Dark and Transparent Motives
There had been plenty of twists and turns, but in the end, most things had worked out fine.
'I learned a hell of a lot from all this.'
The golem stuff was a bit light on details, which was disappointing, but at least he'd realized he couldn't just focus solely on development from here on out. And there were some modest gains too.
"P-please, anything! Just give us something else…! Let in more light, at least!"
"What the hell do you want? Tell us, please—just spit it out!"
Before heading back to the academy, the spies had spilled a good chunk of intel on their own. For now, that info was being passed straight to the palace. No telling how useful it'd be, but catching spies and prying secrets out of them was a solid win in itself.
Daniel from the Phoenix Margrave's family—acting as proxy lord of Arklite territory—would oversee the handling under ducal supervision. The borderlands were used to nabbing spies left and right anyway, so cross-verification was feasible, and they had a direct line for quick reports. It was the most convenient, fastest, and trustworthy option. Messing around with the wrong hardass could mean losing credit for the work, but everyone involved was friendly to their side, so he could hand it off without worry.
"We should pass along the methods you used this time to the Phoenix Margrave too."
Sir Galled made a vaguely ominous remark, but the spies were the ones who'd suffer, not him, so Eisen ignored it.
After that, they set off for the academy, hauling the Cyclops, tech demo unit, and Knight on trailers while rumbling along peacefully in the caterpillar golem.
"All in all, a fruitful territory trip."
He'd figured out what needed doing, finished the Knight, and gotten production rolling properly. Daniel had taken over as proxy lord. The guy had muttered something about screwing up, looking dazed, but he'd jumped right into the handover and got to work. The territory wasn't that far from the academy, so as long as nothing urgent popped up, operations should run smooth. It looked like he could stick to the academy for a while… or so he thought.
"But damn, I enrolled this year and barely spent any time there."
"Territory nobles skipping academy is pretty common… and you've had a wild ride."
"Hell, clearing this much in the time you did show up is impressive."
Eisen mulled over his exploits at Noel and Mina's prompting. From the start of term: developing the Cyclops, the duel, heading to Phoenix County to build the factory, crafting the Knight, sorting the territory management.
"Damn, I really pulled it off."
Any one of those could've taken months or years, yet he'd bulldozed through them in under a year. Even with multiple bodies, it might've been impossible. Somehow, he'd done it all.
"It was hectic as hell, but it got us to where the Abatus family can't make a move. Pros and cons, I guess."
"Just like Erika says. While you were tying up territory loose ends, the Abatus count poured effort in but got squat for results."
He wondered how they'd gotten external intel while stuck in the territory with him… but seeing everyone's help this time made it click. Any family with real power and cash had their own intel networks. Contacts too. No surprise if they saw stuff he missed.
'Maybe that's why some cozy up to high nobles—to snag that info faster?'
A idle thought, but in Vespia's cutthroat noble scene, rife with politics and backroom schemes, assuming nothing would surprise you was healthier for the mind. Total ignorance wasn't an option, though.
"They're scrambling to beat us somehow too."
"At least on the logistics front, folks are saying Abatus Chimeras can't top the Cyclops. Even allied kingdoms mention it once or twice."
"Makes me happy."
Mina seemed to be fielding a ton of overseas contacts. Made sense—merchant groups didn't stick to one country. Lines of communication were bound to open up.
"…Not that I'm worried with you handling it, Mina, but pick your partners carefully?"
"No need. If they pull anything shady, the palace'll squash 'em flat."
Mina replied breezily to Noel's firm-toned warning. She'd be walking a tightrope, but she acted confident. Allied kingdoms, huh.
"Hit me during the territory war buildup, but the empire's got that many enemies?"
"Spot on."
Noel nodded with a smile, and Erika jumped in right after.
"Yeah… heard it's been going on like sixty years. The empire bloating up through nonstop wars."
"Word is, back then they had a famine. Used their oversized military to swallow neighbors and secure food. Called themselves an empire after gobbling three nations or so."
Desperation move, gambling on war. That emperor must've been one hell of a high-roller.
"Problem is, they're smack in the continent's center. Kept invading and ballooning, but now they're boxed in by enemies."
"Still got espionage and skirmishes going, but way down from the old days."
…The borderlands fiasco and his territory spy mess already felt big, but if this was the toned-down version, peak empire must've been terrifying. Key point: the empire wasn't sitting pretty, and anti-empire states were allied in standoff.
"Cyclops demand's gotta be insane."
"Flip side: allies can turn foes someday. Can't just sell freely."
"Exactly. You're safe."
Noel sighed in relief at Mina's words. Then she wagged a finger.
"So, Eisen. This time it was the enemy empire tempting you, but even if an ally sends someone, no promising sales off the cuff. Got it?"
"Obviously."
Cyclops would leak abroad eventually, get reverse-engineered. But best to delay till Vespia deployed them officially.
Erika chimed in late, like it'd just hit her.
"Allies remind me—the academy trip to the allied kingdom they used to do yearly but stopped. What's the status?"
"Oh, the Saras Church holy site in Gandharva United Kingdom? Empire's in a lull, so the visit might…"
Noel and Erika dove into academic schedules. Eisen was out of the loop.
"…I'm clueless on academy stuff."
"I forgot too."
Mina looked uneasy. Time to shift gears.
"…Gotta build the Knight a ranged weapon when we get back."
"Either way, more political ties, influence, or cash flow. All good."
Mina perked at the money talk. Vulgar, but he'd learned cash was real power—couldn't ignore it. Fit the crew too.
"That giant magic-tool whip?"
"Or shield with add-ons? You left a note to consult Professor Rodellini?"
"Ditching the arm-cannon idea entirely?"
Noel and Erika, mid-schedule chat, piled in. Options galore sparked chit-chat on ideas, debates, costs. Soon, familiar buildings and the magic ramparts—perfect for firepower tests—came into view.
"Home at last."
Vespia Royal Academy's gates loomed.
Meanwhile, at the academy.
In a room full of faculty, a flashy-dressed man sat grinning.
"So, why not this time, Dean Calliope?"
"…This isn't for me to decide alone. We need the kingdom's input."
The youngish mage with faint wrinkles looked troubled, but the man pressed boldly.
"Our kingdom's in a pinch too. Could use more tourists soon."
"…Academy students aren't tourists."
"C'mon, make it work. It's been five years since the holy site visits stopped—and it's safe now."
The tanned, golden-haired man in exotic garb, decked in gaudy jewelry, spoke with sparkling black eyes.
"Oh, and that donation we sent? Just a down payment. Keep it, no strings."
"Tossing three years' academy operating budget as a 'prepayment.' Impressive."
"Not enough?"
Says the guy claiming hard times, Reina thought. But for just sending students, half that sum might've tempted approval. Dumping this much upfront meant more.
"Sounds like strings attached, Prince Rial."
Reina had guessed the real aim even asking.
Rial grinned wolfishly.
"Eh, just bridge a few gaps."
"Who?"
"Handful. Cardio Abatus from the Abatus counts—we swap letters, so nice to meet face-to-face…"
He paused, face darkening.
"…This term's: Erika Phoenix from Phoenix Margrave, Noel Nexia of Nexia Ducal House, Fifth Saintess Mina Christa of Saras Church. And Baron Eisen Arklite."
"Hah."
Reina let out a dry laugh. Motives that transparent.
