
The two had nearly finished the first bottle of scotch and were about to get up and grab another from the bar that was to the side of the room, however another participant had entered the little meeting on the balcony.
"Room for another…?" Gabriel placed a bottle of Spirit Infused Essence Scotch.
"Why don't we have a proper drink that'll actually affect all of us…" She said while refilling Carter and Nedrics before filling her own and taking a seat.
"… Esmond went too far… way… too… far…" Gabriel said, repeating the last part in between sips of her drink.
Isabelle had told her of the events and made it clear that Esmond had some deep demons that nobody besides someone like Carter could help.
The problem they struggled with was the difficulty of not being able to do much to stop him.
Esmond had gone quite far and nearly sent the Envoy members hysteria.
Vivienne was being treated by her friends right now who were closely watching over her, trying to help her calm down and get past the images she saw of the abuse conducted at the hands of Henry Dormer.
The man in question and his two goons were currently in prison cells waiting for their sentencing which Esmond had yet to decide.
Carter and Nedric were concerned Esmond would use this opportunity to brutalise the assailants, possibly even return the mutilated bodies to their families, but Gabriel believed something else.
"… Why not leave the judgement to Rahzil?" Gabriel said which seemed to have left Carter and Nedric questioning themselves if had thought through her decision.
"He's just as nuts…" Nedric said, while Carter nodded eagerly before having his own say.
"Only different between Rahzil and Esmond is that one has accepted death and move on while the other tried to defy it in desperation…" Carter tried to explain to his younger sister, but Gabriel wouldn't have any of it.
"I'm surprised you think so little of him… even though he is the only one capable to fight one on one with Esmond and walk away victorious…"