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--- The Half-Moon, Ticaret Conglomerate ---

Date: July 11th, 2026

While on her knees, Tyuuwal, the famous blue-feathered Siren prostitute that worked at the Half-Moon brothel looked above at her client, Lord Uuagra Gummus. While she did not know where he was at the Gummus hierarchy of bastard sons, she believed he was somewhere in the lower middle. His father, Mortimer Gummus, has so many bastard sons no one knows how many he truly has.

Hearing the young man grunt, Tyuuwal wondered why this man was sent to her out of all the bastards that were fighting in the war. He physically did not impress her compared to the other nobles and warriors that she had comfort with. What she did find attractive is the aura of confidence and pride for some reason.

Taking a rag, Tyuuwal cleaned her mouth and stood up. Turning around so the young man could see her rear as she seductively walked away toward her expensive bowl made out of marble.

As Tyuuwal cleaned herself, she shyly said, “impressive amount my lord. I can tell you have been on the front for a long time.”

Once cleared, she looked at the young man, while physically strong, she found his attitude disgusting, just like the rest of the Gummus house. But her duty as a prostitute required her to serve these people.

There was a time when her master and brothel owner, Nara Tozuko, forbade the Gummus House from her services but thanks to the war, both Houses made amends(1). Because of this new alliance, Tozuko has allowed many of the Gummus bastards back into her brothels and banking organization.

This has resulted in the great public betrayal between the House of Altin and the House of Tozuko. Traditional allies, the topic of the war split their friendship. What the Ticaret didn’t know was that this was a ruse.

“That was amazing,” Uuagra commented as he breathed heavily. “My brothers were not kidding, you are the best whore in the Ticerat.”

“Miss Tozuko only provides the best,” Tyuuwal replied. “After I was told of your glorious achievement, whatever it was, I knew I had to be the one to sleep with you.”

Listening to the young man laugh, Tyuuwal wondered what Uuagra did to please his House this much.

Slapping Uuagra’s hands away, she turned around, placed hands on his chest, and leaned into him, pushing him onto the bed to where she was on top.

As Tyuuwal moved her index finger around the man's plain but smoothed chest, she kissed him and then gazed into his eyes, mumbling, “I do wonder. What did a great man like you do to please the Houses? I bet it must have been a great achievement.”

The young man laughed as he felt joy coming from the Siren’s movements. He said with great pride, “I am no fool to tell a whore, even a fine one as yourself.”

Flipping Tyuuwal over where Uugra was on top, he grinned and added, “But, I will finally be in the good graces of my father. Hell, to the point where I might take the high seat of our House. None of my bastard brothers can top me with my prize.”

The excitement coming from Uugra’s eyes reminded Tyuuwal of a boy getting his first sword toy. That nothing else mattered besides what was in his grasp.

Over the past six months, she had comforted many nobles, generals, house heads, and other men of importance. Secretly listening for any news of importance. Usually, her clients only emit that glory-seeking charm males have. Hoping to achieve something for themselves in this war.

Uugra on the other hand, his eyes told her that he accomplished what he was seeking.

Tyuuwal used her sweet voice as she moved her hand down the man's side, allowing her feathers to brush against his bare skin, and said, "Ohh... I do wonder what he could be? Is it one of the Other Worlders?"

"You can see it like that," Uugra said. "Now, stop talking."

While not a soldier and has no knowledge of military importance, Tyuuwal understood whatever Uugra meant, it must be important. She wondered if her favorite client, Falson Altin, and her master Nara Tozuko would find this importation useful.

---

The Ticaret Conglomerate, located in the great western desert of Falmart. If outside, the scorching heat would even succumb to a Draconian. If it was not for the wind and water mages, maintaining a balance in the temperature in the building, this time of year would be considered uninhabitable.

With a sip of wine, Falson Altin, the head of the House of Altin leaned into his chair, annoyed by the lack of progress in the negotiations. Being the only one who opposed going to war against NATO, it publically disgraced his House.

According to Nara Tozuko, that was her plan. The people, blindly following the leadership of the government marching to battle, following pro-war propaganda blindly. Only opposition would be considered traitors. At least until the casualty reports came in. Just as expected, once the populace learned about the amount of dead with so little gained, the appetite for war became to wane.

“I am sorry but there is no way I will be able to convince my lord to abandon his support for the war,” Oki said.

Oki, the gray fur lionard across the table. The lion represents a subgroup within the Tecim Union. The Tecim, being the largest house and trade bloc in the Ticaret.

“Why is that?” Falson asked. “As you can see, the war is not going well.”

“That is the problem my lord,” Oki responded. “The war is only a front. My master and the other Houses have been profiting off the war greatly.”

While the news of Falson fellow elite using the war to profite. Regardless, this is information that he needs to convince the people to abandon their loyalties and join his House. The burden has grown on his shoulders, knowing that so many of his countrymen will die because of greed and corruption.

“Until the war comes here and everything we built comes crashing down,” Falson said. “I thought Boldus was a wise, old man. When did he allow such shortsightedness to influence him?”

“Probably because no one believes the war will reach our borders,” Nara answered.

Leaning back, reflecting on the point Nara made. The war is hundreds of leagues away. The war would probably be won or lost before reaching these lands. Even if the Other Worlders came, most believe the towering mountains that divide this desert from the rest of Falmart.

While most of the House heads left for the war, Boldus Keswick on the other hand remained. At first Falson assumed the old man's mind was clouded like Gummus.

Now, Falson can see the old man's real plot. While all the Houses are at war, getting weaker, Boldus is using the war to elevate his Union, becoming the dominant power within the Ticaret.

There is no motive for Boldus to side with Falson. It wouldn't matter who won the war, the old man would win.

"I hate to say this but I see no path for your master," Falson said. "He has to much invested in the war."

"Oki, that is why you need to pick a side," Nana said. "You came to us, disgusted by this war. When the time comes, you need to pick a side."

The Lionard took a nervous breath as he quietly debated the options. Taking a long gulp of his wine, Oki then said, "what about Martimus Onur?"

The real threat to the plan, Martimus Onur, the apostle of Deldort. Currently Falson has no method of defeating such an opponent. While he opposed the war, by law he still has to support it. Any hint of descent and his life, his House is forfeit.

"I will bring that up with my contact inside the Seckin Sanctum," Falson said.