Chapter 54: Orhan's New Darlings

An air of confusion settled in the hall, as all of us questioned why would Archpriest Adam, a man famed for his absolute repulsion and hatred of the conniving world of politics, would come to the very place that was the physical representation of all he hated, to the beating heart of his woes, to this hellish pit of venomous snakes known as the Imperial Palace, without a summon and so suddenly at that.

"Escort the Archpriest to the most fabulous and luxurious room available, and inform the wait staff to treat him with the same respect and dignity as they would do me. My meeting with Cannon Master Orhan won't take too long.

Also, if anyone of the servants dare to even slightly offend the Archpriest, I will personally make sure that their shoulders will forever be free of the weight of their empty skulls." I ordered as I slightly unleashed my divine power.

"Understood, sire." The guard responded as he hurriedly left, while trying to ignore the cold sweat cascading down his spine.

"Shall we start Orhan." I said as I slowly stood from my throne, and gestured to the table that had already been prepared beforehand.

"Right away, boss." Orhan replied with the same excitement of a child whose showing off his new toys to his friends, as he grabbed the two large parchment papers from his son's hands, and placed them on the table.

But before we could start the door once again opened, and in entered Kira as she respectfully approached me and handed me the most fragrant Lavender flower she could find.

Quickly taking a deep breath of it's intoxicating scent and allowing my senses to drift aimlessly in the refreshing sense of serenity that enveloped me in it's warm embrace.

"Thank you, Kira." I gratefully said, as the madness in my eyes that seemed to have become agitated since earlier, returned to it's eerie silence. Kira merely bowed with a small satisfied smile on her lips in response, but as she did so I noticed something I've never seen before in Orhan's eyes.

His dull eyes that only roared with the flame of obsession when it comes to his darlings, held now a different light within them, a light of longing and reminiscence as he motionlessly gazed at the flower in my hand.

"Is something the matter Orhan?" I asked.

He seemed to finally breakout of his trance as he sheepishly scratched the back of his head, and replied with an awkward smile "Sorry 'bout that boss, it's just that it reminded me of my late wife is all."

"You're wife liked Lavenders?" I asked with a hint of curiosity.

"My wife was a florist, so she loved all flowers, but I remember that she always seemed to take extra care of the Lavenders especially." Orhan explained with a large loving smile, while he stared off into the distance, as if he could still see her before him even now.

"It seems your wife had some good tastes." I jokingly said, as Orhan simply nodded his head with the same adoring smile on his face.

"The Imperial Gardens are famed worldwide for their beauty, why don't you visit them after we're done here." I offered, since I was in a good mood today.

"...Much appreciated boss." Orhan sincerely replied, after a momentary silence.

No matter the enemy, they will fall with enough volleys fired at them, and that is the main principle behind this lovely child who can solitarily unleash the notes of nine cannons!" He stated triumphantly.

As soon as Orhan finished, silence reined upon the hall as everyone gazed with incredulous eyes at him. Disbelief and astonishment were the only words I could use to describe their current state of mind as they kept glancing at his designs.

And so the silence's rule continued to perpetuate across the vast hall until it was suddenly dethroned by the sound of my slow clapping hands, as I honestly praised "Excellent work Orhan. You have truly out done yourself, and exceeded all of my expectations!"

"HAHAHA!" His laughter echoed across the empty hall, as he jovially replied "My pleasure boss. Glad you like'em."

"Isaac, send a team of your most trusted and competent Shade Corps assassins to discretely deliver a copy of these designs to Hamilcar at the Broken Gate, I'm sure he'll be more than thrilled to see the new toys I'll be shortly sending his way." I amusedly said.

"Right away, sire." Isaac replied, as he vanished from my side.

It was at that moment that Horus cautiously said "But, sire, these designs are all very unique and different than the cannons we already produce, especially the Hydra Cannons.

Just training the men to operate these machines properly might take weeks if not months of time, and we only have six months before the war begins! Can the Royal Foundries even produce them in such a tight time frame?"

"No, they can not." Abraham resolutely answered, before continuing to elaborate "They will most likely require a month or two, at the very least to construct a barely functioning prototype, let alone a consistent manufactory line of high grade weapons that can sustain the harrowing attrition of a long war."

My eyes furrow upon hearing their words, as I begin to formulate a plan to solve the current problem for a few moments, before wearily sighing and saying "It can't be helped I suppose.

Abraham send the designs to the Royal Foundries with a hundred Palace guards to strengthen it's defenses, and order them to poor all their attention on them immediately."

"As you will, my liege." Abraham replied.

"I suppose I'm gonna have to wait a while before I can finally hear my darlings' enrapturing serenade." Orhan depressingly said, as his body seemed to deflate like a balloon in the summer's heat.

Seeing this I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my lips, as I cryptically said "That might not be so true."

Orhan's melancholic aura instantly changed, as a flame of new hope blazed in his eyes before quickly asking "Truly?! You ain't pulling my leg here, are you boss?"

Everyone who heard him, including the usually gentle and mild mannered Kira, glared daggers at him for his insinuating words, much to the panic of his son, who already began thinking of his regrets, and what he was going to write in his will.

But I cared not for it, as I asked him with a cunning smile "Tell me Orhan, have you ever been to the Free City of Qayan?"