Family system

Hana walked through the corridors of the Arbiter's castle in the capital city, her eyes scanning her surroundings, ensuring she wouldn't get killed when she let her guard down. Each step she took was a step closer to her room. It had become her safe place, a place where she could think, plan, and coordinate with Clara without the prying eyes of the Arbiters or their disgusting minions.

As the heavy metallic doors slid open with a hiss, Hana stepped into her room. Her wristband glowing faintly, Clara activated the lights and secured the chamber.

"Welcome back, Hana," Clara's calm voice greeted her. "The room is secure, and all external surveillance has been neutralized."

Hana nodded, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Good. Let's get to work."

She sat at the command console in the corner of the room, the holographic interface coming to life as Clara projected maps, reports, and troop movements onto the translucent screen. Hana's eyes flicked over the data, absorbing every detail.

Hana leaned forward, studying the glowing routes on the map, as Clara continued her analysis.

"Clara," Hana began, her voice steady. "What do we know about the resource supply lines to the capital?"

Clara adjusted the map projection, highlighting three key places. "The capital relies heavily on three main supply channels: the Eastern Grain Line, the Southern Mana Stone Mine, and the Northern Mineral Channel. The Southern Mana Stone Mine is particularly critical, as mana stones are their primary energy source. Disrupting this would destabilize their energy grid and their ability to power magical defenses and construct what they heavily rely on for defense."

Hana's eyes narrowed. "If we disrupt the mana stone supply, how quickly will it impact the capital?"

Clara's calculations flickered onto the screen. "Mana reserves in the capital are maintained for critical systems and emergencies. If the mine is shut down, the city will experience energy shortages within three days, and critical mana-based systems will start failing within a week."

Hana nodded, her gaze sharp. "Three days of shortages, their defenses will start to crumble. Combined with the food shortages from targeting the Eastern Grain Line, the rebellion will have the perfect ignition conditions."

Clara highlighted the Southern Mana Stone Mine on the map. "The mine is heavily guarded, but its transport routes and distribution hubs are more vulnerable. Disrupting these key points will effectively sever their supply line without requiring a direct assault on the mine."

Hana's lips curled into a small smile. "Perfect. We'll cripple their mana supply without drawing immediate attention to ourselves."

Clara highlighted additional weak points along the mana stone transport routes. "Sabotaging the transport routes, particularly the main junctions where mana stones are stored before distribution, would be the best place to strike. Destroying these depots will cause panic as reserves dwindle faster than anticipated."

Hana leaned back in her chair, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Excellent. With the mana shortages, their constructs and barriers will fail, making it easy for a rebellion to start. It will also force the Arbiters to focus their forces on protecting their mines rather than the capital due to their greed for the mana stones."

Clara's calculated voice came through again. "If this plan is executed successfully, the Arbiter Council will lose control over their populace and resources. It will set the stage for their downfall."

Hana's vision solidified as she reviewed the strategy. "First, we'll hit the Eastern Grain Line to start the food shortages. Then, we'll disrupt the Southern Mana Stone Mine's transport routes. By the time the capital realizes what's happening, their defenses will be crippled."

"And the Northern Mineral Channel?" Clara inquired.

Hana's thought for a moment. "That will be our insurance. Once the rebellion begins, we'll set traps to delay their reinforcements. By the time they understand the scale of what happened, it'll already be too late to fix everything."

Clara's voice rang from the screen again. "Understood. I'll begin preparing the necessary resources and ensuring the plan remains undetected."

Hana stood from her seat and walked towards her couch to sit down. "Good. Once the people begin to rebel, we'll use the chaos to infiltrate the room and kill or injure them."

…

Late into the night, in complete darkness, Hana's subordinates moved into position around Meadowcross. Clara monitored their movements and instructed them through their communication devices.

The first team approached the mana-powered rail line, their tools glowing faintly as they prepared to sabotage the tracks. Clara's voice explained to them on the spot how they should do it.

"Focus on the central mana conductor," she said. "Disabling it will render the entire rail system inoperable. But as always, avoid detection."

The team worked quickly, their movements following Clara's words. The glow of the mana conductor dimmed and then went out entirely as they severed the connection. The once-active rail system fell silent, its faint hum replaced by the stillness of the night.

Meanwhile, the second team infiltrated the depot's communication hub. The guards stationed there were half-asleep, their boredom evident because they never thought someone had enough balls to do something against the Arbiters. When inside the team, the mana relays were disabled, severing the depot's ability to call for reinforcements.

The operation went smoother than expected. When the guards realized something was wrong, the teams were already retreating back, leaving a depot in disarray. Without the rail system and communication network, the Eastern Grain Line was effectively paralyzed.

…

The Arbiter's council chamber was filled with the usual sounds of gluttony and excess when the heavy doors creaked open. The oppressive scent of spiced wine and roasted meat hung in the air, mingling with the faint metallic tang of mana resonating from the chamber's enchanted walls. Twelve bloated figures around the U-shaped table turned their beady eyes toward the trembling messenger who dared interrupt their dinner.

The Arbiter at the center, the fattest of them all, his chins quivering with each labored breath, gestured lazily with a jeweled hand. "Speak," he commanded, his voice oozing with disdain.

The messenger, pale and visibly sweating, bowed deeply. His hands shook as he unrolled the scroll. "My lords, urgent news from Meadowcross. The Eastern Grain Line has been sabotaged."

The room froze, the air thick with tension. A smaller but equally rotund Arbiter on the right slammed a greasy fist onto the table, causing his cup to spill wine across the polished surface. "Sabotaged?" he bellowed, his face flushing with anger. "Explain yourself, you worm!"

The messenger quivered, his voice barely audible over the Arbiter's wheezing rage. "The mana-powered rail lines have been rendered inoperable, and the central mana conductor has been disabled. Communication relays at the depot have also been taken offline. The attack was... coordinated, my lords."

The Arbiter to the left, whose massive belly pressed against the table's edge, let out a hissing laugh, his double chin wobbling. "Coordinated? Against us? By whom? Rats scurrying in the dark?"

The messenger hesitated, his voice trembling. "It is unclear, my lord. The saboteurs left no trace."

The central Arbiter raised a hand; his arm rolled, jiggling with the effort. His tone was quieter but no less menacing. "Summon Commander Hana. She oversees this region. Let her explain how she allowed such a disgrace to occur."

As she was summoned, Hana walked the long, dimly lit corridor leading to the council chamber, her heels clicking against the polished floors.

"Just do as planned, Hana. Maintain your composure." Clara cheered Hana on for a bit, and Hana smiled as she felt the goodwill from her partner.

The grand doors opened, and she stepped inside, immediately feeling the weight of twelve fat pairs of suspicious eyes upon her. The Arbiters were a grotesque sight. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

The central Arbiter, whose triple chins seemed to merge with his chest, spoke first. "Hana," he began, his voice deep and slow, "explain this... catastrophe at Meadowcross."

Hana bowed low, her movements deliberate and respectful. "My lords, I was unaware of the attack until the reports reached the capital. I have been here, overseeing preparations for our next deployment."

The Arbiter on the far right, whose bloated hands fidgeted constantly with a plate of uneaten food, leaned forward. "Unaware? You command the operations in that region! Are you so incompetent that rebels can cripple a vital supply line under your nose?"

Hana met his gaze without flinching. "My lords, the precision of this attack suggests a well-organized resistance carried it out. The Eastern Grain Line is a critical asset; it is no surprise that it would be targeted."

The Arbiter on the far left, whose gut pressed against the table as he wheezed with every breath, sneered. "Excuses! We placed you in this position to prevent such failures. What assurances can you give us that you are not... complicit in this sabotage?"

Hana's expression remained impassive. "My lords, I have no reason to undermine our operations. Every action I take is in service to the Arbiter Council. If you doubt my loyalty, I offer access to my records and movements."

The central Arbiter steepled his sausage-like fingers, his gaze heavy with suspicion. "And what do you then propose, Commander Hana? How do we recover from this disgrace?"

Hana clasped her hands behind her back, her voice steady without any sign of nervousness. "Strengthen security at all critical supply lines, especially Meadowcross. Conduct a thorough investigation into unusual activity and increase patrols to deter further sabotage. I will oversee efforts to secure our logistical network and identify the people who did it."

The Arbiter beside him, whose flabby neck jiggled as he spoke, sneered. "Personally oversee? Convenient, isn't it? That you would remain in the region where such sabotage occurred."

Hana's tone did not falter under the suspicion of the people before her. "My presence ensures accountability, my lords. If further attacks occur, I will be on the ground to address them immediately."

The central Arbiter leaned back in his chair, his rolls shifting with the movement. "Very well, Hana. You are authorized to proceed with your proposed measures. But understand this—should another failure occur, the consequences will fall squarely upon your shoulders."

Hana bowed deeply. "Understood, my lords. I will not fail you."

As she exited the chamber, the Arbiters' suspicious murmurs followed her. Clara's voice buzzed softly in her ear. "Well done, Hana. They're still wary, but you've bought us time."

Hana's lips curved into a faint smile. "Time is all we need."