Divine Beast Ascension

“Dioro?!!” startled, the man sat up straight and smiled wide. “Lord Draco, do you know if this claim is true?”

“I do not, your omnipotence.” Shaking his head, Lord Draco answered, “I heard long ago that Iron-body gorillas were traveling between the prefectures, but that was only due to the bounties that Lord Zrand had placed on their pelts. I have no knowledge about the grand champion leading one of those troops, however.”

“There’s proof,” Zrand stated, gathering everyone’s attention. “I sent scouts to investigate the territory the Iron-body Clan recently claimed, which is allowed under interprefectural law due to Dioro’s status as a top-priority fugitive...

“I soon learned that Dioro was the one who repelled my subordinate king before he could deliver the killing blow to Lord Treeda’s daughter, defeating my low-king as a peak-perennial. But while such a feat would be incredible for even a man of Dioro’s status, my scouts learned that Trada had fled the battle sight before perishing and that Dioro suffered fatal backlashes from his fight with my subordinate.”

Continuing, Zrand added, “As for why my scouts lingered in the territory of the gorillas, it is because I learned that Dioro’s family was thriving. They, under my prefecture’s laws, are fugitives by default, though of a lesser degree than Dioro.”

“And that’s all?” asked the man, now leaning forward with a tinge of interest in his stare. “What have you to say of this evidence?”

.....

Lady Narja and the man beside Lord Draco then stepped forward, each retrieving a severed head. Narja’s was that of a human form, one long dead. The head of the armored man was an enormous, emerald green snake head.

Sighing, Zrand nodded, “These are in fact the heads of my former subordinates, Krasc and Portro. However, Krasc had gone missing some time ago and I lost contact with him. I assume that was due to his death. He was in charge of the investigation of the aforementioned territory, but he was given no permission to act on his own.

“I would guess that he wished to quickly act and claim the hides of our prefecture’s fugitives in order to gain my favor, despite my wishes against such actions...” Zrand shook his head and clicked his tongue in disappointment. “As for Portro, he comes from a branch of my clan, but he was also seeking a territory of his own upon becoming a low-king. Perhaps, Krasc had suggested Lord Draco’s vacant region in an effort to better his odds of success. But I gave no such orders and asked for nothing regarding the disruption of the Nova Prefecture’s politics...”

“Then, why did you continue your investigation of the territory after learning of Dioro’s passing, may he rest in peace...” The man on the throne waited patiently for an answer, only wishing Dioro’s body peace as if out of passionless obligation. “Why begin to break interprefectural law?”

“I only lengthened the investigation slightly, as I came to learn something from our initial probe of the territory... And it was after learning this that Krasc vanished and likely began contacting Portro for aid...” Letting a pause hang, Zrand demanded everyone’s utmost attention. “My scouts learned of something that your omnipotence would be interested in.”

“Really?”

“Really... It’s something so valuable that I understand why Krasc and Portro acted without my permission. Had I been in their shoes, perhaps I would’ve done the same...”

Squinting, Lord Draco spoke between the pauses, “And what’s so valuable within a weak border territory that you’ll intrude on my prefecture?”

Smiling softly, Zrand shrugged. “Magicite.”

“... Magicite?”

Nodding to the man on the throne, Zrand repeated, “Magicite. Your omnipotence, within Lord Draco’s Iron Territory, a tiny area within the region that Portro recently claimed for himself, you’ll find a magicite mine more vast than any other I’ve seen.”

“Such a mine exists?!” The man’s eyes nearly burst with excitement as he looked to Lord Draco. “Is this true? Or have you not known about such a mine’s existence?”

“I know not. But for such a mine to exist, the odds aren’t-”

Zrand interrupted, not offering his fellow prefecture lord a glance, “I would not mention such a mine’s existence if I was not certain.”

“Hmmm...” The man on the throne ruffled his hair in thought and excitement. “So... Should such a mine exist, one large enough to warrant the quadrant’s attention, it would be enough to merit such an investigation.”

“Your omnipotence, please-”

“Silence, Lord Draco. I’ll have the veracity of Lord Zrand’s claims tested in full. And should the claims prove true, I, Kartzal Toseko, the Noxious God of the West Quadrant, will readdress the matter properly. It will not be under criminal inquisition but as interprefectural investigation. And all related parties will be notified and allowed a means of settling the matter fairly.”

Lord Draco swallowed his pride and bowed his head, clenching his fists in silence. “Yes, Your omnipotence... Then what of Lord Zrand’s misdeed and the mishandling of his subordinates?”

“Hmm... Such matters must also be dealt with...” God Toseko sighed with disinterest, looking to Zrand yet again. “Despite them acting without your orders, they were your subordinates nonetheless. Repercussions must be paid, and perhaps your piece of potential settlement may be affected due to the unsupervised actions of your men. But for now, I’m forced to hold you here in Virulent City. Normally, such conduct would merit a stay of ten years, but I will lessen it to three years upon your claims being proved true.

“So, at the very least until the mortal championship, you will be staying in my palace under my supervision, receiving lectures on proper governing to prove you’ve learned to properly handle your responsibilities. Is that clear, Lord Zrand?”

“Yes, your omnipotence.”

“Have you any objections?”

Zrand was shaking his head before the question had been asked. “No, I have no objection to your merciful ruling.”

“Good...” Then looking to the armored man beside Lord Draco, God Toseko firmly ordered, “Slazza, at dawn you are to leave for the Nova Prefecture, Trighton Region, Iron Territory. Conduct a full inspection of the alleged mine and report back your findings. The moment we understand the depths of this mine, proper protocols shall be set in motion.”