There are four major ruling powers of Zagrath kingdom:
The mercenaries, the magic association, the royal family and the nobles.
The mercenaries are the group that participate in the wars and battles for literally every kingdom based on the money provided.
The Zagrath kingdom are famous for its mercenaries because the Mercenary King's family, the Green family, is in this kingdom.
In fact, the mercenaries as a whole are centered around this kingdom.
About fifty years ago, an attack was launched on the Zagrath kingdom by a group of nations accusing them of protecting the nobles that keep and do experiments on slaves.
The mercenary king was hired and pushed down the kingdom to its last wall of defense but suddenly the mercenaries switched sides and the alliance of nations, well... the match ended up in draw.
Since then, the Zagrath kingdom and the mercenary king together had a bone to pick with the alliance of almost, no, all their neighbours.
Thankfully, the Zagrath kingdom bordered sea and had an important commerce point so with the wits of the great king of the royal family the nations of the alliance, as an individual maintained tense but amicable relationship with the kingdom.
The academy and magic association were taken under the royal family's authority but are quietly regaining their power after the old king's death.
The mercenary king settled wherever he was and scared off all the nobles.
He had no titles upon him but was called one of the uncrowned kings of the continent that even the Zagrath king did not have any authority upon.
But, he was still on someone else's land so he had to still give the king some respect.
So, he settled like a dutiful husband of a decent family.
"So, the Green family is losing their power? or should I say, the great king of the mercenaries doesn't have any say in things anymore?"
"Don't make it sound like that, those kids on throne are just getting frustrated after losing their lashes over the magic association once again."
"So, you are letting them push you around with those lashes. Aren't you afraid that they will put under those lashes now?"
I came in alone to talk with the father in the balcony of the house.
I can see Rishta standing at a distance, I left her there since she is someone sent by the royal family.
"Illyum, so you can understand what is happening, right?"
"Quite clearly to say. The royal family is not just getting frustrated over losing control of something like magic association. They are letting them run wild to make situation advantageous to them."
"Yeah, their move allowed them to put you, the mercenary king's hire to be put under surveillance. Moreover, they are keeping more of a track over most of your researches than they would have through when you were under me. Since, I would have never sent you under a dog of the kingdom but, it was a mistake."
He was also looking at Rishta now.
"This move also allowed many of the idiotic magicians to seek protection of the kingdom while some voluntarily accepted it to avoid doubts over them and the remaining came under suspicion of the kingdom. So, I brought her here as you asked in your secret letters.", I said.
"Yes, everything happening just looks so tamed that it creates doubt that the royal family and magic association are colluding together."
"To say it more exactly, the magic association of the whole continent and the Zagrath royal family."
Magic association is an organization of mages and magicians with its branches spread out all over the continent in every nation, either under government or acting free.
"To say it even more exactly, the old bag of bones called the 'King of the Magic' and that new kid on drugs."
Father gave a more accurate description.
"So, why did you need me to being her here when a dog of the king is already here, threatening our power."
Yeah, I am talking about the dog called 'Albert'.