"I guess I'll just ask my maids,"

…

"Do you know what it is?" I asked my maids, who intently stared at the giant black ball, which I assumed to be some sort of monster core.

That was the only thing I could hypothesize.

"It's… a material which we could definitely use to make good armor… but what it is? I don't really know,"

Even my maids were confused, so I decided to let this thing sit at the edge of the camp, only to be watched by a few guards as I still didn't trust it.

It kind of looked like the same material which made the armor for the dark elves, so I was still very wary.

Didn't want something like that going on a rampage in the midst of our camp. Everything would have to be rebuilt, and that would just be a pain in the ass.

…

A few more days passed, and the recon corps had come back completely untouched nor shaken, meaning they completed their task without much trouble.

"We're back, Commander," The new recruit said, but I couldn't really call her a new recruit now as she was leading one of the most important corps in my army.

"Good work, Captain," I said, and I could see a smile perk up slightly on her face… she was just way too cute.

"Thank you very much," She said, and I soon had her sit down at my personal table within my cabin.

My maids served her some tea as she didn't like coffee, and soon, she spilled everything that I needed to know.

First of all, the fire giants were already prepared to tear down the wall. But, they also aren't aware of our presence, meaning we could possibly sneak attack them if possible.

But, there is also the fact that dark elves have infiltrated the dukedom already and are just awaiting orders for them to slaughter everybody.

"And where did you hear this information?"

"From one of the generals we were spying on," She replied.

"I see… Okay, well, our priority is eradicating the incoming army. If the dukedom is even just a bit capable, they should be able to shut down the dark elves quickly," I muttered, but all of a sudden, a deeper voice spoke up.

It was the same tundra snake that we had saved, the one I received a unicorn from, and the one that Cora is unable to let go of.

At the end of the cabin, we had our two beds and a rocking chair, and there was the dark blue tundra snake with Cora snuggled up right next to her.

"The dukedom is as incapable as you think. Think of the worst, and that is what will happen… trust me," She said.

"Before I ask anything else, can I know your name? I never got it,"

"Tiana," She replied, and I felt my heart almost jump out of my chest, and my eyes instinctively went cold.

"What's wrong?" The captain asked, and I quickly woke up from my discreet shocked trance as I was still a bit traumatized by the word Tiana.

I wasn't going to run away, but I did have the urge to kill her. Slaughter her and maybe torture her at least…

"Tiana… Do you think you could handle it then? I'll lend you some of my support, and you may even use my name to get your way. But, if you ever become corrupted, I'll rip you out from the fresh soil I gave you,"

"Are you telling me to go back to my family and conquer it? That's much harder than you think," She replied.

"Well, you're gonna have to do it," I said, and the woman's face crumpled a bit as my rude words tickled the ends of her brain.

"Why are you being such an asshole now?"

I squinted my eyes at her for a second before calming myself down. In the first place, she didn't even look like Tiana, so I knew I was just being an asshole.

As soon as I let out a long breath, I said,

"Please, I'll lend you a favor in the future," I said, making a quick offer that I knew she wouldn't be able to deny.

"Lend me three favors, and I'll agree," She said, but that was way too many.

"Two, and I'm not going any higher," I rebutted.

"Fine. Two favors in the future and I'll do this, but if things get sketchy, I'm pulling out immediately, got it?"

"Of course,"

We had made a deal, and we discussed the logistics and plan of what she would have to do, which was going to be pretty hard, considering she had to deal with her asshole family.

But, my name has already been long spread, and I even gave her a fake crest I made up on the spot.

It was a snake with two wings which pretty much summed up my entire existence, so if she needed proof, the proof was right there.

"I'll lend you fifty men and take over your family, even if it means killing them. I need you to become the core of the dukedom so do whatever you need to accomplish this goal," I said, and the woman soon left the cabin, Cora sleeping peacefully in the rocking chair.

"Anyway… Commander, these are quite the strong maids you have here," The captain attempted to keep the conversation going.

"Well, they are mine, of course, so they have to be strong. And… you haven't seen their full power yet, so you should be expecting much more,"

"Will do,"

Soon, I dismissed her and laid back in my chair, feeling my maid of death begin to give my tight neck a massage.

"Mistress, I can sense you are lonely. Are we not enough?" My maid asked, and I slowly bent my head backward to look her in the eyes.

"No, you all are great, but... I miss Mia very much… I'm also worried she might not even be alive. In fact, my sisters might not be alive. They could be dead right now for all I care, and here I am… stuck in this ice-cold plane,"

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