The alliance with the Ogres' Kingdom had been a decisive victory, but it came at a cost. The Human Empire, furious at the loss of their strategic stronghold, was preparing to strike back. Alex knew that the conflict between the Ogres and the Humans was about to boil over, and CODE was caught in the middle.The Warchief had offered his full support, but the Ogres were not known for their patience. Their culture revolved around battle, and they viewed diplomacy as weakness. If CODE wanted to survive on the fourth floor, they couldn't rely on brute strength alone—they needed to win the political game.As they sat in their temporary base, a small outpost near the newly captured stronghold, Alex and his core team began to plan their next moves."We've stirred the hornet's nest," Betsy said, her eyes sharp as she scanned the latest reports from their scouts. "The Humans aren't going to take this loss lying down. They'll hit back hard, and soon."Alex nodded, his mind already racing. "We expected this. The Ogres are strong, but they're not enough on their own. We need to find a way to either neutralize the Humans or make them see the bigger threat—K."Drax, ever ready for a fight, cracked his knuckles. "Let 'em come. We'll take whatever they throw at us.""It's not that simple," Rogan interjected, his voice calm but firm. "The Humans have numbers and strategy. They may not be as physically strong as the Ogres, but their nobles and generals are smart. They'll pick their battles carefully, and they won't just rely on direct assaults. They'll go for economic warfare, sabotage, and political manipulation."Betsy frowned. "They've already started. Word is that K's agents are working behind the scenes in the Human Empire, whispering in the ears of their nobles. If K can push the right buttons, he could turn the entire Empire against us.""Then we need to act fast," Alex said. "We've got the Ogres on our side, but we need to weaken the Humans' resolve before K can sink his claws into them any deeper."A New Strategy: Political IntrigueCODE's next move wasn't to launch a direct assault on the Human Empire. Instead, Alex and his team decided to focus on political intrigue. They needed to create fissures within the Empire, sowing doubt and division among the noble families. If they could destabilize the Empire from within, they might be able to avoid an all-out war.To do this, they needed to infiltrate the capital city of the Human Empire, a sprawling metropolis known as Aurelia. It was a city of wealth and power, controlled by noble families who were constantly vying for influence over the Emperor. It was also a place where K's agents were already at work, spreading rumors and manipulating key figures."We need to be subtle," Rogan said as they discussed their plan. "Aurelia is a city where power changes hands with a whisper. If we're too obvious, we'll be seen as outsiders and enemies. But if we can turn the right people to our side, we can undercut K's influence and force the Humans to negotiate with us."Alex agreed. "We'll need to target key nobles—ones who are already on the fence about the war with the Ogres. If we can convince them that K is the real threat, they'll start to pressure the Emperor for peace."Betsy smirked. "Sounds like a job for Rogan. This is your kind of game."Rogan grinned. "I've already got contacts in Aurelia. I can get us in, but we'll need to be careful. K's agents won't just be sitting around—they'll be actively working to stop us."Drax leaned back, his grin as wide as ever. "I don't do subtle, but I'll be ready if things go sideways.""Verum," Luke added quietly, his presence a calming anchor amid the chaos.Infiltrating AureliaThe journey to Aurelia was long and treacherous. The city was surrounded by mountain passes, heavily guarded by Human soldiers who were on high alert after the loss of the stronghold. But Rogan's skills as a master infiltrator ensured that CODE was able to slip past the outer defenses undetected.As they approached the city, Aurelia's grandeur became apparent. The capital was a sight to behold—tall spires and gilded palaces dominated the skyline, while the streets below bustled with merchants, nobles, and commoners. It was a city built on wealth, but also on the unsteady balance of power between the noble families.Rogan led the team through the hidden alleyways and shadows of the city, guiding them to the heart of Aurelia's political scene: the Court of Nobles. It was here that the true power of the Empire lay, where alliances were forged, and rivalries were born.Their goal was simple: find the nobles who were most likely to be swayed by their cause and convince them that K's influence was a greater threat than the Ogres.The Court of NoblesInside the Court of Nobles, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The nobles, dressed in the finest silks and adorned with jewels, moved through the great hall, exchanging whispers and calculated glances. It was a place of luxury, but also a place where one wrong word could lead to ruin.Rogan moved like a ghost, slipping through the crowd and making contact with his informants. Alex, Betsy, and the rest of the team stayed in the shadows, waiting for Rogan's signal.After a short while, Rogan returned, his eyes gleaming with information. "I've found our targets. There are three noble families we can approach—House Alaric, House Vandemar, and House Lennox. Each one has their own interests, but they're all on the fence about the war with the Ogres. If we can convince them that K is the real enemy, we can turn them to our side."Alex nodded. "Let's move."The Game of PoliticsOver the next few days, CODE worked carefully to sway the noble families. They attended banquets, whispered in the right ears, and planted seeds of doubt about K's growing influence in the Empire.House Alaric was the first to show interest. Their leader, Lord Julian Alaric, was a pragmatic man, more interested in maintaining his family's wealth and power than in fighting a war that could drain the Empire's resources. He was easily swayed by the argument that K's agents were destabilizing the Empire for their own gain."War with the Ogres is a distraction," Alex told Lord Alaric during a private meeting. "K's agents are already working within the Empire, weakening it from the inside. If you don't stop them, your house will lose everything."Lord Alaric had listened carefully, nodding in agreement. "You make a compelling case. I will speak with my allies. Perhaps this war with the Ogres can be delayed—at least until we deal with this other threat."With House Alaric's support secured, CODE moved on to House Vandemar. This house was more difficult to persuade, as they were closely aligned with the Emperor's military forces. But Betsy had used her charm and wit to engage Lady Irina Vandemar, appealing to her sense of duty."K isn't just a threat to the Ogres," Betsy had said. "He's a threat to the entire Empire. If we don't stop him now, he'll tear the Empire apart from within. Your family has the power to change the course of this war."Lady Vandemar had been hesitant, but eventually agreed to consider the possibility. "If there is evidence of K's agents working within the Empire, we will act. But I need proof."The most difficult family to approach was House Lennox. They were fiercely loyal to the Emperor and had already committed their forces to the war against the Ogres. But even they had begun to see the cracks forming within the Empire's leadership.Rogan had taken the lead in this case, using his network of informants to provide evidence of K's agents working behind the scenes. "Your loyalty to the Emperor is admirable," Rogan had told Lord Henry Lennox. "But K's agents are manipulating him. If you truly want to protect the Empire, you need to see the bigger picture."After days of careful negotiation, House Lennox finally agreed to lend their support, albeit cautiously. "We will keep an eye on K's influence," Lord Lennox had said. "But we will not act until we have more proof."Turning the TideWith the support of the three noble houses, CODE had successfully planted the seeds of doubt within the Human Empire. The nobles began to pressure the Emperor to reconsider the war with the Ogres, arguing that the real threat came from K's agents.Alex knew that this victory was only temporary. K's influence was still strong, and the war between the Humans and Ogres was far from over. But for now, they had bought themselves time—time to continue building their alliances, leveling up, and preparing for the next phase of the battle.As they left Aurelia, the city's towers fading into the distance, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. They had successfully navigated the treacherous waters of political intrigue, and while the threat of K loomed larger than ever, CODE was growing stronger with each passing day."We've done well," Betsy said as they made their way back to the Ogre stronghold. "But this isn't over."Alex nodded. "Not by a long shot. K's influence is spreading faster than we expected. We need to be ready for whatever comes next.""Verum," Luke said quietly, his calm voice a reminder that the truth of the situation was always in the background, waiting for them to confront it.The fourth floor was proving to be a dangerous place, but CODE was rising to the challenge. With every battle, every alliance, they were getting closer to uncovering K's ultimate plan—and stopping him before it was too late.