King Julius was sitting on a chair in a palace meeting room. He leaned back with a tired face. Meanwhile, the remaining nine high council members stared at him tensely.
Six other members have joined Vorn with their families and allies. Some did agree with Vorn's path. Some view defending the kingdom of Durcia as something futile.
This kingdom has lost more than half of its territory because more and more cities declared joining the empire of Vorn.
"Croise city has declared they are part of the Vorn empire." A council member, short and bald, explained in a solemn tone. "And they are getting bolder against the officials still loyal to the Durcia Kingdom. Some have even killed them. I repeat it was the humans who killed the officials, not the demons."
"The effect of Vorn's propaganda is getting crazier. It seems that the joining of the prophet has such an extraordinary impact. It makes people easily swayed." One of the female council members responded.
Another male member let out a scornful laugh. "I told you that she is a fake prophet. There's no way a real prophet would side with the demons."
"Even if she is a fake, no one can deny that her influence is strong…."
"Maybe we have to do mandatory military service. We take one male per family." King Julius suddenly muttered, triggering the room to fall into complete silence. "I hate this idea. But we won't be able to win by any means other than by attacking them with great force."
"Unfortunately, that won't be effective." Someone's voice appeared as the door opened. A figure in black and white armor entered the room, accompanied by a young woman wearing a short white dress. She looked terrified. "In the end, the recruits only trained briefly and had no fighting spirit. Meanwhile, our opponent has an army of highly skilled demons."
"Who are you! How dare you be here!!!" A female council member stood up.
"Security!!! Arrest this person!!!"
"It's useless." The figure chuckled, sat on one of the chairs, and put his feet on the table. "They are playing with my monsters. No one will come here."
Some members stood up and tried to escape, but Fergus sent them into the wall with his thrust magic.
"Come on, why do you want to leave your guests? Haven't you nobles learned your manners?" The armored figure commented in a casual tone. Meanwhile, the others are terrified to see three council members unconscious on the floor.
King Julius got up from the chair. "Who are you? And what do you want?"
"Ah, no wonder you don't know me. My appearance has indeed changed." The armored figure laughed. "I'm Fergus Algrave, and I'd like to make a great offer."
The council members only responded with faces filled with terror.
"You don't believe me? You need proof?" Fergus also got up, opening a portal above the large round conference table. "I can summon a monster that will amaze all of you."
"Enough." King Julius raised his arms, trying to stay strong, even though his legs were shaking with fear. "We don't need your proof. Just tell me what your offer is."
The council members looked at the king. Some even tried to speak without voice. The king could already guess they were asking why he would listen to this person.
What else could they do?
"I have the key to making humans much faster and stronger. However, I need a lot of resources to make improvements." Fergus started walking, running his hand across the table. "I guarantee you will have power that exceeds the demons."
The atmosphere became silent again. The council members and the king only exchanged glances.
"Damn it." Fergus snorted. "You don't have any other choice, do you? You can't possibly ask Ashenburg for help! If you still want the kingdom of Durcia to exist, do as I say!"
Fergus stopped so close to the king that the council members held their breath.
The dark magus stretched out his hand. King Julius gulped, only looking at it.
Getting no response, Fergus tilted his head. The dark magus was about to speak again when the king finally shook his hand.
"No, your highness!" The council member with a bald head and short body protested. "We don't know what will happen..."
His words were cut off abruptly by Fergus firing his thrust magic at him. That man's body flew at high speed and hit the wall at the room's far end. He fell, his head bleeding hard, leaving a long red trail on the wall.
Fergus' maid fell to her knees, looked at the large pool of blood on the floor, then screamed. "Kyaaaaa!!!"
Paying no heed to that, Fergus tightened his handshake, causing the king to flinch in pain. "For a better tomorrow, your majesty."
***
[Vorn's POV]
I sat in my meeting chair while massaging my head. I just heard a report from my intruder in the royal palace of Durcia. Fergus had arrived at that place and struck some deal with the king.
Of course, I intended to ambush him by teleporting there with the others. But something unexpected appeared in my game UI.
[The teleport function to the Durcia Kingdom's territory has become unavailable.]
"Would someone like Fergus be able to block my teleport ability?" I asked Ayre, who was also sitting in this room. "Suddenly, it became impossible for me to teleport to Durcia."
The shapeshifter general was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Perhaps, Your Highness. But I think that possibility is so little."
I looked up. Maybe that cosmic being did this. He just wanted things to be more interesting.
What a jerk.
"I deduce that Fergus is already in Durcia, my lord?" Karl, who was also with me, chimed in.
"Yeah." I keep looking up. "He mentioned military conscription and the super soldier project. Maybe it has something to do with the human-to-demon potion he stole."
"Aah…" Ayre sighed again. "I was really careless. Lexi asked me to experiment with the infusion of ragmonuk metal into the potion…. I should have kept it in a safe place."
"We must take action immediately." Karl continued. "We don't know how fast Fergus can refine that potion. Conscription means forcing people to become soldiers. Imagine if he could gather so many people and turn them into demons."
"And the issue of rebellion isn't over either." I massage my forehead again. "We really should build a bigger army."
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