Völundr entered his office within the grand building of the Society of Nations headquarters. A sense of duty filled the air as he settled behind his desk, his gaze drawn to a letter that awaited his attention. With a heavy sigh, he lowered himself onto his chair. His subordinates —Alouqua, Naga, and Snip— watched him intently, their curiosity piqued.

Alouqua couldn't contain her eagerness and leaned forward, her voice filled with anticipation. "Any good news?”

Völundr's face contorted, revealing the weight of the news he had just received. "The British government has delivered an ultimatum to Portugal," he replied, his voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and concern.

Snip, always one to seek answers, piped up. "What does that mean exactly?"

Völundr reached for a map of Africa, spreading it across his desk. The vibrant colors depicted the territories occupied by various European powers, each vying for their own slice of the continent. His finger traced the pink-colored portion, representing the Portuguese territories. "The British are demanding the retreat of Portuguese military forces from areas that Portugal claims as their own. These claims are based on historical discoveries and recent explorations, but the United Kingdom argues that they hold the effective occupation of those lands. Portugal seeks to connect its colonies of Mozambique and Angola, claiming a vast expanse of land. However, the British have their own claims in those regions."

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Alouqua's eyes narrowed, her mind racing to understand the implications. "What course of action will you take?"

His gaze shifted from the map to the determined faces of his companions. "There will be a conference held in London to address this matter and we must attend. Afterward, we shall set sail for the Congo Free State, where we will mediate between the Portuguese and British forces. Our presence will also be required to oversee the operations of the Congo Company."

Snip, ever the practical one, couldn't help but frown. "Why don't we simply teleport there using our rings?"

Völundr's expression turned solemn, his eyes meeting Snip's with a mix of understanding and regret. "Unfortunately, we must travel on the same ship with the Portuguese and British diplomats. The voyage has already been arranged, and it is crucial that we maintain a semblance of neutrality and impartiality."

Snip's face fell, a hint of disappointment evident in his voice. "So, we are to spend a month on a ship, enduring the monotony of the open sea?"

Alouqua corrected him gently, her voice filled with a touch of amusement. "A month and a half, Xia. We must prepare ourselves for the challenges that lie ahead."

“Any news tracking Bietka and Ravi?” Naga asked as he remained in his seat. He stared at the ceiling although his eyes were covered.

“I have a replica of each one of your rings. If the owner were to die, the ring would break.” Völundr opened a drawer in his desk and grabbed a small wooden box. “These are Anna’s, Leo’s, Bietka’s, and Ravi’s ring replicas. The replicas are completely undamaged, so they are still alive.”

“What about the flame inside their jewel? It’s gone,” Alouqua asked.

“Oh, that’s because their owners don’t have it. Only when there’s an active connection with me, the maker, and you, its owner, you’ll see the flame.” Völundr said, pointing at Alouqua’s ring. “Yours is still burning, meaning you communicate with me at any time.”