Seated in Victor's study, the two men began a serious conversation.
"So, General, what have you found out?" Victor asked.
General Scharnhorst had a serious expression as he gave a report on his findings. "I had our spies investigate the supposed mercenaries that assisted the Kingdom of Gu during their conquest. Given that we had not seen any results in the two years between campaigns, I initially thought they were ghosts."
"I take it that there is a but, General." Victor interrupted.
The Prussian General nodded. "Indeed. Our spies investigated the Hakim Sultanate, the Tsardom of Mikhailovich and our new allies, the Kingdom of Visconte. From our findings, there were no large mercenary companies that fit the description. So it had to be an army."
Victor remained focused as General Scharnhorst gave his report. He was eager to know what the General had found out. It had been around 4 years since the incident happened back at the palace in Xiangyang, and during that time Victor had not found out anything about the secret force that wanted his and his family's demise.
"After thorough investigation, our spies found one army that could resemble the description given by King Gu… The Hakim Sultunate." General Scharnhorst stated.
Victor was not shocked, but was deeply troubled by this revelation. "Are you sure it is them? The Sultan and his domain have remained quiet during my rule. I have not done anything to offend him or cause him to wish upon the demise of my family."
The Prussian General shook his head. "I doubt he holds hatred for you and your family, my Liege. If I were to guess, I would say that the Sultan's motive is that of conquest. He has probably assessed you as a major threat. That is probably why he pressed King Gu Tian to attack you."
Victor, already wracking his brain around the motive of the Sultan, was now more confused. He did not think the Sultan would care about conquest, nor did he think that he and his family would become a threat to the Sultan.
"What should we do then, Gerhard? We can not openly go to war with the Sultunate; there is no probable cause to do so. Also, my men have just arrived home from a campaign; we can not just jump straight into another one," Victor stated calmly.
"At present, I suggest we do nothing. Our spies will keep watch in Asharan. If troops are gathering in ports or a massive fleet is spotted at sea, we will surely know about it. For now, all you should focus on is ruling." General Scharnhorst said confidently.
Victor could not argue with his Commander-in-Chief's counsel. War with the Hakim Sultunate was not in the best interest of the kingdom. Focusing on ruling should be his number one priority. There was still much that could be done for his people.
"Aside from the Sultunate, have we heard any news from Simbar? Have the Kislevian raiders returned to pillage the south?" Victor asked.
Gerhard bore a lighter expression and replied, "You need not worry, your Majesty. Field Marshal Schwarzenberg has sured up the defences in he south. There have been tiny skirmishes, but each time our forces crush the raiders while sustaining minimal casualties."
Victor nodded in approval; the only two threats that could rival him were the Tsar and the Sultan. Both posed a threat in their own unique way, but the deadliest threat was ultimately the Sultan.
Asharan was the biggest continent; it was almost the size of Simbar and Bulgar put together, its population was greater than the two continents combined, and it was viewed as the central hub of Syronnea. Everything passed through there. Weapons, tradeable goods, exotic animals. You name it, Asharan probably has it.
A comparison to the Asharan empire would be the real-life Ottoman empire. Their military was massive; their cannons may have been weaker than the others, but they had a shit ton of them. They had experimental rocket artillery, a crude and primitive device compared to Victor's. Then there were the Janissaries, an elite army personally commanded by the Sultan, powerful enough to rival Victor's Royal Guard.
Victor knew that no action could be immediately taken against the Sultan, but while he relished his return home, another ruler was plotting in the darkness on his gilded throne.
The throne room of Sultan Mehmet Hakim was a world unto itself; vast, dim, and heavy with the perfume of amber resin and smouldering lamps.
Night pressed against the high, horseshoe-arched windows, turning the glass panes into dark mirrors. Only the moonlight slipping through pierced latticework screens added a pale silver glimmer to the edges of the chamber. Dozens of hanging oil lamps floated in the darkness like low-burning stars, their brass casings etched with curling geometric patterns that threw wavering shadows along the tiled walls.
The floor was a masterpiece of polished marble, onyx black crossed with veins of white, and the cool stone reflected the lamps in soft, trembling shapes. Great columns of carved porphyry lined the hall on either side, their capitals gilded and shaped like blooming flowers.
At the far end of the room, raised upon a set of wide steps, sat the Sultan's gilded throne. It was an elaborate construction of hammered gold and dark walnut, its back high and scalloped, its arms shaped like stylised falcons. Behind it, an immense silk tapestry shimmered faintly in the lamplight, depicting the founding of the dynasty; warriors on horseback, desert sun blazing behind them.
Sultan Mehmet Hakim sat motionless upon the throne, a figure of absolute composure in the stillness of the night. His robes, layered in rich navy and pale gold, fell in sharp pleats around him, and a slender circlet upon his brow gleamed with inset rubies. His beard was neatly kept, his posture precise, giving him an appearance both regal and unyielding.
"So it appears our plans are foiled once again. Victor Luxenberg is becoming increasingly more dangerous."