[ ~ Chapter • Start ~ ]
Inside a room at 8:45 AM, several people sat on chairs arranged around of a rectangular table while dozens of people stood around the room.
This room looked like it had already been prepared earlier.
In the front was Rance, who was currently not in his armor and coat, preferring to wear a buttoned shirt with a green tie and green jogging pants. Behind him were a few female Helman Rebel Batallion Troops wearing yellow colored uniform with black edges, there's Sill and Kanami behind him too.
Even though he was unsure why the female Helman Soldiers would be here instead of male soldiers or knights. It might be related to him convincing them about their empire decaying.
Aside from that, besides him sat both Maria Custard and Shizuka Masou, accompanied by Kasumi, Milli Yorks and some of their allies at Custom respectively.
Another were both Barres Provence and Rick Addison in their armors, who were the leaders of the Black and Red armies respectively. They were accompanied by a few high-ranking knights of Leazas.
There were other people here that weren't from Leazas Army, Helman Rebel Batallion, and the town of Custom. Simply, they're L'Zille's people.
After an introduction to each other, they were about to begin this meeting, with Kanami being quite familiar with the commanders of both Leazas's Black and Red Armies.
Nodding to himself, Rance fixed his tie and glanced at the people around him.
"Right... Let's begin this meeting." He cleared out his throat with a cough. "First of all, Leazas, with the help of the town of Custom and me with some stroke of luck and usage of skill have won against Helman's forces. The main reason being that Leazas's Soldiers were free from their brainwashing due to me.
Aside from that, it seems like 300 soldiers from Helman, whom I now command had decided to rebel against their empire. Some of whom are behind me, except my pink haired companion."
Nods of acceptance and intrigue were present from the soldiers of Leazas. And then, a soldier from Rance's group suddenly reported in a downcast manner that a hundred Helman Soldiers had escaped L'Zille and retreated to the Free City of Red. Which was pretty bad, yet is already to be expected.
"However, pushing that aside... it's obvious that Helman has already captured Leazas with the help of Dark Lords. And yes, the fairy tales you were hearing were sadly, real."
To those who hadn't known yet, there were expressions of surprise plastered on their faces. Chatter began to flow around the room they were meeting at, before Rance slammed his fist on the table, effectively silencing the chatter before faking a cough.
"That's why, I am here to propose an alliance between all of us." He spoke with serious intent, as the ones who were seated looked at each other.
And then, Shizuka began to talk, shifting her hat upwards to better see the people in front of her, though her focus was mostly on Rance.
"Un. That's a great idea. With an alliance we have, we have a better chance in liberating the cities Helman has conquered, and eventually Leazas."
Some people from L'Zille took a step forwards, determined.
"We'll fight with you!" Was one of the people's responses. "You helped free our city, so we'll try to repay you as much as possible!"
The old man, Barres had then glanced at Rance with intrigue and interest (no not in the romantic way).
"We have been brainwashed and forced to do ugly things to the people at the Free Cities. This humiliating act we had done is, not something easily forgiven." Barres spoke, though a person from L'Zille declined such a claim.
However, that person was almost ignored, as Barres stared at Rance to analyze him with burning eyes (not literal), as the brown haired man shifted quite uncomfortably under the Leazas Black Army's stare.
'Hmm... This young man... he seems very mature and reasonable, and to be able to convince Helman's Troops to betray their own empire... Such talent! It would be wise to let him be, who knows what he would do if he were our enemy...' Barres thought, still analyzing our protagonist.
"Like Barres, I also have a lot of apologies to say..." Rick spoke, in a gentle tone that made him sound very meek, and then Mill hopped to him.
"Hmm! Just say it already!"
"... I'm sorry."
Then, Milli with a smile patted her little sister's shoulder.
"Careful Mill, that brother over there is stronger than he looks."
Meanwhile, Rance rubbed his chin, pulling the attention of most people inside to him.
"Maria, how many troops do we have right now?" He asked, as Maria answered without hesitation and with excitement on her tone.
"Around 4,000 Leazas Soldiers, and 5,000 volunteers from Custom and this City. If we add your troops, let's say it would be around 9,300. Back at Custom, my secret weapon is ready to be launched, even though I need some more materials to properly operate such a weapon..."
Rance gained a large smirk on his face, not minding the fact that Maria had told him that she still needs something.
"Gahahahahaa~! Good~! Still, if we stay here then we don't get anything other than a bigger force coming to attack L'Zille. So! It's now official! The Leazas Liberation Force is formed!" Rance spoke as his smirk widened. "Heh! This is so awesome!!! I am awesome too!!!"
The volunteers, Leazas Soldiers and the Rebel Batallion Soldiers behind him shouted in agreement and excitement that was loud enough to shake the building somewhat.
"Let's do our best! To take back what Helman had stolen from us! And! To make them pay (Except these beauties behind me including my soldiers)!"
Another loud, deafening roar was heard inside the building.
[ Perspective Changing... ]
A few days later...
At Leazas Castle...
A certain blue haired prince looked definitely infuriated and he gritted his teeth.
"What did you say?! Our soldiers... have betrayed us?!"
He was in undeniable shock, and despite that, there was a bit of fear growing inside of him.
Patton was more furious than worried. Simply, you could say that hearing of a report of 300 soldiers betraying the empire is enough to make him slightly paranoid. What happened to L'Zille? Did the soldiers eventually find out and killed them yet? Then that would be good enough news.
What if more of the 3rd Army's Soldiers, the army with the force of 30,000 who followed him to capture Leazas and the Free Cities for his own glory to finally become the next and greatest king of Helman, suddenly betray him?
He also had requested for reinforcements to his empire, but there was no response from the Empire yet.
"Noce, Noce!!!" Patton yelled, as the said person... no, Dark Lord approached him. "Where are the reinforcements?! They're taking too long!"
Somehow, without him noticing, the moustache behind Noce's veil lifted up mysteriously.
"It seems the Royal Family and the Council of Helman have both rejected your request for reinforcements, at a time like this." Noce's voice sounded like a deep rumble, that Patton still couldn't get used to, yet due to what he spoken, Helman's Prince could not help but lean and fall back to the throne he was sitting on. "That also means you won't receive their support... Prince."
There was a small tone of mockery present on Noce's voice, yet Patton didn't mind, or completely ignore what he was talking about.
"No way... Argh!!! Father...! Stessell...! Sheila...! Why?! Why must you turn your backs to me!!!"
Patton grit his teeth, clutching the armrests of the throne hard enough to make them squeak, even for a few moments. A tear flowed out of his left eye.
He couldn't do anything. So he growled in harsh frustration, unable to accept that.
"Haaaaagh...! Damn it! Just you wait, all of you! There must be some way... some way..."
Patton began to rub his temple to relieve himself of the frustration, beginning to think about something else.
"Call Thoma here." Patton spoke between harsh growls, just before the said person entered the room. "... Oh, forget that, you're just in time, General of the 3rd Army, Thoma Lipton. Have you got anything to report?"
"Your highness. Henderson is dead, and L'Zille has been taken from us. Speaking of which, the brainwashed Leazas soldiers have broken free, and sadly, more of our allies betrayed us. Days before Henderson died, he sent us a message saying that we're completely on our own."
"Grrrh...!!!! Fuck!!!!"
Patton Helman began to breathe heavily, his head was slightly hurting now, too.
"Thoma... is that all? If that is... I... I need to rest... I've had enough of this..."
"Of course." Thoma agreed, and then bowed. "I'll take my leave now. Go on and rest, I'll take care of whatever I needed to do."
"..."
The giant turned around, exiting the room which they were in, leaving Patton with Noce and the soldiers here... along with a certain, black haired Kalar.
[ ~ Line • Break ~ ]
In a room somewhere in the Castle, Ithere stared at his apostle with worry.
Said apostle, Sapphire, had been sitting on the bed with both her hands resting on her thighs. He wasn't worried because of that, it was simply because of her expression.
It looked like she had done something that she was too ashamed to be talking about.
"Lord Ihere... I... I'm sorry."
"For what? Tell me, Sapphire. I am kind to my apostles, after all."
Ithere approached his apostle, lifting her face up by pressing his finger on her chin.
"... I... It was that human... I don't remember much, but he has brown hair, and is wearing a coat under his green armor. He... violated me while I was defenseless!"
The Dark Lord narrowed his eyes in disgust, not towards his apostle, but to whoever he was.
"Ah... so my apostle has been defiled by such a mold in bread, hm? Do not worry, my apostle..." Ithere knelt down to give Sapphire a hug, "... Soon you'll take your revenge against him, or I do."
Ithere became determined in punishing the filth, though due to being a man of his word, a promise of his is a promise needing to be kept.
Sapphire reciprocated the hug, by crying on his shoulder. Eventually they'll meet again.
[ ~ Chapter • End ~ ]
Extra Information:
Helman Rebel Batallion - A batallion of 300 Soldiers, Knights, and a Second-in-command (currently). Swore allegiance to Rance after being semi-brainwashed by him and was convinced away from committing suicide due to rising Soul Pollution. 15 of them are female, which obviously 7 have feelings towards their Lieutenant Colonel though kept it hidden.
Sad Fact: it's actually pretty hard to write Ithere.