The reaction to the message was instant. Clamoring broke out on all sides, shouting soldiers and mercenaries drowned out the reporting scout. Vrim reached out and grabbed the message rather than trying to quiet everyone. They scanned the message speedily, their expression growing more and more distressed. King Drent was shouting ineffectually, his voice lost amidst the sea of confusion and panic.

Riniox strode to the middle of the platform. "QUIET!!!" Her voice boomed across the entire compound, everyone near the platform held their ears in pain at the natural loudness that came from the woman. She turned to Vrim and King Drent. "Your majesty, I apologize for the level of noise. I took it upon myself to restore order." She bowed low, full of manners and decorum.

The king of Vitlavin seemed a bit taken aback. "Oh, uh. Yes. Good." He coughed awkwardly. "I was just about to do that myself."

Riniox turned to Vrim. "Are we under attack?"

Vrim still seemed shocked at the report they had read, looking up at Riniox with a slightly empty expression. "Huh?" Realization dawned on their face suddenly, only recalling at that moment that Cheria soldiers were stationed at the town outside the valley compound. Vrim exploded into action, pointing at various soldiers and calling out orders. "Go scout the entrance to the valley." to another they said, "Organize the troops into battle lines." To the scout, they said, "The troops let you into the valley?"

The scout nodded. "They said that they had standing orders to let a messenger in."

Vrim grimaced. "This is the worst-case scenario." They tapped their chin thoughtfully. They turned to Riniox. "How many troops are there stationed near here?"

"Nearly fifty," Riniox said matter of factly. "But I suspect some of the workers she sent to accommodate the village are secretly troops. Possibly even some of the wandering loners. More are certain to be on the way as well."

Hope came to Vrim's eyes. "We have two hundred troops with us. We should be able to break through with ease."

Riniox was shaking her head before the bore-bot could finish speaking. "Unlikely. They've been studying the terrain undoubtedly. They'll know how to box you in. Even ignoring that though, most of them will have access to the system."

The king interjected at this point. "What does that matter? Are they going to flash blue boxes at us?" Jack found himself growing annoyed at the man. How could he be so incompetent? He was supposed to be in charge, but he didn't actually do anything.

If Riniox thought along the same line as Jack, she didn't show it. Her voice was calm and level as she spoke. "People with access to the system grow faster and stronger than people without it. They haven't had the system for long, but I fear their troops would quickly grow to outmatch yours."

Vrim bit their thumb in anxiety, and Jack was surprised at the very human action. Bore-bots didn't have anything like fingernails, so it was slightly surprising to see a bore-bot biting like that. Perhaps it was a result from spending a large amount of time around humans. The bore-bot advisor finally spoke. "Mercenary Riniox, the kingdom of Vitlavin has need of your services."

Riniox looked down at Vrim, the size difference between the two was enormous. Vrim was short and thinner than the average bore-bot, only about four feet tall. Riniox was closer to seven feet and was all muscle. Vrim didn't back down at the glare that Riniox sent down at them, standing firm where many others might have looked away.

Riniox spoke, her voice steady. "My band is under contract already. I am afraid that assisting you would violate my existing obligations."

The two glared at each other for a long minute. The troops behind them had organized themselves in ranks, moving steadily towards the entrance to the valley. Only an honor guard remained behind to protect the king. The stalemate continued until a soldier came running back.

He kneeled on the floor before the king. "Your majesty, Cherian troops have posted up outside the entrance to this valley. They demand our surrender."

The king began to bluster and throw a fit, but Jack didn't spare a thought for the man. The real show was watching Vrim and Riniox. Vrim's mouth had straightened to a line, tense. "We would be very grateful. You would be paid handsomely, enough money to never worry about finances ever again."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Riniox responded cooly, unswayed. "A mercenary is only as good as their word. To betray a contract like that..." she trailed off, shaking her head. Jack could feel the smugness radiating from the demon.

"I'm sure your employers would understand. Perhaps I could speak with them" Vrim suggested.

Riniox smirked, her expression knowing. "I doubt it, but you can ask." She gestured to one of the mercenaries, sending them to go fetch Reph or one of the other bore-bots.

There was a tense wait, Vrim pacing intently while the king grumbled. The soldiers of Vitlavan were stationed at the entrance to the valley compound now, holding position. It seemed like they were in a holding pattern until the situation with the mercenaries was resolved. The Cherian soldiers seemed content to play defensive as well, not moving to strike into the compound.

Jeler tried to get Jack to move back and away, further into the compound, but Jack wanted to see how this played out. He felt...complicated. These people had been scummy, but they didn't deserve to die...at least not that he knew of. Jack had no business ordering the mercenaries around, but even if he told them to help it just meant that other people would die. Was there some way he could help this resolve peacefully?

Reph came, guided by the mercenary, and walked up to the platform. "Your majesty." Reph bowed deeply toward the king. "I hear you have some business with me?"

The king cleared his throat. "Ah, yes." he paused for just a bit too long to be natural as if expecting Vrim to take charge. When they didn't, the king cleared his throat again. "We have need of your mercenaries. It seems that we find ourselves as political prisoners, our kingdom besieged by a great evil."

Reph raised a mechanical eyebrow, the gears of his body maintaining a steady 'tick, tick, tick.' "I'm sorry to hear that, Your Majesty. Forgive my ignorance, but I am unsure as to how I might assist you."

King Drent swept his hand dramatically, gesturing to the mercenaries assembled around Reph. "I am drafting these mercenaries to join my cause. I am ordering you to cancel their remaining contract."

Everyone present froze. The king wore a self-satisfied smile, clearly pleased with his grand gesture. Vrim, on the other hand, looked absolutely panicked.

There was a long pause before Riniox began laughing. "Your majesty, forgive me but, we are not citizens of Vitlavin. Reph and his fellows aren't either. We are under no obligation to follow your commands here."

The king's expression fell, his grin becoming a scowl. "I am a king!" he shouted out petulantly. "I am commanding you!" Vrim made an effort to calm the man, attempting to whisper in his ear. But the king brushed them aside, too angry to listen. "You will fight and die by my order!"

Every single one of the mercenaries visibly tensed at the words. Many of the gathered eyes glanced at Riniox, who had gone stock still. The demon stood tall and powerful, her powerful frame radiating discontent. "King Drent-" she began, but the King interrupted her.

"Shut up!" He commanded. "Do your duty and fight for your betters, you dumb brute!"

Riniox took a single step forward, and the king of Vitlavin nearly passed out. The air nearly shook as Riniox snarled, the sound vibrating through everyone nearby. Her presence was like a physical blow, the bloodlust rolling off of her like waves. The royal guards rushed forward, swords drawn and swinging at her.

Both Jack and Jeler called out, "Point Defense!" Two blue defense screens caught two swords out of the air, ripping them from their surprised owners' hands. As for the remaining six guards, they didn't stand a chance. Riniox simply grabbed Vrim and held the bore-bot in front of her like a shield. Vrim squeaked in terror, and the soldiers quickly skidded to a halt. Riniox discarded the advisor instantly, grabbing a soldier and swinging him bodily into the remaining attackers. Armor crunched against armor in a shower of sparks and screeching metal. The momentum of her blow knocked over all six men.

The remaining two soldiers who had their weapons stolen looked in horror. Riniox glared at them, directing her anger in their direction, and they fell backward to the ground in panic. The king hadn't moved, he shook like a leaf in his chair, spluttering wildly. Riniox moved forward and grabbed him, lifting him up with ease. She glared down at Vrim. "Keep a tighter leash on him next time." The bore-bot sat on the ground, a stunned look on their face.

Riniox looked back at her mercenaries, slinging the king over her shoulder. "Let's go! We've got a prisoner of war to hand over. This one should be worth a pretty penny." She marched forward, and most of the mercenaries joined her. They marched toward the back of the Vitlavin defensive line, and the army parted with surprise as Riniox shouted for them to move. Jack didn't see any effort to rescue the king from the soldiers, and he watched Riniox carry the man easily out of the compound.

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The next few weeks would see the spread of a great many rumors across Drowl. In addition to the other news coming out of the obscure corner of Cheria, the one-day war was among the most interesting topics. A declaration of war, only to be followed with a declaration of victory that very same day. The kingdom of Vitlavin ceded nearly all of its land, causing the kingdom to plummet in importance. Its military was dismantled or drafted, and the kingdom was reborn as a single city-state. King Drent became Lord Drent, and his reign was allowed to continue, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Queen Evanna of Cheria addressed her people in the capitol, claiming a great victory for their country. She became an infamous figure overnight, her machinations becoming feared on a level only previously associated with the Queen of all demons.

To Jack though, this was just the first in a long list of problems that kept falling in his lap.