The Ambassador from the North Part 1

"What the hell is this?" When Elm's emissary Peter Walters stepped out of his cabin, the sight of an unknown black banner which had an eagle and a cross inside a white circle hung and hoisted in the city wall hit him in the face.

"The last time you came here was a year ago, right?" said the assistant to the ambassador who also has the same expression as him. He graciously put a wool coat on the ambassador's shoulders. "Does it look like this before?"

"It was a year and a half." Peter corrected. "Every season the Duke chose a different person to come around. The last time I was in the city of Eighbury, it was summer. It didn't look like this before."

The two walked towards the city gate, where they were blocked by what seems to be the guard who donned an intricate black military uniform that seemingly looks expensive. Its noticeable features are an insignia of black cross pinned on their left chest and an armband that has the same symbol as the flags hung on the city wall.

"Who are you?" Asked the guard. Peter scanned the guard again who seems to be carrying a cylindrical wood? He doesn't know how to explain it. Is it a new type of baton?

"Ah, we are from the City of Elm, who is governed by Duke Elm Gustave? We come here to have an audience with Lord Enrico. My name is Peter Walters and this is my attendant. This is the proof of our identity."

Peter Walters handed him some sort of insignia, indicating that he is a nobility. The guards perused their appearance as if looking for something, and then both guards looked at each other, exchanging meaningful glances.

"Hmm...The Volksfuhrer is expecting an ambassador from the City of Elm…"

"Volksfuhrer?" Peter narrowed his brows, "Who is that?"

"You'll know him soon. We'll escort you to the mansion." Evading the question, the guards told them to get on their carriage and follow the two horses who will be their guide.

Inside the carriage, Peter looked troubled at what he had heard. "Volksfuhrer". He hasn't heard of anyone with that name? Is that Lord Enrico's new name or title? While contemplating, his attendant tugged his leaves, getting his attention.

"Sir look." He said and pointed his finger at the window.

Peter leaned forward and looked to where his attendant was looking. His eyes widened.

In the street, a black banner with a symbol of an eagle in the white circle was hung on each house's walls, people walking in the gutter looked lively than before, the roads where he expected to be full of rattling motion didn't happen. And not only that, some roads were excavated as cylindrical metal were being placed by dwarves, humans, and beastman.

The pungent smell of horse dung, people's waste that can stream through the small opening of the carriage he expected to sniff in were gone, as if non-existent. Rather, a pleasant smell wafted through the small openings. During his first arrival in this city, the mood of the people was dejected and depressed, they wore filthy and ragged clothes, and the street was full of waste of god knows who.

But he can't find any of them anymore. Did the city lord of Eighbury have a change of heart and issue an official decree similar to the beautification decree Lord Gustave issued? No, there's no way. He thought he knew Lord Enrico and he was not the smartest tool in the shed. There's no way a man who indulges himself in a lavish life could care for his people's lifestyle and the city.

"Just what is happening in this city?" He said, agitated. First the banners, second the dress of the guards who carry a cylindrical baton, third streets that are under construction, fourth the pleasant smell, and lastly the mood of the people.

Was he in the right city? He asked himself.

He didn't know how much time had passed but just thinking of what could happen in the city took a lot of time to the point they arrived at the mansion.

"Huh already?" He peered through the window and saw the mansion whose walls are covered by a huge black banner. Similar to the banner and houses he saw earlier.

In the roof, a flagpole with the black banner again fluttered in the wind.

"Where am I?"

The two guards escorted them inside the mansion, into the governmental office affairs.

He'll just ask the lord about the sudden change of the city when he meets him.

Arriving at the door, Peter fixed himself, he had come here to discuss the order of Elm they made six months ago. But after seeing the recent changes in the city, he added it to the agenda.

As the guard opened the door, Peter and his attendant stepped inside the office room.

"Lord Enrico, it's a pleasure to meet you again. Your city had significantly changed a lot…"Then his expression hardened, a bead of sweat trickled down on his face. By the figure of a man sitting behind the desk who is supposed to be Enrico, it was a young man with a cold aura emanating around him.

"Yow...are you the ambassador Lord Gustave sent here?" A young man wearing a military uniform asked him sternly.

"Ye...yes?" He stammered out a confirmation. What is happening? Where is Lord Enrico? Those are the questions he'd like to ask but the piercing gaze that sends chills on his spines and a cold aura stopped him from doing so.

He stood and ambled forward. He extended his hand. "Good, we'll have a lot to discuss." He glanced at the guards behind Peter which appears to be a signal.

And then—

The door was loudly shut behind them, making their expressions of befuddlement turn into fear.

"Have a seat."

The two guards behind them placed their hands on Peter and the attendant's shoulder and applied pressure, forcing them to sit.

This was supposed to be a discussion about trades but why does he feel like being interrogated?

"Pardon me. I haven't introduced myself." The young man buttoned his uniform as he sat down on his chair. "My name is Volksfuhrer Ernest Gonzales...I know you have a lot of questions to ask like where is Lord Enrico and why the city is different from what you expected. Well, allow me to answer all of that...by telling you a story."

Ernest then told him a story about the rise of UNSP, from how they started, how it gathered followers, and how it deposed the city lord. All of which made his expression hardened.

"...That's all," Ernest concluded.

"So-so a-are...you te-te-telling...me...you...staged...a...coup against Lord Enrico?" Peter babbled.

"Yeah, something like that," Ernest said calmly as if proud of seizing power through a coup. The young man before him doesn't know the consequences of his actions.

"Yo-you! How can you be so calm after staging a coup? Insurrection and rebellion to the government...do you have any idea what charges they may place upon your head? Public execution."

Ernest snickered. "Of all the lives you should be concerned about, mine is not one of them. Ambassador, you are in an enemy's stronghold. Do you think you still hold your position by coming from Gustave's city?"

Peter gulped.

"You seem to have understood your situation."

"So are you going to kill me?" Peter asked.

"No no no." Ernest waved his hand, "Why would I kill a business partner? That would've been rude of me." Ernest said calmly.

Even though he said it in a calm manner, his face told otherwise. There's something with this man he can't tell. It feels as though he is not talking to a young man but to a man who holds the highest authority in this room.

"Why are you so nervous? Let's get on with this trade shall we?" Ernest suggested.

"Uhm...okay." He stammered.

"After I became a city lord, I made sure to know this city's affairs. Based on the last transaction this city made with the duke's city, it was stated that it purchased 70% low than the normal price of harvest and mineral ores? Is this correct?" Ernest asked.

Peter fearfully nodded. He knew that the transaction was simply an exploitation of the goods and resources of Eighbury. It was supposed to be his turn to do it again, but after facing the man who seized the Lord's title, he gave up on the idea.

"And you came here to do it again right?"

It was at this moment he knew, he fucked up

Ernest clicked his tongue repeatedly. "There's no way we'd accept such an offer? And also you coming here is useless as we've already sold the excess harvest from the neighboring city who is willing to pay at market price.

"..."

"You might be wondering why we are having this conversation, aren't you? Well, I have something to show you." Ernest snapped his finger and the door opened.

Peter looked behind and saw a familiar face. Wearing a black suit with a UNSP pin button in the gorge part of the suit. Then he straightened his arm and raised it towards Ernest.

"Volksfuhrer, you called."

"Lex what are you?"

Lex ignored as he focused his eyes on his supreme leader. Looks like the two know each other.

Ernest returned a salute. "Lex, you know what to do with these gentlemen."

"Yes, Volksfuhrer. I will escort them to the balcony that'll give them the perfect view of the UNSP's might."