The grand hall of the palace of Aropia was lavish and serene, its towering windows letting in the soft, golden light.

The air was thick with a sense of calm, but beneath the surface, tensions simmered. At the heart of the room was a round table made of dark, polished wood, its smooth surface gleaming under the light, its very presence a symbol of power and diplomacy.

Four figures sat at the table, each carefully maintaining their composure.

At one end sat Ren Canahy, King of Aropia, his dark, calculating gaze unwavering.

He wore his usual composed expression, the kind of expression that made it impossible to read his true thoughts.

Next to him, his queen, Hazel Cheryat , sat poised and silent, her hands folded delicately in front of her. Though she radiated grace, her gaze was sharp, always watching, always listening.

On the opposite side, across from Ren, sat the team of the Grand Alliance—Valleria Aisha, the reigning monarch, and her sister Liv Aisha, the cunning diplomat.

Valleria’s calm was the kind that came from being both beautiful and ruthless, a queen whose very presence demanded respect. Her eyes, the color of the deep forest, flickered with the slightest hint of amusement, yet there was a steeliness in her posture that could cut through bone.

Valleria spoke first, breaking the silence. Her voice was smooth, measured.

"King Ren Canahy," she began, her gaze piercing. "I must commend you. Your nation has risen from the ashes, no longer the broken remnants of a failed state, but a force to be reckoned with," She allowed a thin smile to curl at the corner of her lips. "Just below elves and fairies, mind you, but that is no small feat."

Ren remained silent, his face unreadable, eyes locked on her with calm intensity.

He did not flinch at her words, nor did he show any sign of appreciation. Hazel glanced briefly at him, sensing the storm brewing beneath the surface, but said nothing.

Valleria’s smile faded, her eyes narrowing slightly as she continued. "However, let us not forget that even your impressive advancements in technology and military might have not elevated you to the ranks of the truly powerful. Your country, though formidable, remains fragile compared to the Grand Alliance. Our resources, our magic, our age-old dominion—these cannot be overlooked."

The silence that followed was thick.

Liv, seated beside her sister, let out a barely audible sigh, her fingers tapping gently on the table.

She too was accustomed to the intricacies of diplomacy, and while she held her tongue for the moment, there was an underlying impatience to her demeanor.

Finally, Ren spoke, his voice as calm and cold as ever. "So, what terms do you wish to discuss with Aropia?"

Valleria's smile returned, this time colder, sharper.

She leaned forward slightly, the slightest hint of triumph in her eyes. "I propose," she began, her voice soft and persuasive, "that Aropia sell its motor vehicle manufacturing technology, as well as the process of extracting magic fuel from manna grass, to the Grand Alliance."

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Her eyes held Ren’s gaze as she spoke, knowing that this was the crux of the matter. But Ren did not flinch. He let her words hang in the air for a moment before he replied, his voice calm, yet unmistakably firm.

"I will consider your offer," he said, his tone measured, "but only on the condition that I sell the finished products, not the technology. And I will sell to any nation willing to pay the price. Not just to you."

Valleria’s brows twitched ever so slightly at his defiance, but her smile did not waver. She had expected nothing less from Ren, but the fact that he was so adamant was… interesting.

"You misunderstand, King Ren," she said, her voice still composed but with a hint of ice beneath.

"What you fail to see is the nature of power. You may have taken the leap forward, but you’re still struggling to grasp the full weight of your position. The Grand Alliance has been patient with Aropia, but if you continue to stand in our way—if you refuse to collaborate—we will see to it that your ‘progress’ is undone. The manipulation of mana grass prices, the control of your economy—it was a necessary measure to keep your growth in check."

The words stung, but Ren did not react. His eyes, dark and unwavering, remained fixed on hers. He had been expecting this.

"You will not control our economy again," he replied, his voice steady, without a hint of emotion. "I will sell to anyone, including the Grand Alliance, but I will not be in one-sided terms."

For a brief moment, Valleria seemed to consider his words. She understood the implications of Ren’s stance—he was no weak king of a broken nation like his predecessors, begging for scraps from the powerful.

But her eyes flickered with something else—something sharp. The time for subtlety was passing.

"There’s more, of course," she said, her voice turning colder. "You’ve annexed lands from Drakonia. We have objections, and you must understand, Ren—territory isn’t the only thing at stake here. I trust you know that our interests in the matter are… tied."

Ren’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "I will return the lands to Drakonia only if they pay reparations for the assassination of the former king. And please don’t bother denying it , I am sure you are aware of the truth in this matter.The former queen, Hazel’s mother, is still alive and can testify to this fact whenever you choose to deny it."

The room fell utterly still, the words hanging like a heavy weight between them.

Hazel’s eyes shifted slightly, but she said nothing. Valleria, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, though a flicker of something—whether it was annoyance, recognition, or something deeper—passed through her eyes.

"You believe you can intimidate me, Ren?" she asked, her voice smooth, but there was a bite to it now. "Do you think you have the power to demand reparations?"

Ren did not flinch, his calm demeanor as unshakable as ever. " Valleria ,I will deal with whatever you throw at me," he said, his voice unwavering. His choice to address her by name shocked even Liv herself , she could count on one hand the number of people who had this privilege and Ren wasn’t one of them.

"But understand this: a war between us benefits no one."

Valleria’s smile widened, but there was something dangerous behind it now—something that suggested she was not accustomed to having her authority challenged.

"So, what do you propose, King Ren?" she asked, her voice dropping into a more dangerous tone.

"I propose," Ren said, his gaze sharpening, " a bilateral treaty of mutual trade of specified goods. Aropia will very soon introduce a revolution , one of science and machinery. You have just witnessed from our war with Drakonia how a fight between magic and machines turns out. You could secure a powerful ally in me—an ally who can strengthen the Grand Alliance and help you achieve your goals in ways you cannot yet imagine. But the terms must be clear. The relationship between us cannot be one-sided."

For a moment, the room was completely still.

Valleria’s smile was back, though now it seemed more like a challenge than anything else. Liv, who had been silent up until now, tilted her head, observing Ren with sharp eyes. There was a tension in the air, thick enough to suffocate, and yet neither side was willing to back down.

A secret treaty was formed between Aropia and the Grand Alliance .

And with it , the undeniable path that humankind could now walk on its rise to become the greatest race in all Pangea. Ren Cannahy had laid the foundations , but he also planned to lead his people down that road till the journey was over.