Bad news. After a long wait, my COVID vaccination was finally scheduled. As a result, my upload rate might drop a bit. The mass release will also have to be delayed by a bit. I am extremely sorry.

But fret not, a promise is a promise. I will make sure to do the mass release as soon as possible. Stay tuned!

********

“Yes. But it is a failed cause anyway. The only reason we send the soldiers to their death is simple- magic crystals. And we have ambitions of ourselves. I can’t send precious manpower for cheap.” The crowned man’s face was completely nonchalant.

“But I have a proposal.” The smile on Adrian’s face grew wider. “One you cannot refuse.”

“Is that so?” The man knitted his brows. “Go ahead.” He beckoned with his hand.

“Yes.” Adrian answered. “Why don’t we make a bet of sort- a conditioned one?” He leaned forward. The smile on his face remained the same while his brows raised up.

“A bet?” The silver eyed king’s brows furrowed even further. “I am listening.”

“Indeed, a bet.” Adrian arched his back even further forward as he clasped both of his hands together. “We pay you half of the base price, which was previously promised. And you send us an army- the promised amount.”

“And?” The king raised his brows. His ‘nephew’s’ proposal already seemed interesting to him.

“We will pay you 10,000 high grade magic crystals for every dead soldier.”

“What?!” The king blurted out as his eyes widened even further. His silvery red eyes almost popped out from the sockets. It was impossible to stay composed after hearing something this nonsensical.

“Yes, you heard it right.” Adrian went back to his previous position, resting on the luxurious crouch while his hands separated and rested on the comfy armrests.

“Nonsense! Do you think such diplomatic conversations are a joke? You might have the blood of the Storms running through you. But don’t forget that I am a king- a true king- not a puppet like the ones in ‘your’ Nemphis. Every second of my time is valuable.” The crowned man was still not able to compose himself.

“Uncle.” Adrian said, prompting the the man before to momentarily twist his face.

“Ahem, your majesty.” Adrian ‘recovered’ with a smile on his face. “Don’t forget that I, Adrian Darkheart, am also a Royal Advisor- whose every seconds are valued at tens of high grade magic crystals. I don’t have time to blurt out such ‘nonsense’.”

He brought out a scroll from inside his jet black coat and gently put it on the crystalline table.

The man took the scroll, with his reddish silver eyes still on the youth ahead of him. His eyes finally moved from the smiling face of Adrian when the scroll was fully open.

His eyes were locked on the parchment. They went through what was written on the paper- word by word. His squinted eyes kept widening every moment. They almost popped out when they witnessed the Royal Seal of Nemphis at the end of the paper.

“See?” Adrian smiled. “I am always true to my words.”

The muscular man with thick facial hair took in a deep breath and exhaled all of it, barely composing himself.

“Are there any more conditions?”

“Nope.” Adrian’s answer was direct. “The ones written on that sealed scroll are the only ones there are. As long as the soldiers sent by the Kingdom of Darkshore are confirmed dead or missing, then we will remunerate with ten thousand magic crystals for every single one of them.

“As long as they are under our supervision, every cause of death will be valid- be it death in the hands of enemy or succumbing to diseases. There are exceptions of course- for example- suicide, or a member of your own army killing another. These will be thoroughly investigated by a joint commission.

“As for the other boring stuff, they are already written on the contract. Feel free to search for loopholes.” Adrian finished his statement.

“Fair enough. I have already checked everything and there are no means of evasion.” The king shook his head.

“Very well then. Do you accept?” The smile on Adrian’s face still remained.

“Of course.” He spread the paper on the table and took the Royal seal already prepared beforehand on the table. He feared that his ‘nephew’ sitting in front of him might take such a profitable deal back.

The manpower sent to the Nemphis as reinforcements numbered in the tens of thousands while the casualties every time numbered at least in couple of thousands, and sometimes even more than half of the army sent.

Just the approximate and of course- astronomical quantities of high grade magical crystals his Kingdoms might get dried his entire throat.

He swallowed his saliva and was just about to stamp the seal on the paper when the youth’s charming and playful voice resounded in his ears.

“Didn’t I say I will make an offer you cannot refuse… Un-cle.”

*Bam!*

The seal slammed on the paper a ‘bit’ harder than it should have.

******

Sera’s room.

Sera was at her desk. Her eyes were fixed on the inked pages of an old looking book

*Click*

The door opened.

But Sera’s eyes did not move from their positions.

“How was it?” She asked. “Did he agree?”

“How can he not?” Adrian sat opposite her at the desk. “Is it possible to reject a deal of mine?” He rested his elbows at the desk and leaned forward, bringing his face closer to her.

“Tsk.” She closed the book and put it on the table. “How many girls have you ‘fooled’ back at the Academy? Except the princess.”

“Are you jealous?” He smiled. “My dear cousin.”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Say, do you want to be the ruler of Darkshore?” He asked. “I can make you one.”

“I am sure you can.” She smiled before shaking her head. “But I will pass. You know what I want, don’t you?”

“Your wish.” He backed off and rested his back on the chair.

“What will you do now?” She asked. “Go back to Nemphis?”

“Naah.” A smile again appeared on his face.

“Now that I am in Darkshore, how can I not give ‘my home’ a visit?”