“The Jade Lands are weak and split by their civil war. I trust those of you with lands nearby are aware of the situation. If we gather the legions, Mohamind, Tishlenum, and Fondice are weak and still stabilizing. The Djinni may resist for some time, but we can outlast them.”

  Many of the gathered governors had a thoughtful and agreeing look on their faces, but some seemed mostly unbothered. One of the two orange-haired representatives raised a hand. The announcer called out again, “Point recognized, Governor Fanneya of Haasthia. The floor is yours.”

  Kyle was surprised that it was as basic as raising your hand, but it made sense. The man stood up and spoke in a thick lilting accent that somehow came through the magical translation matrix Kyle had been using since his arrival.

  “Your Imperial Majesty, will all provinces of the empire be required to participate in the war effort? The deserts of the Jade Lands are far removed from the Fenlands.” The emperor considered it for a moment, but definitively answered. “All lords nearby must participate of course, but those more than three borders removed from the frontline may participate for spoils. It is not required.”

  The representative sat back down. Another representative in leather armor with unique golden shoulderplates and face paint raised his hand. “Point recognized, governor Jamarys of Tarogentum. The floor is yours.” “For those who send troops, what percentage of the spoils will we get?”

  The Grand Congress continued in such a manner. Kyle suspected that this was a way to demonstrate the Imperial Family’s power over the governors, not just an administrative thing. After all, most of this could have been done by mail. One other question caught Kyle’s attention.

  A man in a purple gambeson and a spherical steel helmet stood. “Point recognized, Lieutenant Governor Inthrackshan. The floor is yours.” After the herald’s call, the man spoke. “Your Eminence, what of the Iron Scourge? They still assault my province with fury and number. Governor Palmstar is unfortunately absent due to the war. Surely diverting the legions to a new front would be devastating to the Southern War.” The emperor responded.

  “I know, Inthrackshan. I have a solution. From what my advisors say, the Pechemvar province is currently undergoing an economic boom-surely they can spare some men to fight the Iron Scourge?”

  Losus rose next. The herald called out, “Point recognized, Governor Losus of Pechemvar. The floor is yours until your objection is taken.” “M’lord, surely men can be drawn from elsewhere? Orcs threaten our eastern border, we surely need the men to fight them…”

  The Emperor looked down on the still rather pitiful man, and spoke with a certain steel that wasn’t in his voice earlier. “You will send your standing army and whatever magical equipment you can gather north to fight the Iron Scourge. This is my word, and my word is law. The Daralians are also sending their renowned shock troops to the region, so do not fear for your success.”

  Losus slumped back onto his seat, and whimpered, “Yes, Your Supreme Effervescence.”

  ————

  Month 4 of the Two Year Plan

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  Huge numbers of people searching for jobs had flooded in from the countryside. After one harvest cycle, farmers had produced more than a few years of farming combined. Kyle’s modern techniques were just that good. The sudden downsizing of many farming outfits in the region had sent the families of farmhands and sharecroppers running to the cities and newly opened factories for work. New housing projects, including the dreaded industrial row house, had sprung up in Altrai to accommodate the influx of people.

  Although Kyle had some 55 percent of the population engaged in manufacturing and the rest in agriculture or the growing service sector, he hoped to build a larger army and reduce the number of farmers.

  In the meantime, Kyle and the army would march northeast to reach the main hotspots of conflict in the region. The 3,000 most willing men had volunteered to join him.

  That would be 3,000 riflemen, one Self Propelled Gun platform, and one Kyle versus an uncountable amount of killer magic spiderbots. Plus the not inconsequential local forces, and these Daralians the emperor was sending to the frontline as well.

  Kyle had bought up countless horses for his men. Not nearly enough for every soldier of course, but their pace was increased greatly as soldiers could be rotated on the animals to increase their overall speed. Eventually, they reached the greater Pirezohn region.

  Villages were abandoned or burnt out, and in the distance the occasional plume of smoke could be seen.

  Most of the men were armed with rifles. Still muzzle loading, but with rifled barrels and high-quality powder. Kyle had skipped straight to bullets, so he expected the guns to test through the robots of the Iron Scourge. Their armor plating was strong but incredibly thin. It really was just plating as well; no special countermeasures or anything, just a thin layer of metal.

  No time like the present to test my new guns.

  —————

  A shadowy figure walked down a long stone hallway. Braziers inset into the walls cast limited light, creating a striped appearance to the halls. The figure reached a door, also made of stone. Runes scrawled across it chaotically, overlaid by a handprint in the middle.

  The figure reached forward, and delicate milk-white fingers reached for the indent. Pressing onto it, the entire door glowed a myriad of colors before sliding silently into the wall. The figure stepped through into a well-appointed office.

  Across from them, a faceless figure sat. Whenever the cloaked visitor tried to look at the man behind the desk, something unconscious in the back of their head pulled their eyes away. To look at the face of the man would be to condemn yourself to a fate worse than death.

  He didn’t speak, but the agent understood his words nonetheless. “Report, initiate.” Removing her hood, the figure revealed herself to be an elf with the typical long blond hair and chalk-white skin. The skin of elves was so sensitive to the sun due its total lack of pigmentation that they never left their forests without full robes.

  “Sir, the Warden Engines send their thanks for your assistance with the attempted breakout on the 7th Layer. Representatives will be sending you payment in artifacts soon. The war against Karvosokth continues apace, although the Veskayan Navy has sent more reinforcements to the Great Memory Reef in recent days. The fishmen are falling back.”

  The faceless man reclined in his seat. “All good news. Anyways, I have your next assignment. A threat to our empire has emerged; you may have seen his steel tools in markets or at worksites. The Parasite-God Ahee sent him here to sow what chaos he can. Kyle Jessek.”

  “What am I to do with him?” “Nothing. Simply observe and report back to me on his activities. Many factions outside of the mortal plane have designs for him, but our lord Parser the Omniscient wants him first.”

  The elf kneeled before the tar-black desk and spoke gravely. “I will not let our lord down, sir. He will do no harm.”