Both Labyrinth Secretary Thompkins and his Deputy Assistant Atkinson turned their head simultaneously when the boom of the door being abruptly opened sounded in the former’s office.
“Miss, you cannot…” a hapless functionary said as the aforementioned Professional went straight for the pair.
“Why, Underwood, you are usually more reserved,” Thompkins joked.
In reply, she simply dropped a wax-sealed envelope on his desk.
“You probably need to read this, Mr Secretary,” she said drily.
Thompkins picked the letter and frowned, immediately recognizing the seal affixed on it.
“British Royal family? What’s this?”
“A request from no less than the heir herself. They haven’t finished solving their French problem and now they have a Chinese one.”
At the two men’s inquisitive glance, she elaborated.
“China has invaded the British Isles.”
Sylvia Underwood hadn’t expected to find the Vice President on tour at the Gate location, but even with the higher authority, she sincerely doubted any decision would be taken there. Besides, you needed Congressional authorization if you wanted to start a war – or enter the one that didn’t already involve you.
“I knew the Chinese still harboured a great enmity against the British – and I thank every day our predecessors who put an end to whoever floated the idea of copying their opium trading by growing some in Turkey. But this seems odd. Even for Chinese.”
The cabinet members had quickly shooed away all of the aides and staff. But Sylvia was pretty sure that all of Gatewatch Square knew by now of the new and most unexpected war that had just started across the world.
“What’s more is that they were using something to extend the range of their Labyrinth skills. They were shooting from shipboard across long distances, and even striking the British’s vaunted skyships. I could recognize the bolts, I’m using those,” she warned.
Henry Clay paled under the idea.
“That’s… terrible. The Guard units are heavily armoured, but the range of their guns is not very large. That’s considered sufficient in case of a conflict with France or England since Professionals are the equivalent of heavy infantry… if they can turn them into artillery…”
“And if they’re going on the offence, who knows where they’ll stop,” Thompkins muttered.
“I don’t know what her Highness included in her missive, but apparently, there was trouble in Versailles just a couple of days before. Which she did not think was a coincidence. But an Empire of China in control of three Great Gates is something very worrisome, I agree with her,” Sylvia noted.
“That would leave us alone to face them,” the Vice-President said, swallowing nervously.
“Well, just us and those South Africans, but they’re small and never made a move beyond expelling all attempts at colonies on their shores,” the Secretary to the Labyrinth remarked.
It was Sylvia’s turn to pale as she realized something.
“They’re the Labyrinth tinkerers. They’re the source of those Potential gauges, we know they’ve fed some interesting items to the French… and they’re rumoured to be the ones who designed the original Gatebreakers.”
“And?”
“And now, the Chinese are exhibiting unusual extensions of the normal Labyrinth abilities.”
The cabinet members looked at each other in horror.
“It’s a worldwide war?” Thompkins said.
“Maybe. Can we afford to sit on the side?” Clay wondered.
“Get a few horses saddled. I think I need to ride more quickly than my usual carriage.”
“We’ll be ready…” the aide said.
“… within the hour. I’m writing a non-committal reply, which you’ll be able to carry back, Miss Underwood, but an actual response will take at the bare minimum a week.”
“Understood. I have three returns from England left, and I have a travel Core at the moment.”
“Travel core?”
“Special Labyrinth item, Mr Vice-President. This one I found shortens the time to perform a new fast journey across the Labyrinth by 7%.”
“I’ll never understand the weird subtleties of you Professionals. Good luck.”
“Thanks, Mr Vice-President.”
----------------------------------------
Lingering Death. -79% of potentials and vitals, regeneration halved.
Jonas felt like a member of the walking dead that you’d find in higher tiers of Labyrinth. Which, considering the levels of Lingering Death, was untrue. He had probably vitals well above the average mundane, and both Strength and Stamina even above exceptional mundane levels despite the low focus on those. But compared to his usual state, the low amount felt horrible.
The worst moments had been once he’d been brought back to life by Tang Bo after the man had materialized an enormous hammer and smashed him to pieces, as he screamed. He had to be physically moved, as he was unable to even raise himself, with 99% penalties stacked on his Potentials. Each subsequent hour had brought progress by lifting some of the status, of course, but he was still horrifyingly weak.
And now, he was shuffling along in the streets of London, heading apparently toward the royal Palace of St. James. There were people out and around, but the streets felt emptier than usual. He spotted a few Londoners here and there, moving furtively to the side, no doubt fearful of whatever the invaders had brought upon them, but no groups of any form.
Saint James Palace looked untouched, and Jonas got a shock at seeing the usual ushers escorting him and his guard across the corridors as if nothing had happened.
The room was familiar. It was the same one he’d been received by Her Highness and the Prince-Consort last time. But this time, however, the woman sitting there, quietly watching the array of pastries and steaming teapots, was the same one that had ordered him re-killed after his capture. Standing behind her was another alert-looking woman in a high-tier set of leathers. The ones that struck him were her gloves, which looked like they were crafted from the blackest of the skins, so dark there wasn’t any detail on the hands themselves showing. Just black, stretched in the general shape in the hand. The small coloured glow barely visible between the scabbards and the pommels of the swords at her sides also told him to be wary of the number of accumulated Artefacts around.
“Ah, you’re there,” the first woman said.
A small sound and a door closing told Jonas that his silent escort had left. Of course, in his state, he was unlikely to be a problem against a pair of much higher tiers Professionals.
“Come, and sit. The situation has stabilized, and I now have time to talk.”
Jonas debated trying to stay up as a gesture of defiance, but he had no idea how the foreigners would take it. And he was feeling down, which made the comfortable palace chair look inviting. He finally stepped up and sat slowly, not willing to show weakness.
The woman maintained a glacial detachment as she took a look at the teapots again, before deciding to let the brew infuse a bit longer. She then surprised Jonas by pulling her hand out of her long sleeves and proffering her wrist in an invitation. Jonas hesitated again, but there was no way to refuse without offending his jailer.
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The descriptor pretty much confirmed the tier of power he was facing.
Second-rank Zhuangjing
Health: 18762/18762
Mind: 29546/29546
Endurance: 13871/13871
Aether: 45693/45693
Effective level: 896
Level 58 Teaching Spellbender
Level 92 Perseverant Strategist
Level 90 Opposing Spellthrower
Level 72 Masterful Schemer
Level 65 Careful Opportunist
Level 57 Teaching Spellbringer
Level 56 Indomitable Spellbringer
Level 48 Solid Spellwrangler
Level 72 Resilient Spellwrangler
Level 62 Massive Spellwrangler
Level 42 Protector
Level 78 Solid Aethershaper
Level 58 Aetherist
Level 46 Arcanist
Experience: 334,226/812,000
Strength: 280
Dexterity: 281
Agility: 483
Constitution: 374
Stamina: 396
Wisdom: 365
Focus: 715
Presence: 907
Fortitude: 736
Intelligence: 1748
Defense rating: 2022
9% regeneration
48% elemental damage
15% health per CON
17% ice damage
15% lightning damage
18% earth damage
12% air damage
20% fire damage
28% aether damage
12.5% area of effect
1.66 aether per DEX
6% aether conservation
4 mind per FOC
2.5 aether per PRE
2 aether per CON
2 aether per STA
Milestones: Arcanist III, Aetherist IV, Solid Aethershaper VI, Protector III, Massive Spellwrangler V, Resilient Spellwrangler VI, Solid Spellwrangler IV, Indomitable Spellbringer V, Teaching Spellbringer V, Careful Opportunist V, Masterful Schemer VI, Opposing Spellthrower VIII, Perseverant Strategist VIII, Teaching Spellbender V
“I was told beforehand, but that’s something… interesting. You do have Jiàozhŭn then. I would mean something like… Adjustment?”
“That’s how it appears in my descriptor. It looks different for you?” he asked before stopping himself.
Well, at least, she’d asked a question.
“Of course. It’s in proper form for me at least. All of Heaven’s descriptors are always in proper form. When one of the Rattanakosin’s generals was recognized by the heavens as worthy, he would read off his skills and Milestones in his own language, and some of them were a bit strange, but one always figure out the real meaning behind each name.”
Jonas remembered the French deserter – Baudoin… Martin – whose descriptor had seemed perfectly normal, and realized he’d never asked if he read his in a different language. It now seemed obvious, but that’s something he had never wondered, even when meeting foreigners like the Frenchman or the Zulus. And now the Chinese.
The woman finally decided that the infusing tea was ready and started pouring it in measures, including one for her bodyguard, which immediately struck Jonas as weird.
“Good. Now we can properly get acquainted,” she said after turning back toward Jonas.
He contemplated the teacup in front of him, unsure of how to respond to this strange display of politeness.
“Do you dislike tea? Your country used to purchase vast quantities of it from us.”
“I like it. It’s always been expensive, though, even if the Colonies have started to produce some as their imports can’t keep up.”
“Then enjoy this one. It comes from my own chests, Imperial quality that, even when you were still trading, would never land in your ships.”
“I don’t even know who you are,” he confessed.
“Ah, yes. The descriptor might be confusing for someone not versed in the ways of the Middle Kingdom. Well, then. I am Zhuangjing, Princess of the Second Rank, daughter of the Emperor Jiaqing with the most favoured Imperial Noble Consort Heyu. And Teaching Spellbender, Greatest Hero of the whole of China, but that, at least, the descriptors will have told you properly.”
Jonas managed, barely, to keep his composure. He was not familiar with the weirdness of the Orient, but few Professionals would ignore the fact that, just like the British crown, the Empire of China had a royal Professional. The Princess was rumoured to be the most ancient Professional among them, having taken her steps into the Labyrinth before anyone else in her country.
Royal persons directing armies on the field of battle were the subject of old histories of centuries before, not modern practice. But when it came to Professionals…
And she’d “invited” him to tea. Which, for a Chinese, was sure to mean something. Jonas knew it had to be related to their Adjustment, given the earlier remark.
“I am… honoured, then,” Jonas stumbled.
It was one thing to talk to the British Crown heir. It was another to talk to the Imperial court member of an enemy of the British Empire.
“Quite so.”
The woman blew on her tea, then took a small sip before putting back the cup on the small table, and then simply smiled, apparently content to leave it at that. Seeing as her bodyguard started to sip as well, Jonas took a small gulp of tea. It might be extremely rare and precious, but he was far too nervous to really appreciate any of it.
Finally, he waited no longer and asked, “Why did you invade England?”
The woman smiled slightly before answering.
“For many reasons. Small, large, old and new. But mainly… because of you.”
“Of me?” Jonas blurted.
“Of you, yes. And the team that surrounds you. Apparently, you… made waves a few months ago.”
“The Gates? But it was accidental. None of us wanted that to happen. Is it really worth coming to our shores to wage war for a few Gates that will reopen anyway?”
“I do not know if it is worth it. My Father doubted it. But someone else does think your ability is worth waging a war.”
Jonas blinked. Then realized who else could bring China to war.
“Mhambi Meshindi.”
“You know of the Zulus, then. I wondered,” she replied.
Jonas wasn’t about to explain how the Zulus had only contacted them recently.
“My government knows of them, yes.”
She laughed lightly.
“Well, everyone’s been roped in their schemes. But it’s one thing to entertain support for some rebels to a foreign ruler… and another to get invited by that same ruler to conquer the world.”
“He came to you? Is that why you started this war?”
She placed very carefully her teacup back on the table.
“You’ve never seen him. Until two months ago, no one had. He has Jiàozhŭn since Zhan Bao can read that off his descriptor. And unlike you, he is clearly of divine origin, as he is more than a man and a half in size, a figure that not even a Hero can have.”
Jonas blinked in surprise. She’d seen the Zulu God-King? And…
“Then he has a lot of Adjustment. Because that’s what gives him this unnatural size.”
She looked at him oddly.
“Each… Milestone of Adjustment increases one’s size. It doesn’t show on the Milestones, but we… I have only a handful, but even then, I can no longer fit in my old clothes from before.”
“That is… interesting,” the Princess said.
“But why? Why does he want to go to war over us?” Jonas said.
“He obviously fears something. But given his obvious power, that must be significant. That’s what I aim to find. And you are going to help me.”
Jonas steeled himself.
“I am a loyal subject of my King. I am not there to help his enemies.”
“Well, you were. It would have been more helpful if we could have obtained your King’s surrender, but he was obviously an old and frail man.”
“What?”
“We found his body when we entered this Palace. The staff, interrogated, said he had collapsed while being driven from your Gate, and could not be raised.”
Jonas felt sick. George III was his King. He had been King for as long as he remembered. And while he knew, in the abstract, that the King was over 80, he’d never thought he’d see the day.
“I am told your King has an official heir. But until he is crowned, you are Kingless.”
“She. I am a loyal subject of her Majesty Queen Charlotte, then.”
“Are you?”
Chang Ru bowed to Zhuangjing after the English Professional had been escorted out, to be brought to guarded quarters at the Palace.
“The Zulus have inquired about the Adjustment-bearing Professionals.”
“Do they know about that Sims Jonas?”
“We’ve kept it quiet, but at least Phesheya knows,” the Dancer said.
“I do not know what the conspirators intend for them. But until we have obtained all we need to know, it would be damaging to have them executed to placate the Zulu King.”
“We have only one captured. We can always say we’re holding him until we secure the rest,” Ru suggested.
“That… could work. If any of the loyalists get wind of him, we’ll use that.”
“Do you really intend to use the Gate?”
“It will require careful preparation. The various information we have about their Adjustment needs to be consolidated and validated until I proffer to my father the opportunity to elevate him. Or Mianning, if he chooses to.”
----------------------------------------
“And who are you,” Princess Charlotte asked.
“Jacques Deschanel. Tier seven all-around Professionals with some, let’s say, focus on the aetheric. And factotum for the Consul, Napoleon Bonaparte.”
“Wait, aren’t you the guy who…” she said, stepping back.
“Enjoyed your hospitality, while waiting for the Consul to return? Yes.”
“I was going to say, the one who blasted our…”
“Oh, that thing? Well, if we had known it would restart that fast, we wouldn’t have bothered with it.”
Charlotte seethed. Not that there was anything to be done there. She was half tier-four, the handful of people around were tier-five maybe, so the tier-seven Frenchman was pretty much undefeatable.
“I would have thought you’d take your chances with the Chinese.”
“Ah, yes. But I’m afraid that I might be mistaken for one of your compatriots rather than a non-combatant. Even if they have appropriate skills, I doubt they’ll see a difference in the heat of the action.”
The man smiled wickedly before shrugging.
“Besides, if the rumours I overheard at the clearing are true, we may no longer be friends. You’ll excuse me if I am not eager to test that fact.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“We are in the Labyrinth. You could have Recalled at any time. I presume you have something in mind then.”
“Well, that’s true. I could have gone and you’d be none the wiser. But the situation has changed.”
“I thought you’d be delighted at our misfortune.”
“I know the mind of Napoleon well. He might want you brought low, but the fact that the Chinese are the ones doing it won’t sit well with him. If someone is to add a second Great Gate to their Empire, it should be the Dominion of France, and no one else. An accident of fate had placed two Great Gates so close to each other, which facilitates that endeavour, but any Great Power with multiple Gates would be, de facto, the prime enemy of France, as they’d be tempted to aim for our Dominion next.”
“So, the enemy of your enemy…”
“Might as well be my enemy, given the circumstances.”
Charlotte suddenly realized the enormity of what that Deschanel person was implying.
“Are you really suggesting that Bonaparte…”
“I really paid attention to what was said. By the way, two members of that team that was at Versailles have made it safely here. And, well, China isn’t the only great power involved. You have the Zulus as well.”
“The who?”
“Oh? You didn’t know?”