Chapter 86

Hiring a mercenary company to handle city defense was not uncommon.

It was only rare for a government to establish and operate a mercenary company for the purpose of generating profit.

But even nations that hired mercenaries were not without a citizen army.

Most of them operated a citizen army, if only for auxiliary purposes.

However, the treaty Emilio presented was full of holes.

It was riddled with toxic clauses, such as the cost not being specified, the contract renewal being decided by the mercenary company, and becoming dependent on the company for war.

According to this contract, it was highly likely that fostering a citizen army would become impossible due to financial shortages.

The intention to subordinate their nations to the Black Company on this occasion was clearly felt.

“Isn’t this coercion rather than an opportunity?”

“You could think of it that way. I thought it was a good proposal, though.”

“Are you perhaps thinking of unifying the south of Apennia with Fasa leading the way?”

“If that were the case, would there be a need to do this? We could just go and plant a flag.”

Emilio reminded them of reality.

The ambassadors were at a loss for words.

It was infuriating, but it wasn't wrong, so the ambassadors could not refute it.

Instead, what would happen if they accepted this proposal was automatically drawn in their minds.

‘They’re trying to put a yoke on us.’

‘Do we have to accept this?’

‘Our army is in danger of being disbanded just because we lost one war?’

The problem was that there was no way to refuse the demand.

All the ambassadors could do was protest the unfairness of the clauses.

“Does your side really think this demand is reasonable?”

“Of course. If each country shares the defense costs, the burden will be lessened, isn't that good? In a way, we are being reborn as a regional community.”

“Next you'll be telling us to lower tariffs.”

“That's a good idea, too. Let's proceed with an economic treaty as well.”

The ambassadors, who had gotten a lump attached to them for misspeaking, stared blankly for a moment before protesting strongly.

“Th-This could undermine the independence of our nations!”

“Is that so? It's not much different from how things are now.”

“……”

The mocking sound of ‘Then who told you to lose the war?’ seemed to echo in the ears of the ambassadors from each country.

It was a situation difficult to accept or refuse.

The citizens disliked the war being prolonged, but it was clear they would not want to accept this proposal either.

‘Damn it. Should I really just seek asylum?’

‘If I return with such a proposal, I will surely die.’

The image of bloodshot-eyed citizens greeting the returning procession with objects of legally restricted possession in both hands was vivid in their minds.

The ambassadors of the defeated nations sent a gaze asking for mediation to the Urdino ambassador, Viscount Alconte, who was attending with them, but he didn't even bat an eye.

Not only had he received instructions from Cavaldi before coming, but he himself was enraged by the treacherous behavior of the coalition nations.

Viscount Alconte was the one in charge of Urdino's defense.

The memory of being attacked by the coalition forces shortly after being plundered by pirates was still fresh.

‘You traitorous bastards. Who do you think will help you?’

As the diplomatic envoys were being whipped too hard by karma and couldn't come to their senses, Emilio offered a carrot.

“I know what you are all worried about. You're afraid of the citizens' anger.”

“Hmm.”

“As it happens, I have a good way to solve that.”

“Is there really such a way?”

Emilio smiled broadly.

The diplomatic envoys, who had never heard good news whenever Emilio smiled, flinched.

“Our navy happened to encounter pirates during a patrol recently. Do you know what they obtained as spoils?”

“Wh-What are you talking about?”

“Your nations' sacred relics.”

“Heok. How did you?”

The diplomatic envoys were all stunned.

Even Viscount Alconte, who was attending from the Urdino side, was the same.

Seeing that the move Leon had prepared was working well, Emilio smiled inwardly.

It seemed that this time, the mercenary's decision was more correct than the merchant's.

“They seemed to be the pirates who plundered your nations. It's truly regrettable that pirates are rampant in the Golden Sea even after we've subjugated them so diligently. With the situation being like this, shouldn't we join forces even more?”

“No. But.”

“Now, Fasa is willing to return them free of charge. How about it? With this, the citizens of your nations will be satisfied and let it go, right?”

The diplomatic envoys, who had honed their skills on the diplomatic stage, did not believe in the word ‘coincidence’.

The Fasan navy just happened to capture the pirate ships that had stolen the sacred relics; it was too suspicious to just believe and move on.

The probability of such a coincidence occurring would be lower than being struck by lightning three times in a row.

‘What do you mean you accidentally met pirates in this vast sea.’

‘The pirates you met at sea happened to be the ones who plundered our city? Hah. That's not even funny.’

‘It's a relief we're on the same side as Fasa. When on earth did they secretly employ pirates?’

However, there was no reason to blindly refuse the proposal either.

Perhaps a dragon might not, but no living creature can live without a heart.

And the hearts of the Apennian city-states are their sacred relics.

For the coalition nations, it was a fatal situation where that heart had been stolen.

But if they could get the sacred relics back, they could greatly reduce the citizens' discontent.

And they would be able to save their own necks as a bonus.

However, the Pescara ambassador was in a difficult position.

“Wait a minute! Our sacred relic was stolen not by pirates but by Urdino, what happens to that?”

Viscount Alconte glared at him as if to kill him, but the Pescara ambassador was in a stance where he was not afraid of getting into a fistfight in the negotiation hall.

Other nations are getting their sacred relics back, but he's the only one who can't?

It was the same as choosing to commit suicide on his own two feet.

In the gloomy atmosphere, Emilio stepped in to mediate.

“Of course, Urdino will also gladly return it to Pescara. Right, Viscount Alconte?”

“Why should I do something good for those people……”

“It's all for the sake of peace. You will cooperate, won't you?”

“Ahem. I understand.”

When Emilio reminded him of the ‘script’, Viscount Alconte had no choice but to nod.

It was a shame he couldn't torment the traitors more, but he had to stop here if he didn't want to get scolded by the Duke of Urdino upon his return.

The diplomatic envoys, whose hearts had once again become chewy with fear that they might not get their sacred relics back, quickly nodded as well.

‘In any case, we're avoiding permanent annexation. We'll have something to say when we go back.’

‘If we get the sacred relics back, everyone will have no complaints. Isn't it just a simple mercenary employment?’

‘We’ve screwed over the traitors, that's what matters. We’ve also secured the right to speak, so we won't be pushed around anywhere.’

The ambassadors exchanged glances in silence and then made a decision.

“We accept the proposal.”

“Now, then, sign here.”

“Each nation shall…, hire the Black Company……”

Although they had signed an unreasonable treaty, the diplomatic envoys felt very lighthearted.

Sometimes, personal interests are more important than national interests.

Especially when one's life is at stake.

They were satisfied with the fact that they had saved their own necks.

And it wasn't as if they had nothing to say to appease the citizens when they returned.

They hadn't ceded territory or had their rights taken away, and they had maintained the government's independence.

On top of that, they would get back the sacred relics that had been taken by pirates.

Wasn't this a successful negotiation?

Was there any problem?

They returned to their home countries, comforted by the fact that their necks would be safe in the future.

Emilio, who had actually obtained the signatures on the diplomatic agreement, was lost in doubt, holding the treaty in his hand.

‘It’s a good thing it somehow succeeded, but what on earth was Lord Gryph thinking when he told me to do this?’

Emilio's question was simple.

Why doesn't Leon try to become a monarch?

‘He could have become a monarch or established a kingdom, but he refused all that and why does he just want to remain a company commander?’

The diplomatic envoys seemed willing to make Leon their monarch.

But Leon declined that path.

Emilio, who had entered public service with ambition, could not understand that not everyone acts out of a desire for advancement.

Perhaps it would have been a little comforting if he had known that there was someone around him who harbored the same thoughts.

But unfortunately, Emilio did not know that fact.

***

I was sitting in the office processing documents when I suddenly heard an alert along with the sound of fireworks.

I stopped what I was doing and focused on the sound.

「Achievement Unlocked: Hegemon of the South!

The south of Apennia has long been divided into small countries and fought amongst themselves. But now, a page of that history has come to an end, and a new figure is about to write a new history.

Your fame increases.」

「Trait Evolution: You have succeeded in deceiving and bringing your enemies to their knees.

Your deceit has reached a higher level. The trait grows.

Novice Schemer → Adept Schemer

─Intellect + 3

─Increased success rate of attempting schemes」

「May fortune be with you in your future endeavors.」

Ah, I see.

The diplomatic negotiations must have finally ended.

I guess the ambassadors ended up accepting our proposal, huh?

However, the reward wasn't as great as I had expected.

What is this.

Just an increase in the success rate of attempting schemes?

I went through so much trouble, the cost-benefit analysis doesn't add up at all.

If you're going to just evaluate without helping, then give me a proper reward!

Usually, after completing a task of this magnitude, it's a national rule to be given a great reward, right?

Like a useful skill.

Or magic.

But to end with just one trait changing.

Or is it that this is too small a region, so they can't acknowledge something of this level?

I've been too busy to think deeply about this lately, but it seems the one who brought me to this world is quite stingy.

I really don't know what their intention is.

If it's just to mess with me, then they've succeeded.

To soothe my uncomfortable heart, I fiddled with the ring I was wearing on my hand.

The ring was still glittering with a faint purplish magical light.

If I hadn't ‘borrowed’ this ring from the emperor, I wouldn't have been able to overcome the dangers until now.

Are you asking if I stole it?

No.

I'll return to the Imperial Capital someday and give it back.

I've just leased it for a long term until then.

There's no one to complain anyway.

I even got Zeta's approval.

Come to think of it, I haven't written to Zeta for a while.

I should find some time to write a letter soon.

I didn't have the leisure before, but now I do.

For a while, it's time to stop expanding outward and focus on strengthening our internal affairs.

I need to catch my breath too.

I stopped what I was doing for a moment, got up from my desk, and approached the window.

It had already been over 6 months since I came to Fasa.

Many things had happened in that time.

And the season was about to change once again.

Outside the open window, a landscape full of greenery unfolded, and a cool breeze blew in.

It was summer.

***

However, there was no leisure to appreciate the season.

“Sir, Dame Eleonor has requested a private meeting?”

“What?”

“She says it's an important matter and must be done.”

“?”

My heart sank.

Anyone who has been an organization manager would know.

How terrifying it is when a subordinate requests a private meeting.

As summer follows spring, and as a creditor comes to a debtor, that matter I had been putting off came to me.

─Is she changing jobs?

Is it a resignation letter?

Is she saying she can't do it?

Is work tough for her lately?

─I did give her a lot of work.

But it's hard to reduce her workload.

Then again, there has been a lot of work lately.

─It's all my fault.

No.

It's not my fault.

It's Mayor Emilio's fault for throwing work at us!

If you want to complain, go complain at the city hall!

When I thought about whether I had made her feel upset about anything, an endless list was unearthed.

But I couldn't let Eleonor go either.

From the company's perspective, Eleonor is currently an irreplaceable existence.

We cannot simply lose such a valuable talent.

If Eleonor leaves, the entire workload will fall on me.

Just imagining such a future made my hands and feet tremble.

As I faced Eleonor with all sorts of thoughts, Eleonor's eyes sparkled seriously as she opened her mouth.

“I want to know Lord Gryph's future plans.”

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