An hour later, the main war room of the Iron Citadel was filled with the tense energy of opposing military and royal factions.
The Military Intelligence Department (MID), represented by the stone faced General Stonehard and the sharply uniformed Major Elara Voss, occupied one side of the long mahogany table.
The Royal Intelligence Department (RID), occupying the other side, was led by Director Seraphina 'The Silk' Thorne. Seraphina was a slender woman in her mid-forties, dressed in simple, flowing lavender robes that screamed 'aristocratic leisure' but held a hidden network of protective and surveillance spells.
She was accompanied by Lord Alistair of House Vex, the kingdom's foremost expert on noble lineages and magical families.
Director Seraphina leaned back, a faint, condescending smile gracing her lips. "Major Voss, the drama of a 'Tier-One Rowan Protocol' seems a tad… overblown. The man had five fiancées, all of whom left him. They were the kingdom's best chance at securing his loyalty. Now he has children. It merely simplifies the chain of command, does it not? He now has five clear motivations to stick to his simple life. He wouldn't go rogue."
General Stonehard's face darkened, instantly locking horns with the RID's cavalier attitude. "Simple life, Director? These are the potential heirs of the kingdom's most powerful Magicknight. This is a matter of genetic security. We need to know what capabilities these children possess, given the background of their mothers!"
Elara smoothly intervened, taking control of the presentation. Her voice, a perfect blend of professional urgency and theatrical gravitas, cut through the rising tension. "Let's review the five primary targets. The information is scant because all five women, despite their prominence, deliberately avoided long-term surveillance."
She tapped the holographic map, bringing up the first profile.
"First is Artemis Minos. From a minor farming house. Ascended to Master-level Swordswoman at 29. Highly nomadic. Peak physical prowess. Pure, non-magical combat mastery. Untrackable movement patterns.
Based on limited interactions our agents have had with her in the last couple of years, her daughter is named Lilliana, nicknamed Lilly. She should be 7. "
Elara paused and then made sure everyone got it and then continued.
"She left Rowan with a note about her sword being dulled. She is likely the easiest to contain, given her lack of magical defenses. However, she is a ghost. We have not had a confirmed sighting in three years."
Lord Alistair was the first to respond.
"She's a commoner. Her child is the least of our worries. She presents zero political threat."
"But her future potential should be high. Both her parents are physical monsters and masters of the sword. It would be strange if she didn't inherit some of those traits." the General added.
The room went silent, so Elara moved on.
"Nexia Lunecroft. Our most dangerous target. Master of Ravenhold Tower, an ancient, secluded lineage of potent witches. Her skills include Potioncraft, transmutation, magical infiltration, and manipulation.
She is volatile and unpredictable. She is not governed by typical political or military doctrine as the tower holds political immunity due to its ancient and current contributions.
Her potions can mimic any effect, from invisibility to localized arcane storms. Her daughter, Alexia, is also seven. The two eldest children are the same age."
This time, Director Seraphina was the first to add her thoughts.
"Nexia is a key asset to the kingdom, not a threat. Her research on mana infused plants is vital to the Royal Academy. She left because she believed Rowan's simple life was 'intellectually stunting.' If she's back, it's for a new resource or an experiment.
Alexia is likely a prodigy. I suggest we offer her a full sponsorship to the Mage Tower immediately."
The royal family and its aligned nobles are entities that have long benefited from the existence of Nexia and her excellent creations. Her potions have helped with their health, longevity, and training of soldiers.
As such, the RID would never antagonize Nexia and her tower. They were allies and important business partners. They would definitely offer some benefits and care to the daughter of such a lineage.
The general, on the other hand, was completely against such acts.
"Absolutely not! We do not allow uncontrolled arcane users into the capital! Alexia is a massive security risk. Her mother must have taught her those strange, arcane arts. We must monitor the witch's daughter from a distance. We cannot bring such a potential threat into our heartland."
"Calm down, general. You can't say such things about a good friend of the kingdom. Though I do agree we should monitor her a little before making contact." Lord Alistair mediated.
Seraphina nodded in agreement. She was wondering right now about why their important ally wouldn't let them know about having a daughter. Then again, the kingdom is a risky place with many factions so she might still not trust us that well.
"Next, Lina Gray. She is an accounting employee at a major food retailer. She has an extremely poor background and is obsessed with optimization and upward mobility. Her son, Alex, is six." Elara revealed the next woman.
"She left because Rowan's finances were 'illogical' and 'under-optimized.' Her family is obsessed with upward mobility. The child Alex is six, most likely Rowan's first son and logical heir." Alistair was more of a traditional man who thought the eldest son should inherit most or all.
"This is a non-issue. She's just an accountant. She has primary value except for having birthed a child of an elite. Her child, Alex, is the one with value as Rowan's bloodline." The general was also a conservative man like Alistair.
"Lina Gray presents the lowest overall threat level. She is a working-class woman who seeks a stable future for her son. We should ensure she has no financial burden. That will get us some goodwill." Director Seraphina stated a similar viewpoint as the rest.
But inside her mind, there was something else lurking. Seraphina's inner thought was a cold, silent disagreement. Lina Gray was indeed a low-level accountant, but Seraphina's own intelligence network had noted odd, brief contacts between Lina and several highly-placed, unaligned foreign operatives.
This woman is not powerful, but she is a valuable, silent listening post. Information I would never share with you crazy folk. You would arrest her on the spot. "The quiet ones always see the most," Better to let them stay quiet. Seraphina thought, maintaining her dismissive facade.
With that said, Elara moved on to the fourth woman. "Yue Ling. A high-ranking officer and powerful martial artist of the All-Woman Order of Shuhua. Her son, Darius, is six."She left Rowan believing his focus on a local farm was 'too soft'."
Seraphina nodded and added her bit of knowledge as well.
"Shuhua, like the Bluecrown Kingdom, is severely impacted by the drought and is a key partner in the urgent, multi-nation plan to establish a long distance food import trade route. Her Order's surveying knowledge is essential to securing this route."
"Shuhua's participation in the crucial import trade route is paramount to regional stability. Yue Ling's presence near Rowan, a former high-ranking commander, offers an informal communication channel." she continued.
"We must leverage her martial prowess and the prestige of the Shuhuan Order, to aid the trade route's security. We will offer her a temporary joint logistics command post focused on route integrity and securing her son's future in the trade administration, thereby cementing Shuhua's cooperation without raising diplomatic alarms." Alistair suggested.
All of this talk about the importance of another nation really got the nationalist general boiling inside but he couldn't argue. Though they had skirmishes and small battles against Shuhua and even directly against Yue herself, times were changing.
The drought has created an unprecedented crisis for the nation and if Shuhua can help their nation, he is willing to suck his anger in.
"The All-Woman Order values power and influence. Yue Ling's move is a highly effective, if unconventional, diplomatic placement to ensure Shuhua's interests are protected in the new trade agreement negotiations. That martial arts addict must have done this on purpose. You must keep an eye on her."
Even though he was holding it in, Stonehard had to at least tell these nobles to be vigilant. He once thought that Yue Ling was purely brawn and no brains, but she might be more cunning than he thought.
Serphina nodded at the man's words and agreed with him.
"Her son, Darius, represents a future bond. We must secure her loyalty through mutual benefit. We will grant her unofficial diplomatic security status and a consultancy role advising on the long distance import route's vulnerability to banditry, reinforcing the perception that her presence is solely for regional economic stability.
Of course, that way we can also put in some more capable agents to watch her."
With that, what to do with the martial artist from next door was also settled. All that was left was possibly the most dangerous of all.
So Elara cleared her throat one more time and presented the information.
"Cheryl Ichor Von Bloodsworth. Our most volatile element. Her daughter, Lucia, is most likely five. Cheryl is the youngest daughter of the most powerful noble house that exists in the distant Ironsong Empire. Her departure was due to a 'lack of appropriate ambiance' on the farm."
"The Bloodsworths are old money, so old that they predate our own kingdoms thousands of years old history, Major. We need them on our side during this drought." Alistair said with a somewhat scared and reverent expression.
"The Ironsong Empire has the best navy and maritime trade routes on the continent. The child Lucia is now the youngest of such a powerful clan. She is the key to securing the Bloodsworth alliance. We treat her as the same as we would a crown princess." Elara explained what she thought was best against a family they could not antagonize.
Her superior did not think the same as her.
"Vampire! A creature of the night, now potentially breeding with our greatest soldier! Her future speed and power are unquantifiable! The child, Lucia, must be monitored for immediate magical analysis! We cannot tolerate risks such as a future monster."
The general barked with ferocity. One thing he hated more than enemies was other races. Like the demons that invaded and plagued the northern border of the country. Vampires had too much in common with those damned demons.
At Stonehard's words, the room erupted in a fierce fight. The two from the RID would not tolerate outright analysis of a descendant of the Bloodsworth clan. The RID knew more about the clan as they knew it as a clan that adores every descendant they get.
Vampires may live very long and near-immortal lives, but their reproduction rate is low, abysmally low. That's why they cherish and guard every young of their clan with every bit of their strength.
That's why they should only watch. Making too much direct contact and tests might activate some hidden guards that were kept around the young Lucia.
So the two sides started bickering about what to do. Seraphina was about to reveal the facts about the Bloodsworths before she was cut off.
Elara waited for the exact moment the tension peaked, then slammed her own gloved fist onto the table, a sudden, sharp sound that silenced the room.
"Gentlemen, Director, we are missing the point. Rowan Blacksun, a man who gave up everything for this kingdom, a man we have surveilled for years, has just had his greatest personal desire fulfilled. Five women, some of them unique power-brokers, have simultaneously deposited five children on his doorstep."
She fixed General Stonehard with a look that dared him to interrupt. "This is not a hostage situation. This is not a political crisis. This is a domestic ambush. The women left to protect their own interests, and they have returned to secure their children's future with the most powerful man in the region."
"And your recommendation, Major?" asked General Stonehard. "What do you think we should do."
Elara removed her cap, her long black hair cascading like a curtain. She gave a predatory, perfect smile.
She moved to the center of the room, her voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial pitch. "We cannot monitor these people from a distance. Rowan Blacksun is a master tactician, and his home is warded against direct scrying.
He is not just a farmer, he is a former high ranking soldier who knows our usual ways. We must infiltrate the perimeter."
General Stonehard frowned. "Infiltration is too dangerous, Major. He is our best Magic Knight, the wards will detect any unauthorized magical presence."
Elara's smile widened, radiating confidence. "Not a magical presence, General. A commercial presence. The kingdom is in the grip of a catastrophic drought. The demand for high quality, magically sustained produce, Blacksun's produce, is astronomical among the nobility. We will approach him under the guise of an opportunity he cannot ignore."
She placed her cap back on, the sharp brim shadowing her eyes. "My first order is to form a joint reconnaissance team, two MID and two RID agents, the best in field observation and subtle magical dampening. And I will lead it myself.
I will masquerade as a high end merchant, a direct buyer acting on behalf of the most powerful and wealthiest houses in the capital. I will tell him I am here to secure his harvest at a massive premium, given the drought."
Director Seraphina leaned forward, intrigued. "The drought creates the perfect cover. His quality is legendary. It will be the most logical reason for a high-profile visit. And your acting skills, Major, are unmatched. What is your objective?"
"I will secure a foothold inside his estate," Elara explained. "I will conduct a 'business negotiation' that lasts for several days. From that position, I can observe the children, assess their magical aptitudes directly, listen for any clues regarding the mothers' plans"
Director Seraphina gave a slow, assessing nod. "The RID approves. The cover is impeccable, and the intelligence yield will be maximal. Lord Alistair will prepare the forged noble contracts and the necessary gold transfer warrants."
General Stonehard grunted, but a hint of satisfaction was in his eyes. "Major Voss, you have the field. Go. The codename for this operation is 'Five Course Meal.' Do not fail."
Elara snapped a precise salute. "Understood, General. I will have a full field report sent via Whisperstone within 24 hours of arrival."
The door to the war room suddenly burst open, and a junior officer from the communications console stood there, panting, eyes wide with shock.
"General! Director! Forgive the intrusion, but... it's the former 3rd Commander. Rowan Blacksun has just requested a priority communication. He wants to talk to the General, right now, on the emergency MID Whisperstone channel."