“Envoy Vania, you may speak.”

The Prime Minister removed his spectacles as he granted her the floor.

The officials looked down on the Burgos delegation with an air of authority, their faces seeming to say they already knew what would come next.

First, she would say the terms were too excessive. She would argue that they were absurd when compared to the scale of the war damages and would object to Clifford transferring its right to indemnity. Though they all had different faces, the blood of Bariel flowed through them, and their thoughts seemed to bleed into one another, creating a shared atmosphere of expectation.

Vania simply looked up at them and stated plainly.

“That is not possible.”

“‘Not possible’? How arrogant.”

“Indeed. Does she even comprehend her own situation? Good heavens.”

They had expected the content, but not the tone. The officials’ expressions hardened in an instant, and they began to throw out comments.

For a lead envoy, wasn’t her attitude exceedingly insolent? At a time when she should be trying to charm the imperial court with sweet words, to use such a tone!

“If you say it is not possible, then what will you do?”

“Listen carefully to what I am about to say. It is easier to add to a text than to erase it. The more you try to make revisions, the more will follow. You are to reflect on your actions sincerely and accept the proposal of the aggrieved nation without complaint!”

It was a warning: resist the terms of the negotiation, and even harsher sanctions would follow. But despite this, Vania showed no sign of backing down.

Seeing this, Ian realized something and began to tap the edge of his document.

“Hey, Ian.”

Ian turned his head at Romandro’s whispered call. The mages were still glaring at the back of Ian’s head, their faces full of dissatisfaction. He could see that even Beric had been swept up in their mood.

Romandro glanced around the conference hall and lowered his voice even further.

“The Burgos side is being surprisingly feisty. Why didn’t you link them with Ruswena earlier? If they continue to be uncooperative, we can use that to pressure them now. Hmm?”

The entire Ministry of Magic knew that the Queen of Ruswena had tried to kill Ian, and they could prove it. The same went for the circumstances of her trying to frame Burgos. But Eripony had died unceremoniously due to her own karma, and as of yet, no one had taken responsibility for Ian’s collapse. If Burgos refused to bend and stood firm, they could use this as leverage to push them.

“I don’t think that’s a particularly good move.”

“Why? For what reason?”

Romandro glanced back and forth between Ian and Vania. If he could have his way, he would have shot them a sullen look just like the other mages, but this was an important, official proceeding. And Romandro was an aide.

“Because while they are a delegation from Burgos, they are not here for the sake of Burgos. Didn’t she say it with her own mouth? That she serves Rutherford as her master.”

“That, Ian…”

“Let’s discuss that matter in detail later. In any case, it is a fact that there is someone they prioritize over Burgos. Furthermore, Burgos is currently in a state of chaos due to power struggles among its numerous nobles. It seems Rutherford has seized the center of power, but to quell a divided nation’s public opinion, a powerful incident is needed.”

Ian covered his mouth with his hand, his tone telling Romandro not to ask any more unnecessary questions. Forced to listen quietly, Romandro muttered to himself.

“A war?”

“When things are noisy on the inside, it’s only natural to turn one’s gaze to the outside. Besides, Burgos is a defeated nation, but their army was not annihilated before they raised the white flag. They were semi-forcibly made to surrender because their king was captured. They know they have to pay reparations to Bariel and Clifford. Rather than do that, they would choose to provoke a war to foster national unity and evade the situation.”

“A-A war with Bariel? Can they even win?”

“Bariel will forever be the victor of history.”

Ian added quietly, his tone holding not a shred of doubt. His belief was as firm as someone who had seen the distant future with his own eyes.

“But there will be those who do not think so.”

“Rutherford.”

“There is nothing known about him, but my guess is that he is not a Burgos native. Therefore, he will have no qualms about using the chaos within Burgos to fill his own pockets.”

Though, it’s not as if all people from Burgos necessarily think of their homeland.

Rutherford was the source of Idgal. He was the master of a great merchant guild that dealt with the high nobility and royalty of the Empire, and he was a man who possessed ‘something’ that they did not know about. According to Damon, he was a being who mediated between the gods and the world.

“The merchant guild will possess not only mages but also military power on a national scale. Since they hold Idgal, they likely believe they are a match for Bariel’s mages as well.”

And above all, if he truly was Vandor, who had passed down his soul for a thousand years, his inner thoughts would not be easy to fathom.

A time approaching an eternity. In all that time, what had he prepared, what emotions had he harbored, what conversations had he had with Ian the illegitimate son, and how much had the scales of fate, revolving around Bariel, shifted? It was impossible to know.

“I-I see. But…”

Romandro’s voice trailed off as if he now understood.

But there was a problem, wasn’t there? If the Burgos side wanted a war, and if that war, regardless of its outcome, was advantageous to them, then there was nothing Bariel could do. If the delegation simply refused to negotiate and maintained an insolent attitude, the only possible end was war. Crown Prince Jin had already moved troops to the border near Burgos at the beginning of the negotiations.

“If they come at us like that, what do we do? We have no other way, do we? We can’t ease their burden in the negotiations, but we also can’t overlook their insolent attitude. It would be a stain on the Empire’s prestige; not just the imperial court, but all the officials will not stand for it.”

“…”

It was a strategy where they could only be on the receiving end. One who desires ruin has nothing to fear and is therefore difficult to deal with.

Ian rested his chin on his hand for a moment and watched Jin. The Prime Minister, too, seemed to have figured out Burgos’s strategy and was covering his mouth, conveying something to the prince.

This makes it consistent. Denying everything that became an issue in order to stall for time is part of the same context. If it works out well, great, no war. If not, that’s fine too. The problem is the safety of the delegation if the negotiations fall through. From the way she acts, Vania’s life seems to be held hostage by Rutherford.

Are the others also prepared to die? Does that mean their loyalty to Rutherford is that strong?

But Ian remembered the man who had exchanged glances with Timothy when he first entered the conference hall. He had seemed to have a deep connection with Timothy. It was unlikely that such a man would abandon his dynasty and pledge his life to a mere merchant lord like Rutherford. They must have something that guaranteed their lives.

Vania flipped through the documents and recited the contents she had prepared.

“First, regarding the cession of the five Burgos cities bordering Bariel. The cities damaged in Clifford, with the exception of the capital, Frodhona, are nothing more than small villages. Though the damage is said to be severe, the scale cannot be compared. And above all, not a single Burgos soldier crossed the capital’s walls during the war. Since they did not set foot on the inner lands—”

“That’s absurd!”

SLAM!

May, who had been listening, raised her voice and roughly shoved the table.

“Why is Clifford stepping in? Didn’t you transfer your right to indemnity?”

“Our king is still reviewing the contract! And since there is a clear problem with Burgos’s claim, I have no choice but to stand up!”

Transferring the right to indemnity meant that Clifford had no decision-making authority in the negotiations between Bariel and Burgos, but May held up a related report and shouted.

“The Burgos army crossed the border and released Baekkak¹ in every village they passed. They are monsters that ruin farmland. As insects, they breed prolifically, and the land around the paths you have taken is all dying. They have an explosive nature, so ordinary people cannot easily exterminate them. Is that all? The ultimate damage from the war is the Rift that opened in the capital! If it weren’t for you, we would have been greeting peaceful days and harvesting ripe grapes. Burgos is responsible for all damages arising from the Rift! To be frank, five cities are far from enough!”

“That’s right! Our entire nation has been tilted on its side!”

“There is almost no usable land left. How can you put a number on this? Also, what about the curse that has befallen the royal family? Not a chance!”

Several Clifford delegates strongly agreed with May’s assertion, lending her their support. The Prime Minister gestured for them to be quiet, and May glared at Vania as if she wanted to kill her.

Vania, in contrast, was impassive, as if she were simply doing her job.

“Bariel agrees with Clifford’s opinion, so calm yourselves. Burgos. Someone has already said it, but I will emphasize it again. This is also the will of His Highness, the Crown Prince, so do not take it lightly.”

The Prime Minister, having grasped the Burgos delegation’s intent, issued a low warning.

“Though this is a negotiation, it is one granted only to Bariel and Clifford. The defeated nation has no authority. This is a value calculated and presented by the representatives of Bariel, and below this, negotiations cannot proceed.”

Bang!

The Prime Minister struck the gavel. It was a gesture swearing on his name, his position, and the sanctity of the conference hall that there would be no change.

“Delegation of Burgos. If the negotiations do not proceed, your very reason for being here is lost. Bariel will not let those associated with Rutherford, who participated in our civil war, leave unscathed.”

“…”

“The soldiers of Bariel will take up their arms at sunrise and will be home before sunset.”

Do you want a war? The message was that Bariel would not give them enough time to exploit the chaos. We’ve figured out your intentions, and we won’t let you have your way.

Vania listlessly put down her documents and sighed, sweeping her hair back.

“…If that’s the case, why did you summon us here? You should have just sent a notice.”

“Weren’t you the ones who wanted to come? To see your king.”

“There was an invitation before that.”

“To call it an invitation, the recipient was not clear. Is there anyone in Burgos right now who can receive a message sent in the name of His Highness, the Crown Prince?”

The officials, seemingly catching on to the Burgos delegation’s strategy, began to whisper and exchange documents. But nothing would change. In any case, if the delegation were to shed blood here, it would be the prelude to a war between Bariel and Burgos.

Jin, who had been watching quietly, rose and looked down at the hall. Romandro had a premonition that a firm decision was about to come from Jin’s lips.

“Ian, besides war or acquiescence, is there no other way?”

Ian would know something! Romandro, forgetting the eyes of the others, placed a hand on Ian’s shoulder.

Ian’s body swayed slightly. He thought for a moment, then cocked an eyebrow.

“There is one way…”