Mercury is busy overseeing the loading of ships when she smells cigarette smoke. Looking over, she sees Grobian casually leaning on a piling.

"Well, is it going to be peace or war?" he asks.

The Princess shrugs, "War, or so it would seem. Of course, I assume you mean between Ebony and Y'Nobe as opposed to a more personal question," she raises an eyebrow at Grobian.

Continuing she says, "Unfortunately, I could not provide much support for your throne, as my influence is limited in Y'Nobe. I did what I could in Ebony, though. Of course, as I suspected, Asterion was not interested enough in peace to make it happen. Seems he is overly interested in you instead."

Flicking his butt into the water, Grobian sighed. "I mean you no ill will, unless I find that you killed Neptune, in which case I will kill you."

He paused, tapping out another cigarette, offered Mercury one.

"How would you like Asterion's battle plan?" he asked.

The princess gave a musical laugh although the source of her mirth remained unsaid, "why the great loyalty to Neptune? Was he a good father figure whilest you were growing up, or is it loyalty to Y'Nobe? I'm afraid I was off on various duties most of the time that you, Neptune, and Asterion were around the Castle, so I never got much of a chance to get to know any of you."

Mercury accepted the cigarette and a light from Grobian with a nod of thanks.

"As to Asterion's battle plan, I don't have any reason to believe that anything you give me would be authentic." She puffed out a ring of smoke before concluding, "and his plans are really of only minor significance at this point. For all of his excellent planning in clearing the way to the throne, he didn't forsee the consequences."

"Maybe it's loyalty to myself," Grobian said with a small smile. "Well, raise a cup to me when you're toasting your victory in Y'nobe. I don't expect you to lose."

He began to stroll down the dock, pausing to pet a stray dog and give a child a candy.

The Admiral watched the young man stroll away with a curious smile on her face before finishing the cigarette, and crushing it out beneath her boot. She then returned her attention to the dock workers.