Lukas, Reporting For Duty pt. 2

"No hideouts? Are we perhaps mistaken?"

'How is that possible?' Mikhail thought to himself.

Leon was also astonished by this and had come up with a different reason on the spot.

"They probably came from a different country."

Or what else could it be? If those intruders don't have anything that roots them in the empire, that would only mean they are not from here at all.

"But why are they here?" Mikhail muttered in wonder.

Both the emperor and the marquis were now deep in their thoughts. Lukas, however, remained muted observing the two of them. Leon then had a foreboding realization after a while and gulped silently.

Could it be…

"Your Majesty, perhaps the east is moving?" 

Leon's question made the room cold as the silence dropped a few more decibels. What he said just now made Mikhail's nerves stand on edge while Lukas only tilted his head in query.