Around the Round Table, kings and queens, emperors and empresses sat in tense silence. The obsidian table reflected the torchlight, casting fractured patterns on the marble walls.
High Chancellor Kirigaya stood at the head of the table, his emerald eyes sharp beneath the glow of the chandelier. His expression was calm, but the weight of the room settled heavily on his shoulders as he opened the first session.
The introductions were brief and direct—an acknowledgment of the new rulers attending the Round Table for the first time. A total of five new kings and four queens were present, including the newly crowned King of Hethia.
Hethia had broken free from the Distia Empire when this new king was still a baby. Now, at eighteen, the young king sat three seats down from me—a tall, composed figure with sharp gray eyes and a quiet confidence that belied his age. He had inherited a kingdom stained with the scars of rebellion and civil war.
I had made a trade agreement with his father a year after I took the throne—when Drakseid was still struggling to recover from the chaos of Fort Gehena's fall. His father had been a hard but fair man. His death was a loss to the continent. Today, I would look after his son in his honor.
The introductions ended quickly. Kirigaya's gaze swept over the table, his smile thin as he raised a slender hand. The hall quieted.
"The first matter on the agenda," Kirigaya said smoothly, "concerns trade and the monetary system."
The polished wooden doors at the far end of the hall opened with a low creak. A tall figure entered the room—a man draped in a dark purple coat embroidered with gold. His black hair was slicked back, and his sharp amber eyes glinted beneath the soft light. He walked with a slow, measured grace, his cane tapping lightly against the marble floor.
Ark K. Doyle— the Merchant of Death.
He was the wealthiest man on the continent—a man who dabbled in everything profitable and anything that could be turned into money. Weapons, ships, spices, slaves—nothing was off limits if the price was right. He trusted no one but himself—and gold.
And to make matters worse, he was the head of the Merchant Guild.
Doyle's thin lips curved into a faint smile as he approached the table. His gaze flicked toward me briefly before sliding toward Kirigaya.
"My Lords and Ladies," Doyle said smoothly, his voice cutting through the air like a blade wrapped in silk. "Shall we begin?"
Doyle sat down at the empty seat next to the Queen of the Sapphire Empire. His cane rested neatly beside him. His amber eyes glinted beneath the soft candlelight.
"We have a problem," Doyle began, his tone sharp but calm. "Trade across Vermanyan has been declining steadily over the past five years. Pirates roams the eastern seas, driving up the cost of maritime trade. The Distia Empire's civil war has fractured the southern trade routes, and even the central markets are seeing shortages. And bandits run free between towns and cities."
"And what," the Queen of the Sapphire Empire said coldly, "do you propose?"
Doyle's smile didn't falter.
"I propose efficiency," Doyle said. "And consolidation."
"Consolidation?" Thorin, the Dwarven King, grunted. His red eyes glinted beneath his thick brows. "Sounds like a fancy way of saying you want a monopoly."
Doyle chuckled softly. "Not a monopoly. A coordinated effort."
"Speak plainly," I said, my tone sharp.
Doyle's gaze slid toward me. "The solution is simple. Establish a single trade authority for all major routes—managed by independent agents. Trade will be taxed at a flat rate—regulated and protected by a shared naval fleet and cavalry."
The room stiffened.
"A shared army?" Vanas L. Distia—the Ruthless Tyrant—spoke for the first time. His gaze was cold. "And who, exactly, would control this army?"
"The army would be neutral," Doyle replied. "Command shared among the largest contributors."
"And the profits?" Thorin's eyes narrowed.
"Divided proportionally," Doyle answered smoothly. "Those who invest more, profit more."
"And the laws?" the Queen of Sapphire pressed.
"An elected council," Doyle said. "A representative from each of the major powers."
"A council controlled by merchants," Vanas scoffed.
Doyle's smile sharpened. "Merchants understand trade better than kings."
I leaned back slightly. "And what would you gain from this, Doyle?"
"Only the satisfaction of seeing the continent's wealth grow."
"Bullshit," Thorin muttered.
Doyle's smile widened faintly.
"Access," Kirigaya said suddenly, his gaze sharp. "He wants priority access to the trade routes."
Doyle's eyes glinted. "Astute as always, High Chancellor."
"And if someone decides not to participate?" I asked.
Doyle's smile didn't fade. "Then they'll find themselves at a disadvantage when others control the trade routes."
"Blackmail," Thorin growled.
"Leverage," Doyle corrected.
The room darkened slightly. A low hum of tension filled the air.
Kirigaya's gaze swept across the table. "And who would manage this trade authority?"
"I have… suggestions." Doyle's smile sharpened.
"Of course you do," I muttered.
The doors creaked open. A red paladin strode in, his polished armor gleaming beneath the magical lights. He dropped to one knee.
"I bring urgent news that concerns members of the Round Table."
Kirigaya's eyes sharpened. "Speak."
"The Kingdom of Drakseid's army has just re-captured Fort Gehena and taken over the province of Verdune after wiping out their two days ago."
The room stiffened.
Doyle's amber eyes flicked toward me. Vanas's expression darkened. The Queen of Sapphire's silver nails tapped against the table—once, twice, a soft metallic sound that echoed through the room.
I leaned back slightly. "I warned you that Drakseid was not the same kingdom you once knew."
"Casualties?" Vanas pressed.
The paladin's voice was steady. "No dead from Drakseid Army. Only wounds."
Doyle's smile didn't fade. "Impressive. And the enemy leaders?"
"Captured and crucified outside the fort."
A heavy silence followed.
"Terms of surrender?" Vanas asked.
"There are none," I said coldly. "It's a warning."
Doyle's smile sharpened. "Efficient."
"Necessary," I replied.
Doyle's amber eyes gleamed. "Drakseid's strength has certainly… returned."
"Drakseid's strength has been evolved. We are stronger now," I said.
A ripple of unease passed through the room. Even the Queen of Sapphire's gaze lingered on me.
Doyle's gaze sharpened. "And how did you manage such a clean victory?"
I smiled faintly. "That information is with my son."
"He's only ten," the Queen of Sapphire said coldly.
I smiled thinly. "It would be unwise to underestimate him."
The members of the Round Table were bewildered with this and they started to make a fuss.
"Order!" Kirigaya shouted as his gaze swept across the table. "Shall we proceed to the next matter?"
Everyone kept quiet.
"Indeed," Doyle said, breaking the silence with his tone light. But his gaze lingered on me for a moment longer.
The game had just begun.