Letting Skadi rest, Ash decided to stay for a little more time. They haven't sent Shining to him yet, who can travel quickly to Sal Viento. So the armies must be doing really well.
Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he was thinking of what to do with Skadi. There were already three Sui siblings that were potentially hostile against them. He could definitely take care of them if they tried something.
But adding Skadi to the mix is different. She might be losing her marbles and directing the seaborne to raid Iberia or other countries while they are doing something.
Especially because he would be preemptively dealing with Laterano. The Sankta are gonna froth in the mouth upon seeing their guns.
"They're arrogant, thinking that they can be peacekeepers of Terra. They must believe that their monopoly on guns makes them a super power." Ash can already imagine their demands.
Laterano would most likely try to get their secrets. He snorted. "Those angel punks would have a rude awakening." The use of originium as propellants is too ingrained in society.
Even if they did get samples, they won't have a damn clue how to make Paradiso's propellants for decades.
"Technology here is fucking weird. It's both advanced and crap at the same time. There's supposed to be a progression for weapon technology." Ash left it alone for now.
"What's got you stumped? You look troubled." Irene went up to him, just finishing her patrol around town.
"We'll have an aggressive meeting with Laterano later. Not that we give a rat's ass about them. They haven't experienced carpet bombing coming from the sky before." Ash hoped they would be rational.
Be as it may, with Paradiso's unmatched military might. He does not want civilians to experience modern warfare. Terrans fight with swords and magic.
Using artillery barrages on them and ordnance strikes is like bombing cities from the middle age. No city on Terra has anti-air turrets and interceptors.
The world is their oyster. Any nation can be destroyed with a snap of his fingers. But Adele would not want that.
"What's the problem with that? Aren't you guys strong?" Irene was confused, especially after seeing him thrash thousands of seaborne by himself.
"It's not about being strong forehead. Wars are decided by the higher ups, always... And Terrans aren't adverse to send child soldiers. You do not know the potential damages Paradiso can do." Ash sighed.
They were even being nice about it. Full front assaults is the only attacks they do. Chemical, Nuclear, Biological warfare are viable cards on the table still.
It would be a fuckfest of warcrimes. Release nerve agents on cities, bomb civilian shelters, gas POW's in execution chambers, poison water reservoirs with engineered pathogens. He was extremely nice about it, considering they can unleash untold cruelty and horrors never before seen on Terra.
"Young men and women would be sent against us, for what? For their egos and self satisfaction. Their armies will be cut like grass against us. Millions of lives are going to be culled for nothing. Ursus and Yan had it coming, but what of the others?" Ash explained.
Irene went quiet, she didn't want to believe it at first. But considering what happened earlier, she did not want Iberia going to war against them.
The Liberi shuddered, the images popped into her head. Soldiers marching, but they'd quickly meet an impenetrable wall in the battlefield. He would stomp on them like ants under a boot.
"Yeah, you're right. It is concerning, thank you for being considerate about using your military might." She respected his decision greatly.
"Oh, forehead. You have no idea." Ash ruffled her hair.
"Hey! I'm not a kid, stop that!" She slapped his hand and he shrugged.
"Laterano would most likely have a fit against our weapons of choice. That's what I'm worried about. We can kill all of them sure, that's too easy. But that isn't our goal." Irene winced at his nonchalance about it.
"Well, how about calling a conference? I'd imagine that Ursus and Yan won't go, especially with your country dealing them a nasty blow. But that would give way for a democratic meeting." Irene suggested.
"That's a good idea too, forehead. I was wrong that your big and shiny airport is empty, forgive me. There's one problem with it though." She bristled at his teasing.
"What?" She huffed. "Kazimierz, Kjerag, and Leithanien are all mine. They would say foulplay. And those are the only countries I'd imagine would come to the negotiating table." Ash snorted.
Columbia is too divided and secretive, Victoria is a clusterfuck due to Kazdel, Sargon is scattered, Sami is secluded, Higashi is too busy against Yan and Ursus, and the smaller countries are just plain useless.
Ash was having a headache. "Do I really have to do everything? Maybe I should just destroy countries left and right? Make everybody submit? Yes, that's much easier. No cost too great." Irene paled at his rambling.
"NO! No... Too many innocent people would die, right?" Irene gulped as she sweated bullets. The world didn't know it, but Terra owed her this very day.
"Hmm, you're right... My sister would kick my ass when I die and we meet again. If we ever do so that is." He had a wry smile.
"Yes, think of how many orphans would result in that. And won't your alliance be public enemy number one? That will lead to a lot of headache." Irene still coaxed him to not commit the biggest genocide in history.
"Hah, whatever. Just do it the old fashioned way, maybe let my minions do the talking. I'm not really that good in trying to inspire people. I have a different kind of charisma." He rubbed his temples.
Kal'tsit and Amiya looked like they would be great speakers. Rhodes island owe him, a lot. Maybe he could use them to be diplomats he thought.
"Ahhh! Whatever, I have to check on Skadi's condition." Ash stood up and went to her room.
Irene slumped on her chair and she hit her forehead on the table with a slam. "Hmm? What's the matter with you?" Dario raised a brow at her, she was normally uptight and ready for action.
"High inquisitor... I think I just saved the world." Irene was in a daze and Dario gave her a weird look. Not that he would know she was right.
__Travel to Paradiso__
Ash ferried Skadi who was still unconscious. And even Gladiia was surprised about his power to fly. "You know, this kinda feels like I'm swimming."
Gladiia closed her eyes and Ash noticed her temperature is skyrocketing. "You're gonna overheat, troublesome woman." Ash increased the water vapors around her and cooled her down.
"Thanks, being on the surface dries out my skin. Probably the reason why that humanoid seaborne got the drop on me." Gladiia clicked her tongue.
"I've noticed it when Skadi and Specter would go bathe for long periods of time. When we get back home, I'll give you an AOS just like theirs. Skadi's got ruined anyway." Ash sighed.
He increased the pace and Specter grinned at the heart pumping ride.
They landed right on top of his building after he located Paradiso. He led them to the quarters of the abyssal hunters.
After sitting on the chair in his office, he quickly dialed up a number.
"Glory to the penguin empire, how may I help you?" He heard Exusiai's bubbly and cheery voice over the phone.
"Hey, Exusiai." Ash greeted succinctly and the Sankta went quiet.
"Ash... How are ya?" Exusiai awkwardly asked. Everyone in penguin logistics and Blacksteel heard of what happened. And they saw it too, they were stationed in Lungmen after all.
"Just fine. Can you tell me anything about the Sankta and Laterano? I have a feeling they would be up our asses." Ash snorted.
With a deep breath, Exusiai thought of the Laterano factions. "You would most likely be visited by the Legati. They were formed back in 1069. When the four emperors battled. They're the diplomats of the country."
"So I should be expecting them in the next what? Month or few weeks?" Ash rubbed his chin. The Sankta are quite the isolationists. Just like Kjerag, so their Intel is lacking.
And because most of their citizens and agents are Sarkaz, he can't send sleeper agents to Laterano.
"Yes, most likely. I heard about it Ash, you declared war on Ursus and Yan. With the latter experiencing extreme losses. Higashi is starting to prod at them. Their fortresses are smoldering ruins." Exusiai winced.
"Do you dislike it?" Ash could feel her awkwardness about the topic.
"Honestly, yes. But they attacked you, it was a declaration of war on their part." Exusiai sighed.
"Thanks for the info Exusiai. We might be needing your expertise about Laterano later as a guide. Say hi to Croissant, Cellinia, and Sora for me. Oh, don't forget about Emperor." Ash said goodbye.
Exusiai held on to the phone of their office tightly. She couldn't use her empathetic powers on him. A trait of the Sankta that leads to their eccentricness.
"That was Ash, wasn't it." Emperor appeared behind her and Exusiai got startled.
"Yeah boss, it was." Exusiai looked at the ground. "How does he sound?" Emperor sighed.
"He sounds fine, different. But fine at least, he's a trooper right? Why did things have to be this way?" Exusiai held tightly onto her bullpup.
"Shit happens Lemuel, just hope he would be fine. Because nobody's going to like it if he doesn't." Emperor put his flipper on his head.
Ash just stared at the ceiling of his office for a good second. Nobody was around, all of the operators are stationed at the war efforts in Ursus.
So he decided to visit their spoils of war. Arriving at the cells, Ash went to the maximum security ones and saw the Sui siblings.
He raised a brow at what they were doing. Dusk was at a corner and drawing with her brush. Ling and Chongyue were playing go. With the former getting hammered, a bottle of tequila in her hand.
"You look like you're enjoying yourselves eh?" Ash snorted and the three rolled their eyes. They seemed to be quite in sync.
"What do you want, conqueror? I'd have you know, we won't bend to your will." Chongyue glared at him.
"Really? Hey Ling, did you know? I can create legendary alcohols with the perfect blends of flavors? Unlimited supply too, I can just use my powers to make them just right." Ash produced a bottle and concentrated.
He made a bottle of bourbon with complex flavors. Perfecting the balance of alcohol content and the flavorings.
Ash tossed it towards her and she smelled it. "Ooohhhh, I'm in." Ling took a swig of it and sighed with in satisfaction, hugging the bottle.
Chongyue stared at her with an unimpressed face. "You despicable man, using my sister's vices. No matter, I'd like to see you try that with Dusk." He snorted.
"Hey Dusk, do you know? There are thousands of things you can do besides traditional Yan paintings? How about I give you samples and this book that contains their techniques?" Ash gave her a book and a tablet.
The socially withdrawn woman took it slowly. He was preparing for their meeting of course.
And he tried to remember everything art related about what he read back in his previous life.
He wasn't an artist, but it was one of the things that he tried to get into back then. He doesn't do things half-assed and he studied art far back to the pre-historic ones.
"Umu, umu." Dusk checked it out and she was getting hooked to it. The knowledge there, is otherworldly after all.
"You can also draw on that device. It doesn't need paper and ink. Aren't you interested if you can breathe life to it? It's worth checking out, no?" Ash smiled and Dusk nodded.
Chongyue blinked and he bugged out. The most difficult one of his siblings, Dusk. Was being lured in like Ash knew just how she would tick. Even he can't make Dusk do anything and he's the one who knows the most about them. Being the eldest and all.
Ash smirked at him and had a ridiculing expression. "What'd you say earlier? Anyways, Ling, Dusk, Paradiso isn't named the way it is just for the sake of it. It has many amenities and structures to enjoy. How about it? Just be amiable and I'll let you outside." Ash offered.
"A nice wine cellar for Ling, and a soundproof area for Dusk with all kinds of tools for painting. As an artist, it's a dream to create a magnum opus. A nice, quiet place would help, right?" Ash tempted them like the devil.
"Ling, Dusk... Don't tell me you'd accept his offer? Look at him, he definitely wants to use you!" Chongyue pointed at him accusingly.
"Hmph like how Yan wants to? Yes, they can't go without any supervision. But did Yan try to make their lives easier? Give them the joys of life? Yan just wanted to chain them down." Ash snorted.
"Sorry Chongyue, he's right. How many kinds of alcohol are there in the cellar though?" Ling's eyes sparkled.
"Thousands of them. Soldiers love alcohol in their downtime. You can swim in alcohol with how much we have." Ash shrugged and her eyes shone.
"Ooooh!" She clapped excitedly and took his hand, abandoning Chongyue immediately.
Dusk, meanwhile. She just stared at him, waiting for his spiel.
"How about I show you the wonders of the world, Dusk?" She tilted her head in confusion.
Ash smirked, Terra isn't exactly the most beautiful place. Almost every piece of land is covered in originium and is just a shitty desert.
So he sent some memories in her head personally. Touching her forehead. Dusk's eyes glazed, seeing the amazing sceneries of earth. He showed her the grand canyon.
She gasped at the majesty of it. Huge rock formations, the Colorado river giving it a nice contrast of blue. While the red rocks gave off a vibrant color.
"Show me more." Dusk looked at him expectantly. "Then we have a deal?" He smirked and Dusk nodded quickly.
Dusk is a deity, she might be brilliant with unparalleled sense for art. But humans can be quite creative. And nature, even more so.
"Heh." Ash sneered at Chongyue who was in despair. "Smell you later man, enjoy your prison food and rock hard bed." Ash snorted, Ling and Dusk are more useful than him anyway.
They had enough firepower. Chaining him down in their prison is fine. Nian is the most useful of them anyways, not that he'd say that to her. She would definitely get a big head because of it.
"Come on ladies, let's get you to your accomodations." Ash led them away from the prison.
They might be siblings. But they're more like acquaintances. People you would greet with a nod when you see on the street. They weren't close, really.
"Hmmm, maybe I can get Dusk to create paintings to seal high priority targets? And Ling, barriers? Gladiia did manage to kidnap Specter. What to do, what to do." Ash smirked.
__
Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.