The next day, they received a reply to the letter they had sent to Artel City. Pauly had refused to come and explicitly demanded the city and its surroundings to be given to him. He argued that he had contributed significantly to the region and now deserved certain rights and privileges. Flarka read the letter repeatedly and finally called his commanders to his side. He handed the letter to Kierra, instructing him to read it aloud.
"King I. Flarka of the Lacra Empire, I regretfully decline the invitation you have sent. Today marks the 15th year of my appointment as the governor of Artel City. For fifteen years, I have been managing and developing this city in a manner befitting your kingdom. Now, I believe it is only fair to present my demands on certain matters. Firstly, I request the allocation of Artel City and the surrounding lands in my name, as well as the establishment of an autonomous administration in the mentioned region. Furthermore, in order to implement the development plans I have designed, a 5-year tax exemption is necessary. Taking into account the benefits that a fully equipped regiment of my soldiers, ready for war at any time and under any circumstances, could bring to the country in case of a potential conflict, I hope you will consider my proposal."
Sincerely, Pauly Governor of Artel
Kierra folded the letter and handed it back to Flarka. Meanwhile, Rhadam was busy cursing at Pauly, and Marek had firmly placed his hand on his sword.
"Allow me to go and take this traitor's head!" Marek exclaimed. "We have tolerated this man's audacity long enough. It is time to rid the city of this virus without delay," Rhadam chimed in with support.
Flavia, as usual, sat next to her brother, watching him intently. Flarka read the letter to himself once again. As he read, he tapped his fingers on the edge of the throne. Everyone in the room anxiously awaited Flarka's response. After contemplating for a while, Flarka began to speak.
"This letter is too much, even for Pauly. He has never been this audacious before. I don't like this situation. How many men does Pauly have under his command?" he asked with a thoughtful demeanor.
"I counted around 250 men on the southern side," Marek replied. "And there were approximately 300 soldiers on the northern side," Rhadam added in support.

"Around the castle, there were 50 soldiers stationed, so we can say it's a total of a 600-strong army."
"Understood. Rhadam, Marek, prepare a 1,300-strong army. Try to resolve this without fighting. If you are forced to engage in battle, Jhadol's 300-strong army will join you there."
It was evident from his constant contemplation that Flarka was weighing the situation internally. Since reading the letter, he had been stroking his chin, trying to uncover the underlying truth behind it.
"Do we really need such a large army for a garrison of 600 men? Besides, Jhadol's forces are not well-versed in land warfare. Those men are more efficient at sea," Rhadam objected. However, Flarka seemed to have made up his mind.
"I haven't finished yet. There is something else at play here. Flavia, I want you to personally lead this operation. Rhadam, Marek, and Jhadol will assist you in this mission. Act swiftly and bring me that traitor's head as soon as possible!"
Upon hearing Flavia's name, Rhadam and Marek suddenly exchanged glances. Even Kierra had straightened up where he sat. Flavia's eyes sparkled as soon as she heard her name.
"Then I will bring the Shinra warriors with me," she exclaimed with great excitement.
"Good idea."
The appointment of Flavia to lead the operation surprised everyone. In such situations, Flarka would always rely on Rhadam or Marek, keeping Kierra and Flavia by his side. However, recently, he had decided to send Kierra on a challenging mission to the south and appointed his sister as a commander in an internal war. Kierra stepped forward.
"Allow me to lead the army. I know the city just as well as you do."
"I have already entrusted you with a highly challenging mission. I cannot allow you to engage in battle before going to the south. It's too risky."
After receiving this response, Kierra wanted to object, but he remained silent as he had no suitable response. Flarka observed the reactions of those in the room for a while. Rhadam and Marek remained silent because they didn't dare speak up. Their discontent was evident in their demeanor. Kierra stayed silent as she couldn't come up with anything to say. Flavia, on the other hand, was visibly excited, her eyes burning with passion. Flarka continued speaking resolutely:
"I have already sent word to Jhadol. He will prepare his soldiers as soon as possible. The rest of you should prepare as if you will depart within two days. You may go."
The commanders, bewildered by the order, set off towards their soldiers. When Flarka was left alone, he held Flavia's hands and began speaking:
"You must be very cautious. If the situation were calmer, I would go myself, but you know I cannot fight on just one front." Flavia smiled at her brother tenderly and said, "I know, dear brother. Don't worry, I won't let you down, I promise." "Thank you," he said, embracing his sister.
After comforting her brother for a short while, Flavia retreated to her room. Flarka, left alone, sat back on his throne and tapped his fingers on the edge, lost in silent contemplation under the dim light.