Splendor Solis

All those involved in the committee showed up early at the Ministry of Economy to deliver the latest details on various issues. The representatives of each mafia family and unions even came from the other side of the continent for the annual vote on the distribution of the budget and adjustment of parity.

The building occupied two blocks to house all the unions and continued to expand. It had three doors of five meters each but only one was used as the main entrance. It was endowed with a copper dome that, the atmospheric changes, turned green, to be known as Green Palace. It displayed a setting with marble statues of animals, divine beings, and winged victories by emerging artists from the front entrance to the interior.

The tree-lined plaza overflowed with a 10m diameter fountain that gave the front splendor, while the private parking lot spread out underground.

The House of Representatives was a hemicycle composed of 300 designated seats and four floors with a balcony in carved and polished walnut galleries that emitted power and respect towards its occupants.

All were awaiting the arrival of the president and the ministers to start the meeting in the House of Representatives. When they saw the young minister of Science and Technology, Renzo Kiddo, the greetings were not lacking and more than one approached to win his favor but he simply ignored them with a smile until he reached his seat.

-Jasper, they were supposed to be here by now. What happened? - Ren looked around

-She and Frey, they went all weekend to the border. The presence of vermin has intensified in recent months and they had to be exterminated at all costs. They are surely coming-

-Heh always the same.- Ren sighed

Commerce Secretary Wan indicated the start of the session. They all took their seats and in the next instant, Cedric and Rufus entered the chamber escorting Sunday. They stood showing respect to sit down again. The meeting intensified as they progressed on each topic and especially with the conquest of the enemy.

-We have expanded exponentially to secure our position against our bitter enemies. Time to expose their weaknesses, time to swallow the kingdom of Rubins and its allies! - Agriculture Minister Quill was eager to move forward with the plan

The chamber began to debate but, they were silenced by Sunday.

- I do not deny that we must liquidate them, but what they propose is very risky. We will continue with the closing of borders and we will go slowly to them. Introducing our people and gaining their trust paid off. At this moment, there is something more serious to deal with-

-Do you mean buying from the black market? We have already taken care of that, Milady.

-It is true, there is no longer such a competitive market and we are the germ of destruction. The Rubins and their allies can no longer get their quirks and luxuries, so they stupidly ran into the neighbor's garden without permission - Transportation Minister Bane craved chaos

-To date, more than 63% of the continent already knows or has heard about the Empire of Polaris and Pontiac Butterfly Co, only those ignorant people who turn a deaf ear would dare to interpose and are those same idiots, the main reason for this meeting-

Cedric very grumpy, snapped his fingers and the folders were distributed among those present. Reading the reports and photographs taken by the hidden cameras, enraged them.

-This is absurd, there is no need to waste time with this filth they are just ...- the secretary of internal affairs, Kallisti was offended with the writings

-How much security do you think that? They seem like a tiny country compared to us but ...- Rufus looked at them over his glasses when he was interrupted

-It sounds ridiculous, that these bastards of Sodifrim are forming an army to go to war with the aim of crossing the border and taking possession of our effort and sacrifice, I refuse to believe it-

-The other countries that were still not allying themselves did not take long to fall. They blindly believed that the empire of Polaris was a relatively small fantasy compared to them, until we devoured them- Amazon queen, Astrix stated her opinion

-The closing of borders after the Steel Curtain and the constant siege accompanied by assassinations with theft, have made this empire a great nation. In eight years, no one on the other side has bothered to verify what happened ... until now. They believe that Loren is still here and they seek to advance to the sea-

Sunday was impassive before the ministers and other parliamentarians.

-It is clear that if we let them be, they will soon infect the rest. Therefore, we must not let even his shadows cross the Hellfish River, rather, we must set the stage for the interregnum in Sodifrim- Rufus dropped his pen on the papers

By uprooting the weeds by the roots, we can take their lands and annex them to Polaris, causing a landslide to Rubins, who would be plunged into despair after losing an allied country. Once the cleaning is achieved, we will show our claws.- Cedric leaned back in the chair looking at his daughter

-An exemplary punishment is necessary and will serve as a token for anyone who dares to defile or defy our nation ... a purge against fools. I ask that my proposal be heard and we begin the "War Exercises" -

Sunday started walking downtown with the box she brought. Opening it, she pulled out the head of a man tattooed with runic symbols on his forehead and cheekbones, onto a tray on the table. His face was twisted in suffering and his tongue and eyes were missing.

-If I have to be guilty of something, perhaps it is to worry too much. Here is the example I was referring to. Saboteurs, conspirators and dissidents will be executed under the charge of high treason for collaborating with the enemy and leaking information-

Parliamentarians and union leaders saw the head of the consigliere of the underworld mafia boss, Pepo Luscani, who was caught making deals and revealing strategic information to Sodifrim spies, against the Omertà oath. Now they understood why the Luscani house disappeared in a fire and in mass executions, two days ago. It was to erase their entire lineage.

Don Tony D'amico, was the mafia boss and successor of Don Carlo Luscani who granted him the position before he died, leaving his son Pepo as Tony's right hand. Having found out about the shameless and treacherous movements, they made Pepo win the death penalty among his peers. Don Tony was blinded by rage and sent for Sunday to take care of him, slowly and painfully.

All mafia bosses and leaders were accountable to Sunday to continue to run his business safely and if there was even a weak link or a hidden rat, it was their duty to get rid of it, special cases being her business.

After much thought and consultation, she put the proposal to start the war to a vote. The vote was unanimous, because if the empire fell, so did they.

-The problem now is how to recruit more soldiers. The law of conscientious objection is still in force and we only have a small army, the police, the mafia, mercenary murderers and thieves in the Steel Curtain.

-That's easily fixed. We will use the current propaganda in the media that encourages the feeling of service and nationalism. We have already been doing it to attract citizens but now it will be different, we will empower it towards a common enemy- Ren spoke after a long time

-Rubins? - that was the question for all

-Not exactly, rather, anyone who seeks to destroy the lifestyle and the current socio-economic and political model. Poisoning the people against foreign invaders with exaggerated messages to vulgarize them and encourage them to join the ranks of the army voluntarily-

-An absurd tabloid manipulation ... hahaha- the entire parliament laughed upon realizing the plan

-How much time do we have and what exactly will we be fighting? -

-Year and a half to gather enough soldiers and fight against 25,000 men. Enough to take the first step-

Nodding, the "Splendor Solis" Project was launched to alter the perception of the Empire, selling a manipulated truth that would lead to war.

Interregnum; period of time in which a state or country lacks a sovereign. It is followed by uprisings or civil wars.

The law of silence or Omertà is the Sicilian code of honor that prohibits reporting on criminal activities considered matters that concern the persons involved or disclosing information to do so carries the death penalty.

Splendor Solis is an illustrated manuscript book from 1582 and is considered the most beautiful compilation treatise on graphic alchemy ever created. In it, the keys to the kabbalah, astrology and alchemical symbolism are exposed.