The journey to Aeger's capital was long and grueling, but upon arrival, the contrast was staggering. The city was modern, perhaps even more so than the imperial capital. Towering buildings lined the streets, electric lamps illuminated the avenues, and steam-powered vehicles moved through the bustling roads.
Yet, beneath the polished facade, Marina saw the unmistakable signs of disparity—ornate mansions stood near crumbling tenements, and well-dressed nobles rode past laborers whose clothes were tattered with wear.
Leslie walked beside her, his sharp eyes scanning the streets as he gestured toward the magnificent structure in the distance. "That's the Grand Palace. Once an ancient stronghold, now the seat of the twin kings. It was part of an empire that spanned El-Shihara, the western territories, and even the desert nations. The twins restored it, bringing back its lost grandeur."
Marina scoffed, her lips curling in distaste. "All that wealth spent on marble and gold while their people barely survive."
Leslie smirked, adjusting his glasses. "It's the Aegerian way, it seems."
He then lowered his voice slightly. "Remember, Aeger is a vassal with its own supplementary set of laws alongside Imperial law. Some of their customs are outright barbaric, and in many cases, their laws take precedence over the Imperial ones."
Marina glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "So, what you're telling me is that I'm walking into a place where the laws are archaic and stacked against people like me?"
Leslie sighed. "Exactly. Aegerian laws are unfavorable to women and commoners. You'll need to be careful and learn them fast."
Marina waved a dismissive hand. "Noted. But for now, let's just find our office."
They made their way toward the governor's office, but Marina's expression darkened as soon as she set eyes on the neglected building. Dust caked the furniture, the musty air suggested years of abandonment, and the peeling walls bore silent testimony to years of disregard.
A lone guard stood at the entrance, his posture straight but his eyes dull with boredom. At first, his gaze flickered with interest at the sight of new arrivals, perhaps expecting a noble or someone of significance.
However, the moment his gaze landed on Marina, his expression shifted. His eyes dragged over her, noting the lack of excessive ornamentation in her attire, her practical stance, and the authoritative air she carried.
Then, realization dawned—the new governor. His curiosity soured into indifference, the faint hint of respect vanishing as if it had never been there to begin with.
He exhaled through his nose, shifting his weight slightly, his lips curling into something close to amusement.
"The governors prefer working from the palace," he muttered lazily, barely bothering to meet her gaze. "It's easier that way."
Marina's hazel eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. "Easier for whom?"
The guard hesitated for a fraction of a second before shrugging. "For everyone," he said, his tone giving away the underlying message—her predecessors had fallen in line, and so would she.
Leslie, who had been observing the exchange with sharp eyes, adjusted his glasses. "Ah, so the previous governors abandoned their duties in favor of luxury," he remarked. "How efficient."
Marina smirked slightly at Leslie's sarcasm before turning back to the guard. "Well, that won't be happening this time. We'll be working from here. This is the governor's office, after all."
The guard barely concealed his look of disbelief, but he said nothing. Instead, he stepped aside, allowing them to pass as if he had already decided that she would soon change her mind.
She turned to Leslie. "We'll use this office. It may be filthy, but it's ours."
Leslie chuckled. "I expected nothing less."
Rolling up her sleeves, Marina stepped inside, her staff following suit. Clearing debris and salvaging what furniture they could, they turned the space into something usable. Marina, having grown up working in shipyards, led by example, unbothered by dirt or dust. Her team, familiar with her no-nonsense approach, matched her determination.
"Be careful with that!" Leslie warned as Dave, a muscular administrator, yanked at an old shelf. The entire structure collapsed in a heap, leaving him clutching a single door, sawdust coating his face. The others were covered in sawdust while Dave got saved by the door.
Jean, an Imperial guard, was mumbling about Dave's carelessness when he tried to open a window and accidentally dismantled the wall, surprising himself. He even wondered if he suddenly became too strong for his own good. The rest couldn't help but laugh this time.
Marina wiped her forehead, surveying the mess. "At this rate, we'll need to rebuild the whole office."
As they worked, she uncovered a well preserved old logbook, its pages yellowed with age. The team gathered, curiosity piqued, as they tried to decipher the archaic script.
Camilla, one of the administrative staff, examined the book, her brows furrowing. "This is an old Aegerian dialect from the southern region. It's similar to my mother tongue. This… looks like an account book."
Marina raised a brow. "Of what?"
Camilla flipped through a few pages. "Mines. This is an old ledger tracking the income from mines… though I don't understand what sort of mining."
Marina turned to Leslie. "Were there ever mines in Aeger?"
Leslie shook his head. "Not that I know of. Aeger has been at war for over a century. Since the twin kings took over, it has been a city of gambling, pleasure, drugs, and vice. The nobles flock here because their titles hold more value in this lawless land, and as long as their money flows, the kings don't interfere."
Marina's brow furrowed. "Why are the twin kings so obsessed with money?"
Leslie adjusted his glasses. "It might go back to the time Prince Ruyel was gravely injured in battle, and the army's supply was deliberately withheld by the current empress. That was before they were poisoned. Prince Ruyi took on mercenary work for another vassal king to procure funds. Since then, the brothers became obsessed with wealth and control. When Ruyi became king, he turned Aeger into this kingdom of excess—rich, but rotten. It doesn't matter how the money is made, only that it keeps coming."
Marina tapped a finger on the logbook. "A mine… Could still be here. If it's untouched, it could be useful."
Intrigued by the discovery, she instructed her staff to check for other hidden resources that might benefit the kingdom.
Leslie sighed, adjusting his glasses. "We're supposed to be cleaning, not playing archaeologists."
Marina smirked, brushing off the dust. "It's history. Could be useful."
Before Leslie could argue further, the heavy doors swung open, and an Aegerian soldier stormed in, his posture rigid, his expression unreadable. "Governor Velkas, you are to present yourself before the kings. Now."
Marina wiped her hands on a cloth, unimpressed. "Our appointment is tomorrow."
The soldier's jaw tightened, his tone cold. "The kings do not wait."
Jean and other Imperial guards tensed at the obvious disrespect, their hands instinctively moving toward their weapons. Marina raised a hand, halting them before they could react. She met the soldier's gaze, unwavering. "Fine. Let's go."
Leslie immediately stepped forward. "I'm coming with you."
The soldier hesitated for a moment, but seeing no reason to object, he gave a curt nod. Several of Marina's staff exchanged glances before following her lead.
As they left, Marina cast one final glance at the half-cleaned office. "At least it's a start."
Leslie chuckled under his breath. "Let's hope this meeting isn't our end."