Padrino sat in his study, the dim light of the oil lamp flickering as the shadows danced across the room. The map of Xandros lay sprawled before him, with Rimuru in the center, surrounded by the territories once controlled by Galdros. Now fractured and leaderless, the kingdom of Galdros had seemingly crumbled, but Padrino knew better than to believe in the permanence of such a fragile peace.
It had been weeks since the truce was struck. The Galdros forces had withdrawn, leaving behind empty camps and scattered supplies. The prisoners, once a point of contention, were released under strict conditions, and Padrino had secured the armaments and resources of the enemy. On the surface, the war was over.
But there was an unease in the air, something unspoken that lingered in the minds of the Rimuru leadership. Padrino could feel it—the weight of decisions still to come, the uncertainty of whether this peace would last.
Hinata knocked softly on the door before entering. Her presence was always a comfort, a quiet reminder that he was not alone in this burden. She approached the table, glancing at the map with its countless markings of battle, diplomacy, and strategy.
"You still don't trust them," Hinata said, her voice gentle but knowing.
Padrino didn't lift his gaze from the map. "I don't think I ever will. Galdros may be broken, but there are too many factions, too many players we don't know about. They could regroup under new leadership or splinter into dangerous warlords. Peace is never so simple."
Hinata sighed, her hands glowing faintly with the familiar warmth of her light magic. She had been using it more frequently, not for combat, but for healing and sustaining the morale of their people. It was a side of her that Padrino admired—compassionate, yet strong enough to face the horrors of war.
"You're right to be cautious," she said. "But we can't let the fear of what might happen paralyze us. The people need to rebuild. We need to focus on stabilizing Rimuru."
Padrino leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "I know. And that's why I'm setting up stronger defensive measures. We'll fortify the borders, train new recruits, and reinforce our supply lines. We can't assume Galdros will stay fractured forever."
Hinata nodded, understanding the weight of leadership. "And what about the council? They've been restless, especially Vincent. He's worried about internal threats. There have been whispers of dissatisfaction among the refugees, particularly those who came from Earlshide."
Padrino frowned. Vincent's paranoia wasn't unfounded. As Rimuru had grown from a village into a city, its population had swelled with refugees, displaced nobles, and commoners seeking safety from the chaos in Earlshide and Galdros. Not all of them were loyal to Padrino, and the influx had brought with it new challenges—crime, resource shortages, and political tensions.
"I'll address the council tomorrow," Padrino said after a moment. "We need to keep order. Any discontent must be resolved before it grows into something worse."
The following day, Padrino gathered his council in the main hall. Marko had finally returned from his mission to scout the far northern borders, and his expression was grim as he took his seat.
"I don't like what I saw up there," Marko began without preamble. "The northern territories, where Galdros once held control, are in chaos. Bandit groups are forming, and several of the warlords who used to answer to Marcellus are carving out their own little kingdoms. They're not organized yet, but it's only a matter of time before someone unites them."
Asuna, sitting across from Marko, crossed her arms. "Do you think they pose a real threat?"
Marko nodded. "Maybe not now, but give them time. If they consolidate power, they could become just as dangerous as Galdros ever was. And with Rimuru growing in influence, we're a prime target."
Padrino leaned forward, listening intently. This was exactly what he had feared. The fall of Galdros hadn't brought peace—it had created a power vacuum, one that would inevitably draw in new threats.
"We need to keep an eye on these warlords," Padrino said, his voice steady but firm. "Send scouts and informants. I want to know who's rising in the north and how fast they're gaining power. We can't let them take us by surprise."
Vincent, always the one to voice concerns, spoke next. "And what about the internal situation? The refugees from Earlshide are growing restless. They're starting to demand more resources, more land. Some of them still view Padrino as a temporary leader, not the rightful king of Rimuru."
Padrino glanced at Vincent, understanding the gravity of the situation. The loyalty of the Earlshide refugees had always been tenuous. Many had fled the collapse of their own kingdom and now found themselves under Padrino's rule, but not all of them accepted it. There were whispers of a return to Earlshide, of finding some way to restore their former kingdom, even if it meant defying Padrino's authority.
"We need to tread carefully," Padrino said after a pause. "If we push them too hard, we risk creating more dissent. But if we let them grow too powerful, they could undermine everything we've built here."
Marko, ever the pragmatist, offered a solution. "We could integrate them into the defense forces, train them, and give them a stake in Rimuru's future. If they feel like they're part of this city's success, they're less likely to rebel."
Hinata nodded in agreement. "And we can continue to offer them positions of influence, but only to those who prove their loyalty. We need to be careful about who we trust."
Padrino considered the proposal. It was a delicate balance—offering just enough to keep the refugees loyal without giving them too much power. But it was necessary if Rimuru was to remain stable.
"Do it," Padrino finally said. "Integrate them into the defense forces and offer leadership positions to those who prove themselves. But keep an eye on them. I want to know if anyone is plotting against us."
The meeting continued as they discussed logistical matters—strengthening their economy, expanding their trade routes, and reinforcing their diplomatic ties with nearby neutral territories. But the underlying tension remained.
The war may have ended, but the challenges were far from over. Rimuru's future was uncertain, and Padrino knew that the next battle might not come from a foreign enemy, but from within.
As the council adjourned, Padrino couldn't shake the feeling that something darker was lurking on the horizon. The echoes of uncertainty filled the halls of Rimuru, and Padrino knew he had to be ready for whatever came next.