The Clockwork Empress

by Dark Gear

Momonga wasn't the only person to be brought to the New World. What happens when the unseen force has brought in another that it probably shouldn't have? What happens when it brings in... a developer. Fortunately for her, she has a few advantages to give her the edge over any player. Unfortunately for her, she's going to need those advantages, as she doesn't start like Momonga.

25. Ch 24 Rescue Operation

"Are you following me Morlan? I thought our business with your brother was done." Selene stood there, the door half open.

"May we come in? I just wanted to offer a proposal, sort of on my part, but the plan is from my father." The empress turned and glanced at Hrist over her shoulder then finally nodded. The door opened completely as both warriors walked in, not wearing armor. They had swords on their belts, though that was normal for anyone that could fight it seemed. Both sat down on the small desk and chair with Selene and Hrist sitting on the bed.

"You didn't get word that the abbey was under siege again, did you?" she asked. He scoffed with a small smile on his face.

"No, not at all. He's perfectly fine. He doesn't need to be an adventurer anymore, can devote everything he has to being a priest. He did mention something about a choice he was given before we headed there, though I am unsure what he meant by that. Regardless, I came here to talk about something, a new job if you are willing."

The dev crossed her arms and leaned back, her legs crossed and a pretzel as her back slowly touched the wall. "I still have a report to turn into the noble house I am working for, the contract isn't quite done yet."

"You have to do paperwork too? Isn't there some clerk to fill out those… parchments? I mean, you did all the physical work, shouldn't they just pay you and let you be on your way?"

"That's not how it works. I like to have receipts in the event they try jipping me." Morlanion nodded with a facial shrug. Ilana seemed to have a very good head on her shoulders, attempting keep accounting of every change of coin between her and an employer. Fortunately, he had no idea the employer was just herself.

"That is smart. Could it mayhap wait a little longer? The job would happen tonight. It should be quick with easy pay, if you're interested." Selene glanced at Hrist, who shrugged as convincingly as possible that she didn't care. In the back of the battle maiden's mind though, she was getting annoyed that her empress was doing chores and not being able to just send her army at her beck and call. Selene should be sitting on her throne, watching over everyone… with her standing at her side to protect at all times.

"It depends on the job… I guess we can hear you out at least." Morlan smiled, feeling at least somewhat relieved she would listen. While his brother and this woman weren't exactly friends, she did look out for him and help his abbey. That was more than most mercenaries would do.

"Good. I hate to admit it, I don't have much to tell you though. My father asked me to join him in a midnight meeting of the noble houses, it happens once a month. I know what you're thinking, why midnight? It makes it easier to reach the city hall and perform their duties without anyone wondering what they are discussing, new laws or rules for citizens to stick to. It also stops any… well, most… assassination attempts as if anyone tries to enter the building without being a guard or a noble, they are quickly caught with wizards magically scrying the entire time."

"So, no one has been assassinated while being in the town hall? I would think… I… I mean…"

"You would think what? That nobles try it all the time?" Morlanion laughed, nodding to that. "That would normally be right, at least anywhere but Silvinholm. There are two houses of the thirteen that handle security, though house Rikter is allowed some autonomy. House Ardenis and house Everthorn keep the protection of the city hall a high priority, though all the same my father would like Elsei and myself to accompany him plus two others. He believes I'll find some well-trained mercenaries, which, I mean, we did work together you and I… I'm sure he would agree." Hrist showed a slight fire in her eyes at being called a mercenary, but it quickly disappeared, not trying to draw notice to herself. It wasn't as if these two mortals could know who they were after all.

"You want us on guard duty? We don't exactly do that line of work." Morlanion started shaking his hands in front of him to stop her train of thought.

"No no no, you misunderstand. It isn't guard duty, we're… overseeing and acting as witnesses to their meeting, observing to make sure no one attempts to strong arm another house. Think of us as more…"

"Bouncers?" Morlanion looked perplexed at that answer from her. "They… when someone gets too rowdy in a tavern or a special event, they grab those people and throw them out."

"Ah, well… uh… not quite. We're there to act as an intimidation factor for my father, because I know the other houses will have similar. Each is allowed to bring four of their best to watch the meeting, which makes each house want the best they can find. Some go for size, others go for skill, while still others go for magic." Selene thought for a second.

If they go for magic, I can't stop them very quickly without showing I have magic as well, very powerful spells at that. This might get complicated for such a 'simple job.'

"And you chose us for…?" she asked.

"Skill. And… uh… size…" he muttered out the second part as he glanced at Hrist and thumbed his nose to feign a scratch. It was true, she was as tall as Morlan. If she showed up, she'd tower over all but the largest, and even then, she was very adept with a sword and shield.

"And we have four warriors, where's your anti magic?"

"I… have an answer to that, it's just not exactly going to work like we expect it to…" Selene sighed as he looked a little annoyed. "Well it's not as if we have many more options alright? I've at least seen how you fight, better than any mercenary here that the other houses could ever hope to come across bar an Adamantite adventurer." He seemed to scowl for a few seconds.

"Your main problem is magic users here. We have none besides scrolls. I have a decent number of them, but most of the magic is one shot use, with more versatility in mind and very little in damage." She was lying of course, with having at least one spell that could rain fire and brimstone down on an entire battlefield, named [The Heaven's Fall]. That was only one AOE spell she had available, not including the psionics at her disposal. At the moment, that was considered a low-mid tier spell for Arcanic's Wizardry. It was considered kiloton level damage spread out over a combat zone, and it didn't hit allies, only enemies. Her army could stride through the chaos and continue fighting without fear of anything striking them down from above.

While Selene wasn't worried about anything below tier 6 magic as her armor would be completely immune to it, not even needing her resistances to kick in or her energy shields and Biomimetic Barrier, she was concerned for those around her and Hrist. "So, the main priority is what, be scary? If things go bad, we get your father out of there?" she asked. He nodded.

"No one has ever started a fight inside the meeting room, they have never attempted it even once. If one tried to attack another, everyone would come to their aide."

Unless the noble houses band together for some sort of coup…

"This happens once a month? For how long?" Selene questioned.

"Uh… for… I'm sorry to say… roughly four hours…"

"FOUR?" Both Selene and Hrist said in unison. They'd get out of the city hall at 4 am, be tired and not able to shop. There wasn't much else they needed besides books and supplies they couldn't get back in the empire. Tomorrow would be the fourth day away from the castle. The empress swore the trip wouldn't last beyond a week to herself. Now it seemed she kept getting into trouble inside and couldn't escape. She sighed and closed her eyes, contemplating the choice available. Morlanion sat silent, waiting for her answer.

"Fine, it's not as if it's any more than intimidation, right?" Morlan nodded.

"Good, good! You have my thanks Ilana. It won't be for some time, we can meet up at half past eleven at my family's estate. Does that sound suitable?" Selene nodded and closed her eyes in a nonchalant manner.

"We'll be there."

"I'll have a shield waiting for Brynya to use while we're inside the city hall." Selene was about to object but closed her mouth. A new shield was already crafting, but it wouldn't be ready with all of the modifications until around 1 am. Until then, Morlan had caught them in a catch 22 with giving Hrist the gift. He smirked at them, knowing what he just did. She just grinned and nodded.

Both Elsei and Morlanion left their room, giving them time to get ready. Selene leaned her head back against the wall and bounced the back lightly as if chastising herself. "Stupid… stupid… stupid… we keep getting into trouble here more than we should just be hiding… I get us into more trouble than we should be getting into… sorry…" she said as she rolled her head to the side and gazed at Hrist.

"I go where you go, it simply means this trip will not be boring."

"Thanks." The Valkyrja seemed to give a slight grin at that sign of appreciation from her empress.

Both of them checked the time, which was roughly around 5:30 pm. They had time to get something to eat and take a little nap before they had to head to the mansion. A final call from Jorge popped up right as they entered the pocket dimension and sat down for an early dinner.

"Ma'am. It's happening."

Meanwhile

Gilford was helping pack the princess's things while Erilyn pushed her unmentionables into a bag. "They worked quick to get her out of here it seems, who did you contact?" Gil asked her as she stuffed some royal underwear in the side pocket.

"Someone from the underground smuggling ring. I was expecting two weeks, that was what they told me at least. Must have had an opening." Erilyn bent under the bed and started fishing out anything that might have been kicked under while the rest of the bodyguards moved around the house, making sure as much of their things were accounted for.

Ralos stood at the front door, looking out the side window. "Something isn't right, why would there be so many mercenaries making a scene outside. Erilyn!" he muttered to himself before yelling up the stairs. The Admiral sauntered out, almost annoyed at being summoned.

"Yes?" she asked as she leaned over the railing to look down at him.

"Come take a look." She sighed and walked around the railing, her eyes rolling as the woman came downstairs and looked through the window.

"Maybe they just want to make sure they get paid well by us once we get out of here. It's… it's probably nothing… they're just being careful."

"Were they this careful when you were smuggled away?" he asked as he raised an eyebrow. She smirked.

"Not exactly, but then I knew someone in the ring to help out. Odd, I don't see him out there… wait…" her eyes squinted as she peered out, looking for anything that would tell who was there. "There's no icon on the side of the stagecoaches…"

"And that's supposed to mean?"

"It means these aren't ours. They usually try and make them boring shipping wagons to make them unassuming and not worth going after. That one almost looks like it was made for…"

"Royalty." Ralos finished her sentence and they both looked at each other. She bolted upstairs to the office of the mansion and checked on the princess who was writing a letter. The rest of the guards got their weapons on and armored as Commander Alfinteim warned them.

"What? What's wrong Erilyn?" Nia asked as she looked up from her scroll she was writing on, the fireplace still going across the room. The sun was almost fully set outside through two windows, with lanterns surrounding the area and a chandelier hanging from the top.

"We need to get you into the cellar. Something is wrong, we have to-" she was cut off as the front doors were being broken open slowly. Guards took positions along the stairway and in front of the door, waiting for them. A cannon had been bought at one point for the magician of the group to fire straight forward. The mercs who were breaking in would have a big surprise.

Time seemed to become haphazard with spurts of slowing down and speeding up as the doors slowly gave way, little by little. Swords were ready along with spears over their shoulders, with Erilyn running to the door of the office only to be met by Ralos. "Stay in here, no matter what, you protect her." The doors finally gave way only to have a loud explosion happen from the cannon going off. Nia was startled and scribbled over her scroll accidentally, scared as to what had just occurred. The battle had already begun.

Ten mercenaries rushed in with swords, but were quickly cut to pieces, their martial training no match for the best General Antoine had to offer. These soldiers were more than a match for ten each, the problem was… there were far more than ten to fight. The windows broke open as more mercenaries poured in from all sides, surrounding the guards and getting in close. The magician was sadly cut down from behind, her back opened up quickly as she fell from the blade. "Close ranks!" Ralos yelled as shields locked together and kept the enemy busy. Gilford ran out of the bedroom with his sword ready, not yet taking part in the fight.

"Sir! Princess!" He yelled as he ran to the office to his commander's side, watching the entire ordeal below. The mercenaries were being taken out without much issue, the problem seemed to be coming up behind. An elite team showed up below, walking through the front door and looked up at Erilyn, smiling.

"Dahlia, you fucking bitch, you sold us out…" the Admiral scowled at her as the woman stood there, almost looking like a dalmatian dog with the poke dot hair and white blouse. Her entire attire was black and white, with her eyes seeming to even match with a heterochromatic look of black tattooing and a white glow from the left. Erilyn always hated that woman, as she was the leader of a smuggling group that brought slaves to the imperial city. She must have tortured the informant that Erilyn had talked to for the whereabouts of the princess.

"Oh, is that any way to treat an old friend?" The merc asked. One of the bodyguards broke too far from the team and turned around only to meet a quick slice from her sword, however it wasn't a normal strike. As it carved through his chest, his body started to disintegrate, stealing the chance of resurrecting any of them with a [Raise Dead]. Ralos gritted his teeth as his twenty soldiers were slowly getting whittled down by the mass of mercenaries. Twenty was still outgunned by well over three hundred.

"Get inside the office, now!" Ralos ordered as Erilyn looked at him, with Gilford startled by the event. They both ran inside, with Ralos locking the door. "Move that furniture, over here, bring it" he snapped as everyone started to move things around, with Nia just sitting in the middle on a chair, unsure of how to help.

"Don't worry princess, you'll be safe with us" Gil said comfortingly to her as she looked up at him with worry in her eyes.

"But… why… why would they do this… we… we were paying them handsomely weren't we?" she asked meekly.

"Your brother is probably paying them more. Gods damn them all. Maybe, maybe we can get out of the windows, move along the rooftops?" Erilyn commented. Ralos looked at one window, heading for it before two feet smashed through one and landed inside. "Ralos!" the pink haired woman yelled as the commander fought and ended it quickly, slicing the mercenary's legs of and knocking his head up only to slam against the side of the fireplace, killing him.

"The doors…" Gilford gulped out as they started to wobble. The sounds of fighting outside were dying out, as the last of his men were being killed outside the office entrance, with Ralos saying a small prayer for each of them. As the entrance started to fold and buckled, the furniture being pushed back by some impressive force, he could see through the cracks a massive man, easily seven feet tall with a huge mallet.

"Erilyn, try and get her out of the room through the windows. Gilford, you're with me" Commander Alfinteim said gravely.

"Sir?" he gulped out as he glanced back at the princess. She looked frightened, he just wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her it was going to be ok.

"We'll hold them off for them to escape. It's been an honor having you with me Gilford, truly." The doors gave way as they prepared to make their last stand while Erilyn grabbed the princess's arm and pulled her to the open window. There was a small ledge they could climb onto and get up to the roof for chimneysweeps to have access to. Unfortunately, the first mercenary breaking in wasn't the last. As the admiral looked outside, there were another ten waiting for them.

She backed away as a sword tried to attack, slamming in the window frame as she kept the princess down. What little glass still holding rained down on them, with the princess screaming. "Princess Nia!" Gil yelled surprised as Ralos tried to get ready for the big guy on the other side to come in. Before either of them could attack though, a spell was cast that slammed them both into the ceiling, pinning them.

"Well well well, I would have expected better from General Falksworthy's best. I'm actually a little disappointed" Dahlia said in almost a purr as she walked inside and stared at the two men pinned on the ceiling. Erilyn backed Nia against the wall, using her body as a shield with her cutlass ready. "Oh, you know, there is a way out of this. Just surrender, let us take you to your brother and no one else has to die."

"Like… hell…" Ralos said through gritted teeth as he tried to move his arms. Whatever spell had been used had reversed gravity on him to the extent it felt like an elephant was sitting on his chest upside down.

"Well that's a shame." A quick stab upwards from Dahlia's sword and it pierced his armor, slamming into his chest as he looked in shock.

"Commander!" Gilford yelled out as his body slowly disintegrated. There was a gasp coming from him as Ralos looked at Gil for a second before his head was gone.

"Enough! Don't do anything else to them!" Nia screamed as she tried to push her way past Erilyn. The young Admiral did everything she could to keep her behind herself, but it was getting difficult with the panic just to save Gilford. "Please! Don't kill anyone else! I'll go!" The dalmatian haired woman chuckled and smiled at her.

"Well that was easy, you all could have just gone with us from the beginning once the door was broken open. You wouldn't have lost a man… at least, not yet. I have no idea what your brother is going to do with them once your back, and frankly, I don't care. The only one we can't kill is you, little princess."

"You fucking… damned… bitch!" Gilford snapped out as he tried to move his right arm, his sword slowly but surely coming down… and tapping her on the shoulder. The smuggler smirked and looked at it, then up at him.

"Please… don't do it… I'll come with you… just leave them alone!" Nia said in a panic as she saw the malicious grin growing on the woman's face.

"Dahlia you really are twisted" Erilyn said while scowling. The smuggler chuckled and just looked at the princess.

"What's your name sir guard." Gilford tried to move his sword again, but the large man behind Dahlia grabbed it and pulled the handle from his hand.

"His name is Gilford Telareign, please… he's a good lieutenant, he was just following orders from me" Nia said in his stead.

"Princess…" he replied through gritted teeth.

"Oh? Because of orders from you? I see… so all these other guards, they were just following orders to protect you? Of course, of course… well, I have one requirement now that I know that. Princess Nia, can you give him one more order then?" Dahlia asked. Nia thought for a second, wondering if she was going to tell him to stand down and stop fighting. Then the last three would be able to get out of here alive, maybe find some way of escaping along the way.

"What… what is it…" she asked.

"Tell him to say goodbye. That's it." Nia was shocked as her eyes widened. She was going to kill him.

"Grrraaaahhhhh…" Gil struggled against the spell, the caster hiding behind the big brute in the doorway.

"If you don't, then your friend in front of you will die too, maybe let the men have some fun with her in front of your eyes as well before she dies." The princess couldn't believe what she was saying. If she didn't sacrifice Gil, then Erilyn was going to have something much worse than death happen to her, then have her life snuffed out.

"Please… don't make me do this… I'll order him to stand down, please, just leave them alone."

"Tell him to say goodbye, Princess. Tell him right now or this deal is off." Dahlia was smiling a sickly-sweet smile, looking far too fake as if she had practiced it hundreds of times to get through guards at checkpoints. Nia broke into tears as she looked up at Gilford.

"Gilford… I'm… sorry… so so sorry…" she cried out as he looked down at her.

"It's ok princess… I'm sorry… I couldn't… I couldn't protect you…" The smuggled sighed in annoyance at the waiting.

"Are you finished yet? Seriously. In five seconds, if you don't say the words, deal is off. Five, four"

"Goodbye, princess. I… I love you…" Gilford said. That caught Nia completely off guard as Dahlia struck upwards with her sword. The tip moved through the air quietly and swiftly, but unfortunately for the enchanted steel… it wasn't swift enough.

A round slammed into just above the cross guard from seemingly nowhere, not even making a hole in the wall as the sword broke in two, the blade spinning in the air. It eventually landed on the ground as the smuggler looked down in confusion and then at her own handle. "What the-" was all she could get out as another shot punched through her head, coming out the other side. A massive arm shot up from the floor and grabbed the leg of the brute with the mallet, pulling him downstairs. A scream followed by a crunch was heard below.

Two metal creatures slammed through the windows and rolled, their rifles coming up and opening fire at the collected throng of mercs at the stairwell and hallway to the office. They quickly moved out of the room and started flanking the downstairs throng of swordsmen, their weapons doing nothing to ranged special forces automatons. Double taps could be lightly heard as they swept the building, with one huge one coming up to the doors and looking in as Gilford fell to the ground practically on his face. The rifles seemed to make quiet noises of a choked off cough each time they were fired.

Nia ran to help him up as Erilyn watched the hulking form look in on them, reach inside, and close the doors. "What the fuck was that…" she said in shock as Gil coughed from dropping, the wind knocked out of him. Another slipped inside through the window and landed on two almost pointed feet, seeming to slightly hover off the ground. It looked female in some of its appearance, however having six arms made them wonder why she had just entered. The creature flew over to Gilford and kneeled.

"Any trauma, broken bones, difficulty breathing? Did she stab you?" the metal woman asked. They all looked at each other. "Answer me please, keep focused."

"Um… no, at least… I don't think so?" Gil said, confused as to why it was worried about his health. A weird beam came out of one of her 'arms' and moved from the top to the bottom of his body, then moved to Nia. Erilyn tried to get in the way, but a quick grappling cord wrapped around her arm from another window. A floating saucer like metal creature came inside angled vertically for his form to fit through and held her back as the scan was complete. "She's alright, a little shaken, but perfectly healthy."

Sounds of battle very quickly died out downstairs as the sounds of the front doors closing shut could be heard. The office doors opened up again as the massive metal hulk walked in, ten feet tall. They stepped over the hole it had created when it reached up through the floor and pulled the brute down to meet his end. He was followed by the other two.

"No wounds, though he nearly met a painful death if it wasn't for Deacon" Turnie commented.

"Alright, I'll get in touch with the empress." Jorge brought two fingers up to his head as he walked to the windows, looking out them as the other two stood at the door, their weapons ready.

"I could have left the bitch there for you Jorge, you could have punched her right in the cunt." The commander turned and looked at him, a disapproving glare that couldn't be noticed by the three humans in the room. "What?"

"I'm going to check on the doors and seal up the openings" Orlo said as he floated to the hole in the ground and sprayed some sealant foam inside, then headed out of the office. Nia sat down in her chair, wondering what these things were.

"Golems… I've… never really seen one before…" she half muttered out as Gilford sat on the couch, with Erilyn wrapping a very thin blanket around the princess and holding her tightly.

"Hey, watch who you call a golem, princess useless" Deacon snapped back as he pointed to himself in annoyance.

"Deacon. Stow it" Jorge replied for her. The metal creature with the many eyes shook its head and gestured to the air, almost making a middle finger then thought better of it. They watched as the metal men stood around, with the woman checking on Erilyn.

"It's going to be alright princess, we've been ordered to come get you out of here."

"Please don't tell me only to take me to my brother" Nia replied.

"Not exactly. Opposite direction actually. Someone has taken an interest in you, and we work for them. We'll be getting you three to safety shortly." Two of the arms gently landed on both Erilyn's and Nia's shoulder, giving them a reassuring squeeze that wasn't painful.

"Who are you?" the princess asked. The metal woman looked up at Jorge, who turned around and nodded at her.

"My name is Turnie. Do you need anything? I'm sorry, we can't let you down to the kitchen, but I can bring up some water to drink, maybe something dried? I'm not cooking, that's out of the question."

"Um… can… is it too much to ask to… um… get some… tea?" Nia squeaked out.

"I can make it for her" Erilyn stepped in, glancing between Turnie and her princess.

"I'm sorry, but I said we can't-" The healer looked up at Jorge, who shrugged and nodded. "I guess… I'll come with you then." Erilyn walked out of the room with Turnie floating majestically behind her with the brand-new legs under a long frilled and well armored skirt. Gilford sat closer to the princess and thought about putting his hand on hers to help calm her down.

"You… uh… you alright? My lady?" he asked. She looked at the two automatons at the door and in the far distance could see Orlo near the windows, sealing them up.

"I… I think… I'm ok… now at least… Gil?" she answered, then looked up at him and said his name.

"Uh… yes?"

"You said you loved me." He went beet red as he averted his gaze.

"I… uh… I… I…" he didn't know what to say.

"Alright, we may have to stay here until midnight, then escort them out of the city, there's still too much traffic out there, can't be certain to move her out right now without being spotted" Jorge spoke up as he walked across the room to talk to the two others. While Bronze Team could disappear and flow through the city, they hadn't brought any cloaking systems to use just for the three humans here. In Jorge's eyes, it wasn't needed right now. They could get them out after a few hours, away from the city and off to a safe house.

"We're… we're staying?" Nia asked as he turned around and looked at her.

"Yes ma'am, at least until midnight. Once that time has come, we're getting you out of here to an evacuation point."

"Um… who… who do you work for… if you… mind me asking…"

"You may meet them in the future, they're a little preoccupied right now to talk to you in person." The huge metal man turned back around and seemed to communicate with the other two in pure silence. Unbeknownst to the three humans in the room, they were speaking in machine language.

"Jorge, seriously, we aren't golems, the little miss pink and frilly over there-"

"She's a princess that doesn't know about us Deacon, can it. Clear yourself and focus. We're her new guards until O dark. Keep frosty." Deacon put his rifle up in the air with his fingers opened out, surrendering. He would do what his commander told him. He just hated being called anything other than automaton. Golem was a serious insult in his many eyes.

Fifteen minutes later, Erilyn brought up a slightly dirty tray with a pot of tea ready and some crackers, a very small wheel of cheese and some salted meat. "Sorry, couldn't find much else, a lot of the kitchen has been destroyed with things everywhere." The tray was put down with three metal cups ready, the china tea cups smashed up on the first floor. Orlo floated inside and sealed the open windows up with the foam, looking for any other holes he hadn't gotten to yet.

"The building is mostly secure, though that won't hold if another assault is attempted" he said. In silence, however, he informed Jorge the foam would dissolve after they left, with no indication they were there. It was never designed as armor, entirely made simply to cover openings against weather.

"We could always torch and burn the building just to make sure" Ethan chimed in on that info.

"Do we really want to cause one giant bonfire in the noble district?" Turnie asked through coms.

"Hey, it could make everyone think the princess pony is dead due to a giant fuck up from the smugglers" Deacon replied.

"Her name is Nia."

"She could be the Queen of England for all I care, right now she's just a VIP we need to escort, and she can't hear us." Turnie sighed over coms as Orlo floated near Gilford who seemed worried he was going to harm him.

"No poking and prodding Orlo" Jorge told him.

"I was just going to see if I can calm them down with a little change of subject, get their minds off things. Reducing their stress will make the entire time they sit here easier." The Light helibot decided to pull a small deck of cards from a compartment in his chassis, put them down on the coffee table and sorted them. "Any one up for a little magic trick? Get your minds off what is happening."

11:30 pm, 16th, November

Selene headed for the gates of the Rikter family only to be called to a stagecoach waiting outside by Morlanion. Hrist followed right behind her, though Blue was left inside the pocket house this time. The entire group had to be four, not four and a half.

What she saw sitting inside was Donovan and Melsia, apparently both going to this meeting. "So, six of us" she remarked as the doors closed and the coach rode forth with Elsei sitting next to Selene on one side while Morlanion sat next to his mother.

"She's technically not part of the meeting" he explained, though that seemed to confuse her even more. "She's… my mother has a gift with magic."

"I thought we were only going as a four-man team plus one, are they going to allow that?"

"Technically, I'm Donovan's wife, and spouses are allowed to oversee the entire meeting from afar" Melsia told her.

So more than just mercs and bodyguards where we're going to be… things just got even more complicated…

The short trip was boring as Hrist looked out the small window and saw there were almost no people on the streets, at least that wanted to be seen. Once midnight would hit, Bronze Team would be leaving the mansion with the princess and stay concealed until they could escape the city. When they would get outside the walls, the HRVs would be waiting for them. The empress breathed deeply as she realized they were now providing asylum for a political figure of the enemy.

Once they stopped, she noticed there was a massive building just outside with marble pillars holding up the front. It looked as if it was ripped from the Classical Era, Roman design and all. Torches and lanterns were lit just outside, with mercenary guards watching the front.

"We need to get out first before my father and mother" Morlan explained as he stepped out and took a protective stance. Elsei and Hrist followed suit with Selene coming up behind them. The Rikter parents came out slowly and looked around.

"Sir, they're waiting for you inside" one merc said to Donovan. As they headed inside and down the many halls, Selene walked next to Morlanion the entire way, deferring to him on leadership for this group.

As they reached a set of double doors that was swung open, they could hear the yelling as nobles practically snapped at each other from across the massive table for laws and rules to be set for something. Morlan stopped the dev and pointed to another set of doors that branched to the side, heading up a flight of stairs.

"We don't stand behind them?" she asked.

"All guards stay out of the main area, it stops too much intimidation when others speak about the politics of the city. They need to focus on the here and now, not whether a crossbow could be leveled at them instantly due to raising their voice. We mainly stand upstairs to scare the other guards. If something happens down below, we're close enough to reach them quickly." Once they reached the second floor, there was a large curving balcony that allowed them to watch from above, with marble stairs turned into seats around the back. Cushions were placed along each row with some of the guards for the nobles already sitting. Many of them were watching her group, mainly keeping an eye on Morlanion… and Hrist.

While Ezra's brother was muscular, he wasn't especially tall, reaching the same height as the Valkyrja. While he was wider than the battle maiden, Selene was very sure he wasn't nearly as strong as her. The group stood near the balcony railing and watched from up high, the second floor being a little closer to a third-floor height. The actual third floor was a massive library that was locked away on the outer rim of the city hall. The whole building was built somewhat like a coliseum, with the center being for the congressional meetings and the outer rings holding the audience and specialized rooms. The only real difference was this place had a large roof to protect against weather.

"I'm telling you! We cannot afford to have the diamond trade flow anywhere else! It could be disastrous!" one noble yelled out as he slammed his fist against the table.

"It has never harmed us before to allow a little competition Miles, so stop being angry that another town, not a city, is working the trade. Transportation through them might be cheaper instead of just having a caravan with guards travel all that way" his competition reasoned.

"Seems they're already in the thick of it" Selene commented quietly, hoping to keep her voice down.

"They fight over petty things that have almost no basis for the future of Silvinholm. You can ignore most things that come out of their mouth" Morlanion replied close to her ear as they watched. Hrist inspected the other guards behind them, some being bored and playing cards, others sharpening their weapons. A few magic casters were seen in the top of the seats, watching everything in silence. Melsia stood next to Selene and watched her husband sit down at the head of the table.

"Ah, Donovan, so good of you to join us" one noble, the head of house Reysor, said with a sneer.

"I was under the impression we started at midnight, right now it is currently… 11:50 pm" Don replied calmly.

"We've always started early, you know that. Some of us have more important things to deal with than having you hold back on the crucial issues, to abstain from votes."

"I abstain to keep the houses from falling into a screaming match and listen to both sides, which you are so good to start. I'd suggest you relieve yourself of that anger before we come here, Alain." The man stood up and was about to snap at him, but a quick movement upstairs stopped that. Morlanion coughed out loud, warning him to keep things civil. Alain sat back down in his chair, grumbling something as his fat rump landed on the cushioned seat. The man was rather obese, his clothing somewhat held in spare shirts of the same color to hide the rolls of fat.

"That man is trouble, Falksworthy always warned me of that" Morlan mumbled softly.

"Antoine Falksworthy?" Selene asked surprised. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Why, yes, do you know the General?"

"I… have met him once or twice. He's a good man." Morlanion nodded in agreement.

"He taught me everything I needed to know about tactics and strategy. He always did hate the nobility, though not my parents. He considered them… what was it… 'a dam to hold back the flood." The empress attempted to keep as much information held back as possible, hoping to not tip her hand that he was now a citizen, and a professor, of her empire.

"Have you spoken to him in a while?" she asked.

"I last saw him early this year. Wonder what he's doing now. I could always ask him for advice on anything that plagued me."

"It sounds as if you trust him quite a bit" she responded as they both watched the meeting.

"One of the few that I trust his judgement on most matters. I've seen some good men in my travels, in our battles to protect Artinia. I've also seen some terrible ones, which seem to have proliferated somewhat in the past few years." The dev glanced over at him without moving her head, a question playing in her mind to ask him, but worrying about the answer he would provide; she was hoping it wouldn't lead to a response that could cause her to not be so friendly with him anymore.

"If he told you to do something, would you do it?" she asked.

"Knowing how often what he tells me, and never hid anything around me, I would say yes."

"Even if that might have been to say, I dunno, rebel against Artinia or something?" He looked at her with a furrowed brow. She just shrugged, wondering how he would take it. He exhaled loudly and turned back to the meeting.

"I guess… hypothetically speaking… if things had gotten bad enough for him to say to go against the Artinian government… I… I might… though there needs to be a really good reason for me to ever do that. I mean… as an example… the royal family going entirely insane or becoming, I don't know… serial killers. I might."

"Good answer."

"You were afraid I would just leave just because he told me to?" he asked her with a slight smirk.

"I was just wondering where your loyalties lie. You stand for the people, don't you?" He chuckled, trying to keep any sound from coming out. A smile broke out on his mouth.

"Yes, I guess you could say that. I am paid to be a figure for the Artinian standing army, though I always try to do what is right."

"Sometimes that isn't the easiest thing is it?" He frowned quickly and seemed to be playing back actions already taken in the past.

"Not when someone else puts out orders I need to follow that… should be considered… crimes…" she looked up at him and tried to grasp what he was thinking.

"You've followed orders that were crimes against humanity?" she whispered. He remained silent for a second, mulling over the words he would respond with.

"I've done my best to walk a fine line between doing what is right and doing my duty. Sometimes… my duty requires things that go against my conscience… I… do my best to find ways to… work around some of those issues so all benefit."

"Not always easy, is it?" He nodded in silence.

"It isn't; however, I do my best to not follow those orders as much as possible as well. I have quite a bit of leeway, given the symbol I seem to be to the men on the battlefield."

"Of course." They continued watching the nobles as the clock reached midnight.

Meanwhile

"We've got movement, just outside the gates" Orlo reported as he stopped his small magic tricks, Nia and Gilford calming down considerably as Erilyn tried to figure out how he performed one of the card flips.

"Touching on two hundred Artinian soldiers inside the city… how the hell are they inside? I thought mercenaries were the security force in here" Ethan asked Jorge as he checked ornithopter relay information.

"Do you really think the mercs would stop a standing army walking in with orders to come here? They aren't going to get in their way. They'll probably ignore the public disturbance once they storm the place too" the Medium replied as he looked out the window just downstairs and at the front door. They had moved the furniture against all doors, with the foam Orlo had sprayed keeping windows mostly protected from intruders without kicking hard. "Seems we have to lead them inside before we can head out."

"Warm welcome mat sir?" Ethan asked.

"It seems that way. Set up shop. Kill the lights."

"Fuck yes" Deacon replied as both Lights headed out of the room with Orlo putting his cards away. The humans in the room wondered why they suddenly started moving around with a purpose as the flying saucer headed to the windows and started installing what looked to be traps. The remainder of Bronze Team was following suit throughout the mansion, with mines, trip wires and alarm systems to warn of a breach.

"You three, stay here. Hostiles inbound" Jorge warned as he walked to the doors and closed them up, Orlo following him while Turnie stayed inside with them.

"Everything is going to be fine, we just have to thin their ranks then get you out of here" she told them softly.

"How… how many?" Gilford asked as he shared a glance with Nia.

"Not enough to stop us, I assure you."

(Recommended Song: Sam Tinnesz – Ready Set Let's Go)

"We got movement in first sector" Deacon reported as the back door was being broken through, with a mine going off almost immediately. A cannon was fired at the front door, blowing it open. What they weren't expecting was Jorge waiting there with his autocannon, shield at the ready. A hail of fire erupted outwards, tearing apart the cannon crew.

Five soldiers tried to break through the windows, with two succeeding, the remainder trying to somehow repel in with ropes wrapped around their waists. Ethan was on them in a heartbeat, his rifle picking them off easily.

"Sector two windows broken" Orlo reported.

"Bathroom cleared" Deacon responded as three rounds were fired, piercing the walls and taking out the soldiers who broke through that window. A mallet was used as what looked to be a paladin charged through the back door. Jorge back handed him across the room, snapping his neck as Ethan boost slid across the upstairs hallways overlooking the foyer. He was heading to the bedrooms used for the twenty men and women that had protected the princess, now disintegrated. A quick spray at the men who had been wounded by the traps laid inside, one of which was a blast panel with laser grid they had set up, and the room was empty of any living hostiles.

"Echoes in basement somehow" Orlo told them as he hovered near the door, opened it, dropped a few spider mines inside that he kept in Selene's special forces inventory set aside for them, then closed the door. Now that there were openings, the soldiers were just trying to rush in, only to be running into a meat grinder of bullets, lasers and micro missiles.

Deacon had somehow lapsed in judgement while moving towards the kitchen, with one soldier trying to ambush him. A quick dodge and combat knife to the Artinian's neck and the enemy was contained in that room.

Nia and Erilyn were wondering just what the noises that were coming from outside were, as the weapons being used made an odd pfft sound rapidly at odd times, the sounds of screaming when soldiers were killed coming right after as the different types of equipment ended their lives. There was a sound of kicking as the foam over the windows started to break open, with Turnie pushing everyone into the opposite corner while she sat right between the expected entrances for the soldiers.

They watched as two soldiers finally broke through, with her shoulder mounts aimed in both directions. The swordsmen got backs full of buckshot as four more came through, with another two shells fired before the last two could attempt to even engage in close combat with the healer. Unfortunately for them, Turnie wasn't about to be hit. One struck down, with her catching the blade between two hands, snapping it, kicking outwards and backflipping behind the second soldier. A quick foot sweep followed by a palm strike to the first's neck as he was open and they were both down, the second knocking his head on the floor and blacking out.

Not one to leave any alive, she quickly fired point blank two shots, one in the forehead and another in the chest for both with her sidearm. Erilyn was surprised she was so damn nimble; her moves were flowing like water with more soldiers coming in. For a metal soldier, she was a one-woman wrecking crew.

"How's it going up there Turnie?" Ethan asked as he fired triple shot bursts into oncoming Artinian forces from the main bedroom.

"Not bad, they're uncoordinated once they enter, you?" she asked.

"Almost like shooting fish in a barrel, I almost feel sorry for them… almost" he replied as the automaton chucked a grenade inside and turned the corner, waiting for it to go off. They were moving through the building in impressive speed, clearing rooms that the soldiers entered then moving on. Five against two hundred… and they were winning.

Jorge was finally seen smashing someone through the wall itself from downstairs, his strike breaking every bone in the man's body as he flew across the room, dead on impact. Nia screamed as Erilyn covered her head from the debris. These metal soldiers… they were incredibly effective at defending the mansion. As the body slid on the floor a few meters, Turnie stopped it with one of her feet. "You know you just opened up the wall for echoes to come in, right?"

"Sweep and clear, make sure none of them are waiting to ambush as we get the VIPs out of here" Jorge ordered.

"Detecting only twelve left… all running away. It's doubtful they saw us inside, their pings showed they never entered" Orlo reported as Artinian soldiers ran as fast as they could, not wanting to even enter the building. Every one of their comrades in arms was butchered by something inside that mansion. They weren't about to lose their lives to some creatures the princess had as back up that probably killed the mercenaries before. "Checking… no movement."

"Let's get them out of here. We'll grab a stagecoach still outside" Turnie said as she helped the three humans up and out of the estate, outside and into a waiting carriage. The horses were spooked, but Jorge held them back with his giant paws for hands, doing his best to sooth them. An ultrasonic emission system could be heard by the equines, calming them down.

"Easy" he said as they slowly settled, with Gilford taking the reins. "You drive, we'll hide inside." He nodded, not sure what to say as the huge metal warrior climbed in, making the inside a very tight fit. Everyone was practically crammed in like sardines due to his size. Nia and Erilyn both sat on Ethan's and Deacon's lap with Turnie on top of Jorge due to the size of the small cabin. Jorge had to hunch forward quite a bit to keep his head from punching through the ceiling.

"Hang on" Gil told them as he got the horses to pull forward, charging down the streets and heading for the front gates of the city walls.

"Anyone hurt?" Turnie asked as she looked between the two ladies. They both shook their heads, with Nia doing everything to hold onto Erilyn like a child to a mother. The carriage bolted across the city and through districts, finally reaching the gates.

"The blocks are in place, right?" Jorge asked Orlo.

"Should still be there, the portcullis should not be able to drop with those." The mercenary security saw the stagecoach charge towards them, with one whistling for the guards up top to close the entrance. Unfortunately for them, there were stone outcroppings pulled out at the halfway point by the helibot previously while cloaked, which was the main reason they were so late to rescue the princess. The horses pulled the carriage right through, with the remainder of the Artinian soldiers just outside on horseback to chase.

"We got a tail, won't give us enough time to dismount just yet" Orlo told them. He was latched to the roof with his cloak on, tracking the area and acting as a mini AWACS as Gilford pushed the horses as fast as they could go.

"Calling in some air support" Jorge informed the team as the coms was opened to the waiting gunship just above them and out a distance, rotating over the area. "Gunship inbound, danger close."

The specialized heavy transport turned into pure death circled the horsemen chasing them and unleashed hell, sending them into disarray as they wondered just what had carved their soldiers and horses to pieces in one strike. "Dragon! Dragon!" one soldier yelled out as they never got a good view of what had just attacked, the gunship flying so high and making odd noises due to the weapons it was using, one if which was the equivalent of a GAU-12 25mm Equalizer. They backed off and tried to regroup, with the gunship keeping watch while the carriage headed over a hill.

Two HRVs rolled up and stopped, with Gilford slowing the horses and letting everyone get out. The humans stared in awe at what these things were, with no horses pulling them, the sounds of their engines making them wonder if they were powered by magic. As soon as most of the group was inside the HRVs, ushered in by Turnie and Ethan, Jorge busted out of the stagecoach due the fact he seemed a little wedged in. That sent the horses into a panic as they ran off with the remainder of the carriage. The Commander of Bronze Team walked over and got inside, closing his door. "We're clear, let's head home."

The mission was a success, though how useful the princess was going to be, if any, was up to their empress.

Three Hours Later

Selene was practically falling asleep, despite the extra time she was out like a light in the carriage coming back, as the meeting continued, though it seemed to escalate into a few yelling matches often enough. Her circadian rhythm was being thrown off tonight. The nobles couldn't really agree on much, requiring deals to be made just to get laws passed that would benefit the people. In the back of her mind, that was pretty underhanded for quite a few of them, and quite unfair to the others who accepted the deals on behalf of the people, usually paying some sort of fee to get it through. One of those deals was paid for by the Rikter family, who seemed to do whatever he could to make sure the people got some respect.

"I'm telling you, there is no reason to have mercenaries control the security of this city anymore! Artinia is strong enough to provide a standing army, it is strong enough to move in and protect the people!" Alain Reysor yelled out at Donovan. It was slowly waking her up as her eyes glanced at the guards behind her. Most were half asleep, but there were a few she did notice that were very alert. There were four casters, all together, all of them watching intently.

It was possible they were just doing their job as professionally as possible, being students of the wizard's academy in Aureos, but the way they looked at everything…

"Psst" she whispered and nudged Morlanion. He wasn't falling asleep, but he did look tired, his arms pressed to the sides of the marble block he was leaning against as he sat down on one of the seats with Elsei drinking some water. He looked at her and blinked, wondering what she was interested in. Her head gestured in the direction of the wizards still very much alert, even compared to the other casters in other guard groups.

"I wonder if they are waiting for the meeting to end" he softly questioned as the wizards didn't move much at all.

"Could they be waiting for a signal?" she asked.

"Possible. It could be they might have only been contracted for a set amount of time. I've seen once before a group leave middle of the meeting. It was very embarrassing to the minor noble house when that happened."

"Why would they leave?"

"Not paid enough or haven't been paid at all. Some of them are foolish enough to have the contract laid out with payment coming at the end of the meeting, not before." As much as Selene couldn't believe people could be so stupid, she realized that yes, humans were dumb in a lot of ways, herself included.

I guess doing contracts for game companies got me used to half and half payment. Half when I start, half when I leave.

"Having a private security force handled by every noble house keeps pay for the mercenaries competitive and stops the government from meddling in every affair we have, we've been over this Alain" Donovan replied to Reysor.

"The amount of funds we could save instead of keeping them paid could go into our companies! The city itself! You are holding us back Donovan! Artinia is willing to step in and defend us, while you want low trained soldier wannabes!" Alain snapped back, his fist slamming into the table and making a little of his fat jiggle.

"Those low trained soldier wannabes have proven time and again that they are better prepared for most issues happening around us than the footmen that march about outside our walls!" Liam Ardenis, head of house Ardenis, growled out in an old gravelly voice, backing Donovan up. House Ardenis dealt with the most mercenaries for the main security of the city walls and gates, with house Everthorn dealing with the policing force.

"Haven't we had enough of keeping disconnected from Artinia? We are part of the kingdom, they are a part of us. Do we not have their symbol, their tabards on our walls?" the head of house Bachus, Jerceval, commented in defense of Alain.

"Something is… off…" Melsia softly said as the four of them got up and watched intently over the railing, with Hrist tracking the four wizards. The argument continued, getting larger with more houses joining each side. Unfortunately for Donovan, he was a little outnumbered, though his side did constitute the main mercenary companies that protected the city with Everthorn, Ardenis and Treeyul standing with him. House Reysor, however, had most of the trade and manufacturing, with the religion controlling houses seeming to hold back, not sure who to vote in agreement with. Edemus, Bachus, Reysor, Daldas, Valgon, Windal all seemed to be in agreement. The problem was, they were doing it for greed.

"This doesn't look good, they might lose the vote six against four, maybe more if Folsen and Yumerin join. Don… sway them…" Melsia whispered out.

"Bringing in the Artinian army to protect the city takes us out of control of the protection of the people. It also, last time I checked, puts many mercenaries out of a job. Unemployment would go up drastically if we took the steps you are inferring. The economy would tank with so few of them buying anything, the movement of coin would slow, and our companies would fail due to that" Donovan explained.

"You don't think soldiers buy things Donovan? You are a fool for thinking that, they are just like the rest of us" Alain retorted.

"Last time I checked, the Artinian standing army, at least the ones not required to join by our king, have contracts on them to buy from certain companies, most of which are based in Aureos. Not all of us have connections there, Alain, or the king's ear. Those men are more likely to buy with the discounts they are provided instead of paying for anything of decent quality made in Silvinholm."

"Are you saying my equipment, made by Aurean hands, is inferior, Donovan? The very same hands that have been chartered by our beloved king?" Alain replied.

"The equipment in question is made by slaves, Alain, not by hard working citizens. There is no incentive for them to create anything other than shoddy junk" Miles from the minor noble house replied. That started a new argument amongst everyone in the room. Donovan called for order and slammed his gavel on the table.

"They really go all over the place, don't they?" Selene asked.

"I believe they are still arguing over having Artinian guards here, but I can't be sure, at least just yet" Elsei replied.

"I want a vote on this!" Alain shouted.

"We already voted on this last year, it isn't happening Alain. It would put too many out of work, causing too much of a shift. Have you not seen what happens when a shift of power of that magnitude comes into effect?" Donovan told him.

"I had a feeling you would say that." The wizards upstairs were all bunched together, waiting for this moment. They cast a teleport portal between three of them while the fourth kept a magic barrier around the group. The portal appeared not in the middle of them, but downstairs near the meeting table. Out came Artinian soldiers who lined up along the outside of the room.

"Shit…" Selene cursed out as all the guards readied their weapons to protect their nobles.

"House Rikter, you are intentionally blocking the future of the city of Silvinholm. These fine men here, sent from Aureos, our holy imperial city of Artinia, have brought forth a much-needed security that allows us to dispense our funding in other avenues. Even now, they have done what no one else could do; I have word that they have found the lost princess of Artinia, the precious sister of our majesty, King Teiyan Erelius." There were whispers as everyone wondered if that was true.

They found her, but then they lost her. I have an entire team bringing her back to my castle, asshole.

"Is this true?" the head of house Bachus asked.

"It is. They have done what house Rikter was supposedly doing for the past year, in one day no less! Seems a bit suspicious they could find her when we could not." Alain seemed to snicker. Selene looked at Melsia who was watching her husband. The bodyguards near them had no idea what to do, whether to fight the wizards who weren't attacking anyone, or to sheath their weapons. This was the Artinian army being summoned in, not some assassins paid for to attack one noble house.

"Luck has its way with many an action, Alain, and they had a good deal of it just for this event. This is one time" Donovan said through a calm demeanor. Inside, however, he was trying to keep his cool.

"We need to get down there…" Melsia muttered through gritted teeth.

"Hold, mother. Wait a moment." Morlanion shared a look, his trying to calm her down while hers was of anger. Selene glanced between both of them, not saying a word.

"Luck, as it is, has swayed in our favor, Donovan. I have papers that have very damning evidence on it. It appears the estate she was being held captive in was sold by none other than your house. Care to give an answer to that?" Melsia was about to burst out in rage, but Selene put a hand on her shoulder. She knew she had no part to play in this but having her erupt and scream at them without her husband trying to defend himself would be foolish. The woman looked at the empress as she shook her head, putting a finger up to her mouth to keep quiet and wait.

"That estate was sold to an unspecified recipient through another company I have no control over. We never even met the group who bought it."

"Except the signature has the time written on it from both parties. Ralos Alfinteim and Donovan Rikter, two minutes apart." Alain was grinning a devious grin as he stared at the head of city hall, who was still remaining calm and composed.

"That is not the princess's signature, I have no idea who that man was or even was in the same room. Both parties were given the scroll to sign in different parts of the building" Donovan replied.

"A likely story."

"Ralos… he kidnapped the princess?" Morlanion whispered out, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion and shock. They continued to listen in as the wizards nearby continued to keep the portal open.

"The king believes that you, and for that matter, our fair city, is in league with General Antoine Falksworthy, who is still at large at this moment."

"Those are false accusations, you would do well to-"

"Oh, I am not the one accusing you, it is our fair and noble ruler that says this. We all must abide by his just word. Perhaps you should take it up with him to clear your name. In the meantime, he has allowed restricted control of the city amongst the houses who are willing to end the use of mercenaries in the security of the city. He wants to make sure this never happens again. The kidnapping of royalty, the princess no less…"

Morlanion gripped the top of the railing, doing his best to be even more level headed than his mother. "The General… I can't… my father would never do that…"

"Wait, does this mean we aren't getting paid?" one bodyguard behind them asked.

"It means you simians are out of a job" one of the wizards in the group cackled out.

"Arrest him!" Alain shouted as Artinian soldiers rushed to grab Donovan's hands. Before Selene could even take action, Morlanion and Elsei jumped from the railing and landed, rushing to his side.

"It's… Morlanion… The White Sword…" one of the soldiers muttered out in awe as they backed off for a second.

"My father would never do such a thing to the princess. He has served well the kingdom, just as I have." Alain sat in his seat, bringing his hand up to his forehead in feigned worry.

"Oh no, it is worse than I feared. The son of house Rikter is in league, probably the one that facilitated all of this. Tell me, how often have you been seen talking to General Falksworthy?" Morlan gritted his teeth.

"The General is no traitor! He would sooner die than harm the princess or any of the royal house!" he roared. "You all know of me! I have led the charge in many a battle for our kingdom! Why would we ever attempt something like this?!" he snapped out, looking amongst the soldiers. They then looked at each other, some even remembering fighting by his side. He was a hero in their eyes, taking on five, ten, even fifteen enemies of the kingdom by himself. His word carried weight.

"Maybe a play for something greater, to train the princess to take the crown of our king? I wouldn't really know, but it could all be answered back at the palace once you are all escorted there." Alain gestured with his head for the soldiers to move forward. They hesitated, knowing his strength and martial prowess. They hadn't seen Melsia run down from the second floor and head to be with her husband.

More soldiers came out of the portal, some even paladins of the holy order from the Artinian church. That seemed to focus the army, allowing them the courage to start moving in again. "We're sorry sir, but we have our orders. Come quietly."

Morlanion pulled his sword and shield, with Elsei pulling her halberd. Selene and Hrist just stood upstairs, watching. "Don't do this sir, drop the weapons" a soldier asked, almost begging, as he didn't want to fight a hero. Morlan saw the fear in quite a few of their eyes. They were just doing their jobs, ordered to come here by their king. While the nobles were calling the shots inside Silvinholm, outside Teiyan was commanding everything. Some of the soldiers were young, probably peasants who were drafted for mandatory military service and given a sword and shield.

Morlanion lowered his weapon and looked at them. "You all should be ashamed of yourselves, for helping in this plot against my family and me" he told them sternly. Elsei saw him do this and lowered her weapon as well, confused he wasn't going to protect his parents. The Artinian soldiers walked up and put manacles on each of them with a quiet "sorry" told to them.

The level 35 warrior looked up at the second-floor railing to see Selene and Hrist watching them, not supposed to be a part of anything at all. For all he knew, they were just here for the payment of guarding a noble for a congressional meeting. The two women must have looked like ordinary mercenaries, wondering if they were getting anything out of this. How wrong he was.

"We're going to let them do this?" Hrist asked as quietly as she could and leaned in.

"I've got a plan, I just can't put it into effect just now." The Rikter family was slowly walked out of the hall and outside to waiting stagecoaches. They would more than likely be brought out of the city and down the road to Garrington or the two villages just before it, at least temporarily. Then it was a long trip to Aureos, through another two towns and right into the imperial city.

Both women walked down the stairs to the first floor, with Artinian soldiers asking them where they were going. "Those people taken out of here have our pay. No pay, no work. There's no need to be here anymore then."

"It's pointless to sit around with no coin involved" Hrist commented, with Selene a little surprised she spoke up, not staying quiet this time. The guards seemed to accept that answer and let them leave without further issue.

One Hour Later

The stagecoaches rolled forward, pulled by six horses each as the prison wagons continued along the road to Garrington with a full escort of cavalry behind and to the front. Morlan sat staring at the floor of the wagon, the silence between himself and Elsei being palpable. There was nothing to be said, they knew each other too well.

The Artinian riders were almost falling asleep, their eyes drowsy from the long trip ahead of them and being awake the entire night. What they didn't know was that there was an ambush just ahead, prepared just for them.

"Targets in crosshairs, waiting for go signal."

"Targets locked, weapons trained."

"Go" Selene commanded. Charlie Team slipped just over the hill nearby and fired a specialized AOE weapon, a Mazer System to disorient and knock out everyone in the convoy, including the prisoners held inside. Soldiers fell off their horses, with the mounts themselves collapsing on the ground as well. They silently slipped forward and ripped off the doors of the carriages, grabbing the four packages that were meant to go to the king for judgment. They then slipped back to the hill, a waiting helibot prepared to transport all of them back to the castle.

Selene seemed to have outstayed her welcome in Silvinholm, another day maybe at maximum left to grab the last remaining intel and books she could obtain before leaving that night. Instead, it was stealing away political prisoners. At least once she got home though, there would be no more skulking around and having to hide her presence under the guise of another identity. She would have seven guests she'd need to question, three of which the dev was pretty sure would want to become citizens of the empire, though one of those might want to take control over the Artinian Kingdom.

Empires don't always have to manage an entire area of land, they can have kingdoms under their rule, as long as they knew who was boss… might be a good idea to ask the princess if she was willing to be a figurehead placed in front of Artinians, with me pulling the strings. I'll make sure she's treated well, though there won't really be any power.

Eight Hours Later

Morlanion woke up groggy with his head pounding as if he had gone through a night of drinking with Elsei. His eyes roamed the room he was in, well furnished, extravagant and well lit by… some sort of crystals on the ceiling and walls. As he reached up to his forehead, he noticed the manacles had been removed.

"Where…" he tried to speak as he looked around again. No one was inside the room with him, which worried him. He slid out of the bedsheets and got up, checking to see what clothes he had on. Morlan's attire seemed to be what he had on under his armor, the tunic and leggings he normally wore and were cleaned often. Both his armor and gambeson were confiscated before they were shipped off towards Aureos.

The man quickly headed to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked from the outside. A few bangs on it gave no response from the hallway beyond. "Hey! Open up! I need to speak to the jailer!" he shouted. Silence. He swore and looked down at the floor for a second, thinking of someway to get out of that room. A cursory scan of the location gave him a potential means of escape, with a small clock on the nightstand with a moving pendulum.

Just as he opened the front door of the time keeping piece, his hand reaching in to attempt to wrestle the pendulum out and use it to either pick the lock or help wedge the striker out of its position, Hrist carefully opened the door with a quick twist of a much more complex key than anyone in the middle ages could have thought possible. As she entered and looked around, her eyes dropped onto Morlan awake and trying to break the clock.

"I would suggest not causing damage to the guestroom. My empress would be most… unhappy, with you doing so." He turned around and looked at her.

"Brynya, what's going on? Where are we?" he asked.

"Follow me." She walked out the door and waited in the hallway for him to get his thoughts together and continue after her. Once both were outside, he could see through the windows as they headed down the hallway and to the right, through a few well-lit passages. There was not one torch or lantern anywhere, the crystals keeping everything bright and easy to see. Despite it being close to winter, it was quite warm inside, with soft carpet running the length of every room or hall they went through. The entire time they walked, he could see odd… creatures… metal men walking around, guarding locations. None seemed to pay any heed to him, though he wasn't exactly a threat… yet. Finally, they reached a set of huge double doors that were pushed open by two golden plated metal guards, looking to probably be honor guard.

The two of them walked quietly into the throne room of the palace, with Morlanion noticing how massive the place was. He had seen King Teiyan's throne room once, it was nowhere near the size or as… pure… as this one was. The marble and gilded filigree of gold and silver, gems and paintings, rich carpeting and chandeliers, told him whoever was the ruler here had far more wealth than Artinia, with extravagance seen throughout.

Roughly at the two thirds point, Hrist stopped him and told him to stay there as his eyes fell on the throne, made of clock gears and metal turning and twisting under padding. Sitting on it was Selene, dressed in her golden armor regalia. "Ilana?" he asked. She chuckled a little.

"Yeah, sort of. I guess now I can throw the fake identity away, it's good to be back home after that little trip. My name is Empress Selene of the Clockwork Empire." He squinted in confusion, trying to piece together multiple thoughts and worried he had been captured somehow. He remembered sitting in the jail wagon, ready to be carted off down the road before blacking out.

"You… you kidnapped me? Where are the others?"

"I rescued you, though if that is how you want to think, I can't really stop you. Your end was coming, I wasn't about to really let it happen to your parents."

"Seems… odd… that another kingdom-"

"Empire, don't get it wrong."

"Empire… would come to my aide. What do you hope to gain by doing this?" Selene leaned a little forward and rested her chin on a crooked fist, her pointer finger wrapping up over her cheek.

"Antoine was actually the main reason I even tried going to Silvinholm actually, he begged for me to be… diplomatic… in dealing with the people and nobles inside."

"You're going to invade."

"I've already invaded, Artinia just doesn't seem to know it yet. It seems a little odd that your kingdom would forget it declared war on Gold Pine village, now a town, who then begged me to rule it. Now, here's the interesting thing about declaring war… it involves the other side now becoming hostile. Since Gold Pine is now mine, I am going to protect what is mine, so Artinia is about to realize it started something it can't handle with such a fucked-up government and king." Morlan scowled.

"You can't get away with this."

"I already have, Morlan, with the people's permission and welcoming me very quickly. Each village, town and city I have taken so far has had their quality of life doubled, tripled, due to my rule. Gone are oppressive taxes, military overstepping their bounds and feelings of vulnerability. Medical assistance is provided freely, hygiene has gone up, travel between towns is easy and affordable with no peril. My citizens can make good wages to live on, to take care of their families. Can you say the same?"

The warrior stood there and averted his gaze, gritting his teeth. She was right, Artinia didn't exactly take care of its people, it acted like a bully to even its soldiers. "Where is Elsei, where are my parents?" he asked sternly.

"In guestrooms, perfectly unharmed. Didn't you notice you don't have manacles on you?"

"I want to see them."

"I'll let you, once I've finished questioning each one. It makes it easier to get the facts straight."

"I want to see them, now." Selene cocked her head a little, dropping her arm.

"I don't think you seem to realize where you are. You. Are. In. MY. EMPIRE." The last few words seemed to get louder and louder, until it thundered through the entire throne room. "You have no authority here, and if you attempt to attack any of my automatons, I can assure you, you will lose quite quickly." He looked around and noticed the honor guard all staring at him, easily four feet taller than he was. He gauged their effectiveness, though he had no idea just how fast they could be. The weapons they were equipped with were varied, with some unknown tube with a trigger, a hand cannon of sorts, held against their shoulders.

She stood up and let her cape flow gently down, smoothing itself out, then walked down her stairway to roughly eye level with him. "I spoke with Antoine, he can corroborate knowing you. Per his words, you better 'mind your manners in front of that goddess, she's trying to save your arse after all.' He's a smart man, I can see why you trust him."

"Where is he?"

"Working as a professor in my academy under my head mistress, a Valkyrja. I have three of them." His eyes widened at hearing that. He knew that Artinia had some extreme difficulty with ten of them in the Azaltos Mountains, easily destroying armies by themselves, let alone all together. Now, this Selene had one teaching along with his old General, along with two others. Was Brynya one as well? She was standing next to the throne after leading him in.

"I don't believe you." The empress rolled her eyes.

"I don't care. I'm under no obligation to prove myself to you, to make sense to you, or even talk to you. I'm trying to be nice here, but if you don't want to reciprocate, I can be a lot meaner if you prefer." Silence filled the air as he looked around again, then sighed.

"What do you want from me." A couple of chairs were brought in by two automatons, placed for them to sit in. She motioned for him to use one. A cup of water was provided to him as well.

"I'm trying to understand what has happened to your family, to the nobles in Silvinholm. Now, Antoine wanted me to take over Silvinholm by diplomacy, to sway all of you to my side. I could have easily rampaged around the land, there is not one way your military could even hope of stopping me. I'm starting to think I can't uphold my promise to him, so help prove to me there are people that will agree with me." He let out a dry chuckle.

"You want me to help you take over Silvinholm?" he asked.

"No, I want you to tell me as much as you can about the different noble houses you've had to deal with along with your family. So far, this Alain Reysor is a bit of a greedy powermonger that I'm going to have to deal with in some public fashion, once the city is under my control, and it will be under my control. I need to know if the other nobles can be ignored or do I take them out as well. Your father and mother told me stories about them already, but I thought I'd like to get a different view from you, given everyone's bias towards each other in some fashion."

Morlan just sat there and looked at the ground. She leaned in and tipped his chin up with a gentle hand. "Hey, I helped your younger brother, Ezra, along with helping pay his abbey to keep it going. I've saved you and your family from almost certain death. I gain nothing from any of this other than intel, maybe a few more citizens." He looked up at her, glaring.

"You think I'll become a citizen?"

"Your parents already want to become citizens, I've already verified it. All of their holdings have been taken in Artinia, I'm providing new ones for them." He looked shocked for a moment, then took a swing at her. Hrist took two steps forward but didn't even have to make much of a fuss, as Selene caught it with her gauntleted hand, not even budging a millimeter. "Morlan. Stop. That was uncalled for."

"You're lying!" he snapped, still trying to push through her impossible strength. He had no idea she was this strong, she didn't really show it when they were fighting the taken. She sighed and nodded.

"Okay, you're hostile until you get some proof. Fine." A quick snap of her fingers and his parents were teleported to the room, looking around confused. Elsei was still in her guestroom.

"Father?" he asked. His arm dropped, forgetting to attempt to push through her hand and stood up.

"Morlan, I see you've met our gracious hostess here" Melsia said as she looked at Selene and smiled. That made the son look a little perplexed for a second before feeling a little embarrassed.

"I hope you two were enjoying the tea provided" Selene asked.

"Very much so, thank you" Donovan replied. "Now, Morlan, as you may have heard already… at least, I'm hoping we aren't starting at the beginning, your majesty?" he asked. She shook her head.

"Continue, he seems a little reserved on helping the enemy." The Rikter family head of the house nodded.

"Morlan, you should accept that some things change for the better. We have-"

"You betrayed the kingdom! You really did kidnap the princess!" Morlan yelled at his own father.

"The princess is here in the palace, you numbskull. I need to talk to her after all of this, along with her Admiral and her bodyguard. Yes, that's right, he's alive and well. Your fucking king was going to kill all of them, take the princess, then use her for his own nefarious gains. Seriously, this gets old trying to explain all of this. Can you two please knock some sense into your son? I have other pressing matters to attend to."

Both parents nodded as Hrist was commanded to watch over everything. Antoine was asked to head over from the academy temporarily and provide his explanation of what had happened, why he was a part of all of this. "Jeeves, can you bring Nia and the other two from the princess's entourage to the tea room please?" she asked via coms. He acknowledged quickly as she headed there herself, frustrated with how fast Morlan went from friendly to a fervent believer his kingdom could do no wrong.

He was just complaining about the orders he sometimes got and bypassed! I swear… hypocrite.

As she entered the tea room and sat down, waiting for her guests to arrive, she just looked out the window at the garden. There were small humming birds moving around, not actually alive. They were machines made with technology given to her from Information Age and beyond, which allowed the garden to be well taken care of and cleaned of pests. Swimming in the small pond was a school of koi fish that were not machines, they were real. Some of her scouting teams even found some turtles that could live in the habitat.

"Your majesty, Princess Nia" Jeeves said as he backed away and let the young girl walk in, clearly intimidated by the empress as her bodyguard and Admiral followed, unsure what the woman wanted. Selene smiled at her.

"Hello, how are doing? Gotten a chance to calm down and relax? You're safe in my empire, I promise you that." She stood up and put her hand out for the princess to shake. The teenager had no idea what to do, as even though it had been a sign of peace and not carrying a weapon since the fifth century BC, it was not normal to touch royalty. However, Selene was an empress, a tier above a queen, and even higher than a princess.

Nia put her own hand out, almost like a salute. The empress chuckled and took her hand to shake it. Erilyn smirked, as the princess never had this happen to her before. "What is going to happen to us, um… your majesty?" she asked.

"Don't worry, I'm not some tyrannical ruler. I heard about your plight from a friend of yours, Antoine Falksworthy and-"

"Antoine is here? Where? Please, let me see him, I beg you" the teenager pleaded. Selene put her hands up to calm her down.

"Easy, he isn't here just yet, I called him from my academy to talk to some others we rescued from a political coup that happened in Silvinholm. It seems he might be in high demand today, I'm going to have to get him a gift for all his hard work."

"He works at an academy? I… I don't understand, why?" Selene looked between each person there in the room.

"Here, why don't you sit down for a minute, my butler is bringing some tea. This might take a little time to explain, so bear with me, alright?" Nia looked at the two others there, with Erilyn nodding as she watched the dev. A quick nod from the princess and they were all sitting down, with the auburn-haired woman telling a little story about what was happening, how the Artinian Kingdom was at war with her empire, and how she knew about what King Teiyan had done to her older sister, Arilane. Nia's eyes were tearing up as she tried to keep her composure at the thought of her sister being used and abused by her brother.

"So, you, oh… I'm sorry, may I speak?" Erilyn asked. Selene nodded, seeming almost confused at the question. "You allowed General Falksworthy-"

"Professor Falksworthy now, he doesn't want to be called a General anymore. Just as some things might bring bad memories to all of you, he'd like to try and forget that title. Please, once he's here, don't call him that."

"Right, my apologies. Professor Falksworthy is now a citizen of your empire?"

"That's correct. I found him held prisoner by pirates in Sweet Water Harbor, got him back to this castle and helped him get to my academy for those who wish to learn and improve, a college of sorts. He works alongside my head mistress there, Skuld." Nia seemed absolutely relieved that he survived, wanting to hug him as soon as he showed up.

"So… what happens to us now, as the princess asked?" Erilyn questioned, still a little intimidated. She had seen first hand how impressive the palace was, she could only imagine how advanced the rest of the empire could be. Steampunk and Magic both working together in some areas, far more than Artinia ever had… probably far more than any kingdom or country on the planet from what she could see. This empress sitting in front of her, being friendly and trying to answer their questions calmly, was probably a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, even without an army.

"Well, I know that you were trying to escape your brother, princess, so I wondered if I could strike a deal with you maybe?" Nia glanced over at Erilyn and Gilford, wondering what to say.

"What… sort of deal?" she asked quietly.

"So, I'm going to conquer your kingdom. There is no two ways about that, it is going to be under my control. Your brother, with all of his deeds, is done for. Now, this does not necessarily mean Artinia needs to be utterly conquered, I don't really see Clockworkians as a name people want to be called by if they ever get met by another country, but it could happen if your kingdom completely falls. I wonder if, once your brother is overthrown, you would take the throne, under my overarching rule of course." Nia looked shocked, as if the teenager didn't know what to say.

"You want Artinia to be a Vassal State?" Erilyn asked.

"Something like that. Having each kingdom in the future handle itself takes a lot of weight off my shoulders, with paperwork, laws, rules, policies being done by you. It also makes it so that the only people I really need to meet with are kings and queens of those under my control, I wouldn't need to constantly get reports from towns and cities. All the same, I would like to hear about issues that are appearing, as they are my subjects just as much as they would be yours. The kingdoms would still be mine, not separate entities."

There was silence in the room as Nia tried to think it over. She wouldn't really have any actual power, always being under Selene. However, she'd be protected no matter what, with help provided in many regards by a much more powerful empire watching out for her kingdom. While the princess had no idea how strong the Clockwork military was, she had a hunch they could roll over just about anything met on their world. She'd simply watch over Artinia, keeping it functioning and the economy healthy, emplacing laws that were checked over by the empress in front of her. Any minor laws she could provide herself, without any real issue for Selene.

The problem… was Aureos. She couldn't stand to be there, so many bad memories were flooding her mind at that point, of her father being abusive, her brother, her mother long since dead once she was barely age six due to not being the queen her father wanted. She never really had power to begin with.

"I… I don't… I don't know if I can…" the tears welled up quickly. "I hate that place… I don't want to sit on that throne… with everything that has happened… it's… it's tainted so badly…" the tears flowed as Gilford got up and sat next to her holding her hand, with Erilyn hugging her. Selene sighed. "Please… I'm sorry… I just… I can't. I'd have night terrors all the time…"

"I… understand… it's alright. I had hoped you might say yes, but I do understand how painful it could be. What if… what if Silvinholm became the next capital? You could rule from there with a new castle." Nia looked up from having her head pressed against Erilyn's chest.

"What… do you mean? Aureos wouldn't be the imperial city anymore?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Aureos seems pretty corrupt from what I've been hearing from the Rikter family, I've-"

"You spoke with Donovan, your majesty?" Gilford questioned, looking up at Nia and Erilyn before returning his gaze to the empress.

"I have, I take it since you are on a first name basis, he did know the princess was staying in a manor he sold you?" They all looked at one another before Gilford nodded.

"Commander Alfinteim… he bought it at a steep discount, along with a gardener provided by him." Selene leaned back in her chair and sipped her tea.

"So, he did know. Interesting. Well, he was going to be carted off to Aureos for a supposed kidnapping of the princess, though-"

"They didn't kidnap me… they saved me… all of them… so many came to my aide just to escape my brother…" Nia cried out, the teenager closing her eyes to fight back the tears.

"Jorge… come in" Selene called via coms.

"Yes ma'am, what do you need?" he asked.

"There were no bodies of bodyguards left, correct?"

"That's correct ma'am… sorry we weren't fast enough getting the evacuation plan prepared, we were trying to-"

"I understand Jorge, I know. Keeping yourself hidden was a priority where possible. So, resurrection is mostly impossible?" Jorge sighed.

"Turnie could have tried with your permission. That sword that was used was a soul drinker weapon. It could be possible to bring them back with a powerful ritual… if you want to attempt it ma'am." That made her close her eyes and think. It would require another trip to Silvinholm well ahead of when she was planning to go back. It would also require another twenty percent of the treasury, unless she could somehow manage to get the families of the dead to all show up and pay the cost to the Ferryman. Turnie had access to [Mass Resurrection] along with other raise dead spells, she just wasn't allowed to use them without express permission due to the costs. She was going to have to research somehow dropping the payment to a more manageable level very soon, or just allow priests use [Raise Dead] from tier magic.

The Lazarus System would need to be mass produced for future proofing massive loss of life if anything happened. A quick check on her inventory and she set to work one hundred 3D printers. By the end of the next week, she'd be the proud owner of roughly one hundred twenty of them. After that, she hoped to get it to about one thousand to cut down on resurrection time. The problem was, she had no idea if it would work on a completely disintegrated body with a soul eaten by a weapon. The abomination seemed to show there were restrictions to how someone could be brought back, no matter how powerful the magic or science could be. Attempting use of the machines might give a more definitive answer though. Another issue was the Lazarus System was… tall. It couldn't fit inside the manor, they would need to be set up outside, in public for everyone see. This would have to wait until after she had finally taken Silvinholm for her empire.

"Thank you, Jorge." The coms line ended as she returned to speaking with Nia. "Hey, it's ok. Silvinholm could be your new home if we just get it under better control, alright? I-"

"I can't… I'm sorry… I'm not cut out to be a queen… my sister was so much better…"

"Hey, don't say that princess, please. You could be a great queen" Gilford said quietly, trying to comfort her. She shook her head and closed her eyes. Selene could understand, the girl was traumatized with everything that had happened.

"It's fine. I'm not going to push you, I won't force the position down your throat. But I will warn you though, if you don't take the throne, then you really only have two choices. The first choice is become a citizen of my empire, I'll provide you with some starting funds to make a new life for yourself. You will not be a princess any longer, the royal name will be displaced, thrown aside. You will just be yourself, starting over." The princess opened her eyes and blinked, trying to wipe away the tears.

"And the second choice?" Erilyn asked.

"You leave the continent. I get tickets on a ship for another country, you all head there. After that, you're on your own. I'm not going to say you can't visit, but if you aren't a citizen, then we will be suspicious of you. You've got to understand, protecting my subjects is a high priority, and anyone who will not submit to my rule here is either a temporary tourist or gets the hell out." They all looked at each other.

"You'll… let me become a citizen of your empire?" Nia asked and sniffled.

"Of course. Well, right now Gold Pine might be a good place to settle down if you want."

"The village?" Selene chuckled at that.

"It's not a village anymore, it's grown quite a bit to… one moment…" she checked her report on her map that she was receiving from Stafinson, throwing it into her inventory each time to update the information. "Oh, it's about up to thirteen hundred in population, so a small town, but getting larger every week. There are amenities there you won't find anywhere else, well… maybe Glass Dale."

"I heard Glass Dale was destroyed" Gilford said as he looked up at Erilyn in surprise.

"I had it rebuilt, updated and improved. We also found some survivors that moved back. Eld Horn is under my control if you would prefer a hunting manor, um… Sweet Water Harbor if you want a home near the ocean, and… oh…" She temporarily stopped as a small report was put in her inventory from Brynhildr about taking Werelosil. A picture was taken via the optics of one of the automatons of her brand-new prized horse now turned into a Pegasus. It wasn't nearly the size of Asterion, but it looked built more for speed rather than power and war. She wondered if the Valkyrja would look a little odd sitting on the winged creature, being seven feet tall and all.

"Uh, where was I… Werelosil town is a nice location if you like horses."

"You took all of those places?" Erilyn asked, astonished.

"And more to come. Paldos City is next, along with the neighboring villages that branch from it to the east. Each time we take one, we make sure the laws aren't screwed up and taxes are controlled, with required amenities provided as standard for each citizen there. Free healthcare, schools, library, police and fire, hygienics control buildings and improving the market or bazaar. We don't continue on until I'm sure the subjects now under my rule have everything they need to continue without being stranded with a destroyed home."

All three humans, beyond Selene, looked at each other with smiles on their faces. Gilford had a gleam in his eye as he looked at Nia, his cheeks flushed, then looked away. "Um… maybe… where do you want to live?" Nia asked Gil. He looked back up at her in surprise.

"Uh… any… anywhere near you… my lady…" he replied.

"Then… would you… stay with me… in Sweet Water?" she asked. His mouth fell open, not knowing what to say.

"The ocean. About time I finally get my feet wet again. Might be able to get myself a boat of my own… might name it the same as my father's…" Erilyn commented.

"So, Miss Erilyn… Brandsworn is it? I think I heard something from Antoine about your father. He was dishonorably discharged and executed by the king?" Selene asked, wincing a little as she brought up the past for her. Erilyn looked down at the table, her pink hair moving a little as the other colors swayed slightly.

"He wouldn't open fire on refugees trying to get away from Sweet Water, from the pirates. He disobeyed orders, so… they hanged him. I knew right then and there, I would not follow Artinia's rule, not unless Princess Nia was at the head of it." She rubbed Nia's shoulder, already showing she had a close friendship with the teenager.

"Hmm. I'll see about you getting a ship of your own, though it will have to be registered with my navy. You know… now that I think about it, I'm still missing a mayor in Sweet Water… voting hasn't started yet… hell, most people haven't really registered for it yet…" Selene seemed to raise an eyebrow at Nia, wondering if she might take the bait. The girl looked up at her, curious.

"I… I don't think…"

"It's a lot easier to do that than being a queen, trust me. You'd have Gilford and Erilyn here to help you out. A city wouldn't be that bad, would it? Ocean to calm you, good people that have also suffered under pirate tyranny, now free. Give them some hope, as you build some for yourself. There's already a manor there, rebuilt from the ground up by my construction crews. What do you say?" The empress asked.

"I'd be honored to help you out Nia" Erilyn commented.

"Are… are you sure you think I can do it?" the girl asked. Selene nodded and smiled at her.

"Not as hard as you think, there's a girl not much older than you running Eld Horn and doing a pretty good job herself."

"Um… ok… but… I mean… yes. I will." Nia took a deep breath and closed her eyes, bracing herself. "I, Nia Erelius, accept the chance to become the new mayor… um… if you'll have me…" Selene beamed at her.

"I'll send the information to them ASAP. Now, an Admiral is no real good sitting on shore. You want a ship, right Miss Brandsworn? Might I ask if you could be interested in having a small defense fleet for the city?" Erilyn gawked at her and looked at Gilford and the princess.

"I… I'd be…"

"You'd no longer be an Admiral in just title, though it would be a… less advanced fleet than what I have, though quite a bit stronger than anything else you would see on the water. Home port would be Sweet Water, come home to your friends, keep security of the harbor with ironside Frigates, what do you say?"

"Yes! Yes, I say, thank you, your majesty." The pink haired woman almost coughed out the words as she smiled at the incredible fortune.

"Good. Um… Gilford, uh… Lieutenant Gilford Telareign correct? Interested in being commissioner of police for the city?" His mouth dropped open.

"Why are you giving us these positions?" Erilyn asked, though she was worried she was questioning the hand that was trying to feed them.

"Well currently my security forces stay outside the city to not interfere in normal affairs, I don't want the people being uncomfortable with my automatons walking around everywhere. Too much of a change in everyone's environment tends to cause issues in how people think, psychology and all that. I've already had the other towns and cities create human police precincts and fire stations, so that my mechanical forces aren't taking over jobs everywhere. I'd rather a warm heart and a kind face protect and serve the people instead of constant intimidation. My automatons are powerful, but they aren't there to replace everyone."

She was lying of course, her automatons could easily manage to be friendly to others, professional and courteous due to their programming. They'd do the job better and faster, however making sure there was a face behind the security of the city would put people a bit more at ease. She was trying to give them reasons to continue living.

"I… I accept, graciously. Thank you, your majesty." Selene nodded in approval. He was going to be the commissioner of Sweet Water Police from then on.

"Alright. I'll see about getting everything set up, please, enjoy the tea, rest and relax, tomorrow you can be transported to your new home. You won't be lost out there, I'll make sure there is some assistance nearby to walk you through the steps and get all of you up to speed, so don't worry." The time was getting late, about two hours before dinner would be served. They finished and started to walk out, with Nia pulling on a small plate on Selene's sleeve to get her attention, then thinking better of it as she realized she had just done something that would cause insult in Aureos. The empress just looked over at her with a questioning gaze.

Recommended Song: Jetta – I'd Love To Change the World)

"I'm… really sorry… that I can't be the queen you want… I hope… I can be a good mayor for you though. I wish it was different, I wish I was stronger, but I'm not. I can't rule Artinia, but… I know you'll do well. It should belong to you. Thank you, for… for everything." Selene put her hand on Nia's shoulder and nodded.

"I'll do what I need to do to end your brother's rule. I'm sorry you need to know that, but hopefully it also puts you at ease. You are safe in my empire, I swear it. No one will come for you at night, no one will try and kidnap you, and the people of Sweet Water will be overjoyed to have you there as their mayor, with Gilford and Erilyn protecting the streets and waters." A quick cupping of the princess's cheek, now a mayor with no royal title, and Nia smiled, tears of joy welling up now.

The mayor's entourage walked down the hallway towards the garden where dinner would be served with heating lamps nearby, tea only really sating their thirst. Selene watched them walk with two automatons escorting them. As they turned the corner, Nia turned and looked at the empress, smiling. They'd see each other again once they were eating, but for now the dev had some work to do now that she was back at the castle. She turned on her heel, walking the other way, with Bronze Team coming out of the shadows right behind her, heading to the research labs. She saw through some windows Antoine talking to the Rikter family, with Morlan seeing her as they had left the throne room. He softened up quite a bit as he gazed at her, with Elsei by his side, now let out of her room to speak with him.

He now realized she was helping them all. Without her, they'd probably be executed, the princess would be in the imperial city, just like her older sister… following the same fate. He nodded at her, realizing he screwed up in being mad at her. She nodded and continued. He would most likely become a citizen of her empire as well, a hero for the people to see walking amongst her armies alongside Brynhildr, Elsei by his side.

This would be the first time she'd have so many guests in her palace, with a small feast made by the maids just for this occasion. It would put all of them at ease to know they are here amongst friends. The Clockwork Empire didn't mean them harm, it was a force to be reckoned with against their enemies. They would soon see that.

I guess Clockworkian is going to be the identity my citizens are going to use. Eh… doesn't roll off the tongue like Artinian… was really hoping she'd take the throne… oh well…

With Werelosil taken over, and Silvinholm now becoming a hostile city, she was now going to work on surrounding it, waiting for the right moment to strike with her armies. She would apologize to Antoine, the nobles inside were no longer capable of being spoken to.

Once they entered the research labs, the shield that was damaged placed on a scanner platform and having laser arms rotating around it, looking at how deep the strikes had gotten. The corpses were floating in buoyancy tanks filled with clear fluid. Selene sat down and stared at the shield with the claws sitting nearby.

"How the hell did you manage to damage this, you creepy fucker?" she muttered to herself as she sat there, checking through all logs and reports. Compared to a normal design, the shield that Hrist was using was one of the most advanced pieces of defensive equipment this world could ever see. While not quite up to the material used by Valkyrja, the secondary systems inside more than made the Carbyne material more than a match for any godly creation. The problem was how it seemed to part like the Red Sea when the claws struck and sat there.

Thermal or radiation? No, logs don't show heating. Molecular Diffusion? No, the atomic bonds weren't so much as dissolved as rended from each other… wait…

Despite already knowing the shields were completely bypassed due to her screw up of not installing an oscillation frequency emitter, the high-end protective armor was nearly cut apart. She could only imagine what Tungsten Steel might have done. In her eyes, she feared Hrist might have been seriously harmed by the creature if she hadn't upgraded, even though both are still incredible defensive materials.

A quick atomic model simulation of how the Carbyne was being torn asunder, the timeframe of each portion of damage… the gravitational stress exerted seemed to be almost nil, yet at the points of impact… the armor receded.

Faith!... holy shit, the damn thing exuded stolen faith into the armor plating to try and push through! I can't even begin to think of how much damage that can cause normally, to steel wielding soldiers or a human body.

Selene took out the necromantic orb from her inventory, no longer needing the damnable thing, and threw it into a portable R&D lab in another portion of her inventory for as much data analysis as possible. She then took samples of the faith eater corpse to put in a slew of new R&D stations made for this, just in case she'd ever need to throw them away if they got contaminated somehow or warped in the process.

What she didn't tell anyone was that she had snuck away a few minor trinkets throughout the trip, both from the abbey and from Silvinholm, all of which were religious items of importance. A rosary, a small pocket idol, book of hymns, the list continued, all of which were placed in further R&D stations to see if she can gleam something about how faith was used by priests, monks, that creature, potentially even gods if at all possible.

The whole process of reviewing the logs, the scans, the small experiments she did herself took enough time for Jeeves to come looking for her and inform the empress dinner would soon to be provided, not even using the coms this time. "Ah, I should probably go get changed to evening attire for the dinner. Thank you, Jeeves." The oscillating frequencies for the shields would stop any sort of penetration now, trying now to fight through three separate frequencies at the same time overlapping on each other. What she wanted rather than needed now that she was reviewing her defensive tech was double layer shields and soon to be tier six magic immunity. Legendary quality tier would take some time to finally get finished, which all combined, not including any space created advanced materials to bypass Carbyne, could tip the scales against these things if she ever met them again.

Next time I'm not hiding our strength and speed, that was just stupid of me to try doing that… if one of those faith eaters shows up again, the military is just going to be there to light it up.

Selene got up and walked out of the research lab, letting the R&D stations in her inventory do their thing while she went back into the palace and got changed from her golden armor to a soft grey dress and overcoat. The dev headed down to the outside dining area and greeted everyone, with Morlan coming up to her and apologizing for throwing a punch at her. "I… please understand where I was coming from at that moment, I-"

"I understand Morlan, to you I was the enemy at that point. I'm invading your country, what else would you think? However, you discounted too much who your father was, is, even right now."

"I know. I… I know. I'm a fool for thinking anything otherwise for my family. We've always done what was needed to help others… I still am sorry for how I acted. It was unbecoming of a warrior of my statute. Ezra would scold me for doing that… please keep this a secret from him, if it is true the abbey is already being protected by your empire." The empress chuckled.

"I won't tell him if you won't, just keep a level head and open mind next time. I have no reason to lead you astray Morlan, just remember that." She didn't want to tell him she wouldn't lie to him in the future, as it just wasn't certain that wouldn't happen. The dev would do what she needed to for the protection and expansion of her empire.

The group sat down and enjoyed a quiet dinner, provided by the empress, talking about different subjects, with Selene mostly explaining how her empire worked. The religions were open though controlled in how they acted towards others not of their faith, the taxation system, how medical and healthcare was provided even without magic. Donovan gave her a very interesting warning that there were magic resistant or even immune ailments and diseases out there, though extremely rare. While he doubted she'd ever meet someone who had one, it was something to keep in mind with the modern medical science providing help to those who couldn't be assisted by a [Greater Heal].

The entire time, soft music was being played by a record player with recorded music from an orchestra living in Gold Pine now. It seemed to be a mixture of violins and harpsichords, which Melsia very much enjoyed. The Rikter family was going to be helped with staying in Glass Dale, waiting for the time in which the empire took control over Silvinholm. Once the city was taken over, the Rikters would be given back their lands and title, as long as they upheld their reputation in the eyes of the people. Given the political coup that had just transpired, the citizens there were probably angry at what was happening. While it was still possible to sweep in and take the city without much bloodshed, she'd have to watch how things turned out very carefully.

It feels like I'm doing what the President of the United States does with the CIA and NSA… watch my enemies, look for potential powder kegs and issues I'm going to need to address, move where required and worry about the potential cost of life.

The night ended quietly as the Rikters talked with Princess, now Mayor, Nia Erelius. They felt honored to meet her in person, which embarrassed the ex-royalty a bit as she blushed. "So, should I be going to the frontlines?" Morlan asked as he sipped his wine.

"I don't think you really need to; my automaton army is more than capable of fighting."

"So, I'm useless already. Sorry father, I guess you'll see your son become a farmer sooner than you think." Donovan and Melsia chuckled at that.

"There's plenty of other things you can do though. Take a tour of the towns and cities we have, act as a symbol of the empire that we are not here to kill and destroy, even the armies of Artinia. It could sway over the soldiers you have served with, show them the grass is greener on the other side" Selene informed him as she swirled her wine, taking a small sip at the head of the table.

"The citizens would see you as a beacon of hope Morlan, I'm sure of that" Melsia commented.

"It would also give you a chance to check in on Ezra once in a while" Donovan added.

"Oh, you'll all be able to see him often enough. I have plans eventually, once we take Silvinholm, to expand a railroad system near the abbey. I'm trying to make sure transportation around the empire is easy for everyone, not just my military" the empress chimed in. Donovan and his family all looked at each other, satisfied with that information, even if they didn't exactly know what a railroad or a train was yet.

I'm going to need to plan a scheduled advancement of my empire through the Eras, get them up to speed and slowly uplift them so they can understand high end technology. They're very nearly at Renaissance, if I can push them over the edge within the month, then to Colonial within a year… every year after that just go up an Era, give them a chance to settle in with the new improvements to their society.

Selene knew that the empire would see just slightly new and improved advancements in their daily life, to start reaching for bigger and better things; meanwhile, she would be in the background moving well beyond the tech tier she was at now. Exo-Atmospheric was just a stepping stone for where she needed to be, with the satellites launched already showing huge swaths of the planet she was living on, with a few of them scoping out the black void with stars glinting in the distance. While the ELT was still just being completed, there was already verified proof that an asteroid belt was found, though it was closer than Earth's Solar System, with another planet beyond looking about the same size as Mars. There was no research or analysis on the atmosphere of the new planet found just yet, the asteroid field would help with mining operations if she needed to start building a space fleet and stations.

As dinner ended, the guests heading to the library to settle down and have a nightcap before heading to bed, the dev played host with Antoine and Hrist assisting where possible. Bronze Team hid in the first-floor barracks, with no living soldier even there. They played games with each other and talked about what was happening in the last op, the empire's current state and why Turnie would not heal Deacon in the first-person shooter because he made a joke about her legs. He finally apologized as they continued to relax, the palace getting quiet once everyone turned in.