Chapter 284

Red Sands Desert, Principality of Rebirth

City of Darthar

There was a long, awkward silence, as Allya took a sip from her mug of hot chocolate. She had just finished summing up the recent events, and it had been...quite the tale.

"So." Said the Count. "You certainly didn't take long to start taking things into your own hands."

"Perhaps. But this was a matter for the Principality."

"I suppose so. Still, how do you intend to proceed? If you just free the merchant..."

Allya grimaced.

"I know, it'll be suspicious as hell. Which is why we're going to do a good old sleight of hands."

"How so?"

"The cargo will be seized as contraband. In our custody it will vanish, presumably destroyed. In truth, however, Elkaryos'...friends will handle transportation. And ensure it arrives at its destination."

Meaning the dark elf Syndicate would move it along their secret routes. There were hidden benefits to their princess' little excursion after all. Which begged some questions as to why they had active routes into Sunrise, but she was willing to let sleeping dragons lie. They were helping her after all. Actually, that might be exactly why they were doing it, since they had to have guessed she'd find out eventually, what with the stunt she'd just pulled, and wanted to buy themselves protection and leeway. Mmmhhh. Something to dwell on later.

"I see. And what of Eismi and Ellyana?"

"The twins' arrest was less public, and more ambiguous, so I will publicly reprimand them for having undertaken a research project on behalf of the university of New Raleigh behind my back, and enter negotiations to have it be done openly, in exchange of which the university will open their library to Rebirth for our expansion and construct a branch in the city to handle higher education."

The Count opened his mouth, and closed it.

"That is...brazen, to say the least."

"Every good lie must retain a kernel of truth to be believable."

"Right. What of the captain and the smugglers?"

Allya shrugged.

"They'll be thrown in the dungeons, then offered amnesty in exchange for helping us out, just like I did with that caravan master."

"Caravan master?"

"A long story. Alongside amnesty, I'll also offer a very lucrative contract. We need a shitload of weapons and military hardware to make it to our allies in Sunrise's territory." With more and more nobles throwing their lot with their majesties, and even some partisans having stayed behind, they actually had a fair few allies between enemy lines. "I can pay them richly to ship them equipment."

"And if they betray you?"

"Then they will die." Allya smiled at his expression. "At this point, no one is prepared to take risks with me, or the dungeon core, my dear. And the contract will be impressively lucrative. Greed, fear, and as the duke pointed out, the way Crystal and I treat those loyal to us will keep them in line."

"Just as it does everyone under you, me included I suppose." The Count shrugged as she opened her mouth to protest. "Let us be honest, I am afraid of you. Everyone is. Those that have half a brain that is. I think, though she would rather die than admit it, even the duchess of Sunrise fears you now."

"Right." Allya took another sip. "Let's hope it stays that way. An enemy afraid is already half defeated."

"A good saying. Now, if I may ask, Lady Crystals intends to attack the Alesian fortresses, correct?"

"Yes. Sunrise's army is in full retreat, but they're leaving behind a guard force. Why?"

"May I accompany her forces? You did say she would bring up armaments from the dungeon."

"Why ask me and not her?"

"My chances are greater if you concur. Furthermore, she is not an easy person to reach."

Stolen novel; please report.

"And you're still a bit afraid of her, especially since you expect CQ to be onboard said supply ship?"

The Count licked his lips.

"That also."

"Alright. But I must warn you, you're playing with fire here Count."

"I am aware."

"No you're not." The Count almost jumped as the jovial baroness instantly turned dead serious, before returning to our old self. "Just...be careful, alright? Overprotective doesn't even begin to describe the dungeon core. And remember that she is bringing her secondary core as well."

"Right, of course. Has she settled on a place for her branch office?"

"Well, there were several options." Many, actually, virtually everybody in the city wanted the dungeon to set up shop in their little quarter. They actually had to calm everyone down, because some were starting to offer Alexandra bribes, which as hilarious as it was, would have brought more problems than it was worth. "But she has settled on outside the walls."

The Count nodded.

"What was the deciding factor? If I may ask."

Allya shrugged.

"It is far easier for her, in a great deal many ways. True, she will not benefit from the shield's protection, but she will also avoid having to deal with habitants. Let us be real, anywhere else would have required kicking people out of their homes to clear the interference for her to build."

"Except for the bazaar."

Allya nodded.

"Except for the bazaar, which had some advantages." Notably proximity to the guild, though in this case to keep an eye on them rather than the other way around. Starvak clearly hadn't given up yet, "But too many potential issues. Besides which, with this she can build fortifications, ones that will be easy to maintain against the erosion caused by the flensing winds, thanks to her powers. Plus, she prefers the heavy use of artillery to defend herself, the shield makes that...impractical."

Not impossible, as had been proven, but still. Besides, with her new ballistic missiles, the range of her static defenses got ever greater. At this point, a shield she couldn't control -yet, knowing the dungeon core-, was simply too great a hindrance. Her range was her greatest advantage after all, over the Republic, over Sunrise, and over the rest of the Kingdom for that matter.

"Shall we have to open another gate?"

"Probably, but she has suggested building a full sized tunnel between the town and her branch office, serving as the only delve entrance, allowing for a single access for adventurers to prevent smuggling, and movement secure from the elements."

It would also allow her to quickly seal the access should someone try to attack her from the city, and her isolated little dungeon fortress would also serve as an excellent hub for business best kept from prying eyes, which would be rather hard in the middle of the city. In time, she might even build her own version of a docking tower there, to resupply the Principality's ever growing air fleet.

"That is feasible, though I am not certain implementing a flaw in the walls is a good idea."

"There need not be any. The gate can still be built, and the fortifications extended underground."

"True, true. It would certainly be worth the effort, if nothing else."

"Indeed."

"Though, in what direction does she intend to settle?"

"East." The direction was mostly symbolic. Alexandra had toyed with the west to signify their alliance with Sarth, but eventually decided against it.

The Count nodded.

"The breach."

"Indeed." The wall breach made by Sunrise was roughly facing east. And that was where they had been slaughtered. Putting the new gate on the very breach and the branch office where Sunrise's army had been broken was one hell of a statement. To their enemies, and as the Count had said, their allies both. Even Starvak, the old bastard, wouldn't miss that message. "From the failures of our enemies, we grow."

"So it would seem. Thank you, baroness, for making the time."

"It is quite alright. You are my vassal after all." While technically being of a higher rank than her, but that was going to be solved soon. "Now, I suppose I'll have to pin down our dear dungeon core to relay her your request. Have a good day, Count."

"And you as well, Baroness."

*****

"Congratulations, you sent sleeping beauty back to bed." Said Alexandra, her voice dripping with sarcasm, as she looked at the archmage. Well, her simulated avatar.

"Oh shush." Ghost gave her a baleful look from her seat.

"Was that truly necessary? Revealing ourselves like that?"

"You said no torture, and we need her more scared of us than her bosses. Now she does. So yes, it was necessary."

"And very satisfying."

Ghost smiled.

"I've got a reputation, we do, I mean. Might as well fucking use it."

There a short silence, and Alexandra coughed.

"How...how do you think the others would react, if they knew?"

"Honestly?" Alexandra nodded, and Ghost shrugged. "No clue. Emilia is head over heels for you, and the maids trust you. Allya and Pyn however...Pyn might be absolutely horrified, but Allya's venerated ancestor served under us. Plus, I don't know if you've realized, but the girl is a sociopath."

"I wouldn't go that far."

"I would. Have you see what she's doing? She's not running a clean or merciful government, she's absolutely fine with corruption and bloodshed, as long as that serves her. Sweet merciful stars, she was an assassin."

"And? How are we any different, exactly?"

Ghost met her other self's gaze, and there was another silence.

"We broke, when we went too far. Will she? And when? How much damage will she inflict before she does? You know those questions. You've been wondering too."

Alexandra gritted her teeth.

"Perhaps. Or perhaps we can avoid that altogether."

"Arcadia couldn't."

"We're not Arcadia. We were part of her, true, but we're not her."

"Is that why you cling to the baroness? Because you want to redeem her?"

"No. I help her because she's helped us. Loyalty is everything. Arcadia taught us that. And Allya thinks the same. We're kindred souls on that front. We both refuse to repay fealty with treachery, and that makes us exceptions in this cesspool of a planet."

Ghost snorted.

"And what, you think that makes you the knights in shining armor?"

"I don't want a fucking shining armor, or be a righteous paladin of justice. We tried that once, remember?"

Ghost nodded.

"I do." She said, quietly.

Alexandra sighed.

"Sorry." She sat down besides her other self. "You didn't deserve that."

"No, no, I needed a wakeup call."

Alexandra waited for a few seconds. She knew herself. And she knew she only acted like that when something was wrong. Deeply wrong.

"...Do you want to talk about it?"

Ghost sighed.

"What is there to talk about? You have a girlfriend, a daughter, a large group of friends. I'm...I'm just a ghost in the machine. A specter of christmas past."

There was a long silence, and Alexandra sighed.

"And that is my fault. Alright, fuck this shit. Let's see if this works."

"What?" Ghost looked as Alexandra reached towards her. "Hey, what the actual fuck do you think you're doing?!?"

"Testing a hypothesis."

She grabbed Ghost's arm, and for a second nothing happened.

Then everything did.

Ghost screamed as she felt reality go insane, as power flowed from Alexandra to her, overwhelming her senses. The simulation warped and glitched around her, errors filled her vision as systems went insane. Everything dissolved into static, and she felt as if she was being pulled in all directions, then none at all.

She floated inside the void. At peace. And then she came crashing down.

She gasped, and sat up. Except that she was laying on the floor. She looked around, wildly, and found herself face to face with Alexandra.

"What...I..."

"Well, it worked." Said her other self as she knelt by her side.

"What...the actual fuck just happened?!? What worked?!?"

Alexandra smiled, and her subconscious screamed that something was wrong. That's when it hit her.

Alexandra was in her avatar. Not the more reasonably proportioned body, similar to CQ's, she used in the simulation.

Ghost looked around. Dusty sandstone, glowing screens...she was in the dungeon's command center.

She brought her hands up, and touched her face. Hers. Not Alexandra's, not CQ's, not a golem's featureless plate, hers.

She started to cry, and tears, real tears, not holographic ones, came pouring out of her eyes.

Alexandra smiled as she hugged her other self.

"What is it you said again? Hello world, was it? Well, say hello to the world."

ENTITY_NAME: GHOST

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

OCCUPATION: EFSN FLEET-HIGHCOM 1, DUNGEON BOSS