While Dante and John reveled in their heartfelt reunion, the world itself underwent a whirlwind of transformations. In times of great turmoil, it is during such periods that the most significant changes take place.
Within a secluded palace nestled within the grand imperial palace, the first prince sat in his opulent office, engaged in a serious conversation with the head of the Church of the Sun. Their gazes locked, conveying the gravity of their discussion.
"Your Holiness, how are the preparations progressing? With the crusade set to launch in three months, I trust you have made ample arrangements?" Julius inquired, taking a leisurely sip of his tea.
"Worry not, Your Highness. Everything is proceeding smoothly. If all goes as planned, not only will we be able to eliminate the grand duke, but also eradicate the nobles aligned with the second prince's faction… all in the name of maintaining stability within the empire, of course," the pope responded after a momentary pause. He raised his wine glass, gently clinking it against Julius's teacup.
"For the stability of the empire," Julius echoed, his smile equally cunning, as he raised his cup in a toast.
---------------------------
In another secluded castle within the imperial compound, the second prince, Alexander, sat in conversation with Pollux, the enigmatic man who had previously been with Jordan in the dark room.
"So, you're telling me that the youngest hasn't truly given up on the throne? That this is all an elaborate act to pit my elder brother and me against each other?" Alexander inquired, his brow furrowing in contemplation. He leaned back on his couch, awaiting Pollux's response.
"While I cannot disclose my source, I assure you the information is reliable. I also caution you not to underestimate your adversary. More often than not, great rulers fall not due to external factors but due to their own overconfidence," Pollux replied, taking a sip from the cup of tea offered to him.
"Bwaahahahahahahhaha!" Alexander burst into boisterous laughter, causing a momentary frown to cross Pollux's face. Alexander then composed himself and turned serious. "Forgive me for revealing such an unruly side, but may I inquire as to what you stand to gain from all this?" he asked, his tone stern.
"We may be rivals for the throne, but make no mistake—I am no fool like my elder brother, allowing an outsider to sway the fate of the empire. We may fight like dogs, but when push comes to shove, even a bastard like John is considered family," Alexander declared with conviction. He continued, "So I kindly ask that you leave and never show your face here again… I won't be as forgiving next time." With those words, Alexander rose from the couch and made his way to a table adorned with a stack of papers, ready for his attention.
However, just as Alexander was about to take his seat, Pollux spoke once more. "You are making a grave mistake, Prince. There is a monster growing in your own backyard, and you are simply allowing it to thrive. All I will say is that you should choose your allies wisely." With his final statement, Pollux vanished from his spot, leaving behind nothing but ashes.
Alexander settled back into his seat, his gaze fixated on the place where Pollux had stood mere moments ago. As he rubbed his chin, he contemplated the man's parting words. After a silent moment of reflection, Alexander decided, "Contact the duke and request that he call me as soon as possible." He retrieved a crystal from his top drawer, one that connected directly to one of his numerous noble supporters.
---------------------------
"Is this true?" Eric inquired, his hands trembling as he read the piece of paper in his grasp. A wide grin spread across his face as he absorbed its contents.
"Indeed, apart from the report we received from the border patrol, the latest communication from the grand duke confirms the massive migration of dwarves into the grand duchy," the prime minister confirmed, his own eyes scanning another document in his possession.
"Excellent. It appears that fortune favors us, at least for now," Eric remarked, setting down the border patrol report.
Just as the prime minister was about to respond, a sudden black mass materialized in the room, causing Eric's expression to transform into one of fury. He demanded, "For what reason has an archdemon come personally to my office?"
The black mass unfurled, revealing wings, and a purple-skinned man with two horns emerged. Donned in a black suit, he offered a slight bow, a sinister smile playing across his lips. With purple eyes gleaming with malice, the demon introduced himself, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Imperial Highness. I am Archduke Malgorth, aide to the Demon King. I have come here personally to deliver a formal notice. Please have a look." With his long, sharp-nailed hand, he presented a black piece of paper to the prime minister.
"You… Have you lost your mind?" the prime minister exclaimed, his head snapping towards the demon after reading the first few lines of the letter.
Curiosity mingled with confusion on the emperor's face as he inquired, "What is written there to provoke such a reaction?"
Before the prime minister could respond, the archdemon interjected, "Allow me to answer that." He prevented the prime minister from uttering a single word. "His Majesty, the Demon King Nexial Vorrenthorn, has decided to declare war against our repulsive neighbors to the south—the orcic and troll tribes. This is our formal notice, informing you of our intentions. Furthermore, we request that you refrain from interfering in this conflict unless you wish to escalate tensions between our nations." With the conclusion of his statement, Malgorth's figure began to fade, and he coiled himself into a ball, with his wings enveloping him.
The sudden entrance and exit of the man left both the emperor and prime minister momentarily stunned, but the silence was soon broken by the prime minister, who wore a concerned expression. "What should we do about this?" he inquired.
"What choice do we have? Our current state is too volatile to take any action. I'm certain that demon king bastard declared this war fully aware of our empire's situation. There's no way that bastard wouldn't know," the emperor replied, rising from his chair and gazing out from the balcony.
"So, we just sit here and do nothing?" the prime minister questioned, approaching the emperor's desk with a perplexed expression. "While the orcic and troll tribes are formidable, they won't stand a chance against the demons. Despite their territories having diminished over the centuries, they remain far too powerful for most forces on the continent to handle. This won't just be mindless slaughter—it will also serve as a proclamation to the world that the demons are resurfacing. If we don't quash them now, it'll be too late," the prime minister declared, fury etched across his face.
"What do you expect me to do, then? Join this war, fully aware that we have no chance of defeating the demons? Think rationally for a moment. The demons have likely spent every waking second since their defeat in the two-hundred-year war strengthening themselves. That's one thousand years, for God's sake. And us? We're nothing but a fractured empire on the brink of collapse. We have no means to stop them at the moment. It will only result in the deaths of millions of imperial citizens. Do you still expect me to join this, despite all of that?" the emperor retorted, raising his voice.
Taking a deep breath, the prime minister replied, "Huaaaah, I apologize. I let my emotions get the better of me for a moment," bowing his head lightly.
"It's alright. I, too, went a bit too far," the emperor conceded, shaking his head and exhaling deeply. He continued, "For now, arrange a call with the leader of the Orcic tribes. Inform him that I wish to speak with him."
"Yes, sir. I will attend to it immediately," the prime minister acknowledged, departing from the emperor's office.
----------------------------------
Meanwhile, in the Grand Duchy of Valoria, John and Dante sat inside Dante's office. John read a paper handed to him by Dante, his expression filled with shock, as he repeatedly glanced back and forth between the document and Dante.