Chapter 563

"King of the Demi-human Nation..."

After hearing Shengzai's words, Jircniv was clearly stunned for a moment.

Just as he was about to blurt out that the demi-humans had no nation and no so-called King, Jircniv suddenly remembered what he had seen and heard in the Holy Kingdom.

The reason the Holy Queen was enamored with the man before him was that he had solved a long-standing hidden danger for the Holy Kingdom, and he had even become a hero of the Holy Kingdom because of it.

Jircniv had heard rumors in the Holy Kingdom about how Shengzai solved the demi-human problem.

But the rumors and story versions among the people were too outrageous, so Jircniv just listened to them at the time.

Although it wouldn't be difficult for him to investigate Shengzai and the demi-humans if he spent some effort.

But having been rejected by the Holy Kingdom at the time, he clearly had no leisure to care about such things.

What's more, if it weren't for Shengzai's interference, the Empire might not have reached its current dead end.

"Your Majesty, having been to the Holy Kingdom, should also know that I did a few things in the Holy Kingdom."

"And because of some special reasons, those demi-humans I took in established a nation on their own and all worshiped me as their King."

"Although in terms of total population, the Holy Grace Demi-human Nation does not have the scale of the Kingdom and the Empire, it still has a population of nearly a million."

"If we form an army, we can probably scrape together 300,000. And I can guarantee that the demi-human army's combat power is only stronger, not weaker, than that of the Empire and the Kingdom."

"So, possessing such power, it shouldn't be excessive for me to want a seat at Your Majesty's 'conference of nations', right?"

After Shengzai's words, both Jircniv and Baziwood were stunned.

And after being stunned for a moment, Jircniv looked at Shengzai with complex eyes and said: "Why do you want to help our Baharuth Empire so much?"

The Kingdom and the Empire are old rivals, although Jircniv said many righteous words when seeking help from outside.

But he knew very well that if the King of the Kingdom were still Ramposa III, the other party might not be convinced by his rhetoric.

"The reason? That is naturally because I know better than anyone how powerful and dangerous those people in the Sorcerer Kingdom are."

"The principle of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold' is understood by anyone with a little foresight."

"And I don't intend to work for free this time by helping the Baharuth Empire, so is Your Majesty prepared to bleed heavily?"

Hearing Shengzai's words, Jircniv was not angry, but rather overjoyed.

If it were really as Shengzai said, and he could lead an army of 300,000 demi-humans to participate in the battle, that would be a huge help.

And once Shengzai joins the war, according to the previous agreement, the Holy Kingdom will also participate.

With the Holy Kingdom vouching for them, the Theocracy would not be able to choose to stand by.

Simply put, Shengzai's will alone now directly determines whether the coalition of nations against the Sorcerer Kingdom can be formed.

Facing Ainz Ooal Gown and those powerful undead summoned by him, Jircniv really couldn't think of a way to win head-on.

The only thing he could think of was to rely on the numerical advantage of the army to pile the opponent's undead army to death.

And such a method cannot be achieved by their Empire alone, but if the Demi-human Nation, the Holy Kingdom, and the Theocracy are added, then it is not completely impossible for them to win.

Compared to the Empire being destroyed and the millions of humans living here becoming playthings and food for those monsters, even if Shengzai really makes him bleed heavily, Jircniv feels it is all worth it.

At the same time, Jircniv now has to admire Shengzai's wisdom and layout, which is simply breathtaking.

Because no matter how this war ends, the Kingdom will inevitably be the biggest winner.

Even if the demi-humans die in large numbers, will it hurt the Kingdom at all?

Clearly not. And if the Sorcerer Kingdom wins, the Baharuth Empire will be destroyed, and the Theocracy and the Holy Kingdom will inevitably be severely damaged, but the Kingdom itself will be fine.

And what if their coalition of nations wins?

Although it is the demi-humans who are fighting, the one who benefits is the Kingdom.

The Kingdom's Third Prince subduing the demi-humans, doing favors for the Holy Kingdom, and laying out the surrounding nations—isn't his goal to push the Kingdom into a stable winning situation?

"Then what price does Your Highness Shengzai need the Empire to pay to be willing to facilitate this coalition of nations?"

Although he was prepared to be asked for a high price, the Baharuth Empire now has no other choice.

"I hope the Baharuth Empire can be renamed the Baharuth Duchy in the future, accept the Kingdom's title of Duke, and from then on pay tribute to the Kingdom."

"Of course, the internal management system and laws of the Empire will still be decided by Your Majesty the Emperor."

Hearing the conditions Shengzai proposed, Jircniv hadn't said anything yet, but Baziwood beside him already showed an angry look. But just as he was about to say something, he was stopped by the former.

"Heh, renaming it a Duchy and accepting the Kingdom's title of Duke is actually becoming a vassal state of the Kingdom in disguise."

"However, such conditions are much better than what I expected at the beginning."

"Then I promise you in the name of the Empire's Emperor, Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix: if the coalition of nations can really successfully repel the Sorcerer Kingdom, I am willing to agree to the conditions you just proposed!"

"Your Majesty, the conditions he proposed are too..."

Although the Kingdom and the Empire were a major human nation before the Demon God War, the two countries have been separated for a long time. Now that the Empire has to bow to the Kingdom in this way, Baziwood, as an Imperial Knight, naturally feels somewhat unwilling.

"No need to say more, this is the only way to save the people of the Empire for now."

"And compared to becoming an Eden for monsters, accepting the Kingdom's rule at least preserves our dignity as humans. Besides, being able to retain autonomy—such conditions have already exceeded my previous expectations."

"Although I am unwilling, the game between countries is like this."

"It is not just a war of real swords and guns; political games are equally capable of determining the fate of a country."

"The Kingdom's Third Prince's layout and strategy are above mine. Since I lost this political game, I naturally have to bear the corresponding bitter fruit."

Hearing Jircniv's evaluation of him, Shengzai really wanted to say that he didn't think that much at all.

If he had to say it, he himself didn't know why things turned out like this.

But thinking that existences with higher IQs in this world would more or less have the problem of "brain-filling," Shengzai simply didn't bother to explain anything.

Since they all think he is awesome, let them think so.

He clearly didn't want to show off, but they all made him do it, so what could he do.

(End of chapter)