Hands on top of the desk he leant against, Malie read the various reports of the recent events related to the war. These reports ranged from economic stresses and stability in his empire to minor headings that were unresolved from offices below him. However, despite all the burden of being emperor brought, he truly enjoyed and in fact craved the benefits of being in power. I am the law, the word, the embodiment of the Mountain, he repeated to himself every day. It was customary of a Mountain soldier to chant his role in the empire, what Malie did was nothing less than what his underlings would do regularly.

He was truly firm and resolute, an unbendable force of ambition. Ever since before the beginning of the Blood War, it had always been clear that the other Regions would retaliate. Nobody could grasp the necessity of the Mountains rule, thus forcing the fate of war in all four Regions.

That however would not change the ultimate outcome, the Mountain Empire would be the inevitable victors to this war. All that was left at this moment was not a matter of what or how, but when. Every day he does brash shortsided maneuvers in the frontlines. It would seem to the other emperors he was making foolish mistakes but that just showed what little they knew. It was the utmost importance that he classified this project as Sixth Level, a degree of security unheard of even to the predecessor emperors of the Mountain.

The purpose of the secrecy was because if the other Empires ever to learned even just the existence of such undergoing project and its purpose, it would more than likely force a coalition between them all. Such a scenario would leave the Mountain facing a previously unseen disadvantage before the project even reached its final stages, consequently leading to the demise of the empire.

For now, he proceeded with the war, making it appear as normal and manipulating the other empires to lay their focus on these other worries. Even if they happened to come across knowledge of the Mountains project, they would simply be dismissing it as an exaggerated rumor.

He glanced at his giant Master’s Clock the ticked loudly and the far wall, the hands had just turned 2:00. He placed the papers back down, planning to continue reading and signing requests afterwards. He slid open a door and stepped into an adjacent room, the room where they held their meetings. In the center stood the revered Marbled Table. He chose to have his office next to the Marbled Table room, so as to quickly go in between these two rooms without wasting too much time.

Everyone in the room momentarily bowed their heads in respect when Malie entered the room. All but one of his five generals were present today. It was only Kathryn, the General of the Assassins Division, who was not present in this current meeting.

Syn Shey, also a General of the Assassin Division second in command after Kathryn. He was known for his rare proficiency mastery in the arts of twin double-sided blades. His favorite wears were sleeveless marsh shirts, having claimed they allowed more flexibility. He never attempted to hide his clear hatred and contempt against Kathryn, a girl half his age who could best him in a duel.

Argo Tefith, General of the Military. Malie enjoyed training sessions and spars with Argo, and he was a great soldier indeed. Master of the Buster Sword, a blade difficult to master, yet he had built up the flexibility and strength needed to wield such a blade. He wore his usual garment of a single-sleeved, aquatic shirt.

Kayden Emorif, his apprentice and a recently appointed General of the Military in Second Command. Malie took him under his wing when he had heard of this young boy who was skilled in swordplay, training him to use the triple-bladed sword. That young boy had grown into a man that had been a worthwhile asset for the Empire.

The most important individual Malie picked was Endein Tegul, the Master Strategist and former General of the Volcanic. A word that Malie would use to describe him, fierce, not with his own strength, but with how he implemented the strength of others in battle. Never had there been a man more wise and experienced then Endein.

"How are the conditions of the Recruit Campaign?" The Empereor demanded. He never was polite, considering please and thank you a waste of much too valuable time.

Argo answered, "The recruitment has been over the past year an exasperating success, in just the past month, we have been able to conquer twice as many cities and villages than the fourteen months before then."

The hand picked generals knew what he wanted to hear and how he wanted it presented, no failures. If there was nothing successful, it is no less than shortening their worth to him. Malie nodded in satisfaction, "Very well, how are the Swamp and Volcanic reacting to the situation?"

Endein replied this time, his reports were always short and straight to the point, "They are building up defenses and preparing counter measures."

"Then I would want us to strengthen the defenses that we have now."

"Ahem." Endein spoke up.

Malie did not tolerate disrespect even if it came from his close companions, but he had learned from experience that Endein was rarely wrong. If he had something to say, it meant he knew a better way to go.

"What is it Endein?" Malie gestured to him, officially acknowledging his input.

"I believe it is in our best interests if we continue our attacks." He remarked casually. The was no sarcasm or spite in his tone, the same as-a-matter-of-fact attitude he always had.

"Why would that be so?" Argo challenged him.

Endein took challenges seriously, when asked how his idea could be better he always goes into depth of how and why each move mattered. "What we want to do is cast a bait. So, we pull out our numbers from the city and leave only a few behind. They will come to recapture our supposedly weakened city, at which point we will have done is taken a portion of our troops and captured the cities behind them. They would be pincered from the front and back, unable to move ahead without losing the city they already captured and unable to go back without facing a battle against overwhelming odds."

Malie rubbed his chin thoughtfully, accepting this maneuver by spreading his hands in defeat, "Excellent plan. Anyone else see fault in this tactic?"

Even Argo saw the advantage to this maneuver, it was risky but not enough to deem it unfeasible, "When would we dispatch the woman and children?" Referring to the ones they had just recently captured.

He nodded in response, clearly having foreseen this inquiry, "Immediately, we will write the records later instead of here and now."

"I can take a small squadron to keep the eyes and ears for the empire." Syn suggested.

Kayden agreed, "Yes, this would be much faster, more efficient with less troop needed. I see little room for fault and plenty for leeway."

Argo conceded reluctantly, "I still don't like this plan, but even I have to admit, it ties all the loose ends."

Malie concluded the matter, "Then it is settled, I want this tactic in effect by the week."

Syn piped up, "Speaking of loose ends. How is our little leak been handled? And, what about this new boy you have taken an interest in?"

"Shey, you very well know how I handle things when I am questioned. Is this what you are doing now?"

"By all means no my Lord, I’d never even dream so. I do however question how Kathryn is handling things. According to her last report, she has taken care of our leak, but failed to find our boy with the old man, with our city we recently captured and within Kartick. Call me skeptical, but I believe she is failing all but a bit too much and I don't think she cares that she fails my Lord."

Malie’s hands thundered against the two ton table and bounced, risking an expensive fracture. He rose his voice in anger, "I know she has failed me twice already, and I do not tolerate failure lightly but I do not wish to rid the Mountains greatest asset. Once she returns, I will handle the situation as I see fit."

Striding himself over Syn, towering over him. "And I especially do not need you to question my actions. She is after all twice as more than what you could ever be, or else I will make you suffer the same fate as Kathryn. Do I make myself clear?" His voice echoed loudly.

Syn lowered his head, "Resoundedly clear, My Lord."

Pointing to the door to clearly direct him his absence, "Good, now go handle whatever it is that is awaiting your presence."

After he left the room, Malie returned to his spot.

"Before we end this, I want a summary of the Centipede."

Endein answered coolly, unperturbed to his reaction. This was after all the typical interactions between them. "The project goes ahead of schedule. Thanks to the new recruits from Argos campaign, we have been able to speed up the project. There are many issues that have yet to be resolved, but I am working on various possible solutions."

"Good. The sooner we end this, the sooner the other Empires will kneel down at our feet."

Endein caught his attention with one last thing to say, "What Syn has said, it has truth to it. Kathryn has failed to find the boy in Kartick, should we not extract her now? We do not want her to fail again, more failures could be disastrous to say the least."

"Endein, I know very well what Kathryn is capable of. What she suffered was a sad turn of fates, and she has been on the other hand known to defy all what should not have been possible. Anybody else would likely kill him or fail to retrieve him. Kathryn is the only one I know who can follow any order that is given."

"As you wish then, but do not push to the point of no return Malie."

Malie knew very well the meaning behind his wisdom, but he also knew Kathryn better than anyone else in this Empire. He dismissed them all, returning to his duties just as everyone else did the same. Kathryn would succeed, or she would die trying.