VIIIth Century year 63, Fianary of Norman. Day 5; Capital of the Bahart Empire.

Everything was going as planned, the Bahart Empire was conquering small lands around the border with the Republic, the economy of the Republic fell more and more with the difficulty in acquiring property of the Captaincy. It was as the Emperor had predicted, and soon everything will be over.

Everyone inside the empire was happy, after all a war that had lasted four years was about to end. All thanks to the new emperor Icrniv, the emperor of steel.

"My emperor, we have a message from the City-state of Castles"

"Is it something important?"

"No, my lord, the City-State of Castles would like to create a saturation agreement with the Empire, aiming for a great return to the Empire if the war is won"

An agreement of saturation was the division of the defeated Country, fragmenting into several kingdoms and cities-states, all of them vasalagem of the Winner. This agreement would have a great benefit to the Empire, they would commit to military the Winner. This agreement would have a great benefit to the Empire, they would commit to military protection, while the Fragmented Kingdoms and the cities states would pay tributes and men to the army, increasing Empire's military and economic power without engaging with such bureaucracies, and if a Ruler would not have pleased if it was only to substitute.

"Yeah ... and what would that City State win?"

"Well, he would like to be part of this saturation, sir, in return he would like to remain with his autonomy and his line of nobility would remain as ruler. In exchange he would pay 40% of his source of raw materials, along with all his army of a little more than 700 men "

"Looks interesting, leave the paperwork in my office that one day I'll take a look"

"Yes sir"

The emperor's high spirits were at the top, it was the exact moment to ask any favor. The empire had grown a lot in the last two years. It consolidated its policy, eliminated problematic nobles, increased its production and export, enlarged two ports and increased the capital. This all increased their protocol from medium to medium high.

It was an incredible feat.

And that was the pride of Icrniv.

They were not constrained by the territory of the Republic, far from it. What really mattered to Icrniv was that the Empire could live with all glory in the heart of its people, even if it would put other countries on the ground.

In fact, the only thing the Empire possessed to the advantage of the Republic was its efficient system of war, a soft bureaucracy, which allowed an autonomy to give essential generals the decision to make what need on the battlefield, and also its navy since it was the strongest one on the west side .

With 25 squadrons ready for any problem, ships with Ruby's magic generators, an abundant material in the Empire that gave autonomy to a boat of 15 tons at cruising speed for 2 months. It was really a powerful navy that could put any navy on the west side to lick shoes.They were all technical data that Ircniv loved to study, each new discovery of his Empire in technology gave deep joy to his heart.

But if in technology the Empire advanced, already in front fighting not. It was not that the Empire had lost, but that his conquests were only trivial, small lands around the border that had no military efficiency ... And that prolonged the war.

-There are no long wars that are beneficial to both Countries-

"Suntag a former General Wanderer"

That word was an absolute truth.

The economy of the Republic was indeed in a heavy deficit, but that of the Empire did not rise so well, and this was only know by some men of the highest rank of the empire, after all the federation was its main commercial center and with the borders closed by the Republic, the purchase and the sale became complicated.

But nothing so bad like the Republic.

...

Ircniv was exhausted, he had looked from every possible angle to the Castles agreement, but he could not see any really good advantage to Castles. It was practically vasalagem agreement without war. The Younji Alliance already had great advantages, that he knew...

That broke Ircniv's head, but the real problem lay in the cabinet that barely existed at Empire popularly known as Secret Service

It was not that the Empire neglected this, but it was the opposite a fortune was applied in this institution, but good people and good administrators were hard to find, so the prosperity of this sector was going bad compared to other countries.

With all this, Ircniv did not have much information outside his capital, until the lands farthest from his Empire he did not know much, one measure to reduce this was the expansion of his capital, centralizing even more the power ...

But the disadvantages of a weak sector were already showing, and one of them directly ahead, the Younji Alliance no longer existed.

With all that concern he forced his mind a little more, but with no results. Annoyed and not wanting this feeling to end his joy, he signed the term, accepting the Saturation of the City-State of Castles.

VIIIth Century year 63, Fianary of Norman. Day 5; Entrance of the Kingdom of Florenz.CAPITAL PALACE

It had been almost a week since the withdrawal of the troops from Austeria, Quebelle returned to Ashkan informing him of the situation and his failure, however Ashkan did not mind so much he was happy to have Quebelle by his side again, and that feeling was reciprocal for both of them.

However, there were still many things to do, the city was slowly recovering again. The remaining citizens reluctantly helped themselves to their homes, and to build what was left of the Capital. Ashkan took all his efforts to the Capital, his influence diminishing a little due to the removal of incompetent nobles, traitors or cowards from the high military echelons. There was no military strength, nor an economy or food stockpile which caused Ashkan hours of exhaustion

"It's been a long time since I've felt tired as a Quebelle human"

"Neither have I your majesty, even with these bodies being slightly stronger than your receptacle I still feel quite exhausted"

They both understood each other perfectly and it made the atmosphere warm.

The sound of knocking on the door interrupted the conversation between Quebelle and Ashkan.

"Come in!"

The door opened if slowly, as if the person who had knocked on the door knew unconsciously that they were disturbing something. However it still did

"Your majesty, it's me Alice. I brought the reports you asked for."

Alice promptly entered the room, she was with her body shrunk frightened by the powerful aura that Quebelle was giving off, it was not hostility but compared to a tiger, even if the tiger is totally fed up there is still the risk of it attacking, right?

But even with all that she put the report that your majesty asked on the table

"So shall we start from here your majesty?"

"Correct, Quebelle..."

"Fuuuuu!" / "Fuuuuu!"

They both supped deeply, and Alice was at a loss to understand

"But your majesty what are those reports?"

Ashkan, placed his hand on Alice's head, making a caressing gesture on her head, like they do with their pet dog.

"Those are the localities where they have red earth"

"T-red earth majesty?"

"Yes, they are deeper, quite clayey lands that are from years of decomposition of mana stones"

"E-entao is that why you asked me to use a strange rune over the top of the mountain?"

"Exactly Alice" smiled lightly Ashkan, accompanied by Quebelle who also smiled lightly. Alice's innocence was warm, friendly, and even somewhat cute. And that increased the sympathy of all present, even Quebelle's pragmatic heart.

After this brief introduction Alice withdrew from the room leaving only Quebelle.

Contrary to what many assume, an operation of this size would be more evident to the watchful eyes of the enemy. People who keep sneaking around with the intention of doing something they will later blame themselves for, naturally attract attention. That is why keeping certain information secret, or rather concealing certain information, is necessary.

"What is the purpose of this operation Your Majesty?"

"To accelerate the Empire's attrition, in an indirect offensive."

"So your majesty intends to wipe out the Empire's supply routes?"

"Not only that, I also intend to annex all Silphium production, agreeing that the ******* will soon be aware of my return"

"Understood, Your Majesty."

"First I need you to organize an action force of 150 men, Quebelle, And find three able-bodied people to be in your custody."

"Understand"

With that Ashkan took his first step into the deep dark abyss of ascension.