The Red-Haired Lady and the Golden Lady (2)

It was a story from a few months back. One of the Empire's sword saints, Tsvite, who had personally ventured into Phoenix County for espionage, had submitted a shocking report.

The moment the report went up, Tsvite was thrown in prison. Of course, he accepted it without much fuss.

"Even so, our secrets got leaked, so no helping it."

"The law demands it, but they'll reinstate you soon enough. Might as well rest up."

Under imperial military law, leaking classified information warranted severe punishment. Tsvite had effectively done just that, so legal detention was inevitable. Mitigating circumstances would be considered, though.

One of the kingdom's Five Pillars—a figure on par with the Empire's sword saints—had been right there, and Tsvite's judgment to reveal their secrets if it meant securing vital intel was spot-on.

"So, what'd the boss say, Drai?"

"Said he'd slip you some treats—just name the menu."

"Roast sausage and beer. Tomorrow, cheese and wine."

Tsvite replied so casually that the man called Drai chuckled. He tapped the sword at his waist and asked,

"What's your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠take? The Cyclops creator. Aizen, right?"

"Even Reina swore the era's changing. And she's the brash type who lives by the sword and bursts with pride."

"Guess becoming a professor did mature her. Cut the nonsense—what'd you think?"

Urged by Drai, Tsvite laughed. Then, quietly,

"Recruit him. Or kill him."

"Which side are you on?"

"Kill."

Drai nodded at Tsvite's icy words.

"Probably matches what I heard, but let's hear it. Why?"

"Looking at his growth, he's got zero chance of staying loyal to anyone but Phoenix or Nexia."

Both were thorns in the Empire's side.

"Word is, those noble ladies from high houses listened to him and threw themselves into defending the place. At that point, he might as well be one of their own—or maybe the families are competing over him. Either way, he's loyal to one of them, got their backing, and that's how he built the Cyclops. That's my read."

"I see him as recruitable, though. Rumor says he's backed by the merchant guild of the Sara Church's fifth saintess—unrelated to those families. If he's just following a contract, we offer a better one."

"Can the Empire make an offer he'd bite on?"

Freedom to tinker, material supplies—those ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠came to mind right away. But Drai shook his head.

"Our country's in rough shape too."

"Front lines stretched thin, internals all over the place."

The Empire had grown by swallowing neighbors, but that left internal unity lacking.

"Resistance popping up everywhere, rejects of imperial rule crawling out of the woodwork."

"Meanwhile, those who joined up are clawing for every scrap of power."

Plenty rejected rule outright; others, having bent the knee, hungered for better seats at the table. The Empire had to accommodate them all.

"Can't afford to piss 'em off, or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it's backstabs galore."

"Continent's heart means wide fronts, absorbed lands sparking revolts? We'd need shadow clones for real."

Drai laughed heartily at Tsvite's joke, though it wasn't easy to brush off. A nation bloated by war had enemies aplenty. Force held it together, but slacken the grip, and it could all unravel.

"Tell one group we've got massive backing if they join the Empire? Chaos. 'Why him and not us?'—next thing, revolt."

"Bet right now, you and I might be at each other's throats over it. Traitors know politics is their lifeline—they pull every dirty trick."

Drai nodded at Tsvite's words.

"In this mess, what support can we offer? ...Funny coming from the kill camp, but if things were a bit better, I'd be all for recruitment."

"Truly a shame."

The two sword saints sighed. Then Tsvite, as if remembering, asked,

"Oh, what'd imperial intel say on that directive? Aizen Arclight's origins."

"Some dangerous guy who popped up outta nowhere."

That was the Empire's conclusion on Aizen's background. Drai said quietly,

"Member of the rural noble Arclight family... brother of the current head, they say. That brother hooked up with some commoner adventurer, died on the road. Their companion dragged him back to the family, explained everything, then dropped dead from exhaustion."

"Head took him in, raised in the family, but with succession set, he was sidelined—then bam, drops this bombshell."

Tsvite nodded and said,

"A monster-maker from that upbringing? Bull. More like Phoenix or Nexia smuggled in a talented kid to dodge Abatus eyes, kept funneling support. Heard he bare-knuckled three Phoenix knights—trained pro, right?"

"Entrance ceremony, he nearly smashed the academy's Mainis Gate. Village boy? Doubt it. Grill him on hometown or family, he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hesitates a beat before spitting out Arclight Territory and the clan. Blood kin, and that's his indifference? Nah, not family at all."

"And now he's independent, home estate's a ghost town? No ties from the start."

The two sword saints traded theories. Then Tsvite asked carefully,

"So, what's the play with the spies?"

"Steal the Cyclops as priority. Woo Aizen Arclight. Fail, then..."

Kill without hesitation.

"Emperor Himself decided, via the boss."

Drai sliced a finger across his throat meaningfully.

One week after appointing Daniel as proxy.

With territory ops stabilizing and academy return date set, the proxy's effects were showing already.

"Red-haired lady, bring her home~"

"Golden lady like a peony, stayed all night through~"

"How'd my territory turn into a sing-along fest?"

It started like this.

The settlers from Phoenix had a mission from the border count: spread songs far and wide.

Sounded harmless, but songs spread mouth-to-mouth, shaping opinion like wildfire—especially with that catchy rhythm. Serious impact.

Daniel tried ditching the proxy ceremony by hurling those songs; Noel's side caught wind next day, counter-songs everywhere.

Noel's crew were sharp—lyrics poetic, easy to belt out. With crops set (wheat, potatoes main; flowers for top farmers only), everyone prepped fields, humming away. Folks picked their fave between the two.

Songs spread; Noel and Erica holed up in their room.

"I-I must've gone blind for that grand idiocy...! Could've laughed it off...!"

"That what it meant? No, ughhh!"

Voices hushed at footsteps outside, but if nearby, it carried—pointless.

That embarrassing? Yeah, even I'd cringe. Especially Erica's—I got the innuendo now.

"Guess I'm popular."

"Head or conscience—which hurts? Spill."

I snickered at Mina's pitying glare.

"Hits different when it's not real. Plus, status gap."

"Cold truth: border count wants you climbing a title or two higher. She's gracious, but hierarchy's hierarchy."

Mina said quietly,

"Flip side: buy low opportunity."

"I'm merchandise?"

"More alliance. Noble marriages are politics, not romance."

And this kingdom's nobles were powerhouse mages—mini-factions each.

"Dodge or ignore Abatus? Aizen's prime recruit."

"High praise."

"Underestimate."

I stared. Mina grinned.

"Seeing Aizen just as Abatus counter? Underestimate."

"High praise, thanks."

"Damn right."

Mina hesitated, then murmured,

"Maximizes my bottom-buy profits."

"Your consistency's tearing me up."

"Cry, and saintess hug's on offer. Paid."

"Territory booms, maybe."

Income incoming—I could flex.

Done with banter, Mina said softly,

"Deals? Tread careful now."

Worried? Rare caution from her.

"Pure goodwill's rare. Plenty undervalue you to snag a bargain."

She paused.

"And if it sours... killers incoming."

She ran a big guild, was a church saintess. Experience talking.

"Got it—careful."

"Good boy."

Gazing ahead, Mina smiled.

"Stick with me mostly. I'll keep you alive."

As if just recalling, she curled her fingers in a circle.

"Paid."

Consistent investor, through and through.