Sighing I open the door, the royal guard stands their arms crossed.
"His majesty, crown prince Rodrick von Severheart, has decided today to be the start of the invasion. As a captain he expects you to lead an assault force in the eastern region, through god's valley, and into the fortifications of the cloud sect. Your men are located in the military hall, and your request for Alora Blackwood has been accepted, she is now part of your unit."
"Thank you."
"Thank the prince, not me." And with that he left.
I make my way to the military hall messaging Elizabeth. "I'm leaving."
Message from Boss, "Leaving?????? Where???"
"Into the Empire."
Message from Boss, "Is that safe? Please tell me you're not going alone!!!!"
"I have the military behind me."
Message from Boss, "Don't underestimate the Empire, they have already eliminated all but one syndicate branch within their borders."
"That was way too fast. Not saying you're lying, but how?"
Message from Boss, "A man called Mars is rampaging through our lines."
Already? That is over half a year too early. This is strange? Is it? No, I sent the underworld after him. This adds up. I gave him an ignition, something he wasn't supposed to get for a while.
"What are you doing?"
Message from Boss, "I'm in a meeting with the other leaders. They're so boring!!!!!!!!!! I wish you were here. I could use some of your signature glares to lighten the place up a bit."
"I wasn't invited anyways so that's your fault."
Message from Boss, "You told me to only invite you when it's important. It's just Nick complaining about the costs, and how much money we lost by fighting the Empire."
"Sounds rough."
Message from Boss, "I know right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fucking fuck, fuck, fuck, this sucks. I'm going to die from boredom."
Closing the window I arrive at the military hall. The soldier gave me a nod as I entered. I move to hall one. Entering it a group of twenty nine salute, there was someone not saluting however, George standing in the front with a glare in his eyes.
Alora ran up to me, her beautiful eyes gleaming in the light. "Hey captain." She winked. "Vector, how do I look?" She spun around showing off her uniform. The group did not show her kind eyes at such an unprofessional action.
"As the senior here, allow me to take second in command." George interrupted the lunacy in front of him.
I look him up and down. He's cleaned himself up a bit, shaving his tough and ugly face, making him look even more ugly. His hair isn't the mess it was before, now it is slicked back with gel. Other than how long his glorious red hair was, he was the perfect soldier.
"Fine, do what you want. Now let me know your names and ranks."
They spoke one by one, but only one stood out, second lieutenant Richard, the highest ranking member of the group and a named. Although he doesn't do much he is a spy for the Empire, partially adding in the raid the Hero did on the royal palace. It's not like I can just out him as a traitor, can I?
"Hey Richard, come here." He came up to me and saluted. "I don't like your face."
"What, sir?" He spoke with confusion.
I spat on him, "I said I don't like your face. It's gross, and reeks of the Empire."
His face stiffens, but like the confident actor he was he swiftly returned to character. "I don't understand."
I slap him, a red patch forming in an instant. "You know, now that I smell you." I take a deep sniff. "You smell like a fucking Empire dog." I close into his ear in order to cover up loose ends I whisper. "I know you looked at my girl, that's a fucking death sentence here, she's mine, you will rot in a cell for that."
Backing off, his eyes almost look relieved, as if the possibility of the death sentence was far better than being truly figured out.
"Hey staff sergeant, take him away for me, get the inquisitor to look at him."
George begrudgingly does as he was told, leaving twenty-eight people left in the room.
"Now as your commanding officer, I must ask you to take up the most dangerous task, is not how I want to start this. All of you are free to stay but know dishonor will haunt you for the rest of your life. This is the time to take up action against the oppressive Empire, their rain must end, their tyranny must be stopped. Their murim world cannot come to completion. Gone with royalty is insanity, they want to replace us with sects which are worse than us. They limit their people by bloodline, they suppress anyone who doesn't follow their drastic ideals. And yet they have an Emperor, they have a military, why do they wish to place pressure on our borders, why do they say we are Devil blood as if that's a bad thing. We are holy under the great seven Devils. They believe their god can save them, can protect them from justice they deserve. We are not nothing, so let's stop letting others believe we are. I, captain Vector von Severheart, ask if you want honor, to bring respect to our great kingdom."
The crowd cheered like the scene from earlier never happened, they cheered like I was their king, they cheered out of fear, and they cheered because this was their dream since they were young, to protect the kingdom, to gain honor.
The mission begins today so there was no time to waste, as soon as George returned we set off. For the first time since coming here I left through those massive gates. `
"The Devils bless." A soldier said as we walked by.
For the first time in years I see forests, fields, and a grand mountain range far off in the distance. It is the separator between the Empire and the rest of the world, with only three gaps here and there. The Devil Kingdom has the biggest of the three gaps, known as the gateway to heaven. Just on the other side sits one of the strongest sects, the falling mountain sect, the place the war hero Astro rests from his injuries that he received two years prior in a border skirmish with the Grand Master. But that all is beside the point, because we are going west to god's valley, the second gap, within the Holy Dynasty of Mithras, HDM for short.
The track was peaceful among the highway of merchants, travelers, adventurers, and soldiers. Reaching the border, a small guard house blocks our path. A man in pure white with dozens of medals stops us, his sword at his waist gleaming in the evening light.
"Ah, Captain Vector." He spoke in a thick Russian accent. "We have been made aware of your arrival ahead of time. I am colonel Egor Richanof of the holy military. We have decided to directly support your cause, as we don't want to gain the hate of the Empire, so well in the motherland you are no more important than an adventurer." He reached for a handshake. "Between you and me however, as I a duke and you a prince, my land is your land."
I take his hand. "Моя благодарность, я вдохновлен жить, как ваш великий король Радмир. (My gratitude, I am inspired to live like your great King Radmir.)"
"You speak the sacred tongue? I am most honored."
Egor's brown hair blew over his eyes as a thick snow began to fall.
I turn to my men. "From this point we are incognito, don't talk outside the HDM's dialect, don't act like a soldier, and only salute me as the leader of our adventurer party."
The group gave one last salute. Sliding cloaks over their military gear they all follow me into the HDM.
George walks beside me. "Вектор, когда ты выучил святой язык. (Vector when you learned the holy language.)"
It was strangely easy. Within just two days I mastered everything in their language. It might be the prince title, or maybe I'm just that good with dialects. Alora walks on the other side. She whispers, "I only know the common tongue, what do I do?"
"Keep your mouth shut unless you have something of importance to say." I whisper back.
She nods.
"Деньги на севере превосходят ожидания гильдии искателей приключений. (The money in the north exceeds the expectations of the adventurers' guild.) I begin a conversation.
"Наш доход должен резко увеличиться от охоты на змей. (Our income should increase dramatically from snake hunting.) George continues the facade.