My eyes flutter open and my face feels wet. I sit up with a groan finding my desk covered in drool, just barely missing the papers I was working on. I guess I fell asleep at my desk again. How unfortunate, but I wipe the desk down and begin going over the papers again. I write more letters and orders and compile financial statements. I ignore the pile on my right, the stuff I really don't want to deal with right now. Half are petitions and reports talking about various acts of violence going on in the White City, and the rest are all directly from Duke Hasslerouge.

I ended up running out of normal documents and decided to start going over the White City papers. Almost all of them are the same and are expected. It's a consequence of putting all these different Frontiersman cultures together. Not just different cities, but entirely different cultural groups, and a very long history of competition and wars. While there was a council in place to keep everyone from going into all-out war, it didn't stop small skirmishes and raids which led to lasting tension.

Now I created one of the largest pressure-cookers of conflict this world has ever seen. While everyone still does their work, it's once work lets off when problems start. Fights in the streets, both honor duels and others are outright random assaults and jumpings. I had special arenas built so fair duels can happen, but they are so heavily booked that there isn't enough time in the day for them all to get done. This results in street brawls, some ending up deadly.

It's a terrible outcome, I had a council chamber formed where groups can elect, or choose through various means a representative for more peaceful and political options to ending conflicts. This has failed spectacularly when the members began fighting one another in the damn council room. The main problem is this, while they all respect me, only the Stella Coyote and maybe a few others are loyal to me. What this means is, that if an outside force messes with us we will unite to fight them together, but after that, it's all bets off. This respect also keeps me out of the crosshairs of anyone looking for power.

I know a solution, but I really don't want to do it, as it may bring consequences possibly worse than the situation at hand. Unfortunately, it will be the only way to move forward.

My office door swings open harshly as my aunt uses her hips to throw it open. In her hands is a plate of a freshly made breakfast. She seems surprised to find me awake and she shoves the papers in front of me out of the way before setting down the plate. She puts her hands on her hips and scolds me,

"You know it's bad for your health to work yourself until you pass out right? Plus you need to sleep in a bed or you'll throw your back out!"

I set the papers in my hands into their appropriate pile and begin eating greedily, only now realizing just how hungry I am. In between swallows of food, I reply,

"I'm sorry Auntie. It's just so much work and no one else can get it done. The dumbasses outside can't get along, financing public works is hectic, and Duke Hasslerouge won't get off my ass."

She nods contemplatively, thinking about my situation.

In these past few months, she has taken a far more motherly role over my life, taking care of me, of course feeding me, and sometimes helping me get a new perspective on things. While she was unable to earn a name in her younger years she is sharp, listens, and learns constantly. With Sertean back in the Royal Guard, now a full-fledged one, and Henna now running the small regular army I have for the White City, my Aunt is now my closest confidant and my best advisor.

Her hair is now back to ear length, a reminder of just how much I should trust her, and a reminder of how weak I am. She shakes her head and tells me,

"I don't have any advice you haven't already thought of by yourself."

I frown, gulping down the last bites of sausage, and tell her in a flat voice,

"I'm going to have to do the thing I don't want to."

She nods, her face solemn as she takes the dish. She then says,

"Before you do that, deal with the Duke. Even if he didn't have the best intentions for you, he still freed you from true slavery, and because of that you now have... well... all of this."

I nod giving her a warm smile. I say while standing up,

"I will deal with this today. Tomorrow... will be a new day."

The ironclad airship lowers itself just outside the Hasslerouge manor. It's one of the newer and bigger models. It comes with four twin turrets and twelve guns on each flank. It's built in a far sleeker design than the Godiva Class of my first design. The armor is about the same, a little thicker on the belt due to being a broadside monster, but it is much faster as its more refined design allowed us to create a better mobility system.

The bottom of the belly turrets sits mere feet off of the ground the aerial buoyancy has been perfectly balanced as Markus honed his skill and understands the ironclad concept further. A door on the side of the ship, on the deck below the broadside gun deck, and a long ramp is extended to the ground. It is in no way wheelchair accessible due to the angle, but it's really only being used to drop me off today.

I half-slide down the ramp, careful to keep my clothes clean. I have dressed in the formal noble dress Duke Hasslerouge bought for me a while ago. I get the feeling this meeting will be best if done in the most formal way I can manage.

I step through the gate leading to the grounds inside the defensive walls and into the gardens inside. Slaves and servants mill about, trimming bushes and trees. A few look up and wave at me, I return the gesture as I walk along the cobble path. I notice a few of the Hasslerouge wives enjoying the nice weather of the day, seemingly having a nice little picnic. I notice one of the younger ones has a noticeable baby bump. I guess the Duke isn't having bedroom troubles yet.

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Alice Hasslerouge notices me and gives me a friendly smile and a nod. I return the gesture and reach the front doors where Aelia is waiting for me. A wave of almost comfort washes over me as I am happy to see a familiar and friendly face, even if the Elven features are a little unsettling. She bows to me as I approach. She greets me formally,

"It is nice to see you again Earl Yotesden."

It feels strange to be called that. It's not been very long since I ascended in rank, plus not a single Frontiersman calls me by my title. I stop just in front of her and say,

"You don't have to bother with that, except in places where you'd get in trouble. I'm not used to it yet. Plus we're friends."

She stares at me with those big ol eyes of hers and her usual completely blank expression. I do notice her ears wiggle a little at the tips, but aside from that she is expressionless. She responds,

"While that is kind of you m'lord, I am still a slave and you are a member of high nobility. A slave like I cannot make friends with a nobleman."

I frown and say,

"That's unfortunate."

She simply nods and motions with one hand to follow. I nod and begin following her through the halls of the manor. We head down a familiar hallway, approaching the Duke's study. Leaning against the wall is Violet. She is standing next to the door wearing one of those split-legged dresses without sleeves. I can see her impressive biceps flexing as I approach. She is clearly irritated at me in some capacity.

I get close and stop in front of the study door, and she lashes out, grabbing my collar and pulling me close. She is nose to nose with me and says quietly,

"I don't know what you did, but you pissed him off badly..."

I laugh and respond cheekily,

"That's my favorite thing to do."

She just shakes her head and lets me go. Before she can do anything else I pop into the Dukes study. I sigh as I look toward the central desk and notice heat haze rising from the Duke. Small flames start and die in the air surrounding him as he looks up at me with a glare. He then says,

"I can't believe you could betray me as you have Isa."

I respond innocently,

"I honestly don't know what you are talking about."

He sighs as I sit across from him and he then explains,

"You gave multiple of your metal airships to the royal navy and trained their crew to pilot and utilize your... um... cannons onboard."

I nod and respond,

"I sold them the airships, and they paid top dollar for the training and ammunition. "

He asks,

"Then why not sell to me?"

I shake my head responding,

"You never asked. We only recently fulfilled the Royal orders for six Godiva class ironclads and three of the new Blake class ships for them.

FYI the Blake class is the kind I showed up in. Bigger, stronger, and faster."

He sighs and asks in a defeated tone,

"Will you sell me some of your ships and train my crews?"

I shrug and state.

"Yeah, I can ask the company if they'll sell them to ya."

His eyes widen with fury as he asks through gritted teeth,

"You are the Earl... just command them."

I click my tongue and respond,

"My Earldom is a free market zone. I have no ownership or command over the business transactions of a company within my borders. I can only help broker deals."

He asks,

"Don't you own the rights to the ships? You designed or at least helped design the first one."

I waggle my head from side to side and respond,

"I am only a major partner investor in Golden Sun Shipworks, as I own Yotesden Investments, which funded and invested in Golden Sun. "

He states flatly,

"Explain."

I proceed to give him a quick explanation of the idea of shares, partnerships, co-ownership, investment companies, and the idea of a stock market. He appears to both be impressed and lost at the same time. He then states,

"So... this whole thing works by you not needing to manage anything, but you can if you want, and you get a portion of the income."

I nod happy to see he understands now. He now asks,

"So... how can I get a ship?"

I respond,

"Do you have the money?"

I hear his teeth grit and he asks,

"How much will you... I mean Golden Sun charge me?"

I shrug and respond,

"Depends on what you buy, or if you request a custom order."

He nods slowly understanding my angle. He seemingly calms down and asks,

"Alright, can you broker a deal with the company, so that I may acquire a sizeable fleet of those... ironclad ships? I want a fleet comparable to the royal one. As for the training, can you request the training company to train a crew for each of these vessels, from my already standing navy?"

I smile widely and ask,

"What about ammo? You'll need it for the weapons."

He nods and asks kindly,

"Oh, yes, can you request a sizeable store of that too,"

I nod and explain,

"Alright, I've really been just fucking with you, but I can get that done. The other partners and I have been wishing to expand production and ship models, you'll be getting our newest and best, and we will send the bill after the request is fulfilled.

If it is out of your current financial means, we will be happy to put a loan on it for you."

He shakes his head in defeat responding,

"Alright..."

I nod and make a note to get that done. He then asks,

"Why haven't you responded to my letters?"

I tell him,

"Because fuck you."

He laughs a little before responding,

"I see, that makes sense. We have both made it clear we aren't exactly friendly, but I am going to pull a favor."

I shake my head telling him,

"You're out of those."

His eyes grow icy, as does his voice as he answers,

"I'm making new ones. I'll pay for my ships, this is separate. "

I ask him,

"Tell me, what leverage over me do you have to ask a favor?"

He responds in a cold and businesslike tone,

"You see Isa, I've had my eye on you all this time as you probably know, but what you don't know is that your servant Mekare is a succubi I made a deal with. I'm sure she has worked her magic on you. Unfortunately for you, I can command her as I wish and you by extension."

I nearly fall over in my chair with laughter and through violent spasms, I tell him,

"Holy shit you are retarded. I've known that for over a year you old shit. I've also never touched her in that way. Some leverage!"

He scowls seeing his first attempt at leverage has failed. He then sighs before stating,

"Fine, that won't work I see. How about this?

I have information about the location of multiple Stella Coyote slaves. I can have my men locate and secure them through payment, violence, or string-pulling if you do this for me."

I correct myself and get back into the chair. I let out a long breath and respond,

"That might be just enough motivation. That depends on the job."

He nods, his tone less cold, and more businesslike,

"There is another Earl, an old bastard who has found some of my secret dealings. I want him gone. I have fabricated evidence of his collusion with the Demon King. All false of course, but with it you can justify a raid on his estate, hell you can even get royal support with the stuff we created against him.

It should be easy for you to do."

I nod and respond,

"Throw in some tax exemptions for some companies within my borders and you've got a deal."

He nods and we both silently agree to not write a contract as to imply any conspiracy. I stand to leave and he shouts,

"The evidence will be found next week. Be ready."

I leave the Hasslerouge estate quickly,

There is much work to be done...