As the plans of Momonga's team progress, they begin to get other nations involved. I never thought I'd get into political intrigue with this story... Disclaimer: I don't own Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, or Overlord.

Spirit Tracks Chapter 24: Baharuth, the Empire of Dreams

Deep in the foundations of Baharuth, several acolytes watched as Fluder attempted to use his magical prowess to tame a Death Knight, a mighty undead warrior. The creature was chained for safety reasons, but the acolytes were still nervous, as the Death Knight was one of the strongest types of undead in existence. Fluder sighed as his magic proved insufficient to make the Death Knight submit. "Still only minimal progress," he noted, "In the days when the Spirit Tracks were strong there were a great many spellcasters capable of bending Death Knights to their will. But it seems I have yet to reach that level."

As he walked with his acolytes, one of them tried to reassure them. "Perhaps now that the Spirit Tracks are returning, that will allow magical energy to expand. You could find success in the near future." Fluder nodded, turning to his other efforts. Several lesser skeletons could be seen tilling a few plots of farm in an almost machine-like fashion. "My research is progressing smoothly, though I've yet to truly grasp the void of magic that has been my goal for decades." "Yes," the acolyte said, "But the mystery of how an undead is formed still eludes us." "Give it time," Fluder assured him, "This is one of the lesser mysteries, so it will likely be the first we uncover."

Nfirea looked nervous as he traveled with Momonga's adventuring band. "So this is the Baharuth Empire. It's my first time visiting." "I'd imagine so," Momonga noted, "Tell me, what do you observe as we move through the streets?" Nfirea looked around. "The difference between the streets of Baharuth and Re-Estize are like night and day. The people here seem so carefree, and there's a brightness in their eyes I don't usually see in the people of Re-Estize." Momonga nodded in approval. "A good observation. It's thanks to Emperor Jircniv that the people here can afford to be so carefree."

"There's also their military," Nfirea noticed, "Well-trained and battle ready at a moment's notice. By comparison the military of Re-Estize is minimal." "The empire runs on a meritocracy," Peroroncino explained, "Anyone capable of contributing to the empire is accelerated through the ranks, while those that are unproductive are tossed to the wayside. Ironically, this means the working class and several poor but skilled street rats have been elevated, while many in the nobility have lost all they take for granted."

"Doesn't that include Arche's family?," Nfirea asked, "She mentioned she was noble-born, but took to becoming a worker in hopes of paying off her family's debt." "It's foolish when you get down to it," Momonga noted, "Her parents cannot stand to live without luxury, yet they can no longer afford it due to how little they contribute. And the ironic thing is they consider her foolish for working so hard." "So why bring me along for this?," Nfirea asked. "Your Stand provides us with a necessary step," Momonga explained, "You see, the country is extensively researching magic, led by one Fluder Paradyne."

Nfirea suddenly understood. In spite of his youth, his Stand gave him the magical knowledge of over a hundred or more spellcasters. "So I'm to act as the carrot to get Fluder on our side." "That's the idea," Momonga admitted, "Once Fluder realizes you can offer him what he wants most, he will offer us whatever he can in exchange." "We've already sent word ahead of our arrival," Nishikienrai said, "Fluder should be informed of us by the time we get there."

"Hopefully there will only be one real battle in all this," Nfirea said, "What with the Spirit Tracks expanding even further. Just a little while ago Hekkeran took a young boy from our village to a place where he could observe the land from high up." "Did he take him to the station tower?," Momonga asked. "You'd think that but no," Nfirea clarified, "He simply asked a traveling merchant who uses a hot air balloon to give him a ride back and forth from the capital of Re-Estize."

Sure enough, Fluder knew of the group's arrival, having been told thanks to a palace guard. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?," he asked. Momonga turned to Nfirea and nodded. Nfirea took a deep breath. "Majin Gattai!" Though Fluder could not see the form of Nfirea's Stand, his talent for seeing magical auras let him see its effect, and the brilliance of it brought him tears of joy. "It's unbelievable... This boy... He's a god..." "This power was granted to him in the form of a Stand," Momonga clarified, "But thanks to that Stand, he possesses magical knowledge above and beyond the greatest of mages."

He turned to Fluder. "I trust you understand the implications, yes?" Fluder gave a laugh that was equal parts joy and nervousness. "Yes, yes. I will give you all that I have and more, in exchange for learning from this child... No, this great mage!" Momonga detailed the plan he had in mind, and told Fluder he was to inform Jircniv of it only in the greatest of secret. The group had every reason to believe Jircniv wasn't in on the conspiracy, but might have been slightly influenced by those that were. "Getting a private audience with the emperor is a simple enough task," Fluder assured them, "I practically raised him, and he still sees me as an honorary uncle."

Sure enough, Fluder was able to speak with the young emperor in private. "So they intend to discover the ones who orchestrated the disappearance of the Spirit Tracks," Jircniv said, "I must confess it's insulting to think there are those within our own court that are in on it. But such traitors must be rooted out." "Can you think of any who might be involved?," Fluder asked. "I have some ideas," Jircniv replied, "My reforms have made me quite unpopular with the nobility, to the point where they have named me the Bloody Emperor."

He smirked. "I know one that is for sure involved, since he's made several correspondences with Re-Estize, trading information. He thinks he's being subtle about it. We'll use him for Momon's plan." "The plan will also insure the resurgence of the adventurer's guild," Fluder noted, "But Momon gave strict instructions that Foresight was not to be targeted. He said Foresight's leader, Hekkeran, has become attached to the Legendary Train." "Then he's our trump card against the demon train," Jircniv realized, "The others will be easy to lure in. If this tomb Momon found has even half the treasure he spoke of, it will draw them in like flies with honey." He chuckled darkly at the idea.

Jircniv does know Momonga's real identity, he's just playing it up in case of spies. He always came off as a practical man in the canon series. Read and review.