The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the palace spires. In the heart of the empire, a cabinet meeting had just ended.
Emperor Antonio Griffin stood by the window, watching the ministers rise and leave one after another.
He suddenly gave Mariana, who was about to leave, a slight nod and smiled as he asked, "Lady, could you stay a moment? There's something I'd like to ask you about."
The Ten-Man Council had become especially conspicuous in the current cabinet. They were no longer Spellcasters who hid in the darkness of the Secret Art Society, but royal advisers who openly took their seats in the empire's highest decision-making council.
Mariana gave a slight nod and sat down gracefully. She wore a dark blue robe, her red hair blazing like fire, her gaze calm and sharp.
"It's about Aldo." Antonio got straight to the point. "Nathan and several other mages have been in northern Aldo for some time. How are things with the orcs?"
Mariana sighed softly, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm:
"According to their latest reports, the orcs don't seem to be adapting to the human world as well as we imagined."
"Oh?"
"Before entering Aldo, they were warriors of the plains. But after entering Aldo, they became addicted to the pleasures of the towns. They began wearing fine clothes, drinking fine wine, and living in luxurious houses. Those warriors from the barren plains were no longer warriors."
Antonio furrowed his brow slightly. "What about the war?"
"The outcome of the Second War," Mariana said calmly, "was an overwhelming victory for the Aldo Army. The orcs were routed. It wasn't a matter of tactics, but of will. They no longer wanted to fight."
As soon as Mariana finished speaking, Emperor Antonio suddenly let out a soft laugh.