[TFW] Chapter 376 - Talking Shop

Note :

Not much to say honestly. Things are decently stable right now. Made some delicious nutella filled cookies today. A single one completely filled my friend for the day. I make monsters of these things.

Chapter 376

Red Sands Desert, Archduchy of Rebirth

Dungeon Factory, Conference Room

"I wanted to thank you, miss Kaliver, for your and Laria's assistance." Said Alexandra as they finally sat down around the table, loaded with food and drink. Kaliver wasn't the name she'd expected for Emilia's aunt, but she'd been born in a different time. "Back when the UDC failed us, especially. It felt like we were alone with Rebirth, and the material you got to us saved us."

"I'm glad to hear that." Kaliver's mannerisms changed as she sat down, becoming less frivolous. Ah, so she had gotten her to switch into shop mode. Wonderful.

Hopefully that would prevent getting hugged again if she strayed too close.

"I am sorry we were not able to do more, however." Continued Emilia's aunt. "We had...no idea it would, or even could, get this bad."

"None of us did." Back then anyway. The Order had almost certainly planned this, and the Church had to give at least tacit approval. But even she hadn't foreseen having to fight a UDC civil war. Having them be an obstacle? Certainly, but not this. "Sadly, we cannot change the past. So we have to play with the hand that we are dealt."

"That we do, dearie." Emilia's aunt smiled, and Alexandra noted that her canines were ornamented, inlaid with gold. Some kind of statement? Symbol? That now that she was bound to a dungeon, she needn't drink blood again? There was so much she did not understand about their society. Much she hadn't even cared about before Emilia's memories brought her glimpses and made her realize there were depths there she wasn't aware of. Depths even Emilia hadn't been privy to, because of her 'young' age. Depths she needed to know.

The Western Marches and its vampires were the oldest standing nation besides Gorromar, and arguably the closest to the Custodians and their Church. Whatever the hell had happened since the Dawn of Flames they'd been there. Seen it.

Perhaps even made it happen.

If there was information to be had, it would be there. The Order was too elusive and compartmentalized to pin down. She had several of their members under surveillance for months and found exactly nothing besides a few nuggets of modus operandi. The Church was impenetrable. Not only because of their fanaticism but also because the slightest wrong move could kill them all.

That left Gorromar and the vampires. Gorromar she might get plenty of justifications to put her fingers into, depending on how the summit went. The vampires...

There was no shortages of doors. She'd discussed it with Emilia, and they'd both agreed that using CQ was out of the question. And Emilia was just being cuddled and shielded by her mother, which had been nice when it had meant her hammering on the UDC and anyone daring to attack her, but less so when she wasn't going to let her find out anything useful.

Which left their contacts within the UDC. And Alexandra herself.

Because if her daughter had been one hell of a shockwave, marrying Emilia would just blast down the door.

"Auntie, how was your trip? I was afraid you wouldn't make it in time, with everything happening!"

The vampire matron grimaced.

"I almost didn't, my adorable niece. Thankfully, we were able to avoid the worst of it. Taking a commercial ship was the best decision, truly. Even the most depraved of wars, trade must go on! The spices, the metals, and all the goods of peace and war must flow. Truly, an inspired idea by Laria."

Alexandra nodded as she said that. Laria's dungeon, the Golden Gates, was on a mountain range. It wasn't a link dungeon, but both nations on each side of the range were keen to get their share of the pie and dug tunnels, built roads, all that jazz to be able to reach it. This had naturally evolved into a trade hub, and Laria would know a thing or two about how to get around using it.

"That's good to hear. Things have been...harrowing, honestly." She took Alexandra's hand as she said that, giving it a soft squeeze, and Alexandra smiled at her.

"Yes. But I have heard things were going better thanks to your efforts, no?"

Alexandra grimaced.

"To some extent."

Some of her units had begun heading east. The bulk of the army was still in Myriu, trying to get the refugees on their feet, but they couldn't afford to wait much longer. They needed to restore order in the duchies and fast.

Which is what the forward units had started doing. A mix of golems, desert rangers and royal knights, they'd passed through various locales, setting up what they could, which generally was either an emergency government or a way for the one the liberated people had made to talk to Allya, some form of police if there wasn't any, and making sure their greatest concerns were relayed to be taken care of.

But their biggest duty by far had been enforcing the peace. The guerillas were remarkably well organized, but nothing was perfect, and several groups of insurrectionists had already starting to verge on becoming raiders, starting to attack anything that remotely smelled of Sunrise or whom they could accuse of having collaborated with the rebels. Some people, once they'd tasted blood, just wouldn't stop. Usually throwing the ringleaders in prison and warning the others that breaking them out or continuing would have the army wipe them from the face of Alcheryos was good enough. Not perfect, but there was no time. Some of the groups had masked cultists among them, and those had immediately laid down their weapons without argument, which was almost more troubling.

The biggest ticket item had been to stop the lynchings. Mob justice was extremely dangerous and while a few bands of raiders were an issue, entire cities going on murder sprees was a massive problem. Most of the time speeches and proclamations had been enough. Many wanted blood but the majority was just glad it was over and once given the chance to calm down just went home. Even among the most bloodthirsty ones most were unwilling to go against her golems and hesitated long enough for the fury to drain out of them and think of the alternatives.

There were some that couldn't take the hint however, and her troops already had to disperse a few mobs with force, one of which had gotten lethal when the other side tried to rush one of the airships she'd sent.

The worst part was that firing a full broadside of canister shot in a crowded street seemed to have had a net positive effect, making everyone realize that there was a point at which they would be killed, and if Surnise couldn't stand against the Archduchy they sure as hell couldn't.

Not everyone was going to be resurrected from that mess, but after that the rate of incidents had dropped precipitously.

The thorniest, if less common issue they'd run into was the slavers.

Not Sunrise's. The people who had decided to capture some of Sunrise's people and enslave them as karmic punishment.

Allya had declared that death would be the punishment for enslaving someone, period. And they couldn't afford to have that promise broken. Not when it was the only thing preventing the entirety of the east from seceding from the Kingdom.

Those who had done it were given scrupulously fair -if somewhat rushed- trials, just like those they had enslaved, and hanged alongside them.

They'd lost a lot of goodwill doing that, but also gained a serious reputation in other areas. They may not be seen as the pure liberators come to bring light, salvation, ice cream and chocolate, but the shock of that event -they'd made sure to spread full transcripts of the trials and images of the executions to anyone who wanted it- had made everyone understand that Allya meant it. There would be no more slaves or slavers in Asaria, period. No political considerations, no extenuating circumstances, nothing would make her bend on this.

It provided the carrot. Pure deterrence was never going to work, but now that they'd shown that they would break lynching mobs if they needed, and justice would be enforced fairly and equally, the violence was already starting to die down throughout the former rebels territory. Not gone completely, not by a long shot, but now that there was an alternative and the very real threat of consequences, people were calming down.

What was worrying is that there had been no words of Rook yet. Everyone, absolutely everyone, had been trying to contact the leader of New Raleigh, having deduced that he had something to do with the changing of magic, and no one could get a hold of him. His entire city state, hell, his entire people had just closed ranks and refused to say anything. Even the professor and the twins just wouldn't say anything, though they had no problems discussing other subjects.

"Well, you are trying your best." Said the aunt, as the silence started to stretch.

"I am. Speaking of, the monster situation...how is Laria and the others dealing with it? I am receiving reports, but you have been there, and it is always better to get a direct impression from someone on the ground."

The vampire bit her lower lip, and tapped her canines in a clearly thoughtful gesture.

"It is strange. Very strange. The monsters still obey, and certainly haven't turned against us, but they are no longer...fearless? It is as if what had been keeping their bestiality chained had been snapped. Clearly, this made modification of magic had far further reaching consequences than its makers had intended. Such is the fate of those meddling with forces they do not understand."

Alexandra wasn't sure if that was a casual comment or a warning, so she simply nodded, encouraging her to go on while Jared adroitly refilled their glasses.

"Some progress has been made. The first breakthrough was made by Timlo of Iceless Peak. He found that some of his monsters remained unaffected, and upon further enquiry, it turned out to be from several alchemical mixtures they were fed to ensure an added challenge. I was told that tests were underway. Whether the isolationists know or not, I cannot say, but they will surely realize soon, for they are no fools. Misguided, quite. Fools, not quite."

Alexandra blinked. Alchemical mixtures?

Oh. Their solution wasn't to train the monsters, as she'd anticipated. It was to juice them up with combat stims.

Of course it was.

Drugging combatants up to their eyeballs to use as disposable meatshields had happened on Earth often enough.

"That isn't much of a solution. I assume such decoctions would already be commonplace if they were cheap and plentiful."

"You are right. It isn't a solution. But it is a doorway towards one, eventually. Great efforts will be deployed towards this avenue." She sighed. "Not everyone is as lucky as you, to use automata, you know."

"Perhaps that could be changed. But I take your point." Not that having an arms race for combat drugs by her side was concerning at all. Still, every neurochemical had some weakness. She wondered if she could use that? Load some kind of counteragent in gas canisters. Or even something that would enhance the effect, causing them to tear each other apart. They'd probably be ready for chemical weapons to begin with, what with the myriad of gas mines she'd used against Sunrise, but it was probably worth a try. "Do you have word of the other advisors?"

"They should be trickling in over the next few days."

"Good. That'll hide them among the influx of delegates."

"Surely, all the cloak and dagger isn't necessary. We are advisors. All know the consequences of harming us."

Alexandra stared at the older vampire, and for the first time she saw Kaliver's cool fracture.

"It is those very consequences I am afraid of." Gathering the advisors was dangerous, but it needed to be done. She had to be able to trust her allies, and that meant removing the God of Fire's control over them. "Besides, people are already uncomfortable with our involvement, both in world affairs and Rebirth. There is no need to rub it in their faces."

"...I see. Do you truly believe that is likely?"

"I'm still alive because I plan for the unlikely."

That was simultaneously answering and not answering her question. The vampire most likely knew that, and she nodded.

"One cannot argue with your results." Suddenly, like flipping a switch, her joviality was back. "Speaking of! Where is my grand niece? I simply must see her!"

"And she has been dying to meet you." Said Emilia, smiling widely. "She wants to show off the fourth floor!"

"Then what are waiting for? Let's go!"

Kaliver was up before Alexandra could even open her mouth, and she shook her head as the two maids escorting her exchanged a long suffering look, before hopping after her.

"Is she always like this?" She whispered to Emilia.

"Yes. There's a rumor that everyone took bets if she'd drive her core insane when she was chosen. Or if she would infect them with it and create a plague of cheer throughout the land."

Alexandra couldn't help it, she snickered.

"And which was it?"

"She got her exact opposite. Which is why she and Laria go on so well. Kind of like us."

"I don't know, we do have similarities."

"Like what?"

"We...like to read?"

Emilia just stared at her.

"Okay, fine!" Continued Alexandra. "Opposites attract. Happy now?"

Emilia darted forward, stealing a kiss, ending it before her aunt could turn back to catch a glimpse. She was keen on keeping the 'I am banging my dungeon core' card tucked away for now, which Alexandra couldn't blame her for. It had been very effective against her sister after all.

"I am now. Let's go!"

Alexandra nodded, and followed her.

Time to see what their daughter had cooked up. Knowing her, it would be beautiful, and of great finesse.

And contain explosions. Lots of explosions.