"Yes... What about them? Knight of Brazier."
Landrose inquires, his tone much more serious and interrogatory.
"Well... Believe it or not, Landrose."
"I do not believe Castle Ashgate will be successful a second time."
Nero says, fixing his gaze on everyone seated around the table, who all give him stern looks in return!
"Wha-WHAT?"
"You heard me."
The Knight of Brazier reiterates his point, bending forward and placing his elbows on the table to support his head this time.
"There are rumors that the new hero has already outperformed most power metrics."
He says softly...
"And as much as I would like to say otherwise, this is true..."
"We can say that with certainty because 'they' have already won a significant number of important battles in the brief period since they were called upon."
The Knight of Brazier gestures to one of his assistants behind him and pulls out a map of the Land of Per Sempre, marking out specific locations.
"..."
"Fernworth."
As soon as he says those words, the other ministers' faces painedly go into deep thought, causing tension to rise at the table.
"I-is this new hero truly that formidable, Minister Nero?"
With a tremble in his body, Samael asks Nero the question, to which the Knight simply nods.
"... to think that in such a short period of time, they have such a high mastery of the arts and mana."
Amenadiel ponders aloud. The rest of the table echoing his awe with the new hero.
*BAM!!!
"And we have had Fernworth as a stronghold even before Xhaka assumed the throne."
A grit teethed Landrose exclaims, furiously punching down on the table as the secret meeting falls silent.
"..."
-silence-
"..."
*Sigh... "If my belief that we could not prevail was solely based on my proficiency in the arts, I would have failed you all in my capacity as Knight of Brazier."
Nero says, breaking the momentary silence as he leans back and straightens his posture a bit.
Is there more to this new hero?
"I-Is there anything other than sheer power that we should be concerned about?"
"Hm. Nero, if their sheer power is not the reason they pose such a threat to Ashgate, what is?
Both Marina and Hatchett's Ministers pose the questions in a confused manner.
"..."
"...Since power governs everything in our realm, you might find this strange..."
"Ours is a simple system that ensures that those who deserve to be at the top remain there."
Nero settles back into his chair and begins.
"But the same cannot be said about the humans..."
"Kings, nobility, priests, and wealthy merchants."
"Our systems differ completely from those of humans."
He says...
"For them, there is strength in numbers."
"One is stronger the more numbers they have on their side..."
"Humans form groups and combine their talents to compensate for each other's weaknesses."
He claims...
"And who in this talent-gathering scenario might be the most dangerous?"
With an expression that is both confident and smug, the Knight of Brazier asks.
"The person who 'assembled' all of this talent in one location."
In reference to Xhaka's rise to power, he says, gesturing to all of the Ministers seated around the table.
"..."
"You are suggesting that this hero has the same ability to spot talent as Xhaka?"
With an intense expression, Landrose asks the query.
"...Obviously not."
Nero responds nonchalantly.
"That being said, there is no doubting the rumors that this could be the largest hero's party to ever enter the Land of Per Sempre."
He remarks, quickly returning to the topic of business.
"But why should that matter?"
"If their party is too large, does not that just mean they have more vulnerabilities to exploit?"
Amenadiel interjects, slightly arrogant and prodding his counterpart.
"If it were a party gathered by your average adventurer..."
"However."
"Have any of you ever wondered what became of the survivors from the last party?
The Knight of Braziers' response raises a question that stops everyone in their tracks.
Were they all guilty of what they accused Xhaka of?
Complacency fostered by the peace that plagues the Demon-realm?
"We have been haunted by our own complacency following the previous victory."
"And this, in its current form, is the greatest hero's party Per Sempre has ever witnessed."
"Comprising of not only a hero with exceptional talent for the arts and magic of our world, but also possibly fresh headaches and battle-hardened veterans from the decisive battle at Everdale."
He says, abruptly closing his distant blues again and swaying back and forth in his chair.
"..."
-silence-
"..."
"You have my support, Landrose."
The rigid silence is broken by Amenadiel's voice as the muscular figure yields to work with the Minister of Ashgate.
"Ah--"
"--If what the Knight of Brazier says is true, then we haven't the time for a continued decline in facilities."
"There is a need for change."
"And the need is immediate."
The conviction in Amenadiel's words, coupled with his arms in a cross, is enough to put Landrose into a brief stupor...
"..."
"Ah.. RIGHT!! THANK YOU MINISTER OF MARINA."
...which, with a startled, nervous shout, he breaks free of.
"And you, Samael?"
Before immediately asking the remaining meeting member who is yet to align with him.
"Ah-ah...."
"Hm."
Who responds with an uncertain nod.
"GREAT!!!"
Landrose exclaims with a wide grin on his face.
"Aha-ahaha...AHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
"This will be glorious, Xhaka."
He laughs, tilting his head upwards to conceal the look of disbelief on his face as he says the words.
With a single stroke, Landrose had gained the backing of the strongest demons in the Land of Per Sempre for his cause.
"And so?"
The Knight of Brazier interrupts Landrose's celebration with a stern tone.
"What are your plans to dethrone our generation's greatest Demon-Lord?"
Nero asks with a simple gesture, allowing Landrose to see his support for the first time as all of the Ministers turn to face him!!
"..."
"Heh."
Landrose smirks deviously after the fact...
-A Short While Later-
"..."
"That might just work."
Amenadiel says cupping his chin deep in thought.
"I agree..."
The Knight of Brazier joins in, pondering the plan.
"Hm. Hm."
Samael gives a nod of approval as well.
"Ehehe..."
"Great!!!"
Landrose shouts once more.
"Then I expect you to bring me good news!"
He says...
"Now, onto the preparations!!"
"We mobilize in two weeks!!!"
Throwing out his hand in a showy fashion, the future Demon-Lord Supreme gives the command.
"..."
"Right... Right..."
"See you then."
"Be careful not to mess this up, Landrose."
One by one, Nero and the other Ministers rise to leave through different side portals that have been set up in the room to prevent tracking.
-After Their Departure-
"..."
"Ehehe."
In the deserted room, Landrose pours a glass of red wine for himself and smirks.
"Sariel."
He suddenly calls out, and a silhouette of a person emerges from his shadow.
...A woman...
No older than twenty.
Emerging only to her waist in height...
Her stunning deep purple hair creates an enticing mesh contrast with her all-black ensemble and stunning blue eyes.
"Yes, Minister?"
In response to her summons, she bows briefly before opening her eyes to reveal black stars running perfectly along the edges of her iris.
"Start the preparations.
"In two weeks, I..."
"I will be the new Demon-Lord Supreme of Ashgate."
The Minister declares, unable to contain his fervent ambitions.
"Yes... Minister."
Sariel says stoically, melting back into his shadow.
"He-hehe... Perfect."
Once again, the Minister of Ashgate smiles widely.
-The Present-
[Throne Room, Castle Ashgate]
"..."
"Okay?"
Landrose smirks sarcastically, saying the word as a cold sweat drips down the side of his face.
"So you are aware of the meeting and the unanimous vote of confidence by the other ministers."
''But that doesn't change anything, does it? Boy."
He says, smirking anxiously as his gaze moves from window to door. Possibly looking around for an escape route...
"..."
*Sigh... "Are you truly that dense?"
Kasper's response is cold. The young lord simply reclined, sitting back on the steps behind him and reopening the book in his hand.
"Tch. You --"
"--The point of telling you all this, Minister Landrose, is not to brag about how much better our information gathering abilities are than yours."
The young lord adds, interrupting Landrose mid-sentence when...
"It was to--."
"-- To have him reconsider the alleged 'unanimous vote of confidence' he claimed to have."
Abruptly, a voice peers in from the doorway.
* Tak.Tak.Tak.
The sound of metal on concrete, as before, accompanies it. Though it is not as loud as when Landrose's forces first stormed the throne room...
An individual with white hair, glowing subtly in the warmth of the setting sun, is identified as the cause of the disruption.
"..."
"...K-Knight of Brazier..."
Landrose exclaims in surprise as the man slowly walks in beside him, giving him a brief glance before turning to face the throne... And bowing down to worship the Demon-Lord Supreme Xhaka!
"..."
*Sigh... "I told you not to mess this up, Landrose."
Nero remarks, straightening up and scowling at the Minister of Ashgate while scratching his head!
"..."
"..."
-To Be Continued-