Line Breakers

I was in a daze in my office. I didn't know what to do with myself as my mind traveled in odd directions. My focus was all over the place as I sat in my office with unfinished paperwork. Mira had already headed back to her home to deal with some issues while I fell asleep in my room.

I took my time to get to the office this morning, but my attention was all over the place. Nothing was coming into focus, and I didn't like it. My brain was scattered, and I was sighing a lot. Papers with some reports on the embassy and how my gold was working on the maintenance were before me. Reports on what they were fixing and the resources and costs associated with it. None could hold my focus as my mind kept wandering into nothingness.

I knew that this was from the previous night and the aftereffects of what that type of play could do to someone. It didn't help that knowledge, though, and I leaned back in my chair, ignoring the hoard of paperwork that continued to pile up faster than I could ever deal with it.

I had a meeting later today with Francis to move things forward hopefully, and with Queen Mira, we might even get the vote moved up for a while. I was still here. If we did so, I could come home with a trade agreement that would help our economies boom while the war started. My brain couldn't focus on anything, which would be a serious problem as I couldn't even meditate. I needed to recenter myself, and I knew I needed a distraction.

I got up from my desk and moved down to my lab. I didn't want to practice with anyone today. Instead, I wanted to center myself and think about my new fighting style. I began to move and practice punches and kicks from my old world. Martial arts that had been developed over the centuries. Some even more recently than that, as I decided to allow my mind to wander.

My movements were slow and imprecise as I went through them. I let my mind wander over everything yet focused on none as my brain struggled to do that. It was relaxing, and I needed this time as I moved without thought. Once and a while, I would let my mind conjure an ice spike or a fireball letting it hit the wall uselessly.

Nothing was focused, and I just kicked and punched without focus. I knew this wasn't very useful, but I felt more productive than sitting in the chair accomplishing nothing. Soon I was in a zone and lost myself to the movements. I slowly added in my mana to flow with my body charging parts while I mindlessly moved my fists and legs.

It wasn't until I heard a sudden knock on the door that I awoke from my daze that I lost myself in. I had no idea what time or where I was for a solid couple of seconds before I shook my head, remembering things. I moved to the door and opened seeing Yuri sigh in relief. "You are here!" She cried out happily, "Please just let us know when you are heading here. We all thought you were in the office, and Francis is here to see you. When we went to find you," her voice trailed off, and I nodded.

"Sorry, Yuri," I replied, holding her face without even realizing it. Sweat dripped all over my body, and I frowned, realizing what a mess I looked like. "Just take me to the meeting room," I told her, "Francis won't mind being a little late. I will tell him the truth that I lost myself in practicing some new martial prowess, so I can fight him better next time. That will make him happier as well," I told Yuri which made her sigh in relief.

I followed Yuri's ass up the stairs and to the meeting room that she had prepared. I stopped at the door before entering and asked her to have some food sent in when it was possible. I opened the door a second later after she nodded. I quickly strode into the room, seeing the suited Devil on the couch slightly frowning until he saw my unkempt appearance. His smile grew large as he saw the sweat all over, and he raised an eyebrow.

"What happened to you, Ambassador Chelsea?" Francis asked with a grin, "Your subordinates were running all over looking for you, and you show up like this."

"I lost myself in training, Francis." I told him, "The arena is a battleground I lost in, and I must fix my deficiencies in order to make it, so your face is in the dirt instead of my own next time." My smile was vicious as I finished.

Francis laughed loudly, sitting down as I made it to the couches. I sat down, feeling the soft fabric hug me a little. "Sorry for calling you here on short notice and then showing up late, Francis." I quickly apologized, "I was doing paperwork and couldn't think properly to do it." I shrugged, "Figured if it wasn't going to get done with me in front of it, then I will just do something else."

"That is it exercise those muscles! You are a good fight, and I cannot wait until we spar again. Let me know when you are ready! Whenever I can, I am training, and I hope to fight against you in the future." Francis said with a huge grin. "Now, What do you have that is so important?"

Francis was in serious mode, and I nodded. My mind was feeling a little better from the workout, and letting it daze instead of fighting it. But I knew I wasn't completely recovered, and I still found it hard to word things the way I should.

"Francis, I think it is time to put an end to this vote," I told him, "Either this Trade agreement goes through, and I head home with something for my elders, or it doesn't happen. I think we might be able to push the vote through at this point in our favor, but if we don't," I couldn't help the shrug, "Then we don't, and I will stop pooling resources into getting this free trade agreement complete. I will leave without it, and maybe our countries can try again in a couple of decades."

Francis's eyebrows rose as he heard my tone, and he frowned in thought.

I waited for a while during his thinking process, and he nodded finally, "I will talk to my other representative. He has been in meditation and has come out for the vote. We will even bring up the timeline since you clearly think this needs to be done sooner rather than later. The Venomancers will fight us on this, and so should the Medusas, but that is par for the course. You must have something hidden up your sleeve if you think now is the moment." Francis finished.

I nodded, "I think I do, but nothing is absolute. I am playing my hand, and I hope you have my back on this. If not," I shrugged, "I will try again in a decade or so."

Francis heard my it is what it is tone and frowned again. He clearly didn't like it when he looked at me. "What happened?" Francis suddenly asked.

I felt my eyebrows raise at the question. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean, you came here to the demon lands with more punch in your step. You fought me multiple times and even beat me. But here you are, acting like nothing matters. What happened on your end, and is it something I should be careful of?" Francis asked, his tone even more serious and I sighed, leaning back.

"Nothing major," I told him, leaning back and looking at the ceiling, "Just recovering from that trump card that I plan on using for this vote, Francis. Hopefully, it works," I finished.

"Well, I hope so too, although," Francis paused as the door opened and a cart of food came in. He watched as Yuri set out some snacks that she had thrown together from the kitchen, but the look that Francis gave her didn't make her feel welcome, so she departed quickly.

"Thanks," I told her as she opened the door again, "I really do appreciate it," I told her with a smile.

"Let me know if you need anything," Yuri replied with a smile, the sting of Francis's stare gone.

When the door closed, Francis turned to me as I reached forward, taking some of the food to munch on. "This has nothing to do with me and everything to do with you," He snorted, then leaned back. "Okay, now tell me," Francis began to ask with a serious look, "When are you leaving?"

I chuckled at this point as I knew that everyone could see that after this short period of time I was leaving. It wasn't any secret among the Demon lands representatives, and I knew among the succubi and the incubi that they were not happy that I was leaving so soon. Both had their own reasons, but changing ambassadors often wasn't the best for diplomacy.

"I cannot confirm or deny that I am leaving soon, but theoretically, I will be gone within a month or two if it is true." I told him with a wry smile, "I want to bring this agreement back so also." I told him more seriously, "It will be useful to our nations with what will be coming soon." I told him, making him nod.

I grabbed more food again and shoved more in my mouth. I watched him deliberate, and he nodded to himself. "I happen to have a couple of Mercenaries that are available to hire, and I am wondering if you are interested in some bodyguards," Francis told me.

My hands froze in place at the sudden offer.

I continued a second later, popping a fruit into my mouth and chewing on it slowly before asking, "Ranks? And the reason you have them available? if possible."

Francis smiled, "Something tells me that you wouldn't mind some Devil line breakers guarding your front lines," He told me, and my eyes widened at the name of the troops that he wanted to provide. "These will be C ranked mercenaries at the border only needing that final thing to break through. The reason," Francis grinned, "You know exactly the reason. The survivors will be battle-hardened veterans that will increase my reputation. Do I need any other reason? Plus, I make some serious gold or resources off of you."

Francis's grin was severe and bold. He meant every word, and I knew that these devils would be great to have. Devil Line breakers were Sword and shield warriors specifically trained to destroy the enemy's battle line in the initial clash. They were also the reason that the last known war ended so abruptly with the demon land's victory. The Devils also got the largest land claim, even taking some from other provinces at the time for their contribution.

"I would be an idiot to refuse the offer," I told him, "What do you want in return?" I asked.

"Well," Francis leaned forward, and I began to see a side of him I had never seen before, and my brain was still dazed from the night before. I frowned as I began to bargain a price for these valuable mercenaries while I was at my worse.

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