>>5737093>>5737903>>5737948"He doesn't need to be a Vandimion. He's more valuable as a fighter, and he already has the support of the people of Ilos. Whether your father recognizes him or not is irrelevant." The firmness in your voice hits them like the bludgeoning of a hammer, showing your faith in Serpico and shocking Magnifico as he ponders on Serpico's true worth.
"Vlad... I appreciate the vote of confidence, but... I'm not nearly in the same position of power as the likes of Lord Vandimion--"
"But you can be, in Ilos. Now that Barnham is dead, I could use a new lord, and compared to all my other soldiers in the coliseum's army, your skills in swordsmanship are second to none. If you wish to, you could become an equal in power to mine. Surely Farnese didn't work alone back when she was commanding the Holy Iron Chain Knights. Even if you were silent and passive, you knew the best course of action to take, you were just never able to forge your own path."
Serpico's eyes are wide open, not considering being such a key part in your government, potentially even after the war. Though if there was one person who you were sure that would never betray his code of honor while having the wisdom and experience of a competent ruler, it was Serpico.
"Equal, huh? I still believe it would take years for me to proudly walk the path you've carved by yourself, but if you wish to call me so, I have no objections."
"We can leave the ceremony for later, but if we make it through this, I'll have your name proudly displayed along mine, as Serpico of Ilos. For now, I'm sure a change of clothes and being by my side will suffice."
As Magnifico and Roderick entered Vritannis, you've noticed how much of the remainders of Midland has changed. The Kushan invasion has left the holy city with plenty of repairs to be made, and aside from it's main road, the docks and a few walls around the major buildings, the city is as ruined as when you've left it.
The branches of the astral tree all unify towards the east, with the once dead roads being rejuvenated with all the greenery and the magical creatures from the astral being released, while several of them appear to be docile like Hyde's harpies, creatures like giant cockatrices, trolls and ogres were felt nearby, to which the soldiers of the holy army were all struggling to take care of.
As Hyde and Morda vouched to aid whoever was passing by, Magnifico called for an urgent meeting between you, the Vandimions, and all the major shareholders of the city's bank for you to convince them of your cause.
>Demand their assistance. They've already seen what the dark lords have done to their land.>Gain their trust by promising to aid them rebuild their and keep them safe during the war.>Tell them that appealing to godhood is a waste of time. Their public image is already in crisis, and playing both sides to this war will be later questioned by whoever wins.>Something else. 