Chapter 188: The Gutenberg Press

"You all have gathered. I assume you brought your armies with you." Astrom said looking down from his throne at his bannermen. Torsten stood by his side wearing an ugly smile as he watched everyone gather. Eyes looked his way with momentary disgust or hate. Despite that, everyone nodded in acknowledgment towards Astom’s words.

"Good." Smiling he picked up the large claymore that leaned against his throne and laid it across his lap. "You have an hour. Have everything ready." The bannermen all nodded, hurriedly leaving the room, leaving Astrom and Torsten alone.

"My Lord, I have sent word to Helga." Astrom nodded, but before he could move, the ugly dwarf spoke with his usual arrogance, getting a glare. "I also have a suggestion. Your son. I believe this is the perfect chance for him to prove himself."

A deep sigh that almost sounded like a growl came from Astroms mouth as he got up and walked closer to Torsten who only reached his thigh. "You and him always bickering." Looking down at Torsten with cold eyes he saw the small dwarf just grin and look back into his eyes. "Although at least you can look at me when you do."

His eyes flashed with disappointment when he thought about his son who would shrink away from his gaze. "I mean no disrespect Astrom."

"Stop with your words." Retaking his seat and laying the claymore once more on his lap he sighed again. "They can irritate me, dwarf." Torsten smiled but took a step back realizing he was about to overstep his mark.

"You’re right. You’re not an idiot after all." Torsten removed his ugly smile and looked flatly at Astrom. "He is weak and still seeks Daddy’s approval when he has nothing to show for it. Let him earn it."

A little scoff left his mouth before a booming laughter. "How did I ever bring about someone so weak." Astrom final word was coated in bloodlust as he looked at Torsten who stiffened from the primal fear he felt. That being said he took a deep breath and calmed himself. Astrom only let him near because of his mind and his ability to not cower at his gaze.

"That’s not what I meant. He is young and this is a good chance to let him grow. Maybe through battle, he will learn. After all, he only plays at being a warrior now."

"Have my other brats not grown yet." Astrom moved on the topic getting a shake of the head from Torsten. With a heavy sigh, he leaned down and grabbed his face. "Okay. He will come." Torsten smiled but his face fell at the next words. "You are coming as well then."

"What?" It was all he could say at what he heard and Astrom smiled seeing the confused face.

"Don’t make me repeat myself." Getting up once more he crouched down and looked deep into the dwarf’s eyes. His finger poked into his head as he pushed threatening to topple Torsten. "You are a smart half-man. I’ll give you that. But don’t think I can’t see what you want."

"If you want to kill my son because he said hurtful things then so be it. But you’re not going to get away that easy." Astrom gave a strong push, putting Torsten on his ass before laughing.

The small dwarf could only look up in disbelief before laughing as well. It was completely different, full of self-mockery. "Do they even have weapons and armor for me?"

"I guess you will have to find it." Astrom chuckled getting up, his shadow looming over Torsten. "Let’s see if my son’s weakness also applies to you, Torsten." Astrom laughed as he picked up his claymore and walked off.

’This is not... good.’It was all he could say to himself as he saw the towering figure’s back in the distance.

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"Alfred." William walked in not bothering with titles as the two were alone. Alfred smiled differing from the seat before him. His smile soon fell as he looked to the ground with nostalgia

"It’s a shame that Raven never was this friendly with me."

"That was just the type of man he was." Alfred smiled bitterly as they sat in silence for a couple of seconds. "Enough about these sad topics. I came for a reason. You getting me to summon those people must be for a good reason, but I just need to know if what you want to create would be possible."

"Ahhh. One second." Alfred reached to his neck grabbing a key that was tied around his neck. William took notice of it squinting.’To keep the key on himself. It must be very important.’

Alfred opened his cupboard and knelt down unlocking the draw at the bottom carefully reaching and pulling out multiple large pieces of thick paper. He carefully carried it to the table and placed it down for William to analyze.

After a good few seconds of looking at it, he leaned back grabbing his mouth. "How? How did you think of something like this?" The blueprint was expertly drawn with massive descriptions all over it explaining each component to William.

Alfred gave a thin smile. "Sol’s blessing I guess."

"Sol’s blessing. Right." William didn’t believe it but didn’t push the subject seeing Alfred didn’t want to disclose it. "The design is easy enough to follow, the only problem is the lettering that has to be created, which requires a bit of skill." William sighed once again in amazement. It looked simple, but to think and design it was anything but.

"The materials can be easily provided. The wood, goose skin, horse hair, and metal. It’s just a matter of training people to be able to use it effectively."

"Have you given it a name?"

Alfred smiled. It was only fair to give credit to the man who created it. "The Gutenberg Press." In the early days Alfred had always feared his identity from another world being exposed. Whilst the name of his purge was well known to the people of the world by now, he hoped it was vague enough to the people that hopefult they wouldn’t link him to it. But this was different.

The name alone was foreign to any culture. But he was sure that now he was safe. He had created the Empire as the perfect shield for himself if anyone tried to attack him for it. he had never met anyone from his own world, nor heard of any clues that could link someone to it, but he knew that he wasn’t a singular foreign entity in it. Isra proved it. Whilst she wasn’t from Earth, she was still a foreigner in the world.

"My son had thought you went insane there the other day when he met you, but I can see you were just excited." William laughed. "I assume that I can’t take the blueprint with me."

"You understand William. This has to be created under my watch. Any and all information about it can’t be leaked yet. Not whilst the church is snooping around."

"It’ll take around a week for my people to arrive. This should be enough time to collect the material we need." Alfred nodded.

"The second thing I want to talk to you about is quite different. It related to Issac."

"What about him?"

"When I ask you this William, I don’t want you to take it as disrespect. But would you consider letting Issac leave the military?" The air went silent as William looked at Alfred with a confused glare. He could see Alfred was being earnest in his request but it didn’t make sense. The Flanders family had been heavily linked to the armed forces since the reign of Edmund the Brilliant. To ask something like that was to abandon part of the family’s identity.

"Why?" He didn’t refuse straight away.

"Before I start, I want to ask. Do you think it possible for Issac to succeed you as General?"

Alfred watched as William fell into thought and used the time to put away the blueprint, returning the key back around his neck. Seeing it away Alfred pulled his pipe out and began to smoke, falling into deep thought.

"A lot of factors have to come into play, but as a percentage, as of now, 40% chance. First, there are already better candidates than him, and Marcus is not the only one." Taking a couple of puffs of his pipe he fell into thought again.

"That being said he has a few positives. First, the name Flanders carries a lot of weight in the Empire, especially related to matters in the military. Sure it’s a new thing compared to the history of the Ammarys, but war is where we moved away from silver. Also, he’s young. Age doesn’t really matter for us. Sure he may not be the best leader now, but he could have a good 30 years ahead of him."

"Do you not see any problems popping up if he does take your place? Amongst the other commanders."

"That’s why it’s only 40%. If Issac takes over when I retire then I’m sure the more ambitious ones will take the chance to undermine him." William took another few puffs of his pipe before leaning forward to look Alfred in the eyes. "Now. Why did you ask me all this?"

With a deep sigh, Alfred looked out the window. "Because I feel he is wasted in the military. He is a born and bred politician William. Do you know the top brass of the Lisaponic Empire?"

"Of course. The Emporer, Crown Prince, when he is of age of course,, Prime minister, the ruling council, and everyone underneath." It was a quick summary and Alfred gave a nod.

"We both have expressed our concerns that Issac is the odd one out of our inner circle. Catherine has the navy, you the military, Anton the bank, and the rest. But Issac doesn’t really have any titles like you or power like Abu to help the Empire. He just kind of exists in it right now."

"Now I could have made a place and responsibilities for him out of thin air like I did Charles, but I wouldn’t know where to begin. But that has changed. William." Alfred went serious as he crossed his arms. "I want him to become my Prime Minister. Not yet of course he is still too green. But I think that in the near future with careful planning he could be molded to fit the position perfectly."

William let his body go loose in his chair as he took a few puffs of his pipe. Running his hand in his hair had chuckled. "You want that brat to be Prime Minister." It sounded like an insult but Alfred could hear the fatherly pride in William’s voice.

"William. You know I don’t say this as a joke. But if this happens he has to give up on ever returning to the military."

"I need to ask him about it. But I also need to aswell. It’s a tough call."

"Of course. Just don’t keep me waiting." Alfred got up, brushing his clothes free of any dirt that could have got on them. "I need to meet Dimitri now."

"He’s still here?" WIlliam asked in confusion and shock getting a nod in reply.

"Yeah. He kept low for a while after Raven’s death but he still about." William got up aswell, giving a bow to the departing Alfred. Alone he thought about what Alfred said, letting out a booming laugh, unable to imagine his son as a Prime Minister.

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"Dmitri." Alfred walked in full of smiles as he took his seat. "Forgive me for being late, I had to talk to William."

"Think nothing of it, Your Majesty." With his thick accent, he was almost illegible, but Alfred smiled pointing to the seat opposite him.

"Now. It’s simply what I want to talk about. Ivan has begun his conquest of Kosvo am I correct."

"I received word of preparation a month ago I think. By now it should have started or at least be on the brink of it."

"Good. Good." The room went silent as Alfred reached into his chest pocket and pulled out a large scroll. Sliding it across he watched with a strange smile as Dimitri read it. "There you have a detailed agreement I have created between the principality, The Ammary Empire, and the Slathan Empire."

Dimitri looked through it, re-reading parts. His eyes went strange as he repeatedly looked between Alfred and the scroll. "What am I reading exactly." He could see it but not believe it.

Alfred expected this and clapped his hands. "That is a pact of commerce and support between our three nations. It’s a shame Alexei married his daughter to the pagan chief in the forest as it would have been a useful bargaining chip for the Slathens if he agreed. But I simply believe it’s in the best interest of our three nations to have open trade with one another whilst also creating a defense pact."

"It won’t work." Dimitri placed the scroll on the table. "The Slathens earn nothing from it. They have no reason to fear war from anyone other than the Principality, trade is already good and most importantly, there is no marriage to bind it."

"Don’t be so quick to say that Dimitri. The Slathan’s have a princess if I remember correctly. I know Ivan has a wife as do I so that’s not on the table, but my general has a son who is unmarried."

’Forgive me William for trying to wed your son off. But we need everything we can to counter the church.’Alfred silently said to himself as he remained looking into Dimitri’s eyes.

"Marrying a princess to a duke’s son is not very appealing to an Emporer."

"But marrying your daughter to the Prime Minister of an Empire is."

"You don’t have one..." Dimitri’s words trailed as he realized what Alfred meant. "You’re not someone to make him that just for a marriage." Dmitri fell into thought again. "Better but still, I doubt they will accept."

"True. But they are already wary of our alliance. To solidify the prospect of peace would be welcomed, I’m sure of it. Even then it’s still worth a try."

"Have you sent word to the Slathens?"

"Not yet. I wished to speak to you first."

"I’ll talk to my cousin about it. Let me get back to you before you send word please."

"Of course."

Dimitri smirked. "I assume the church is really forcing your hand with this one."

Alfred chuckled at his words shaking his head. "I wouldn’t think of this otherwise. If they attack me I need to try and seal off as many allies they may try and get." Hearing his words, Dimitri laughed, it echoing through the halls of the Palace.