Peter told Gustav about the current situation of the city of Eighbury. His eyebrows furrowed, displeased at what he just heard.
"What? Enrico issued an embargo on my city? What is he thinking? Does he think he can survive a wave of monsters during the age of winter demons?"
"I don't know either, but Lord Enrico said that he had enough of unfair trade...also Your Grace, they seemed to be planning on being autonomous."
"Whaat?" Gustav clenched his fist, crushing the goblet he was holding. "That stupid fat lord...who does he think he is? Wanting to have autonomy? Is he kidding me? His city will not last without my forces. Very well, let them be...his city will fall anyways after the age of the winter demons as His Majesty granted me to take over the entire western region. If that city survives after the winter, I'll be marching thirty thousand men to suppress them."
"Understood, Your Grace. I will notify our generals to plan our invasion of the City of Eighbury."
"I can't believe Lord Enrico being this stupid. What he's doing is tantamount to declaring war on a country. But they'll be crushed easily."
"I will coordinate with Marquises Leonhard and Brachride who will lead the expedition to crush down the rebels Your Grace."
…
Seven days earlier.
When Peter and Ernest finished their meeting, Lex escorted him to his carriage. Before he could step on his carriage, Lex stopped him by placing his hand on his shoulder.
"I don't have anything to say to a traitor like you…" Peter sneered as he glanced behind. "Once Duke Gustav learned about the existence of your party, it will be brutally suppressed and that young man who is the leader will be hanged for treason."
"I don't think that will happen," Lex said calmly. "Listen, both Duke Gustav and Volksfuhrer Ernest had the same goal...They wanted to awaken the Kingdom of Crentis. The only difference is how they'll do it. Duke Gustav will do everything it takes, even if his people under his own domain were to die. While Volksfuhrer Ernest will unify all the races in the Kingdom of Crentis and toppled the weak king off his throne."
"You're confident...for someone whose army doesn't have swords…"
"It is because you don't know how they work," Lex interjected. "Those cylindrical wooden sticks you're talking about are a lot stronger than the sword. I already saw its power and you'll be shocked just like how I got shocked the first time I witnessed it."
"Then why are we having this conversation? If you are that confident in your own army then why are we…"
"It's because I have a proposition." Lex declared, he beckoned the Protection Squadron behind him with a wave of the hand. The guard handed him a sack.
"We have the same mindset about the inevitable war so perhaps we could come to some kind of…" Lex threw him the sack full of gold coins, he continued. "Arrangement."
Peter caught the sack of gold, he took a peek inside the sack and saw a dazzling golden glow inside.
Lex knew Peter for over a year, he was a pro-empire noble who would do anything just for money. This was the plan Lex and Ernest devised to buy him off an assurance.
"I want you to tell Duke Gustav that Lord Enrico is alive and embargoed the Duke's dominion. That way, Duke Gustav will not march his troops immediately and lay waste on a city with his Divine Spear of Heavenly Fire. Of course, he'll find out that you lied to him so use that money to go and hide somewhere after the winter settles."
"Hmm…" Peter has taken interest in the proposition as he counted the gold coins inside. "That'll be easy. Duke Gustav will order his troops to march after the winter if I told him that Lord Enrico is defying his orders and embargoing the dominion. Believing that he can't survive the age of winter demons. Okay, I'll tell him about this."
"Thank you very much." Lex appreciated.
"Wait a minute!" Ernest shouted.
"Volksfuhrer!" The Protection Squadron and Lex heard Ernest's voice and swiftly reacted and saluted towards him.
"This is a farewell." Ernest handed him some sort of handkerchief with the UNSP symbol. "You better tell Duke Gustav what we proposed huh?" He glared.
"Of course...I will do it." Ambassador Peter put on his gloves and received the handkerchief. He inwardly smiled mischievously.
…
Back in the present.
Peter went back to his residence after his meeting with Duke Gustav. He just lied to him about the developing situation in the city of Eighbury that could threaten his domain. However, he was out of it, after all, he doesn't like Gustav at all as a ruler of the domain. His reforms and decree suffered the people, he is just staying around him so that he can still keep his power. And speaking of power, he found an opportunity.
Killing the illegitimate lord of Eighbury would grant him a promotion, increasing his ranks would surely increase his money. If he somehow assassinates Ernest, he will be recognized as a hero.
Peter decided.
He quickly organized assassins that could do a job. Five of them are elite in their own professions, paying them with the money Lex used to buy him false information.
But killing him will not be easy as his mansion was heavily guarded, so he'll have to create a situation that will force Ernest out of his mansion.
During his time there, he saw a lot of ongoing construction in the city. Ernest might oversee its development. He hoped that was the case. Because in that case, he has a card up on his sleeve.
...
In the inner city of Elm.
In a room in the Walters residence, the current head of the family, Peter Walters, was looking down at a little girl, who was just under ten years old.
Her pale orange hair reached down her shoulders, and while her face was very cute, her eyes showed nearly no sign of life. She wore a baggy brown robe over clothes that seemed easy to move in, but it was quite cold to only be wearing one layer of the material.
No — her greatest characteristic lay elsewhere.
The girl had small fox ears and a twitching fox tail, which were physical
features characteristic to werefoxes.
Werebeasts or beastmen — they were grouped together along with elves and dwarves by the human race as demi-humans.
After the war, most demi-humans in the Kingdom of Crentis found themselves oppressed as the ones responsible for the country falling to ruins, repealing all of their rights, and the worst, becoming slaves. Of course, it doesn't mean that all demi-humans in the kingdom are affected by the policy. The farther they are in the city the less they'll get suppressed.
The girl's mother was a captured slave who fell ill several years after
giving birth and passing away. For the record, half-breed children between humans and werebeasts would only inherit the characteristics of one parent, making the girl a pure werebeast. The girl was born, raised, and kept as a pet in Ambassador Walters's residence. Thus, while she could hold a simple conversation, she had not received a proper education. There was only one skill that she was taught…
"This is your next assassination target. Remember this scent." Ambassador Peter threw a single piece of cloth at the fox-eared girl.
The cloth was a handkerchief Ernest gave him as a farewell gift.
The physical abilities of werebeasts were remarkably higher than humans — their five senses were exceptional, and a werefox's ability to detect scents was on par with a dog. They could be raised as excellent war puppets.
"Yes."
With a nod, the girl brought the handkerchief to her nose to memorize the scent, then put it away in her pocket.
"Your target is a male. The name is Volksfuhrer Ernest Gonzales. He is well-known in the city as city lord so you'll be able to find him easily. Kill him by all means necessary — even if you have to sacrifice yourself as a result. That's what you were raised for, after all. You'll set out with the assassins I organized. You'll act accordingly to the plan my assassins devised. Remember: you cannot run as long as you have that collar. Go."
"Under... stood." The fox-eared girl replied to Ambassador Peter's order in her faltering way of speech with a nod. Instead of a glint of hope in her eyes, the metal collar around her throat had snatched it and glinted dully instead. After that, the girl put on her hood and left the room and the residence.
Sniff, sniff.
As she tried to locate the scent of the assassination target, she felt a
strange nostalgic feeling.
Warm…
Somewhere deep within her long-frozen heart, something started to melt…
But that strange sensation instantly disappeared.
The girl met the assassins Peter hired in the hallway, they were all wearing black robes. They are preparing the things they'll need during their travels as the City of Eighbury is a seven days trip away from Elm city.
After preparing their things, they left the mansion, got on the carriage Peter prepared, and set on a journey to the city of Eighbury. Where their target is located.
Seeing the carriage disappearing in the distance, Ambassador Peter let out a wry smile. "Sorry, Volksfuhrer or whatever it means. You'll have to die for my promotion."