Azur Lane: Kaiserin (Book 1)

Ch34: A Promise

With the city now firmly in our grasp and all their present KANSEN detained, it falls to me to decide what to do with their army. I had promised to release them if they surrendered but given they didn't surrender, I am not bound by my own words to set them free. In fact, I am kind of pissed about them firing at me while we were negotiating but I can't decide whether to kill them all or just lock them away until I think of something better to do with them.

Roselyn: Ma'am?

Me: You're finally here.

Roselyn: I came as quickly as-

Me: What do you think of the city?

Roselyn: Ma'am?

Me: It makes a good addition to our nation, doesn't it?

She looks around at the buildings surrounding us. There's damage and a lot of it at that but the historical aspects of the city are unmistakable. It's a national treasure really, and it is now in our control. 

Roselyn: It needs some work but I believe it'll prove a very strategic location for us, yes.

Me: Then you fail to see the beauty in its art.

She looks at me, surprised by my words, but rather than address her further I summon Parseval who appears beside me in his smaller form. I call it small, but he's still over three times my size when fully outstretched. Once a dragon, always a dragon I suppose.

Me: Tell me Parseval, what do you think of the city?

Parseval: I must agree with her, it has strategic value.

Me: Really?

Roselyn smiles but also slightly shuffles away from him as if wanting to put as much distance between herself and Parseval. He doesn't seem to notice but I certainly do and I'm about to comment on it when it occurs to me that I never introduced them.

Me: Parseval, this is Roselyn my...I guess you could call her my assistant. Roselyn, this is Parseval-

Parseval: The one and only terror of the seven seas.

Me: The secondary form of my ship.

Roselyn: Your ship?

Her eyes widen.

Roselyn: That explains so much! How could I not have seen it before? I mean you got shot in the head and didn't even have a scratch-

Me: Hmmm...

Roselyn: Sorry!

She bows her head as if expecting some reprimand but I merely pat her on the head before refocusing on the city. Temporary repairs are already being made but with most of our forces already moving on to the next objective, it is progressing at a snail's pace.

Me: I've decided on what to do with the prisoners.

Roselyn: You have?

Me: Set them to work on repairing the city.

Roselyn: But ma'am, if we do that then they'll try to break free!

Me: Then kill the ones that attempt to flee.

Roselyn: I-

She falls silent. I can tell she doesn't feel comfortable about the order. Even though they are our enemies, she still holds them in a high enough regard to warrant not killing them all. Funny thing, really, given the type of orders she would have likely received before being assigned to me. Still, perhaps she's right in this scenario. Killing them may not be necessary.