Markus was guided inside the imperial palace to the imperial chamber where the emperor accepted guests. The imperial palace was very militaristic with imperial guards lined everywhere adorning their fabulous armor.

Segeric guided them to a large room where a man stood alone stood in the center. The man had no aura around him and was reading a book titled "Iskander, the life of a conqueror,". He had curly black hair that was decorated with jewelry with many more on his finger and around his neck. He wore an expensive-looking robe colored in purple and gold. On top of his head was no crown but a headband that had a depiction of a double-headed eagle. It was the emperor.

The room had all kinds of mechanical devices, books and other trinkets from all over the universe. Swords made by the elves, sextants made by the phoenicians and many books from all kinds of topics. It was when entered the room you entered the entire universe.

"Good luck. I hope you are useful...for your own sake," Segeric said and left the room leaving Markus to be alone with the emperor.

Markus stood silently not knowing how to address the emperor who still hadn't even acknowledged his presence.

"So, tell me. How should I use you?" the emperor asked.

"Excuse me?"

"If you are of no use to me…..leave right now," the emperor said still reading his book.

Markus stepped forward determined.

"I am the prince of the Jacob kingdom. I believe I can be very useful to you," Markus explained.

The emperor closed his book. He then neatly placed it back to the shelf where it belonged and sat down on a humble chair.

"I know who you are. Tell me why you are really here?" the emperor asked.

"I do not understand."

Emperor then pressured and intimidated Markus with his divine aura. It was the strongest aura Markus had ever felt. It felt like he couldn't breathe.

"I do not like to be lied to and I like to keep my conversations with such people short. You have ten seconds to persuade me before I kill you," the emperor said calmly without even getting off from his chair.

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Markus was coughing and couldn't believe how strong the emperor was.

"I want to use you! You can help me!" Markus yelled.

The emperor stopped torturing Markus allowing him to catch his breath.

"How can I help you and why should I help you?" the emperor asked.

Markus looked up as the emperor seemed like a giant to him. He stood up determined to be able to earn his trust.

"I know you are a practical man and what you appreciate the most is results. I can give you results," Markus explained.

"If I did let everyone who believed they were capable people to serve me I would be a beggar on the streets," the emperor said.

"I know it. I truly know how great of a man you are. Truly as strong as the founding kings."

"Stop the unnecessary pandering or I will have my varangians execute you."

"I can prove it. I know also that you appreciate wisdom. I have enough wisdom knowing that the people's state of Spade is in your way and a thorn in your side for long. I can make that thorn disappear."

The emperor looked angry.

"You think I couldn't take down that puny island if I didn't want to. With just a flick of my finger and a whisper from my mouth, I could have that island crawling with my soldiers. With just a small attack from me, the walls of their capital would be breached with half of the city in flames. The reason I have chosen that island to stand until now is simply that I chose to," emperor Ala said with every word carrying weight.

Markus didn't let the words of the emperor intimidate him.

"I know this as well and that you have been waiting for an opportune time to strike. Let me be the one to deal with the first strike. I will give you results without you having to enter the battlefield. Give me an army and I will give a victory in return," Markus proclaimed.

"And why should I trust an army to you? You are not my general. You most likely never have led enemy men. I hold all the risk here if you fail."

"Then give me just five hundred men and I will have the walls breached and half of their capital burning. If I fail you may do with me as you like. I believe giving five hundred men to such a venture is a risk worth taking considering the rewards," Markus asked.

The emperor pondered.

"Leave now. I will give you my response later," the emperor ordered.

Markus left the room with sweat flowing down his skin.

~~

"I would not trust him. He stinks of the winds of pandora," A masked man said and came from the shadows as Markus had just left.

"If he is not to be trusted I will have you deal with him, Gadaric. Should not be a problem for you," emperor Ala said.

"Don't look so gloomy under your mask, Gadaric. You should be happy to get to work for the great emperor," a third man said who was pitch black and wearing a simple jacket and pants.

Gadaric, the masked man, clenched his fist.

"Gadaric, Cixilo, I will not have my subordinates quarreling," Emperor Ala stated.

Both Gadaric and Cixilo went silent and excused themselves from the room.

"Gadaric, before you leave tell my children to come here. I wish to talk to them. It is time they heard our upcoming plan," emperor Ala commanded.

"Yes, my king. Shall I tell them what it is about?"

"Tell them that I will enclose the final details before the Phokas family reaches godhood with me as the ruler of our pantheon."