Life seemed to be going as usual for the Emperor.
Jircniv, the Bloody Emperor as people called him, was in his office, guarded by his four Imperial Knights discussed the internal affairs of the Empire with Fluder Paladyne, the Court Magician and advisor.
Fluder was respected and feared throughout the world as the strongest magic caster who could cast upto 7th tier, a realm of magic heard only in tales of Legends. He was an old man, his white beard stretched down untill it's tip touched the floor. His eyes held a sense of wisdom only years of learning gave.
"So, what do say about the Noble, teacher?" Jircniv asked.
Jircniv was said to be a ruthless and tyrannical emperor but only to his enemies. For those he found worth in keeping, he was kind and generous. He was humble enough to not let his power get into his head, giving the Nation a prosperous era in his rule.
Jircniv often called Fluder teacher because from his young age, the court mage had taught him and made him what he was today, the emperor still had respect and gratitude towards the mage for it.
"An Old ruin near the Kingdom...if any wealth is scavenged, then it could be beneficial. Consequently, we are lacking some funds to run few of our operations." The mage spoke, stroking his beard.
"I was thinking the same, though it seems he also hired the Adventurer Momon. Wonder where a Viscount got such luxury to hire four Mithril ranked Workers and an Adamantite Adventurer team." Jircniv commented, a sharp glint in his eyes as he pondered something.
"Hmn..." Fluder didn't say anything, knowing what his student was thinking.
Suddenly a large earth quake disrupted the calm. The whole chamber rocked as the chandelier, threatened to fall on them, before it's glasses broke first.
"Wh-what is happening!!" The earthquake soon subsided as one of the imperial knights questioned.
"Dragons!! dragons have landed on the courtyard!!" A guard ran inside the chamber as he screamed.
"Dragons?" The same knight copied as he ran outside the baranda to check, the Emperor and Fluder following him.
Walking outside, they saw a large yellow dragon crouched in the middle as hundreds of soldiers tried the contain it with spears.
"What on earth is a Dragon Doing here.."
" Is that a child on its back?" Jircniv asked as he spoke two small figures resembling teens hoped down the massive dragon.
"Dark elves...." Fluder muttered as he stroked his beard.
"Greatings everyone!! My name is Aura Bella Fiore! And this is my brother, Mare Bello Fiore! We are the messenger of The Sorcerer King! The Leader of the Supreme Ones!" One of the dark elves, who was dressed in boyish clothes announced cheerfully.
"Sorcerer King?" Jircniv muttered, he didn't remember any King with that denomination, neither did the Supreme One farce.
"Is the Emperor here? Emperor Jircniv!?" Aura called out, but to her disappointment no one answered.
"Well! As the the emperor I guess he would be up there, so I guess if you are watching this, then let this be a warning. Mare." Continuing with her words, she gestured to Mare.
"Haa , humph!" Lifting her staff in the air, Mare struck it down on the ground with force. Suddenly another earthquake occurred but this time, the earth seemed to tear itself apart as all the soldiers on the floor were engulfed by the chasm that formed.
"Ahh!!?" "Help!!" "Noooo!"
Screams were heard and quickly dispersed as the ground rapidly contracted, closing the huge cavern that had just swallowed hundreds of humans in a matter of seconds.
Silence fell upon the Courtyard as the remaining few standing on the baranda looked at the spot... feeling happy that they weren't there.
"Is the Emperor still not here? Then-" before Aura could finish, a hurried voice stopped her.
"Wait! Wait! I am here!! I am the Emperor, Jircniv. Who are you?" Jircniv asked, his worry palpable as he didn't even think what would happen if he delayed any further now.
He thought remaining silent and observing their actions would help him gauge their intentions but he severely underestimated their power, who could have guessed that, that seemingly meek little dark elf dressed in female clothes would be responsible for the death of Hundreds.
"Ah! There you are!? Why didn't you respond to my call earlier then?" Aura asked, pouting her cheeks in a cute manner that might give anyone a chuckle.
But the other party had different opinions.
"I am sorry for that. Could you please clarify your intentions with me?" Jircniv spoke, his nerves still shaken by what just happened.
"We are the loyal servants of the Sorcerer King. One of your nobles had dared to send humans down to the Tomb our God calls his home, soiling the sacred grounds and disrespecting him greatly.
He wants a compensation for disturbing his peace and quiet, so he has asked you to meet him in the Tomb. You are given three days to meet him. If you don't comply then whats happened here can be easy replicated a hundredfold easily."
Aura's childish and joyful demeanor, completely contradicted her message. It was a direct threat to the Emperor, either you come and say sorry or watch your nation crumble.
In other times, this threat would have been met with fierce resistance but today, Jircniv felt that agreeing now would be better. He had just now witnessed the power of the so-called servant of the Sorcerer King.
And he now wished to see the strength this Supreme One had to command such a servant.
"I agree! I will met your Sorcerer King three days from now."
"Good choice! Well then, our work here is done. See ya!" With that the two dark elf flew away on the back of the Dragon.
"....."
Silence remained in the courtyard as they watched the dot in the sky which, a few moments before, gave them an Ultimatum.
"Sigh... reimburse the family of the fallen soldiers. Make sure no-one hears of this incident." After a few long silence Jircniv spoke as he gave his orders.
"Understood." The minister responded.
"Teacher, if I responded to that Elf's call earlier, would they have spared the soldiers?" Jircniv asked rhetorically.
"I don't know..." Fluder replied absentmindedly, his thoughts drifting to this Sorcerer King.
"Bring me the head of that noble." Jircniv spoke as he headed to his office, a mountain of work now dumped on his head. How was he supposed to silence the news? He had to try.
If the news spread that an Unknown dragon flew inside the Courtyard of the Emperor, one of the most secure place in the world then this will likely lead to chaos and fools trying to use it as an opportunity to try their luck assassinating him.
Though he knew that the commotion likely had already spread as no-one can unconsciously ignore the large dragon that flew Above them. Best he could do is to suppress the news of the killings, to avoid uproars and fear.
While Jircniv prepared for this meeting with the Sorcerer King, another trouble was brewing in the Slane Theocracy.
It has been almost a week since the first infected person entered Slane.
The number of infected people entering the Nation didn't cease. As they spread the virus, the other infected had also spread it en mass.
By now, almost the whole half of the nation was somehow infected, either by contact, water or air.
By modern day standards, such a virus was terrifying, even with modern detection systems, a rapidly spreading virus cannot be contained easily, neither can it be eradicated.
As for whether the virus went outside the nation wasn't too difficult to answer, merchants and travellers indirectly spread this pandemic outside the nation but due to some unknown reasons, this virus's power weakens, and after some time dies out.
The mastermind of all these, Hyortr was keenly aware of how much is infected and their status, it was as if he could sense every person carrying the virus.
This was only possible due to one of his Job class, Plague Harbinger. Although the name suggests that it's about Bacterial related diseases, it encompasses almost all biologically relevant microbes.
Deep in the Abyssal Forest of the 4th floor, in the Abyss Temple, sat on his throne of Stone and Vines, Hyortr planned.
"Now that almost half the nation is effected, I can begin the second phase." Hyortr contemplated.
'But after the Jircniv arc.'
His thoughts drifting to the scene in the anime where Jircniv with his entourage enters the throne room, the look of awe and fear depicted in the series.
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