~The Garlean Empire, Garlemald~
The chamber was plush and full of luxury. Deep, silken cushions sat upon mahogany chairs polished with a brilliant finish. The chandelier that glowed overhead with blue light reflected off buffed gold and polished mirrors. Three men sat at a round table, their silverware clinking on fine china plates as they spoke and ate.
"So then, the rumors are true, then?" came the first voice, belonging to a pure-blooded Garlean dressed in a military uniform with the rank of major displayed proudly upon his chest. The major watched the other two men, whom were both dressed in black finery.
"Aye. Adonis is dead."
"And what of his organization, his spy ring." The major inquired, a hint of anger tainting his words. Adin Adonis and his ring of spies had been a domestic problem as well as an international one. The man had wielded more political power than he should for one of his rank and influence and the list of enemies the Adonis family had at home was almost as long as the list of those abroad.
"A wreck. His successor, Captain Rema Mordhelm, was recently slain." One of the two men in black finery spoke, his voice deep and commanding, a grey beard on his chin. The bearded man continued. "His original second, Sergeant Rynsur, was also slain as well as several important figures in the organization. Once Adin's slave, Jin'li, and Captain Mordhelm were killed, the organization began scrambling to find a new head. The various parts of Adin's organization are squabbling still and, at this time, none inside the Adonis family have stepped forward to claim the helm."
"So the organization is..."Â The major let the statement hang in the hair.
"Currently vulnerable."Â the bearded man grinned as he replied.
"This is excellent!" The major smirked as he picked up his glass of fine, red wine and sipped, enjoying how the beverage paired with his grilled steak. "After nearly a decade, the thorn in our side is dead and we have a chance to burn the entire thorn bush and salt the ground where it grew."
"You mean to take out the entire organization?"Â the bearded man blinked in surprise. Even for the Major, that was a bold political move.Â
"Just the possible heads. If we are lucky, we can assimilate parts of Adin's organization into our own while slicing out the parts we find...undesirable."
"You mean the Adonis family."Â the bearded man said slowly as he thought.
"Indeed." the major replied slowly. "And not subtly either. I want a direct assault."
"An assault?" the bearded man replied incredulously. "Are you insane? The political backlash would devastate us if we were found out."
"Then we best make sure no one inside the Adonis manor during the assault lives to tell the tale, hadn't we?" the major purred as his three eyes blinked in unison. The bearded man looked at the pure blooded Garlean in the major's uniform and nodded.
"I'll do what I can to keep this from spilling over, major." the bearded man replied, thinking. "We'll need to get his entire family then, least directly related."
"So that means the wife, three sons, and the one, adopted daughter." the major answered dismissively. "Cousins and extended family can be dealt with over the next few weeks."
"You are aware, sir, that the adopted girl and the youngest son have nothing to do with either Adin's organization or the military in any way, major? Their deaths might prove more problematic since they have political allies the rest of the family does not and are well traveled in the political circuits, unlike their father." the bearded man cautioned.
"I am confident the number of people whom would benefit from the destruction of the Adonis family outnumber those whom will suffer for it. Any whom object to the deaths of the brats can be bribed or threaten into silence." the major took another sip of wine and grinned at the bearded man while the third man ate on in silence. "Or killed."
"Then when shall we proceed?" the bearded man asked, his eyes never leaving the major.
"Immediately following dinner. I have a band of our own agents already preparing." the major placed his glass down and returned to cutting his steak. "But no need to rush. This dinner is one to be savored. Just as I'll savor being rid of the wretched Adonis family."
The chamber was plush and full of luxury. Deep, silken cushions sat upon mahogany chairs polished with a brilliant finish. The chandelier that glowed overhead with blue light reflected off buffed gold and polished mirrors. Three men sat at a round table, their silverware clinking on fine china plates as they spoke and ate.
"So then, the rumors are true, then?" came the first voice, belonging to a pure-blooded Garlean dressed in a military uniform with the rank of major displayed proudly upon his chest. The major watched the other two men, whom were both dressed in black finery.
"Aye. Adonis is dead."
"And what of his organization, his spy ring." The major inquired, a hint of anger tainting his words. Adin Adonis and his ring of spies had been a domestic problem as well as an international one. The man had wielded more political power than he should for one of his rank and influence and the list of enemies the Adonis family had at home was almost as long as the list of those abroad.
"A wreck. His successor, Captain Rema Mordhelm, was recently slain." One of the two men in black finery spoke, his voice deep and commanding, a grey beard on his chin. The bearded man continued. "His original second, Sergeant Rynsur, was also slain as well as several important figures in the organization. Once Adin's slave, Jin'li, and Captain Mordhelm were killed, the organization began scrambling to find a new head. The various parts of Adin's organization are squabbling still and, at this time, none inside the Adonis family have stepped forward to claim the helm."
"So the organization is..."Â The major let the statement hang in the hair.
"Currently vulnerable."Â the bearded man grinned as he replied.
"This is excellent!" The major smirked as he picked up his glass of fine, red wine and sipped, enjoying how the beverage paired with his grilled steak. "After nearly a decade, the thorn in our side is dead and we have a chance to burn the entire thorn bush and salt the ground where it grew."
"You mean to take out the entire organization?"Â the bearded man blinked in surprise. Even for the Major, that was a bold political move.Â
"Just the possible heads. If we are lucky, we can assimilate parts of Adin's organization into our own while slicing out the parts we find...undesirable."
"You mean the Adonis family."Â the bearded man said slowly as he thought.
"Indeed." the major replied slowly. "And not subtly either. I want a direct assault."
"An assault?" the bearded man replied incredulously. "Are you insane? The political backlash would devastate us if we were found out."
"Then we best make sure no one inside the Adonis manor during the assault lives to tell the tale, hadn't we?" the major purred as his three eyes blinked in unison. The bearded man looked at the pure blooded Garlean in the major's uniform and nodded.
"I'll do what I can to keep this from spilling over, major." the bearded man replied, thinking. "We'll need to get his entire family then, least directly related."
"So that means the wife, three sons, and the one, adopted daughter." the major answered dismissively. "Cousins and extended family can be dealt with over the next few weeks."
"You are aware, sir, that the adopted girl and the youngest son have nothing to do with either Adin's organization or the military in any way, major? Their deaths might prove more problematic since they have political allies the rest of the family does not and are well traveled in the political circuits, unlike their father." the bearded man cautioned.
"I am confident the number of people whom would benefit from the destruction of the Adonis family outnumber those whom will suffer for it. Any whom object to the deaths of the brats can be bribed or threaten into silence." the major took another sip of wine and grinned at the bearded man while the third man ate on in silence. "Or killed."
"Then when shall we proceed?" the bearded man asked, his eyes never leaving the major.
"Immediately following dinner. I have a band of our own agents already preparing." the major placed his glass down and returned to cutting his steak. "But no need to rush. This dinner is one to be savored. Just as I'll savor being rid of the wretched Adonis family."
