After introducing each other, Ash looked at the blonde Perro besides Ch'en and Lin. 'So this little puppy is the son of the true Bolivarians? I expected him to be more hardened. I guess the leader did a great job in raising him.'
Ash respected the rebel group's leader to raise his son well. Not as another tool for war, but a young man that doesn't look to be crushed by their father's expectations and strictness. Just like Saria who turned up emotionally blunted.
"Asmodeus, what are you doing here?" Ch'en looked at him with suspicion. He thrashed Lungmen after all, and it was her city.
"Nothing much, just having a little vacation. I have tons of work after all. Some R&R would do me a lot of good." Ash took some champagne from a waitress and drank it.
'Tch, he's here for a reason. But I'm neither smart enough or strong enough to try and get it out of him.' Ch'en clicked her tongue.
She then got surprised as her friend walked up to him. "Wow, you look amazing your majesty. This young sister Lin will fall for you."
Lin, who looked cold due to her great control of her emotions. Started acting like a cute little sister and Ch'en was flabbergasted.
"GUHAHAHA! Isn't that right? I only wear these in some occasions. But you got one thing wrong, Lin Yuhsia." Ash smirked at her.
The Zalak suddenly got nervous and Ash delayed his answer for some tension.
"You're not my little sister I'm a minor, meaning you're a big sister." Ash chuckled and Lin's persona shattered.
"I... I'm older than you? Kuu!" She was sent reeling due to that revelation and Ch'en had a smirk on her face at Lin's scheme failing.
"So how about you show this little brother some love? Do you want me to teach you everything?" He licked his lips and put a hand on her waist.
And with Lin being a mob boss' daughter. She might be cunning, but she has never interacted with a person as powerful as Ash. Mentally, politically, physically, and arts wise.
She was completely outclassed. Not knowing what to do as she gave Ch'en a look of helplessness.
"U-umm, Emperor Asmodeus... How about you tell us more about how you built your business empire?" Ch'en might not like Lin much right now.
But she is still her childhood friend with Talulah. So Ch'en helped her with her crisis.
"Hmmm, it is definitely an interesting story." His voice resounded and everybody listened. His aura commanded respect.
'The presence of a supreme king...' Lin and Ch'en were enamored by his aura. Not used to feeling it like his elites.
"Let me tell you the story of an orphan that created Asmodeus Enterprise. Saving millions of lives through technology and innovation." Ash smirked as he bought time for Vina, Hannah, and Platinum who was their secret bodyguard.
They were too high profile to leave alone. So he sent Platinum to follow them.
__Team Glasgow__
"Mate, are you sure that this is a good idea? Just the two of us? Meeting up with the Singas?" Hannah couldn't help but shake in nervousness.
"Calm your nerves, bloody hell. You're making me nervous too." Vina gulped as she held the letter she had on her hand a bit tightly.
It had the royal seal of Leithanien and Ash gave them a little hand so they could have an easier time making contact with the Singas.
"Halt, who are you. State your purpose here or we will take action." Guards saw the two suspicious individuals who were wearing robes.
"Here goes nothing." Vina took out the letter and showed them the royal seal.
The guards squinted their eyes and they gasped. "F-forgive us, please enter and wait for someone to entertain you." They bowed immediately and let them pass.
"Well, that was easy as piss." Hannah calmed down as they were led to a fancy saloon that was clearly used by nobles.
And after waiting for a few minutes, they were met with a person that wore some noble clothes.
"Greetings, it seems that you are envoys from the motherland? I am the current ruler of Bolivar, Singas, Simon." The man nodded at them.
"Umu, well met. I am Alexandrina Victoria. The heir of Victoria. Emperor Asmodeus Leithanien has sent me here as his general." She introduced herself.
Shining and Margaret beat etiquette into her head. The former, even doing it literally. Smacking her whenever she made a mistake.
So Vina now has a regal aura as she gave him Ash's letter.
"Her royal highness Alexandrina? How? You went missing for 20 years..." He was shocked at the revelation.
"His majesty, the emperor gave me political sanctuary at Paradiso, the promised city of serenity." Vina explained.
Paradiso is actually mythical to people of Terra. People all over the world are trying to pin them down so they could ask for refuge.
Because health care is free, housing and jobs are also given once accepted inside. It was basically heaven on Terra.
"I see, then it is nice to see that you're in good health." Simon thought that Leithanien would even have Victoria in their grasp.
'The twin empresses has bagged a husband that would make our nations prosper.' He was pleased. But he looked at Vina and she was far too green to be a general in his opinion.
"Who is your companion?" He saw Hannah and she bowed. "I am Hannah Jackson, the captain of HRH Alexandrina's royal guard."
To the untrained eye, she was fit and she looks strong. But Simon evaluated her, not seeing any weapons or arts units.
"I see, then let us take a seat and discuss the imperial mandate of the emperor." Simon rung a bell and they were served some refreshments.
'This guy is looking down on us, that should be the first thing that he should've done.' Vina gave Hannah a look and they nodded at each other.
After reading the message, Simon's face went sour as Ash basically told them to get rid of the true Bolivarians and Columbia's planted rebels.
'Is this a test? His majesty did went to war against Ursus and Yan. And they suffered immense damages.' Simon started to get nervous. Feeling a noose tighten on his neck.
After all, when Ash intervenes. It would be game over for the Singas Dynasty and Ash's faction would take them out of there. He has no use for useless dynasties.
"How is the situation with Columbia and the true Bolivarians?" Vina crossed her arms, her gaze turning sharp.
"Currently, we are having a civil war. It isn't at the level of Victoria's and Kazdel. But we are having problems in fishing out the master minds." Simon frowned.
Vina calmed down. Wanting to correct him that Victoria is being raided by Kazdel. Not having a civil war. But she would be in a disadvantage.
Victoria basically self destructed and gave access to Kazdel, free of charge. Giving them free permit in capturing Londinium. And in all accounts, she should be dead if not for the beast lord Gawain.
"I see, so how about any leads?" Vina fished for information.
"The true Bolivarians are led by someone named Pugh Silva. Meanwhile, the coalition government is trying to turn Bolivar into a federal democratic republic." It was the barest of information and Vina already knew that.
'Tch, so they're useless? Ash really did give me a hard assignment.' Vina sighed inside her mind.
"Basically nothing then?" Vina raised a brow and Simon squinted his eyes.
"We have been suppressing the coalition government that Columbia has planted. It is unfortunate that Victoria couldn't, my condolences to the people of your country." Simon rebutted and Vina snorted inside of her mind.
"Yes, it is unfortunate. The capital has been taken by Kazdel. Bolivar has been having a civil war for some time now. I believe that is the cause of the formation of the true Bolivarians?" Vina quipped back and he didn't have a smart come back for that.
"That is correct..." Simon gripped his armrest and Vina smiled in her victory.
"I am tasked by the emperor to investigate this matter to end the civil strife. Bolivar looks peaceful on the outside, but there are a lot of affected people." Vina doubled down and Hannah cheered her on in her mind.
"That is the case, I will entrust you with my loyal men and women." Simon smirked and Vina thought that something was wrong.
'Fucking hell, he got me... He'll give me some incompetent people, shit.' Vina suppressed her frown.
"That is all I need, emperor Asmodeus will be pleased." Vina threatened him and Simon got nervous for a second.
But with the people he would entrust with them, they'll be short staffed. And he thought that Ash would of course be displeased by their failure.
"Of course, it is for the prosperity of Bolivar." They ended their meeting and Vina immediately slammed her fist onto a table when they returned to their hotel.
"Fuck, he got me. We're in trouble mate, big trouble." Vina lost her temper a bit and didn't manage to compile a list of people she would want to assist them.
"Really? I thought it went well?" Hannah who was much more simple minded as her guard didn't have an idea on what just happened.
"It's like they'll be giving us Ifrit as our assistant. You know what that means? Our help would either be a trigger happy person, or an idiot as dumb as an orirock." Vina massaged her temples.
"Blimey, I thought this would be as easy as piss. Why didn't you ask for better people and let him do it on his own?" Hannah frowned and Vina glared at her.
'No, it isn't her fault... This is on me.' Vina sighed heavily.
"Sorry mate, that was all me. I forgot honestly, he was being a prick." Vina explained.
"That you did, it seems that you need more training. Shining will hear of this." Platinum appeared like a ghost.
"Fuckin ell! Where did you come from!?" Hannah and Vina hugged each other as Platinum was already sitting on a sofa.
"I was here ages ago. If he sent an assassin against you, the two of you would either be incapacitated or dead." Platinum deadpanned at them.
Vina gulped and thought that was true. "Y-you scared the shit out of me..." Hannah put a hand on her chest and her heart was palpitating due to her jumpscare.
"This will decrease your scores." Platinum took out a clip board and started writing their evaluation.
"W-we're being evaluated?" Vina blinked and Hannah was gobsmacked.
"Of course, this is an important mission sent to you by Ash. What? You think he'll run Victoria for you in the future? The twin empresses and Gertrude run Leithanien by themselves. He expects you to do the same." Platinum shook her head in disappointment.
"Damn..." Vina winced as Platinum graded their diplomatic skills.
"Isn't this a bit too hardcore? Trying to stop a rebellion already?" Hannah tried to argue.
"He conquered a country as a minor. Became emperor when he was 16. What's your excuse?" Platinum shot her down immediately.
'He's not normal! He was a business tycoon when he was a goddamned kid! An orphan that built an economic empire from the back of a bloody shed!' Vina wanted to retort, but she shut up.
"I will be watching your future exploits. Do better, mistakes can mean deaths of thousands of people. Ash trusted you with this mission." Platinum disappeared after they blinked, making them sweat at the lethal assassin that looked like a fashionista.
"Does she really need to increase the pressure on us? Telling us that she's monitoring our every move?" Hannah was miffed by Platinum.
"It sounds like something he would do... Anyways, let's wait for the people that will be our help." Vina clicked her tongue.
And after waiting for a few hours, somebody knocked on their door.
"Prepare yourself, drop them if needed." Vina ordered and she prepared a dagger to stab them if they were enemies. Platinum was correct, they could be attacked by assassins. Especially because Ash wasn't with them.
Vina and Hannah doesn't want to test the theory that she would save them if they got in a bad situation.
"H-hello... My name is La Pluma, I'm your contact." A Liberi who looked like a young teenage girl, shyly announced herself. (pic)
"A... A kid that looks like she won't hurt a fly?" Vina frowned heavily and she opened the door.
"H-hi..." She raised her hand, almost inaudible due to her soft-spoken voice.
"So you're the one that the Singas sent?" Vina raised a brow and she nodded.
"What's your orders." Another one appeared and she looked really jaded. And the other problem was she's emaciated. (pic)
"Bloody hell, what you need is a meal." Vina was horrified that they would send a barely functional person.
"We need to help her." Hannah took out one of Ash's supplement candies that they always have on hand and put it inside of the other Liberi who looked like La Pluma.
"I... I can't accept this. It is my punishment." The woman frowned heavily and she was about to spit it out.
Vina immediately shut her mouth and rubbed her neck like a pet that refused to swallow medication.
"You're useless like that, we need to make you healthy before sending you out." Vina glared at her and she reluctantly nodded.
__
Thanks for reading everyone, got Kirito in the free 10 pull. Wish you luck in getting the true limited op. Anyways, ciao.