Lopt teaching a class in swordsmanship was nothing short of a set of questions posed to each swordsman. Dueling against Lopt who was teaching them bit by bit, questioning their stances and footwork. Whether they could understand the meaning behind the conceited words and phrases. Yuliana was sleeping on Silas's nap as Silas was reading pages from Grimoire Raizel. Yuliana was sound asleep with a coat over her.

Some of the glaring eyes came from the guys mainly. The idea of a beauty being with a plain Silas must have been jarring for most of them. Though Nora seemed to be giving Silas the cold shoulder while Caroline was itching to ask questions about how they met. Serena was teaching people as she used her sword to guide the others who were at a better level. Even between the two, Serena was more of a 'hands on' approach by taking the steps to teach the swordsmen on their usage. Jenny was trying to absorb everything from Serena's lessons.

Silas's left hand reached for the cigarette pack. Keeping his thoughts on how the situation had already escalated in the Baruta Kingdom. Internationally there was a discussion about Hunters taking work in other countries. Primarily something like this, which Chairman Hargrave had stated that the Baruta Kingdom had hired Hunters from other countries acting as mercenaries for their causes. It is not a shift from the past as mercenaries would fight your wars for you as long as you could pay them.

The biggest backlash came from Baruta Kingdom. Who stated that the mercenaries were paid with legal contracts while the SDUs from Cresnax were just a bigger issue as there was no contract. Silas was about to laugh as they see Vingthor walk into view. Holding a contract document, stating they received a contract from Princess Marida.

They demanded to know who was Vingthor's master. Of all the things to ask, Vingthor just scoffed. More threats were being thrown at his path, where Vingthor began to laugh.

"My master gave us orders to accept the request of Princess Marida. I find it laughable that the Hunters of the Baruta Kingdom seem to have issues in regards to the matter. When you have hired Hunters to act as mercenaries. But just know that if my master chooses to fight you. Then you should pray to the Gods. For if he chooses it so, then the Baruta Kingdom could disappear within a day." Vingthor said.

"Preposterous! You dare say those words before the Association of the World!?"

"Why should I be afraid of rabble like yourselves?" Silas was hearing all of this, as Yuliana woke up.

"You're going aren't you?" Silas gave a nod as he vanished from everyone's senses with Lopt snapping an imitation of Silas to stay there. Silas went to Mulligan to collect his Coat of Crimson, Garden Gauntlets and his mask. The 13th's Grief. Putting them on as they see Vinthor hold his cape up. Seeing a portal that allowed for Silas to step through.

"Who are you?" Vingthor knelt before Silas.

"Your orders, my lord?" Silas took a seat.

"Sit down." It forced every Association Chairman to sit down. Supreme Rule was activated. Silas went over to Chairman Hargrave, granting him a cigar.

"Thank you." Lighting it up for him. The grumbles of the other association chairmen, the suspicious eyes glancing over to Silas who seemed to be on good terms with Hargrave. For most of them, it was seen as an insult.

"Hargrave have you colluded with him! How dare yo-"

"Be quiet." The Baruta Kingdom's association leader was silenced as he fell to his knees. Silas was tapping his fingers by the table, thinking of what to say.

"I am the 13th Lord of Thorns. I am not the same as the Garden you work with. The Lord of Thorns that has started his Garden left Cresnax because his son and daughter were nearly killed by my Familiars. That is why he is building up his strength. Every base in Cresnax that the Garden had was destroyed by my Familiars. Her Royal Highness, Princess Marida has contracted my Familiars to be her aid in ending the civil war. The reason why I am not headed there is because I do not need to be there to deal with it. My Familiars will be enough. Seven hundred thousand people were in the list of casualties. You bulldoze the people, you force them to cower in fear. At this point, I am of the view... That it's best if I told my Familiars to just continue adding to those casualties. But, Princess Marida wishes to save them. So they will do as she requests, however. Understand this. If you use a civilian as a hostage before my Familiars. Then I will tell them to inform Her Royal Highness, that there is no need for mercy. By that point. Anything before our paths will be reduced to nothing but ashes." Silas's voice became whispers in their ears. Their bodies would tense up at hearing that.

"He is registered as an S-Rank. He hasn't been handling many dungeons himself because his familiars can take care of it." Hargrave explained.

"Then why have we not heard of it?"

"Article 71 of the Hunters Act. If an S-Rank Hunter chooses not to reveal themselves to the world, then the Chairman of the Association is to respect it." Silas explained as Hargrave puffed out the smoke from his lips.

"Let us have an enjoyable war, Chairman of the Baruta Hunter Association. If you don't use civilians as a hostage. Then there won't be repercussions. My forces have already taken 6 locations and are currently expanding their reach as they make their way to the capital. My men can handle the situation without the element of surprise. We'll send warning shots to the barrier to indicate our presence. 24 hours to move the civilians to safety or to keep them safe from the encounters. That will be all. Vingthor take care of the matters. I'm off." Silas vanished as he returned back to the spot where Yuliana was where she leaned onto his shoulders.

"You might make an enemy out of everyone." Yuliana said. Slowly inching her way to his chest, resting over his chest.

"Comfy?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"Not the first time, I do that. Not that it matters anyway."

"What do you think about being married to multiple women?" Silas was taken aback by that question as he began to cough, where Yuliana smacked his back to help him with it. Lopt was chuckling as he wielded his sword, facing Jenny.

"That's... That's a difficult question. What made you think about that?"

"It seems that Cresnax has a law that allows men and women to marry as many as they wish. There was a record of 15 marriages to 1 woman. And 9 for 1 men. Then there's the people who may opt to keep multiple partners." The words rolled off Yuliana's tongue so easily, while Silas was trying to wrap his head around it. Silas heard Lopt snickering loudly.

Nora was shooting darts at Silas, who didn't seem bothered by anything. Caroline was keeping watch as the day slowly reached its end. Class had ended whereby Yuliana left with Lopt and Serena. Silas got on his bike, riding away into the sunset. When darkness fell to the world, Silas was just sitting somewhere.

Somewhere quiet, and where no one could bother him. Not Midnight Wind or Mulligan, but rather a place where he could rest. Somewhere in the middle of a forest that no one would go. Setting up a barrier as Silas took his time to just. Take a deep breath, gazing into the stars as he took a moment to lie down by the grass. Zyx and Yrvad made their appearance. Yrvad laying on Silas's chest while Zyx just laid down to let its body become Silas's pillow.

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"It's nice here." Yrvad chirped.

"Peaceful." Zyx spoke in telepathy.

"Took you two long enough to speak. I just want to look at the stars." The three of them continued to enjoy their stargazing session. Silas was also seeing the screens show him the way his Familiars were moving. Terra was already infiltrated the capital, taking information in with his usual path. Using some gold coins that could only be traced to dungeons as a means to bribe mercenaries.

Vengria was already pushing ahead, the Wandering Rose. Able to make through the area faster than what he's seen. Vizel was clearing the area with brute force, crushing the skull of a Hunter beneath his boots. The Rose of Guilty had blood stains all over but he continued pushing on. Painting the walls with a lovely shade of blood. Gunfire chasing at him, Vizel was charging at the soldiers and tanks. Carving his way through with their body parts in pieces. The tank had been carved wide open like pumpkins during a festival.

Azure Resound and Black Waltz was already leaving a trail of bodies. Blood dripping from their clothes, fresh from the kills. They were smiling as they continued their onslaught. Dodging bullets and arrows, tapping their feet. Black Waltz tightening his gloves as he smiled. Drawing out a chainsaw as he cut a Hunter in half. Azure Resound danced away with the gunshots as he closed the gap. Ready for harvesting. Fountains of red spewed from the headless Hunters and soldiers.

Weiss was walking on his own, turning the area into a victim of the harsh winters. Leaving the entire area clad in ice, as the Hunters were left frozen. Unable to be thawed out. Turned into ice sculptures as the petals had frozen even their blood. Clean of blood, that was just how Weiss was. An opposite to Vizel who tempts his enemies to kill him while Weiss was the one who was actively staying away from such engagements.

The Orions that kept Princess Marida safe had taken out Hunters and assassins that were trying to kill her. They handled everything quietly, like how they're supposed to do. None would be the wiser to realize that the Princess's life was in danger. It's easier to protect something when it doesn't know that it is being protected.

The Hunters were slowly getting back on their feet along with the Progressives that are helping Princess Marida on her quest. The focus here will be to ready them for the frontlines without any worry about having to look back for any sort of attack. Terra's report was mainly to highlight how the next towns that the others will head to will have bombs and traps armed. Civilians were not aware of the situation. Terra recorded a video of the Conservative soldiers placing boxes inside houses and residences of the many civilians that were left.

Silas was gritting his teeth. It seemed like his warning went unheard, guess he'll need to give the direction.

"Terra. Make sure the others are aware."

"Yes, Lord." Vengria wouldn't have an issue with it. Weiss could stop it with his petals, but Vizel, Azure Resound and Black Waltz were the only pair that wouldn't have any means to stop it. Vizel will just bulldoze through. Same goes for the Crimson Reapers who will be ready to fight regardless of what happens.

"Tell Princess Marida that the Conservatives have begun placing bombs in civilian areas. We won't be holding back. It will be a scorched earth policy. She will have to figure out her recovery plan. We're not going to hesitate. We're not going to get paid for this." Seeing the tears from Princess Marida. She had to make a decision and she had heard what Silas had already informed her.

Meanwhile the Baruta Kingdom's Castle.

Seated on the throne was a blonde whose hair was made to be as refined as silk, yet her gaze towards her subjects. That was a gaze of disgust and anger built within.

"Your Highness. We have prepared the traps. Then they will be blamed by the citizens. It will decrease the support of the Progressives."

"Good. That will be sure to make that Hunter eat his words. How dare he threaten us!" Princess Radia raised her voice as she clenched her fists. Looking at a grimoire in her hand, seeing the name. Rose Knights.

"I cannot wait to make the Rose Knights into my own. But, I wonder if we can get their names? If we had them under our grasp. Then the power of Baruta will be much more than whatever that they can have." She said as he made a Vengria, Vizel and Weiss appear before her, they stood still as statues. She held Vizel's cheek, then holding Weiss's cheek. Eyes full of desire and greed, wanting to use their power to wreak havoc.

"It would be nice if I had the actual ones. Having the power of the Ancient of Slaughter is such a great thing. We need to make sure we feed it with the chaos. Then having the Ancient of Ashen Grounds... I'm sure this will be great for us to use." Princess Radia said as she thought of another nefarious scheme.

"Let's have them kill our people by the nearby towns. This will be interesting." Little did she know Terra was watching all of this from a distance. He had the perfect spot to kill her, but Silas was chuckling as he thought about it.

"Terra. What's your view of the capital?" Terra went into the shadows, showing Silas a human landfill. Corpses that have rotted as the maggots began to pop all out of their organs. Then seeing the vultures harvesting the carcasses for food. Some of the bodies were bloated.

"These were people who had supported Princess Marida in secret."

"So she has two ancients. Tell the Crimson Reaper to ignore their previous objectives. Tell them to head to the Ancient's position. It is their Ancient. Terra the moment those fakes leave the area within the capital. Take them down. Vizel, Vengria, Weiss. The bombs that will go off. Let them go off, get some blood over your armors. Then head over to Princess Radia's side. Lions. Are you guys ready? Going to need you guys to fly around. Killing everything that threatens us in the sky and on the ground."

"Yeah, we're ready Gates. Tell us what's the plan?"

"Let's turn everything into nothing but ruin. This war's going to be over with our next strike." Silas said as he sat back up, with Yrvad perched on his head. Looking at Zyx.

"Got it, Gates. Lions. You all hear that." Silas put on his outfit. The Coat of Crimson and the Mask of Grief. The plan was in motion. Now to just wait for results, the situation was getting fun. It was getting serious.

"Vengria, Vizel and Weiss. You three might have to fight me to feign ignorance. I'd like to see how you three work together."

"Of course, Lord. A spar with you. It would be nice to try your powers." Weiss said as Silas stretched his limbs. Looking through Terra's view, seeing Terra follow the three fakes. The moment they left the capital, that was when Terra took them out with a fast dagger throw. Homing into the them. Piercing the chest, turning them into nothing but ash.

Vengria, Vizel and Weiss were preparing to take their place. Silas could see the moment the three of them stepped in, standing through the chaos. Explosions unleashed. They took the hits, seeing the bodies on the ground. Vizel knelt to the body of a family. Crushed under a large piece of rubble. Silas could feel Vizel's tears falling down, as if he himself was seeing it. The three of them took the blood, placing it over their armors.

Vizel howled to the sky. Allowing his sorrow to take the air by storm, a painful howl. Silas clenched his fists, but this was part of the plan. He wasn't going to let Princess Radia win easily. Looking through the lens of the M-Frames of the Lions. Seeing the dragons and beasts getting destroyed with mere shots.

Weiss held his flowers, kneeling as roses began to bloom to the ground. Forming azure roses around the area.

"Your country will thank you for your sacrifice." Weiss stated, his feet weighed heavily with the sorrow as he left. It felt like Weiss could not accept that within his heart. But the grand scheme of things, this was a necessity. Even if he disagreed, he had understood that Silas's plan was not going to be anything as simple as death. He may have something far worse for her.

Looking through Vengria's eyes, who was kneeling by a broken statue. Reading the plaque, detailing about a town of tourism. It's historic roots, rich in legacy of being a place where people go to enjoy the beauty of the trees. The cherry blossom trees that belonged to the immigrants who settled here. Uprooted by the chaos, only the Avatar of Seasons could return the trees as they were but the townsfolk? That was a different story.

Nothing could save them, nothing could bring them back. Riddled with questions to the town's origins. Not one person survived. Lopt had ensured that the Hunters and Soldiers belonging to the Conservatives would see that the three of them had been defeated by the fakes that Princess Radia had deployed. The trickster could mess with memories but only in a limited radius.

Silas was getting ready as the three of them were being called back by Princess Radia. His Three Rose Knights had their own thoughts to the situation. The Crimson Reapers were cutting their way through the area.

"Ace, report?"

"We're close to our Ancient. She's chained, and from what I can feel. She's weak."

"Raizel?" The Grimoire appeared before Silas.

"Is it possible for an Ancient to die?"

"No. It's not. Anyone with the class of an Ancient. It will not die. They can be sealed and bound, but nothing further than that." Silas was readying his blade, where Silas leaped into the air as Zyx and Yrvad vanished into his shadow. Where Fracture appeared, catching Silas in his hands.

"Where to, my Lion?"

"Baruta Kingdom." Fracture lifted Silas to his shoulder, then opening the cockpit for Silas to get into it. The seat was soft, comfortable considering he was wearing a different outfit.

"How many hours?"

"Roughly 18 hours, Lord. It will take some time." Fracture responded as Silas leaned to the back of the seat. Grieving Thorn and Ashen Phoenix was ready in his hands. Everything is escalating and it's something that Silas had accepted, holding his blade. Clenching his fists. Raring to unleash full hell on Baruta Kingdom. They had broken their oath that they made a few hours ago.

"151."

"Yes, Lord?"

"I will make my way to Princess Marida first. Fracture, if we speed up can how fast can we be there?"

"5 hours. Shall I go full throttle?"

"Yeah." Silas felt the change in speed in an instant. Fracture was moving at full speed, Silas's body had activated Pandora's Box to help alleviate the status effect.