After the Cardinal’s disclosure the meeting was adjourned for five minutes upon insistence of the council members and those who stood in trial. Many wanted to discuss their thoughts on the gossip but the reason they presented was a more potent on – the closed room was starting to stink.

The Death God relented – he too needed to take some time and understand what Vanessa – a brilliant beautiful girl saw in a man like Stalsbourg who wet his pants. Furthermore, the room was indeed stinking.

Vanessa grabbed the Cardinal by the collar and dragged him out (Stalsbourg rushed to the changing room for).

“What in the world was that?” She asked in a low whisper as she pushed the Cardinal against the wall. “Are you trying to destroy my career?”

On a scale of one to hundred, Vanessa’s anger stood at three hundred.

The Cardinal grabbed Vanessa’s hand and made her let go. “Your career is already over. I am only salvaging what remains of it.”

His words shocked Vanessa.

“What do you mean over?”

“I mean it’s over. Say good-bye to your post and Feladonia.”

“But…” She found it difficult to articulate her thoughts as a million thoughts flashed before her. “Are you certain?”

The Cardinal frowned. “Can you guess who this man is?”

Vanessa thought about it for a while and then her eyes widened.

“Don’t say it.” The Cardinal spoke quickly.

“But so young for a human!” Vanessa exclaimed.

“You didn’t think that when you went after James?”

“Water of Youth?” She asked for a confirmation.

The Cardinal didn’t even bother replying to her question.

***

The meeting was resumed.

“Let’s get over with this quickly. Please explain to me why did he attack her?” the Death God grumbled as everyone seated themselves.

“I believe it was mind or body control.” The Cardinal spoke as he now stood behind the stand.

“Is that even possible?” The King of Feladonia was the one who asked that question.

“Normally it might not be but there were certain conditions that need to be met…”

“Such as?” The Death God asked.

“Drenched in slime.” The Cardinal suggested. “Officer Stalsbourg were you drenched in slime.”

“Yes.” Stalsbourg meekly replied as he stood behind the Cardinal in a new attire.

“My guess is if the adventurer can summon and control slimes then anyone drenched in slime should not be too hard to control. I am not detective, but a little bit of imagination and anyone can accomplish what he did.”

“…”

The Cardinal went on to portray a dark picture of Sora and his abilities. “The enemy knew us in and out. He knew where are cracks lay and he exploited that. When he saw the opening he dug deep and created a fissure between the two regiments.”

“I find it a bit too unbelievable.” The Death God and King spoke simultaneously.

“You will find in this file, reports of other soldiers enemy and comrades fighting one another well before Vanessa and Stalbourg fought. All were victims to mind control acts. Furthermore, there is a specific case which even states that ‘lost ability to reason and fell in love with the adventurer’.” The Cardinal confidently handed over a file from his coat to the Death God.

Unsuspecting silence crept into the room. The more they learnt about the ‘adventurer’ the more frightening he appeared.

“So not only can he summon forth monsters but he can to a degree given the right conditions mind / body control?” The Death God asked as he maintained a posture similar to that of the ‘Thinking Man’.

“Yes.”

“Quite a formidable opponent, you would say?”

“Yes.”

“Then why on in Vallione (name of the continent) did you let the soldiers only accompany him! As I recollect didn’t you hand him over to the Erito?”

Cardinal blinked. The plan back fired….no it was worse, the Death God intentionally tricked him and trapped him.

“Give me a detailed account of the events that occurred in Feladonia yesterday, Cardinal Feladonia.” The Death God’s temper was rising again.

“It was a night like any other when I woke up, the great ale of Feladonia which I drink like water beckoned for me from the yonder…” The Cardinal played it still cool as ever.

“NOT THOSE DETAILS! Test my patience and wretched being and you will be answerable for a lot more than your drinking habits! I will tighten that noose around your neck even tighter.”

“You did say detailed account…” The Cardinal muttered as he rolled his eyes

“I meant about the adventurer you failed to catch!”

“I believe you are mistaken, Old Emperor. I fought the adventurer and I fought slime. I won in both the cases. Why don’t you ask your shadow. Why he failed to stop the spy and adventurer?”

Everyone in the room stared at the Death God in silence. Did the Cardinal just call him Old Emperor – Emperor of the Old?

The five hundred year old Emperor of the Empire? The Emperor who single-handedly defeated the Alliance in seveal wars?

“GET OUT! EVERYONE GET OUT!” The young man shouted (unsurprisingly everyone scrambled for their lives). “SEBASTIAN!”

****

The court room was empty in flat two seconds – setting a new record. The Cardinal, Commanders, council members and even the king were gone.

“You summoned?” Sebastian appeared in the stand.

“Details…just give me details….” The Emperor was breathing heavily.

“The spy stands dead. Unfortunately I lost his head while tussling with the Adventurer.” The Black butler replied with his hand across his chest while bowing.

“This is unlike you; you lost this head?”

“The adventurer had a gold classed fighter and a griffin. There was only so much I could do with the strength I have been granted.”

“That should have been no problem for you..”

“That is true…however, I felt that the adventurer possessed even greater powers. Given my state, I concluded it was best not to fight him.”

The Emperor popped a vein finally. “I think I get it now….you all have grown fat and lazy over the years and become truly incompetent! Suspend the Cardinal, Vanessa and Stalsbourg from their positions. Have Vanessa moved to the Capital and the Cardinal's contract reworked. Also, have Nao come visit me later and then make sure his father speaks to him. If the council talks make sure to pay a visit to their families.”

"Is that all, my lord?" Sebastian asked; still bowing.

“Of course that isn't all! I want a full investigation into this adventurer! Who he is!? Where he is from?! What his powers are! Find out everything! Set up an immediate task force to prevent him from advancing any further into the Empire. Set up a bounty and circulate all information we have about him. He must be caught dead or alive at all costs! The pride of the Empire is at stake here and maybe our very future!”

“I understand.” Sebastian said as he began to leave.

"Also one more thing..." The Emperor said.

"Yes?"

"I forbid Vanessa and Stalbourg from getting married!"

"I am sure they never intended to..." Sebastian suggested.

"Expressly forbidden by me. Whether it was intended or not, make sure it never happens."