Special Chapter 8
Prologue to a New World — War of Words
Translator : PolterGlast
At the negotiation table, exchanges of words continued
between Duke Klein and Viscount Kampfer (Sieghart)
regarding the fate of First Prince Glorious. It was an exchange of
feigned ignorance and deflection, as if two parties were trying to force an
unwanted item onto each other—an exchange that would have surely depressed the
person in question had he heard it himself....
The Kyle Kingdom wanted to send this source of
trouble back to the Empire with as much compensation and advantageous
conditions as possible. The Griffonia Empire, while reluctant, wanted to
receive the First Prince with as little compensation and painless conditions as
possible.
In terms of returning the First Prince to the Empire, their
desires were aligned. However, due to their ulterior motives, that common
ground had become obscured.
Duke Klein, as if demonstrating the true worth of the
Old Raccoon, shook things up with shrewd and sometimes feigned ignorance
remarks, while Sieghart, whether naturally or intentionally, kept
shifting the point with responses that even those in the same camp found hard
to decipher.
Just when the observers from both sides
were getting fed up with the endless exchanges, Sieghart cut in.
"I am impressed by Duke Klein's skill. As
expected of the opponent Lord Takuhir said he could never match, truly
worthy of being called the Old Raccoon. And everyone, since I believe arguments
have been exhausted, shall we move on to the conclusion?"
Seeing him with a changed atmosphere from before, Duke Klein
realized.
This rascal,
he was measuring me through the discussion until now? As the Demon Territory Count said, a guy not to
be underestimated. Both sides
are already fed up with each other's exchanges, and the will to interject
objections has been whittled down. Did he aim for this?
Thinking so, he felt a chill down his spine, but didn't show
a trace of it on his face.
"Hohoho, the Demon Territory Count also has a
loose tongue. I must scold him later not to tell the truth too much. It seems I
finally see your true intention. Then, shall we proceed?"
"Then, standing on the premise that we have basically
agreed on the return of Prince Glorious, is it acceptable to understand
that the war is a draw for both sides? Therefore, I will narrow the
compensation down to this one point: the return of the Prince. What does the
Kingdom side desire?"
"W-Wait a minute! No, hold on. I heard you say just now
that the war was a draw for both sides, but our Right Wing Army, the Demon
Territory Count, won a complete victory over the Imperial Left Wing, and
the Central Army pushed your forces back to the border. How can you call this anything
other than our victory?"
One of the Counts holding territory in the southern part of
the Kingdom, sitting at the lowest seat on the Kyle Kingdom side, raised
his voice and snapped.
"Sigh... excuse
me, but did you participate in the battlefield against us, Sir?"
"Indeed! From the beginning, we confronted your forces
with Burg as our defense base!"
"If so, you must know that we visited King Kyle merely to pay our respects."
"Pay respects? Such a thing..."
"That battle was merely a visit to pay respects. So we
deliberately held back, but did you not understand that? If we fought with full
power, we could have easily destroyed an army of about 30,000 with shallow
combat experience like yours with our 25,000. That battle was merely a greeting
to create this negotiation opportunity."
"Wh-..."
"I will speak honestly. There are only two armies in
your country that we are wary of and fear. Only three generals in your country
that we fear. Most likely, you would not know who they are. By the way, I
apologize deeply in front of the person himself, but it is neither the Royal
Capital Knights nor the Corps Commander leading them."
"Kuh..."
That groan leaked not from the Count in question, but from Gouras,
who led the Royal Capital Knights. Because he keenly understood what Sieghart
was saying.
And he spoke briefly.
"Count, refrain yourself."
"No, the Knight Commander himself, no, the Kingdom was
insulted!"
"Ah, I have absolutely no intention of insulting or
slighting anyone. On the contrary, I intended to speak with respect and awe. Aside
from a few individuals, it is actually quite strange to me how little you all
value your own excellent allies. After all, we highly evaluate even the generals you likely cannot even imagine."
"Wh-wh- who
are you talking about?!"
The Count, whose pride was hurt and believed he was
insulted, turned bright red and flew into a rage. However, Sieghart,
facing him, remained calm—no, even floated a gentle smile.
"Fufu... First, I recommend you calming
down. Since this is a rare occasion to deepen mutual understanding, I dare to
tell you our thoughts. The armies we fear are the Demon Territory Knights
and Frontier Knights, these corps led by appropriate generals and rich
in combat experience. The generals we fear are, needless to say, the Demon
Territory Count, Viscount Solis (Darek), and Baron Weiss, the
leader of the Twin-Headed Hawk Mercenary Corps."
"Th-That lowly drifter?"
"I have no intention of denying or affirming your
remark, but war is not waged by social status.
And our army, which spent its days fighting in the south, fears veteran elite
soldiers even if few in number, and does not fear your army with scarce combat
experience even if tens of thousands. Baron Weiss is seemingly just a
subordinate of the Demon Territory Count, one tends to think so, but
understanding the terrifying tactics devised by the Demon Territory Count
and executing them perfectly at a combat level is none other than the Baron's own
ability. Other generals probably couldn't even keep up with the Demon
Territory Count's wisdom. And we believe his true worth will be
demonstrated in a form anyone can understand when leading an army of tens of
thousands."
"..."
At Sieghart's words, no one could refute.
"Because it is an army that doesn't know their value,
we do not fear. Because it is an army where they are not present, we are
convinced of victory. Well, that's how it is."
Saying so, Sieghart showed a slightly playful
expression. In response, the Count in question and the attendants lined up
behind him couldn't utter any words due to anger and surprise.
"I have no intention of offending anyone, but besides
the Demon Territory Count and the Solis family who discovered and
kept him, and the late Margrave Hastburg who raised him to nobility, I wonder
how many people in your country understand the value of Baron Weiss."
There was another person who joined the verbal battle.
"Hahaha! I, too, followed this man's advice and
attempted to invite him. I offered a mercenary contract at ten times the current
rate, employment for the entire mercenary corps, and a position as a General
entrusted with tens of thousands of soldiers. Despite making his living as a
mercenary who moves for money and contracts, he was a man of admirable loyalty.
However, for him to be leading a mere few thousand soldiers currently... it is
truly a waste."
"Wh-! To that extent..."
The words of the Third Prince of the Empire, a warrior known
to everyone whose ability as well as status was known to foreign countries,
were sufficient to silence them.
Baron Weiss was a man whom even the Third Prince
acknowledged, and even moved personally to invite. That fact was shocking to
them.
Since the Count cursed him with foul language, Grat
seemingly couldn't help but intervene, but perhaps it is more correct to say he
added an effective follow-up attack.
Actually, Takuhir also had a history of turning pale
and trembling, dropping the cup he was about to drink from in shock, upon
hearing this story from Weiss as a report previously.
Yes, because he learned that tentacles had secretly extended
so history would follow the same path as the previous time...
"Count, refrain yourself! At least we lost in terms of recognizing the current
situation. We should accept that humbly. Excuse us for showing such disgraceful
behavior."
Receiving a reprimand from the King himself, the Count
turned pale and fell silent. At this time, Duke Klein dared not
participate in the exchange and observed Sieghart silently.
Different from the feigned ignorance until now, this
sharpness; this is his true nature. A terrifying man after all. While being in
another country, seeing through the key points and making a move beforehand to
tear off the Demon Territory Count's wings... Compared to that,
recognition of them in our country is too low. Although it improved
considerably with the Restoration Faction disappearing from the front stage, it
is still deeply rooted among nobles. To bring that out as a weapon at this
stage...
Thinking so, he couldn't help but sigh. But he is not an
ordinary person either. The true worth of the man called the Old Raccoon is
demonstrated in scenes like this.
Hmm... we have been psychologically pressured by this series
of exchanges. In proceeding with negotiations ahead, the influence will be
immeasurable. It seems necessary to drive a wedge here once.
Thinking so, Duke Klein began to participate in the
verbal battle again.
"Now, excuse us for showing an unsightly scene. In
exchange for receiving valuable teachings, I convey that we basically agree
fully regarding the return of the First Prince."
When he conveyed that, Sieghart nodded silently. But
his gaze remained sharp.
"First, before discussing detailed conditions, I would
like to ask you
something at this opportunity, while I'm at
it exposing shame. Regarding the return, if we change positions, suppose the
Imperial Army held the Kingdom's heir as a prisoner; what demands would be
imposed?"
Duke Klein dared to return the question from the
beginning with a question for a counterattack. He didn't expect to get a commitment
from the Empire with this. He merely cast a useless stone to bring the
discussion back on track and probe for a seam in the negotiations ahead.
"Let's see... at least one-third of the Kingdom's
territory, and 1 million Imperial gold coins; something like that. Well, I
think those are very friendly conditions."
"What!"
Glancing at those waiting behind him who raised voices of
surprise, and sighing, Duke Klein continued. Actually, Duke Klein
himself didn't think he could get a commitment so easily.
"Then, since it concerns the First Prince of the
Empire, a great power, would the conditions be even higher? Since the Viscount
himself said as much."
Told so, Sieghart smiled gently.
"That is an utterly impossible story. First, setting
aside the Empire, our camp basically does not desire Prince Glorious's
person. Second, you say cession of territory, but the target land is territory
ruled by our camp of His Highness Grat, which won the battle. Third, if
we swallow such conditions, we will be accused of being traitors, and even our
own safety will be in danger. Finally, if we accept those conditions, the
Empire will launch a war of revenge with all its might to clear the disgrace.
The dignity and face of the Empire as a great power; please understand
that."
Implicitly, the Empire and Kingdom are different in rank. It
was a statement that could be taken as asserting that the premise of equality
was meaningless.
"Hohoho, that is troubling. First, the First Prince of
the Empire is a candidate for the next Emperor, that is, close to the Emperor
of the Empire. His ransom cannot be light. Second, perhaps satisfied with food,
clothing, and shelter recently, that person has begun independent negotiations energetically.
Third, if your country splits, the new territory your army gained will become a
harvesting ground for surrounding countries. That would be a waste. Finally,
our country received invasions from four surrounding countries this time.
Taking this opportunity, voices saying the national policy of exclusive defense
should be revised now occupy the majority. Having
fallen into the crisis of destruction, a change in policy was unavoidable for
our country—I would appreciate your understanding of our current situation."
He dared to return words in the same tone, showing a crafty
smile. While taking out a sealed letter stamped with the First Prince's seal from
his pocket ostentatiously.
A personal letter from the captive First Prince; this was
the trump card for negotiation Takuhir entrusted to King Kyle.
Visiting the captive First Prince many times, placing close
associates briefed in advance as caretakers, while hinting at room for future
negotiations to the First Prince...
Resulting in guiding the First Prince to start negotiations [voluntarily].
This was insurance against Sieghart saying he would negotiate with full
power in the unlikely event Takuhir didn't participate, anticipating
post-war negotiations.
"Fufufu, I believe
a secret agreement with Prince Glorious, who has fallen to the ground,
has no effective power anymore?"
"Hohoho, for us, such things don't matter. If your
country splits and surrounding countries wriggle, we can easily obtain the land
promised in the secret agreement."
"Heh, that's quite a bold
way of speaking."
"It is not a bluff. No matter how elite the Imperial
Army is, we also have things to boast of. The Demon Territory Count has
the secret plan that buried 300 members of the Mage Corps boasted by the
Fearalt Principality, and the Magic Knights who countered their
group magic attack and defeated it. Surely your army is fully aware of the
terror of the Principality's group magic attack, right? And if the three
generals you said you fear appear leading armies, is the result not clear to
see?"
Tch, Lord Takuhir is wicked, too. I was completely at ease because he isn't here. He
properly made moves anticipating what I would dislike... well, taking it
favorably, is that a warning to us?
I shouldn't have said I would negotiate with full power if he wasn't here.
This mutter of Sieghart was very small, inaudible
even to those sitting next to him. But there was not a speck of agitation on
his face.
Then do I have no choice but to compromise significantly
here? I didn't really want to use it,
but adding a little prank to the plan His Highness and others agreed to in
advance, the best of the worst-case scenarios; shall I go with this at once?
Thinking so, Sieghart laughed. With a menacing smile
that occasionally made those who knew him well shudder in surprise...
The bilateral negotiation enters the second act from here. The bargaining carrying the prestige of each country will now reach its climax.
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