Hal left Isabella's study soon after and almost immediately after he left, the Dane Patroness warped space to take herself directly to the meeting hall where she would be delivering news of their impending take-back of power to the larger part of the Dane family...
A conversation that would include the most controversial detail of it all; A Dystopian connection.
Meanwhile, Hal viewed the battle between his forces at Sapphire city and the forces sent to them by the Silvas... However, he found that there was nothing to see. Not really anyway.
The victor was clear and all that was happening at that point was one-sided bullying by a side that had no interest in taking any prisoners of war.
Once all the lieutenants were killed and the commander saw death relatively early, the complete massacre was only a matter of time.
There were two Abstract Ordinance wielders who were not averse to making use of their Ordinance so what exactly were the chances that any of the enemy forces had?
The victory was expected... The battle surely had its uses, it provided the Blood knights with a lot of blood essence for one, but in all honesty, it was just another passing event and to their credit, there were no exaggerated celebrations.
It was not boring in any way but it was also not groundbreaking.
....
Anyway, what was really noteworthy of it all was how the Silvas would react when it became known that all who they had sent to Sapphire city had been completely eradicated without a single survivor to tell the tale.
Thing is, it did not take long at all for the Silvas to get the message... By not getting a message.
While Ghan never interacted with the Duchy rulers directly and had his orders relayed to him by his base, he was still required to give regular reports on the moves he was making with his squadron... Reports that are always relayed back to the Silvas almost immediately.
All in all, Ghan had reported back to his base when he began his move to this battlefield and by the time it was the evening of that same day, the realization that something might be wrong was quickly setting in.
The protocol was clear and Gahn not delivering a reporting and not responding to calls through his communication Talisman meant he had either deflected or was too injured/dead to report.
In any such situation, his lieutenant would take over, and should he be unable to do so, any member of the squadron should take over the responsibility.
And yet, no single member of the squadron responded to calls...
With lack of information, it hardly mattered whether they were all dead or had all unanimously deflected, the moral remained that the Sapphirine cult was still at large which was made clear by the fact that the Cult was still going strong... In fact, every County in the Silva Duchy was celebrating the Cult's win which had been transmitted to them all.
Chants were being yelled in the streets of every single city (besides the largest one, the Duchy capital) that proclaimed the superiority of the Sapphirine Prince and how he had blessed his fires to be victorious.
Again, the Sapphirine cult, headed by Sapphire city was not attempting to be discreet... They were actively heading to the climax of their conflict with the Silvas and not giving a shit about upsetting them.
And why should they?
When news reached the Silva Duchy palace on the potential annihilation of the force that had been sent, a force that had been led by a mid-stage Cosmic Pagoda realm expert who possessed an Ordinance with the rest of the squadron not being shabby by any means, the realization of how much bigger a threat the cult was, set in... Which is a tad silly as it should have set in long before this but they get a pass with the cult just surpassing expectations.
The Silva Duke was irate and the rise of a cult that seemed to want to take power away from them was certainly not a situation they expected to see... Ever!
Clement Silva, a man who looked to be in his early thirties with handsome features, a well-trimmed and regal beard that was Silver-colored just like the hair on his head, was the Silva Duke.
He had a brooding look on his face and his pale eyes were narrowed with his brows furrowed while he was seated on a makeshift throne in a room that had more to do with lounging and relaxation rather than as a room for meeting and discussing serious issues...
This was not because of a chosen design for his throneroom but rather because this was actually a relaxation zone and not a throne room.
It was where the leader of the Duchy went to chill and it was where he was, with his son, being attended to by maids and servants, that the news got to him.
Before the whole nonsense with the cult began, Clememt and the Silva family as a whole had been focused on the nipping of any hint of a rebellion by the Danes.
Honestly, despite the systemic political put-down that had been going on for five hundred thousand years, the Danes still posed a possible threat and were the only ones who could attempt a take-over.
Anyway, other than knowing that the plans must involve the Doxons thanks to the engagement of Hal Doxon and Melinda Dane, there was not much else known and the Danes had been fairly quiet and docile which was much more worrying as that meant they were being extra careful and not rushing into things... Hence making smaller/no mistakes. They were not being sloppy.
Clement felt the whole thing with the Sapphirine Cult was all out of nowhere and was an annoying distraction to the main focus which should be the Danes.
Alas, he realized he might be facing troubles on two fronts with one being more active at the moment and demanding attention.
"So we send another squadron father... Stronger than the last... I will lead it myself" said Adrien Silva, the Duke's eldest son.
He spoke almost as though to remind his father that he was still in the room which was probably warranted as the Duke was quite lost in his thoughts.
Clement shook his head,
"No, not another squadron. It was foolish that I even sanctioned such a thing in the first place" he said.
"You were only attempting to intimidate them..." Adrien said and his father's eyes snapped up at him,
"Do not explain my own reasoning to me boy... I know the reason for my own actions! Or are you of the mind that I am so short of memory?" the Duke said in a firm voice oozing with authority and Adrien was quick to bow,
"I apologize father" he said and after a few seconds of silence as though to better drive home just how in the wrong he had been with his words, The Duke then waved his hand and used a gentle force to make him upright once again.
"Another squadron is useless, especially one of that size... It's just clunky and barely gets the intimidation across compared to a more compact group.
I went for quantity as opposed to quality... That was my mistake.
A small group of Saints and Semi-Saints should do just fine and as you were ready to volunteer to lead another intimidation expedition, you should be part of this small but efficient group." Clement said and Adrien's face split with a smile.
"I will not let you down," he said and bowed once again but this time, it was not to offer an apology but rather to express his delight at doing something that would please his father.
p
He might not have been the sort of father to hold his son's hand every step of the way but he had surely had enough of a hand in his formative years to talk credit in how well he turned as well as take pride in calling Adrien a younger version of himself.
When sending saints and Semi-Saints to the root of an insurrection, Clement found felt that having his son be a part of it all was a no-brainer.
"Besides Adeline, you are my most promising child. Pierre is a failure and will likely forever remain so but I trust you will see just how much success will have a tell on future roles and responsibilities you are given.
That said, I hope you have the good sense to gauge when retreat is necessary. So far, this cult has been surprising and apparently possesses more powerful experts as well as means than we could have expected.
Caution is required" Clement said to which Adrien replied,
"I am ready. All will be well, father, I will make you proud"
The small group was organized and every single one of the twenty men and women picked all had close ties with the Duchy palace which apparently did even more for their credibility in regards to strength.
The strongest of them were One-Star Saints with the weakest (who were in the larger numbers) being at the Peak of the Cosmic Semi-Saint realm.
The group that was quick to board an Express Teleportation circle to be on their way to the Kirsten Barony, was small but the power they possessed likely eclipsed that of the combined two thousand or more that had been sent in the first place... That said, the Duke was still holding back.
However, he was not holding back because he underestimated the cult but rather because Saints and Semi-Saints were precious resources to be used sparingly and he genuinely believed, upon intense thinking, that those he sent out were enough.
Unknown to him and backing his decision, come noon the next day, those precious resources would prove their worth... More or less.
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