"I was hoping that what you heard today will only stay here. You all know that our enemies are not just demons. There are also other Empires who are eyeing us like a tiger who'll devour its prey anytime. Anything can be use against us and that'll definitely result in Continental War."
Advisor Meller said.
"Alright, we will stop this meeting now and ready your troops to defend our borders against the demons. Duke Avella, I'd like to have a chat with you for a moment."
The Emperor spoke while waving his hand. He stand's from his sit and all the Noble Heads bowed down their heads before heading out through the throne hall except for the two Princes, Emperor, Advisor Meller and Duke Avella.
"It's my honor to have a chat with you, Your Majesty."
Duke Avella said without any expression in his face.
"Duke Avella, the Northern Borders are always peaceful and doesn't have any issues because of your good leadership. I am so glad to have such a Northern Duke protector."
Said by the Emperor. He pats Duke Avella's shoulder and spoke again.
"I have a word with you Duke, I want to tell you something with only the two of us."
He turn his head towards the Princes and to his Adviser so that they can read the situation.
The Advisor and two Princes immediately catch the Emperor's meaning and bow their heads before leaving the Throne Hall.
"Now that everyone was not here, I want to know what Your Majesty's thinking."
Duke Avella said seriously while his sharp golden eyes was staring at the Emperor.
The Emperor laugh loudly and patted Duke Avella's shoulder again before speaking.
"Duke, You're so serious as always, you've never change at all ever since when we were children. Well, I want to talk with you about the Barath Republican. Earlier this morning, I read the reports from the rats that the spies from that Republican is now roaming in our Curion Empire. The informants said that the Republican is now having a crisis in food shortage. If their difficulties won't stop, there's a big tendency that they will attack Curion Empire any moment just to fill there stomach. I have a hunch that the two Empires from West and East are behind this."
Duke Avella crossed his hands through his chest and thought deeply.
"Your Majesty, there's no way the Velicia Empire is behind the scene. From the information I gathered from the other Empires, Velicia is preparing a war against Arundel Empire from North, while Rothan Empire's boarders are getting attack by the demons frequently. The only one I can think about behind the Republican's crisis is Arundel Empire."
He said while caressing his chin.
The Emperor nodded in agreement and spoke.
"I see, Arundel Empire is creating a crisis in Barath so that Velicia will be in a tight situation between the two. Now that I think about it, I feel sorry for Velicia Empire's Emperor. But what if Barath attack us instead of Velicia?"
The Emperor asked suddenly to Duke Avella.
"Your Majesty, if I were the Governor of Barath Republican. I would rather attacked Velicia Empire. In this situation were your enemy was busy barking to other Empires, I would immediately bite Velicia's blind spot without them noticing. In this case, in the surface it's like Barath and Arundel are working to each other but the truth isn't. They're just devouring Velicia so that they can fulfill their different reasons. Curion is now in active all out war because of the demons. Our Cavalry is always ready for the attack from any other empires, so of course... Barath is not stupid enough to provoked an Empire that was already waiting for its prey."
Duke Avella explained and the Emperor's face brightened.
"Hah, You're right. anyway, why don't you become my advisor instead Zareff?"
"It's a waste of time arguing with Advisor Meller. Also, I'm satisfied with being a Duke so I'll pass."
"You're always cold to me Duke Zareff, well, I heard earlier that your daughter is the most beautiful young lady in our Curion Empire. I was curious so, how about visiting the palace more often and bring her here to greet me. I would be very happy with that."
Emperor said while smiling.
'Greet my ass, if I know... you just want my daughter to become the Crown Princess instead. Why do people keep looking to my daughter when I even keep her away from the outside? I should really take her away before these bunch of people find her.' Duke Zareff thought before responding to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, Leona has a tight schedule everyday so I think visiting the palace with her is impossible. "
"Hah, you're being possessive to your daughter. However, I really want to saw her atleast once you know? It will be a shame of me if I couldn't have a glimpse of the most beautiful Lady in my own Empire. That being said, why don't you bring the first prince in the Northern Territory to help you fight against the demons?"
"No, thanks."
Duke Avella abruptly replied.
"Alright, I'll stop now. Hmm, well... Those two factions are being quiet for awhile now and I think they're planning to destroy each other again after this demonic wars. Neutral and Imperial Factions is declining to support between those two, but they may find a trick to pull us from their sides."
"Your Majesty, I would be glad if those two dogs will fight again. Our weapons and potions are now decreasing it sells so if any war will happen, money will come instantly. But if they pulled a trick against us, your Curion Empire will be in chaos that even any Kings and Emperors will have a cold sweat on their back."
The Emperor instantly Laughs loudly that even the knights from the outside flinched.
'Indeed, if ever Duke Zareff moved and join any factions, the power will be imbalance. In short, Neutral Faction is a King maker in Curion Empire that cannot be taken lightly.'
The Emperor thoughts.
"Your Majesty, I apologize but I have to go back to North now. I am a busy person so I hope you understand."
"Right, your just using a Mana Warp just to get here. Thank you Duke Avella and I hope to see your daughter next tim—"
The Emperor just shrugged his shoulder and chuckled after seeing Duke Zareff suddenly vanished into thin air.
—
"Are we there already? "
Red asked while fuming in frustration.
"Not yet!"
Green answered while controlling the magic carriage.
They were currently in the Northeast territory which mostly consists with forest and dangerous animals.
"Ah guys, I think you must see this huge sh*t in front of our carriage... "
Green said with anxious voice and knocked the carriage door to call the other ladies inside.
The carriage door opened and Red with the other ladies head out with surprise when they see a huge serpent infront. It has a dark scale with a sharp huge teeth in his mouth. Its eyes was sharp and yellow but the strange thing is, it has a small wings on its back.
"Damn, what a big snake!"
Red said with her eyes sparkling.
"Watch out, this serpent might attack us anytime!"
Violet shouted and remove her dagger from her thighs where it was hidden earlier.
The huge snake immediately sense their movements and attacked them abruptly.
"What the hell!"
"Yellow! attack its f*cking eyes and I will try to get his attention!"
"Green, Blue and Red! use a sword!"
"Aye!"
Violet throw her dagger to the serpent's eyes and stealthily jump through its head so that she can stab its skin but the scale was too thick like a steel, so she jump back in the ground and breath heavily. The serpent quickly run on her direction and opened its huge mouth that has so many sharp teeths inside. She manage to hide behind the tree to block its attack while the other ladies are readying their swords to purge the huge serpent.
Blue immediately manage to sliced a small part of its tail while Yellow is busy stabbing the stomach. Red run towards Violet who are still in the tree hiding. The serpent was now crying loudly in rage that make it more terrifying and trying to bit Blue and Yellow. It was a total chaos inside the forest that can make normal people shiver in fear.
"You damn ugly snake!"
Red shouted while lifting her sword and jump fast like a wind on the serpent's head. She cursed the serpent one last time before deeply stabbing its left eye.
The serpent tried to shake Red's off from its head but her sword just sliced the serpent's face until its mouth. Green lift her sword too and quickly cut's the serpent wings and catches Red before falling to the ground. The serpent's body was still trembling as if trying to stay alive.
"What the? this doesn't make any sense... is that serpent weak or we're just really strong?"
Blue blankly stared at the serpent's corpse while its blood from the sliced face was still flowing.
"Are you sh*ttin' me? of course we're strong! Do you think leader will call us the 'Destroyers' before for nothing? Hah!"
Red said proudly and laughs evilly that give chills to the animals in the surrounding.
"No, it's not that. What I mean is... when we first arrived here in this world, our body can't even lift a couch, not to mention about killing this kind of huge snake... so, I-I think that our body reflexes, energy or even some sort of our skills from previous life are getting adopted through here too. Do you understand what I mean?"
Everyone immediately succumb deeply in thoughts.
Blue was right, when they found themselves here in this world, it was a total mess. They were weak, their body and appearance change that even their stamina decrease a lot! Their abs in their previous life was gone too! it was replaced by a weak and sickly body that even the bones will be ripped off if any accident would happened. What was more even terrifying for them is that, just by walking or jogging for a several minutes is a pain in their ass!
"I guess this is like a game, the more we fight. The faster we regain our strength back!"
Violent seems to be greatly excited by these sudden discovery. She clinched her fist and breath heavily with a satisfied smile on her face.
"I'm hungry, can we eat that serpent?"
"What are you talking about? can you really eat that disgusting snake? also, it smells awful!"
Red snorted and smack Blue's head.
"Hey!"
"Hah, you two really... don't worry, we have plenty of food inside the carriage so no need to eat that serpent. But, as you can see... I think we can use the scales, its wings and even the fangs of that snake. What do you think, Yellow?"
Green interrupted the two from arguing and asked Yellow who was busy staring at the serpent.
"Hey guys!"
Yellow suddenly called everyone's attention that makes the Ladies look at her. "Look what I've found, seems like a ruby!"
All four of them immediately walked towards Yellow and was astonished by the thing they saw in her hand.
It was a crystal like appearance but its color was similar to blood. One can even see a vague sparkling light from its center with a diagonal shape while its size was just like a palm. Everyone was amazed and Green immediately caress its hard surface.
"Yellow, where did you find this?"
Green asked enthusiastically and look towards the serpent.
"Well, I found it from the serpent's chest and it was glowing more earlier but when I hold it, the color change drastically and it became a dark red. I even thought it was ruby." Yellow answered and stared curiously at the crystal.
"It's beautiful! Do you think we can sell it?"
"What are you talking about now hah? of course not! That's our first loot from killing this huge serpent together since we arrive here from this world, so we mustn't sold it."
"I'm just asking you know? why are you so mad?"
"I don't know, maybe because you're stupid."
Blue mockingly said while smirking to Red whose staring at her with a sharp eyes.
"Y-you! Do you want to die?"
"Hah? Really, come on kill me if you can!"
The two immediately lift their swords from the sheaths and positioned themselves to attack each other but Violet run faster towards their direction. She surprisingly smacked Red's face and kick's Blue head that make the two collapse and faint immediately. It was so fast that even Yellow and Green couldn't spill a single word for being shocked.
Violet was still standing while looking at the two unconscious stubborn on the ground. She snorted and picked the swords than walk towards Green.
"W-well, they're so noisy so, I made them shut up for a bit. Come on, let's get on the job. I'll take care of the scale and Yellow will be the one to take care of the fangs. Green, don't forget the wings, I think Blue was right ealier, we must keep that crystal thing and present it to our Leader if we finally found her."
Violet said warmly and hold Green's shoulder and throw the swords inside the carriage before heading towards to the serpent.
"Yes..."
Green murmured while looking at Violet's back who was walking away. She has a worried expression on her face than sighed heavily.
'Leader...'