Arnold requested me to the magic mirror. What could that coward be thinking? He had never taken such drastic measures in his entire life.

The conflict I attempted to avoid was unavoidable. It appears that we will be fighting soon, my old foolish friend. Duke Elims walked right in front of me without saying anything, so I asked him first, "Why is he calling us now?" He's never reached out to us before." Duke did not immediately respond, but after taking two steps forward he stopped turned back to look at me and replied , "We are done, Liam."

What? We are done? What exactly is he on about?

"What exactly do you mean?"

"It appears that we are in serious trouble. The kingdoms that share a border with us are making secret moves, and I believe Anartia and Empherem kingdom have allied against us."

"What? Are you crazy? We both know they would never associate with each other, they don't see eye to eye after that incident."

"I know but …"

"No, but Herner, if you have evidence about this so-called alliance  I will listen to you. If not, we will never decide the Kingdom’s future based on speculation."

Herner appeared to be about to say something, but he stopped and quietly followed me to the Magic Mirror chamber. The chamber was made entirely of white tiles brought from Amrah City's mines, and the large magic mirror stood in the centre of the room, with the magician sitting beside it for management.

"Connect me to the Royal Castle of the Anartia Kingdom."

"Your Majesty, yes."

The magician stood up and poured mana into the alaramites-based magic mirror. The magic mirror turned lavender, and an image of Arnold began to form in the mirror.

"Well, well if it isn't my dear old friend Liam himself in person."

"You, Arnold, are the one who contacted me and requested my presence."

Arnold smirked as if mocking my remark. I remained silent in response to his provocation. I knew he had this all planned from the beginning. However, why is he attempting to provoke me? He is the ruler of a small province and a peace-loving coward.

"Liam, I want the seventy per cent share of alaramite at the border that you have monopolised, and..."

"Monopolised? The mines are the rightful property of the Evanescent Kingdom.

"Rightful? Are we discussing rights now? Then half of the land you and your ancestors ruled over is rightfully mine."

"Are you for real?"

'Why is he being so bold? His kingdom lacks the resources to fight the war against our kingdom, but he continues to provoke me at every turn of our conversation. Is there something I'm missing?'

"Liam, either hand over the alaramite mines to our kingdom or we will go to war for them..."

"War? Are you really Arnold? The coward who had never drawn a sword before entering the academy"

"Liam I'll take this remark as a remark of old friends, but from now on, any insult directed at me is an insult to my kingdom. I'm speaking to you as King of Anartia Kingdom, not as your friend."

"So, what exactly do you expect from me? The alaramite mines were discovered in my domain, they are now the legal property of the Evanescent Kingdom, and..."

"Until the Holy Temple issues you a certificate of possession, it is nothing more than an illegal cover." "I'm giving you two days: either give me the alaramite mines or I will snatch them from you, even if it costs me the entire fortune of my kingdom."

"Arnold, are you..."

Before I could talk some sense into my friend, he disconnected.

Is he really my friend Arnold from the Holy Temple Knight's Academy? He sure looks like Arnold, but he doesn't talk like Arnold.

"Call everyone to the War Council Room, Herner. We're getting ready for war. Make the Dragon alert throughout the kingdom."

"Dr-Dragon Alert your Majesty? Are you certain?"

"Do you have any reservations about my decision?"

"N-No, your majesty."

Dragon alerts are the highest threat level alerts that can be placed on the kingdom in extreme conditions. Ha! I never expected to issue this alert against one of my childhood friends, similar to the ones issued against the guardian dragon Keziel when he went berserk before being slain by the tenth patriarch. Life is really unpredictable. What will happen next?