Sion stood by the open window of his study, staring at the skies that were beginning to darken, mirroring the tension growing inside him. In his hands was the letter from the Bethel Empire—a declaration of power masked as diplomacy. It was clear intimidation.
Raphael leaned back in a chair nearby, arms crossed. "That empire is getting cockier by the day. You think Nathan will be able to handle this?"
Sion chuckled, but there was no humor in his voice. "King Nathan will panic. Anyone in his shoes would. Bethel could squash Clover with ease if it wanted to. Economically, magically, militarily—we are nothing but ants in their path."
"So, what's your move?"
"I'll wait for Nathan's response. It's a formality now. What matters is that I've secured Leaf Dukedom under my direct control. That land is mine to mold, and I intend to turn it into my personal war command center."
"You're not wasting time," Raphael said, impressed.
"I don't have time to waste," Sion replied.
At that moment, Katherine walked in with the letter in her hand. Her face was pale, her hands shaking slightly. Sion could see it in her eyes—fear. But not for herself.
"You're alone in this, aren't you?" she whispered.
Sion didn't answer. He didn't need to.
Raphael said what Sion couldn't. "The royal family won't act. Their position is too unstable. They can't provoke an empire like Bethel."
Sion nodded. "Then I will act. I don't care who stands beside me or behind me. I'll do what I must."
Just then, a sealed encrypted message arrived. It was from King Nathan. A royal summons.
Sion sighed, "Time to see how deep this fear runs."
He used the warp gate to arrive at the royal palace. Inside the throne room, King Nathan stood pacing, holding the same letter. His hands trembled with barely contained rage.
"What should we do, Sion?! They've crossed a line!"
"Calm down, my king ," Sion said. "We ignore it. For now."
"IGNORE IT?! This is our biggest enemy threatening us!"
"First, lower your voice—I'm not deaf. Second, I'm planning to visit the Sidom Kingdom with Princess Rebecca. I was invited, and I'll use that opportunity to go to the Bethel Empire—not as an envoy, but as a witness. I want to see their military power firsthand before I begin my move."
Nathan paused, stunned. Then, slowly, he nodded. "You're serious... you want to walk into the lion's den alone?"
"I've walked into worse."
Before leaving, Sion asked one final question, "Do I have full authority over Leaf Dukedom? Can I govern it entirely within the laws?"
Nathan hesitated for a moment but finally nodded. "Yes. It's yours."
Sion turned away with a grin. "Good. Then the game begins."
Back in Leaf, Raphael said softly, "May God bless the souls of your enemies. They don't know what's coming."
Sion laughed under his breath. "Let's see how strong this empire really is."
As they prepared, Raphael checked the demonic aura barrier they had sealed. "It's holding… but not for long. The demonic energy is pure destruction, and there are whispers connecting it to the fallen angels. If they sense it…"
"We'll be ready," Sion said. "We have to be."
The storm was no longer on the horizon—it was drawing near.