"Didn't we infiltrate Min al Az'al already?" Helena asked.
"Me and Kaguya did, yes." Roko replied, "But we didn't infiltrate that far into the palace. We only saw a small bit of the second floor and maybe half the first floor. The entire building is about five floors high. And those are five really big floors too, in both height and length."
"We didn't even see Sirius." Kaguya added, "Though people say he usually stays in the highest floors."
"And the higher floors are more heavily guarded?" Melia guessed.
"So I hear." Kaguya nodded, "The bottom three floors are for business while the top two are for living."
"So what's the plan, Roko?" Momo asked, "How we getting inside?"
"Well, we don't need to find Sirius necessarily." Roko thought aloud, "Aside from his money and influence, he doesn't really pose much of a threat. We can try and assassinate him all we like but I doubt it'll be so easy. The real problem is finding this fifth Planetary Star."
"With no clue who they are, we're basically going in blind." Helena nodded.
"And we can't move very freely if we're infiltrating." Melia added.
"I wish I had more identities we could use but with our faces clearly seen, our options are limited." Kaguya mused.
"If only there was a way for us to enter the premises legally." Momo bemoaned.
"Hey guys, we got mail." Corissa said as she walked in with an ornate envelope.
"Mail?" Roko frowned, "To M83?"
"To the rebellion?" Helena asked.
"Apparently...for me." Corissa said, holding up the envelope's address to show her name on it.
"...Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Roko frowned.
"Well the last time we opened mail, we were invited to a party where we almost died." Helena nodded, "What are the chances that will happen again?"
"I can easily believe half of that happening."
"Which half?"
"If I'm right, not the half I'm hoping for."
"Well?" Momo said, "Open it up."
Corissa nodded and opened the ornate envelope, taking out an equally ornate piece of paper and reading it out loud,
"Dear Princess Corissa,
You are cordially invited to an upcoming ball taking place in the palace of Min Al Az'al. A dazzling ballroom experience with people of the highest caliber and a prepared feast of local delicacies await your arrival. There shall be music, dancing and even a private meeting with Sirius himself before the festivities. We promise that no forms of violence will be tolerated during your stay here. This invitation comes directly from Sirius Alupi, head of the Alupi Merchant Guild, Great Leader of Mulapin itself. As a Guest of Honor, you'll be allowed to bring along any number of friends (up to a reasonable limit). We hope you'll be able to attend the newly annual Constella Ball in three days as the sky's brightest star. We wait warmly and with positive hope for your response.
Yours Truly,
Sirius Alupi"
Everyone in the room was silent for a long moment. Then Helena burst out in uproarious laughter.
"THAT HAS TO BE THE BALLSIEST DATE INVITATION I'VE SEEN IN A WHILE!"
"You've seen ballsy date invitations before?" Kaguya smiled.
"The final boss literally invited us to his party." Melia said blankly, "This can't be real can it?"
"I think it might be." Momo grinned, "What do we do Roko?"
Roko had his head in his hands. Not quite shocked but not quite able to believe it either.
"Are we sure the rest of us can even come along?" Melia spoke up again, really not able to believe their situation without a hint of suspicion, "It said she can bring friends but we can't exactly bring the entire army with us."
"Of course not, but I'm sure we can bring everyone in this room." Helena said.
"What about Azimuth?"
"I can't see Azimuth wearing a party dress." Kaguya remarked.
"Oh man, I can't remember the last time we went to a fancy ball." Helena said, "I wonder if I still fit in my party dress."
"You didn't grow THAT much." Roland scoffed.
"You know we DO have a lot of people here. We might need to leave someone behind." Helena said meaningfully.
"I vote Roko."
"Roland, since when has democracy ever been on your side?"
"Regardless." Kaguya cut in before the argument could get started, "We ARE going, right Roko?"
"Well we certainly aren't letting Corissa go alone." Roko sighed.
"Oh, I wasn't going to go if you all weren't coming with me." Corissa said, It's awkward being at a party with nobody you know."
"I'm sure Sirius will do his best to get to know you, if you know what I mean." Helena teased.
"I'm sure he will but do I really want to be friends with him?" Corissa frowned.
"He won't try to do something stupid if we're all there." Momo agreed, "We just need to decide how we'll use this party."
"I think we just do like we always do." Roko said.
"So the rest of us party while you sneak off?" Helena said.
"...Yeah."
"Man, why do you always get to do the cool stuff?"
"You're going to be partying, stop complaining."
The three days leading up to the Constella Ball was spent in preparation, leaving the rest of the rebellion with nothing to do. Azimuth was invited to represent the rebellion but declined on the fact that she had no party dress.
"And if you show me Sirius' face in person, I would be too tempted to shoot him between the eyes before he can even say a word." She had growled.
The remaining Earthbounds were either jealous of the fancy party they get to go to or jealous of them being able to see a Corissa in a party dress. More of the latter surprisingly. Still, no one was actively against their attendance so they went ahead and confirmed their attendance along with a list of their party. The night of their party soon came and their rather large party was escorted by a large fancy caravan, completely at odds with the squalid conditions of Mulapin. They were driven straight through the gates of Minchir (one that they had not captured), into the clean streets of Muldingirmus and soon arriving near the back of Min al Az'al. Not many other guests had arrived as Roko's, or rather, Corissa's party had to arrive early so that they could have their promised meeting with Sirius himself. They were guided to a rather simple elevator and brought straight up through several floors to the top.
Min al Az'al was a sort of asymmetrical building. While the large majority of the building was a simple flat oval shape, there was a single smaller circular tower that only took up half of the roof. It was almost like a small astronomy tower if not for the fact that there seemed to be no astronomy equipment on it. No, it simply lead up to a large, open air room. Columns held up an opulent dome roof but otherwise, it was open in all sides to look down on the city below. And it was this chamber that Corissa and company were escorted to. After a nerve racking elevator up, they arrived in the early dusk. A few candelabras lit up the room, giving them a view of not just the city but even the lands beyond the outer walls. Distant villages could be seen on the horizon around them. And sitting in a lavish throne opposite their entrance was what Roko could best describe as a very insecure king. Fur lined cape that was somehow even more gaudy than the one Malus used to wear. Opulent crown on his head glittering with emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Fancy clothes that failed to disguise the obvious gut that the greedy man had grown. Legs crossed and head resting on his hand, the man in front of them was sneering with a half mixture of smug self-confidence and odd seductiveness.
"Hello you all." The man said, "I...am Sirius."
…
"Yeah, I could've guessed that." was the only thing Roko could think to say.
"And you..." Sirius' eyes scanned their group, eyes settling on Corissa hungrily, "Must be Princess Corissa."
"Uh...it's good to finally meet you." Corissa said, giving the man a polite curtsy.
"Not as good as it is to meet you..." Sirius said, practically licking his lips as his eyes crawled over Corissa's well fitting party dress.
"Hey." Roko held out his hand in front of Corissa, snapping his fingers to get their greatest enemy's attention, "We arrived here as you requested. Is there a point to all this or can we just head to the dance floor?"
"Oh you..." Sirius sighed, his appetite ruined for the moment, "Coco was it?"
"Yeah, pretending to get my name wrong is real impressive and final boss of you." Roko said, his voice dripping with venomous sarcasm, "Corissa's the only reason we're here and I'm going to make you pay for every second she's here so out with it."
"Classless." Sirius shook his head, "What an ugly human being."
"Alright guys, we're leaving." Roko said gesturing for everyone to return to the elevator.
"Now hold on there." Sirius said, finally frowning, "Must you be so insistent?"
"You withhold access to the product until a deal is struck." Roko replied, "Surely you recognize that as a merchant."
"...Feh." Sirius looked away, annoyed but with a hint of respect in his eyes, "Very well. I shall give you that deal you want to hear. I'm sure you'll have a hard time refusing."
"Let's hear it then." Roko crossed his arms.
Sirius sat up on his throne, finally taking the situation serious as he looked down at them with his head held high,
"Representatives of the Earthbounds. Rebellion group that found a new life. I offer you a deal that will resolve all your problems. I...will leave Mulapin."
A few of Roko's party were surprised by the declaration but Roko remained unamused.
"...I will leave." Sirius repeated, "My money, my power, my influence. I shall take it somewhere else. What remains...I'll leave it to you rebels to decide. I shall wash my hand of this place I have called home for many years. You will have won."
"...And?" Roko pressed.
"And all I ask in return." Sirius said, building anticipation, "Is Corissa's hand in marriage."
A short series of soft scoffs from Roko's party in response. Not that surprised. Not even that disappointed. Typical. Of course this would happen.
"And in a show of good faith." Sirius added quickly with a dramatic flair in his voice, "I shall apologize for the flooding you've had to suffer recently. You see, I do not put up much personal effort in fighting you rebels. I simply do not have the time. So I've left it to...special professionals to combat your little movement and I admit they might've gone a bit too far this one time."
"Because you would never put Corissa in danger." Roko guessed.
"Yes, I wou-...wait..." Sirius began but stopped as he considered the implications of that statement.
Roko sighed. He believed Sirius. Every word he said. That he wasn't truly heading the resistance against their resistance. That he felt sorry for the flooding attempt or rather, that they had in fact injured Corissa specifically. And that he would so easily and readily leave everything behind just so long as he had the hand of the most beautiful woman in the world in his grubby mitts. This all but confirmed that there was an accomplice, something that had been practically confirmed a dozen times over but it was nice to get such a direct confirmation.
Roko sighed as he turned to Corissa, "Well? What do you think?"
"Hmmm..." Corissa pretended to think for a while before looking back to Roko playfully, "If you tell me to marry him, I will."
"Seriously?" Roko frowned, "Why's it on me?"
"I mean, you are our leader."
"I never considered myself that."
"But we still rely on you anyway."
"Why don't you think for yourself for once?" Roko scowled, "What do YOU think about Sirius?"
"He seems like a nice person."
"Seriously?" Roland remarked, just as dumbfounded as the rest of them.
"I mean, if he's willing to give up everything to avoid a fight then he can't be that bad right?"
"That's just what Sirius wants you to believe." Kaguya replied.
"Hmmm...but what else do we really know about Sirius?"
"Aside from stories?" Melia mused, "Not a lot actually. I mean he did take over Mulapin and is being an asshole about it but if he's willing to leave, it's kind of a non-issue."
"Right!" Corissa nodded, "And if Sirius starts being mean again, I'll just stop him!"
"That's a lot of confidence for someone whose never been in love." Helena smirked.
"T-That doesn't matter!" Corissa yelped, "Besides, it's not like I have NO experience!"
"Oh? Do tell."
"W-What matters is Roko's decision!"
"You're really willing to give up your whole lovelife on one man's order?" Melia frowned.
"Well...I can't say I like arranged marriages per say..." Corissa said, "But it's not like my parents haven't tried before and honestly, I trust Roko more than them."
"Oh really?" Helena teased.
"Besides." Corissa cleared her throat, "I think we all know what Roko's going to say. Even Sirius."
Corissa turned back to Roko with a trusting smile that only made Roko sigh.
"You're going to give me a headache." He muttered before turning back to Sirius, "No deal. I don't need to sacrifice a young girl's agency to take that throne from you."
"I see..." Sirius replied, not surprised but not pleased, "That's a disappointment. I figured you for a wiser leader than that, Loco. You really would sacrifice the lives of countless men to keep the freedom of one girl?"
"That you consider her just 'a girl' is very telling, Sirius." Roko shot back, "And to be clear, no matter how great a leader people think I am or that I become, I will never have the right to shackle the freedom of another person. Enemy or otherwise."
"How noble." Sirius said insincerely, "And foolhardy of you. Do you really think you can beat me?"
"I don't need to beat you though?" Roko blinked, "Well...not you specifically."
"You fool." Sirius sneered, "Don't you realize that the only reason why I haven't involved myself more is because I neither have the inclination or the need to dirty my hands in dealing with you?"
"...Yes?" Roko said, unsure what Sirius could be getting to.
"I was kind enough to stay my hand for so long. And with another wave, I've caused so much trouble for your entire movement. Now imagine what would happen if I were to involve myself directly."
"...Okay..." Roko said, waiting for the merchant to get to the point.
"I see you still don't get it. Do you really think you understand everything about me already?"
"Eh…" Roko thought about it for a moment, "Yeah, I guess you're right on tha-"
"For example, I've been keeping an eye on you and your group's movements since you first arrived. I know more than you could possible know. For example, I know that you've been making preparations to attack me on the economical market!"
Roko could hear Helena doing her best to stifle what sounded like a very loud and mocking laugh behind him.
"Well I dare you to even try! I've renegotiated my deals with all my business partners so that you would have no chance of creating any sort of opening in my monopoly!"
Roko just stared, his opinion of this final boss falling farther with every second he was in the same room with this man.
"And let's be honest, little man." Sirius said, leaning forward to glare at Roko with his head resting on his fist, "If war's a game then you're quite bad at it."
"Really now?" Roko said, his attention perked for the first time.
"In a war, the more secrets you hold the stronger your advantage. And unlike you, I've got plenty of secrets to use against you still."
"Do tell." Roko crossed his arms.
"Oh no, I'm not a fool that will simply give out my secrets for free like you." Sirius sneered, "Even a novice merchant knows not to give something out for free."
"Is that what you think?"
"Your bravado will be your undoing, your hubris your noose. I have stopped you dead in your tracks only by utilizing Kajou. So cowed you were that you had to put on an entire show in front of Kajou to make her convinced that you were a bigger threat than you were! You may have scared Kajou a shade but not me! Instead of using your new armor to launch a surprise attack on Kajou, you set up this elaborate scare tactic to...what, bait me into taking you seriously? Your pride was your downfall now just as it is right now!"
Roko snorted. Maybe Sirius was baiting him but Roko knew well enough that soldiers alone, even with new armor, were not strong enough to completely take down Kajou if she got serious. Even Momo would have difficulty if she wasn't training this whole time. Maybe Sirius was underestimating his own allies. That does sound like something he would do.
"Don't you understand? I am aware of every footstep inside your little sewer base. I'm well aware of all your plans and most of all I can see right through you. All of this is your own doing. You just had to show off one time to get me to notice you and then I cornered you over and over again. Do you understand your position? You have no chance of winning."
"..." Roko stared at Sirius...and sighed, "Right. Let's go guys."
"Running away now?" Sirius sneered as Roko turned everyone away and back towards the elevator, "Why don't you just give me Corissa? This may be your last chance to save hundreds of lives. Or do you really believe you can win so badly? Why don't you tell me more of your plans? Tell me what new toys you have gotten or why you're so dangerous and need my attention so badly."
Roko sighed again and turned around, "Clearly, we are playing two different games."
"Huh?" Sirius said, his confidence still unshaken, "What are you on about now?"
"A war between soldiers is fought with weapons and a war between strategist is fought with information. But a war can't be fought with both parties hiding out in their forts. That you don't understand this is what makes you a good merchant but a poor strategist."
"What'd you say?" Sirius scowled.
"When you spy a weakness you strike. When you hear about an opening, you take advantage of it. To seek a path to victory is the foundation of strategy. But the difference between us is that you use information like a weapon while I use it as a resource."
"Resource?" Sirius frowned, confused.
"See, this is what I'm talking about." Roko sighed, "It's clear we're playing two different games. One where you need us to keep trying to beat you in order to feel superior. But we don't need you in any way. Beating you was never an if, but a when. A man who doesn't recognize his enemies will not see the blade as it slides into his side."
"You sure talk arrogant for a man who had been playing defensive this whole time." Sirius scowled, trying to bring a bit of his confidence back, "You act like you know everything but you've barely held on against my onslaught. You have no base to stand on."
"I know you have a superiority complex but surely you can't be that dense." Roko frowned, leaking genuine concern into his voice, "We took over a gate. No matter how much bluster you harbor, you can't say that isn't an achievement and worth notice. Surely you can't be that dense. In comparison, you responded rather flashily setting off plans you've held for years. Plays you've held close in case we ever grew ambitious again. But the only thing that's become clear is that you have no new ideas. The poison was a retread of a plot you used before and the gargoyles would have taken months if not years to develop. You have no new plots. You never needed to. You've played out your hand and, even worse, you recognized nothing when they were defeated. You claim your superiority with your aloofness but by that same claim, you fail to recognize how truly desperate your last ploy was."
"Desperate?" Sirius frowned, concern finally showing in his eyes.
"Even now I have to hold your hand in this war. Are you not even worried where I'd lead you? Do you even know what you're doing?"
Sirius was at a loss for words now, his mouth agape in confusion and rage. Roko turned to leave again but Sirius' pride or anger wouldn't let him leave without trying to get some sort of word in.
"So what about you?!" Sirius shouted as he stood up from his throne to point accusingly at Roko, "Why are you so blatantly helping the enemy if you're so great?! Why are you choosing to reveal so much?!"
Roko sighed and held up a hand, "A strategist uses information as a resource. If I'm revealing an ace in a hole to you...it's only because I have other aces up my sleeve."
And with a flick of his wrist, Roko drew an Ace of Spades seemingly from nowhere and with a with one last cold glance, he flicked the card onto the floor of the throne room before stepping onto the elevator and descending with the rest of his party.