Chapter 225
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The grandiose party continued; it didn't matter whether or not Caesar participated. He sat at a desolate table, hidden away from the masses. Only a glass of wine and the melodious tunes accompanied him.
Most of the nobles forgot about his appearance and attempted to curry favor with the crowned prince and princess. Like this, the party full of filth and false pretenses gradually came to an end.
As night approached, many of the guests grew tired of smiling and dancing. They exchanged pleasantries a few more times and bade their peers farewell. Even Joe, who was busy grooving to the tunes, was forced to say his goodbyes to the dwarven lass, albeit, reluctantly.
The party was essentially over, and even the drunken men were escorted out. The exquisite halls regained their tranquility, and only a few significant figures remained. They dallied around, making sure that everything was clean and in order.
The crowned prince and princess were the first to depart, leaving only Tazul, Caesar, Joe, and Ibrahim. Naturally, this was the end goal. They pulled a large roundtable to the middle of the room, which the four of them sat around.
The corner of Caesar's lips were curled as he took another sip of wine. He was careful as not to get excessively drunk, be he still splurged a tad bit. Likewise, the other men were also intoxicated, even Ibrahim.
A royal wedding was a rare occasion, so even the more sophisticated folks decided to have fun. None of the men around the table were sober, so they sat there in awkward silence. It wasn't until Caesar cleared his throat, that the ice was finally broken.
"As you fellows already know, I've already decided to accept the agreement," Caesar paused, "I'm not too sure what else there is to deliberate about. However, I am open to discussion, depending on the subject."
As he spoke to here, Tazul was broken out of his stupor. He pulled out a piece of parchment from his pockets and laid it out on the table. It was a large and detailed map of the Azure continent. An assortment of kingdoms, terrain, and even trade routes were delicately etched onto it.
Near the top, both Limbo and Rahvin kingdom were labeled. One was much bigger than the other, further solidifying the difference in authority. Toward the middle, a few more large nations just as threatening as Limbo were present. Not only that, hundreds of smaller kingdoms showcased themselves, even their population was detailed.
Caesar deeply scrutinized the map as Tazul moved a few chess pieces, placing them on the enemy kingdoms that surrounded Rahvin. "As you already know, from our previous conversation, we have many adversaries," Tazul commented, "they are like snakes, waiting for an excuse to attack."
Tazul paused as the temperature in the room dropped, "we are unable to attack our enemies, especially the smaller countries that are stagnating. We need an ally, one that is not caged, one that is capable of stomping on the insects for us." Tazul said with a strange smile.
Caesar nodded his head in understanding, "what do we achieve?" he asked, "After our last war, we were left with a low number of soldiers, supplies, and money. If you want us to cooperate, then you'll have to make it worth our while."
Ibrahim laughed, "we can provide you with a nice batch of adventurers… hired for money, and no strings attached. Of course, if you were to fail, then consider our little contract nullified." he said, a small smile playing on his lips.
Caesar stroked his chin, the aroma of alcohol invading his nose. There was not much to lose from such an offer, but whether or not his warriors were ready was an entirely separate matter. They had just gone through a battle, reformed their military, government, and even gained an influx of visitors.
Not to mention the fox-kin and other races, which had just lost their home due to the flames of war. Alas, there wasn't much choice. War boosted the economy and was an essential part of growth, whether it was unethical or not. Furthermore, he could use the adventurers as a frontline, causing his soldiers to stay out of harm's way for the most part.
A few cunning stratagems formulated inside of his head, some that could be considered evil, while others, plain. Since he was the current representative of Rahvin, his choice was theirs. It didn't matter if they held a different opinion, that was the responsibility they placed on Caesar's shoulders.
It was a hard decision. Even Joe couldn't help but shake his head warily. He used to be an innocent dwarf, imprisoned for years. The term "war" had not yet even been amongst his vocabulary. However, after meeting Caesar, countless battles took place, blood was spilled, and even children were slain.
The room was silent; all three heads were turned in Caesar's directing, awaiting his answer. Ibrahim had a confident smile plastered on his face, while Tazul was solemn. In contrast, Joe was seemed to be both crying and laughing. He knew what his best friend would decide on, but he also knew what that met for Rahvin.
Finally, Caesar lifted his head with squinted eyes, peering into Tazul's heart. "Give us time, we still need to rebuild," he answered, "I cannot simply wage war without reason, I would be perceived as a mad man."
Ibrahim immediately interjected, "there is always a reason to wage war. I'm sure you are aware of the absence of rules. The victor writes history, and dead men tell no tales. You do not need a reason for the populace, simply raze and kill; no one can tell you otherwise."
Caesar scoffed, "As I said before, it can be done, but give it some time. War and pillaging is all about timing, there is a time and place for everything," he paused, "I accept your offer, but I will not complete the task right away, I need to prep a few things."
As he spoke to here, he stood up from the chair, not waiting for Ibrahim's or Tazul's response. They had a tacit understanding and could pass letters if they wanted to converse about more topics. The longer he remained, the more suspicious Limbo's enemies would become. Naturally, many nobles would now go out of their way and investigate Caesar's origins, especially since he garnered so much attention. It was in both of their interests to cut the discussion.
"You know where to send the letters, I'll be awaiting your group of adventurers," Caesar said on his way out, dragging the drunken Joe with him. There was no need to even bother explaining his choice, the reasons why waging war was a good thing were innumerable.
Whether it was getting revenge on the coalition of forces that attacked them prior, or helping the elves rebuild the forest, both were good reasons. But another primary purpose was due to the issue regarding his evolution. There wouldn't be another chance to acquire so much blood, and he could inconspicuously drink within the battle.
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The grandiose party continued; it didn't matter whether or not Caesar participated. He sat at a desolate table, hidden away from the masses. Only a glass of wine and the melodious tunes accompanied him.
Most of the nobles forgot about his appearance and attempted to curry favor with the crowned prince and princess. Like this, the party full of filth and false pretenses gradually came to an end.
As night approached, many of the guests grew tired of smiling and dancing. They exchanged pleasantries a few more times and bade their peers farewell. Even Joe, who was busy grooving to the tunes, was forced to say his goodbyes to the dwarven lass, albeit, reluctantly.
The party was essentially over, and even the drunken men were escorted out. The exquisite halls regained their tranquility, and only a few significant figures remained. They dallied around, making sure that everything was clean and in order.
The crowned prince and princess were the first to depart, leaving only Tazul, Caesar, Joe, and Ibrahim. Naturally, this was the end goal. They pulled a large roundtable to the middle of the room, which the four of them sat around.
The corner of Caesar's lips were curled as he took another sip of wine. He was careful as not to get excessively drunk, be he still splurged a tad bit. Likewise, the other men were also intoxicated, even Ibrahim.
A royal wedding was a rare occasion, so even the more sophisticated folks decided to have fun. None of the men around the table were sober, so they sat there in awkward silence. It wasn't until Caesar cleared his throat, that the ice was finally broken.
"As you fellows already know, I've already decided to accept the agreement," Caesar paused, "I'm not too sure what else there is to deliberate about. However, I am open to discussion, depending on the subject."
As he spoke to here, Tazul was broken out of his stupor. He pulled out a piece of parchment from his pockets and laid it out on the table. It was a large and detailed map of the Azure continent. An assortment of kingdoms, terrain, and even trade routes were delicately etched onto it.
Near the top, both Limbo and Rahvin kingdom were labeled. One was much bigger than the other, further solidifying the difference in authority. Toward the middle, a few more large nations just as threatening as Limbo were present. Not only that, hundreds of smaller kingdoms showcased themselves, even their population was detailed.
Caesar deeply scrutinized the map as Tazul moved a few chess pieces, placing them on the enemy kingdoms that surrounded Rahvin. "As you already know, from our previous conversation, we have many adversaries," Tazul commented, "they are like snakes, waiting for an excuse to attack."
Tazul paused as the temperature in the room dropped, "we are unable to attack our enemies, especially the smaller countries that are stagnating. We need an ally, one that is not caged, one that is capable of stomping on the insects for us." Tazul said with a strange smile.
Caesar nodded his head in understanding, "what do we achieve?" he asked, "After our last war, we were left with a low number of soldiers, supplies, and money. If you want us to cooperate, then you'll have to make it worth our while."
Ibrahim laughed, "we can provide you with a nice batch of adventurers… hired for money, and no strings attached. Of course, if you were to fail, then consider our little contract nullified." he said, a small smile playing on his lips.
Caesar stroked his chin, the aroma of alcohol invading his nose. There was not much to lose from such an offer, but whether or not his warriors were ready was an entirely separate matter. They had just gone through a battle, reformed their military, government, and even gained an influx of visitors.
Not to mention the fox-kin and other races, which had just lost their home due to the flames of war. Alas, there wasn't much choice. War boosted the economy and was an essential part of growth, whether it was unethical or not. Furthermore, he could use the adventurers as a frontline, causing his soldiers to stay out of harm's way for the most part.
A few cunning stratagems formulated inside of his head, some that could be considered evil, while others, plain. Since he was the current representative of Rahvin, his choice was theirs. It didn't matter if they held a different opinion, that was the responsibility they placed on Caesar's shoulders.
It was a hard decision. Even Joe couldn't help but shake his head warily. He used to be an innocent dwarf, imprisoned for years. The term "war" had not yet even been amongst his vocabulary. However, after meeting Caesar, countless battles took place, blood was spilled, and even children were slain.
The room was silent; all three heads were turned in Caesar's directing, awaiting his answer. Ibrahim had a confident smile plastered on his face, while Tazul was solemn. In contrast, Joe was seemed to be both crying and laughing. He knew what his best friend would decide on, but he also knew what that met for Rahvin.
Finally, Caesar lifted his head with squinted eyes, peering into Tazul's heart. "Give us time, we still need to rebuild," he answered, "I cannot simply wage war without reason, I would be perceived as a mad man."
Ibrahim immediately interjected, "there is always a reason to wage war. I'm sure you are aware of the absence of rules. The victor writes history, and dead men tell no tales. You do not need a reason for the populace, simply raze and kill; no one can tell you otherwise."
Caesar scoffed, "As I said before, it can be done, but give it some time. War and pillaging is all about timing, there is a time and place for everything," he paused, "I accept your offer, but I will not complete the task right away, I need to prep a few things."
As he spoke to here, he stood up from the chair, not waiting for Ibrahim's or Tazul's response. They had a tacit understanding and could pass letters if they wanted to converse about more topics. The longer he remained, the more suspicious Limbo's enemies would become. Naturally, many nobles would now go out of their way and investigate Caesar's origins, especially since he garnered so much attention. It was in both of their interests to cut the discussion.
"You know where to send the letters, I'll be awaiting your group of adventurers," Caesar said on his way out, dragging the drunken Joe with him. There was no need to even bother explaining his choice, the reasons why waging war was a good thing were innumerable.
Whether it was getting revenge on the coalition of forces that attacked them prior, or helping the elves rebuild the forest, both were good reasons. But another primary purpose was due to the issue regarding his evolution. There wouldn't be another chance to acquire so much blood, and he could inconspicuously drink within the battle.
The grandiose party continued; it didn't matter whether or not Caesar participated. He sat at a desolate table, hidden away from the masses. Only a glass of wine and the melodious tunes accompanied him.Most of the nobles forgot about his appearance and attempted to curry favor with the crowned prince and princess. Like this, the party full of filth and false pretenses gradually came to an end.As night approached, many of the guests grew tired of smiling and dancing. They exchanged pleasantries a few more times and bade their peers farewell. Even Joe, who was busy grooving to the tunes, was forced to say his goodbyes to the dwarven lass, albeit, reluctantly.The party was essentially over, and even the drunken men were escorted out. The exquisite halls regained their tranquility, and only a few significant figures remained. They dallied around, making sure that everything was clean and in order.The crowned prince and princess were the first to depart, leaving only Tazul, Caesar, Joe, and Ibrahim. Naturally, this was the end goal. They pulled a large roundtable to the middle of the room, which the four of them sat around.The corner of Caesar's lips were curled as he took another sip of wine. He was careful as not to get excessively drunk, be he still splurged a tad bit. Likewise, the other men were also intoxicated, even Ibrahim.A royal wedding was a rare occasion, so even the more sophisticated folks decided to have fun. None of the men around the table were sober, so they sat there in awkward silence. It wasn't until Caesar cleared his throat, that the ice was finally broken."As you fellows already know, I've already decided to accept the agreement," Caesar paused, "I'm not too sure what else there is to deliberate about. However, I am open to discussion, depending on the subject."As he spoke to here, Tazul was broken out of his stupor. He pulled out a piece of parchment from his pockets and laid it out on the table. It was a large and detailed map of the Azure continent. An assortment of kingdoms, terrain, and even trade routes were delicately etched onto it.Near the top, both Limbo and Rahvin kingdom were labeled. One was much bigger than the other, further solidifying the difference in authority. Toward the middle, a few more large nations just as threatening as Limbo were present. Not only that, hundreds of smaller kingdoms showcased themselves, even their population was detailed.Caesar deeply scrutinized the map as Tazul moved a few chess pieces, placing them on the enemy kingdoms that surrounded Rahvin. "As you already know, from our previous conversation, we have many adversaries," Tazul commented, "they are like snakes, waiting for an excuse to attack."Tazul paused as the temperature in the room dropped, "we are unable to attack our enemies, especially the smaller countries that are stagnating. We need an ally, one that is not caged, one that is capable of stomping on the insects for us." Tazul said with a strange smile.Caesar nodded his head in understanding, "what do we achieve?" he asked, "After our last war, we were left with a low number of soldiers, supplies, and money. If you want us to cooperate, then you'll have to make it worth our while."Ibrahim laughed, "we can provide you with a nice batch of adventurers hired for money, and no strings attached. Of course, if you were to fail, then consider our little contract nullified." he said, a small smile playing on his lips.Caesar stroked his chin, the aroma of alcohol invading his nose. There was not much to lose from such an offer, but whether or not his warriors were ready was an entirely separate matter. They had just gone through a battle, reformed their military, government, and even gained an influx of visitors.Not to mention the fox-kin and other races, which had just lost their home due to the flames of war. Alas, there wasn't much choice. War boosted the economy and was an essential part of growth, whether it was unethical or not. Furthermore, he could use the adventurers as a frontline, causing his soldiers to stay out of harm's way for the most part.A few cunning stratagems formulated inside of his head, some that could be considered evil, while others, plain. Since he was the current representative of Rahvin, his choice was theirs. It didn't matter if they held a different opinion, that was the responsibility they placed on Caesar's shoulders.It was a hard decision. Even Joe couldn't help but shake his head warily. He used to be an innocent dwarf, imprisoned for years. The term "war" had not yet even been amongst his vocabulary. However, after meeting Caesar, countless battles took place, blood was spilled, and even children were slain.The room was silent; all three heads were turned in Caesar's directing, awaiting his answer. Ibrahim had a confident smile plastered on his face, while Tazul was solemn. In contrast, Joe was seemed to be both crying and laughing. He knew what his best friend would decide on, but he also knew what that met for Rahvin.Finally, Caesar lifted his head with squinted eyes, peering into Tazul's heart. "Give us time, we still need to rebuild," he answered, "I cannot simply wage war without reason, I would be perceived as a mad man."Ibrahim immediately interjected, "there is always a reason to wage war. I'm sure you are aware of the absence of rules. The victor writes history, and dead men tell no tales. You do not need a reason for the populace, simply raze and kill; no one can tell you otherwise."Caesar scoffed, "As I said before, it can be done, but give it some time. War and pillaging is all about timing, there is a time and place for everything," he paused, "I accept your offer, but I will not complete the task right away, I need to prep a few things."As he spoke to here, he stood up from the chair, not waiting for Ibrahim's or Tazul's response. They had a tacit understanding and could pass letters if they wanted to converse about more topics. The longer he remained, the more suspicious Limbo's enemies would become. Naturally, many nobles would now go out of their way and investigate Caesar's origins, especially since he garnered so much attention. It was in both of their interests to cut the discussion."You know where to send the letters, I'll be awaiting your group of adventurers," Caesar said on his way out, dragging the drunken Joe with him. There was no need to even bother explaining his choice, the reasons why waging war was a good thing were innumerable.Whether it was getting revenge on the coalition of forces that attacked them prior, or helping the elves rebuild the forest, both were good reasons. But another primary purpose was due to the issue regarding his evolution. There wouldn't be another chance to acquire so much blood, and he could inconspicuously drink within the battle.
