Slavara, Mayor's Office.
Gorl stood in silence, his hands crossed behind his back, tightening slightly. He faced the massive glass wall behind his desk, eyes calm but serious, expression hardened.
Then, suddenly, someone entered.
"My Mayor,"
a voice called from behind.
There stood a female demon dressed in formal attire. Her posture was firm, but her face and tone, betrayed unease.
"All of our inner-city troops have been eliminated,"
she declared, her grip tightening around the notepad she held.
"We are unable to do anything to stop the unexpected attackers who have infiltrated our walls."
Gorl listened, unmoving, his back still turned to her.
"I see,"
he finally said.
"It seems like this was inevitable, eh?"
He asked, voice oddly calm. Too calm.
"What about the Special Mage Force? Did they crumble as well with the others?"
He turned his head slightly.
"They're the last line of defense we have,"
she replied.
"Out of the four Special Mages, the only one currently engaging in combat is Boris. Gaby was defeated, badly. His mana core was shattered. Hyuga, his brother, took him and rushed to the city healer. He reported that they won't be joining us. As for Vin, he's just arrived. He's expected to join Boris on the battlefield."
She kept her head up, but her eyes down. Gorl listened in silence. His eyes narrowed, then he slowly turned to fully face her.
"How funny..."
he muttered.
"The infamous city of Slavara, one of the largest slave-trading hubs in all of Darkvill, can't even hold its ground against some petty humans."
His gaze locked onto her. Now completely facing her.
"Tell me, Melissa... isn't that going to make us the laughing stock not just in our kingdom, but across the entire Ignathian continent?"
His tone hardened. Frustration crept up his face like a storm. Melissa remained quiet.
"Not only do we have a general who's lost his mind, disobeying His Majesty's orders,"
Gorl continued, stepping forward and placing his hands on the desk. His eyes darkened, veins rising on his forehead as his fists clenched.
",but the Special Dragon Force is twenty minutes late without any explanation!"
He gritted his teeth.
"What is our king going to say... when word gets out that he was humiliated by a rebel party... an elf... and that good-for-nothing slave?"
His fingers dug into the wooden surface. Melissa's leg trembled slightly. Fear had taken hold. She said nothing.
"Ah..."
Gorl sighed.
"Declare a state of emergency. Evacuate everyone from the city. Request all possible aid immediately. Even if they destroy the entire city..."
His eyes burned.
"I want those bastards caught."
Melissa nodded without hesitation.
"We shall, immediately!"
With that, she turned and left the room in a swift stride.
As the door closed, Gorl turned again to the glass wall. His eyes scanned the cityscape, hands once more folded behind his back.
"You cannot escape, not on my watch. Even if you somehow get past the general..."
His eyes narrowed.
"There will be a whole army waiting for you... Kajin."
Then, he turned away, walking slowly toward the door of his office. His eyes, dark with a storm of anger and ambition.
"This is just the beginning... I will not allow my beloved city to be dictated by some insignificant and worthless slaves."
His voice dropped into a cold vow.
"As the Mayor... I promise."