Footsteps resound and a woman of a figure as transcendent as a goddess with her blond hair romantically sways with the gentle breeze of the wind and her focused translucent purple irises brought a whole new meaning to a gem.

In the middle of the large hall, a long table with a set of tea with fragrant smell of jasmine wafts and a delicious cake in an elegant platter with an intricate cream whipping and cherry on top is placed. A seat is vacated at the other end and directly opposite to it, a girl with dazzling dusk black hair sat.

She is wearing an elegant dress and her sheer and deep irises, as black as the night, stares at the blond girl who slowly approaches with a smile.

“For a feast, you seem to be all by yourself in this large hall. Might you be, you do not possess people you call friends?” the woman asked as she invited herself to the vacant seat.

“I’m only expecting a special visitor such as you and thus, I preferred privacy over a gathering. Might I know about your name, esteemed guest? My name is Reysha Einhart, the third daughter of the Einhart Noble house.” Reysha introduces herself to the stranger.

“How flattered I am! In response, I shall let everyone bear my name to hear!” The blond woman stood up.

“Tsk…she knew already, huh! No, she already knows it since coming?” Reysha clicks her tongue inside her mind.

“My esteemed name is Exodus, the supreme ruler of the Mesola Kingdom, the one embodying the title of both the King and Queen as well as the new bearer of the title of the Archbishop!” Exodus said as she flaps her coat backward in a grand manner.

Her act was nothing cringe-worthy or anything. In fact, her bearing that she introduced doesn’t even match but it was more apparent that she is in fact, holding too much power.

“How much of her words should I believe? No, in fact, how much information I can extract? For some reason, just seating in opposite side of the table where she is right now is making my feet cold.” Reysha deemed as she kept her poker face.

“Well then, what does the Supreme Ruler of the Mesola Kingdom wanted? What happened to the previous king and to the archbishop?” Reysha asked while trying to act calm as she sips a tea from her teacup.

“A question I expect. Such bore. To answer that, the Mesola Kingdom decided to cull those who are deemed incompetent. It’s the same as the archbishop, but that doesn’t mean I going to reject the person respective prior to my overhauling.” Exodus answered with complete confidence as she took her seat and started partaking in the tea.

“Then, to follow up that question, what have you come here for? I’m quite baffled that you traveled all the way from the Mesola Kingdom to the Kerias Kingdom just for a greeting.” Reysha asked while trying to lead the conversation.

“I’ve set my sight on this place. I, as a supreme ruler, wanted to expand my domain. You already know what I mean, right? I am here to actually negotiate, a civil trade of words and at the same time, to finally hug my mother who is in here, right?” Exodus said as her eyes sharpen while glaring at Reysha.

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Reysha already foresaw it too, the magnitude of this person’s power. To be able to feel where Genesis is, they must have some sort of special connection. The woman is like a splitting image of Genesis, however, has a more eerie atmosphere and her perceptiveness is abnormal.

“Assuming that your mother is really is here, can you answer a few of my questions? What is this negotiation you wanted to discuss? I shall represent my kingdom for this and possibly, will be a medium.” Reysha immediately laid those words down to keep Exodus attended to her.

Exodus’ eyes gleamed in interest and started partaking on the cake offered to her.

“Let’s see, I wanted the Kingdom of Kerias and the Kingdom of Breille to quietly submit to me. If possible, I’d like to prevent expending any forces for such trifling matter where I will come on top of everything with certainty. This is quite a generous offer coming from me.” Exodus said with complete trust in her words.

“And why would you want that? What are your motives, desires, goals, or even aspirations? What are your drives to achieve it?” Reysha tried to drown her in question.

“I want to unite the three kingdoms once more. The Mesola Kingdom hailing at the top, the Kerias Kingdom bolstering our military forces, and the Breille Kingdom becoming the center of our supplies, with all these prepared, I shall conquer the Kingdom of Sirius. What may come afterward, conquering that smaller kingdoms will come naturally.” Exodus said with an enthralled countenance.

“So, what you are saying is not a negotiation but actually a suggestion. You wanted to dominate kingdoms after kingdoms. I'm quite intrigued though as to why you chose a conversation first, as much as you need to dive into another kingdom’s domain.” Reysha asked as her interests were also pulled.

“To win, but not to destroy; to conquer, but not humiliate. The path of conquest that I chose, I do not want to sully it with blood as much as I can. Because when it started, I may not be able to stop myself from drawing more blood.” Exodus said as she smiles sweetly.

“It’s hard to imagine that you actually wanted a fair talk. I take it you won’t accept no as an answer. Judging by your ideal, I can’t believe that you actually care for the people under your domain.” Reysha replied.

“I am more objective than subjective. Now, if you please, I want to take my mother home with me. It’s been a while since I saw her beautiful eyes.” Exodus said with a hint of impatience. She directs her stares at one of the doors in the hall.

Knowing that she is there, Genesis reveals herself in front of Exodus.

“You are just a failure…You are nothing but a monster…” Genesis conveyed those words as if she is spitting them at Exodus.

“Ahh!~ Mother! I am a failure! I am a monster! But this is the monster that you created! Because I am a failure, I just need to make myself not a failure! Ah, mother, how I wanted to see your eyes!” Exodus immediately wore a countenance of pure bliss as she immediately laid her sight on Genesis.

“However, you see it, you are broken…you are someone who shouldn’t even exist…” Genesis’ face grew paler as she is bathed with Exodus’ love, even from afar.

“Mother, we have a solution, right? I can grant it to you, the last Tribute to Zosimos.” Exodus said as she stood up and started walking towards Genesis.

“You planned domination…to get the necessary amount of sacrifices…even I would hate myself for that!” Genesis shouted.

“Of course, just for you, mother!” Exodus said with her emotions twisting to a degree and showing her true degraded self.

“Damn! Sacrifices?! That’s why she wanted a bloodless war?!” Reysha immediately got the gist from their exchange alone.

“Ivy, this negotiation is stupid! Let’s go!” Reysha said as she drew her warhammer out.

In the very instant, Ivy appeared in front of Exodus with a dazzling flame that tore the ceiling asunder covering her arm.

“Oh, you guys are competent after all!” Exodus brightens in joy.

“En garde! Armlet of Icarus!” Ivy shouted while swinging her hand that spewed flames that immediately melted the floor molten and bore a huge hole in the hall’s interior wall while dyeing the night sky in ablaze.

Thus, starting the battle.