Armed Enlightenment Book 1 (Practice Story [My other stories are better])

The Imperial Palace

I don't really have a relevant or original quote these days so I might as well let people know about DrDoritosMD's US gate-themed story "Manifest Fantasy"

How did it come to this?

I asked myself that question as I let my stiff body sink in the warm and relaxing hot water on the Japanese rock style bath in the Imperial Palace. Around me were dozens of beauties that just all of a sudden teleported behind me. When I asked them to state their purpose, they replied in unison as if they were trained for this kind of scenario.

"We were ordered by his imperial highness to provide our services."

Maybe I misheard them or something and I prefer to keep it that way, but this is a bath chapter wherein Japanese media, there will be an episode where the main characters end up in a Japanese rock style bath for no good reason even when you're in another world.

I pay my gratitude to Ilia for being given a translation power to understand any language, dialects, and literacies but it's not a perfect system. Like when Google translating English to Japanese. I've done it before on a story and the swearing were mostly 'Wha?! Stupid!' and something along the lines.

Doing it over fifty times was still something... But before I continue, let's go back to the beginning where it all started.

After my lecture at the War College, we were returning to the embassy for a short break and one last look on our security before we visit the Imperial Palace to meet the Emperor and his family and have dinner. Along the way, Hilda suddenly asked to get out. I was wondering why she was acting a bit fidgety during our ride prior.

"Why so suddenly?" I asked.

"Sir, based on the profile of one of the assassins that came for your life so far, I am well acquainted with one of their guilds. Please permit me to handle them personally. Perhaps I can negotiate for them to stop." Hilda bowed.

I wasn't entirely bothered in them coming for me. It could help us in the near future during missions by wiping them all out, but I can't risk Kar or anyone else's safety.

"Do what you must, but be sure you come back."

"Thank you, your Excellency."

After giving her my approval, she once again bowed and I ordered the convoy to make a sudden stop. Upon stepping foot on the ground, she faded and disappeared as if what I saw was just an afterimage.

------------------

Among the secluded areas within the city's slums, there were twenty or so men in an underground basement, all sitting around a makeshift table. Men grouped in different attires, stature, and affiliations all showing signs of stress and exhaustion on their faces.

Two robed figures carried a large square object and place it in front of the group and the face of an old man projected from the aforementioned object appeared. He had a long white beard and ears, and a scar coming from the top of his left eye down to the bottom.

"As you are all aware, some of our clients have been either killed or captured. That doesn't ignore the manpower we've lost– Veteran assassins that took this job, but our commission still stands from our remaining clients."

One man from the group complained.

"Who's stupid enough to continue with this job?"