Baron Valric was dragged roughly by two armed marines. The clinking of the chains on his wrists echoed with each step he took, his feet scraping against the cobblestone road leading to the small harbor. His face was smeared with dirt, blood trickling from a small cut on his forehead caused by shards of glass. His breath came in ragged gasps, his mind a chaotic swirl of fear and confusion.
As they neared the harbor, Valric's steps faltered. His eyes widened in shock, disbelief etched on his face.
"Iron… ships?" he muttered under his breath, barely audible. "How… how can such things float?"
Before him stood two colossal steel-clad vessels, looming like silent yet menacing giants. Sunlight glinted off their metallic hulls, and the massive weapons mounted on their decks appeared as though they were plucked from the depths of a nightmare. Thin trails of smoke curled upward from their chimneys, a sign that the ships were alive and ready to obliterate any obstacle in their path.
Valric nearly collapsed to the ground, but one of the marines yanked his chains roughly. "Keep moving," the marine ordered coldly, his tone devoid of emotion.
Near the dock, Ragner stood with an authoritative air. His combat uniform gleamed under the sunlight, and his weapon rested on his shoulder, though it was unnecessary at this moment. His expression was stern, devoid of pity. Beside him, a small map of the Dralven region was pinned to a makeshift wooden board provided by the logistics crew.
As Baron Valric was hauled before Ragner, his body trembled under the weight of the man's cold gaze. Ragner stood tall, his uniform pristine and unblemished. Beside him, an interpreter from Cero's team was ready to translate every word. Not far from them, Isvel leaned casually against a wooden crate, her expression neutral but her eyes sharp with observation.
"Baron Valric," Ragner said in a low but commanding voice. "Welcome to your new reality."
The interpreter immediately translated his words into the local language, maintaining a firm yet emotionless tone. Valric lifted his scarred face, his expression a mix of fear and confusion.
"A new reality?" Valric repeated in his native tongue, his voice hoarse. "What do you mean? Why have you attacked this small town?"
Ragner did not respond immediately. He simply stared at Valric, his sharp eyes like those of a judge appraising a guilty defendant. After a long pause, he spoke again, and the interpreter swiftly conveyed his words.
"This new reality is this: your town is now under our control. Everything here, including you, is now part of something greater."
Valric swallowed hard, his gaze shifting to Isvel, who remained silently observing. "Who are they? And why is she here?" he asked, gesturing with his chin toward the horned woman.
Isvel shrugged nonchalantly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I'm just an observer," she said in the local language. "But I must say, I'm thoroughly enjoying watching your world turn upside down."
Valric turned his attention back to Ragner, his voice tinged with desperation. "You've come with weapons and power we can't even comprehend. For what? Our small mine? This town? It makes no sense!"
Ragner stepped closer, his towering posture making Valric seem even smaller. "It makes perfect sense to us," he said through the interpreter. "Your mine is a resource. This town is a foothold. And you are a tool to ensure everything runs smoothly."
Valric tried to steady himself, but his body continued to tremble. "You could have destroyed us," he said, his voice nearly pleading. "Why not just end it? Why toy with us like this?"
A thin smile crept onto Ragner's face, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Because we don't just need your mine, Baron. We need you. You know the roads, your people, and Delos better than we ever could."
"And if I refuse?" Valric's voice quivered despite his attempt to sound confident. His fearful eyes betrayed his intent, and he leaned back slightly as though trying to escape Ragner's icy stare.
Before Ragner could reply, Cero, who had been standing a few steps behind, moved forward. His stride was calm, almost silent, yet every motion carried a weight of authority that could not be ignored. As he approached Valric, the atmosphere grew heavier, as if the air itself had changed.
Valric suddenly felt something cold against his forehead. His hand instinctively twitched to reach for it, but he froze when he realized what it was.
A pistol.
Cero had drawn a small black pistol and pressed it against Valric's forehead, his sharp eyes locking onto the Baron's. There was no emotion in his gaze—no anger, no hatred, only a chilling emptiness that made it all the more terrifying.
"Director," Ragner said from the side, his tone firm but calm. "We need useful people. If he won't cooperate…"
Cero pressed the barrel of the gun harder against Valric's forehead, lowering himself slightly to meet his eyes. His voice was low but loud enough for everyone around to hear.
"Bang."
The interpreter immediately translated the word into the local language. The calm yet resolute delivery carried an unmistakable threat, enough to make Baron Valric lose his balance. He stumbled backward, nearly collapsing, but the two marines behind him roughly kept him upright.
Valric was rendered speechless, his face pale, and cold sweat dripped from his temples. His wide, terrified eyes darted toward Ragner, hoping for mercy that never came. The atmosphere at the harbor remained heavy with tension, the massive warships looming in the distance, silent witnesses to Valric's utter defeat.
"Director, your presence here?" Ragner asked, his tone firm with a slight note of deference.
Cero gave a slight nod, his sharp eyes briefly flicking to Valric, who could barely stand on his own. "Yes," he replied quietly, though his voice carried enough authority to be heard clearly. "I've been informed of your swift progress. Faster than anticipated. This small town is already in our hands."
He glanced at Valric, trembling like a leaf, then back at Ragner. "Of course, a few minor incidents occurred along the way. But no matter. After all, this is war."
"Thank you, Director!" Ragner responded with a crisp salute.
Cero's gaze lingered on Valric for a moment longer. His expression remained emotionless, but his tone carried a frigid edge. "Good. Continue your work, Ragner. Ensure your forces secure the town entirely. I'll lead a team to search this man's residence and extract anything of use."
Ragner gave a respectful nod. "Understood, Director."
Valric, overwhelmed by his fear, finally collapsed into unconsciousness. His body went limp in the marines' grasp, and a foul odor began to waft from his clothes. One of the marines grimaced in disgust.
"Ugh," Cero muttered, his face contorting slightly in disdain. "Clean this mess up. I won't have filth like this tainting my operation."
"Yes, sir!" Ragner barked. He quickly signaled for the marines to drag Valric's unconscious body away.
Cero turned and began to walk away, his steps steady and confident. Isvel, who had been silently observing with a faint smile, suddenly stepped forward to follow him.
"I'm coming along," she said without being asked, her tone light but her expression curious.
Cero didn't turn, but he paused momentarily before continuing his stride. "Do as you like," he said tersely. "Just don't get in the way."
Isvel followed with a casual gait, her smile still lingering, but her eyes gleamed with a hunter's sharpness, as if she had just discovered a thrilling new game.
"I must say," she began, her tone airy yet laced with irony, "the way you handled Valric just now… quite entertaining. I almost felt sorry for him."
Cero kept walking, not sparing her a glance. "Don't waste your time on pity," he said coldly. "He's just a tool. Like this town."
Isvel let out a soft laugh. "A tool, is he? You're exceptionally skilled at stripping the humanity out of everything. Even I, with my iron rule, occasionally respected my adversaries."
Cero stopped abruptly, causing Isvel to nearly bump into him. He turned slightly, his sharp gaze piercing through her. "I respect what is useful, Isvel. Not people. If you wish to remain by my side, remember that."
Isvel held his gaze for a moment before her smile widened. "Fair enough, Director. I like that philosophy. But don't grow too cold, or you might lose what makes people follow you."
Cero didn't reply but resumed walking. Isvel followed in silence, her smile unbroken, as though she had just found a new puzzle worth solving.