Sitra blushes at the mention of spanking, but chuckles. "She's not so bad, I promise. Just a little brash, and a little...forward."
Carius' eyes go wide as he sees the sorceress' pussy, but he hastily recovers. "Uh, um, Yes. We know who supplied the food, the logistics corps. They handle most supplies for military installations. There's a problem, though. The quartermaster general, head of the logistics corps, reported that one of his men was found dead this morning, murdered. The victim was in charge of supplying the station and the fleet."
Yannika did her best to hide her anger towards the governor. If the cardinal wanted someone punished for the situation she'd make sure it was Lord Perrygood. But that would have to wait. For the moment her allies were non-existent and her enemies surrounded her. If things were as she suspected, and the priestess was possessed by a demon then there could still be hope for her. It was the mage, this Xenephon, that was a principal concern to her at the moment. No one seemed to know anything about him and she'd have to deal with him. Sooner rather than later. "What were you discussing with the mage before I arrived? You sounded agitated through the door."
“Well, you know her better than me, so I'll trust you on that. If you're right, then her and I might get along after all.” Eanne did not mind that possibility. “Doesn't mean I won't give her a spanking, though.” She chuckled, enjoying the sight of the blushing Sitra.
"Hmm. It's no accident then." Vizelle cooed, putting on a serious expression, while internally smiling as she saw the emperor's expresion. "Do we know what killed him, and at what time?" She asked an additional question, not really wanting to risk going for a more bolder persuasion with all the guards inside.
"Oh, you heard that?" Perrygood sighs. "Xenephon is having my miners diverted to his own digging projects, and he won't tell me why. Our planet's economy is based on mining valuable resources, it's the only reason why people would settle on this frozen rock, but he's taking the men out of perfectly good mines and having them dig in random holes in the ground. Our output is dropping, and he won't even say why. Of course, I can do little more than shout. It's clear that if I don't send him the men he wants, he'll replace me with someone who will."
Eanne's rewarded, since the fair skinned girl's blush only deepens. "I-uh, I'm not sure she'd let you."
The emperor turns to one of his screens, accessing some data. "According to this, his throat was cut. It was sometime last night or early this morning, between the time his maid left his home yesterday, and when she came back today to begin her shift."
“We won't know until I try – if I decide to try, that is...” Eanne smirked, before leaning closer to whisper in Sitra's ear. “You're cute when you're blushing. Makes me want to tease you... but I'll try to control myself.”
Yannika scoffed. "Governor, administer your planet as necessary. But it is not Xenephon that decides who occupies your position. It's the Emperor. And as his Majesty's representative here you will not be replaced unless I wish it. If the mage has a problem with that then he can take it up with me." The priestess let out a huff. "Now my task is twofold. First I must investigate whether or not your priestess is possessed. And I must return your people to the safety of the Holy Mother Church and the true gods. Tell me, aside from the priestess and Xenephon, who holds influence on this world?"
For the first time since entering the room, Yannika granted the governor a smile. "Thank you My Lord Perrygood. I should like to meet with them, either individually or together. Would you be so kind as to arrange that?"
“And you have been enjoying it, me thinks.” Eanne smirked, not pulling away. “Still, I might have overdone it a bit, so... what would you like me to do for you as an apology? You have me all to yourself, so now is the time to ask...”
"I'm not entirely sure it matters." She almost dismissed the question before a thought struck her. "Actually, have them meet here."
“Very well... then is there anything I can do for you, not as an apology but as a favor, because you're a nice person and I like you?” Eanne offered. It was true – based on what she had learned about Sitra so far she did like the young noblewoman. “You can ask for almost anything – there are a few things I won't do, but you don't seem like the kind of person who would be into any of that kind of perverted stuff anyway.”
"Agreed," Hersillia replies with a nod of her own, "I can only promise so much at this time but I am certainly willing to negotiate on your behalf what I can." She thought for a moment before continuing, "For example, instead of any sort of direct ruler, what we can instead send is someone to act in a mediator role. You would each keep your individual organizations but the mediator would be there strictly to be a neutral party that hears any conflicts between you that might not be solvable amongst yourselves, mention the Empire's needs and concerns from time to time, and to bring any united concerns of your own directly to the Empire more efficiently then having to go through backwards channels as you had to unsuccessfully in the past." She decided not to say aloud the part where she was considering this idea as a test run for other planets that were as efficient as Haephestus but might have equally selfishly ambitious rulers who would endanger everything with their greed. Something they could model as a "reward" of loosened reins that might inspire more browbeat worlds to produce better via choice instead of force. People were always able to do more and better work when they were willing to do a thing, after all.
"Very well." Perrygood presses some buttons, sending messages, and offers Yannika a drink while they wait. Soon enough, two figures enter the office, a man and a woman. "Herse Gamba, madam, commander of the planetary defence force." The military man salutes. Next to him, the woman gives a bow. "Myrielle Light. Pleased to meet you. I own one of the mining corporations here, and I represent the other magnates."
