Foreign Interest
By the time they returned, foreign envoys were waiting.
Three banners flew outside the capital.
The Storm Dominion.
The Jade Archipelago.
The Obsidian Empire.
Sam attempted to leave through a side gate.
Lyra grabbed his collar.
"No."
Inside the hall, diplomats argued heatedly.
"We have confirmed the Sovereign's manifestation."
"Our borders were tested."
"We demand shared access to the anomaly."
Sam stopped walking, "…Shared access?"
Theo winced.
"They mean you."
An envoy from the Obsidian Empire stepped forward.
"Our Emperor invites you to ascend as Imperial Grand Ascendant."
"No."
The Storm Dominion envoy smiled.
"Our Sea Lords offer unrestricted resources."
"No."
The Jade Archipelago envoy bowed gracefully.
"We request only observation rights."
Sam stared.
"Absolutely not."
The air hummed.
The envoys stiffened.
Mira stepped between them, "The Kingdom does not trade allies."
The Storm envoy narrowed his eyes.
"Is he truly an ally?"
Sam blinked.
"I am standing here."
Theo leaned toward Darius.
"If he bends international diplomacy, I'm retiring."
Darius nodded.
"Reasonable."
The envoys withdrew reluctantly.
But not peacefully.
As they left, Sam felt it again.
The Sovereign shifting.
Adjusting not just monsters—
But geopolitics.
"That is unfair," Sam muttered.
Lyra looked at him, "What is?"
"It is learning indirectly."
Mira's expression darkened.
"It's using us to destabilize alliances."
Theo's face went pale.
"It's expanding the board."
Sam sighed.
"I preferred when it only built cities."