Ashalain froze the moment she saw the man who caused chaos. She felt the urge to bark him tons of questions. But for a moment of meticulously eying him, all of them except Akatosh was looking at her. And since they knew Ashalain was one of the members tasked with protecting the dead duke. The three hunches towards Akatosh.

The room fell silent with that Ashalain steps toward Akatosh. Just as they were feet apart, Akatosh looks up at her, and with a blank expression mocking her cold presence.

"Why is this man here?" Ashalain sharply implores.

"Ashalain--" Her father replies trying to diminish her stiff emotion.

"Father, just what's the meaning of this? He- he’s the one who-- the one who--" She riposte but hesitating to confess. Yet the moment she turns around, she saw cross-legged Akatosh, enjoying her vexed emotion.

She goes for a slap to his face, but she was blocked by Torval's sudden reaction.

Torval sighed, "You still haven't changed Ashalain, it's best that you should abstain from this."

Just as Torval had instructed her, three guards came to escort her out from the building. She calm her livid face and agrees with the guards. Yet by far, Akatosh was still in his hysterical mode mocking her as if she was a peasant to a king. In the end, she left the place irritated. When she left the whole group turned at Akatosh.

"What?"

They stayed silent for a second and headed to where they were going to discuss their topic. It was an underground chamber, but the intriguing part was the place. Every surrounding wall was black and glitters, like the stars in the universe. More so, a realistic 3D map of Keshoval was completely lay-out on the round table. Every detail of the land was there as if he was living in the future.

"What are these walls?" Akatosh asks.

"Seredian wall." Hawk replies. "It plugs transmission magic such as teleportation or any kind of magic for spying."

"Oh, now I get it."

Situated in circles, Ariendal then begins the topic. At first, he was at the introduction between political kingdoms. And when he goes to the death of duke Oreson and the reason of the commotion. There Akatosh felt off, just as Ariendal explains every detail. What's more a man appears through the dark and points at Akatosh as he shouts.

"IT'S YOU! HE'S THE ONE WHO MURDERED THE DUKE!"

"On what evidence to support your claim?" Akatosh lively replies with a smug face.

"Do you know about the truth-seeking orb?" Comes Hawk.

"The one that detects lies?"

"Yes," Hawk says, magically revealing the truth-seeking orb at the center of the table.

"Ughh... what?" Akatosh was surprised.

"Can you at least tell us the reason why you killed the duke?" Ariendal implores.

"He's a disease to humanity, so I gave him what he wanted--"

"And are you happy now?!" Shout the man, the one tasked with protecting the dead duke. "Because of you, my families are held captive for my failed duty! And now this kingdom is doom because of you!"

Silence by the man's retort, Ariendal calls the guards and quickly escorts the man as he shouts and curses Akatosh.

"Well, this is surprisingly messy," Akatosh said.

"Indeed, I had my doubts from when Ashalain twitched her eyes on you. Therefore, I had to confirm it nevertheless, what's done is done."

"So I'm going to be leverage to the opposing kingdom?"

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Normally, you are to be held accountable, but since the king of Endregar has already made its decision. It's latent to bring your head to him. Even so, the death of duke Oreson was arranged from the beginning. Sir Torval did bring news to their scheme but, you did more than they anticipated. And bringing the dismantled body of duke Oreson in front of his brother was the best to start a war."

"Soooo... does this kingdom have the thing to counter their invasion. I heard there are powerful adventurers... or..."

"Truth to be told, there are rules and regulations for the adventurers' guild. And chances of counteracting their 50,000 armies and the combined forces of their allied kingdoms are slim to none."

"Oh, how many militaries does this kingdom have?"

"Pretty much only 10,000 if not below that number." Torval implores. "And if you're talking about the adventurers' guild. Well, if they like to join the conflict then they would become mercenaries, and any interactions with the guild are terminated. And the adventurers' guild will only intervene if there are atrocities to the citizens. Anyway, there are also spies from the adventurers' guild."

"Not to mention the ambassador," Hawk said.

"Now that's a lot of eyes and ears. Just what does the king of Endregar want with this peace-loving kingdom. That he had to architect and sacrifice his brother. Is it a powerful artifact, is it a wishing artifact or a ring to rule them all?" Akatosh implores with a sprinkle of humor.

"The old heroes had hidden and sealed some artifacts and other certain individuals. It's no wonder other kingdoms sought those that makes a man become a higher being." Torval reply.

"Okay... So what now."

"Well, what else you're the reason who caused this war."

Akatosh took his time contemplating the 3d map, he looks at every detail, every inch. After thirty minutes of evaluating his mind, he then spoke.

"If I'm going to take responsibility for this, then I want to take part in the details. Information about the enemies, their troops everything. And when I say everything the rules and regulations of your war, if you have."

With a decision settled, Akatosh was then illuminated with tons of information. Once done they then query his contribution to the war.

"Now then for a return, on what plan do you have in mind."

Akatosh was silent still looking at the 3D map of the kingdom, after a minute he then ask the bridge.

"Well, since teleportation had limits... You said it would take them a month to arrive at the border of Keshoval?"

"Yes... if my presumptions are correct the Endregar armies should take the route at the edge of Dolvadish since it was safer. But if they would pierce their way into the Cliffs of Grish it would take them half a month. But make no mistake it would barter them heavy casualties."

"Why is that."

"Because the place is littered with monsters and dangerous roads. And judging the differences of our strength to them, they might send half or less of their armies." Hawks replies.

"Hmm... Well, Torval guessed we have to ask those dwarves."

Three days after duke Oreson's death, the king of Endregar is facing its priestess so was Roland and his companions.

"To what do I owe the pleasure." King Reynfred Dryden II implores in a cold tone. "Did you come here to prostrate yourself in hopes of stopping this chaos or to take sides? Leave... I have nothing more to say to you all." The king continues calling his royal guards to escort the heroes and the priestess.

The heroes left in disappointed faces even the priestess felt something was off. Leaving his throne, a piece of great news came rushing towards him.

"What!? Thuram and Keshoval are joining forces!"

"Yes, my lord, the dwarves of Thuram are helping in defending Keshoval."

"And Aghraim?"

"There's still no news, but I'm sure my lord they would soon join the defense. And we don't know if the other dwarven kingdoms will join the fray."

The king was silent, shocked in a silent yet hesitating to send his military's full capabilities and his neighboring alliances. He soothes himself and orders his best spies and three of his Royal guards to bring him a message if the joined alliance is true.

Holding his invasion for a week, the king waited for his spies to bring news to him, and true they brought the same information.

With that, the king of Endregar stood like a lion and gave his final decision.

While the kingdom of Endregar was now all-out together with its neighboring alliance Starhim. Akatosh was looking intently at the 3d map and when suddenly he saw the other side of the bridge was a small road leading down the large canyon.

"Hey, can you tell me about this road?" Akatosh implores at Hawk.

"That's a very old road it was used even before the bridge was built. But since after the construction of the bridge, it was now an old memory."

"Hmm... tell me what's a massacre and a victory to you. Tell me sir Ariendal how willing will a kingdom do to gain victory."

With a sudden twist after his words, the four of them were walking towards the war table. And just as they arrive, the meeting was finished. Only the king, his royal advisors, and his stubborn daughter were the only ones attending the table.

Ariendal first enters for him to alarm the king, and after taking their time waiting the door opens. And when they were welcomed inside, they could still feel the sour atmosphere. They can tell there were arguments and disagreements from the last meeting. Yet Akatosh only came to offer something different in return only Ariendal, Torval, Akatosh, and the king are the only ones to stay. But some quickly retorts his words, especially the king's daughter Freia.

"God, why does it always be a fucking female."

Without hesitation, the king agrees to his condition. And just as the other exits the room, Freia was looking at Akatosh intently ready to pounce at him.

"Well then, shall we begin?"