Not letting the moment pass, he snapped back. "So, having your people with powers enough to destroy the Confederation of Tarna is not enough of a proof but just an accusation!?"
A man broke the back and forth, he too was in the vicinity of the emperor. "Just because the nations and kingdoms of the continent of Tarna chooses to hide cata from its own people for centuries does not mean the ones who rule them aren't aware of it and does not utilize it." A silent conversation passed between the man and the woman having crimson chrome eyes.
Catching himself from uttering another curse word, Anaphol considered what he has experienced. His face lightened under a realization.
He spoke softly, "I have met more people using cata or aware of it," his voice rose in tempo and volume, "I am considered a fairly good bounty hunter and not a killer. A bounty hunter who hunts caestres. While she is my first human kill. It is not the first I have seen. And those did not end up with me coming across people who could use some weird magic." He freed his left arm too, and grabbed on his ride's handle.
"Your ignorance is not your fault. It's the fault of the nation for having not provided you a school," the same woman with crimson chrome eyes said as she side-eyed her fellow imperial council member.
'They know.' Not losing his line of thought, Naph continued. "The fact that killing her made me a bigger target than the number of kills I have made against caestres speaks that-" He attempted at finding what he was thinking.
"You have accused this empire while the ones you put on the pedestal are mere citizens of ours." She moved a step ahead.
Instinctively, the same man called out. "Lady Izne."
The woman stopped. Her chest rose and fell.
Anaphol found back his line of thought, he still added this exact moment to be asked of to himself. "That even her body is of more value than saving Sevenren is." Remembering that Don Extea returned without Bulwark's head, he added. "And her head was taken in. I don't know why a dead body's head will be of any importance back then, but now after the battle in Island of Monite, I don't believe so."
The man once again cut in, "Rambling what has happened to you does not present us reason. Guards-"
"If so, then why would they want me dead? If so, why were there people who showed interest in getting her body? If so, why was my bounty hunter middleman demanding I cross the ocean?"
The last question got everyone's attention. If a pin were to drop, it would be too loud for the now. Yet, a whisper stabbed in, "Someone told him to cross the ocean?"
Even Cryst, Nert, Dykur, Svnyo, Litto and Ovier showed visible concern on that fact.
Lady Izne's eyes narrowed. "What else had the person asked of you…or told you?"
'So, that gets there attention.' Naph noticed.
Albeit none noticed that the emperor's eyes also did narrow for a split. Not even his audience who constantly stared at him.
Anaphol pouncing on gaining attention. "The same man is right now helping in the battle that's happening in Sevenren. He is more than just a person who helps out. He cares. For Sevenren."
"Which battle of Sevenren do you refer to?"
An insouciant voice filled the grand hall. To Naph it sounded the same as the one who greeted him. He searched up in the galleries, when he did he saw everyone looking at one single spot of the grand hall.
The Emperor of the Keyriftrian Empire.
Swallowing his spit, he was about to ask. Lady Izne addressed the Emperor as she spun towards him.
"Brother Stelart, please the proposal is preposterous and not ready. Let me show it to you."
Emperor Stelart Keyriftrian simply shifted his head slightly, his eyes fell on his elder sister-in-law Izne Hont Keyriftrian.
Izne lowered her head. Understanding the intention, she turned back to Anaphol. "Anaphol, please elaborate what has that person told you after the battle in Sevenren began?"
Anaphol not falling to answer any asked his own question. "So, why did you Majesty Stelart make an illusion that you were not the one who welcomed me?" Anaphol believed wholeheartedly that this was intentional.
Lady Izne spoke. "Address the emperor as Emperor Keyriftrian, for guests you haven't earned a favor to have him on first name basis. Please answer our question if you wish to have one to yours."
Emperor Stelart softly said, "Which Sevenren?"
Anaphol's eyes, cheek and eyebrows had visible shifts indicating the realization.
"A-a battle is happening in the entirety of the territory of Sevenren!" He turned to face accusatorily at Svnyo and the others. 'They knew didn't they?'
"I guess that answers that," Emperor Stelart mellowed out, "so you only wish to have the city of Sevenren be saved?"
"NO!" Naph screamed back turning, he skipped several steps he had considered taking earlier. "I want all of Sevenren be saved and I have a proposal!"
Lady Izne's lips quivered. The man who had cut in her colloquy had his eyes pinned at her side.
Stelart nodded.
Anaphol continued receiving affirmation. "I propose that the Territory of Sevenren be colonized by the Keyriftrian Empire. In exchange, you will gain all of the bounty hunters loyalty."
'Please, Extea if this goes through help me in that.' Naph prayed.
Emperor Stelart turned to gaze at his sister-in-law. Lady Izne peeked back, coughed and stated.
"This Empire will not gain much by just that. It is of no value."
Desperate he gave a higher exchange he couldn't guarantee, "I will guarantee that you have access to the local mines!"
Lady Izne shook her head.
"The man I speak of and myself will get you access to the caestre buried below the city of Sevenren." Threw in what he considered to be possible he could get.