In the Capital, Erefeild is in his office doing the usual duty, then suddenly one of the assassins arrives behind him,
The Assassin: Greetings, my lord. I'm here to deliver the report on behalf of my captain,
Lord Erefeild: Where is it,
The Assassin: Right here, My Lord
Erefeild grabbed the report and read through it. Once he had gone through the second page, he clenched his fist intensely.
Lord Erefeild: When was this report done?
The Assassin: Last night, my lord.
Lord Erefeild: It's been a week, and you've just been working on the report now. What is this? ( Loud and slightly angry tone )
The Assassin: Due to a minor issue, my lord.
Erefeild then stands up and grabs his chair aside aggressively.
Lord Erefeild: Answer my question directly. Is it your captain? Then say it.
The Assassin: No, my lord, we have already done with all I'll ability an…..
Erefeild then cut him off,
Lord Erefeild: Call your captain here right now,….
The assassin, sweating, then bowed even lower, and immediately he cut Erefeild off.
The Assassin: It's General Tranor, My Lord
Erefeild then took a step backward. He then looked at the report and grabbed it; he read it again.
Lord Erefeild: On the first 4 pages, is it done by your captain?
The Assassin: It is, my lord.
Lord Erefeild: Then the last two pages are done by Tranor?
The Assassin: Yes, My Lord.
Lord Erefeild: You there. Did someone also go there?
The Assassin: One of our men did report back that someone was able to witness some of the small items that we were unable to clean up in time.
Lord Erefeild: What did this person look like?
The Assassin: Due to the house were quiet dark, and the man wearing a cloak covering almost his entire body, we are unable to provide you with the specific description however, after one of our injure his thigh, he draw a sword and that sword is looking to be well made by a skill craftman, and after he manage to break his way outside the house, he then fall down due to intense amouth of blood lost, however when one of our rush outside to finish him off, the man somewhat missing, another detail he also provide that the man is wearing a buskins, it appear to be well made, a quality fit for the wealthy.
Erefeild grabbed his chair and sat down, staring at the report.
The Assassin: If this is a concern that might cause any effect, we would hunt him. Just give the word, my Lo...
Erefeild then cut him off.
Lord Erefeild: Shut it.
,The Assassin paused as he looked at Erefeild. For years, since he worked under his Captain, he saw Erefeild look at the report, and he see a drop of tear falling from Erefeild's eyes. Erefeild's mouth flickered as he clenched his fist and squeezed his hand on the chair armrest intensely.
Erefeild: Leave, out of my sight
The assassin: Understood, my lord.
The assassin left. Erefeild then grabbed the report and clenched his fingers on the report; the paper wrinkle and a small piece of dry ink fell off the paper.
Lord Erefeild: What am I doing wrong,
Erefeild sat there quietly and calmly, staring at the wall, then suddenly someone knocked on his door,
Erefeild suddenly shook, and his body jerked. He then looked at the door. He then opened his desk drawer, grabbed a towel, and wide face and wide his eye dry.
Lord Erefeild: Enter.
The door opened, the Maleverlem Empire's ambassador Mon Ukea
Mon Ukea: May I, Lord Erefeild?
Erefeild's expression was flat and expressionless.
Mon Ukea walked in and sat down.
Mon Ukea: You have been really busy lately. Aren't you?
Lord Erefeild: I know what you want. Speak it directly; I don't have the patience to comfort you.
Mon Ukea dropped his smile and calm face,
Mon Ukea: About this drug crack down operation, Me and my associate expecting you to do something about it. Your brother, Lord Yane, seems to be incompetent to deal with such a matter.
Lord Erefeild: What does an outsider have to do with our affair?
Mon Ukea: Careful now, my Lord; a lot of your supporters are heavily involved. What do you think if a big part of their wealth suddenly vanishes overnight?
Erefeild pauses; he stays silent as he looks at Mon Ukea.
Lord Erefeild: I'll be sure to do the best of my ability to solve it.
Mon Ukea went silent; he looked at Erefeild, then he switched his tone to heavy and slightly angry.
Mon Ukea: I don't think I'm satisfied with that answer,
Lord Erefeild: It is the wish of the king; respecting one decision is a….
Mon Ukea cut him off.
Mone Ukea: Anyway, about a few weeks ago, Your Lord Erefeild has requested a loan from our empire. What do you think I should do about it? I think there are a few details that violate our regulations.
Erefeild's eyes narrow,
Lord Erefeild: You can rest assured, the operation will not cause any major effect; it will cause some minor inconvenience, but everything will resume normal before anything major occurs
Mon Ukea smiled and laughed slightly.
Mon Ukea: Now that this is something I am looking forward to, your supporter will be thrilled to hear that
Lord Erefeild: Know I that I must say for the last time, you have crossed too many lines, your excellency. The Line that I now know like the back of my hand. A man needs a rest just like a city needs a sleep; if a man works too much, his god might came to welcom him a lot faster than he might expect.
Mon Ukea laughs,
Mon Ukea: Hahha, fortunately I happen to serve under a very generous god,
Lord Erefeil: I must ask you to leave.
Mon Ukea stands up and as grab the door handle, and open, then turns around.
Mon Ukea: Tomorrow morning, my right-hand man will buy me a fine and well-reserved wine. I expect I will be able to enjoy that wine's incredible flavor, and you, my Lord, are invited if you have time.
Mon Ukean then walks out and closes the door.
Erefeild stares at the door for a few minutes, then stares at the wall; he takes a deep breath.
Outside the capital, Marcus is sitting down under a tree, resting as he enjoy the breeze of the winding blowing gently. He then looks around and sees Liatart standing and staring at the capital. Marcus stands up and walks toward Liatart.
Marcus: What are you looking at? Are you seeing something from afar?
Liatart: I just felt warm,
Marcus: You mean the wind?
Liatart: Yes, and also this view of the grass waving in this gentle wind. If you were to lie down right now and close your eyes, wouldn't it make you want to sleep
Marcus: Yes, I do feel the gentle warmth
Liatart: It's felt like home, but instead of a home in front of me, I see a decaying wall of a capital
Marcus looks at Liatart, then stares back at the capital.
Marcus: But that is about to change; that wall will finally be returned to its original well-polished stone
Liatart: You are sweating,
Marcus hesitates, as his voice sounds slightly shaken.
Marcus: I know, but there might be a miracle that will help form our victory
Liatart: How are you intent on approaching it now?
Marcus: I have already informed my brother and other supporting houses. I may have failed on my part, but there is still a way for us to walk.
Liatart: Well, that miracle has already arrived, but not just in a form that you might expect.
Marcus: What do you mean? Do you have something in your mind?
Liatart: I'm not gonna say that you should stop the operation itself; I'm just suggesting that you should do it from top down. Take it slow; instead of you racing against time, let yourself be the assistant of time instead.
Marcus: Huh, I don't get what you mean
Liatart: If everything went smoothly, you don't need to understand it,
Liatart then walked away as Marcus shouted at him.
Marcus: Give me what's on your mind,
Liatart then looked back at Marcus.
Liatart: If you want to see me, I'll be in the forest southwest. Head straight into the forest, and you will see an abandoned house there. Look around a little, and you will find me,