The Old World, Capital of the Iron Kingdom

"Based on the bookkeeping records and the crew manifests of the nine air ships docked within the flying island's hangars," An elf wearing the military uniform of the Iron Kingdom and holding the rank of a General reported. He remained half kneeling before the Iron Throne where the Iron King stared at him with bloodshot eyes.

"Over eleven thousand soldiers, sailors, servants... including the Crown Prince and his retinue are believed to have disappeared on board the Iron Fortress," The general spoke in a calm steady voice. "But it is believed that the numbers might be higher."

"As for the cost of their disappearance... there isn't anything we... could find," Only at this point did the voice of the general cracked slightly. He took a deep breath before continuing, "Your Majesty... We have no idea had what happened to cause the entire population of the Iron Fortress to vanish..."

The Iron King glared at the general in silence until the atmosphere was thick and heavy. Finally, he asked with barely suppressed anger, "What about those... recreants that left him alone to escape in the Sea of Clouds?"

"The... The Duchess of Thunderbolt claims that the Crown Prince abandoned them instead," The general said in a nervous tone. "She claimed that she thus gathered up the remains of the Iron Kingdom expeditionary fleet together with hers and fought a fighting withdrawal from the enemy..."

The general cleared his throat and added, "Her accounts, reports and statements from seven thousand members of the fleet with three thousand Iron Kingdom soldiers and sailors, all state the same th-"

"Enough!" The Iron King smashed his fist against the Iron Throne's armrest. "I care nought for those damn fake upstarts!"

"But what about our soldiers in the expeditionary force that survived?" The general asked imperturbably. "Shall I release them and allow them to return to their families?"

"No!" The Iron King gave a casual wave of his hand. "Throw them to the mines or factories... Those useless bastards failed to protect the Crown Prince! They no longer have any value!"

The general glanced around the throne room to the rest of the officials and lords but none dared to return his look. In the end, he let out a defeated sigh and saluted, "By your command."

When the general left, one of the ministers stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, it would seem that sending any more expedition into the New World would be foolhardy, the survivors spoke of an enemy with magic so powerful that they barely could even see them before the Third Fleet got wiped out!"

"Yet, the magical resources recovered from the Iron Kingdom's vaults showed that the New World is a place rich with countless magical resources which we desperately need to ensure the strength of our kingdom!" Another minister spoke out. "The rewards outweigh the risks!"

"The Third Iron Fleet is effectively wiped out!" One of the military officials bluntly stated. "That's almost a tenth of our nation's power!"

The officials and ministers started arguing and debating about the pros and cons of sending in another fleet to bring back more magical resources. The Iron King sat there impassively as he watched and listened to the points raised by both sides when suddenly, the double doors leading into the throne room swung opened and the harried looking major domo entered with a messenger in tow.

"Your Majesty," The major domo gave a deep bow. "There is an urgent report..."

The Iron King waved the messenger forward and the once lively debate quietened down. The nervous messenger went down on one knee and saluted, "Your Majesty! Reporting!"

"The Third Prince has gone missing in the border city of Iron Gate!" The messenger cried out. "His retinue and guards were reportedly killed or gone missing too!"

"What?" The Iron King jolted up straight in his throne. His face turned red with shock and he started coughing madly. His servants quickly came to his aid and the Iron King slumped back to his throne, his complexion turning worse.

"Your Majesty!" The officials and ministers rushed over to the Iron King as he clenched his chest. "Call the healer!"

"I am fine!" The Iron King pushed away the hands of his ministers and pointed to the messenger. "You!"

"Who dared to make a move on the Third Prince?" He demanded from the frightened messenger. "Speak!"

"We... we do not know..." The messenger replied nervously.

"Useless fools!" The Iron King cursed and raged. He swept a trembling finger to everyone in the throne room and snapped. "Useless! Every! Single! One! Of! You!"

With that outburst, the Iron King clenched his chest and with a loud gasp of air. He slumped down , limp on the throne, his breathing rattling weakly.

"Your Majesty!"

-----

The Old World, Iron Kingdom, Old Ugly

Claire Banner was bored despite looking forward to returning home to see her brothers and father. She had been gone for over two years and finally, she was returning home. But after all the adventures she had, the current monotonous journey was boring.

She thought back to ever since she and her fellow classmates were being chased by the Protectorate and entering the Sea of Clouds, to surviving the dangerous journey and ending up in the custody of the Un An. And now, returning back to the Old World and encountering a plot involving the Third Prince.

She assumed that the plotters against the Third Prince would attack the Chief Knight onboard the Old Ugly but so far, after crossing the border into the Iron Kingdom and leaving the border city of Iron Gate, nothing had happened. She helped with shipboard duties, continued her studies, socialized with the others and like now, staring blankly out of the viewports.

The others, Berringer and Uwen were playing some card games at the same table in the cabin. They were laughing as they threw cards down and yelling, "I choose you!"

Finally unable to bear the stiffing moment, Claire whipped around and slammed both her palms on the table and nearly send the cards depicting monsters flying. "We need to do something to help the Chief Knight!"

"Waa?" Both the boys nearly jumped out of their seats by the suddenness of her actions. They looked at her and sighed. "Aren't they bringing him to the Capital? What else can we do?"

"But... but..." Claire frowned. "There must be something!"

"We are dealing with cold hearted killers and murderers!" Uwen warned. "Backed by people with great power and wealth. What can we do? Let the adults handle it!"

"But... it's so... quiet!" Claire moaned. "I am getting bored out of my mind!"

"We will reach Ashmere soon," Berringer said as he kept his cards. "Isn't that your home city?"

Claire nodded, "Yes... I... should be getting off there to return home..."

"Isn't that great?" Uwen smiled warmly. His arrogant attitude had been tempered away in the years away from home and even formed a close friendship with Claire who he used to look down at her birth. "Both our families are at the Capital."

"I know..." For a moment, Claire looked lost. She felt left out of the action and at the same time, homesick. "We are finally home. But..."

"Don't you worry," Uwen reached out and pat her head. "Go home to your family! Don't get involved with politics! It does not bore well for commoners to play with politics!"

"I know..." Claire replied again in a small voice. "I know..."

-----

Third Prince Herod on the other hand was enjoying a rare quiet moment by himself. Being kept in a cabin all by himself was something novel to him but also a rare opportunity for him to sort his thoughts and relax.

He laid on the cramp but surprisingly comfortable bedding with his feet propped up over each other and his hands crossed behind his head. Ever since they entered the border, he had been sorting out all the potential rivals that were willing or desperate enough to kill him.

When Crown Prince Yemen, the eldest of five princes, pushed the nobles in a bid to support the expedition into the New World for magical resources, Prince Herod was gathering support with the steam merchants and ironmongers. For a while, his progress was blocked by the popularity and news of the abundance of magical resources that could be found in the New World.

But he did not stop his lobbying of the progress and improvements of steam works, much to the annoyance of several old blooded noble houses who wished for the era of magic to return. He made friends and enemies on both sides and he even sought the help of the steam masters in the Cartel.

Some of the nobles called him a traitor behind his back for turning to the Cartel but the blueprints and ideas he brought over from the Cartel soon transformed the steam industry and like flames hungry for fuel, the steam industry of the Iron Kingdom grew and grew, bringing a massive industrial and economical change to the people.

His achievements soon outweigh the other Princes, especially that of the Crown Prince who had no news for months after crossing into the New World. The Second Prince, who was born from a commoner woman, had no noble lineage to be on the line of succession. The Fourth and Fifth Princes were too young to even be considered, hence, when news of the Crown Prince has disappeared, rumors sprung up that the Third Prince would become the next in line for the Iron Throne.

"Got it be the Crown Prince's faction?" He frowned in thought as he mumbled under his breath. "Would those Iron Lords be so crazy to make an attempt on my life?"

"Or the Cartel?" He asked himself. "Someone who doesn't want the Greenrock Clan to work with me?"

"The Protectorate's Clergy?" The more he thought, the more people he came out with that had a reason to kill him. "Those crazy cultists surely would not want me alive..."

"Argh!" He scratched his head in frustration as there were too many people that wanted him dead. "Even the damn dragons want my head!"

"By the gods... There is no point worrying about this!" He suddenly said with a smile on his face. "Whoever dares to come to block my path... I shall crush them all!"

Feeling better he sat up from the bed and decided to grab something to eat at the galley. The food onboard the Loose Confed ship was surprisingly unique and good, but something was off with the crew. He had met a few people hailing from the Loose Confed before, but the entire crew of this ship did not even sound nor acted like they were from the Loose Confed.

He wisely kept his peace, as the saying goes, one does not bite the hand that feeds you, since he was counting on their goodwill to get him to safety, he should not grumble too much on it. He slides the hatch open and found two bulky sailors standing guard outside. He gave a grin and said, "I am going to get something to eat!"

Both the sailors nodded and they gave way for him and followed closely behind him. Herod was at first unimpressed with the ship, but after traveling on it for a few days, he came to a realization that the ship was not as noisy as other air ships that he had traveled on were. He also noticed that the ship seemed a lot faster than it looked and while it looked rundown and old, it was actually a disguise!

He had tried to gather information from the crew by making small talk but to his surprise, the crew were surprisingly tight lipped and polite. And that was not all, he seemed to notice that there were goblins working deep inside the ship as every now and there, he caught a glimpse of the small creatures darting behind the maze of pipes.

Yet, when asked, no one gave him any concrete answers to his questions. "What a fascinating ship!"