After Carl and his people left. Driff then proceeded to wake Marx up.

"Huh? Ha? Wait what, were am i?!" (Marx)

Driff seeing the flustered Marx couldn't help but sigh.

"Haaa, were on the road going back to Ashton." (Driff)

Marx noticing Driff, then said.

"Wait, going back to Ashton? Weren't we on that unknown force's so called ship? Also were we not suppose to ask questions about those people?"

Marx throwing questions again without allowing the other party to answer, was ignored by Driff who started to walk back to Ashton.

"I'll tell you the contents while we walk" (Driff)

Marx who had the urge to go back to get his 'questions' answered suddenly stopped when he heard Driff say 'contents'. Right after that he immediately followed Driff and started bugging him saying "come tell me the contents of your talks" or "why are you silent are we not friends and friends does not keep secrets to each other no, so tell me the contents now" phrases.

Driff just laughed at all this bugging. Surely enough, he couldn't get enough of his old friend.

.....

"I see, so those were all the contents you guys talked about huh"(Marx)

"Yeah that's all we talked about"(Driff)

"A country in the east. Hmm ...... I don't think there's a country in the east, don't you think that person was lying?" (Marx)

"No he wasn't lying, im sure of it since i used a high grade truth spell on him secretly." (Driff)

"That high?" (Marx)

"That high" said Driff with a serious face.

And then a moment of silence came in.

"Alright lets leave it at that then instead any idea what 'science' is?"(Marx)

"Not sure, perhaps the empires that concentrate on technologies may know since this 'Philippines' is also concentrated on 'technology'."(Driff)

Both entered a moment of silence once more and then sighed.

"Whatever, we should just report this to the royal families of the republic. This is way too much for us to handle." (Driff)

"I suppose so" said Marx while summoning a bird type familiar.

Driff did the same and summoned his own bird familiar.

The two then wrote magic letters on this 'situation'. One for marx, two for Driff. And sended the letters using familiars.

Now all they have to do is to wait.

.....

Meanwhile in the Marsus kingdom's castle a somewhat tense atmosphere pervaded it.

"Princess Illa a message from the empire has come" (butler)

"Quick let me see!" (Princess Illa)

Princess Illa, a daughter of one of the royal families in the Tridom republic. She was also the sole successor to the throne of the Marsus kingdom. One of the Tridom republic.

And now shes reading a letter that came from the Pilanda empire, showing a serious expression.

"Tsk, have mother and father read this letter?" (Princess Illa)

"Yes they have" said the butler nervously.

"And?" (Princess Illa)

"They are awaiting your decision princess" (Maid)

"The empire is crazy, we had already compromised as much as we can. Offered most of what we can offer. And now they want the whole Republic!!! That is just crazy what do they think of us." thought the princess.

"What does the two other kingdoms think about it?" (Princess Illa)

"They want to compromise..." said the butler weakly.

When Princess Illa heard that, she paled even more from her pearl white skin.

"What do i do now?" thought the princess to herself.

While she was contemplating on what to do a bright blue bird came through her window.

The bright blue bird then pecked on her shoulder.

When she noticed, she thought "What's an avalin bird doing here?" then she noticed the magic node on its feet.

When she pressed the node a letter in the form of light came to her view. The contents of the letter said.

"This is Grand Mage Marx. I sent this letter due to immediate important actions. With the Royal Archer Driff,we had an encounter of an unknown country on the east of the Tridom republic. We were discovered but no attacks have been made. Both the people of that country and us have answered questions from one another. They also want to form diplomatic relations with the republic so this requires immediate action. We await your reply."

Princess Illa was surprised from the contents of the letter. "An unknown country from the east of the republic? Was there a country there in the first place? From what i know there was no country in the east of the republic." thought the princess.

"Never mind that, first i'll have to deal with this then i'll think about that." thought Princess Illa.

Right after contemplating for a bit, she said.

"Tell mother and father i have decided to postpone our decision." said the princess. Then she looked at the bird and said "I have decided to do the diplomatic relations to know further about this unknown country also relay my words and send this message to my father and mother." said Princess Illa.

.....

In a private lounge on the best restaurant in Ashton, an old man and a man in his thirties, talking to each other.

If one takes a look closely, one could see that the old man was Grand Mage Marx, while the other one, in his thirties, was Driff.

"Hmm ... when do you think will they send back a reply?" (Marx)

" Soon, i think." said Driff with a non- caring face.

"What with that face." said Marx with a stern face.

"Nothing much, i mean do you really expect to receive a reply that fast. We just sent the message this afternoon. You know the royal families of the republic likes to take their time. Don't i have a point Marx?" said Driff with the still non-caring face.

"Hm, you do have a point" said Marx with a look of understanding.

While the two were talking and eating three birds came into view and went to them.

The both of them were surprised because this means that a reply has been given immediately.

"Well ...... that was fast"(Marx)

Driff proceeded to read the replies of the royal families. While reading, he started to have a serious face. Marx, noticing his expression asked.

"What's there reply?"(Marx)

"The Biscot kingdom and Lina kingdom refused the diplomatic connection with the country Philippines. Only the Marsus kingdom agreed." (Driff)

"What? Did they not understand the importance on this matter?" (Marx)

"Why bother with some unknown country. We have the powerful empire on our side. Is there reply"(Driff)

"That's preposterous, the empire only rips things from us! Are they fools who have been blinded by the power from the empire?!"(Marx)

"Lower your voice Marx. With the situation at hand, things won't go to well. Also from the reply of the Marsus kingdom. The situation is very bad." (Driff)

"What's there reply?" (Marx)

"We agreed to know about this unknown country....." Driff stopping in his words had a face of exasperation.

"What's with that face?! Continue i need to know as well." urged Marx.

"So that when things go for the worst, my little princess can escaped from the empire and go to that country.

Signed King Braum of the Marsus kingdom." (Driff)

Marx and Driff became silent. As silent as the night can be.

.....

(5 days after)

Trade city Ashton, the still prosperous city of the republic, as always still filled with people from different places. However it seems to be 'filled' more than what it normally is.

Soon, what came into the peoples view was two airships, the airships looked grand.

What surprised the people was that the two airships had the insignia of two of the kingdoms in the republic.

The insignia of the Biscot kingdom and the insignia of Lina kingdom.

With such an unexpected event happening right before their very own eyes. It instantly became the talk of the town.

Taverns, restaurants, bars. People talked about the reason for such an entry.

Although the royal families would come to the city sometimes. It won't be this grand. The only explanation the people could think of is that some important guest will arrive at the Trade city Ashton.

Turns out, the talks were right. Few hours after the grand entry of the Biscot and Lina kingdom a much bigger airship came into view.

It was also escorted by what seems to be an aerial warship, and it wasn't just one but there was 6 of it.

All this ships had one insignia. The insignia had 4 black wings and at the center there appears to be a medal with 4 colored orbs on it.
(Author note: challenger medal in league of legends is what it most likely to look like)

When the people saw the insignia, they couldn't believe their eyes.

This was the insignia of the Pilanda Empire. The Empire itself. They were so shocked that none of the people and the citizens of the city uttered a single word.

Normally the empire doesn't come to kingdoms or republics with such a grandeur entry, because if it does do so, then it only means that the said kingdom or republic is recognized by the empire or will make the said kingdom or republic its vassal state.

Being a vassal state of the empire would also give high benefits to the said state and will enter its very own prosperity period. And this period lasts for years and years to come.

This explains the shocked expressions of every one on the city.

Of Course that only shows the bright side of the empire.

....

(At the airport)

"Heeeh, so this is Trade city Ashton. It sure does look prosperous. No wonder those old men wants it."

The person that said this had a seductive tone. So seductive that any man that hears it would have crazy imaginations about her.

"Hahaha, madam with this city. The empire would have the additional economic power to contend against the Triam empire." said an officer.

"I know that" said the seductive voice.

"The more technologies we have, the more we can create magic technology. Perhaps we could even surpass the Dragonov empire in such an aspect."(officer looking guy)

"Could?" said the woman with a seductive voice. Giving the officer a cold look.

The officer shuddered and said "Im sorry madam its a 'will'."

"Good then" said the woman with a seductive voice.

The woman looked at the city once more and laughed. Perhaps the laughed sounded seductively but all those within the ship that heard shuddered at the thought at what this woman was about to do in this city.

(Word count: 1780 words)