Nibru stalked his chambers anxiously. He had just sent one of his most loyal lieutenants to Nerul, and knew very well that it would be at least a ten-day before he heard news of the investigation. A sinking pit in his stomach already knew what would be found.

Nibru did not feel guilty for threatening the old man, despite knowing that what he said was likely true. He'd had the best tutors as a child, when his father was building his empire. Nibru knew that certain airs needed to be met, and if that meant hurting the feelings of a lowly peasant in order to appease the upper-class, then it was not a sacrifice that needed to be dwelt on.

After all, he had not ordered the man thrown in a cell as was the custom before his father had conquered this land. Many of his governors would see fault in that alone. Nibru knew better however. If he had imprisoned the man, then word would spread, and soon enough, none would come to him to report such important matters.

As is, the man would suffer a short lack of freedom, which would appease his governors enough. With luck, the man would speak of the luxury he was allowed to live in while waiting on his claims to be proven true, and Nibru knew they were true, unfortunately.

Aloris had not outright confirmed the likelihood of an attack, but his knowledge of the demonic beast was the most comprehensive in his entire kingdom, and therefore his assessment was as solid as a confirmation in Nibru's mind.

Ninos's continued arrogance and incompetence did not help things. If there had indeed been an attack, then Nibru should have already been notified. It was Ninos's way however, to not care about those who provided for his aristocracy. It had been that way since before the great unification.

Ninos was a spoiled insolent child who had also come into his power young, as Nibru had. Ninos's father had only retained his position after begging and kissing Balus's feet. Balus had not cared about how the commoners had been treated, and therefore had left the ruling of the people to whoever wanted to take charge of it.

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After Nibru had taken over, things had changed for much of the empire. His father had made sure that Nibru was tutored by the wisest statesmen to ensure that the kingdom would flourish. Many had thought Balus ignorant, but Nibru had known him to be wise. Balus had understood that he was not gifted with the capacity to create a stable empire, but such was not needed in the early days. So he had let his son learn to take care of that, so that he could do what he was best at, brutal suppression.

Such was the way of the conqueror, and such were the ways of the emperor. Nibru had understood his place, and had studied to succeed, which was why he was the first in this land to adopt policies and practices that enabled the common people rather than oppress them. He understood that with their support, silly things such as Ninos's entitlement, were merely inconvenience, and if he could prove that Ninos's had been neglectful, then his small force of guards and soldiers could not stop Nibru from tearing down the pathetic man from his podium of self-righteousness.

Nibru had been taught a healthy respect for the common people. Through his teachings he'd learned that there was nothing fundamentally different between farmers and kings. It was the upbringing that differentiated between rulers and the ruled, or sometimes one's aspirations.

Many of the current nobility saw themselves as superior by birth, and sometimes God chosen to rule. They did not understand that it was the common people who allowed them to rule. They did not understand that without the backs of laborers, there would be no kingdom, and they'd have no power.

And so Nibru had Ninos, a self-absorbed clot. A glutton who taxed his people more than the imperial standard and gave them nothing in return. Nibru had been systematically plotting to be rid of all such governors but had yet to find a good enough excuse to do so without causing an uprising. This would be his first, and if the evidence came back proving that Ninos had been neglectful of his duties, to report such important matters as invasions and raids, then the people would likely cheer him.

However, that left him with an even bigger problem than Ninos. If the report was true, then the demons had invaded his kingdom. Nibru had of course heard of the demons before, from traders and couriers who spoke of raids to the west, and even some less commonly in the far east. Aloris often spoke of them in his preaching and advisements.