I sat on the bridge looking down at the city as we flew over the wall towards the plaza. I noted several people near the entrance, but no one attacked or made a move. There didn’t exist a super-sized airship until the Crystal Vortex in the Systemic Lands. The sheer size combined with the fleet behind us would make an impact.

“Order the flags to be released,” Captain Francis said, and I gave a nod at that. On either side of the airship, two large flags for the Empire of Purgatory would be unfurled. They wouldn’t handle high speed and would interfere with the beam cannons, but they were meant as a statement.

I was debating on making my presence known, but it was too soon for that. I was the Empire and I doubted there were any big fish I needed to worry about. If there were, then this airship would be the first target. Being on the bridge gave me a quick exit and a great view. Foreman Hamid had done a great job getting the internal layout just right.

We came up on the plaza fairly quickly and there was already some panic. I could see several soldiers in brown uniforms rushing about. Based on what I could sense, they had stats pushing into level 4. So, an outside force. Based on what I had picked up from the Leader, they were from the Empire of the Nile. Scanning the plaza, I noted a building with a gold star on a brown background, their national symbol.

“We have stabilized our position. No hostilities. Orders?” Captain Francis asked me. I was thinking about what to do. Well, it was time to handle things directly. A show of my power would prevent a needless conflict.

“I am deploying. When I send an aerial attack, order all soldiers to deploy and take control of the plaza,” I said.

“I will relay the message,” Captain Francis replied as I got up and went to the door. I opened it and leapt off. I used an Air Burst just before I hit the ground to stop me from shattering the plaza. That would be a pain to clean up.

“Who is your leader,” I called out towards the gathering soldiers. A middle aged man stepped forward.

“I am Habib Saluda, Captain of the Empire of the Nile,” he said.

“I am Emperor Michael, supreme ruler of the Empire of Purgatory,” I said with a bit of a feral grin. I could see the fear and sweat etched on his forehead.

“What can I assist you with Emperor Michael,” he asked.

“Two things. The first, is that this city is now under my ownership by right of conquest and power. I killed the monster stopping people from advancing here.” I saw some gasps at that. “Secondly, no cities that were abandoned shall be claimed, for another 37 days. Attempting to do so, will constitute a direct act of war,” I said.

“I will convey-“

“You misunderstood me. This is not a negotiation. This is a command. If your Empire does not obey immediately, I will kill all of you, kill your rulers, and crush any resistance,” I calmly replied as I began walking forward.

“I understand, but it will take some time to convey that to the other cities we have occupied. Does this apply to all nations?” he asked.

“All other nations. Afterwards, this city of New Kochi will be off limits. The Empire of Purgatory will take no ownership of any conflict outside of the level 1 zone as long as your government takes no ownership of any conflict.” I could see his confusion and just smiled.

“I will need to issue orders to recall my men from the gates and hand over control. Will you or your Empire be open to hosting an embassy?” he asked.

“At the present time no. But perhaps that will change. I plan to visit your superiors regardless and inform of them of the new power structure.” I could see his face tighten, but he knew he had no chance. I saw him looking up at the airships. “Don’t panic, I am going to signal my soldiers to deploy. As long as they are not attacked, you and your men will be allowed to leave peacefully. In addition. All residents are being expelled, you are welcome to take them with you or not.”

I gestured into the air and sent up a beam attack. At that signal, soldiers began repelling down ropes tossed off the sides of the airships and quickly forming up in the plaza. Captain Habib Saluda began ordering his men. I just smiled as things began taking shape.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Before they left, the Captain came up to me. “Emperor Michael, is there anything else you wish to convey before I depart, or your expected arrival?” he asked.

“Hmm, showing up unannounced would be in poor form. Around ten days from now. Your Capital city is Cairo, correct?” I asked and he tensed up at that.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Then ten days. If you wish to attempt to kill me, then I am also happy to settle things with a death match, each side wagering the lifer of their ruler or rulers,” I added with a smile, that I knew wasn’t confronting.

“I will make sure to convey that. And…thank you for settling things without violence,” Captain Habib Saluda said.

“I merely spoke, you chose to listen. But I am sure your leaders might get upset about my demands. Let me ask, what is the highest level of monster your nation has killed? If you tell me, I will share the same,” I replied.

“A level 5,” Captain Habib Saluda said.

“A level 7. That should indicate the respective differences in power. Even if your nation amassed all its power, it would have no chance against me, and that is not counting my forces. But I will speak in more detail of my plans for the Systemic Lands, once I speak to them,” I replied.

“As you say Emperor Michael,” he replied neutrally.

“You are free to depart and have safe travels. I will be checking the other cities when I visit and giving a smack to the Indian Sultanate to the North if they have started moving,” I said.

“Ah, well we were a bit aggressive in expansion and kept an eye out in terms of baiting the monster. We have forces already in the North,” he said. I let out a chuckle at that. They probably staked out prisoners to see if the monster showed up to observe it and see if it was still around.

“Efficiency and taking advantage of an opportunity. I can respect that. It saves me some headache.” I thought over the situation. “I am still going to have to enforce the rule of no trying to claim cities for the next 37 days. And no attempts by organized military claiming them afterwards,” I replied.

“I will convey your words,” he said.

“You think they won’t listen?” I asked.

“They have their orders. I will need to go back, and new orders will need to be sent. That won’t happen in the next ten day,” he explained.

“You don’t have any airships?” I asked.

“Only for emergencies,” he replied, and I nodded at that.

“Well convey my words. If your nation doesn’t pull back, or issues orders before I arrive, then I will just declare war. You have what two cities, another two if The One, supports you?” I asked. He winced again as I smiled. It was nice having information.

“My Empire is much, much larger, and much more unified,” I replied. It was nice to flex on someone, even if it was bullying. Well I was representing my nation, I suppose it was nation bullying then. Did that make it okay since it was politics and not interpersonal relationships? Now that was an amusing question.

“May I ask how large?” It was a bit rude, but it was an important question in order to establish or respective positions between nations and not just my personal power.

“I control half of the known territory of the Systemic Lands. That includes cities. Even if all your remaining cities and people killing monsters pooled all their resources, you cannot beat me. Better and stronger people than you have tried. And I killed the monster, which your nation was incapable of. How would they kill me?” I had also gotten a meta-point after that, which put me further out of reach.

“Oh,” Captain Habib Saluda said quietly and seemed to deflate. He realized that his nation had no chance at all. If I had 6 or maybe even 8 cities, they could have put up some kind of pretense of being equal nation states. That wasn’t the case. I was the United States and they were some country in Africa. Was it fair or reasonable, nope. Did I care, also no.

“In addition, I am not some hide in the rear kind of leader or Emperor. I am right in the thick of things. I fight on the front lines of exploration. I am not some wall flower, like other leaders either. Well we shall see what happens. I have shared enough and you aren’t capable of more complex decisions or negotiations. You are free to leave with your men,” I replied.

“Thank you,” he said and then hesitated a moment before giving me a salute. I calmly gave him a nod back of respect. I could always appreciate someone who was willing to talk things out, instead of screaming and acting like an entitled Karen. I swore it was like a mental disease that infected, otherwise rational people.

It took a strong person to keep a calm head in front of someone who could easily kill them. I don’t know if I could have done as well if I was in his position. Regardless, he and his men were free to leave. Fighting now would be pointless. I also noticed they took the new arrivals with them, which was a point in the man’s favor and possibly his nations.

Clarissa and I had talked, and it was unfortunate, but we would be expelling all new arrivals from this city with only a limited explanation. There would be no help beyond these walls. Everything outside would be lawless chaos. Inside, we would only have people loyal to my Empire. It was to be a fortress city, making it clear, that other nations could bugger off.

The embassy question had come up as well. I had talked to Clarissa and she left it in my hands. If they gave me maps and information, they would be granted an embassy in New Kochi. The Capital of Purgatory would remain off limits to all other nations.

If they traded me something else of value, specifically useful unknown information, then they would be granted an embassy in the Capital. But they had to give useful information. The Leader would be allowed an embassy, since he had been helpful. The Indian Sultanate, could bugger right off.

I would have to assess the other nations and make my decisions. They would probably be regulated to New Kochi. Into a secure area where they could be watched and given limited permissions to move about the city, only under escort. Let the drama happen here away from my Capital.