"Raise."

"Kuh!"

"I fold."

"Me too. I fold."

"Hahaha. How about you Eman? Wanna fold too?"

"Tsk. Commander. Don't expect me to give in just like that. The bet is too good. I must persevere!"

"Raise."

"Ack!"

This was Brando and his team. It was currently breaktime in the city's workshop.

They had already finished rebooting the boats systems and had also finished repairing what was damaged by the elves and dwarves.

Seeing as they can't do anything more. Brando offered to play poker.

The team's scouts and some of the frontliners rejected the offer but instead, just told Brando, with bright smiles, that they will gather 'intel'.

Brando looked at them exasperatedly and just shooed them away.

"People with their mysterious hobbies." Was what was on Brando's mind when this happened.

The team's medics and mechanics though stayed and accepted the offer.

And now, it ended in this.

"Hehehehehe."

"Give it up Eman. It's useless to fight against the commander."

"Yeah, yeah. Ysa is right. Just give it up."

"You guys lost against commander right. So shouldn't you be encouraging me to defeat him? Why are discouraging me?!"

"Because, Eman. They are smarter than you."

"Guh!"

"Well you guys are very carefree."

Brando and co then looked at the source of where that statement came from.

"How was your afternoon stroll Nievas?" Brando asked.

Organizing herself on the group, Nievas replied blankly.

"Nothing much. It's the usual lively city. But i did notice something peculiar though."

Raising an eyebrow, with an expression of interest, Brando asked.

"Peculiar?  Mind telling us what's been peculiar?"

"It's the citizens. Eyes would be dropped on us like were some superstars when we appear on the public."

Hearing this, Brando simply smiled.

"So, the news finally had spread to the citizens then huh."

When Brando said this, he didn't tone down his voice, so every person present near him heard what he said.

After saying this, Nievas and the rest looked at him questioningly.

"What do you mean commander?"

"Yeah commander. What news?"

Seeing the eager expressions of his comrades in arms. Brando smiled and then snapped his fingers exuberantly.

"Alright then. I'll send you guys the video feed but you must view it privately."

"Privately? Why so commander?" Asked Ysa.

"You could say that...... It contains something confidential. Although it might be baseless rumours to the citizens though."

After Brando said this, he got up, and then left the group while waving his hand at them.

"Eman. You win. Congratulations."

Then, he disappeared from their sights.

Hearing Brando's words. They sat there confused.

Some moments later though, a loud drum rang in their minds.

"Wait.... I won.... I won against the commander! Wahahahaha!!"

......

"Must you leave this early?"

"I'm really sorry. But we have our own orders to follow. Don't worry though, we'll leave some men to maintain order to all the prisoners you guys have."

"Our prisoners? Aren't they you're prisoners. Why does it feel like your throwing the responsibility to us." Thought the Marsus kingdom delegates.

As they were talking, Lia was looking at the Marsus kingdom delegates and at Captain Agustin intently.

"Ever since our capture. I only saw those men with weird clothing, no, perhaps those are uniforms. But seeing the Marsus kingdom delegates here....."

"Then what's the identity of our captors then?"

"Where did this people come from? Whose country are they?"

As she was muddling on these thoughts,  Gart then suddenly whispered on her ear.

"Lia, what are you doing just standing there? We need to keep moving."

Surprised by the sudden engagement Gart has done, Lia yelped as she fell back to one of the people, or perhaps, guards that was escorting them to wherever they are to go.

"I-im sorry. Please don't do anything to me. It was an accident."

The guard then looked at her (although she couldn't see his face since the guard is wearing an tactical military helmet) and said.

"I'm not gonna do anything to you. Just get back on the line as to avoid further problems on your side."

Right after that, the guard then proceeded to move on and left Lia there standing , with her face showing an unexplainable expression.

Seeing this, Gart approached Lia and nudged her to keep moving.

"Hey. What's with that expression of yours?"

"Gart?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't you think that the actions and attitude that the guards are giving us are different?"

Confused by this question, Gart asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Look. Normally, when an person of an enemy kingdom or empire is captured. It would be subjected to ruthless treatment and the like. But to these people, they haven't done any of those associated ruthlessness."

Hearing this, Gart couldn't help but nod in realization.

Lia was right. Ever since they were captured, nothing bad have happened to them. The supposed treatment that captives were suppose to have was not being done here.

Well, that was until.....

"I don't accept this treatment...."

"This type of treatment is wrong. I'm of the noble class. My treatment should be better."

"My treatment should be better!!!"

Lia and Gart looked for the source of this voice. No, it wasn't just them. There were many others that also looked for the source.

Soon, the origin of the voice was found.

"Son of Count Rique. Zora..."

"That fool... He's going to kill us all."

Lia immediately took her sight of from Zora after taking a quick glance.

Count Rique. A count from the Biscot kingdom. He was known for his power and tactfulness. A man that isn't easily to be trifled with.

"It seemed like Count Rique sent his son huh." Muttered Gart.

Yeah that's right. Count Rique sent his son.

When war situations, like this one occurs, sons or daughters of nobles are also sent. The reason being for us, sons and daughters of nobles, to gain real life experience.

"My treatment should be better!!!! I'm the son of Count Rique do you know that!!!! If my father found out about this he will surely have you and your family slaughtered!!!"

Every person that heard this couldn't help but looked at Count Rique's son exasperatedly.

"This idiot."

"We're doomed.... We're doomed..."

As Zora, Count Rique's son, was ranting. Some guards already began approaching Zora's position.

Seeing this, Lia couldn't help but somewhat anticipate the upcoming situation.

As the guards approached Zora, Zora on the other hand pointed at them.

"You there. Get me something to eat and something to drink. I want it now, and don't keep me waiting."

The guards however, didn't follow what he said.

Seeing this, Zora began throw threats and the like. Seeing as his threats didn't work, he began to reach for a rock that was on the ground and put himself in a throwing position.

But before he could throw it....

"Muguh!!! Eeeeeereerere!!!"

He fell to the ground. Shaking nonstop. Sparks of lightning, perhaps electricity, was flowing on his body.

Everyone that saw this couldn't help but stare dumbfounded.

"Wh-what happened??!!"