Imperator: Resurrection of an Empire

Leaf 3 was in the middle of her graduation exam, this was the second time she had tried to infiltrate the Romanus Palace to steal secret information.

The first time she was captured by the Praetorian Guards before ever getting inside of the palace, after which she was made to see death and trained by the devil until he gave consent to let her try again but should she fail she would not be given another chance this was her final attempt.

She'd already cleared her previous record and had scaled the palace entering the second floor through a window.

She's navigated the hallways and corridors ascending up to the third floor while dodging the Praetorians efforts to discover her, and then she reached her goal.

The corridor ended in a heavy oak door reinforced with iron bands.

This was it.

Behind that door lay the confidential materials—battle plans, naval charts, and possibly even intelligence on the kingdom's weaknesses her goal in this infiltration.

She knelt by the door, inspecting the lock.

It was a complex mechanism, clearly crafted by a master locksmith.

No doubt the Praetorians thought it unbreachable.

But Leaf 3 wasn't just any intruder, she was a trained agent of the Great Tree.

From her pouch, she withdrew a set of lockpicking tools crafted from blacksteel.

Her fingers moved with practiced precision, each movement deliberate and efficient.

Tumblers clicked faintly into place.

One more…

A faint metallic snap signalled success.

The door creaked open, revealing a small chamber lined with shelves.

Scrolls and documents were stacked neatly, their seals unbroken.

Her eyes darted across the room, scanning for traps or alarms.

Satisfied that there were none, she stepped inside and began her search.

Her mission was to retrieve anything pertaining to Operation Eagle Strike, a rumoured military campaign targeting her homeland the province of Nitraea.

She found it quickly—a bundle of scrolls tied with crimson ribbon, bearing the kingdoms seal.

She slipped it into her satchel and turned to leave.

But then she froze.

A faint sound reached her ears.

Boots on stone.

The Praetorians!!!

The door to the vault swung open with a crash, and two guards burst in, their weapons drawn.

"There's someone here!"

one of them shouted, his voice echoing down the corridor.

Leaf 3 didn't hesitate.

She hurled another clay orb to the ground, and it shattered, releasing a cloud of thick, black smoke.

In the confusion, she darted forward, ducking beneath one guard's wild swing.

A spear grazed her shoulder as she slipped past them, pain flaring briefly even as the blunted blade smacked her flesh.

She ignored it, adrenaline surging through her veins.

She sprinted down the corridor, the Praetorians hot on her heels raising the alarm to inform others of the intruders.

Shouts rang out, more guards joining the chase.

She vaulted over a balcony, landing in the courtyard below with a roll, her whole body screaming in protest even killing her momentum from the fall with the roll she still suffered injuries due to the impace.

Her escape route was already planned—the gardens led to a concealed tunnel used by palace servants.

She disappeared into the tunnel just as the first guard reached the courtyard only to find the 'dead' guard laying there still listening to the fountain.

By the time they realized where she had gone, it was too late, Leaf 3 had disappeared.

later, Leaf 3 emerged from the tunnel, her satchel clutched tightly against her chest.

She paused to catch her breath, the cool night air a welcome relief after the chaos of the palace.

The mission was a success.

The documents were hers, and with them, her benefactors would gain the edge they needed against the kingdom.

But as she disappeared into the city, her thoughts lingered on the near miss.

The Praetorians had been sharper than she expected.

The Kingdom's forces was growing warier.

Next time, it wouldn't be so easy after all they were learning just as she was.

As she weaved through the streets ducking into and out of alleyways Leaf 3 made her way back towards the Great Tree plantation otherwise known as the base for Romanus Espianoge at least for now.

Her satchel was clutched firmly at her side, the stolen scrolls safely tucked within.

The air was damp, heavy with the scent of oil and wet stone all around as she entered.

Around her, other operatives moved like silent phantoms, their footsteps barely audible as they darted from one chamber to another.

This was the heart of the Great Tree, the web from which all their threads of espionage extended outward into the world.

And at the center of it all sat Miri, the operation master.

Leaf 3 reached the end of the corridor, where a thick wooden door stood.

Two guards flanked it, their faces hidden beneath blackened steel helms, these were also Praetorian Guards but those who were also trained in the arts of subversion and secrecy.

One of them stepped forward, blocking her path with a long spear.

"Identify yourself,"

the guard growled.

Leaf 3 sighed, lifting her hood to reveal her angular, sharp features.

A small scar ran along her right cheekbone, earned during an operation years ago when she served within the predesessing counterspy organization.

"Leaf 3. Returning from the infiltration of the Romanus palace. I've brought the scrolls."

The guard hesitated, then nodded.

Afterall her success meant his own comrades failure, but still her ability to succeed was worth his respect, after all he himself had also completed the same operation to stand where he was now.

The spears were withdrawn, and the door creaked open.

Inside, the room was both austere and commanding.

A large wooden table dominated the space, its surface covered in maps, coded documents, and diagrams of supply routes.

Several mismatched chairs were scattered around it.

At the head of the table sat Miri, a slender woman with piercing green eyes and an air of authority that made her seem larger than she was, even as she cradled a newborn baby in her arms.

Miri was not a fighter by trade but a strategist, her mind sharper than any blade.

She had an uncanny ability to see ten moves ahead in the ever-shifting game of war.

Her hair was tied back into a single braid, and her fingers tapped rhythmically against the table as she waited for Leaf 3 to approach.

"You're late,"

Miri said flatly, though her eyes gleamed with curiosity as she studied the satchel in Leaf's hand.

"Unavoidable,"

Leaf replied, setting the satchel down on the table.

"The palace wasn't as quiet as i expected. The Praetorians were sharper this time."

Miri tilted her head slightly, her gaze unyielding.