Chapter 315: An Invitation to the Trap

After Darian left, Cassian remained where he was, turning the problem over in his mind.

Western Beacon was an entire nation. Even with the strength he had built, taking it on alone would be difficult. He could slip Bramrik into position and flatten Sunhaven’s capital, but that would not settle everything.

Peacebringers were forbidden troops for a reason.

The only way to obtain one was through advancement with a Mythic Troop Soul. They were exceptionally rare. Yet the great nations had spent years accumulating resources in their older sectors. Western Beacon would hardly be the only power with one in reserve.

If he revealed Bramrik, other countries could bring their own Peacebringers down. The next step might be retaliatory strikes against Divine Province.

After a little thought, Cassian decided to begin with more conventional weapons.

He emptied a portion of his Inventory. At least a thousand unactivated warship models piled up before him—Refined and Elite vessels that nobody had wanted. He began checking their trade-in options on the Exchange.

"This one will do."

A suitable hull and fifty million Aether bought him a complete Legendary Hurricane Warship. The old model disappeared. Its replacement settled into his hand, shining gold.

Cassian smiled and continued shopping.

——

The Homeworld had enjoyed a quiet week. The announcement of the Firstborn Gate ended it.

[A second World Wonder? In a newcomer sector?]

[First Sector 632, now 666. Are we going to become a war sector too?]

[Western Beacon was strong enough already. Now the Realm has put this thing right in Sunhaven. It might as well hand them first place.]

A Dawn Coast Lord demanded to know why his country never enjoyed such luck. A Black Banner Lord took a different approach.

[The Firstborn Gate belongs to the entire Homeworld. Western Beacon must open Sunhaven to everyone. Otherwise, how can this ranking be fair?]

Lords from one nation after another agreed. Nobody could change the Realm’s decision, but they could certainly put pressure on Western Beacon.

Its own Lords were celebrating.

[Open Sunhaven? You must be joking.]

[This is divine favor!]

[Have you read the rewards? First place will wipe out Divine Province’s advantage. We’ll catch them in one ranking!]

[The Homeworld was always meant to belong to us.]

In the same conference room where Western Beacon’s leaders had discussed hiding the Wonder, dozens of holographic figures now sat around the table. Almost every Governor had attended.

Some looked bitter. Others could barely contain their delight.

"The Realm made the Gate the subject of a ranking. So much for keeping it secret."

"Why worry? We have an overwhelming advantage. First place is ours."

"First place?" Piers Haldane raised his voice. "We’re fighting on our own ground. We should take all ten places!"

Odette Ravelle gave him a cold smile.

"Have you looked at the Homeworld Channel? Everyone is demanding access. Do you intend to fight them all?"

Sunhaven’s Governor, Estelle Harcourt, was a middle-aged woman of mixed ancestry. She looked far less pleased than someone with a World Wonder on her doorstep ought to look.

"I’ve already had messages from more than a hundred Governors. They want permission to hunt in Sunhaven. Some are asking us to open the waters around the Gate as well."

Everyone knew the attraction. The nearer they hunted to the Firstborn Gate, the more likely monsters were to drop First-Age Coins.

"Why should we?" Piers demanded. "Our territory is sacred."

Gavin Roswell spoke from his place among the Free Will representatives.

"We cannot refuse every concession. A substantial minority of Sunhaven’s resident Lords belong to other nations already."

He let that settle before continuing.

"But we can restrict access to our allies. And make a very good profit while we’re at it. Our enemies, naturally, will be refused. The Crown’s thirteen Provinces have no place in our waters."

Heads nodded around the table.

"No," Piers said.

His expression had changed.

"Let the Crown come too. Welcome their best troops. Once they’re here hunting, we use our Gates to bring in the army and make sure none of them leaves."

The room grew quiet.

An invitation, followed by a massacre on their hosts’ own ground. Several Governors exchanged glances.

"It would do considerable damage to our reputation," Gavin said evenly.

Then he smiled.

"Compared with destroying the Crown’s main forces, how much is that reputation worth?"

He leaned forward.

"This ranking is too important to risk. I propose we ask Congress to send down a Peacebringer from an older sector. One should be enough to keep the other nations in line."

Even Odette’s expression tightened.

Her strength was comparable to that of a Legendary Nine-Star troop. At the center of a Peacebringer’s strike, she would still be fortunate to escape with her life.

The proposal quickly found support.

"I agree. We should submit the request."

"For a World Wonder? Congress will approve it."

"Then let someone try to defy us. We’ll see how brave they are with a Peacebringer aimed at them."

One Governor went further.

"Why wait for a provocation? Send it against Divine Province first. Cassian has lost the Crown’s official backing. We wouldn’t even have to fear a retaliatory strike."

"A Peacebringer’s range is limited," Gavin replied. "Getting it into position would require a large escort. Our immediate concern is this ranking."

He had said nothing against attacking Divine Province afterward.

——

"Invite us in, then close the trap. And a Peacebringer..."

Cassian listened to Odette’s report over the video call. An interesting possibility occurred to him.

Perhaps someone had just volunteered to take the blame.

He kept the thought to himself.

"Thank you for the information, Lady Ravelle."

They were using each other. That did not make the information any less valuable.

Odette’s smile warmed.

"Just remember our agreement, Lord Cassian."

"I won’t forget."

He sounded perfectly sincere. He had no intention of forgetting it—and no intention of arranging her return to the Blood Throne either.

Odette ended the call looking satisfied.

Two hours later, nineteen Lords gathered in Cassian’s Domain. Darian was back, along with Elara, Nessa, Mira, Tobias, Rowan, and Mara. Gareth Halvern and Brielle joined them, along with the seven Valcrests, Dain Torren, and Marches Commanders Corin Alder and Lydia Venn.

"The Gate is on Windward Isle, within Sunhaven Province," Cassian told them. "The island is more than ten thousand kilometers across. Even hunting in the surrounding sea will give us the improved coin drop rate."

Darian had scarcely returned home before being called back. He studied Cassian with interest.

"And what do you suggest we do?"

Cassian raised a hand.

Warship models clattered down in a heap. A hundred or so unactivated vessels lay piled before the guests as casually as a load of scrap.

Nessa stared at the golden light spilling across them.

"Legendary! Every one of them!"