Chapter 25

After things had calmed down, they could finally begin the discussions. The rebels were healed by Syorin, and after feeling such an intense amount of pain, they were too scared to fight them. They begged to be regulated to guard duty, and went as far away as they possibly could, leaving Meberiado alone.

“Is that really all?” Meberiado asked, not able to believe his ears.

“Yes, please believe me,” Neila said. She had described her true intentions to Meberiado, that she had no will to keep the people from obtaining their freedom. She needed help to fight her own empire, though, especially the local lord who ruled over the region.

Lord Baronnt, the same person who was betrothed to her. Taking him out would damage the empire’s strength and reputation, free the people of the region, and also strengthen her own position as the next ruler of the empire.

“But how does this benefit you? If we gain our freedom, we will no longer be paying taxes to you, nor will you be able to extract our natural resources.”

Neila held her hand close to her heart. “As a ruler, it’s my responsibility to put the people first. Everything you describe the empire does, it’s for the empire’s own benefit. It’s pure selfishness.”

“Is that all? Is it really because of your sense of justice?”

A slight chuckle slipped through Neila’s lips. “Maybe I also want to get back at my parents for treating me the way they did.”

Meberiado carefully considered her words, while also considering his own. He must have understood that he had tried to kill them earlier; in other words, his life hung in their mercy.

“I’m not going to ask you to believe me, but I do beg you to give me a chance. Please.” Neila lowered her head to the ground. Such a gesture surprised everyone present, including the guards who stood closer to them.

“Princess…”

It was unheard of for someone of royalty to bow their head so low. Her sincerity moved him, and he nodded his head. Meberiado stood up and called his soldiers back. He wrote a set of coordinates on a piece of paper and handed them over to Neila.

“Get to this location. If you truly want to help us, then meet up with us there.”

Without saying any parting words, he and his soldiers disappeared into the cave. The group gathered around Neila, curious about what Meberiado had given them.

“Do you know where that is?” Kakashi asked. This world didn't have GPS, and Meberiado specifically said to use magic.

Neila gave the piece of paper to Astill. Astill touched the paper, her hand going across its smooth surface.

“The coordinates themselves are a lie,” Astill said. “It leads to the southernmost tip of Monemai.”

“But…?”

“But, the coordinates that were embedded into the paper itself led to a location in Loria, the former capital of the Kingdom of Elesia.”

“Elesia?”

“It's the name of the kingdom that had been annexed by the empire. I heard the royal family is well-liked there, hence why people have been against the empire ever since they took over,” Syorin explained.

“The expansion of the empire itself hadn't truly begun until a hundred years ago,” Four added.

“My grandparents…”

“And the only reason they hadn't crossed into this kingdom is because of Monemai’s military strength. Had Monemai been any weaker, it would have suffered the same fate.”

“I need to stop that from happening,” Neila said resolutely.

“Let's prepare to move,” Four said, looking in the direction of town.

Kakashi and Neila got up before running back toward town.

•••

After packing up, the group traveled back to the dungeon. The dungeon was large enough to fit their entire carriage, and it connected the empire’s territory with Monemai. It quickly became clear how often the path was used. For a secret underground tunnel, it was clear, clean, and well-maintained.

“I'm surprised Monemai didn't know about this…” Kakashi murmured.

“You're assuming they're not the ones that built this,” Four said.

“Isn't it a security risk?”

Four pointed to the area in front of them. They arrived at a large space housing a rebel camp. There was a rebel group inspecting a carriage loaded with weapons.

“Oh.”

The Monemai kingdom was supplying the rebels with weapons.

“Unsurprising considering the relationship between the two.”

“Should we sneak past or-” before Neila could finish her question, Four jumped off the carriage. She walked toward the rebels, which prompted them to take out their arms. Four took out the piece of paper Meberiado gave her.

One of the rebels warily took it and examined it, then opened up a way for them to pass. The carriage passed without issue.

“Looks like they got some new recruits,” Four commented after they went through.

“New recruits?”

“The old guards would have recognized me.”

“Are you sure it’s not because of the mess you made earlier?” Astill asked, despite participating in said mess.

“I do not recognize them, either.”

The group went through several more checkpoints throughout the tunnel. For a seemingly secret tunnel, it was well guarded. The closer they got to the empire’s territory, the more rebels were stationed in each checkpoint. Some of them knew Four, and they had a little chat before proceeding.

“I heard you kick the general’s butt.” One of the rebels laughed. “He ran back scared like a little baby.”

“Believe me when I say that is not the intention.”

“Yeah, yeah, you just need to show you’re serious, that’s all.”

The group already understood that Kakashi had changed the settings to make the pain extreme. It was the first time he used that mode.

After the short breaks, the group continued on until eventually they reached the other side of the border. Imperial territory.