Two carriages with the Obsidian Chains crest etched into their doors rolled steadily across the eastern plains of Re-Estize, the rhythmic clatter of wooden wheels over dirt paths blending with the heavy, steady breaths of the horses pulling them.
The insignia gleamed under the gentle sunlight, a subtle threat and a proud declaration to any who laid eyes on it. Their direction was clear, east, toward the Baharuth Empire.
Inside the leading carriage, Meliodas sat comfortably between his maid Rem and Robin. The atmosphere inside was surprisingly light, almost casual. Rem sat upright while Robin leaned slightly back on her seat.
"Master," Rem said softly, her blue hair swaying gently with the bumps of the road, "why exactly are we heading to the Baharuth Empire? I understand we're expanding... but why there first?"
Meliodas rested one elbow on the window's edge, his chin lightly propped against his knuckles. "After what we accomplished in Re-Estize, word about Obsidian Chains is spreading. We're turning into a name with weight."
Robin nodded. "So, it's about solidifying our reputation?"
"Exactly," he replied. "The Empire is efficient, powerful, and obsessed with progress. They value strength, discipline, and results. If we make a move there and impress them, even spies from other nations will report about it. It will ripple outward. Also, I have already met the emperor and I absolutely need him if I want to meet Ainz in the future."
Rem tilted her head. "But Master, you could've teleported us, couldn't you? Why waste time with carriages?"
Meliodas chuckled lightly, his voice calm, yet rich with meaning. "There are two reasons for that."
He sat back and looked at both of them.
"First, political theater. Traveling by carriage with our crest boldly displayed is a message. It means we're not hiding. The spies stationed along the borders will definitely report this to the Emperor, and I want him to know we're coming."
Robin narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "You want to draw his attention? Is this a power move?"
Meliodas smirked. "You could say that. It's a controlled provocation. If the Emperor sees we don't sneak, that we move like we already own the place, it'll intrigue him. Maybe even rattle him just enough to make him receptive. He'll either see us as arrogant, or supremely confident. Either way, it opens the door for negotiations."
Rem blinked slowly. "And the second reason?"
Meliodas turned his head toward the window and pushed the curtain aside just slightly. The light spilled in gently, bathing his face in a golden hue.
"I always wanted to try this method of travel," he said quietly. "This world... it's beautiful. Back where I came from, the skies were filled with grey, and cities ate the forests. Wilderness was not scarce, only the cold breath of buildings."
His voice softened as his eyes wandered outside.
Through the glass, endless greenery passed by, the trees swayed like they were dancing, their leaves brushing each other gently in the wind. The sky above wasn't just blue; it was a painting of layered color, soft gradients of azure, violet, pink, and pale orange merging into a distant golden horizon.
"Even Ainz's Earth was worse. A shadow of its past. This world... it's raw and untamed. It feels alive." Meliodas murmured.
Robin followed his gaze, though she did not speak. Her thoughts were sharp. 'So even master can appreciate beauty like this. Interesting
Rem smiled gently beside him, feeling that despite the power Meliodas held, he still found time to admire things so simple.
After a few moments, Meliodas let the curtain drop and leaned back again.
"Well," he said, smile returning, "even the powerful need a little road trip sometimes, right?"
Both girls smiled.
The second carriage rolled smoothly behind the first, its interior a stark contrast to the casual atmosphere of Meliodas' group. Here, the air was thick with quiet intensity.
On one side sat Shoko Ieiri, dressed in her usual navy coat, sleeves loosely rolled. Her calm eyes were gazing out the window, watching the forests roll by. Seated directly across from her was Yoriichi Tsugikuni, a quiet pillar of serenity. His long, crimson-tinted hair swayed with the carriage's movement.
The third member was hard to ignore.
Lazily sprawled across the bench beside Shoko was a tall, lanky man with soft, pale skin because of the face paint he wore, a star was drawn on his right cheek, and a teardrop on his left cheek. His hair was an explosion of bright red, wild and unkempt framing his sharp foxlike face.
His outfit looked more fit for a circus than a battlefield, and a slow, unsettling smile stretched his lips as he spun a playing card between his fingers with idle grace.
His gaze shifted from one companion to the other, as if sizing them up, savoring the silence before he finally broke it.
"My, my…" he hummed, voice silky and teasing. "What a curious group we make. A quiet samurai, a tired doctor, and... well, me."
Shoko didn't bother to look at him. "You'll get used to it."
Yoriichi didn't respond either, though his focus shifted subtly toward the man. There was no tension, just awareness. The swordsman had already memorized every movement he made.
The red-haired man chuckled. "No need to be so stiff. I'm just trying to enjoy the ride. It's not every day I get to work with such… interesting people." His eyes flicked toward Yoriichi. "Especially you. You're hiding something delicious, aren't you?"
"I am merely who I am," Yoriichi replied, voice calm and low. "Nothing more."
"Hmm~" the man smiled wider. "So modest. That makes me want to peel back the layers even more."
Shoko finally sighed and glanced toward him. "You're not here to play games. You're here because Meliodas-sama brought you in."
"Oh, I know," the man replied, twirling the card once more before letting it vanish between his fingers. "But I do enjoy knowing the rules of the game before I play."
Yoriichi met his eyes for the first time. "Then you should know what we're truly doing."
"We're currently headed to the Baharuth Empire," Yoriichi continued, his voice like wind brushing through leaves. "Our purpose is to expand our influence there. Meliodas-sama wants us visible, to announce our presence, provoke reactions, and gather information."
Shoko added, "You'll follow orders directly from him. But he allows some freedom as long as results are guaranteed. So don't fail him."
The man smiled slowly, his expression unreadable. "Sounds like fun."
Shoko studied him for a moment. "Do you even care about the risks?"
His head tilted to the side, the grin not quite reaching his eyes. "Oh, I do. Risks make it exciting. Watching people squirm when the stakes are high—it's beautiful. But fret not, for my lord I shall not fail."
Yoriichi's gaze didn't waver. "Then prove your beauty in action, not just words… Hisoka."
The card reappeared between his fingers again, as if conjured by magic. He twirled it, eyes glinting with amusement. "You remembered my name. I'm touched."
Hisoka was a reward Melidoas got after completing the mission to secure Renner's claim of the throne as he promised her. But it was not the only mission he completed, he got two other summons also. Altough they have no abilities, these two people he got can be considered geniuses.
He got both Ayanokoji and Senku respectively after completing these missions.
[SECURE 'Razor Edge' THE SWORD THAT GAZEF STRONOFF USES]
[REWARD: C RANK SUMMON]
[Complete the mission you received from Osk before the deadline you set]
[Reward: C-rank sumon]
Melidoas decided to let both of them stay in Re-Estize to assist Makima in her responsibilities with the obsidian chains.
.
.
.
Three Days Later, the rhythmic clatter of wheels against dirt slowly faded as the two carriages, each bearing the obsidian chains crest, finally came to a stop just outside Arwintar, the capital of the Baharuth Empire.
The journey had taken three days, winding through lush forests, hills, and bustling towns. Though long, the group had traveled without issue.
At the imperial border, the guards did their duty—checking baggage, inspecting carriages, and logging names. But there was no harassment, no interrogations. Their crest had spoken volumes.
Just as Makima had predicted.
They were expected.
A few hours after entering the city, the group was politely guided not to the Imperial Palace, as true nobles or heads of state might be, but to one of the empire's grand guest mansions.
It was luxurious, vast, and well-guarded, but it wasn't the throne room.
And to Meliodas, that said a lot.
Sitting by the window, arms crossed lazily, he smirked.
'So they still don't see us as royalty or equal to the Empire, because if they did they would've invited ur to the castle. That's fair… for now. But it won't take long for that to change.'
*Imperial Palace, Throne Chamber POV*
Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix, the Bloody Emperor, stood facing one of the grand palace windows. The soft red glow of the setting sun bathed the imperial gardens in light, but his golden eyes were far from calm.
An obsidian-black seal had crossed his desk this morning all the way from Re-Estize. The name behind it carried weight.
Obsidian Chains had arrived. And his spies confirmed it.
He turned his back to the window and approached the war table. A few high-ranking ministers and magic casters stood waiting, silent. He waved them away, for now, deep in thought.
'They came... Just as the reports said. Not disguised, not hidden. They came under their name and crest. Openly. Confidently.'
He poured himself a glass of wine but didn't drink it.
The emperor wasn't afraid of strong factions. He was wary of unpredictable ones.
'They're already gaining influence in Re-Estize. Rumors say nobles are afraid of them. Even the new queen treats their leader as something more than human…'
And now they came here. To expand.
Jircniv's fingers tapped against the table as he pulled a folder closer containing everything the intelligence bureau had scraped together about Meliodas the headmaster, and their associates.
But the informations were simply not enough. They had good security.
"I can't underestimate them," he muttered aloud.
But he had a plan.
He wouldn't greet them with red carpets or royal processions. Not yet. He had to understand what kind of force Obsidian Chains truly was.
Would they be like the Adventurer's Guild? Bound by neutrality and politics, refusing to interfere in wars or government disputes? Or would they operate under a mercenary code, whoever pays more, earns more?
The Adventurer's Guild, after all, avoided national conflicts for two key reasons:
To maintain neutrality between countries and avoid being seen as a tool of war, as well as to keep their clients satisfied.
The second reason is because of the Guild Pact, an internal agreement made long ago, stating that adventurers exist to protect civilians and borders from monsters, not to be drawn into the ambitions of kings.
That was the Guild's code.
But Obsidian Chains?
They were not part of the Guild. They operated independently. Which made them dangerous. Or useful.
"I'll test them," Jircniv whispered, placing the wine glass down untouched.
He reached for a scroll and began writing. The mission was carefully tailored, wrapped in diplomacy, but steeped in military implications and border issues.
Would Obsidian Chains take the mission?
Would they involve themselves in a potential war scenario?
Or would they decline, like the Guild surely would?
'If they accept... then they've shown they're willing to shift the balance of power. And I'll know exactly how to use them.'
He signed the scroll and gave it to a messenger.
"Deliver this to the guest mansion. Personally. With the Emperor's seal."
The messenger bowed low and left in haste.
Jircniv sat down slowly, folding his fingers beneath his chin, his sharp golden gaze fixed on the sealed doors.
"Let's see where do you truly stand, Obsidian Chains."
TO BE CONTINUED --->
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