Langley
Inside the BICH Command Center, Janet waited while Mo used his demonic skill to watch the secret meeting through Young Mo’s eyes.
Their analysts busily rummaged through files on their computers, matching the faces of meeting attendees—sketched by Mo—with their database. Every time someone matched, a BICH analyst handed the files to Janet.
“So the last gentleman is Duke Emmerson, former King of Othid before it joined the alliance. Now he serves as the Meridinian Alliance Minister of War,” Janet explained to Mo.
“So most of the former rulers from the pre-alliance era are here,” Mo muttered, his eyes open but only the whites visible, still seeing through Young Mo’s vision.
“Minister… Merchant guildmaster… I’m quite amazed, actually. This many rulers willing to downgrade their positions,” Janet said.
“The Alliance gave them a nice proposal. Join, and you’ll be richer than before. Refuse, and we’ll destroy everything you possess,” Mo replied.
“Sigh… too bad the meeting is underground. We can only get an audio feed—barely. Transmission isn’t good enough for video,” Janet sighed.
“Here come the main stars,” Mo said, noticing two figures entering the meeting room.
---
Goldenclaws HQ, Underground Meeting Room
Young Mo was casually chatting with Duke William when the guards opened the door. Two figures entered—a human and a dwarf, both in regal clothing.
Instantly, everyone rose from their seats.
“Please, stay as you were,” King Cassemir said, raising his hand.
The human and the dwarf walked to opposite seats, and only after they sat did everyone else settle back.
“Thank you for sparing your busy schedules for this meeting, King Cassemir and King Baldrik Goldenclaws,” Duke William began.
“HAHAHA, don’t worry. Nothing is more important than this,” Cassemir grinned.
“Indeed,” Baldrik added with a grin. “We are about to enter the most exciting part of our campaign. There’s no way King Cassemir or I would miss it.”
Everyone at the round table grinned.
“We are very grateful for your presence,” Duke William bowed. “But as King Cassemir requested, I present Dillian Walric.”
Young Mo rose and bowed to both kings.
“Hoo, so this is Dillian Walric,” Cassemir said, rubbing his mustache.
“Pleasure to meet you, sir,” Young Mo smiled.
“The one who oversaw all the setup for the war,” Baldrik added, rubbing his beard. “Tell me, how did you blackmail the Ravendawn ship-mage into submitting her life like that?”
Young Mo smiled, recalling the memories absorbed from the real Dillian Walric.
“It wasn’t that difficult, Your Highness,” Young Mo said. “I happened to have her three children in my possession.”
“Hahaha, classic,” Baldrik laughed.
“And what about the families afterward?” Cassemir continued.
Young Mo smiled again, perfectly mimicking the real Dillian.
“They’re currently with their mother,” Young Mo said.
“HAHAHAHA! No loose ends!” Cassemir laughed. “Duke William was right to recommend you for this mission. Not wrong at all!”
“Splendid work, Dillian. Splendid,” Cassemir continued. “As promised, a dukedom awaits you, along with a new clandestine organization for you to manage.”
“It’s the greatest honor,” Young Mo said, bowing.
Everyone at the table applauded as Young Mo sat back.
“Oh, speaking of clandestine,” Cassemir said, “King Baldrik, how’s the Dwargonian side? I heard some unpleasing rumors… Dwordoug Axebreaker is still alive?”
“Yes, he is,” Baldrik replied.
Murmurs spread across the table.
“What?! You think I’d hide it like some human?” Baldrik glared at the murmuring humans.
The murmurs stopped, everyone growing nervous.
“HAHAHAHA! Relax. Nothing will happen even if Dwordoug Axebreaker returns to their capital,” Cassemir said, easing the tension. “One of the Church’s Seven Virtues in Hearthguard Cairn prepared a contingency plan. Calgirra Oakenbrew will testify that she orchestrated the events with the Murican… before she killed herself for atonement. A perfect tragedy.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
---
Langley
“GIVE ME THE FILES ON THE SEVEN VIRTUES!” Janet shouted, commanding all the analysts.
Mo remained seated, watching Young Mo’s vision and thinking to himself.
“…Seven Virtues,” he whispered. “Long time no hear…”
---
Goldenclaws HQ, Underground Meeting Room
“You’re speaking as if the Goldenclaws would fail again,” Baldrik glared at Cassemir. “My son is personally overseeing the operation to finish the job once and for all.”
“AHAHA, please King Baldrik, that was never my intention,” Cassemir said. “I only mean Goldenclaws shouldn’t need to worry about Dwordoug and can focus more on the upcoming battle with Ravendawn and Murica.”
“Hmph!” Baldrik grunted.
“Your Majesty, do you mind if I ask how we’ll invade Ravendawn and Murica?” Young Mo suddenly asked.
“Dillian! I told you to behave!” Duke William shouted.
“AAAHAHAHA! That’s alright, William,” Cassemir raised his hand. “Our new spymaster here might want to know. He’s been in the dark for five months, he deserves to see the result of his hard work.”
“Thank you, my king,” Young Mo smiled.
King Cassemir flicked his hand, and an officer brought a map to the table.
“We are going to discuss this battle plan today anyway,” Baldrik added.
The Minister of War rose from his seat to explain.
On the map, small figurines representing the Dwargonian and Meridinian forces were planted. The Dwargonian fleet would advance toward Ravendawn and Murica from the east, with the Meridinian fleet positioned behind them.
“During the next Dwargonian assault, we will suddenly announce our joining on the same day,” Duke Emmerson said. “Forcing Ravendawn and Murica to send most of their forces to the battlefield.”
“Only for our forces to arrive late,” Cassemir grinned. “Fashionably late.”
“Doesn’t that mean Dwargonia will suffer heavy losses even if they win?” Young Mo asked.
“That’s the point. Winning the upcoming battle isn’t our objective,” Baldrik replied. “The battle serves only as a massive distraction.”
Young Mo was quiet.
“For our real assault,” Baldrik grinned.
Duke Emmerson brought out a new figurine in a different color, showing a path from Meridinia, across Balevar and Vandoria territories, straight to Ravendawn’s Dawn City.
“Unknown to Murica, Ravendawn, and even Dwargonia itself, 300 Goldenclaws airships will sneak into Dawn City,” Baldrik said, grinning. “And level the Ravendawn capital with hit-and-run tactics.”
“Not the enemy military base?” Young Mo asked.
“We don’t need to,” Cassemir said, “we’re not doing this for military purposes. We’re doing it for a show! HAHAHA!”
“Murica showed us the importance of shaping world opinion, and now we’ll do the same,” Baldrik said. “When the world sees the Dwargonia-Meridinia alliance can hurt the demon alliance, other kingdoms will gain confidence to join us, with Meridinia as the leader.”
“Plus, the church will pressure other kingdoms to join,” Cassemir added. “By telling them that “ignorance to evil is part of evil themselves”, those kind of thing! Hahaha!”
“Once the war is about to becoming global, then we will pressure Murica and Ravendawn for peace agreement,” Cassemire continue “…by demanding joint ownership of the canal under the Merchant Guild, and install a merchant guild branch there”
“Ehm!” Baldrik glared. “And don’t forget my kingdom.”
“Of course, of course,” Cassemir said. “After peace treaty with Murica, Meridinia also will support Goldenclaws claims as the rightful rulers of Dwargonia. At that time, Dwargonia will be too weak to confront us.”
Baldrik nodded. “Good, good.”
“Joint ownership, sir?” Duke William asked. “I thought we aimed to control the canal ourselves.”
“I calculated the canal will provide massive income in the future,” Cassemir explained. “Even with shared ownership, we’ll get more profits than we do now. And this way, we can avoid collecting too much hatred in the future with Murica.”
“Because we will slowly befriend Murica and Ravendawn, showing interest in business rather than war,” Cassemir grinned. “Our Merchant Guild will help distribute Murican goods worldwide. No more rogue nations thinking they can trade outside guild rules.”
“Hmm, is this what the church wants?” Duke Emmerson asked.
“Of course not! They expecting us to fight to the death with demons!” Cassemir said irritably. “Let them fight their own holy war with their own knights and Celeste army. We’ll keep profiting with Murica and Ravendawn. When the church and Celeste finally decide to fight, then we’ll see which side is more profitable to ally with. Hehehe.”
---
Langley
Mo returned from his vision.
“Well, I guess we’ve got all the evidence we need,” he said to Janet. “How’s the audio recording?”
“A bit distorted from the transmission, but we can clean it up,” Janet said.
“So we just wait for my clone to surface and send all the clean recordings—video and audio,” Mo muttered.
“Yes, we do,” Janet replied.
---
Goldenclaws HQ, Underground Armor Bay
Elsewhere underground where rows of steam-armors were parked. More spies worked for a different purpose.
A young dwarf guard patrolled the armor bay. Suddenly, a hand grabbed him from behind and snapped his neck. It was Irving. He dragged the body to a dark corner where Kovalski waited.
“There you go. Hurry up and change into him,” Irving said.
PUFFF
Kovalski used his incubus skill to transform into the dwarf, then changed into the dead dwarf’s uniform for his disguise.
“Remember to act casual. Don’t arouse suspicion,” Irving said.
“Sigh… too bad only Asmodeus can absorb the memories of his victim,” Kovalski muttered.
“The Incubus King?” Irving asked.
“King, Queen… no one knows the real gender,” Kovalski replied.
They had no idea that Young Mo was actually Asmodeus. Young Mo and Janet had introduced themselves to the Misfit using different aliases.
Kovalski finally finished wearing the uniform.
“Ugh… this face is so ugly,” he muttered.
“Suck it up. Time to be a proper incubus,” Irving said.
“Fine. Wish me luck!” Kovalski said, leaving while Irving watched from afar.
---
Later, Dwarf Kovalski blended in, chatting with other dwarf guards while enjoying a tobacco pipe.
“Yeah, the captain was already posted here at that time,” a guard said.
“And where is the captain?” Kovalski asked.
“The guard office, I think,” the guard replied.
“Thanks, man!” Kovalski waved as he left.
“Thanks for the tobacco, too,” the guard waved back.
---
Moments later, Dwarf Kovalski stood outside the guard office.
“Ok captain, I’m in front of the office now,” Kovalski whispered into his comm.
“Good thing someone was actually around when the base was constructed,” Irving replied.
“Yeah… hope this captain also likes Murican tobacco,” Kovalski muttered.
KNOCK KNOCK
Kovalski entered the door.
“Ah, excuse me, captain. I happened to have some tobacco from the human guests upstairs. Care to enjoy it with me?” he said cheerfully.
Inside, Kovalski saw the back of a very muscular dwarf. Broad shoulders, bulging hands. Kovalski froze, slightly intimidated.
The figure slowly rose from the chair, revealing its full size. This dwarf definitely never skipped leg day
Then it turned around.
“Are you asking me to slack off during my shift, soldier?!” the captain said with a girly voice.
“Eh?” Kovalski stammered, caught completely off guard.
Kovalski noticed… the chest.
Boobs.
The captain was female.
“What’s your name, private? And your ID number!” she demanded, standing in front of him.
With his new dwarven size, Kovalski saw the woman in front of him was a giant among dwarves.
Kovalski gulped.
