Annie handed the freshly inked authorization letter to Elisa, her expression serious but tinged with concern. "Elisa, this is your pass to the Research Department. Be sure to announce yourself when you approach their facility. They're on high alert, and if you sneak in silently, you might get attacked." Her warning was delivered with the care of someone who understood the dangers of the Research Department's secretive work, where experimental weapons and guarded prototypes demanded strict security protocols.
"Understood," Elisa replied, accepting the document with a nod. She offered Lucas a crisp salute, her emerald eyes reflecting a mix of determination and eagerness. Without delay, she turned on her heel and exited the study, her footsteps light but purposeful. Before heading to the Research Department, she needed to inform the other elves in the castle about the lord's arrangements. The sniper team was a significant responsibility, and she wanted to ensure her kin were prepared for the training ahead.
The heavy wooden door creaked as it swung shut behind her, the sound echoing softly in the study. Lucas's gaze lingered on the closed door for a moment before shifting to Henry, who stood at attention, his broad frame filling the space near the desk. "Henry," Lucas began, his voice calm but commanding, "I have another diplomatic mission for you."
"Please give your orders, my lord," Henry responded, his face set in a mask of stoic professionalism. As Sedona City's unofficial envoy, he had grown accustomed to traveling to nearby cities, often under the cover of secrecy to spread rumors or gather intelligence. The role suited him, though it carried its own burdens, requiring both cunning and discretion.
Lucas leaned forward, his dark eyes narrowing with focus. "Our meat reserves are running dangerously low. In less than two weeks, Sedona City will face a shortage if we don't act. I need you to travel to the Sahara Grasslands and negotiate with the tribal leaders there to purchase mutton."
His words were measured, but the situation was more dire than he let on. Winter's harsh grip had accelerated the city's consumption of meat, as the cold drove people to seek hearty, warming meals. The castle's larders, once brimming with provisions, were now dwindling at an alarming rate, threatening the city's stability if new supplies weren't secured soon.
"The Sahara Grasslands?" Henry's brow furrowed, caught off guard by the destination. He had expected another urban assignment, perhaps to a neighboring city-state, not a journey to the vast, untamed plains inhabited by beastkin tribes.
"Yes," Lucas confirmed, his tone steady. "The lord of Riverden City will guide you. You'll take a letter and a team equipped with ice sleds to transport the mutton back." He briefly outlined the logistics of the trip, emphasizing the need for efficiency. Reaching into his desk drawer, he produced a sealed envelope, its wax seal bearing the crest of Sedona City. "This letter is for the beastkin tribal leader. Deliver it personally."
"Understood," Henry said, stepping forward to accept the letter with both hands, his movements deliberate and respectful. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind, prompting him to ask, "My lord, what if the tribe refuses to trade with us?"
Lucas's expression remained calm, but his eyes glinted with calculation. "Bring a selection of goods: five hundred pounds of frozen vegetables, five hundred cans of fish, one hundred pounds of salt, and one hundred bottles of Spirit wine." His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, a warning that failure was not an option. "If these goods don't persuade the tribe, then they're not worth our time. Move on to another tribe in the Sahara Grasslands. We'll find someone willing to trade, even if it takes longer."
Lucas's reasoning was pragmatic. If a tribe couldn't be swayed by such a generous offer, they were either too stubborn or too shortsighted to be reliable partners. He refused to let Sedona City be taken advantage of, treated like a naive merchant ripe for exploitation. Better to seek out a more cooperative tribe, even if it meant a longer journey across the windswept plains.
"Yes, my lord," Henry replied, his confidence bolstered by the weight of the goods he'd be carrying. The frozen vegetables, canned fish, salt, and fine wine were luxuries in the grasslands, where resources were scarce and winters harsh. Only a fool would turn down such an offer, and Henry trusted his ability to negotiate a favorable deal.
"If the tribe agrees," Lucas continued, "Inform them that if they wish to expand trade, their leader must meet me in person. We can arrange the meeting in Riverden City." His tone was calm but carried the weight of long-term strategy. A successful deal would lay the foundation for a lasting partnership, one that could supply Sedona City with not only mutton but also beef, wool, and goat milk—resources that could transform the city's economy.
Lucas's mind was already racing ahead. Wool, in particular, held immense potential. By refining it into fine cashmere thread and weaving it into luxurious sweaters, he could create a high-value product that would command silver coins in the markets. His ambition was to dominate the fashion trends of the nobility, dressing every aristocrat in soft, warm wool garments that would become the envy of the continent. Goat milk, too, was a goldmine—processed into powdered milk, it could be sold at a premium. But preserving the milk required processing facilities on the grasslands, which would necessitate close cooperation with the beastkin tribes. A factory in their territory was a bold plan, but Lucas was no stranger to bold moves.
"Understood," Henry said, his voice firm with resolve. He tucked the letter into his tunic, mentally preparing for the journey ahead.
"Get ready. You leave tomorrow," Lucas said, dismissing him with a wave of his hand.
"Yes, my lord." Henry saluted, turned, and exited the study, the door creaking shut behind him.
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the day's decisions settling over the remaining occupants. Annie let out a long sigh, slumping onto the desk, her cheek resting against the cool wood. Her thoughts drifted to Catherine and the merchant caravan she had sent to the capital. Had they arrived safely? How were the goods faring in the bustling markets? The success of those sales would determine Sedona City's export quotas for the coming year, and the uncertainty gnawed at her. She pushed the worry aside, focusing instead on the tasks at hand.
Mina, perched on the edge of the desk, her cat tail swaying lazily, opened the document Lucas had given her. Her eyes scanned the pages, absorbing the detailed instructions for the Security Department. Tucked at the back was a small, palm-sized notebook filled with rows of numbers and cryptic text. She froze, her ears twitching as she read the cover. "A cipher book?" She murmured, her brow furrowing in confusion. The words and numbers were familiar, but their arrangement was utterly baffling.
"What's wrong? Can't make sense of it?" Lucas asked, sipping his tea and watching her with an amused smile. The cat-eared girl's puzzled expression was almost endearing, her eyes wide with curiosity. "It's for transmitting intelligence securely."
"Transmitting intelligence?" Mina echoed, blinking as she flipped through the notebook. She recognized every word and number individually, but together, they formed an incomprehensible jumble. Her tail flicked with frustration, her mind racing to decipher the mystery.
"Give me the cipher book," Lucas said, extending his hand with a playful grin. "I'll show you how it works."
Mina handed it over, her curiosity piqued. Lucas opened the notebook, his fingers deftly turning the pages, then took a quill and scribbled a sequence of numbers on a sheet of paper: "521, 233, 134."
Mina leaned closer, her brow creasing as she read the numbers aloud. "Five-two-one, two-three-three, one-three-four?" She shook her head, utterly lost. "What does this mean?"
Lucas's smile widened, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "There's a trick to it. The first number in each set indicates the page in the cipher book. The second number tells you which row on that page. The third number points to the specific word in that row."
Mina's jaw dropped, her hand flying to her mouth as her eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at Lucas, then back at the cipher book, her mind reeling at the ingenuity of the system. It was so simple, yet so secure—a perfect way to encode messages.
"You can create multiple cipher books like this for your operatives," Lucas said, chuckling softly. "With this method, even if a message is intercepted, it's useless without the book."
Mina's fox-eared companion, Annie, leaned over, her brown eyes gleaming with excitement. "My lord, how did you come up with this?" She asked, her voice brimming with admiration. She nudged Mina playfully. "Come on, decode it! Let's see what it says!"
"Okay, okay," Mina said, nodding as she flipped through the cipher book, following Lucas's instructions. Her fingers traced the pages, her eyes darting between the numbers and the text. "The first is… 'big.' The second is… 'dumb.' The third is… 'egg'?" She paused, her cat ears twitching as she repeated the words. "Big… dumb… egg?"
Annie froze for a moment, then burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she doubled over. "Mina's a big dumb egg!" She crowed, her voice ringing with delight.
Mina's cheeks flushed, her eyes narrowing as she shot Lucas a mock glare. "My lord!" She huffed, indignant that he'd used the cipher to tease her. Turning to Annie, she rolled her eyes. "Keep laughing, fox girl, and your chest will shrink even more."
Annie's laughter cut off abruptly, her hands instinctively covering her chest as she glanced down, then back up with a pout. "You mutant cat girl!" She snapped, her voice dripping with mock outrage. "Who says laughing makes your chest smaller? You're the big dumb egg!"
"Oh, really?" Mina shot back, her eyes glinting with mischief as she crossed her legs and flicked her tail. "I've seen it happen. Laugh too hard, and your fox chest will vanish entirely."
"You—!" Annie sputtered, her face red with indignation. "You're the one with a shrinking chest, you mutant cat! Prepare for my royal Fox Clan's Eighteen Cat-Taming Strikes!"
"Pervert, stop it!" Mina yelped, dodging as Annie lunged playfully across the desk.
"No way, don't run!" Annie laughed, chasing her friend around the study.
Lucas watched the chaos unfold, his lips twitching with amusement. The study, once filled with the weight of strategy and planning, now echoed with the lighthearted bickering of his closest allies. It was a brief respite, a reminder that even in a world of ambition and intrigue, there was still room for laughter.
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