“Duke Gine, young master Abas has been kidnapped,” said a servant.

Duke Gine nodded and the servant left. Duke Gine was all alone in the garden house. Looking around, JJ felt like he wanted to fight something. He got up and left the capital.

He went to a far offshore where there was a beach and forest. JJ walked around with Duke Gine’s cane hoping to find something. Perhaps a siren or a mermaid, anything that attacked him would do. JJ wasn't worried about family duty or things that had to be done back at the capital, Duke Gine’s son Nade could take care of that. The kidnapping of Abas could be solved by Gala or other people.

JJ took off his shoes and held them in his hand. He moved his legs and his feet coursed through the sand, it felt nice. JJ saw a boulder and jumped on it. He looked out towards the ocean and the light blue horizon. The wind blew freshly and cleanly around him and it felt very nice.

A crab moved across the boulder and JJ looked at it closely. He grabbed the crab and it wriggled around in his hand. He liked how tiny the crab was and how cute it was. JJ placed the crab back on the boulder and it scuttled away.

“Eeaaaeeaaaaeeaa,” a beautiful musical voice came into JJ’s ear.

“Perhaps a siren,” JJ thought to himself.

JJ followed the sound and came across a woman with black hair and lower half as a fish. The woman looked at JJ and kept singing. JJ felt his body moving closer and closer towards the siren.

A shadow swooped down from the sky and tore through the siren. Only the siren fish torso was left and it was bleeding. JJ saw the creature that swooped down, It was a Rerved. The Rerved gazed at JJ with its red piercing eyes.

“Try me, birdy,” JJ said with a smile.

The Rerved made a loud screech and JJ felt his body tremble a little. The Rerved then looked at the human torso under it on the boulder, it proceed to peck and tear at the torso’s flesh.

JJ put his shoes back on under the careful gaze of the Rerved. He then looked at the Rerved with a smile and took a step forward. The Rerved flapped its wings and sharp feathers flew toward JJ. JJ pulled out Duke Gine’s blade and cut down the feather.

The Rerved felt danger from JJ and didn't feel like fighting anymore. It grabbed the human torso and flew off. JJ wanted to chase after it but the warm sun suddenly made his body feel like warm butter and he fell to the ground laying on his back.

“I don't want to do anything,” JJ thought to himself.

He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Back at the capital of the Lyrain empire in a huge building with many chairs and a podium on a stage in the middle, the nobles gathering was taking place. The chairs circled the podium and the chairs closest to the podium were for the family with the greatest title. Nade and Yenna had found out about their son's kidnapping long ago and they were currently very worried.

They wanted Duke Gine to take care of the kidnappers but it seems he was nowhere to be seen. To find and rescue their son quickly, they sent Befas and Gala to scour through the capital. An old man with long white hair and a crown in fancy clothing came up to the podium.

“Welcome everyone,” said Emperor Milros, “as you know, we will be discussing the future of the empire today.”

Everyone paid attention and the emperor brought subjects up that everyone gave an opinion of. Although the subjects weren't trivial, to some nobles they felt very trivial. The subjects ranged from food production, road building, weapon production, and many other things.

“On the subject of the new mine in Kacez, which family would like to acquire and distribute it,” asked Emperor Milros.

“We would like to acquire it,” said the head of the Zali Daz family.

“I believe the Zali Daz has the best capability for this,” said Nade.

Others wanted to acquire the mine and thought about whether they wanted to sour their relationship with the future duke of the Will Light family. After a few outcome predictions, they decided not to fight against the Zali Daz family for the mine.

The meeting went on and on till it reached a peace treaty discussion. Emperor Milros stepped away from the podium and a prince from a kingdom stepped up. The prince was Frena Vren Byre and he had green puffy short hair with green eyes and a bright smile on his face. He wore fancy green clothes and had a green scabbard with a green sword handle in it. His face was charming and most people in the room instantly formed a good opinion of him.

“Everyone,” Frena took off his clothes, “you are all my hostages,” he said with a charming voice and slanted eyes.

Everyone saw green tattoos all over Frena's body and could tell that he could explode whenever he wanted. Many wanted to get up and run but Emperor Milros stopped them.

“Do not get up and stay in your seat,” Emperor Milros said with authority.

Everyone did not utter a word and Emperor Milros walked up to the podium. The three dukes at the front of the meeting drew their weapon. Duke Kelgan, who was a gruff man with black hair and black eyes, drew a black sword from his scabbard. Duke Mezan, who was an old woman with blue hair and blue eyes, pulled out a white ax. Duke Yesane, who was a young woman with short brown hair and brown eyes, pulled out a red dagger.

Their faces were serious and they were ready to attack at any time. Looking at them gave the emperor and everyone confidence.

“Even with your Rilt,” said Frena, “you won't be able to save everyone here.”

“What is the meaning of this, Prince Frena,” asked Emperor Milros.

Frena looked at the emperor with a smile.

“Hahahahaha, I like that look on your face,” Frena said with a smile.

“As we speak, the armies of other kingdoms have started marching through your border,” Frena said with a calm smile.

“Even if those kingdoms combine their army, they cannot take down our empire army,” said emperor Milros.

“I know they can't, that's why I’m capturing the capital first,” Frena said with a happy smile.

“Is Duke Tanise on your side?” asked Duke Yesane.

Everyone became shocked and surprised while Prince Frena kept smiling.

“Yes, he's currently inside the empire destroying any Lyrain army he comes across,” Frena said with a grin.

“What about Duke Gine?” asked Kelgan.

Everyone froze up, if two dukes sided with the enemies, the empire would take a hard hit.

“He too is on our side,” Frena said convincingly.

“Liar,” the seventh prince screamed out.

The seventh prince went up the podium and everyone looked at him. Everyone didn't know what he was doing but they either liked his outburst or hated it. The seventh prince came up to his father and spoke.

“Duke Gine isn't with them father,” said Prince Egile.

The emperor looked at his son confusingly. His son was always a quiet kid and this outbursts in the middle of something dangerous seemed strange.

“Your majesty, dodge!” Kelgan screamed.

Prince Egile pulled out a knife and shoved it into Emperor Milros's heart. Emperor Milros looked at Egile with shock and amazement.

“Duke Gine is a monster that will destroy this continent,” Egile said coldly.

Frena's eyes widened with surprise and Kelgan rushed up towards the stage with Yesane. Yesane shoved her dagger into Kelgan’s neck and severed it. Duke Mezan quickly recovered from her shock and flew above Yesane with her ax ready to cleave down.

“Kelgan was with the enemy,” Yesane looked up and screamed.

Duke Mezan became stunned. Yesane took this chance and severed Mezan's arm. Mezan recovered and backed off, she looked at her severed right arm with shock. That was the arm that allowed her to use her ax throughout her whole life. Without that right arm, she would never be able to use her ax efficiently again.

“Ahahahahahhha,” Duke Mezan laughed with madness.

Frena looked around with surprise and excitement, his plan worked better than expected. He looked at Prince Egile and prince Egile smiled.

“Why did you do that?” Frena asked.

“Cause I'm going to be emperor,” said Egile.

Duke Yesane appeared behind Frena with her dagger and severed Frena's legs and arms off.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” Frena screamed in pain.

He then looked towards Yesane with shock and started teleporting away. Yesane tried to kill him before he could leave but she couldn't. The emperor’s dead body stood back up, along with Kelgan who put his head back on.

“Good acting,” emperor Milros said with a smile.

He looked at Prince Egile, “Very well acting, my son,” he said with a smile.

Everyone in the room slowly recovered from the shocking events today.

“Let’s continue today's gathering everyone,” Emperor Milros said with a smile.

Duke Mezan grabbed her right arm and attached it to her right shoulder stump. She healed it to brand new and it was efficiently working again. The gathering continued with many still stunned and in silence.