January 5, 1694
The council reconvened in the royal palace, the morning sun casting long shadows over the chamber as King Bruno stood at the head of the table. The preparations for Elysea's expansion into the Black Continent had begun, but now, the real work of intelligence gathering, strategic planning, and resource allocation had to be set in motion.
Bruno's gaze swept over his advisors—Antoine Leclerc, Jean-Baptiste Moreau, and Captain Vallier—all of whom had been tasked with gathering preliminary information about the Empire of Tunis and its surrounding regions. Reports had trickled in over the past week, giving them a broader understanding of the empire's internal politics, economic dependencies, and military strengths.
Bruno took a deep breath and leaned forward. "Give me an update. Where do we stand?"