Melibra's Doubts

Within the governor's residence in Herakleopolis, Melibra Aheito was enjoying the dance of his female slaves.

Compared to the other warlords drowning in wine and women, Melibra could be considered an ambitious and farsighted hero. But that did not mean he would live frugally and pour all the wealth he had amassed into building up his army.

Chaos and division had still improved his life.

Before Melibra, scantily clad dancers moved with exceptional vigor. Though concubines and female slaves held extremely low status in Egypt, every slave knew that as long as she won her master's favor, her living conditions would at least improve by another level.

Faced with the seductive dance before him, Melibra felt a stirring within himself. Just as he impulsively reached out to touch one of them, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside.

"Damn it!"

His mood ruined, Melibra angrily shoved the dancer aside. He did not want to appear lustful and womanizing before his subordinates.

But he had also marked down the person who had interrupted his enjoyment.

"What urgent matter could there be at a time like this?"

With that thought, he assumed a dignified posture and waited for the visitor.

Very soon, a soldier clad only in leather shorts rushed inside.

"Bad news, Governor!" the soldier cried breathlessly. "Governor, an urgent report from the walls! There are... there are enemies coming toward our city!"

"What enemies?" Melibra did not panic upon hearing this. He remained composed. "Where are they from? A nearby nome? Bandits? Or rebels?"

In truth, Melibra did not believe enemies would appear at all.

If there truly were enemies, those three were the most likely possibilities. Egypt was now fragmented, with every region governing itself. The local warlords were like feudal states, and under such circumstances, some