Rebirth System: Blood and Ash

Over a week later.

Aric stood in his tent and had made sure to dismiss the soldiers standing guard outside. Now, he stood alone, staring at the rune stone on the table, waiting for Serina to connect as they had agreed. She would inform him about the current status of things back in Byzeth.

Suddenly, as he watched and waited, the rune stone began to glow and flash a blue light.

"Yes," he called out, confirming if Serina was on the other end.

"Your Highness," the mage called back.

"Serina, good," Aric muttered, stepping closer. "So, what’s the situation?"

"The lord and bandits worked incredibly fast. Lerai was also swift in making more MPGs, and around 70 percent of the bandits now possess a pair. As a result of their current strength, they were able to completely take the stretch of Miredis in just five days."

Aric received the confirmation, but he already knew. A few days ago, he had gotten quite the surprising system notification:

[You now have full control over the Miredis stretch.]

He was surprised, although he had emphasized the need for them to work swiftly, they had all gotten the job done faster than he initially projected.

"That’s good to hear. How are Borag and his men doing concerning the other thing?" Aric asked.

"As well as you would expect bandits to. Even better now that they’ve become more formidable. Thirty percent of all goods being transported have been stolen and handed over to the lord of Heidz.

Traders are complaining and refusing to continue transporting goods unless the royal army intervenes, but as you know, they aren’t around, and what was left of them were quickly dispatched by the bandits when confronted."

"Excellent," Aric nodded with a smile. "And what of the goods going to the Northrenders?"

"Of the thirty percent of goods seized by the bandits, most were meant for the Northrenders. Currently, half of the already-paid goods being transported to the north have been seized. The rest was followed by around thirty bandits, who will attack the receiving northern traders.

They were also given the activation rune for if they are cornered, which will override and multiply their MPG strength by a hundredfold," Serina explained.

"It seems Lerai did well," Aric grinned.

"I don’t know much about MPG or how Lerai makes them, but I’m certain that amount of strength can’t be forced out of mana crystals. Is that really meant to multiply strength a hundredfold?"

"No," the prince shook his head. "When it’s activated, it blows them all up. I can’t have loose ends."

"I guess that’s smart…" Serina muttered. "At this point, the bandits could raid the capital and take the throne with ease. There will be no resistance. Why wait?"

Aric shook his head.

"No, there are two reasons we can’t do that: First, if we take Byzeth while its army is out fighting useless wars, when they return, we’ll be easily defeated. I must ensure all who are loyal to Aszer die here, along with him. Secondly, although it might seem there will be no resistance, there is a formidable group guarding the throne."

"There is?" Serina asked, intrigued.

"Yes, they call themselves the Lotus 14, mages of extreme power. From what I was told, they could be stronger than you—all fourteen of them. They are a squad of women loyal to the Byzeth throne and hence its king. I met them once before, and although I didn’t know who they were at the time, I could feel they were dangerous. If you raid the castle now, you will all die swiftly."

"Tch, that sounds quite problematic. How do you plan to handle it?" Serina asked.

"They are loyal to the throne and the king who sits on it. If I hand them the head of Aszer and take the throne, they will serve me. No altercation needed."

"Ah, then it seems everything is still advancing well?" Serina commented.

"It seems so," Aric agreed.

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"Well…" Serina muttered.

"What?" Aric asked, slightly panicked.

"Old man Hitoshi said he got information that news of the Byzeth raid has reached imperial ears. Some say the imperial squad, led by the First Prince, should have soon come and leveled Byzeth, but the emperor insists they don’t take such action. Instead, some men have been sent to the north."

Aric sighed in relief.

"That is great information. Make sure to connect again as planned," Aric instructed.

"Understood, Your Highness," Serina said, disconnecting from the stone as the rune stopped flashing.

Aric took a deep breath and exhaled again, a slight smile tugging at the edge of his lips.

"I guess I am grateful to you this time as well, Father…for believing in me."

The emperor had bought Aric more time, but regardless, he still didn’t have much of it. He would need to finish things as soon as possible.

Everything was set up. Soon, word would reach the legion that the Byzeth Kingdom had begun to cheat them, harass their traders, and rob them. At that time, Aric would have already brought the legion to Aszer, who would question the king. Egos would clash, and eventually, they would battle.

When the backing of the Northrenders is lost, added with the fact they have already picked a war with Valeria, all soldiers would know all hope was lost and that nothing awaited them but death.

That is when Aric would strike, not as the general, but as the Imperial Prince of Valeria.

He would promise these soldiers their lives would be spared by Valeria if they denounced the king, and he would promise the Northrenders a continued trade relationship with Byzeth, with fairer prices and without Aszer’s dishonesty, along with the land of the settlement they had already conquered.

This was a deal the Northrenders would simply be unable to refuse, as they would prefer that over trading at the steep prices of the Draken Empire, their rivals.

Aric couldn’t stop himself from laughing maniacally as he laid out his strategy.

"Could this plan be any more perfect?" he laughed.