The Highest Judge stirred from his slumber after having recalled that encounter, ever mindful of his role as one of the Four Horsemen in this so-called game. He observed Zak, who was engrossed in examining the bookshelves, while the judge himself occupied a nearby sofa, silently contemplating his plans.

Zak's unease was palpable, with tingling fingertips and a brow glistening with cold sweat. The Highest Judge kept his thoughts and the reason for their presence there. After their departure from his office, he had led Zak through a dim, narrow tunnel that eventually brought them to a private office within someone else's residence.

As they waited, Zak found solace in the volumes adorning the shelves not uttering a single word. Out of the corner of his eye, the judge spotted a ten-year-old girl, her blue eyes and red-frilled dress drawing his attention, as she occupied herself with a game of jacks at a coffee table.

After a tense ten-minute wait, a man in his fifties with the same blue eyes as the girl entered the room. Zak whispered to him, suspecting the girl's relation to the newcomer, only to have her answer directly. “I’m his niece.”

“She’s Fredderikka, the heir of the Clan. Our last hope!” the newcomer declared. “And who's this young lad?”

“My new apprentice,” the judge replied.

“Nice to meet you, son. I’m Arthur Sørensen, the oldest brother of the main branch of the clan. And my niece is Frederikka Sørensen.”

“Nice to meet you, Sir!” Zak greeted, shaking Arthur’s hand. He wanted to extend the same courtesy to Fredderikka, but she remained engrossed in her game.

“Can I offer you a drink? whisky, schnapps, or brandy?”

“Nothing,” the judge said. Arthur however served himself a glass of whisky.

The judge wasted no time and cut to the chase. "I need to leave the city as soon as possible, so let's address the main topic. What about Iram of the Pillars?"

The judge noticed how Zak perked up his ears in interest. “The coup d’état in the sultanate is still ongoing. Sultan Al Hazred had been imprisoned, and the situation remained precarious as the eldest princess waged guerrilla warfare against Al Husayni‎, our warlord. Al Husayni had stopped following our orders, however.”

Fredderikka, still engrossed in her game, chimed in with a bold suggestion. "Why don't we eliminate Alhazred? We bribe his keepers to make it look like a suicide. Then we can take out Husayni during his celebration. The sultanate will crumble, as they oppose a queen. The princess may be a symbolic figure, but we can manipulate her to maintain her crown and influence her to our advantage. We deploy Peacebuilders as foreign aid to help the new government."

Zak couldn't help but be impressed, and the judge could notice it on his face. "I was thinking the same. A similar strategy was used to overthrow the Lilliput-Blefuscu Triumvirate. First, the Queen was persuaded to surrender. Amid the ensuing chaos, the Prime Minister was assassinated, and the Commander in Chief of the Army went into self-imposed exile. Peacekeepers, Peacemakers, and Peacebuilders were then deployed to pacify the archipelago." Arthur added, after sipping a bit of his drink.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

The judge noticed how Zak opened his eyes in surprise, and the next second he frowned skeptical at what the girl said.

"Zak," the judge explained, "You might be surprised that a young girl like her is involved in our discussion, but she's a prodigy and an unmatched master strategist."

"Excuse me for intruding," Zak added, "but what exactly are Peacekeepers, Peacemakers, and Peacebuilders?"

The Highest Judge recognized the need to fill in Zak on these vital details. Yet, the little girl opened her mouth faster than expected.

"You don't know anything about Paasilinna's army structure?" Frederikka interjected, her voice carrying authority. "Peacewalkers are Paasilinna's foot soldiers. Peacekeepers are Paasilinna's Special Operation personnel. Peacemakers are intelligence and stealth operation personnel. Peacebuilders form a command specialized in extermination, assassination, and total warfare."

Zak nodded in gratitude for the explanation, and Frederikka returned her focus to the ongoing game.

"What about Keith?" The Judge inquired, keen to gather information.

"Impossible at this time. Invading anywhere in North America is impossible at the time!" Arthur sighed, serving himself another glass of whisky.

"I haven’t thought about it yet," Frederikka added, her mind still focused on the complex puzzle on the table.

The Judge stared at her, raising his eyebrows.

"Our clan is spreading faster than expected. Finally, after many years, we now have some members amidst the Qing Dynasty and The Empire of the Sun. In fact, both Japanese and Qing Emperors have Sørensen concubines. We are also gaining a bit of influence in El Dorado, but the situation there is almost the same as with Keith’s city." And as Arthur downed his whisky in one gulp the judge frowned in disapproval.

"And Kalahari City?" The Judge inquired, pressing for information.

"We still need Völundr in Africa, so needs to participate in the future chaos, he’s an integral part of it," Frederikka explained.

“What about the current chaos in Paasilinna? I wasn’t expecting it. Was it Völundr?"

"No, it wasn’t him. He's just trying to stop and clean up the mess," Arthur clarified.

A cloud of mystery hung in the air. The Judge probed further, seeking answers. "So, who brought the dragons and the giant parrots to the city… and those statues?"

"What about the flying Jäävarasto?" Zak added, the weight of the situation pressing upon him.

"Not the same person? Ah!" Arthur cursed.

"It’s indeed the same person, the same person who is spying on us, by the way," the Judge revealed, sending shivers down their spines. Even Frederikka ceased her game of jacks and went on her knees.

An eerie silence enveloped the room, broken only when Arthur, alarmed, reached for his revolver.

"Who’s there?" he shouted; the gun poised for action. The old judge, in his wisdom, reached and opened the door. A red-haired woman wearing a black dress stood there, motionless, and as she noticed him, she curtsied.

"So, you were here," the Judge said, reciprocating with a bow. "Save the gun for another time." Arthur reluctantly lowered the weapon.

As the redhead stepped into the room, Arthur continued to keep a finger in the trigger, mistrust lingering in the air.

“It’s a pleasure to be your acquaintance,” she greeted Arthur. “My name is Joanne Belloc.”

"No need for more introductions,” he handed her a leather pouch. “She’s departing now." The Judge said, and as he spoke, Joanne disappeared before their eyes.

"What the hell is this?" Arthur yelled, unable to comprehend the uncanny events. “You knew she was here all along and didn’t say anything?”

The old man, always composed, reassured him, "Don't worry. Jäävarasto started flying because of her."

“She heard our conversation!” Arthur scowled.

“She’s an ally,” the judge said, sitting on the sofa again.

Arthur blinked repeatedly, his mouth agape, grappling with the implications.

"You know, uncle… this makes things a bit easier!" Frederikka said, scratching her chin as her grin grew by the second.