When the victorious vampire troops returned back from the Dimensional Battlefield, they were expecting a hero's welcome by their native clansmen, but mixed with the native crowd were the Bloodfall clansmen who stood in large numbers and with big banners stating-
" Justice for Max. Respect for all our war heroes "
Present in all 35 capital planets of 35 vampire clans, the protest staged by Asiva made sure that Max's arrest became a widespread issue and that it became an important talking point in day to day discussions.
With every returning soldier and common citizen having to read the Bloodfall banner, the matter was undoubtedly brought to the forefront as the narrative that Max was a war hero, just like all of them, was a strong one.
The accomplishments of Max in this war were not small, and when presented with an emotional angle it invoked a sense of sympathetic connection within all returning soldiers, as they understood the true horrors of the dimensional war and how all war heroes deserved respect.
The peaceful protest was a political masterstroke and Asiva carried out Max's instructions perfectly to ensure that the Bloodfall narrative was spread far and wide.
Since Regus had already started his version of mass manipulation in invoking a sense of hatred against primordial vampires and hence by proxy against Max, it was imperative for the Bloodfall clan to also guide public opinion in their favour and keep making public appearances.
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( Meanwhile Regus Aurelius )
" We have to let him go my Lord, I've tried to lobby support for your cause as you requested, but Max Rajput is better connected than us, his people reached out to the monarchs before us and already ensured support " an Aurelius clan advisor spoke as he gave Regus the dismal news.
When the war ended, Regus had decided to send his representatives to all monarchs attending the upcoming meeting, but he was beaten to the punch by Max's friends.
In Front of the most critical allies such as the elves, dragon's and the elites there was no scope of lobbying at all as they were staunch supporters of Max in this cause.
By proxy of alliance, there was a possibility that the Hazelgroove Empire and the Won Knight family would support the Elites as those three were in a tight knit alliance.
Finally, there was the Angels whose stance was unclear, leaving only neutral parties like the forger king and Hades for Regus to rely on.
Although the meeting was tomorrow, the response given by the envoys that had been sent to the dragon's, elves and elites, made it clear for Regus that Max Rajput was going to become a big issue in the upcoming meeting.
Ironically, Regus felt like he was helpless in swaying universal opinion towards his own favour despite being a monarch, which was a new feeling for him since he had never been so politically outplayed and that too by a tier6 god.
" I can't let him go though…. Him being imprisoned is the only security I have against his brother not killing me.
He is a primordial vampire, if I let him grow unopposed he will come for my throne.
If I kill him, there will no longer be an Ixtal or Aurelius clan the next day.
If I keep him in prison, I risk war with light faction monarchies.
There is NO option for me here.
The boy is better connected than I am " Regus said with a frown on his face as it was only now that he understood the true political clout of Max Rajput.
" Sir, him coming for our throne is a matter for the future.
The vampire society isn't one where a clan can suddenly become ranked 1 and challenge you for the throne overnight.
A clan as small as the Bloodfall will take centuries to rise, giving us ample time to lobby for universal support or think of a more subtle solution to the problem, but for now, we can absolutely not risk war " The advisor said as Regus sighed in resignation.
In his heart the vampire monarch knew that his counsellor was right, but letting Max go now after the affair had already blown up in his face made him look weak as a King.
He had great pride in himself and his status as the vampire monarch, but the Max Rajput affair was sure to drag his name through the mud.
" Can't we declare that this is an internal problem and not an external one?
That we don't interfere in their state policies, so they should not interfere in ours?
We can spin this as an issue for setting the new laws of the universe and dress it up as being for the greater good so that peace and stability are ensured in the light faction for generations to come " Regus suggested, but even he felt that this was a half-baked argument at best.
He could try to dress it up this way, but even then the others would put pressure on him for a just and fair trial, a trial that would tarnish his reputation as the king if allowed to take place.
" It could work sir, I'm sure that every monarch would want such law to be passed, giving them peace in matters of internal governance, but they won't sign off on it without getting certain guarantees that the Max Rajput case would be handled impartially- " The counsellor replied, but his argument was one that Regus had already considered.
It wasn't the perfect move that gave Regus the licence to deal with this matter at his own discretion, but it was the best he could come up with under the circumstances.
In the end, he too was a Monarch and not a weak one at that, so him being unilaterally bullied in a council meeting was never going to be an option.
But still despite everything, as things stood, he had lost to Max Rajput in terms of political influence.
Currently, that man had more say in international affairs than even the king of all vampires and that was a big defeat for the vampire monarch.
A humiliation that made him aware that he was no longer untouchable within the vampire society and had a real threat gunning for his throne.
