Arestia Empire'S World Domination
Chapter 2: The Envoy

...—Excelia, Arestia— Empire...

...—1 July 1238—...

Taps.

Taps.

Sitting far from where Ares was, Olfrey opened the hood of her black robe. Short black hair that looks untidy, red eyes that cause fear for the interlocutor, seem very cold to people around him.

Even so, there was a great shock in his mind. Olfrey never thought that the Emperor with his own two feet would visit the slum bars of commoners.

His feet brought him to this place. Although Olfrey did not notice any oddity, it was precisely this that made her feel strange, out of place, causing her to move closer to this bar.

For Olfrey who has been working in the dark world since her childhood, realizing the oddity can only be done by a special individual, which even ordinary commoners do not know.

Not because of the incompetent guardianship of the Cornwall Clan, but it was Ares' order to attract special individuals like Olfrey. The words "looking for the freshness of the night breeze" that Ares spoke earlier had the meaning of an order for the Cornwall Clan to herd Olfrey—who had reportedly entered the capital— toward the place that Ares was headed to.

Calmly, Olfrey maintained her flat face, "Where's the bartender?"

Without ignoring his question, the burly redhead— guy who likes meat—moved quickly close to Olfrey's chair with a pleading face, "To—please! Eat my meat!"

"Huh? I don't understand what you're saying." Olfrey turned her head, frowning.

"Order is coming!" Mehera came in a hasty step, pushing a food cart filled with ten plates full of meat.

"Damn!" The red-haired man got up, stepped away quickly.

"So you're going to waste your food when the people of the north starve to death?" ares.

"Gee!" The man stopped his escape, his shoulders drowned, making him sit back with ten plates full of meat served right in front of him.

"I'll help you." One of the men who was at the table in one corner of the hall came over, saying expectantly because his stomach was not yet full.

"If you want, I'll give you the same menu." Indifferent, Ares once again downed his warm milk.

"Ti—no..." The man turned back, retreating with frightened steps.

Ares turned to the bald man who was by his other side. Finding it remains in its original position with the gold coin remaining untouched, "Aren't gold coins your favorite food? If that's not enough, I'll give you gold in bullion."

"Sorry..." The bald man grew even more bowed, his facial expression engraved with deep regret, "I will never repeat it again."

Olfrey just watched Ares in silence, she certainly understood that there were two customers who became Ares' bodyguards after checking things out right after he entered the bar.

Silence, an extremely cold calmness engulfed the hall of the bar, leaving behind faint sounds of snoring from the people who had fallen asleep. Even for Mehera, she just hid behind the kitchen wall while peeking at the atmosphere of the hall.

"How much food is left?" Ares asked in a cold tone, making Mehera tremble in fear, though he ventured to approach Ares.

"Mu—maybe.. about 70 servings." Mehera replied uneasily.

"Meats?" tymphal Ares.

"No. Almost everything is a salad." Mehera replied in fear.

Oh, I think he's got his capital back for the day.

"I ordered everything" said Ares.

"Well?!"

"Ap—what do you want?!" The bald man turned to Ares, very surprised by his words.

"Feeding everyone here" Ares replied.

"I'm—I think.. I'm full."

"My actions too."

"I'm—I'm sleepy! I'm going home!"

Everyone immediately got up, moving away from the bar at a quick pace, not leaving the drunkards and the sleeping ones with their shoulders on each.

"Tu—wait! You haven't even paid!" Mehera shouted, very agitated with the behavior of his customers.

"Ak—aku jug—" said the Bald Man.

"Sit down." Ares said indifferently. Feeling the red-haired man beside her had risen, Ares slowly closed both of her eyes, "You too."

"Good..." Simultaneously, the two limp back on top of his chair.

"How much are their bills?" Uncomfortable with Mehera about to shed tears, Ares reached into his pocket to pay for customers who had run away.

"One hundred... G," Mehera timpal said with fear, though he expected Ares to pay their bills.

Tak.

Ares took out two gold coins from his pocket and placed them on the table, "Save the change."

"Be—really, Sir?! Isn't this a lot?!" Mehera was so surprised, one gold coin could support one person in the capital for several months. Even so, his tone strongly showed that he was expecting it.

Srkk.

Ares did not reply, only pushing the coin closer to Mehera and immediately releasing his hand.

Once again chugging, this time Ares finished his warm milk, "So... does the Queen of Florentia have an interest in me, the Eye of the Queen of Gardom Kingdom?"

Olfrey stiffened, not expecting when her disguise was known. Although Olfrey has interacted with Lean—, one of the members of the Cornwall— Clan in Windsor City, he is very sure if he does not even show his face.

Several times Olfrey had changed disguises on his way to the Capital of Excelia, acting as a farmer, as a coachman, to become a knight, causing his pride to once again be torn to shreds upon knowing it to end in vain.

Mehera and the two men beside Ares were no different. They stiffened and immediately jumped back, very wary of someone affiliated with the royalty of another country.

Olfrey held back, not letting go of her composure with a faint smile, still focusing her gaze towards the table before her, "Can I tell from when you have obtained the information regarding my infiltration, His Majesty the Emperor?"

"Eh?" Mehera was momentarily dumbfounded to the point of sculpting, making herself very frightened after noticing her extremely disrespectful behavior towards Ares as she entered the bar.

"Ka—kaiar?!" said the Bald Man dumbfounded, not trusting the sight before him.

"Bo—fool! Prostrate quickly!" The flesh-eating red-haired man pushed the Bald Man's head against the floor, along with Mehera's.

Ares has several times shown his face to the residents of the capital. However, not every citizen knows the appearance of Ares in detail, especially the majority of the capital's residents never looked at him at all, making them not know how the real face of Ares.

The awkwardness has become clear. It is impossible for Ares to spend a lot of money without the slightest feeling of heaviness unless he is a royalty, which is certainly understood by Mehera and two other men.

Ares ignores his third reaction, "Since you crossed the border."

"so." Olfrey smiled wryly.

Immediately, Olfrey got up from her chair, stepped up several times and knelt right before Ares with her right hand clinging to her chest and bowing in her head, "My deepest apologies, Your Majesty."

"Thank your head" Ares commanded.

Olfrey lifted her head with a smile, "Thank you for the greatness of your heart, Your Majesty. I, the envoy of the Queen of Gardom Kingdom, was ordered to check the state of the Imperial Capital of Arestia first before a Knight of Gardom would be sent to you with a letter of Her Majesty the Queen."

Ares frowned, "What does he want?"

"Acknowledge the sovereignty of your country." Olfrey answered quickly.

"so." Ares maintained his composure, although he was a little surprised by Florentia's quick reaction.

Actually, as long as my country can stand firm, recognition of sovereignty is not too necessary...

I'm sure Florentia intends to make a pact with me.

Unlike the modern era where countries need a recognition of sovereignty in order for them to enter the international world, in the middle ages, this is not the first benchmark of a country that has just risen.

Moreover, Ares has numbered the recognition of sovereignty from other countries and focuses on domestic affairs first. Ares is very confident in his military and monetary strength, making if the surrounding country intends to attack, it is not considered a big problem.

But this world has become different from the game world that I know.

Did Florentia know of the iron ore and gold mines contained in the Land of Lethiel?

No, it is impossible to remember the times and the time lines after I was transferred to this world.

Ares momentarily pensive, his gaze unconsciously fixed on the floor between himself and Olfrey, making Olfrey momentarily think that Ares had guessed the Queen's intentions, although it was immediately denied by him.

"Go away" Ares said after quickly looking back at Olfrey.

"Huh?" Olfrey was shocked. Never once thought of him when Ares would just let go.

Olfrey understood that Ares knew the true figure of himself as a spy, which Olfrey had implied while kneeling a moment ago, "Didn't you ask for a ransom to Her Majesty the Queen?"

Ares was completely astonished by Olfrey's remark, "By making you a hostage? No, it's impossible. After all, even though I have the right to it because you are a spy, I would rather make a good initial impression on the Queen. Moreover, my hands are not enough to take care of you."

A little offended his pride, though Olfrey knew what Ares was saying was on target, making him once again bow in his head, "Thank you for the breadth and sincerity of your heart for forgiving me, Your Majesty."

"Yes, go home." Ares turned back, once again facing the milk glass that was on the table.

Olfrey smiled wryly, Ares' orders were straightforward, laden with a warning. Olfrey had sensed that on his way back to the border he would be watched by more imperial intelligence.

Rising, once again bowing deeply, Olfrey turned towards the exit.

"What's wrong with him?" No longer feeling Olfrey's presence, Ares glanced at the corner of the room where a young man was battered. Knowing a slave necklace that chained his neck, Ares' forehead increasingly looks wrinkled.

"Um... he was a slave whose master had been killed.. me—" Mehera's reply came to a halt due to a sign given by Ares' right hand.

Tak.

Ripping into his pocket, Ares took out a large platinum coin and placed it on the table.

"Free him up and take care of him, fix your shop in return for my orders." Along with his words, Ares got up and immediately stepped towards the exit.

"Eh?! Eh?! Tu—tu—" Mehera was very surprised, his eyes opened wide as a coin worth 100,000 G before him, making him feel panicked. However, Mehera did not finish her sentence by tightly closing both her lips.

Isn't this a word?!

Mehera realized, his interlocutor was a supreme ruler of the country where he lived. It is impossible to refuse his orders because Mehera knows, his refusal can make four generations of his family—including himself—must face the death penalty.

"Ba—baik, Your Majesty!" Very nervous, Mehera could only bend deeply, no different from the other two men who had previously sat side by side with Ares. In silence, the three make a deal to keep quiet about tonight's events, for the sake of their own safety and that of their families.

Just before Ares opened the door, he smiled, waving one of his hands without turning to face them.

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