“So, you decided to enter our camp?”

“I suppose I did.”

“What made you choose the princess?”

“Well, frankly it was her female order of knights.”

“Are you serious?”

“Guess.”

“Tsk. Whatever. To the main problem. Since you decided to support the princess that means you observed both princess and the prince, right?”

“Yes. I decided to gather some good karma this time.”

“What’s karma?”

“If you don’t know, there is no point in explaining it.”

“Tsk. Whatever. So, what is prince’s side doing?”

“Well, they are trying same thing your princess will try.”

“Working on the delegated part of their city?”

“Precisely.”

“Then what is your thoughts on that?”

“Well, since they both came at the same conclusion it might be effective. But it will be good only for Tirin if he wins that way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if the princess manages to win this way there will be some push back from somewhere. If she wants lasting and compliant governing she needs to win by huge margin. She needs to show everyone what she did. And according to herself, only the archduke will know about what they did if she competes with her brother way she is planning. If prince wins there won’t be much of a push back, since he got most of the nobles on his side.”

“That is reasonable. So, what do you propose?”

“I propose something in line of military. Princess doesn’t have any nobles on her side. So, only way to strengthen her rule after she won is to get the citizens on her side. In order to do that she needs to show that she can protect them from outside danger. There may be push back from some stubborn nobles. But I can take care of the quietly.”

“What you propose is preferable over how they are racing right now. But how do we show the people princess’s military prowess when there is no danger around the dukedom. And I highly doubt princess will go along with your course of response to push back of some nobles.”

“Danger can be made anytime. Our only problem is whether princess can overcome that danger with her strength. As for the response she doesn’t need to know. And about the fabricated danger too. So, what do you think?”

“I like your idea personally. But princess wants to pull in the Guild master into our camp. It will hard to hide our plan from her. And can you guarantee that there won’t be too much of casualty?”

“I will fabricate the danger all by myself. Only you and me will know about the plan. I don’t think your princess’s psyche can handle the guilt. If you people are as strong as I think you are there won’t be much of a casualty.”

“If so, I will agree to your plan. Now, do you want to meet the princess face to face?”

“Not yet. I need to go out and do some research around the vicinity of the city. I will be back in a week, I think.”

“Then good luck.”

“I don’t need luck. It costs too much.”

Ooh, that was cool. I always wanted to say that since watching that movie. After saying that I activate my camouflage and exit his room.

Apparently, there is a forest in the west. I think I will head there. But before heading out I think I will accept few quests to complete while on my travel.

………

“Princess 47 is on our side.”

“How do you know that? How do you know that we can trust him? We practically know nothing about that man.”

“As you said trust would be too strong of a word. But he has no reason to go against his words. Frankly, when he is sitting in front of me, I’m afraid. I feel like I’m being stalked by predator. And he already observed both you and your brother. I think none of you noticed him when he was right next to you. If he wanted to screw us, I don’t think he needs to put such an elaborate act.”

“Okay, I will believe you. But I want surveillance on him at all time.”

“I don’t think that is a very good idea princess. I’m sure he will know it when he is being watched. And I got a feeling that he won’t like it.”

“If you’re too afraid to, I will.”

Gem loses its glow. I hope she doesn’t piss him off too much. Still, I wonder what he will do. Aside that real problem for me is whether do I tell her or not.

………

“So, what do you think your highness?”

“Owl seems to trust this 47. But I don’t. Rize.”

“I’m here your highness.”

“Find this 47 and keep tabs on him.”

“Understood.”

My elven spy melds into the shadows.

“Your highness, if I may?”

“You may Elize.”

“I don’t think we need this 47 in our camp. We don’t know anything about him. He is not an influential person or powerful one. What do we need him for?”

“You may be right, Elize. Still I need to respect Owl’s opinion. He seems to think this man can help me win this race somehow. Even though I’m reluctant I need to at least meet this man before rejecting Owl.”

“I understand, your highness.”

So, what kind of person are you to make Owl have such high opinion of you 47?

………

“I want those quest please, Lucile.”

“Vermin extermination in the Toren forest. Every five rats will be one quest completed. It can be repeated.”

“So, that means if I manage to bring fifty of them, I can raise my rank to Aluminum-4?”

“Exactly.”

“Good, can you tell me little about those rats that need extermination?”

“Of course. Basically, they are overgrown rats.”

“Oh, thanks for the info. Goodbye for now Lucile.”

“Goodbye and good luck, Mr. Alder”

Now that I got my first quest lets head west, to the forest. To my domain. Hehe.