Lord Altergott scoffed, his gaze shifting between Davout and Alexander.
"Very well, but I doubt this child has thought of something you haven't."
He waved a dismissive hand.
"Go on then, dazzle me with your genius."
Alexander grinned.
A shape and predatory gesture.
"I'm going to kill them all, every single one of them. You don't need to deploy a large conventional force when there's nothing to defend against."
Lord Altergott chuckled, "You can't be serious."
Alexander stared at him, his grin unwavering.
Altergott stopped laughing, a shiver running down his spine as he glanced at Davout.
"He's joking, right? He can't possibly expect to wipe out an entire people. There must be thousands…"
Alexander shrugged.
"More people to shoot and burn, hell, maybe I can even make a few into slaves. They can still call their mountain home as they mine the ore that I killed them for."
Lord Altergott blinked, gripping the arm of his chair.
His mind raced to determine whether Alexander was serious, or if this was some twisted jest.
Fredrick, sensing the contract slipping from his grasp, raised his hands.
"We don't have to do that if you don't want to. It's only a suggestion, I'm sure he could find a less… 'genocidal' solution."
Alexander shook his head, pressing a finger on the map.
"You don't go around a rock slide when you have the means to clear it. This isn't a pacification, it's an elimination of a threat."
Elizabeth giggled softly.
"Lord Altergott, please consider what my beloved is saying. This saves money and lives, and what's more important than that?"
Altergott swallowed, his throat dry.
They had a point, it was a matter between their lives and those of demons.
He was never particularly fond of demons, but that didn't change the fact that it was utterly repulsive to massacre them all.
Still, the profits he'd make.
The profits would be great enough that he could rival even the royal family.
He cleared his throat, fixing his coat.
"I do not wish to know the methods by which you secure this resource, just ensure that it is done."
He replied almost breathlessly, "Where is the contract?"
Elizabeth produced a paper and slid it to him.
He accepted, briefly reading over it.
Then with the shake of his head, he sighed the paper.
"No one should know of what you claim, for both our sakes."
He stood, gesturing towards the door.
"Please, leave this place."
— — —
The heavy oak doors of Lord Altergott's estate closed behind them.
Fredrick immediately massaged his temples, sweat rolling down his forehead.
"Goddess, Alexander… Did you have to say those things? Even if you believe them, we need our partners to sleep soundly at night."
Alexander chuckled, popping his collar.
"Oh spare me the lecture. In this world, it's survival of the fittest. Either you're strong, or you die."
He paused at his carriage, glancing over his shoulder.
"Besides, those demons have it coming. They're sitting on a prime resource that I want, and I'm willing to do anything to get it."
Davout stopped in front of him.
"I'm curious, do you have any ideas on how you'll fight them? Mountain warfare isn't exactly standard."
Alexander opened his carriage door.
"I don't know yet, maybe I'll burn down their homes and trees. Steal their young to draw them out and gun them down… I mean there are a lot of ways."
Davout stroked his mustache, "An interesting tactic, but how will you steal what you can't see?"
Alexander paused, then looked up to the passing zeppelin overhead.
He then smirked.
"I'll keep an eye on the sky, a few hot air balloons should do the trick."
Davout chuckled, shaking his head.
"You're insanity knows no bounds, boy."
Alexander turned toward Fredrick.
"I want three of 'em. And find me some pilots."
Fredrick sighed, "I'll see what I can do. Just don't expect a warship…"
Alexander stepped into the carriage.
"Don't need one, I just need to know where to point my war machine."
— — —
Alexander arrived back at base, where Inés and Klaus stood over a map.
"Alright, just to recap."
Alexander gestured towards Inés.
"We'll have the balloons circle the valley, travel routes, settlements, and ambush points will be identified and noted."
Inés moved her finger along the mountain.
"Then, we have sniper teams climb into position and lay down suppressing fire, providing cover for our advancing columns. Once we make contact, the goal is to kill the warriors, and steal the children."
She brought a finger down to the mountain base.
"The children will be imprisoned here, out in the open. It forces the enemy to reveal themselves, opening them to attack from our superior weapons. Then we repeat, until finally we reach the head village, we'll surround it, and burn it. Forcing them out of hiding and right into our gunfire."
Inés took her finger from the map.
"Should everything work out, it'll be done in a month. Of course, this plan relies heavily on the Balloons, we should look into a backup, just in case."
Alexander met her gaze.
"Any ideas?"
Inés crossed her arms.
"I can get the survey data from the pathfinders. Secret routes and caves. It might be out of date but it's better than nothing. Also… you won't see the ambushes."
Alexander nodded.
"Perfect, should the balloons fail, the pathfinders and I will lead our teams using the old data. It'll be a lot more… unpredictable."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"Klaus, we have two weeks before departure, make sure the men can scale a rock."
"Aye, sir."
"Inés, handle everything else."
"Yes, sir."
Alexander stepped out of the office, adjusting his collar.
— — —
Meanwhile, on the demon continent, two demon tribes were in the process of allying.
Both the demon chief of the Gual'torah tribe, and the chief of the Auma tribe met in the winding valley.
<"Brother, thank you for meeting with me on this beautiful day.">
The massive chief from Gual'torah could be identified by his long fur coat and buzzed hair.
He extended his hand towards the chief of Auma.
The Auma chief chuckled, taking his hand.
<"Tell me, brother, why have you organized this meeting? You never wrote before.">
The chief from Gual'torah rolled his purple eyes, before smirking.
<"Normally I'd have challenged you for such bad jokes. But, this matter is not a laughing one. I'm sure you have noticed the pale conquerors have laid claim to more of our lands. Their metal beasts claim the sky and sea… and I fear soon we'll have no escape.">
The Auma chief frowned.
<"Yes, my scouts have said the same. Every day the hunting grounds grow smaller. Their settlements grow larger and they scatter forts along the rivers. But war is out of the question, you've seen what happened to our kin, we cannot match them.">
<"Not alone, brother. But together…">
The Auma chief took a step back, raising an eyebrow.
<"What brought on this zeal? Have you gone mad? Hit your head against a cave wall too many times?">
The Gual'torah chief shook his head, covering his eyes.
<"No, but my shamans have had visions of great terror. Every night they wake and scream or weep. They repeat this one thing, a conqueror is coming, a butcher, a monster.">
The Auma chief let out a bellowing laugh.
<"You called because of visions? Of a conqueror no less… brother, you are a great warrior. Your tribe has held these mountains for generations, even against the pale Conquerors. I'm sorry, but this feels suspicious.">
The Gual'torah chief stepped closer, holding out his hands in a pleading gesture.
<"I understand your suspicion, but we are kin. Your tribe is the strongest in the land, spare your warriors for me, just until this cycle passes.">
The Auma chief's gaze softened, but his form was firm.
<"I cannot do such a thing, what would my people say if I left them defenseless for another? You are paranoid, it's been some time since the last attack, hasn't it?">
The Gual'torah chief frowned.
<"Maybe you are right, but my gut says otherwise. If you are not willing to send warriors, then can I send you my women and children? The vulnerable of my tribe?">
The Auma chief opened his mouth in surprise.
<"You would trust me with such a thing?">
<"Yes, best case, my people can return home and I'll be known as a paranoid ruler. Worst case, you came back to find these mountains holding my soul and nothing more.">
The Auma chief stepped forward, embracing his brother.
<"I will accept this duty with honor, brother. And I pray that these visions are nothing more than that.">
The Gual'torah chief accepted the gesture with trembling hands.
<"I pray they are too, brother.">