The Cost of Arrogance
The silence of the palace halls faded into a low murmur of voices as Vallen stepped into the room where the Generals were already gathered around the central table, their faces grim and tired, marked by the weight of the empire's future.
The plan Vallen had laid out seemed almost impossible to execute at least, that's what the others in the room thought. Attacking the Panjam Mountain would certainly mean heavy casualties, and they all knew it.
General Corvinus was the first to voice his concerns, studying the map with a furrowed brow.
"General, if we look at the approach to the Panjam Mountains," He pointed at the map, "the terrain is fairly easy until the legion reaches Étsien City." He tapped the map at Étsien. "From there, we'll face heavy resistance. We're confident that they haven't left it unguarded. At least a thousand, maybe two thousand soldiers are stationed there, more than enough to delay our advance."
Vallen stepped closer to the large table, covered with maps and battle plans. He knew full well that this operation would be no simple task.
"Well, that's the part giving me a headache too." He admitted, lighting a cigarette. "We can't bypass them, the terrain is too open, and the Skill I plan to use only makes us invisible for five minutes. After that, I'd need a full day to recover." He blew a cloud of smoke, which slowly drifted over the map.
The generals exchanged glances, deep in thought, while the ministers seated in the room made no effort to hide their displeasure with the plan.
"You do realize that you'll lose hundreds, perhaps thousands of men in this personal gambit of yours." One of the ministers spoke up from her plush velvet chair, lounging as if he were royalty. Her dismissive tone irritated even General Corvinus, despite his own reservations about Vallen's plan.
"Do you know the oath our soldiers swear?" Corvinus asked coldly, pulling a cigarette from his coat.
"I'm the Minister of Education, not some common soldier." The woman replied with a mocking smile, crossing his legs as he spoke.
Corvinus pushed away from the table, walking directly up to her. Without warning, he grabbed her by the collar, pulling her from his seat.
"Then get out before I cut your throat and let you bleed out." Corvinus hissed into his ear, throwing her back into his chair.
"How dare you?!" The minister stood up on her own this time, pulling out her official seal from her pocket and thrusting it toward General Corvinus. "I am a minister of the Imperium! One of its pillars! I serve the Emperor himself, and you are nothing but a nobody beneath me—"
"You're just the Emperor's puppet." Vallen cut her off, blowing smoke directly in his face. "A puppet to make it seem like the Emperor's not a dictator."
"How dare you—" The minister started again, face flushed with anger.
"Remember your place, Jenna." Another minister, who had remained silent until now, interrupted her calmly. "You may be a minister, but Vallen Casuss, the man standing before you, is the Imperial General, the Emperor's sword and commander of the entire army. He outranks you in every way and could have your head at any moment." He sipped his tea with a smirk.
"Jenna? Who are you to call me—"
"I am the new Minister of Military Affairs." He declared, rising to his full height, towering over everyone in the room. "I've taken the place of Lekon Zahin, whom our Emperor executed for his incompetence." His voice was deep and commanding, capturing the attention of all present. "I fail to understand why the Minister of Education is present at a military council, nor do I comprehend the others' presence." His gaze swept across the room, dismissively regarding the other ministers. "So I kindly request that you leave before your arrogance leads to your death." The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, and the other ministers shifted uncomfortably in their seats, taken aback by his audacity. "This is a matter of life and death, and we cannot afford distractions from those who do not understand the realities of warfare. Your presence here is a liability, and I will not tolerate it."
He straightened, looking down at the ministers, relishing the fear and surprise etched on their faces. "Now, leave, or I will have you removed." The threat was palpable, and it was clear he would not hesitate to enforce it.
The ministers exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, one of the older ministers, a man with graying hair and a weary expression, stood up.
"While I appreciate your position, Minister, this is still a council that involves the governance of the Imperium. We all serve the Imperium, and our insights—"
"Insights?" The new minister interrupted. "You think your insights on education and agriculture are relevant in a discussion about war? Your concerns should lie elsewhere."
Another minister, a young woman with fiery red hair, stepped forward, her defiance clear. "Perhaps you should remember that we are all part of this empire, and it's our duty to contribute to every aspect of its survival, not just military strategy. Your threats may intimidate the unworthy, but we will not cower simply because you occupy a new seat."
The towering minister's expression darkened at her defiance. "You misjudge my intent, Minister. I am not here to intimidate; I am here to ensure our victory. You might see your roles as important, but in the face of death, they hold little weight."
"Enough!" Vallen crushed his cigarette into the ashtray, his calm demeanor replaced with barely contained frustration at the bickering ministers. "Anyone with no ties to the military should leave, because my patience is wearing thin."
The Minister of Infrastructure, a stout man with an air of superiority, leaned back in his chair, a smirk creeping across his face.
"Oh, how charming, General. You think your little outburst can intimidate us?" He said, overthrowing the fact that Vallen in every aspect holds a higher position in the hierarchy than him, he only saw the young man before him.
"Guards!" Vallen shouted, and the doors swung open to reveal two imposing Royal Guards, their armor gleaming under the palace lights.
"At your command, sir." They bowed their heads respectfully.
"Take these nobodies to the Emperor. Inform His Majesty that they pissed me off." He ordered, his voice cold.
"How dare you speak—" One of the ministers began, but it was too late. The guard grabbed her as if she were a mere straw doll. "Let me go!" She screamed, falling to the floor like it was a safe spot but the guard grabbed her long hair, dragging him toward the door. The sight was enough to make the other ministers hastily exit the room on their own.
Her desperate cries echoed in the vast marble hallway, resonating through the palace until the loud creaking of the throne room doors silenced them.
"Now in this quiet, let's think about the solution for Etsien." Vallen said while lit another cigarette, while everybody looked satisfied with what just happened.
"Forgive me." Corvinus said, kneeling before Vallen, much to his surprise.
"What?" Vallen asked.
"I only acted because of your Imperial General rank." Corvinus admitted, a hint of fear creeping into his voice.
"Oh, so you were merely exploiting me?" Vallen replied, and Corvinus lowered his head, his embarrassment palpable. "Just joking. I despise these people as well. Stand with me, General, and let's find a solution about Étsien."
Meanwhile, in the throne room, the guards continued to drag the minister by his hair, prompting a look of genuine astonishment from the Emperor.
"What does this mean?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Your Majesty," one of the guards replied, kneeling in respect. "We acted on the orders of General Vallen Casuss. He wishes to inform Your Majesty that these ministers have upset him."
The Emperor's expression hardened as he surveyed the scene before him.
"Upset, you say?"
"Yes your Majesty, while standing guard in front of the military council, I overheard these ministers being arrogant and questioned General Corvinus and General Vallen authority and power, saying that they are nothing compared to them."
The ministers trembled under the Emperor's gaze, their bodies quaking with fear as he loomed over them like a colossus.
"Don't worry too much." He said, his laughter echoing ominously through the throne room. "Just leave and think about what you did wrong." Panic flickered in their eyes, and they scrambled to their feet, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the Emperor's wrath as they hurried out of the throne room.
As soon as the doors closed behind them, the Emperor's expression hardened.
"Behead them and send the body parts to all the ministers as a reminder of what happens when they disrespect Vallen Casuss."