Max blinked a few times. The scene before him was a little more complicated than he expected.

Rosalia was clashing with Senuna, her purple flames striking Senuna point-blank, but each time they hit, Senuna warped like an image rippling across broken, still water. One moment, she was standing in front of Rosalia. The next moment, she vanished and appeared somewhere else, that same cunning smirk never leaving her face, while Rosalia’s flames continued to burn colder around her.

Agnia, on the other hand, was struggling against Clotilde. The spearhead had nearly found her flesh many times already, each thrust moving like a viper snapping for a kill. Golden flames shielded Agnia, roaring around her body as she was forced back step by step, but a little more pressure, and she would likely die at the hands of a guest.

"Ladies!" Max roared, void magic carrying his voice through the room. The air shook, and the fight stopped immediately. Every single woman turned her head to him. "What are you doing?"

The two guests, or invaders as Max viewed them, quickly pulled away, standing in their own separate corners. Their faces were dark and slightly embarrassed, but also defensive, as if neither side wanted to admit they had nearly turned his castle into ruins.

"We came back and found them fighting here, then they immediately turned on us," Rosalia started.

"No, we were fighting, and the two of you jumped us. How dare you lie before King Maximus?" Clotilde thumped the floor with her spear, her eyes glaring at Rosalia angrily.

"I don’t care who started. Why the hell are you all fighting? Just because I was a little busy doesn’t mean you can destroy my only castle..." Max’s face was flushed, the effects of the strong wine finally making his head spin.

"Is he drunk?" Agnia whispered into Rosalia’s ear, looking at Max weirdly.

"I don’t know... How and when?" Rosalia raised her eyebrow.

The two of them somehow united for once instead of fighting each other, mostly because Max somehow looked like the biggest problem in the room.

"I won’t be making any alliances today. Please leave. Tell your kings that if they want to be my allies, just a few fancy words won’t cut it. Now go home." He waved his hand and fell back into the chair, his head spinning as if half a bottle had somehow turned into three.

Senuna clasped her hands before her, slightly pressing her already big chest with her elbows and making it appear even bigger.

"King Maximus, I’ve come not only to bring you the message and offer. My king has sent me here as a diplomat. I would like to request permission to stay here and improve the relationship between our kingdoms." Her voice suddenly turned sweet, making Rosalia and Agnia look at her weirdly, then at Max, who was squinting his eyes while looking much lower than her eyes.

"Fine... as long as you follow our rules. And keep her under watch." Max muttered, completely drunk now, his decision shamelessly made by the size of her breasts.

"Husband, wait!" Rosalia tried to protest, rushing to his side to support him, but Max shook his head.

"It’s fine. We can’t turn down a diplomat. Instead, find somebody from our side... how about William? Send him to her kingdom to earn experience and build a good relationship, with a message that an alliance is possible in the far future."

Noticing that Senuna would stay here and remain alone around Max, Clotilde felt the situation turning against her, especially for her kingdom. Their rivals would be building a relationship with King Maximus, while she would have to return home in defeat.

"I, as well, have been sent as a diplomat. If she’s allowed to stay, then I request permission to build a relationship between our kingdoms as well!" she spoke in a loud tone, like a warrior reporting to a general.

Drunk and tired, Max leaned closer and whispered to Rosalia.

"Please... I don’t feel too good. Could you take those two to their rooms and find somebody to become our diplomat to the Frankindia Kingdom... I need to sleep..." His eyes grew heavy, and the room slowly blurred around him. That alcohol was definitely spiked.

He knew Nobunaga would not poison him, but he’d have to build up some alcohol tolerance before the next time they met, or he would keep making a fool of himself in front of everybody.

The room was so silent that everybody could hear his head thump against the wooden table as he passed out, breathing heavily, already fully asleep.

Rosalia didn’t even know what to do. From the hallway, Marcus and Sigmund slowly walked in, their faces twisting into confused looks.

"Did we... come at the wrong time?" Their eyes fell on the two strangers first, then on Max beside Rosalia, who looked both embarrassed and panicked. Her face flushed even more.

"I suppose you did... Please, show the two ladies to separate rooms, as they will be staying in our kingdom as guests..." Rosalia replied, touching her temples with her fingers.

"Ladies, please." Marcus bowed low, showing his respect as he pointed with both palms toward the door.

Looking at each other like they were still ready to kill, the two new diplomats followed behind. Senuna put on a sweet smile, allowing Marcus to take her hand, while Clotilde followed behind Sigmund, her head turning back several times to check on Max, her expression complicated.

Far away, on top of the tall volcano, the prince his father had sent to befriend Max sat alone. His armor was fully crimson, with spiky shoulder plates and a massive crimson longsword resting at his side.

His silver eyes narrowed as he glanced in Max’s direction, staring straight at the tower they were in. Disgust twisted across his face, and crimson pulses boomed around him, shaking the air as his focus returned.

"What a loser king. I don’t understand why Father wants me to befriend him. I’d rather kill him here and bring his head back instead... Like hell I’ll lower myself to deal with drunken trash..."