The cages were lined up in front of Mark on the wooden dock.

Inside each one were at least a dozen elves looking at him from behind the bars with a mix of hatred and fear that none of them bothered to hide.

Joseph walked over to stand beside the cages with a proud smile, like someone presenting their finest merchandise.

"Allow me to explain," the emperor said with a smile. "A few days ago, a ship packed with elves arrived at my empire’s shores asking for asylum."

Mark listened without saying anything.

"It turned out they were nobles who had fled from here," Joseph continued, gesturing. "They came crawling to my kingdom, begging for my help to, and I quote, ’remove from power the usurper who proclaimed himself Emperor.’"

"That’s what they said?"

"Word for word," Joseph replied, nodding with a smile. "And let me tell you, they held nothing back. That you were a bloodthirsty barbarian, that you murdered the council in cold blood, that you had the poor queen enslaved against her will... quite the tragic novel, honestly."

Mark let out a short laugh hearing the list of things he had supposedly done.

Because if someone told it like that, without context or explanation, even he had to admit it sounded like a ruthless villain.

"But you see, I’m not an idiot," Joseph continued brazenly. "And when a group of disgraced fallen nobles comes asking me to risk my soldiers in a war against a ruler I know nothing about... well, the decision isn’t very hard to make."

"In short, you figured it was more convenient to get on my good side," Mark said bluntly.

"I see we understand each other," Joseph confirmed with a smile. "Why bet on a losing horse when I can befriend the winner?"

"..."

"Consider it a gesture of goodwill," Joseph added. "A sign that my intentions are purely friendly. What better way to start a friendship?"

Mark stayed quiet for a couple of seconds.

’This guy is a complete shameless opportunist, but... it’s almost always better to deal with someone like that than with one who smiles at you while stabbing you in the back.’

"I appreciate it," Mark said finally in a friendly tone. "I didn’t expect my first encounter with the Emperor of Eldia to start with such a... thoughtful gift."

"Of course!" Joseph said, placing a hand on his chest. "Among rulers, gestures matter. And believe me, I’d a thousand times rather have the Emperor of Death as an ally than as an enemy."

"Good to know..." Mark said with a forced smile, turning his head slightly to one side. "Alice, come here."

"Yes, my lord?"

"Take these traitors to the interrogation chamber," Mark said, nodding toward the cages. "Have Ely deal with them later... I want to know who else they were talking to before they fled."

"As you command."

Alice walked over to the cages and crouched to lift two of them off the ground, one in each hand.

Each one was full of elves, but she carried them without the slightest effort, as if they were empty baskets.

The Eldia soldiers, who until that moment had maintained their formation with military discipline, were left in shock at the sight.

And then the murmurs started.

"Is that...?"

"It can’t be..."

"What is the Grand Inquisitor doing here?"

"Is all of this... is all of this the work of the Inquisition?"

"If she’s here, then..."

The murmurs spread rapidly through the rows of soldiers.

Several of them stepped back a pace by pure instinct, and some froze without quite knowing what to do.

Even Joseph, who until that moment had maintained his unshakeable smile, stood staring at Alice in complete disbelief.

Just seeing their reactions was enough for Mark to understand the problem.

’Damn...’ he thought, feeling a sinking feeling in his stomach. ’I completely forgot, these guys are from a human kingdom. Of course they know Alice, or at least have heard of her.’

Alice, completely indifferent to the reactions she was causing, simply turned and began walking back toward the palace, carrying the cages.

Joseph watched her go until she disappeared into the crowd.

Then he turned back toward Mark, and for a fraction of a second Mark could see the emperor’s mind working at full speed behind that smile.

But it lasted barely an instant before Joseph recovered his composure just as quickly as he had lost it.

"Well, well," he said in a tone of false calm. "It seems you have some truly interesting subordinates under your command, Emperor of Death."

"I’m lucky to have capable people..." Mark replied without going into detail.

"So I see, so I see," Joseph said without taking his eyes off him. "And that’s precisely why I’d like to talk with you a bit more calmly. What do you think? Would you have some time for me?"

Mark thought for a second.

"I can make room, but... it’ll have to be in a couple of hours."

"Oh?"

"Just before your arrival I was about to receive envoys from another kingdom," Mark explained. "A beastman delegation arrived this very morning."

"Beastmen, you say?" Joseph asked, raising both eyebrows. "It seems I’m not the only one who wants to befriend the new emerging power on the continent."

"It would seem so."

Joseph thought for a moment, and then a smile spread across his face.

"What if I attend as well?"

"...The meeting?" Mark asked, frowning.

"Why not?" Joseph said with a shrug. "After all, we’ve both come with the intention of strengthening ties with you. Wouldn’t it be more practical to discuss everything in a single meeting?"

Mark thought about it for a moment.

He didn’t trust Joseph, and the idea of putting him in a meeting with the delegation from another kingdom didn’t sit well with him at all.

After all, a man who arrived with warships and a cage full of hostages wasn’t exactly the kind of person you could deal with lightly.

But even so, what he was saying made sense.

"...Alright," Mark said finally. "We’ll have a three-way meeting. But it will be strictly for diplomatic matters."

"Of course, of course!" Joseph said with a wide smile. "That seems perfectly reasonable to me."

"Good, follow me," Mark said, turning toward the palace. "I’ll show you the way."

And without waiting for a response, he began walking back to the palace. Joseph followed him, though before doing so he leaned toward his personal assistant.

"Note down everything you see," Joseph whispered in his ear. "Absolutely everything. Every face, every name, I want every detail of this palace and those who inhabit it."

The assistant nodded discreetly.

"Something tells me this place hides far more surprises than it lets on... and I want to know them all."

With that said, the emperor straightened up, recovered his carefree stride, and followed Mark into the interior of the palace with a feigned smile.