In the Imperial Palace of the Gabella Empire, the candlelit Council Hall was brightly illuminated. Emperor Antonio Griffin sat upright on the throne, with the cabinet ministers and core members of the Secret Art Society arranged on either side.
The rulers of the empire were in session, discussing an extremely important matter: during the day, an envoy sent by the Holy See of the Lord of Light had arrived in the Imperial Capital and expressed a desire to negotiate peace with the empire.
At that moment, an attendant entered. "Your Majesty, Lady Mariana has returned to the Imperial Capital."
Antonio raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Quickly, invite her to join our meeting." As a member of the Ten-Man Council, Mariana's opinion was highly important.
Everyone continued discussing how to respond to the Holy See. Less than an hour later, the doors were pushed open, and Mariana entered in a dark mage's robe. Her travel-worn appearance could not conceal the complicated emotions between her brows.
"Lady Mariana, how did your journey to Northwest Bay go?" Antonio spoke first, his tone carrying his hopes of recruiting Paul Greiman. If they could bring this rising lord into their fold, it would provide significant assistance both in unifying the Human Nations and in dealing with a future invasion by the Demon Race.
Mariana stepped forward and bowed before saying in a solemn voice, "Your Majesty, I conveyed your offer of recruitment to Paul Greiman as you instructed, but... he explicitly refused."
"Refused?" As soon as she finished speaking, Ambolov, commander of the Imperial Palace's guards, spoke up. His tone held some disdain. "He's merely a local lord of the Aldo Kingdom. He only won a few battles through luck, yet he dares refuse Your Majesty's offer? How presumptuous! Your Majesty, in my opinion, we should