On one of the fortress' ins, there was a man groaning.

"oouhuhhuuu..."

"Hm? Hmm?!"

"Hm?! Huh?! We're am I!!?"

"Oh, the volunteer is awake."

"Call the Captain."

"Hey you! Where am I?! Why am I tied up?!"

"And please call him fast please."

"Hey!!! Are you listening to me???!!!"

"Shut him!"

After that was said, a fist then came right into Zora's stomach.

"Moguu!!"

"Noisy little brat...."

"Alright, turn the lights off and give this guy the spotlight."

The whole room then turned dark, the only light source remaining was then left on Zora himself.

"The Captain's here."

The captain then entered, followed by him were two more people holding suitcases.

"Captain."

"You can go now lieutenant. I'll handle things from here."

"Roger."

The men that was here before then left the room, the only ones that remained we're Zora, Captain Agustin and the people he brought.

"Wake him up."

One of the men that Agustin brought with him then took a pail of water, that was prepared beforehand, and splashed it all over Zora.

"Khuhah! It's cold!"

"Good. You're awake now."

"Huh?! Who are you!?"

"You don't need to know me. But I know you."

"And you're going to help me with something."

.......

*Marsus kingdom*

* A forest near the West border Fortress*

*Whirrr, whirrr*

"Go!go!go!"

"Green light! Go!"

"Captain Agustin. Please give our regards to your men and to your leaders."

"Thank you so much for helping us in our predicament."

"It's alright. No need to be modest on such things."

As of now, Captain Agustin have already gave the order to leave as there were still some problems that needed to be tensed to.

The Marsus kingdom delegates have come to see them off, however, they are quite hesitant to do so.

"How about stay for now then leave tommorow. We still haven't repaid you guys yet."

"We don't need anything but permissions and that's it. As of others, we don't really need them."

"Moreover, we have been called back due to an issue. So, we are still required to return nonetheless."

"Also, don't worry. Our checkpoint is just near the kingdom. If you are unsure about your situation. You can go there and tell your circumstances."

"As of now, the Marsus kingdom is our only ally. So cooperation and communication between our two countries is a must."

"Alright. We will take our leave now. Goodbye."

After all of these statements. The delegates were left there standing with an dumbfounded expression.

He just answered all possible topics we could have possibly think of!!!!

......

"What a tiring bunch."

"You can't do anything about it captain. We did help them in their predicament."

"I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about their so called "reward"."

"Why? Is it bad to get rewarded captain?"

"Haaa. Their time frame is set around medieval Europe. You guys could see that from there architecture alone."

"And?"

"I fear that such rewards could be..... Marriage."

"......"

"Pf-"

"100 - pushups for you. I'll whip you if you don't do it."

"What?!"

......

*Trade city, Ashton*

*Tridom republic's pavilion tea garden*

"What's  taking them long. It's been three days already."

"Perhaps they are having problems taking down the kingdom."

"Che! Are you looking down on my men's capabilities?!"

"I am speaking for everyone. But perhaps, your men's capabilities are indeed lacking. Hmm... No. Their on the level of peasants."

"You!!!"

"Shut it!"

The moment this was said, the two kings immediately shrunk.

Even if they're king's of their respective kingdoms, they knew they can't go above the empire itself.

However,

Veras herself also felt conflicted at this.

It has been two weeks since they sent those armies to the Marsus kingdom.

However, they haven't heard anything for three days now.

They normally send letters everyday. If they were not to send any messages back, it only means that they have engaged the enemy.

However, with the Empire's capabilities. That should have ended fast enough.

Moreover, she sent a well known legion from the empire itself. And that Legion's commander had himself a spot in the Empire's power list. Also he was dedicated to the empire. He would not slack to report everyday.

So,

Where did that dedication go?

Where were the reports?

As she was thinking about this. One of the exquisite glassware on the tea table suddenly blew up to shreds.

"Ohou!!"

"What-t-the?!"

The two kings stood up in panic. The sudden explosion of the glassware immediately made them aware that someone uninvited was with them.

"An assassin!!"

"They dare scare us!!"

Seeing the rants of the two kings, Veras then looked at them coldly.

"Leave."

The two kings looked at Veras exasperatedly.

Why was she mad?

There is an assassin nearby. Should she not be alarmed?

Unless....

"What are you doing there standing? I said, leave!"

"Hiii!!"

"U-understood!"

"La-lady Veras. We'll take our leave now. Thank you for your giving us your time."

After the two kings left, hurriedly. Without looking back, Veras then said,

"Nina, Mina, any news?"

Heads low, the two remained silent.

Normally, such an action would be considered as treason, for it would create misunderstandings. And such, problems could come in.

However, she could feel it.

She could feel their fear and dread.

She couldn't believe this!

These two were trained to be ruthless, emotionless, calculating, and such.

But fear and dread?

Something must have definitely happened wrong!

"Speak!!" Shouted Veras. This time, she said this in a much more colder tone.

She must know what happened!

Sensing the urge in Veras' voice. One of them finally spoke.

"We have found  out the whereabouts of the woman named Lucilia."

After saying this, the fear and dread she was feeling earlier suddenly dissappeared.

This in turn though confused her. Was she imagining it?

Nevertheless she still replied.

"Huh? The female explorer?"

"Yes. That one. Her hometown is in Port of White sand. It was reported that she was currently on voyage of someplace."

"And?"

"The people we sent to "meet" up with her, were presumed dead."

Veras was confused,

Dead?

"What do you mean?"

"When White sand received news that the men we told to meet up with her came. The moment they finally caught up. Remains of ships were what was stood there."

"Wait. Are you saying that all of the ships there were destroyed?"

"Not all. It seems that Captain Lucilia's ship survived as her ship's trademark was not found."

"I see. Then, where is this place that the female explorer was going to?"

"No one knows."

Went on an voyage but didn't tell anyone about it?

Certainly acting sneaky.

"Alright then, continue investigating. Dismissed."

After Veras said this, she then went in and grabbed a tea cup.

However, she felt that Nina and Mina's presences were still there.

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes."

"Speak."

After she said this, the fear and dread she felt earlier came back.

" A Demon have destroyed the combined army!"