Second World

"Still, even if they are no longer the leader of the seven main countries, they are still a proud race," Alfredo said. "I'm afraid they won't just let this slide."

"I won't worry too much about them," John said.

The others turned to him.

John continued, "We all know Master had taken over Liguritudum. I'm sure he will be making his moves soon. When he does, it will be Hydrurond who regrets not making more allies."

As he was saying, he operated the monarch system to show the world map.

"Hydrurond Dominion was the only country that bordered everyone else. They are smacked right in the middle of everybody. In a peaceful period, this position is the most beneficial to have. They are the hub where everyone had to go through with trades and everything else. But during wartime, this position is a nightmare. They have too many fronts to defend. Without securing alliances, they will have to worry about all sides. And because this country is at the center, this will also be Master's main target for expansion. We are right on the opposite side of Liguritudum. Master has to go through Hydrurond before coming at us."

"Even if we have to worry about them, we still can't let them step on us like that!" Jack declared. "We have our pride. I want to ally with other countries to face Master, but that doesn't mean I will sacrifice our dignity!"

"Well said, Your Majesty!" Alfredo praised.

"You are taking this king role rather seriously," John said.

"This is not a role, man. I AM king. I have to act like it," Jack said.

"Well, a king usually just stays in his castle enjoying stuff."

"A king stays in his castle ruling, don't you mean?" Thaergood said.

"That's just what the stories say. Don't trust that bullshit," John returned.

"Uh... I'm not good with the staying part," Jack said. He then asked the others, "Is there anything else? If not, I will rest and take my leave tomorrow morning."

"If you want to leave, how about you go to Palgrost?" John proposed. "It's one of the two countries that are friendly to us. Different from Sangrod, we don't have a secret bad blood with them. They are our first choice for an alliance. You said you want to act like a king, right? Then act like one. Make a state visit to Palgrost and deepen our relationship, just like what you do when you went to Verremor. Sending gifts is well, but personal visits always leave a better impression. It's your job as a king to build relationships. Not just with your vassals, but with other countries as well."

"Damn it! I hate it when you act like a proper counselor. Where is the cynical John we all love?"

John shrugged. "This is me being cynical. I know you hate this forced socialization, that's why I ask you to do it."

"Damn you! Fine, I'll send a message requesting a state visit," Jack operated the monarch system again and used the Foreign Overview to send the message to Palgrost.

"I asked for the time of the visit to be after our monthly meeting," Jack said. "I will return then and if the president of Palgrost agreed to our requested state visit, we will head to Palgrost after our meeting."

"Don't go somewhere where you are completely uncontactable or where you can't come back when needed," John said. "I might need you several days from now."

"Oh? What is it about? Is there an emergency?"

"I can't be sure yet. If it turns out as I expected, I will call you," John said, and then warned Jack again, "Prepare to return at a moment's notice!"

"The hell, man? Then you shouldn't have proposed I make a state visit. What if whatever emergency you have coincides with the time of the state visit?"

"Then you just send a message telling them that we postpone our visit," John said nonchalantly.

Jack could only shake his head.

"You still didn't address His Majesty with his proper title," Thaergood admonished John.

John turned to Jack and asked, "Do you want me to call you Your Majesty?"

Jack thought for a bit before answering, "Nah. It's gonna be truly weird coming from your mouth."

John turned back to Thaergood and shrugged. Now it was Thaergood who shook his head.

That night, Jack sent a message to Four Winds, expressing his interest to buy the mithril ores from the mines they had captured. Four Winds said they needed those ores as well. He said, if they had collected a good number, he would consider parting with some.

*

The next morning, Jack left. He didn't use the portal, though. Instead, he just left from inside his chamber, the same way he left when he was Verremor's guest in Mjiku Maba.

He crossed through the plane with Pandora and arrived back to the landscape of black and red that was characteristic of the underworld.

"You know, this makes me think," Jack said to Peniel. "When we are trapped inside Greed's sanctum, can I use Pandora to cross through the planes like this?"

"We don't know how strong the barrier of Greed's sanctum is. But considering that the Recall Plate managed to bring you out, it's safe to say that Pandora can do it too."

"Then why didn't you tell me that when we are trapped?" Jack scolded.

"Because crossing planes requires a lot of energy. You were not her permanent rider then. She won't do it for you just because you ask her to!" Peniel scolded back.

"It's not because you forget about it, is it?" Jack said, to which Peniel just harrumphed and looked away.

Jack didn't dwell on the topic. He changed the subject, "You said crossing planes required a lot of energy? Does this mean Pandora can't do this constantly?"

"Yeah. She needs one day of rest before she can take you back to the upworld," Peniel replied. Pandora made a nod confirming the fairy's word.

"This is even after she upgraded," Peniel added. "Before, she needed three days rest in between each crossing."

'I hope whatever John's emergency is, it isn't happening today,' Jack said in his mind.