The Ruined Retrobamba

Aria and the members of the council diligently prepared to provide aid to Egret, while Alex sat in his chair, gazing out of the window, his mind occupied with his grand scheme.

The Tentacular attack on Egret was not a random invasion by monstrous creatures; it was a meticulously planned assault devised by Alex himself. During one of his adventures, he had teleported above the ocean to locate the dwelling of the Tentacular Behemoth, which he had Astrid investigate beforehand.

Alex successfully captured the Behemoth and subjected it to the powerful "Complete Obedience" spell, bending the colossal creature to his will. This attack on Egret had been orchestrated by him, with the Behemoth serving as his formidable subordinate.

Having established a reputation as a virtuous and mighty king in the eyes of the world, Alex had also gained the admiration and gratitude of the people of Egret, particularly for his aid during the famine. However, his true aim lay in conquering the neighboring islands of Mallete and Egrand, which formed the kingdom of Egret. All his intricate planning had been focused on one objective—assuming the rule of Egret for himself.

Although Alex possessed the power to forcefully capture the entire country, he understood that such methods were not sustainable. To govern and conquer nations effectively, the support of the residents within the territory was crucial for long-term stability.

If he simply conquered nations for personal reasons, even if they yielded to his might, a significant portion of the population would oppose his methods and rebel. Moreover, the people he sought to conquer would resist his ambitions and put up a fierce opposition.

To rule a country properly, Alex knew that he needed the people to perceive him as righteous and worthy of support.

If the ruler of the country was a tyrant who opresses it's populace then the whole country will support Alex on his mission to conquer the territory in the name of righteousness, but unlike any tyrant or the former oppressive slave king ruling over the former Sandora, King Lefang Letra was revered by the citizens, making the use of force an impractical approach.

Hence, to conquer Egret, Alex understood that he required a third party to initiate an attack on the kingdom and eliminate the royal family. This would provide him with a pretext to intervene as their ally, ultimately seizing control with the backing of the people.

However, Alex realized that merely conquering the nation and assimilating it under his own banner would not be ideal. The citizens might perceive his actions as taking advantage of the former king's demise, leading to opposition. Therefore, he devised a meticulous plan to make the citizens of Egret themselves request his leadership, ensuring their acceptance of his rule.

The hours passed, and the preparations for aid were completed. Alex conjured a gate, teleporting himself along with his summon, Tsubaki, the recruits of the king's guards, and the messengers from Egret to the ruined capital city of Retrobamba.

"It's terrible," Tsubaki muttered, her voice filled with sorrow, as she beheld the devastated city. The atmosphere was heavy with despair, and the people appeared to be in pitiful conditions.

Camps were set up to provide shelter, while healers and physicians tended to the injured. The kingdom continued to suffer from famine, and many were hungry and desperate for food. However, their main source of sustenance, seafood, remained inaccessible due to the presence of the Tentaculars in the sea.

As they made their way through the camps, a loud cry rang out, announcing the death of their king. "The king has died!" the voice echoed. The messengers who had accompanied Alex exclaimed in shock and ran towards the source of the cry. Alex and his subordinates followed, weaving through the crowd, until they reached a large tent at the edge of the camp. A grieving crowd surrounded the tent, weeping and sobbing.

Alex and the others quickened their pace, their eyes falling upon the lifeless body of the king, his abdomen wrapped in bandages. The crowd's weeping and sobbing gradually subsided, giving way to silence as they knelt in respect for their fallen ruler.

Observing the scene, Alex, Tsubaki, and the knights who accompanied them also knelt, joining the collective silence in reverence for the deceased king. The entire city maintained a solemn silence, grieving for their lost leader.

For a whole five minutes, nobody spoke. Then, the court priests and other nobles began to prepare for the cremation rituals for the king's body.

"I'm sorry for the death of the king, Minister Chaska," Alex expressed his condolences to the elderly minister, who was also the advisor to the former king.

"There is nothing for you to be sorry about, King of Arcadia," Minister Chaska replied, his voice filled with grief. "It should be me who is sorry for not being capable enough to protect His Majesty from those damn monsters."

"I have brought the aid you requested, Minister," Alex assured him.

"I have my knights setting up camps and distributing the food and other necessities we brought. If there is anything you need, do not hesitate to ask me directly," Alex offered his support.

"You have already done enough for us, King of Arcadia... Thank you, thank you, King, for the kindness you have shown us today," the minister expressed his gratitude, still shedding tears, yet filled with appreciation and admiration for the support Alex had provided.

The minister and Alex conversed for a while, but their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a familiar, ear-shattering cry. All heads turned towards the ocean, witnessing the emergence of massive squid-like creatures with vicious tentacles breaking the surface of the water.

"Oh God! Those goddamn beasts have returned! Soldiers, safeguard the citizens and help them find safe places!" Minister Chaska shouted, immediately giving orders to the knights to assist the civilians in reaching safety.

"Minister Chaska, ensure the safety of the civilians. I will deal with these beasts," Alex declared, ignoring the concerned shouts of the minister. Tsubaki and his summon followed him, prepared for battle.

"Tsubaki and Bianca, maintain order within the camp and coordinate with the knights and soldiers of Egret to assist the citizens," Alex commanded.

"As you command, Your Majesty," Tsubaki acknowledged.

"As you wish, my Liege," Bianca responded, assuming her original form and preparing to carry out the orders before parting her ways along with Tsubaki.

"Kelly and Blake, remain here to defend the citizens. The rest of you, follow me into battle," Alex commanded, his voice filled with determination. He charged forward, his loyal beasts returning to their original size, charging alongside him towards the ocean, prepared for the impending confrontation.