The hours passed while Matthew sat against the wall while he continued to adjust their plans and goals going forwards over the next months and years with regard to the first generation Mystic power enabled implant and after a few hours of back and forth with Aea to simulate potential pros and cons he decided on the next objective

‘We need to put up some satellites as soon as possible, more surveillance, long distance mineral prospecting, orbital weaponry and further mapping all seem too good to wait for any longer, what do you propose as a launch device, Aea?’

[Considering current material and production capabilities, a two stage chemical rocket seems like the best choice]

‘Hmm… I would have liked you to propose a multipurpose high caliber cloud ripper’

[Current capacitor storage and energy production is limited, I can’t recommend the construction of a large caliber mass drive at the current stage, no matter the military applications]

Matthew clicked his tongue, as a major of the 913th Penance Marines which main jobs consisted of ‘Softening the drop sites’ and ‘Urban militia subjugation’ his appreciation for the damage one could do with a single could ripper, let alone a battery of 4

‘...That’s right… I captured one once…’

Matthew closed his eyes to focus on the emerging memory, though after a few minutes all he could remember was that a platoon of Penance Marines under his command had dropped from orbit directly on the command bunker of a hostile world and taken over a could ripper battery while suffering heavy casualties in the progress, only to use it to target their own ships in orbit, the face of the Trerubic Empire admiral shouting at him to cease fire was a pleasant memory to rediscover

“Heh… I have a feeling that I treasured that memory dearly”

Chuckling at the rediscovered memory for a few moments, Matthew was suddenly snapped back to reality as a knock from the door to his room echoed out followed by a voice

“Major Matthew?”

‘...Who’s my guest?’

[Surveillance drones indicate it is the Mystic that followed Ukiad]

‘Hmm…’

Matthew rose to his feet and walked over to the door and open it, sure enough it was the same Mystic woman, she wore the same white robe with the vermilion streak following down the middle, her pale complexion also seemed to have lessened significantly, and her eyes were no longer as bloodshot as Matthew had remembered them, she carried a Candlestick with a white candle which illuminated her

“Can I help you, Mystic?”

The Mystic blinked a few times as she suddenly found herself face to face with Matthew, that as usual only wore a pair of black sweet shorts, her pale face grew a shade paler as she stammered

“I-I have something to discuss with you, Major, may I come in?”

‘...Inform Alina and start a recording to prove my innocence, Aea’

[Confirmed, the mistress has been informed]

Matthew took half a step back and gestured for the Mystic to enter his room before he shut the door after her, when he turned around he saw her light another candle on a table before she took a seat, Matthew took his seat across from her on the other side of the table, a moment after he sat the Mystic spoke

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“My name is Selina Lechner I am a Bloodnier Mystic currently under the employment of Maitner Mystic guild”

Matthew nodded, according to Alina Bloodnier Mystics dealt mostly with nobility as their innate mystic abilities allowed them to detect and then trace bloodlines and as Selina had demonstrated earlier she was also capable of tracing the killer of Ukiad’s sister which had likely lead to Ukiad hiring her to track down Matthew, after a moment Matthew asked

“What can I assist you with, Selina?”

Selina spoke at once

“I have two questions for you, Major… First of, I am obligated to ask what you have done with my employer?”

Matthew showed a small smile and answered vaguely

“Sir Ukiad is currently undergoing medical treatment in a Trerubic facility West of here, he will be returned to the Willmir empire once all physical trauma I inflicted on him doing our duel have been treated”

Selina let out a sigh before she nodded and spoke in a more casual tone

“Thank you for that, with that my contract with Sir Ukiad has ended… If you personally or any Trerubic Empire diplomats ever visit the Western region capital city of Maitner I will happily accommodate your requests”

After she finished speaking, Selina bowed her head for a few seconds before she raised it again and spoke

“This leads me to my second question… I know it is a rather delicate question, so I apologize if I offend you… But as a Bloodnier Mystic indebted to Marquis Maitner, I am inclined to ask the Trerubic Empire’s intentions by sending you here, Major”

Matthew saw no problems with Selina’s question and answered her

“As the senior office that intercepted the incursion into Trerubic territory, I am simple required to complete all other diplomatic duties, after all it would be quite expensive for emperor Samual Junathan Trerubic to send a diplomatic envoy for every small border skirmish”

Selina continued to stare at Matthew in silence for a few moments before she asked a not so subtle leading question

“So it wouldn’t be out of the question for you to be assigned to handle any further diplomatic contact with the Willmir empire?”

Matthew simply smiled and nodded in response, a few moments later Selina stood up and bowed before she spoke

“Thank you for answering my questions Major Matthew, please excuse me”

Then she left Matthew’s room and closed the door after her, Matthew let out a sigh as he rose from his seat

‘Would you mind tagging that one, Aea?’

[Understood, 3 surveillance drones have been assigned to monitor Selina Lechner]

Matthew showed a smile before he reached out and snuffed the candle on the table with his hand

-

Marquis Elias Maitner let out a deep sigh and began massaging his temples before he spoke

“Thank you for your report Selina”

Selina nodded, she looked a little tense facing the Marquis in the office, she had just finished reporting on the conversation she had with Matthew a few minutes prior, even now she felt the silent terror the Major inflicted on her by his mere presence, normal people might also be able to tell to some degree, but Selina as a Bloodnier Mystic felt it all too well

‘He was covered in blood, bathed in it for hundreds of years at the very least…’

“Selina, is something wrong?”

Selina remained silent which caused the Marquis to let out a sigh before he opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a pair of crystal glasses and a bottle of high proof wine from the Eastern provinces, as he twisted the cork off the top he spoke to Selina

“The official report is over Selina, I simply wish to know what’s on your mind”

Selina watched as the Marquis poured her a glass before she nodded and sipped a little of the wine as she organized her thoughts, a few minutes passed as the two drank in silence, after a few minutes Selina spoke

“The amount of war one would have to wage to spill that much blood baffles me my lord, I can’t really comprehend it…”

The Marquis nodded as he stroked his chin, after a few moments he spoke

“Assuming the Major haven’t fabricated the blood scent to trick your mystic senses, I am starting to have doubts about the validity of an entire empire suddenly appearing on the Western fringes”

Selina nodded, she also suspected her Mystic senses had been interfered with, if fact she became more and more sure of it, after all the bloodshed that would be required for him to earn his current blood stench was more unbelievable in her eyes as she muttered

“...One question I have is why go through all that trouble? Setting up an outpost of some kind in the Western fringes, fabricating an entire empire with names and titles seems like the cost far outweighs the benefits earned so far…”

The Marquis nodded once again after taking another sip of wine he spoke

“No, it’s not a question, it is the only question we should consider… Obvious, the Major himself possess quite the marshal and physical power, but suppressing him and the golem soldiers he brought with him is still completely feasible”

Selina was about to warn the Marquis once again about the blood stench that lingered on Matthew, but she stopped herself from mentioning it again, she emptied the grass and thanked the Marquis

“Thank you for the wine, lord… Would you like me to cure your blood?”

The Marquis nodded, he had quite the important event at dawn, and being half drunk would spoil his loyal servant of the empire in the eyes of Duke Adam, Selina performed a quick Mystic ritual and removed the alcohol from the Marquis’ body sobering him up at once, with his sober mind came clarity and certainty of the plan his intoxicated self had hatched

“Have a pleasant night my lord”

The marquis nodded to Selina as she closed the door to his room, he rose from his seat and paced back and forth in his office for a few hours as he continued to outline his budding plans, not only for the prisoner exchange, but also for his allegiance to the Willmir empire going forwards