Chapter 80: Unexpected Declaration

We all returned to Polk at the castle. I was lectured by Caesar for a while saying how my role as a king is now far more important than anything.

"Yes, yes... Anyway, back to business. I need you to create a large room for me. Fill it with blacksmith tools and items."

"Your carefree side is..." Caesar simply gave up. "*sigh* What's the size needed and where should we put it?"

"The height should be at least 10 meters and make the area it'll take at least 20-30 meters."

"That will take a lot of space in the kingdom. And judging by the room you asked for it'll cost a lot."

"Hmm... How about underground?"

"It'll be fine but the construction will take a week. Digging such a large hole will take some calculations and such and gathering men for it will be tough."

"That's fine."

"My king, the value of everything has risen. It was a sudden inflation in our economy."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The value of gold has dropped. A single piece of bread before costs 10 silver but now its about 50 gold."

"How did that happen?"

"There have bee-" Caesar was cut off when we heard a large burst of sound.

A soldier barged in my office. He was exhausted from running maybe but it looks like he had something to say.

"Is... Something the matter?" I asked.

"My king, I apologize for the intrusion." He regained his composure and stood straight then did a salute to me by crossing his arms in his chest and tapping it twice. "Five guards died earlier and this scroll was with the arrow that killed one of the guards."

"Wait, let me check for traps. Seek Trap!" Caesar casted a spell and then the scroll glowed. "What?!"

"What? What happened?" I asked him.

"My king, this mark here is the crest of The Three Kings." Caesar pointed on the three swords that was in the circular crest. "It's safe to open... But I don't understand why they killed our guards and sent this scroll..." Caesar contemplated for a while then, "Unless..."

"We're thinking the same thing." I opened the scroll and it floated in the air. The scroll burned and dissipated into ashes and large text appeared in the air. "I knew it..."

We all swallowed our dry saliva as the text slowly appeared.

|

The Three Kings

Of

Varya, Brea and Nrya,

We declare war on the newly founded,

Crimson Order

|

"I should have seen this coming... Its the perfect time to strike..." I complained openly to Caesar and the knight that was with us.

"What do you mean by that my king?" The knight asked. "Forgive my curiosity my king."

"Return to your p-" Caesar ordered him but I cut him off.

"Its fine... I need to think of something. They picked a good time. But these bastards... Are they igniting a world war this early? There's been how many wars in the past few months?"

"There have been 7 my lord. From different kingdoms."

"And that's no small war... Its thousands of soldiers being disposed. Damn."

"If I may be allowed to ask, why is it a good time to attack us now?"

"We're basically powerless. We're still reconstructing, our soldiers are only 12,000. That's very low compared to others. We're out of funds and may have to use the stones to sell some. We're still in recovery after the battle with Itz. We don't have defenses or anything. This is a losing battle... Delay the response as long as possible."

Another soldier barged in the room. "Apologies for intruding!" With the same salute the other soldier did earlier. "As our scouts have said, there's 30,000 soldiers heading this way?!"

"WHAT?!" I stood up from where I sat angry and confused. "Isn't this a war crime?! And they killed five of our people to send this message."

"War crime?" They all looked at me confused.

"Damn it... There's no such thing as rules in war? Tsk... Telepathy!" I contacted every member of the Crimson Knights and told them to organize our army. I told Afal to lead everyone. "Caesar, are there rules in war or something?"

"There's only one rule... To send a notice to declare war. After the scroll has been opened, war will be allowed. If the scroll has been sent to the kingdom and hasn't been opened in two or three months, it'll automatically open."

"This is bullcrap." There's no etiquette or anything forbidden in war. This world is truly barbaric. "What's the status outside?" I asked Afal using Telepathy.

"What I assume are generals are leading the pack. There's about 1000 or more flying units. We're awaiting your comman-" Afal suddenly was cut off.

"What happened?"

"It seems they are looking for you. They're asking for your prescence here."

"Standby for now. I'll be there."

I then left my office and head straight to the strategic room. This is my first time using this item.

"I'll leave you here my king. I'll organize our inner soldiers to protect the civilians."

"You do that Caesar." Caesar then left the room and I was left alone. I focused my attention on the mirror in front of me. "Magic Mirror, Broadcast!"

A small vertical oval shaped dark hole appeared. Then for a few seconds, it enlarged until it ate the whole room. It then recreated the terrain of the outside as I was standing on nothing.

"Are you this kingdom's king?" A deep voice emerged from the ground. It was a weird fat guy. I'm guessing he's a noble that had a chance to start a war since we're in a pinch.

I could hear the voices of people below me. I was broadcasted here, between the Crimson Knights and their army and the Three King's army.

I took out my robes and the crown from my inventory and wore it. "Apologies for the wait. I'm Zieglind Reysh, king of Polk."