Armand Estate.
Throne Hall Private Room
Garius sat in his chair, reading the report sent by the Armand Command Center.
"So, Hesbeirn?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Hesbeirn placed a fist over his left chest and bowed.
"These individuals arriving from the Royal Capital...?"
"According to our informants and Alf’s Shadow Unit, they erged from hidden passages, likely secret doors scattered throughout the capital. They exited separately, from different points."
Garius rubbed his chin, studying the Sky Eye feed images showing figures slipping out of concealed entrances.
"Erinnette?"
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"How is the Secret Maid Unit deployed?"
"I’ve stationed them throughout the estate, Your Majesty. With rulers and dignitaries from allied nations present, we cannot afford carelessness."
"Hesbeirn."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Double external patrols around the estate. Rotate shifts every two hours to maintain alertness. Ensure all knights are equipped with mana rifles and prepared for close combat and magical engagent. They are to wear Javier’s new standard armor."
"Already done, Your Majesty."
Garius leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the report.
"We still don’t know their objective. But I will not allow them to approach our allies. If they attempt sabotage or espionage..."
He paused, a faint smirk touching his lips.
"It won’t matter. Javier already ensured our critical systems are secured, encrypted mana relays, self-destruct protocols on classified tech, and puppet knights embedded among the staff. They can look all they want. They won’t understand what they’re seeing."
Garius exhaled slowly.
"That fool Kimar still won’t stop. Why can’t he just leave us in peace?"
Erinnette smiled gently. "Your Majesty, perhaps he’s simply... jealous of how Armand has risen."
Hesbeirn smirked. "As my sister said, Your Majesty. That idiot still thinks he’s above everyone."
Garius shook his head. "I don’t think they’re here just to gather information. They’re preparing for sothing. But none carry obvious weapons, only short swords at their waists. Most are posing as rchants, mingling with our traders."
He leaned back, eyes narrowing.
"They traveled all the way from the Beastkin Nation to our eastern border just to enter. With Arjam and our northern borders closed, they took the long route... which ans their purpose is urgent. Deliberate."
His gaze sharpened on Hesbeirn. "And Javier’s puppet knights stationed along the eastern battlent? No response?"
Hesbeirn pressed a fist to his chest. "They detected them, Your Majesty. But the knights are programd to engage only clear hostiles or during active conflict. Since this group is blending with civilians, the knights held position. They sent a warning to Command, but did not attack."
Garius’s jaw tightened. "So they’re using our own rules against us. Hiding among innocents."
"It appears so, Your Majesty."
Garius rubbed his chin.
"So they’re planning to hide among civilians. Thinking Javier’s puppet knights won’t engage."
He smirked. "Are they that foolish?"
Hesbeirn mirrored the expression. "It seems so, Your Majesty."
"My youngest son’s knights may not attack from the battlents... but that doesn’t an they won’t pursue." Garius’s voice carried a low, knowing edge.
"As you say, Your Majesty," Erinnette replied, pouring tea into his cup with a soft smile. "The guards have reported Prince Javier’s invisible battle drones are already tailing the group. Gatling mana guns and mana missiles are locked and loaded."
She paused, her tone steady. "The ergency response drone hatch on the eastern wall opened monts ago. No one saw anything leave, only the sound of sothing moving at high speed."
Garius shook his head, a grim amusent in his eyes.
"So if that group makes one wrong move toward our people..."
Hesbeirn cut in, voice low and sure. "Let’s just say, Your Majesty... it won’t end well for them."
Knock knock.
Hesbeirn’s hand went to his greatsword. The elite knights tightened their grips, and Erinnette’s fingers slipped quietly behind her back, beneath the folds of her maid dress.
Garius raised a palm.
"At ease."
"Your Majesty. It’s . Alf. I’m with Prince Javier."
"Co in, Alf."
The door opened. Alf bowed, palm pressed to his chest. "Your Majesty. Your son is here."
Javier stepped inside, closed the door, and straightened up, averted his eyes as he gave a slight bow.
"E...Esteed Father?"
"Good, you’re here. I assu Alf has inford you?"
"Ah... yes, Esteed Father. Well... to be precise..." Javier offered a sheepish grin and pulled sothing from his pocket. A sleek, palm-sized device like a polished slate of dark crystal. "The knights sent a signal to Sky Eye, and it pinged this. So I knew which gate... which unit... detected the threat."
"Oh?" Garius’s brow lifted. He leaned forward, elbows on the table, fingers interlaced beneath his chin. "Why don’t I have one of those? Or Alf? Or Hesbeirn?"
"Ah... well... it’s still in testing," Javier admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "It’s not... fully operational yet."
Garius’s eyes narrowed slightly. "So perhaps in the future?"
Javier grinned. "Don’t worry, Esteed Father. Once it passes final testing, I’ll gladly share it with you."
"Interesting." Garius smirked. "So tell , what does that thing do?"
Javier who always lit up when talking magic-tech, relaxed without realizing it.
"Ah, this? It’s like the mana computers I installed in the Command Center and Alf’s Shadow Unit, but portable. Fits in a pocket or small bag. Since the first mana satellite went into orbit, I built this so I can get real-ti alerts from my puppet knights, review their logs, and monitor threats from anywhere."
Garius raised an eyebrow. "Hmm."
Javier rubbed the back of his head, enthusiasm bubbling over.
"There’s a lot more I want to add, still working out the functions. We’ve got holo-TVs, mana cams, portable recording crystals for music and broadcasts... It’s only been a week since those rolled out. I’m still expanding what this little device can do. Sky Eyes, comms, maybe even remote command functions later..."
He trailed off.
"I... want to add more functions too. Like calling, receiving calls directly."
Garius interjected calmly, "You an like our mana talkies?"
"Yes....but private. Secured." Javier’s grin widened. "Built into the device."
"Wouldn’t that interfere with threat monitoring?" Garius asked, one brow slightly raised.
"Ah... sorry, Esteed Father." Javier’s expression softened, realizing he’d gone off track. "The call function is separate. I call this whole thing a... phone."
Garius rubbed his chin and shook his head slowly.
"There’s a lot running through that mind of yours. Too many ideas. Too much knowledge the rest of us can’t even grasp."
"Ah... ehehehe... well..." Javier grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head again.
( End Of Chapter )
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