Chapter 127: The Hidden Manipulators and the End of the War
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Deep beneath the palace, hidden within a cave shaped by Lyra’s earth magic, a flickering shadow solidified into Mikael’s form.
Three figures sat on sturdy, earth-crafted furniture, waiting for him. The moment he appeared, Amelia rose to her feet and stepped forward.
"So," she asked, her green eyes gleaming with interest, "how did they react?"
A small smile played on Mikael's lips. "Nothing is set in stone yet, but there’s at least a 90% chance that the Valden Kingdom will move toward ending the war. The anti-war movement is at its peak, and fear has gripped the capital like never before."
"That’s good," Amelia said, satisfaction clear in her tone. All their efforts wouldn’t be in vain, and their military mission was progressing as planned.
Mikael glanced at Kiara. "Still, without Kiara, this would have been much harder. Her role has been invaluable."
Lyra, who had remained silent until now, nodded in agreement. "True. Her music is an incredible asset. It allows us to manipulate the emotions of Valden’s nobles without them realizing it." Her gaze drifted toward Kiara, who, despite listening to their conversation, showed no outward reaction aside from a small smile when Mikael praised her.
Seated comfortably on an earth-crafted couch, Kiara rested a harp on her thighs. Every so often, she plucked a string, releasing a near-silent melody that traveled through a small opening in the ceiling, dispersing unseen throughout the palace and into the noble households nearby.
Her music didn't impose direct control, but rather subtly influenced emotions, much like how a melancholic tune could shift someone's mood toward sadness. Right now, her melody wove fear and despair into the hearts of those affected. Ideally, she would have covered the entire capital, but even reaching this many people was already an astonishing feat—one that required immense effort. If she weren’t a Personal AI, such a task would have been impossible.
The nobles under the influence of her music found their minds plagued with dark thoughts. Their fears grew, and the idea of surrender became increasingly tempting. This was the final step of their carefully crafted plan to force the Valden Kingdom into submission.
The first phase had been the fall of Redgate City and the annihilation of the war camp outside Blackthorn Fortress. These battles weren’t just about strategic victories; they were meant to send a message—one of overwhelming might. The divine envoys had shattered the illusion of invincibility that Valden had built through their successful campaign against the Rithen Kingdom. What had once seemed like an unstoppable conquest had now turned into a losing war.