“Breliege Tactic… Breliege Tactic…” Demetrius muttered to himself as he ventured down the hallways of the castle. He repeated the name like a mantra under his breath, as if a moment without it leaving his lips would erase the concept from his mind as a whole.

  After learning everything from Emperor Katsuki and being presented with his current mission, he figured that learning more of the strategy the emperor had mentioned would give him the upper hand in the approaching situation. If those rebels in the Adligon Clans had used it to overthrow Bj?rn Olson all those years ago, what would stop anyone like Kael or Felonious from attempting it again?

  But as Demetrius’s thoughts wandered, he couldn’t help but smile a little. If he were to gather more covert knowledge of the tactic, he could anticipate Kael and Felonious’s movements if they were involved, taking disciplinary action before any blood was shed. As he headed down the stairs leading to the stony underground chambers of the castle, navigating through the countless tunnels and moist air, he shivered and wrapped his tail around his hips.

  When he had come down into these chambers minutes ago to fish those volumes for Emperor Katsuki, he hadn’t felt such a sensation before. It felt like every hair on his body had stuck up on its end, and a bitter coldness swept through the entire chamber. He suppressed the chattering of his teeth as he navigated deeper and deeper through these underground systems.

  After walking for some time in the darkness, Demetrius eventually came across a large set of wooden doors. He paused for a bit, brushing off his outfit and the dust that had accumulated, and took a deep breath before proceeding forward. He extended both of his hands, using his might to push the large doors outward. A thin stripe of light from the candles gradually widened, shining upon the dust-covered shelves that stretched up into the darkness.

  Under the guidance of his candlelight, Demetrius moved forward, running his paw-like hands along the volumes and spines of the many ancient books. He had seen volumes about dragons and the various species one might find, ancient relics said to drive one to madness, and even myths and legends of primordial creatures—creatures said to be creations of Mother Nature Herself.

  He eventually stumbled across a series of books nestled deep within the library, near the back of the room where much dust had been collected, and some holes had been dug into the shelves and floor where mice rushed about.

  At that moment, Demetrius’s heart leapt from his chest as a brown, fuzzy mouse emerged from its home in a bookshelf, scurrying across the stone floor and receding into the darkness of another hole in the wall. Demetrius had always hated mice. Often, Emperor Katsuki would send him and other servants to clean up messes in closets and banquet halls, but where there’s food or messes, there would also be mice.

  He hated those creatures with a burning passion.

  Demetruis’s brown furry hand wrapped around a few volumes, plucking them from the shelves and placing them on a table far away from the dark corner—and far away from any mice.

  He sat down in a wooden chair situated beside the table, which creaked and groaned like an undead spirit with every infinitesimal movement of his. Demetrius opened the first book, which was mainly excerpts and diary entries from soldiers across different wars.

  The Khorvithian War wasn’t the only war to shake up the world in the last half a millennium. Many bite-sized conflicts had ravaged the world, like the Pact Rift, a multi-week conflict between the many bordering nations and pocket districts circling the Pliniege Sea. They had sworn an oath to protect and help one another in times of crisis, but after one of them rebelled for their own personal and political power, they resorted to mindless infighting to see which one would reach the top of the totem pole.

  However, this war led to the destruction of every one of the pocket districts that had settled, resulting in financial, agricultural, and social despair for centuries to come. Two hundred years after these conflicts, the fighting of the Khorvithian War would destroy the rest of the colonies, reducing their homes and fields to nothing but ashes to be remembered by.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Demetrius flipped deeper into the book, stumbling across a journalistic account written by a general in the Adligon Clans’ army—a man named Thimus Holt. The account described in agonizing detail the horrors and despair of the war, with the general reflecting on the lives that had been lost at the hands of Bj?rn Olson and his barbaric, heedless military tactics.

  This entry also discussed the Breliege Tactic, and judging by the diction and tone of the entry, it was very well written in the mid-to-late stages of the ongoing operation. Bj?rn Olson has just elected one of the conspirators as a head general and commander of military operations following rigorous tests. According to the general’s descriptions of the plan, this candidate had just undergone months, close to years, of training to be suited for the role.

  Reading this detail, Demetrius’s first reaction was instantly one of shock. This Breliege Tactic the emperor had discussed with him wasn't just an operation over a short period of time, but it could theoretically stretch for months—even years! Demetrius had remembered when he was first brought to the palace as a young boy, how he had seen Kael working alongside Emperor Katsuki and Emperor Izuku, informing the duo of current issues and proposals in the kingdom.

  Now—at over twenty years old—it made his heart sink to his toes. This tactic is only done by those possessing the corresponding knowledge and strategy, working gradually in the shadows and within the light to attain their goals. And Kael—who was extremely powerful—had no issue waiting as long as he needed to.

  ...

  I looked back at the remnants of Clfiton as Kael grabbed me by the shoulder, gently guiding me along. All of the villagegoers, including Cosette, had been incinerated by the flames. Even if I knew I’d reflect on my failures deep within my heart, I still felt immense pity and self-loathing—a crushing weight on my chest—at the premise of Elizabeth and her infant son dying in the mess too.

  I was practically dragged through the village square, towards a wooden caravan very similar to the one that Kael had used to take me to Clifton. I was thrown into the back of it, my spine colliding with the chipped and splintered wooden bedframe. By the time these events were happening, my bullet wound had already healed, but the phantom pain was enough to make me grit my teeth in pain.

  Before closing the doors, Kael looked at me one more time before frowning. As I was shut into the darkness of the caravan, I heard the sound of wood creaking as Kael opened the side door, letting himself in and sliding the wooden window blocking our sides of the transport.

  The bronze-colored man didn’t look back at me, the only sounds present in the air being the cracking of the whip against the horse's back. We began to move, the rocky trail under the both of us causing the caravan to sway slightly. I wouldn’t have felt nauseous if it weren’t for the effects of the Blood Moon Charm alleviating my feelings.

  After a while, Kael parted his lips and said softly. “You do know what you’ve set yourself up to do, correct? My emperor doesn’t take kindly to those who do violence.”

  I didn’t laugh or chuckle defensively; all I did was lean back against the wooden wall separating us and scoff. “I’ll convince him this entire mess was your doing. But even if I fail, I’ll be sure to have him look into you and all the crap you’ve done to other villages.”

  “After your head’s in a bucket in the dungeons, he won’t cast me a glance.” Kael’s hold on the whip in his hands loosened slightly, but he never let go of it.

  “I’ll be taking you to the shore a few hours from here. There, a transport ship I had issued would have arrived with heavy security, as transporting criminals isn’t something we’d call a juvenile experience.

  “Picture it like an omnibus—one you’d see in your kingdom. It’ll be crammed with the most dangerous and vile excrements of humanity—murderers, rapists—those who do evil because it’s their will, their duty... their guilty pleasure.”

  I listened to his words without responding for a while, but I finally gathered the strength to ask something. “So I’ll be riding with dangerous people? What if I’m killed by the time the ship arrives at the port?”

  Kael let out a low, amused chuckle as he replied with a sly smile. “That won’t happen. Don’t you remember your time in the medical facility or on the street? You sent someone you scared shitless into hysterics, a mental condition so severe they had to be isolated from the rest of the citizens of Seraphis Kingdom, left to rot in his own detritus condition and trauma.”

  After a beat of tense lack-of-exchange, Kael finished in an almost amused tone. “But Isaac doesn’t want to scare, so I’d recommend finding a little corner to curl up into, maybe even make a friend or two along the way if you muster the courage.”

  Plop!

  A sharp noise made me jump, making me look at its source. A large slab of meat had been thrown by Kael into my chambers, alongside a thick blanket. The meat was rich and oily, wrapped in a thin material reminiscent of plastic so it wouldn’t gather dust.

  “I snagged them from the market after the massacre, even leaving a small tip for its quality. Now, if you are to survive the journey, I’d recommend eating up; you’ll need it.”

  A small pit formed in my stomach as I grabbed the dripping meat and blanket. I wrapped it around my shoulders, huddling within it for warmth before unwrapping the meat, taking a large bite.

  “I remember a third friend of yours, what was his name... Icey?”

  “Ice-Eyes? Yes, I do recall him being among my confidantes. Unfortunately, he had to return to the Katshin Empire for more important matters.”

  “What would he possibly do back there besides be a terrorist like you?”

  “Running one of the most popular bars in all of the Katshin Empire—Mooseheel Crack, famous for its burning liquor.”

  “So he’s still running a bar even while his own kingdom is in crisis? With how close you are to the emperor, I’m surprised he hasn’t found out about Ice-Eyes and his hypocrisy.”

  “You’d be astonished to see how many people are willing to take a shot of temporary ecstasy rather than face the truth of their own world. If I were the emperor, I’d personally make free alcohol a law.”